Introducing Lay-Flat Heirloom Wedding Albums

Get excited!! I have been waiting so long to write this post! Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Cana Dunlap Photography’s newest featured product, Lay-Flat Wedding Albums! These gorgeous albums are made with iris fabric and come in a variety of sizes and vintage-inspired colors. The featured album seen here was ordered in color IC 02. Made by FLORICOLOR USA, all 40 pages are made of very thick, durable paper (You'd have to actually try to rip them...but don't. They're pretty.), which, turned page-by-page, lay flat. What's even better is that here at Whimsey, we design the layout of each book in studio. No fuss on your end, and you can trust that we will arrange your photos in such a way to tell a true story of your favorite day ever. And wait for it...YOU CAN CUSTOMIZE THESE BABIES. Yep, as you can see in our featured photos below, you have the option to emboss your names on the cover.

Some questions might be running through your head right now, such as, "Why do I even need to order an album? Doesn't everyone see my photos online anyways?", or "Can't I just create one online myself?" Let me explain to you why those are not the best of ideas:

a// NOT EVERYONE SEES THEM ONLINE. What about granny, or those friends who are just over Facebook so they deleted it? (I have several close friends that have done this) Or what about those friends who just don't really check their Facebook? Maybe they just didn't see the photos in their newsfeed that day. Our point is - not everyone that is special to you will see your photos online. At least, not all of them. Make sure they see all of your favorite shots. Don’t let your beautiful images die on a hard drive!

b// SHOW OFF. Think about this - every time you have a guest over, you don't want to have to say, "Hey, would you guys like to see our wedding photos?", followed by "Let me just pull them up online." These fabulous albums are the perfect centerpiece for your coffee table or any other space you feel they would fit - get creative! People will be drawn to them so much that you won't even have to ask them if they'd like to take a gander at those lovely photos you paid so much for to perfectly document your day.

c// YOU WON'T HAVE TIME. As much craziness that goes into the wedding planning process, think about your new life together. Now it's time to change your name, which means you need to go through all your documents and change them as well. Not to mention get settled into a new place if that's the route you have chosen to go, fill your place with all that stuff you got from your bridal shower (or showers), send those thank yous to every person that gave a gift, share those photos from your honeymoon, etc. (but mostly importantly, just enjoy this new season of marriage!). The last thing you'll want to have to think of is the tedious task of organizing a wedding album. Buying an album through CDP ensures that you will have a gorgeous, already-made album at your door just a few months after your wedding.

d// QUALITY. Believe me, you'll notice the difference in quality between ordering a professional album vs. creating one on a website where you can also buy those custom photo calenders. The albums we customize, design in-studio, and order for you online are absolutely gorgeous and of the highest quality, a definite necessity for passing down memories long past your lifetime (which brings us to our next point)...

e// TIMELESS. Prints will eventually fade, canvas eventually rip, and flash drives eventually break (because let's face it, technology doesn't last forever), but with a hard-bound, sturdy book full of memories, your great grandkids will still be taking this off the shelf even after you're gone. I can't tell you how many times I have gone through old books filled with prints of my family over the years, and although it's so incredibly special to venture to another era, I just wish things were in order, weren't cracked and faded, and the binding weren't falling apart. With a customized, lay-flat wedding album, you'll have the peace of mind knowing that it will be enjoyed for years to come.

Also featured are Parents Albums. These are available in an 8x8 size in a variety of color and materials.

Lauren + Shane // Cannon Green Wedding // Charleston, SC

I’ve had the honor of shooting at Cannon Green in Charleston, SC multiple times this year and I love it more and more with every wedding that I shoot there! Lauren and Shane got married there this spring and their wedding day was a dream. The weather was bright and breezy and their “First Look” on Chalmers street was absolutely breathtaking. Read more about their story below!

Lauren and Shane met each other in their very first class at SCAD together! Lauren said she could remember it like it was yesterday. They both shared the mutual connection of being two New Yorkers in Georgia for the first time — and were so excited about all that was ahead in their college years in beautiful Savannah. After a year of always bumping into each other and lots of small talk during those run-ins, one of Lauren’s best friends met Shane separately in a film class of his. He invited Shane to hangout with them one night and they ended up becoming really good friends. Lauren was actually dating someone else at the time - that ended, and Shane swooped in shortly after! Apparently they always had a crush on each other but the timing was never right until they both realized it was long overdue to finally give it a shot. January 2019 marks 10 years of us being together and they wouldn't have it any other way!

When I asked what they loved most about each other Lauren said she love’s Shane's passion. Passion for his family, passion for his work, passion for our partnership. She said “He's always pushing me to better myself in every way possible, even though he wholeheartedly accepts and loves me as I am in this moment and as I've been every moment before. We've grown so much together this last decade — we're still growing, and a big reason why is because he challenges me and believes in me. I hope we never stop growing.”

Shane shared with me that “It's the little things I see in Lauren that I love and think about most often. I'm talking about her bright glowing smile, her sweet, kind demeanor towards others. Then there is her world class sense of humor that I can always share a laugh with. On the serious side her sharp intellect always keeps my idiot tendencies in check (I need this). And finally she has a style and beauty that I think is so authentic and reflects her character so well that I think is rare to find.”

These two’s story has been 10 years in the making and I could not be more honored to be document this season of their life! Check out some of my favorite moments from their Cannon Green Wedding.

Vendor Team

Coordination // Cruz Coordination

Venue/Catering/Bar // Cannon Green

DJ // DJ Malike

Rentals // Fox Audio

Flowers // Tiger Lily

Hair and Makeup // Slate Hair & Makeup

Officiant // Kristen Barner

Cake // Ashley Bakery

Transportation // Lowcountry Valet

Videography // Ivory and Iron 

Danielle + Mike // Harbour Club Wedding // Charleston, SC

Danielle + Mike // Harbour Club Wedding // Charleston, SC

"I swear I couldn't love you more than I do right now, and yet I know I will tomorrow."
- Leo Christopher

What a beautiful thing marriage is. It's a commitment to love another soul in the deepest way - forever and completely unconditionally. Danielle and Mike declared that commitment of lifelong love before their family and friends on a glorious spring afternoon at St John Beloved Catholic Church. With a beautiful wedding reception at The Harbour Club in Downtown Charleston, SC.

Their wedding decor was Kate Spade inspired - classic, with pops of bright florals all around. And while the decor was cheery and beautiful, Danielle put her own personal touches to her wedding day. Instead of a cake, Danielle and Mike decided to have homemade cookies for their guests, which was very special, particularly to Danielle, as it held a lot of sentiment. Danielle's great grandmother was always known for her Christmas cookies, and since she passed away recently, Danielle wanted to honor her great granny in this way on her wedding day. She also wore a piece of jewelry on her wedding day that belonged to her great grandmother. What a sweet way to honor her memory on their most special day!

Along with the DIY details that Danielle put together, they also incorporated several of their local Etsy vendors into their wedding details, such as the bridesmaids' jewelry, the can koozies and the thumbprint tree that served as their guest book.

Everyone danced, made smores (I mean, what could be better than a smores table at your reception?!), laughed and celebrated this new union of love. And as the sun set, we headed to the roof, where we took some time to snap some romantic pictures, basking in the breathtaking sunset.

Congratulations Danielle & Mike! May your love grow deeper with each day that God gives you!

Ceremony Venue: St. John the Beloved Catholic Church
Reception Venue: Harbour Club
Catering/Bar: Harbour Club
DJ: Lee Edwards Entertainment
Gown Boutique: Elegance Boutique
Hair/Makeup: Tease Blow Dry Bar
Florals: Tiger Lily
Transportation: Party Bus Charleston

Legare Waring House Wedding // Taryn + Andrew

Legare Waring House Wedding // Taryn + Andrew

Charleston is one of the most popular wedding destinations in the country. Every weekend, people travel from near and far to say their "I do's" under the lowcountry's beautiful oaks, draped with moss and drenched in sunshine. Taryn and Andrew picked the perfect destination for their wedding, at the Legare Waring House, and there couldn't have been a more beautiful day. The air was unusually crisp for a May afternoon, and all were in agreement that Taryn and Andrew's big day was stunning in every way.

The couple met in college, and it was fate! To give them some time to reflect on their love for each other in a simple setting, they met under an oak tree, where they had their "First Look", and after the big reveal, they expressed how overjoyed they were that they made the decision to have one. Taryn was excited that they had more time to spend with friends and family throughout the day, and the focus was on being in the moment, rather than rushing to get great shots before we ran out of light. I love when couples decide to have a "First Look" because it not only relieves A LOT of stress for them on their big day, but it also is such a special time of one on one time with the love of your life before you commit publicly to love each other forever. It most certainly is special to have a few private moments to share that bond together.

From the attire to the venue, the simple rustic chic decor and gorgeous greenery to the laid back vibes, it was a southern wedding to remember. The air was filled with sweet melodies, and there were nothing but smiles all around. What a joy it was for me to witness the couple's family and friends that traveled to this beautiful town to witness the most special day of Taryn and Andrew's lives.

Thank you Taryn and Andrew for letting me document your special day. I wish you all the happiness in the world!

Vendors:

Venue: Legare Waring House
Wedding Planner: Boutique Planning (Brooke)
Catering/Bar: Cru Catering
Cocktail Hour/Reception Band: Other Brother Entertainment
Gown Boutique: BHLDN
Makeup/Hair: Ash and Co.
Florals: Flowershop
Transportation: Lowcountry Valet & Shuttle