Carolina Yacht Club wedding photos in Wrightsville Beach

A first look and deck portraits before the chapel ceremony

Virginia and Conner used Carolina Yacht Club for portraits and their reception, with the ceremony at Little Chapel on the Boardwalk. Their first look and family photographs happened before the service so they could spend cocktail hour with their guests.

During the portraits, the light was harsh, so I used shade cast by the palm trees. The couple portrait on the deck is an example from this part of the day. I would plan around the light and available space on your date rather than promise the same conditions.

See collections and coverage or use the short inquiry below to ask about your Carolina Yacht Club date.

Getting married at Carolina Yacht Club?

Share your date and plans. We’ll reply with availability and coverage options for your wedding.

Virginia and Conner’s Carolina Yacht Club wedding

This was a wedding with separate getting ready locations, portraits at the club, a chapel ceremony and a return to the club for the reception. The photographs below follow those parts of the day.

I started with the bride’s getting ready photographs and details while my second photographer covered the groom at the Blockade Runner. The couple arranged a trolley for the wedding party’s transfers.

Getting ready and the details

The bride and bridesmaids got ready at a Wrightsville Beach Airbnb near the Blockade Runner. I photographed them there while my second photographer covered the groom separately.

The opening detail photograph brings together the stationery, rings and shoes. If you want those pieces remembered, gather them in one place before I arrive and include detail photographs in your getting ready coverage.

We also made bridal portraits at Carolina Yacht Club before the ceremony. If your day uses several locations, share the addresses and access times so the coverage includes the transfers, not just the time taking photographs.

Two getting ready locations, one coverage plan

At the Blockade Runner, the groom’s group had a football game on while getting ready. My second photographer covered their side of the morning while I was with the bride.

That parallel coverage is a real example of what a second photographer can contribute when you are getting ready apart. We would confirm the locations, timing and team with your collection rather than assume one photographer can be in both places.

First look and portraits on the deck

The couple chose to see each other before the ceremony, followed by family portraits on the club’s deck. That gave them time with guests at cocktail hour instead of saving all of the group photographs for after the service.

I used shade from the palm trees when the light was harsh. For your own portraits, I would check the usable shade, the background and where your family can wait comfortably. An exact clock time from another wedding is less useful than a plan for the light and access on your date.

The Little Chapel ceremony story explains how the next part of this day was photographed. Include boarding and travel time when planning the transfer.

From the club to Little Chapel

The wedding party traveled by trolley to Little Chapel on the Boardwalk. For that ceremony, the pastor and coordinator asked for no flash and limited movement. I worked within those instructions rather than treating the ceremony like an unrestricted portrait session.

See the Little Chapel wedding photographs and ceremony advice for the room, aisle views and family photograph planning. Confirm the rules for your service directly with the chapel and officiant.

Reception photographs and the end of the night

Back at Carolina Yacht Club, the story continued with the reception. The cake cutting and dance floor photograph show different moments from that celebration, alongside the earlier portraits.

Virginia and Conner ended their night with bubbles and gold streamers before leaving by boat from the dock. That was part of their wedding’s arrangements, not a promise included with the venue or our collections.

If an exit matters to you, confirm its timing, transport and permissions with the venue and operator, then make sure photography coverage extends through it. Tell us which final moments you want remembered before choosing your coverage end time.

Wrightsville Beach Wedding Vendors

These are the vendors credited in the original story from Virginia and Conner’s wedding. Contact each business directly to confirm current services and availability for your date.

ONSITE VENDOR TEAM

1. Little Chapel on the Boardwalk
2. Carolina Yacht Club
3. Pink Penguin Studios
4. Imaginary Cakes
5. Scarlett Morehouse
6. Cape Fear Charters
7. A. Noble Events
8. Gather Floral
9. Party Suppliers
10. Design Perfection
11. Spoonfed Kitchen
12. Seven Till Sunrise
13. Dr. Ernie Johnson (Officiant) – Phone: 910.322.8040
14. SET (Hair) – Email: weddings@setblowout.com
15. Trolly Stop – Email: azalealimo@gmail.com

Carolina Yacht Club Wedding Timeline Example

This is the timeline recorded for this wedding. Use it to discuss the sequence of portraits, ceremony and reception, then adjust travel, access and coverage to your own plans.

1:00 PM Photographer arrives

2:30 PM First look and portraits at Carolina Yacht Club

4:30 PM Guests arrive at Little Chapel on the Boardwalk

5:00 PM Ceremony begins

6:00 PM Cocktail hour at Carolina Yacht Club

7:00 PM Reception begins

9:30 PM Boat exit at Carolina Yacht Club dock

Hire a Wrightsville Beach wedding photographer

Planning a wedding at Carolina Yacht Club in Wrightsville Beach? Get in touch to talk about your date and timeline.