The Saratoga Springs Wedding | Carlie & Joey

The Saratoga Springs Wedding and Reception Venue located just minutes from Charlotte, NC is the perfect place for a true Southern Fairytale…namely Carlie and Joey’s Southern Fairytale. You may remember Carlie and Joey’s Reynolda Plantation Engagement Session {here}, but in case you forgot here is a little recap. Carlie and Joey met their first week of UNC Kenan–Flagler Business School in Raleigh, NC. They were assigned to the same 5 person business team and became close friends over their Freshman year. The summer following that year, they started dating and during their Master’s graduation weekend, Joey worked with two of Carlie’s best friends to plan a “Graduation party” – aka an engagement. Carlie said yes, and the rest was history. Fast forward to May 19, 2018 and it was their day to say ‘I do.’ Carlie and Joey married at Saratoga Springs on what was SUPPOSE to be a complete wash out. Instead, the weather held up and it turned out to be an absolute gorgeous day.

When the time came for Carlie to walk down the aisle, she was pulled up to the ceremony site in true Southern Fairytale fashion – a horse drawn carriage. This was the perfect moment to take in the last remaining minutes as a truly single girl, have a moment with her number one fan – her dad, and grasp the immensity of this day that was all about to happen. When the two stepped off the carriage, the skies opened up and shone the most beautiful light on Carlie and her father. The ceremony went off without a hitch as the officiant told of how Carlie was now becoming Joey’s security “silk.” When Joe was growing up, he didn’t take to a paci, or a blanket, but a remnant of silk. As someone who had their baby blanket until I was 26 years old (yes you heard that right, and the ONLY reason I got rid of it was because my fiance said it had to go…) this completely resonated with me. It was time to cling to his OTHER security. His now beautiful wife.

The night continued with dinner and dancing under the tent on property. Joey’s sister Amy gave the BEST (wo)man speech I have ever heard. I obviously hear quite a few of these speeches, and no one has ever brought down the house like her. She had the entire 200 count guest list in tears. She spoke of growing up with Joey – how he had his own “signing” party when he announced where he would go to college. How they would spray pledge on their wood floors, piss off their sister and have her chase them around – only to have one person wipe out (because who HASN’T done that?!)..and how lucky Joe was to have found Carlie. She summed up Carlie in a few characteristics, one of my favorites being that she found the secret to why Carlie was so kind – because she was an ‘Only Child.” I die – I have never laughed so hard at a speech. Carlie’s dad, John, toasted his daughter by telling her how proud he was of her. How he remembers Carlie telling him that Joe reminded her of her father – HER favorite person in the world, but that John felt Joe was an even better version.

Before the night’s dancing officially kicked off, Carlie and Joe had their father/mother dances. To watch Carlie dance with her father was heartwarming. He was dancing with his only daughter on her wedding day, full of pride and love. She had grown into the most beautiful women, and was no longer his baby girl – but in the same moment, Carlie looked to her daddy with that sweet baby girl smile she always had, knowing she would always remain his baby girl.

To Carlie and Joey – I LOVED this last year spent with you two. You are truly a match made in Heaven. The world is your oyster and I am so excited to see what you make of it! You are beautiful people and have even more beautiful souls.

XOXO –

Katy Clatterbaugh

Wedding Photography | Brand photography | education

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