Kate Monroe | Asheville & Atlanta Wedding Photographer

Ruthie + Chris • Charlotte Couples Photography

Kate Monroe — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:00:03 +0000

At the end of last year I found out my friend, Ruthie, a lovely Boston wedding photographer, was going to be in Charlotte with her husband to surprise her parents over the holidays. We were able to meet up briefly and decided to take the opportunity to do a quick Beloved session for them.

Ruthie and her husband, Chris, have such a sweet, gentle and loving bond. Their faith in each other, in their relationship and in God makes their marriage such a beautiful inspiration. I think these images reflect their marriage so well. In every image they fit together, they are a reflection of each other… they are each others comforter, protector, supporter, best friend.

Ruthie and Chris, I adore you both so much and am immensely thankful for the time we were able to spend together. Thank you for sharing your love with me.

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2011 – How beautiful you are.

Kate Monroe — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:00:09 +0000

I’ve had such an amazing year and have adored working with so many wonderful clients this year. I limit myself every year to only a select number of weddings so that I can get to know each client, each couple and form friendships with them. I love that I’m able to give every client full attention and if they want my help, I’m able to be there for every step of the wedding planning process. I can be there to talk them through family drama, friend drama, or even just giving an opinion on what color for bridesmaids dresses, favors or flowers. I’m so blessed to have a job that allows me to build such beautiful friendships with such kindhearted, smart, and talented individuals and amazing couples in love. Here’s a little snippet of some of my favorites from the past year.

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Sara + Jason • Charlotte Couples Photography

Kate Monroe — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:30:42 +0000

Sara and Jason have been married 12 years and every single time I see or talk to one of them it reminds me of my relationship with my husband. They have such a beautiful balance between them, despite when life is hectic and the kids are testing their patience, at the end of the day, the two of them can sit outside together and there’s a calmness. I remember Sara telling me one day that “after a day of dealing with snotty noses, work schedules, muddy pawprints across the kitchen, laundry for miles, I’m reminded I still have my love story going to bed with me every night.” How lovely is that? That is what marriage is all about, sharing the weight and responsibilities of life so that you can enjoy your free time together as well.

Sara and Jason’s Beloved session was their first time since their wedding having professional photos taken of just them, no kids involved. I think there’s a bit more nervous energy when you know you’re the focus, rather than your kids. Regardless of this, within minutes it was obvious that they were both completely connected and focused on each other rather than the photos, which is exactly what Beloved is about. The emotional bond, the celebration of the relationship. It’s not a focus on the clothes, the location, the scenery, it’s about the marriage and the connection. Sara and Jason, I love you both dearly and feel so blessed that you shared such beautiful moments with me. Thank you so much, from the bottom of my heart, for enriching my life with your friendship.

To read a more detailed, informational post about Beloved sessions, click here.

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Craggy Garden • Asheville Elopement Wedding Photographer

Kate Monroe — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:00:35 +0000

I am absolutely in love with elopements. I enjoyed my wedding, our time with friends and family, but if I could do it over again I’d be seriously tempted to take a trip somewhere, hire a photographer, an officiant, get a pretty dress, bouquet and get my hair/makeup done and have a special intimate ceremony with my husband. Actually, I’m seriously tempted to do that every.single.year on our anniversary. One of these days…

When these two booked me to photograph their wedding I did a little happy dance. There’s just something about the secrecy and intimacy of an elopement that nothing can replace. It takes you back to the heart of what a wedding is truly about, the couple, their relationship, their marriage. Special moments and emotions just between the two of them happen during elopements that no one but the few witnesses get to see. Such an honor.

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Marie + Chris • Bald Head Island Wedding Photographer

Kate Monroe — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 19:24:57 +0000

When Marie and Chris e-mailed me to see if I’d be interested in photographing their wedding I was elated. I love 1) small, intimate, close-knit weddings and 2) beach weddings. I love the change of pace a beach wedding offers. Shooting in Asheville all the time is beautiful, but it’s nice to have new surroundings to work with every now and then.

I didn’t get a chance to meet Marie + Chris before their wedding but I just knew we’d click, especially when she mentioned their enormous love for their two children, their dogs (who unfortunately were unable to attend in person). When their wedding day finally arrived and I met Marie, I was absolutely floored. She’s beyond awesome! She has such a huge personality, beautiful heart and is crazy gorgeous. I’m still completely floored that she did her own makeup for the wedding… it’s flawless.

Marie + Chris, I had an amazing day with you both and feel so fortunate to have met you and given the opportunity to spend your wedding day with you, your families and close friends. You are such a wonderful couple and the 13 years you’ve spent together has obviously created an awesome path for the wonderful life that is ahead of you!

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Guestbooks!

Kate Monroe — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 00:02:13 +0000

I haven’t previously offered guestbooks because I couldn’t find the perfect company that offered everything I wanted for my clients… until now. These guestbooks are available in a number of silk (or fabric – I love silk though!) colors as well as an optional photo cover (or you can get it in a full photowrap). The other part that I love, and wasn’t willing to budge on was the lay-flat part. I’m going to be honest and say I really dislike storybook albums (you know, the books that have the curve at the binding like childrens books do?). I just don’t like them for albums because it inevitably distorts the photos and doesn’t allow the same flow of the story as layflat albums do. These gorgeous lay-flat guestbook albums are all custom designed by me so that there is plenty of room in the pages for guests to sign, draw, leave poems, quotes or any other momentos for the bride and groom. To make these albums even more perfect is they’re printed on gorgeous, felt paper so that ink doesn’t smear. Here are a couple super quick photos I took on the way out the door yesterday (sorry for the shadows on the albums!) and a few example pages of the album designs.

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Meredith + Paul • Asheville Wedding Photographer

Kate Monroe — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 23:11:06 +0000

Meredith, oh how I love Meredith. She’s impossible not to love: smart, sassy and sweet. She has a beautiful laugh, a gorgeous heart and an amazing soul. Paul is a quiet, kind-natured, talented guy who adores her. Gosh how he adores her! Their wedding was just filled to the brim with loveliness. Meredith, Paul and their families infused their wedding with everything that they love. Family, friends, music, games, and lots and lots of laughter. Meredith’s parents surprised her and Paul with Arby’s catering at the reception. Ever since she was a little girl Meredith always said that Arby’s would cater her wedding because she was that obsessed with the place (it is delicious, I can’t blame her!) and her parents made it happen. Paul’s dad officiated the ceremony and included wonderful, personal words and stories. Listening to the ceremony you could tell he was just bursting at the seams with excitement and love for them. Even as Meredith and her dad walked down the aisle you can see the pride on his face. It seemed like every part of the family helped out with making this wedding a special day for them, such a lovely gift for a wonderful couple.

Meredith and Paul, thank you a million times over for sharing your wedding day with me and for letting me into your lives. The two of you are going to do amazing things and touch the hearts of many in your future careers. I feel blessed to know you both. I hope Connecticut treats you well!

Venue: All Souls Cathedral
Event Planner/Florals: BobbyMarks Designs
Cake: Icing on the Cake
Dress: Paloma Blanca

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Beloved.

Kate Monroe — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 05:00:09 +0000

Song of Soloman 2:16 “My beloved is mine and I am his.”

What do you cherish most? Your car? Your house? Or is it love? Love is such an incredible gift. It’s something that always exists within us but needs to be nurtured. It needs to be rediscovered and valued again and again throughout our lives so as not to be taken for granted.

My mom and step-dad, Terry, have always been an inspiration to me when it comes to love and marriage. I’ve never seen a woman love a man as much as my mom loves him and I’ve never seen adoration in a man’s eyes like everyone could see in his. After 7 years of marriage, Terry suffered a traumatic brain injury and my mom lovingly cared for him and supported him even though sometimes, due to his lack of memory and stubborn nature, he made it difficult to be patient. I think a lot of people may have seen the situation my mom was in and felt sorry for her, because from the outside looking in, it was a lot to deal with, every day was a challenge… but my mom every single day felt blessed that he was in her life. I found out recently that for the first 4 years after the accident my mom never heard “I love you” from Terry unprompted (meaning, he said it back, but never said it first), after his accident I think he just didn’t have the memory or emotional connection to really understand love. Can you imagine your spouse not telling you “I love you” for 4 years? They were tested in ways that most marriages never have to face and through it all their love became more and more evident to everyone around them. It was infectious. Being around them reminded everyone of what’s important in life. When Terry passed away suddenly this past May I regretted not taking more photos of the two of them together, in the moment, celebrating their love and marriage, it motivated me to follow through with a project I’d started thinking about over a year ago. A project that would help me give other married couples what I wish I had given my mom and Terry years ago. A visual reminder of how beautiful and unique their love and marriage is.

Beloved is something that has been on my heart and mind for a while. I wanted a focus on marriage, focus on love; deep, tested love. Old love. I wanted to do something that would give married couples a remembrance of who they are together: how they laugh together, cry together, and glow when they’re completely and fully in the moment with their spouse. That unmistakable look of two people filled with trust, comfort and love with each other. Beloved sessions will be relaxed, casual, comfortable sessions that focus on your love and marriage. It won’t be about the outfits or the locations, it’s simply about love. All Beloved sessions will include an online gallery and high resolution edited images on CD, albums are an optional add-on but highly recommended so that you can have a daily visual reminder of what’s important to you and how amazing your relationship is.

Bee + Jeff = Married 10 years

Donna + Tom = Married 40 years

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Combining loves: Music + Photography

Kate Monroe — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 20:12:49 +0000

I love music. It moves me. If I had the time every morning I’d love to light a candle, open the windows, lay in bed, close my eyes and listen to my favorite songs of the day (or week). I love how the words and the rhythm can move me physically and emotionally. It can change my blood pressure, my heart beat, it affects me so internally. While I was at the gym today listening to music I decided I wanted to share some favorites with you and I wanted to start incorporating music into some of my blog posts whenever the mood strikes. I always edit while listening to music and make inspiration playlists to listen to before sessions, so why should I deprive y’all of some of the musical inspiration I had while creating the images that you’re looking at. So in future blog posts, I would LOVE it if you would turn on your speakers, hit the play button and listen to the music while scrolling through the images I post. I want my images to move you the way they move me and I think music can add to that movement and emotion in such a strong way.

For now, and as a test run, here’s a song that’s always been a favorite of mine. Also, if you have an recommendations for songs, artists or albums let me know… I’m always on the search for new music!

Keep an eye out for a blog post coming soon… I have some news I’m ridiculously excited about that I’ve been working on for a long time! A teaser for you…

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Albums!

Kate Monroe — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 15:12:31 +0000

I received this beautiful album of Mike & Jessica‘s gorgeous Atlanta wedding a few weeks ago and couldn’t wait to take photos and blog it. It is absolutely stunning. I can’t stop staring at it… I’m smitten. Flushmount albums are one of my favorite things to create. There’s absolutely nothing like opening a gorgeous book and viewing the story of your wedding day, feeling the wave of emotions all over again. The sweet look on your husband’s face as he sees you for the first time, the happiness and pride in your parents faces as the two of you promise forever to each other and begin your own family just as they did many years before. Those moments, feelings, memories deserve to be re-lived as often as possible. They’re a part of a story that deserves to be shown. A DVD of images is for archiving, but an album is an heirloom. It’s the story of the beginning of your forever, the story that your children and grandchildren can look back on and relive with you.

All albums include a large color range of leather or silk cover options as well as optional imprinting and photo cameo. Shown below is a 10×10 premium gray leather album with imprinting. If you haven’t yet ordered an album from me, please do so! An album is my number one recommendation for everyone. I would love for every single client of mine to have a beautiful heirloom to share their story with their family, friends, and future generations.