Paige and Khang carefully thought about each part of their wedding day – they wanted it to be a sweet representation of their story, so they chose a book theme that ran throughout the decorations. The pinwheels were created from vintage book pages, the succulent planters looked like books, each table had antique books on it, we designed the program to resemble a book – complete with characters, a plot, and a bookmark, and we even made the guestbook out of an old book we found tucked away at a thrift store. It’s titled Stories of Romance from the Age of Chivalry – could it have been any more perfect? I didn’t think so. Before the wedding, Paige and Khang decided to exchange gifts, but without seeing each other. He gave her a lovely journal that he’d written a letter in the front of, and Paige gave Khang a box full of 100 of her favorite memories with him. It was unbelievably adorable.

Enjoy Paige and Khang’s lovely wedding day! Want more? See the rest of the story here.

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Photography: Asharae Marie Photography

Venue: Il Bella Gardens in Albemarle, NC

Coordinator: Kim McIlwaine

Hair: Tara Herring at Salon 2000 in Stanfield, NC

Dress: David’s Bridal

Flowers: Provided by Nature Flower Farm and other vendors at the Charlotte Regional Farmer’s Market and arranged by Jen Daniels and Asharae Kroll with help from family and friends

Decorations: Designed and created by Paige Daniels, Asharae Kroll, & Tim Kroll

Pastor: Taylor Roberts from Vintage 21 in Raleigh, NC

Caterer: Family Catering

Each rehearsal and dinner we’ve photographed has been so different – some couples choose a formal dinner with multiple courses, while others serve barbeque in their backyard. Some simply enjoy a delicious meal while others choose to include a story-telling time where friends and family recount amusing and often poignant stories from the bride and groom’s lives. In Paige and Khang’s case, they chose to honor Khang’s family and his Vietnamese heritage by enjoying authentic Vietnamese dishes at their rehearsal dinner. His sister Nhi hosted their rehearsal dinner at Truc, an incredible restaurant that she and her family own. (If you’re in the Charlotte area, you need to check it out.) We had all sorts of goodness including spring rolls, crab soup, fried rice, quail and lobster. And they even brought out traditional pho for everyone who wanted to try it. Needless to say, the food was incredible. But it wasn’t simply a tasty meal in Paige and Khang’s mind – this was a beautiful way to honor the traditions and the family he grew up in, as well as give the rest of us a taste (literally) of the country he was born in. Thank you, friends, for sharing this day and this meal with us.

Come back soon for Paige & Khang’s wedding day! “Like” our Facebook page, if you haven’t already – You’ll be the first to know once we post their photos!

Paige and I have been best friends since the first day of fourth grade. We went through all our awkward stages together and arrived on the other side relatively unscathed. Nearly two years ago she was my Maid of Honor, and I just had the privilege of being hers (I refused to call myself a Matron of Honor – it sounded too…matronly).

It’s been beautiful to watch the story of Paige and Khang unfold – they are a complete joy and a blessing to be around. Their wedding reflected every bit of love they have for one another and for the Lord. Enjoy a couple frames of the newlyweds!

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I’ve been considering the idea for quite a while now of offering “day in the life” sessions. Being invited into another’s home to capture their day-to-day experience is an intimate and precious thing. I imagine this most often for families with children – they’re growing and changing so quickly! How special would it be to capture the tiny details and moments of where they are right now? The teeth just starting to come in, the soft fuzz on top of his head, the playful grin.

These two sweet boys make me smile so much. Jordan is funny and smart and has so much to say about everything.  Aiden is sweet and observant and learning quickly. I’ve been looking after them the past couple months while their usual caretaker, their grandmother, goes through cancer treatment. It’s been a joy to see how much they’ve learned and grown since I started in January. Each day is a new adventure for them, there’s something to be learned and gained. Because of these two, I’m growing a deeper appreciation for the beauty in the details. Enjoy a few photos of these precious boys.

If you’re interested in inviting us into your home to beautifully and honestly capture your family story, send us an email! asharae[at]asharaemarie.com

Venue: Neo on Locust

Caterer: Calliers

Decorations coordinated by Katelyn Meyer of KM2

I recently read the book One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp, and her story inspired me to begin keeping a list of the gifts God blesses me with each day. They can be profound or not so profound, but either way it’s helped me to have my eyes open. Instead of trudging through and missing the beauty found in the day to day, I’m constantly on the lookout for what I can count as a gift… 22. The silence that accompanies a new snowfall. 50. Puppy hiccups. 66. Treasures waiting to be found amidst rows of dusty antiques. 104. Filtered light through sheer curtains in the morning.

These photos are from one of those gifts – Time spent with family. We spent a day at the zoo a while back, and I’m realizing more and more how blessed we are to be close to our families once again. They love us and support us in ways we couldn’t have known to ask for. Those are gifts we are so grateful for.

Enjoy a little taste of our weekend adventure.