Raleigh Backyard Wedding | Gabby & Ryan

Gabby & Ryan’s backyard wedding in Raleigh in November 2022 was one of my favorite weddings in recent memory. This sweet couple held their ceremony in Gabby’s parents backyard, which overlooks a small pond, with beautiful holly and magnolia bushes nearby. When your backyard looks this good, who needs a wedding venue?

One of the best things about this backyard Raleigh wedding is all the naturally personal touches. Since the wedding was held at Gabby’s parent’s home, the wedding felt cozy, intimate, and personal - I loved being able to take Gabby’s getting ready photos in her childhood bedroom. The families were immediately welcoming to me, and within minutes I felt like a guest instead of a vendor. For me, the best weddings (and best wedding photos) always come when I feel like I can blur the line between vendor and guest and be let into these emotionally intimate and vulnerable moments. Gabby’s mom put together the florals from Trader Joe’s, and how amazing of a job did she do? All of the details for this day came together to create the perfect late fall wedding.

I hope Gabby & Ryan’s backyard Raleigh wedding can serve as inspiration that you can host a beautiful ceremony in many different locations, even if you don’t have a traditional wedding venue. This couple chose to have their dinner and reception at a restaurant (rooftop at The Willard in Downtown Raleigh, which made for awesome dancing photos). As you consider how your own wedding day should look, know that you can make it your own, and choose to focus on the parts of the day that you enjoy and love!