I’ve been an Asheville wedding photographer for 18 years, and just when I think I’ve seen it all—someone catches fire. (Yes, she’s okay.)

This past year was a tapestry of light, emotion, wild weather, deeper connections, and more barefoot dancing than I could have imagined. I’ve photographed weddings on cliff sides and in candlelit chapels, across oceans and just down the road here in Asheville. And still, each celebration reminds me that no two stories unfold the same way.

At the beginning of the year, I studied for and passed my drone certification. It was a technical process but one that expanded my storytelling. Aerial imagery adds perspective, especially in places with dramatic landscapes like Asheville. I’ve loved incorporating this added element to my weddings this season.

I’ll never forget Michael’s grandmother flying in from the Bahamas and leading the crowd in a chorus that included the F-word—loud, proud, and completely unforgettable. It was one of those moments that reminds me how personal and unfiltered weddings can be when people feel free to be themselves.

During an engagement session deep in the Blue Ridge Mountains, a rainbow emerged and lingered. For almost an hour, it hung above us like some kind of gentle omen. The rain was soft, the couple was relaxed, and the images from that session still feel a little otherworldly.

What I’ll remember most, though, are the people. Guests kicking off their shoes. Couples fully immersed in the celebration. Parents holding back tears during toasts. Friends dancing without self-consciousness. These are the kinds of scenes I’m drawn to again and again, the ones that don’t need direction or perfection to be beautiful.

Being a wedding photographer in Asheville means adapting to weather, people, and light that changes by the hour. But that’s the gift of it: no two weddings are alike, and no story is identical.

Here are my favorite images from 2025.