It’s almost time again for the busy season in Myrtle Beach, so I wanted to make one last blog post about a unique wedding last summer. This wedding was on July 3rd, 2022, at my favorite wedding venue, 21 Main Events at North Beach. This wedding was unusual in that we did everything in the courtyard. I usually take at least the bride and groom down to the closeby gazebo and beach, if not the whole wedding party. Because of the circumstances and timing of this wedding, we only took pictures in the courtyard. This gave me an even better appreciation for the fantastic images that can be captured without leaving the venue.
Lots of details, getting ready pictures, and a first look with the bride’s father
I had my life Lizeth assisting me on this wedding. The groom Taylor and the other guys hadn’t started getting ready, so she helped me with the detail shots and pictures of the dresses. I was working with Eyecon Films this day. We always help each other set things up and get great photos and video clips. I especially liked the ring box that was monogrammed and filled with flowers and elegant, modern table decorations. Everything had muted earthy colors with flowers and dried grasses.
After this, I started taking pictures with Kayla and the bridesmaids as they got ready, and my wife went with Taylor and the groomsmen. The remodeled getting-ready room for the bride has a lot of mirrors that I always make use of. The hard part is clearing the room clutter, so it isn’t distracting in the reflections and keeping myself out of the mirrors as well. It’s a beautiful room with great lighting, white walls, and a cute couch for pictures with the girls.
Taylor wanted a special first look with her father in the courtyard. There were a lot of emotions from dad as he turned around to see her in the wedding dress for the first time. After this, we got everyone back inside as the guests arrived for the ceremony.
Brides dress hanging in the window – 21 Main Events
Bridesmaids dressing hanging in window – 21 Main Events
Bride and bridesmaid dressing hanging in the courtyard – 21 Main Events
Bride getting makeup – 21 Main Events
Ring macro in box and flowers – 21 Main Events
Brides details – 21 Main Events
Bride’s rings – 21 Main Events
Bride and grooms rings – 21 Main Events
Bride’s dress and reception jacket – 21 Main Events
Bride’s shoes – 21 Main Events
Bride’s hair styling – 21 Main Events
Bride’s hair styling – 21 Main Events
Shoes and rings – 21 Main Events
Bride’s shoes and bouquet – 21 Main Events
Bedazzled jacket – 21 Main Events
Wedding bouquets – 21 Main Events
Instant cameras for reception – 21 Main Events
Wedding cake – 21 Main Events
Custom cake knife – 21 Main Events
Table details in the ballroom – 21 Main Events
Table details in the ballroom – 21 Main Events
Table details in the ballroom – 21 Main Events
Bride’s dress hanging in the dressing room – 21 Main Events
Bride and bridesmaids on the couch – 21 Main Events
Bride and bridesmaids on the couch – 21 Main Events
Groom looking at gift from his bride – 21 Main Events
Guys getting ready pictures – 21 Main Events
Guys getting ready pictures – 21 Main Events
Guys getting ready pictures – 21 Main Events
Bride’s getting ready pictures – 21 Main Events
Bride’s getting ready pictures – 21 Main Events
Mom buttoning up the dress – 21 Main Events
Bride’s getting ready pictures – 21 Main Events
Bride putting on earring in the mirror – 21 Main Events
Bride’s getting ready pictures – 21 Main Events
Groomsmen in the courtyard – 21 Main Events
Custom vans – 21 Main Events
Fun pictures with the groom and brothers – 21 Main Events
Fun pictures with the groom and brothers – 21 Main Events
Emotional first look with bride and father in military dress uniform – 21 Main Events
Emotional first look with bride and father in military dress uniform – 21 Main Events
Emotional first look with bride and father in military dress uniform – 21 Main Events
Emotional first look with bride and father in military dress uniform – 21 Main Events
Emotional first look with bride and father in military dress uniform – 21 Main Events
Emotional first look with bride and father in military dress uniform – 21 Main Events
Emotional first look with bride and father in military dress uniform – 21 Main Events
Bride and bridesmaids in custom photo area – 21 Main Events
Bride and bridesmaids in custom photo area – 21 Main Events
Bride and bridesmaids in custom photo area – 21 Main Events
Custom corks – 21 Main Events
Beautiful table flower decorations – 21 Main Events
Beautiful table flower decorations – 21 Main Events
Bride with little nephew – 21 Main Events
Courtyard wedding arch – 21 Main Events
Emotional Ceremony in the Courtyard
You can see the happiness on Taylor’s face in the pictures below as he watches his bride walk towards him. Kayla even had to wipe some years away from his eyes. I always like to walk around and get different angles of the bride and groom looking into each other’s eyes during the ceremony. With such a large bridal party, it’s a little more difficult to sneak around, but I got some great shots. I also always keep in mind the videographer when a wedding has one, and I try to stay out of his cameras as much as possible. You can see us getting up close and personal for shots of the first kiss. It’s nice to work with a videographer I know well. If you are looking for one, let me know I can give you great suggestions.
After family pictures, I would typically take the bridal party and the bride and groom to the gazebo and beach for photos. With the wedding schedule, this wasn’t going to be possible. The courtyard at 21 Main Events has a lot of beautiful plants, columns, lights, and brickwork, so even without the beach, it’s an excellent spot for pictures. The summer sun was still intense, so we tried to stay in the shade for bridesmaids and groomsmen pictures. I knew Taylor and Kayla planned to return later for sunset pictures, so I took just a few with them before going into introductions and first dances.
Groom walking to the ceremony – 21 Main Events
Sleeping ring bearer – 21 Main Events
Little flower girl getting help walking – 21 Main Events
Groom very emotional with his first look at the bride – 21 Main Events
Bride and father walking to the ceremony – 21 Main Events
Groom with tears in his eyes – 21 Main Events
Groom hugging bride’s father – 21 Main Events
Father giving away the bride – 21 Main Events
Father giving away the bride – 21 Main Events
Bride wiping tears from the eyes of the groom – 21 Main Events
Looking at each other during the vows – 21 Main Events
Looking at each other during the vows – 21 Main Events
Ceremony wide angle panorama – 21 Main Events
Ceremony in the courtyard – 21 Main Events
Parents watching the ceremony – 21 Main Events
Bride and groom looking into each other’s eyes – 21 Main Events
Picture from the balcony from my wife – 21 Main Events
Bride giving her vows – 21 Main Events
Putting on the ring – 21 Main Events
Looking at groom during his vows – 21 Main Events
First kiss – 21 Main Events
Myself getting a little close to Eyecon Films for a first kiss picture – 21 Main Events
Kiss walking down the aisle – 21 Main Events
Bride with bridesmaids – 21 Main Events
Bride with bridesmaids – 21 Main Events
Big wedding party in the courtyard – 21 Main Events
Wedding party cheering for the bride and groom – 21 Main Events
Wedding party cheering for the bride and groom – 21 Main Events
Groom and groomsmen – 21 Main Events
Casual picture with the groomsmen – 21 Main Events
Groom in front of the guys – 21 Main Events
Groomsmen trying to look cool for a picture – 21 Main Events
Bride and groom portraits in the shade of the courtyard walkway – 21 Main Events
Bride and groom portraits in the shade of the courtyard walkway – 21 Main Events
Bride and groom portraits in the shade of the courtyard walkway – 21 Main Events
After ceremony pictures of the bride and groom in front of the courtyard foliage – 21 Main Events
After ceremony pictures of the bride and groom in front of the courtyard foliage – 21 Main Events
After ceremony pictures of the bride and groom in front of the courtyard foliage – 21 Main Events
After ceremony pictures of the bride and groom in front of the courtyard foliage – 21 Main Events
Fun wedding introductions – 21 Main Events
Fun wedding introductions – 21 Main Events
Fun wedding introductions – 21 Main Events
Fun wedding introductions – 21 Main Events
Fun wedding introductions – 21 Main Events
First dance with bride and groom – 21 Main Events
First dance with bride and groom – 21 Main Events
First dance with bride and groom – 21 Main Events
Sweetheart table – 21 Main Events
Lot of smiles and laughs during the toasts – 21 Main Events
Lot of smiles and laughs during the toasts – 21 Main Events
Lot of smiles and laughs during the toasts – 21 Main Events
Lot of smiles and laughs during the toasts – 21 Main Events
Lot of smiles and laughs during the toasts – 21 Main Events
Lot of smiles and laughs during the toasts – 21 Main Events
Sunset pictures of the bride and groom in the 21 Main Events Courtyard
As I mentioned, with all the greenery, lights, and columns, the courtyard at 21 Main Events is stunning for pictures. I would typically have the bride and groom down at the beach at sunset time. It’s beautiful beside the ocean at this time, which you can check out at my previous weddings. Sometimes limitations end up making my photography better, and it pushes me out of my comfort zone. It’s one of the reasons I like shooting with prime lenses. Not being able to zoom forces me into different angles and close-ups that improve my pictures.
Taking all the bride and groom portraits in the courtyard gave me a new appreciation for how pretty it can be. I loved where I had them positioned on the stones in the grass, the green plants on the sides, and the walkway between the columns fading off behind them in the distance. All the bridesmaids even returned for more fun pictures we didn’t have time for earlier.
Romantic portraits in the beautiful courtyard foliage of the bride and groom – 21 Main Events
Romantic portraits in the beautiful courtyard foliage of the bride and groom – 21 Main Events
Romantic portraits in the beautiful courtyard foliage of the bride and groom – 21 Main Events
Romantic portraits in the beautiful courtyard foliage of the bride and groom – 21 Main Events
Romantic portraits in the beautiful courtyard foliage of the bride and groom – 21 Main Events
Kiss in the courtyard – 21 Main Events
Romantic portraits in the beautiful courtyard foliage of the bride and groom – 21 Main Events
Romantic portraits in the beautiful courtyard foliage of the bride and groom – 21 Main Events
Dip by the greenery – 21 Main Events
Bride and groom in the courtyard at sunset – 21 Main Events
Sunset portraits of the bride and groom in the courtyard – 21 Main Events
Sunset portraits of the bride and groom in the courtyard – 21 Main Events
Sunset portraits of the bride and groom in the courtyard – 21 Main Events
Groom giving bride a spin – 21 Main Events
Groom giving bride a spin – 21 Main Events
Lift into the air for a kiss – 21 Main Events
Lifting up the bride in his arms – 21 Main Events
A few more pictures with the girls in the courtyard – 21 Main Events
A few more pictures with the girls in the courtyard – 21 Main Events
A few more pictures with the girls in the courtyard – 21 Main Events
A few more pictures with the girls in the courtyard – 21 Main Events
Bridesmaids peeking out from behind the bride – 21 Main Events
Bride and groom holding baby nephew – 21 Main Events
Fun reception dancing and after-dark courtyard pictures
I always love working with Eyecon Entertainment at weddings. He is a great DJ, giving the reception a club-like feel with pulsing lights and great mixing. Everyone had a blast during the reception, and I got a lot of fun dancing pictures. I even took the bride and groom back out for a few more after-dark courtyard pictures under the hanging lights. I like to set up a flash behind the couple for rim lighting on the hair, and it gives a separation from and lights up the background.
Tyler and Kayla did a private last dance at the end while everyone lined up for a bubble exit. Please let me know if you are planning a wedding at 21 Main Events at North Beach. I’ve done many weddings there and would be happy to help you with suggestions and planning. I usually recommend going to the gazebo and beach for pictures, but even if that doesn’t fit the schedule, you can have beautiful pictures like Taylor and Kayla right in the courtyard.
Parent dance – 21 Main Events
Parent dance – 21 Main Events
Parent dance – 21 Main Events
Parent dance – 21 Main Events
Bride dancing with mom – 21 Main Events
Cake cutting – 21 Main Events
Fun bouquet toss – 21 Main Events
Fun bouquet toss – 21 Main Events
Fun bouquet toss – 21 Main Events
Fun bouquet toss – 21 Main Events
Fun bouquet toss – 21 Main Events
Lots of fun on the dance floor with Eyecon Entertainment – 21 Main Events
Lots of fun on the dance floor with Eyecon Entertainment – 21 Main Events
Lots of fun on the dance floor with Eyecon Entertainment – 21 Main Events
Lots of fun on the dance floor with Eyecon Entertainment – 21 Main Events
Lots of fun on the dance floor with Eyecon Entertainment – 21 Main Events
Lots of fun on the dance floor with Eyecon Entertainment – 21 Main Events
Lots of fun on the dance floor with Eyecon Entertainment – 21 Main Events
Lots of fun on the dance floor with Eyecon Entertainment – 21 Main Events
Lots of fun on the dance floor with Eyecon Entertainment – 21 Main Events
After dark pictures of the bride and groom in the courtyard – 21 Main Events
After dark pictures of the bride and groom in the courtyard – 21 Main Events
After dark pictures of the bride and groom in the courtyard – 21 Main Events
After dark pictures of the bride and groom in the courtyard – 21 Main Events
Big party on the reception dance floor – 21 Main Events
Big party on the reception dance floor – 21 Main Events
Big party on the reception dance floor – 21 Main Events
Big party on the reception dance floor – 21 Main Events
Big party on the reception dance floor – 21 Main Events
Big party on the reception dance floor – 21 Main Events
Big party on the reception dance floor – 21 Main Events
Big party on the reception dance floor – 21 Main Events
Big party on the reception dance floor – 21 Main Events
Big party on the reception dance floor – 21 Main Events
Big party on the reception dance floor – 21 Main Events
Private final dance with bride and groom – 21 Main Events
Private final dance with bride and groom – 21 Main Events
Private final dance with bride and groom – 21 Main Events
Bubbles exit from the venue at the end of the evening – 21 Main Events
Bubbles exit from the venue at the end of the evening – 21 Main Events
Bubbles exit from the venue at the end of the evening – 21 Main Events
Bubbles exit from the venue at the end of the evening – 21 Main Events
Bubbles exit from the venue at the end of the evening – 21 Main Events