Wedding at 21 Main with a flower canon and local celebrity visit

I’ve been shooting many weddings recently at 21 Main Events at North Beach. It’s becoming one of my favorite venues. I like the combination of the private courtyard for the ceremony, then the gazebo and beach for pictures at sunset. Plus, they have amazing food.

My wife Lizeth came along as a second photographer for this wedding. I recommend a second shooter for weddings at 21 Main because she can take pictures on the balcony during the ceremony. When we arrived, Alexandra, the bride, wasn’t at the venue yet. However, her dress, flowers, and rings were already there. This gave me plenty of time to get some nice detail shots.

My wife went with Dan, the groom, to take some getting-ready pictures with his father in a nearby apartment. Dan’s best man could not make it at the last minute. However, one of his friends stepped in to take the role for the ceremony. This was a small bridal party with only two bridesmaids and the best man. Once Alexandra arrived, I checked if she had any other detail pictures she wanted and then took some nice shots of them getting ready.

21 Main Prime Steakhouse - 21 Main Events at North Beach — 21 Main Prime Steakhouse – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Groom's father helping with tie - Lizeth Smith - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Groom’s father helping with tie – Lizeth Smith – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Bouquet details - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Bouquet details – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Bouquets - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Bouquets – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Details on bride's bouquet - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Details on bride’s bouquet – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Flowers with dress hanging in the background - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Flowers with dress hanging in the background – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Rings laying on the flowers - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Rings laying on the flowers – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Rings on the bouquets - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Rings on the bouquets – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Engagement ring on the rose - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Engagement ring on the rose – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Groom's father putting on the boutonniere - Lizeth Smith - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Groom’s father putting on the boutonniere – Lizeth Smith – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Wedding invitation - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Wedding invitation – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Bride's mother helping with her dress - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Bride’s mother helping with her dress – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Bride putting on her earring - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Bride putting on her earring – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Bride's mother putting on bride's necklace - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Bride’s mother putting on bride’s necklace – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Toasts with the bridesmaids - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Toasts with the bridesmaids – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Welcome to the wedding in the courtyard - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Welcome to the wedding in the courtyard – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Violin players - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Violin players – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Table Details - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Table Details – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Ceremony in the courtyard

The groom had a huge smile throughout the ceremony, especially when seeing Alexandra walking down the aisle. I always make sure to get a shot of the groom’s face when seeing the bride for the first time, and I think he had one of the best smiles I’ve seen. The groom’s last-minute best man still made the best of it, even in his casual shirt and jeans.

My wife always goes up on the balcony behind the courtyard and takes fantastic overhead shots of the ceremony. It’s especially lovely getting some different angles of the first kiss. Usually, I would get some large family group shots after the ceremony from up here as well, but some family wasn’t feeling well, and it ended up not working out.

An almost bad accident with the flower cannon

The bride and groom had flower petals shots from the balcony as they returned from the ceremony. I wish I had coached Alexandra to hold the bouquet toward the ground when Dan dipped her back for a kiss. It’s still a great picture, even if their faces are a bit hidden. If you notice, in the second shot from overhead, a white pipe is flying through the air! My wife caught this just as the PVC pipe flew off under pressure and narrowly missed hitting them. Afterward, everyone laughed about it, and it was no big deal. They still got a great picture kissing under a shower of petals.

Groom escorted by parents - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Groom escorted by parents – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Bridesmaids walking down the aisle - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Bridesmaids walking down the aisle – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Groom's friend taking place of best man who couldn't make it - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Groom’s friend taking place of best man who couldn’t make it – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Flower girl couldn't make it down the aisle by herself - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Flower girl couldn’t make it down the aisle by herself – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Groom's first look at the bride - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Groom’s first look at the bride – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Bride walking down the aisle with her father - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Bride walking down the aisle with her father – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Overhead shot of bride walking down aisle with her father - Lizeth Smith - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Overhead shot of bride walking down aisle with her father – Lizeth Smith – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Big smiles during the ceremony - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Big smiles during the ceremony – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Holding hands during the ceremony - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Holding hands during the ceremony – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Groom getting emotional during the vows - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Groom getting emotional during the vows – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Big smiles during the vows - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Big smiles during the vows – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Groom putting on bride's ring - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Groom putting on bride’s ring – 21 Main Events at North Beach

First kiss shot from the balcony - Lizeth Smith - 21 Main Events at North Beach — First kiss shot from the balcony – Lizeth Smith – 21 Main Events at North Beach

First kiss - 21 Main Events at North Beach — First kiss – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Big cheers after ceremony - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Big cheers after ceremony – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Flower cannon after the ceremony - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Flower cannon after the ceremony – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Pipe blowing off the flower canon almost hitting bride and groom - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Pipe blowing off the flower canon almost hitting bride and groom – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Happy couple after flower cannon - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Happy couple after flower cannon – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Bride with bridesmaids in the courtyard - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Bride with bridesmaids in the courtyard – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Groom hugging his grandmother - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Groom hugging his grandmother – 21 Main Events at North Beach

After the ceremony pictures with a visit from Ed Piotrowski

After the ceremony, we took family pictures and some of the bride and groom in the courtyard. We have a local weatherman, Ed Piotrowski, a celebrity in the Myrtle Beach area. Alexandra and Dan had watched him for many years and were fans. They asked if he could stop by at the wedding, and he said yes! Ed and his wife seem super friendly, and I could tell it made Alexandra and Dan’s day that they came by.

Bride and groom with big smiles in the courtyard - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Bride and groom with big smiles in the courtyard – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Bride with arms around groom's shoulders holding the bouquet - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Bride with arms around groom’s shoulders holding the bouquet – 21 Main Events at North Beach

About to kiss touching bride's face - 21 Main Events at North Beach — About to kiss touching bride’s face – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Bride and groom with visit from local celebrity Ed Piotrowski - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Bride and groom with visit from local celebrity Ed Piotrowski – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Bride and groom introductions - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Bride and groom introductions – 21 Main Events at North Beach

First dance - 21 Main Events at North Beach — First dance – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Bride dancing with father - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Bride dancing with father – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Groom dancing with mother - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Groom dancing with mother – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Sunset pictures on the gazebo and beach

It was still a little early for sunset, so we got the first dances out of the way, then I drove the bride and groom down to the towers for some pictures. I liked that Dan loved my Tesla, and I almost think he wanted to take it for a drive instead of heading back to the reception. We planned on just doing pictures at the gazebo because it was overcast, and they were tired. However, I noticed the sun was trying to poke out from the clouds, so we decided to go to the beach. I’m thrilled we did. The sky was beautiful, and we got some great pictures near the marsh and ocean. Sometimes, overcast and cloudy days can end up with unique looking skies at sunset.

Bride and groom holding hands on the gazebo - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Bride and groom holding hands on the gazebo – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Kiss in front of the gazebo - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Kiss in front of the gazebo – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Sitting together in front of the gazebo fountain - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Sitting together in front of the gazebo fountain – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Standing together in front of the dunes - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Standing together in front of the dunes – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Embracing by the dunes - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Embracing by the dunes – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Bride and groom by the water at sunset - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Bride and groom by the water at sunset – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Cheeks together - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Cheeks together – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Groom having los of fun walking with bride - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Groom having los of fun walking with bride – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Bride and groom walking by the ocean together - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Bride and groom walking by the ocean together – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Dip back from a kiss in front of the ocean - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Dip back from a kiss in front of the ocean – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Kiss in front of the ocean - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Kiss in front of the ocean – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Looking into each other's eyes - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Looking into each other’s eyes – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Touching noses - 21 Main Events at North Beach — Touching noses – 21 Main Events at North Beach

Reception in the ballroom at 21 Main

Once we got back, they ate dinner and went into the cake cutting and dancing. Everyone, even some older family members, was having a great time on the dance floor. I always like pulling the couple out for pictures in the courtyard after dark. The lights hanging over the courtyard make a stunning background for the final images. I hope you enjoyed the photos. If you are planning a wedding at 21 Main Events, please let me know. I would be happy to help!