Abby & Amanda wanted to elope because it felt like them! No stress, little planning, and get to have a vacation in one of their favorite places in North Carolina! They met in college at Liberty University while studying to be nurses and now live in charlotte with their two dogs. After dating for 6 years, they knew it was time to start their forever! When we met at Queen City Grounds in Charlotte, I fell in love with these two! They told me they wanted a fall ceremony with just them, their officiant, their two witnesses and family. After helping them plan, the decided to have their ceremony at Buck Springs Overlook outside of Asheville, North Carolina.

I did an amazing thing with Phylicia from Posh Moments Photography for this Winter Style elopemetn in North Carolina! She put on the Honestly workshop and GUYS! IT WAS PHENOMENAL! Learning from her about Two Bright Lights, how to find vendors, styling these elopements for North Carolina brides, and creating that relationship was so inspiring and helpful. At the end of the workshop, it was no wonder she sold out in 30 minutes of starting ticket sales! My favorite part was meeting other photographers in the area from the BabeCharlotte group on FB. It’s an AMAZING group for anyone starting out and there is no shame posting any question you have on there. Some of my favorite ladies like Avonne, and Hilary were there too from North Carolina! 

A few weeks before this workshop Phylicia messaged me and said one of her male models dropped out! She asked me to help her find someone for this elopement. With my connections to working at Belk, I texted my friend Dylan in North Carolina and bam! He was able to make it! She gave me a shout out during her talk and I was so surprised to have a thank you in front of EVERYONE! All I saw it was helping a friend. 

As for our AMAZING VENDORS, Phylicia got the best of the best! Some vendors for this North Carolina Elopement I already knew like Meagan Kelly, and Honey Silks. But I am SO happy to have met some new ones like Glammed and Groomed, The Antique, and Vintage Soul Floral Design. It made me laugh when Phylicia said “Yes, I am being extra dot com for this elopement! You don’t have to with styled shoots but that is just me!”. What was amazing is that she was SO ORGANIZED!! I have no idea how she does it.

2018 Is the year Aly Barnett Photography became a business and an LLC! My daytime job changed companies and people were getting fired left and right. I told myself, eh! That’s okay! I can always shoot weddings full time. Little did I know, that is what happend.

This was the year I started working with The Remnate Collective, joined the Anchor and Veil fam, shot as an associate for even more photographers, YET shot 10 of my own weddings. With a total of 26! I didn’t count that till yesterday. 26 GUYS! That is a lot. No wonder my hard drive has zero space. I also rebranded myself, a new website, more advertising and gear!

For 2019, my word is FOCUS. I am decided to take more time for my business than working a 9 – 5 job everyday! Well, try. Haha! I still love that job but everyday is way too much. I already have 10 weddings booked for 2019 and still getting more! 2018 had so much growth. I couldn’t have done any of this without all my photographer friends, the awesome facebook groups, and of course, Sam and Sophie.

CHEERS!!

Are you ready for these AMAZING details y’all!?! Jess & Angel decided to get married before their actual wedding day on a wim! Not only did they drive all the way from Raleigh, they showed their love in SUCH a beautiful way! Thank you to our team! I loved working with all of you!

Barrie Leigh Fields – @barrieleighfields
13 Cedar Events – @13cedarevents
Narcisse Greenway Design – @narcissegreenwaydesign
Roots Catering – @roots_catering
Viri Lovely Designs – @virilovelydesigns
Artistry by Aly – @artistry_by_aly
Paige & Elliott (providing attire for both models) – @paigeandelliott
Models – Jessica and Angel – @jskamdo
Cooke Rentals – @cookerentalslkn

Jessica and Bert decided to elope at the courthouse with their family! They loved it way more than planning a big wedding! Even though there are no photos allowed in the courthouse, we walked through uptown taking photos of them in the June summer heat! Can you tell? We stopped in The Cotton Room to find out, that is where one of their first dates was! After cooling off, they met with their friends and family at The Broken Spoke for the BEST cheese plates, drinks, and a surprise appearance by one of their favorite musicians from Greenville, South Carolina! Jessica & Bert were so great and easy to photograph the entire day! Plus, I am going back for more cheese at The Broken Spoke soon!

I finally get to publish this blog!! This styled shoot was published on JuneBugWeddings.com last week. It was like an early birthday present to me! I am 25 today and yes, I am posting this blog because I am THAT excited! Abby from 13 Cedar helped me and Narcisse from Greenway Design put our idea to life. I couldn’t have done this without ANY of our vendors!! (Check them out below!)

Drea and Bryce have such a beautiful love story even though this wasn’t their wedding day, they eloped before they had their two adorable boys! I think their love story is amazing and now they have these photos of them to show their kids later in life! 

Okay, I might be a little late on this post… But I feel like I need to post this for me! I have grown SO MUCH this year it’s insane. I have to thank these photographers below for helping me grow! <3 

Tessa (Folk and Wayfarer) & Vera Gayazov

OH MY GOSH THE TWO OF YOU!! I probably would still be shooting bright and airy without y’all. Haha! You two have helped me create my portfolio with your amazing couples and pushing me to get the creative, and atypical shots. This was a big learning curve for me and thank you for being so down to earth with me! <3

Fox & Owl Studio

Shannon and Andrew, just your meet-ups have been amazing! Your one advice of doing styled shoots have been AMAZING! That has pushed me so far with my work it’s incredible! Please keep teaching!!

Cheers to 2017!