Mr. and Mrs. Zumaris | JC Raulston Arboretum

It’s no secret by now that the pandemic has changed the game for weddings. Jenny and Jeff were initially supposed to get married in the summer of 2020. You may remember my post about their micro-wedding ceremony in Raleigh on their original wedding date and how we had thought the rest of their big day would get to proceed that August. Well, as we all know, the past few years have been about as unpredictable as they can be. Jeff and Jenny’s celebrations wound up being postponed almost a full year, but in July of 2021 I finally got to return to Raleigh.

Jenny and Jeff spent the morning at their home getting ready with their family. It was so much fun to have their families come into town and to have everyone under one roof. The morning was extremely relaxed and light-hearted as the bridal crew sipped mimosas and the groomsmen prepared for a quick trip to their neighbor’s putting green. A signature of their relationship is Jeff and Jenny’s love of bourbon and it was only appropriate that Jeff and his groomsmen celebrate the day with a toast on the green. Soon after we brought Jenny over for their first look, and their portraits with their adorable pup, Reya.

You could truly feel the joy between this bridal crew. We had an absolute blast capturing tons of fun portraits at the JC Raulston Arboretum. This crew shared lots of laughs and goofy moments and were absolute champs at enduring the North Carolina July heat. I really love when bridal parties are themselves and really have fun in the moment with the photos because that is what makes them feel so authentic. This group was so kind and I loved being witness to how much they love Jenny and Jeff.

I love wandering through a garden. I’ve always been a huge lover of flowers and getting to spend time in areas full of them is always a treat. Add in a really in-love couple and it makes for a really delightful afternoon. Jenny and Jeff are people whose love takes the form of a sincerely true friendship and you can feel that by hanging around them. We spent our afternoon wandering around the garden taking portraits and really soaking in a long-awaited moment. After portraits we headed back to Jenny and Jeff’s for tacos with their friends and family, which is my opinion is the best way to end any day. When I think of a word to describe these two, patience is always one that comes to mind. Their initial plans didn’t look as they expected, but Jeff and Jenny were willing to wait for a safe opportunity to gather with everyone and it was sure worth the wait. I can’t wait to continue capturing their story and to see what comes next for their adventure together.