Elegant Umstead Hotel and Spa Wedding | Raleigh, NC | Jade and Daniel — Adam Chapin Photography

You know a wedding is going to be a good one when you sit down with a couple before they have hired you, and their first question to you is not do you have insurance or what happens if you are sick, but rather what advice would you offer a couple about to get married. And then even before you have started documenting the day that the groom has you on the verge of tears in front of all of his groomsmen. That's exactly what happened during, or really before, Jade and Daniel's elegant Umstead Hotel and Spa wedding, though the Umstead is known (along with the incredible planning of the ladies of A Southern Soiree) to throw an amazing wedding to begin with which you can see more of here.

As I walked into Daniel's suite and introduced myself and my second shooter to his groomsmen, Daniel put his arm around me, quieted the room and shared with his closest friends how excited he and Jade were to have me as their wedding photographer, how much they loved their engagement session artwork and how I was not just their photographer, that through all of our meetings and time together, I had become a friend as well. I was so caught off guard. No one had ever done this in what felt like a grand gesture, and it was overwhelmingly humbling. And while I strive to provide each of my couples with an experience to remember, Daniel gave me a moment to never forget. Now if that doesn't set the tone of a wedding, then I don't know what does!

Jade and Daniel's day was unbelievably beautiful.

While it was no doubt a hot day, the sun set right behind the hotel and cast a great cooling shadow over the guests just in time for the ceremony. But even more so, you could just feel the joy in everyone that day. From their exchange of gifts before the ceremony, during which they both cried the tears of knowing that the person they would be standing with at the end of that aisle was undoubtedly their forever person that truly understood, accepted and loved them for who they are. Though it was not just their energy together, but it was everyone who was there. Everyone I spoke with or overheard talked about how amazing the day had been, how beautiful everything was and how great both Jade and Daniel are, but especially together.

Folks sipped on Jade and Daniel's signature cocktails for the event, took champagne from an ivy wall and enjoyed some delicious crab cake appetizers. Then when we wrapped up portraits with Jade and Daniel, the party got lit and I am pretty sure that a Jason hockey mask made it out on to the dance floor at one point. Yep, it was that kind of party.

I've looked at these photos a hundred times by now, and every time they make me smile, and often laugh out loud. No doubt about it, I am looking forward to spending some time catching up with these two soon.

In the mean time, I hope you enjoy checking out their wedding day!