I was so excited when Olivia reached out about taking her senior photos last weekend. Not only was I excited for this shoot because she's a beauty inside and out but also because she is my boyfriend's cousin! We decided on a pretty, open field near the outskirts of town as the sun got low in the sky, and that's when the magic happened! She's a summer girl through and through, so her senior portraits had to capture that! My favorite part was when she whipped out her more casual outfit toward the end of the shoot and showed me her awesome new Nikes she'd brought along for some fun. Scroll to the end to see! Congratulations on this big accomplishment starting your senior year today, sweet girl! 
   
  
   
   
    
 
  
 
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Jordan thought that Gavin was away for the day, playing golf with a buddy in Charlotte. Little did she know, he was planning the surprise of her life! While Jordan got dressed up to go with a friend to dinner that evening, Gavin had reserved their favorite spot in Downtown Greenville, the Larkin's Courtyard. He also had a buddy helping, the fiance of Jordon's dinner friend. The plan was that Jordan's friend would casually suggest they walk through the courtyard on the way back from dinner, meanwhile, Jordan's friend would be tracking their location on his phone. She walked through the beautiful gates to find a perfectly lighted courtyard with the man of her dreams waiting to ask her a very important question (with a very amazing ring!!). I am so honored that these two wanted me to capture this special moment. Now, it's time to plan for their wedding, and I couldn't be more thrilled! Scroll to the end to see the cutest champagne celebration!! :) 
      
 
 
 
        
Something super fun about being a wedding photographer is getting to pamper my clients! While photography in itself is a creative art, putting together client gifts is just as much of a creative endeavor, and one that I absolutely love! I have always enjoyed giving gifts even more than getting them. I love going to pick out things I know my friends will loved, and carefully handpicking the items for these gift boxes was no different! Each of the items in these boxes is not sponsored in any way, just products I personally love! As soon as a new bride for 2019 or 2020 books with me, she'll be getting this new and improved welcome box! So I thought I'd give you a little peek inside. Can't wait to meet you, future Nichole Lauren Bride! :)
Starting off, I knew I wanted a branded box that was both easy to mail and visually appealing. Packlane really did the job right, and I love how these mailers turned out! Next, I want to make sure all my brides know exactly what they're getting into when booking me as their wedding photographer. So I've created a custom bridal magazine specifically for my brides! This baby is full of advice, info about me, and images from past weddings sprinkled in. This is the most important piece of my welcome gift!
When you get engaged, EVERYONE is going to be asking to see your ring and that also means... they'll be looking at your hands! I want my brides to pamper themselves and keep their hands the prettiest they can be. So I've included this Glow Lab hand cream and Essie nail polish in one of my favorite colors to do just that!
Finally, as wedding time approaches, there are no doubt, countless times you'll need to write things down during everything from venue scouting to cake tasting. I love these Rifle Paper Co. notebooks that are both adorable and easy to stick in your purse for on-the-go writing. So excited to send these new packages out soon to all my new brides!! If you're interested in becoming a Nichole Lauren Bride, head to my contact page to inquire, and I can't wait to send one of these packages over to you!  
There are few words to describe how incredible this day was. There were so many moments that made Yuliya & Nate's wedding an absolute dream! Being big wine enthusiast, Yuliya & Nate wanted to incorporate that love in several meaningful ways throughout the day. One of my favorite of those moments was the first look. We decided to meet at an adorable wine bar in Downtown Greenville where these two shared their first date. Talk about a unique and intimate idea for their first moment seeing each other on their wedding day! Then, during the ceremony and after they read their personal vows to one another, they sealed them in a custom wooden box with a bottle of wine from a market where they had first met in the year they had met. Lastly, to symbolize their union. They each mixed red and white wines together into one glass to symbolize the coming together of their unique characteristics as they drank together. It was so special and such an amazing day to be a part of. Enjoy the rest of these images, and congrats to the new Mr. & Mrs. Cormier! Special thanks to these amazing vendors! Venue: The Old Cigar Warehouse First Look Location: Foxcroft Wine Co. Photographer: Nichole Lauren Photography Floral Design & Party Rentals: Renee Burroughs Design Cake: Sweet Anomaly's Invitations: Le Bella Designs Catering: Cribbs Catering Bride's Dress: Mary's Bridal (Ocala, FL) Hair & Makeup Artist: Melissa with Cotton Rouge Videographer: Front Row Films DJ: DJ Sammy with Collective Music Solutions Bridesmaids' Dresses: Birdy Grey Groom & Groomsmen Attire: Saginaw Suits and Alterations (Saginaw, MI) 
 
 
 
     
    Nate read a book to Yuliya that he had bought for their future children during the vows that had everyone in tears-- especially me!   
  
 
 
   
   
      
Being in Greenville, SC we really are spoiled with the best of both worlds. It's a short drive to the beautiful mountains and just a little bit longer to the warm beaches. You really can have it both ways, so I'm all up for adventuring a little further away for a fun twist on an engagement session. When we arrived at Bald Rock, I knew we'd made a good choice for Kaci & Justin's portrait session, and they agreed! Clear, blue skies, warm temps, and a sunset that made an already gorgeous session even more breathtaking. My only sadness comes with knowing I won't get to spend time with these sweet souls again until their wedding next Spring! Happy weekend, and enjoy these dreamy, mountain portraits!                                                       
We walked into the Bleckley Inn in Anderson for Jordon and Trey's wedding and automatically felt transported to an Italian villa in Tuscany. Every intimate detail was so carefully planned and executed that it made this photographer's heart SO happy. Jordon has such a calm, kind spirit, and Trey knows the jewel she is and treats her like a queen! It was such a joy spending the day with them and their sweet loved ones to celebrate their best day! Some of my favorite details from this wedding included the super adorable bridesmaids' monogrammed button up shirts, the exquisitely decorated cake table, and the little number Jordon threw on over her dress toward the end of the night! Scroll to see!! Can't wait to share this sneak peek of Jordon & Trey's wedding with you tonight! Special thanks to these amazing vendors! Venue: The Bleckley Inn Hair & Makeup Artist: Heather with Cotton Rouge Dress: Dmitra Designs Cake: Couture Cakes of Greenville Photographer: Nichole Lauren Photography Bridesmaids Dresses: Azazie Groom and Groomsmen Attire: Men's Warehouse Photographer: Nichole Lauren Photography Floral Design: Honey Tree Wedding Coordinator: Sue Maher DJ: Jumping Jukebox Videographer: True Cinema Catering: Sullivan's Metropolitan Grill Invitation Suite: Pretty Polite Print Boutique Officiant: Brenda Owen, The Wedding Woman  
  
 
 
   
 
    
      
 
 
 
      
 
 
I got to meet up with Regan and Zach at the SC Botanical Garden in Clemson this past weekend, and it was pure magic. From the perfect glowy lighting to the sweet, sweet couple in front of my lens, everything was any photographer's dream. These two met back in middle school, and according to Regan, she had a big time crush on Zach back then. Her feelings never really went away, and even as they parted ways and dated other people throughout college, she prayed that one day they'd reconnect. After 10 years of missing each other while not being single at the same times, they finally met up to catch up, and the rest is history. I can't wait for their summer wedding, and I'm so blessed to know these people and not only be able to call them my beautiful clients but also sweet new friends! 
  
   
   
   
    
     
     Waikiki Beach The Story Through divine intervention, I just happened to be scouring Google flights one Thursday night back in August, dreaming about Spring Break in a place I've wanted to visit for a long, long time. It was a dream, but I didn't know if it would become a reality until I had more funds to make it happen. Out of nowhere, the flight prices started dropping right before my eyes. I began to refresh the page ended up landing a roundtrip flight from ATL for under $400! I'm the type of person that just can't pass up an opportunity like that, so I jumped on it and trusted that the rest of the details would work themselves out later! And I'm so glad they did! When all was said and done, I spent about as much on the entire trip as I would have for what the flight alone normally would have costed. And out of all the places I've traveled, Hawaii ranks close to the top. I've never been to a more peaceful, unique place. If you ever get the chance to go, I hope you seize that opportunity too. Read on for all my recommendations from my time in Oahu!  Halona Blowhole  Kualoa Beach Park The Logistics Where to Stay I strongly recommend staying either at an Airbnb, VRBO or similar rental property of that nature. With Honolulu being a very popular tourist destination really at all times of the year, hotels and resorts anywhere on the island are insanely priced! On top of that, you have to consider what type of transportation you'll be using. If you're planning to get a rental car, some places charge high fees to park on site each day. We lucked out and found a place about 15 minutes from Waikiki that included parking. It was in a quiet, safe neighborhood just on the outskirts of the hustle and bustle of the main tourist area, so it was perfect! Since the island is fairly small, you can get to really anywhere within an hour of driving (give or take for traffic), but I preferred staying close to Waikiki where much of the tourist attractions were located and then ventured out from home base as we wanted to. What to Drive If you know me at all, you know my dream car is a black, 2-door Jeep Wrangler. So we thought what better car to drive in Hawaii than just that! Let me tell you, it was so worth it! And after all was said and done, it was only a small daily fee to upgrade to the Jeep from a basic economy sedan. Definitely do this if you get the chance! Just picture you in Hawaii, driving around the most beautiful sites with the top off. **Pro tip: parking in downtown Waikiki can be very tricky. We drove around for a couple hours looking for parking. Save yourself the trouble and go straight to the Honolulu Zoo. There is public parking that is much cheaper than any other lots/garages you'll find even though it might be a couple more minutes of a walk to the shops.  My dream car!  Kualoa Ranch & Nature Preserve When to Go Hawaii's climate really stays pretty mild year round. You can tell this is true because there are many open-air breezeways in a few of the important buildings in Oahu such as the airport and the state house. There really isn't a need for these buildings to be completely covered because the weather is so gorgeous!! That being said, obviously more tourists are likely to go during summer and winter breaks. Going in February-March is a great time because the climate is warm but not too hot, and the island is bustling but not too overcrowded. How to Pack I highly recommend packing light. Since the climate is warm, you can get away with packing lighter and less clothing. It rained a little bit while we were on the island, so you may want to bring a rain coat. However, when I say rain, it's more like a soft mist that comes for about 5 minutes while it's still sunny outside and then goes away. It's actually kind of refreshing, and as the locals would say, it's a blessing from the heavens. You really don't need the distraction of a laptop or any fancy beauty products. I brought my flat iron and my curling wand for my hair and never used it because the Hawaiian air did wonders! Plus, being able to carry on a bag and not have to pay extra or wait for a checked back with the risk of it getting lost is an added bonus!  Paradise Cove Luau  USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor East/Central/West Oahu
 Sunset over Haleiw'a  Byodo-In Temple North Shore
 Dole Whip. Yum!  I'olani Palace Waikiki/Honolulu Area
 Lanai Lookout Aloha! And Mahalo for reading! 
Morgan & Nick's engagement portrait session is just proof that some of the best things can happen when things don't go exactly as planned. After talking with Morgan about her and Nick's love story, I found out that they are big mountain people. In fact, Nick proposed to Morgan on Day #4 of a four-day hiking trip, so Morgan really wanted to incorporate that mountain feel in her engagement portrait session with her sweet fiance. There was rain in the forecast, a rockslide that threatened the main road to get up to this location, and to top it all off, the location was a little tricky to locate with modern technology! Once we finally reached our spot, fog had already rolled in and covered the area pretty thickly. But Morgan and Nick were so sweet and so excited to spend this time together, and I think the result was even prettier than we could have pictured! Enjoy this romantic session amidst the charming fog and even their sweet lil pup, Heidi who was such a good girl! 
     
 
       
It was such an incredible day. There were a few concerns about rain, but those all went away, and the Lord literally provided the most gorgeous day for Andrew and Laura Beth to get married. It was only fitting because this couple is perfect in every way, so loving and so genuinely sweet to each other and to those around them. Their day was simple yet very elegant and classy, and every detail went so smoothly throughout the day. It was such a pleasure to be able to not only share this day with these sweet friends but also to have the honor of capturing these moments for them to look back on with their children and grandchildren one day. Wishing these two a long and happy life together filled with lots of love, laughter and blessings from the Lord! Special thanks to these amazing vendors! Venue: Huguenot Loft Wedding Coordinator: Jennifer at Love This Little City Bride's Dress: The White Magnolia Catering: Chef 360 Floral Design: Andrea Seemuller Cake: Strossner's Invitation Suite: Embossed Graphics DJ: Mark Rhoden Videographer: Dru at Famzing Groom & Groomsmen Attire: Men's Warehouse Bridesmaids Dresses: Bella Bridesmaid Photographer: Nichole Lauren Photography 
 
 Such a sweet father daughter first look!
 Lots of happy tears were shed during this precious moment before the ceremony where Andrew & LB got to hold hands and pray together.
It was so special that this cross was built by Andrew himself! 
    
 
  
    
   
    
 
  
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I love travel and adventure. I love seeing things from new perspectives. I love to find good food in exciting places. And I love making moments last for as long as possible.
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