Some love stories begin with a first date. Others begin with a chance encounter that crosses an entire ocean.
For Caleb and Lucie, their story began overseas.
While Caleb was stationed abroad, he met Lucie, who is from the Czech Republic. And in one of those moments that feels almost too perfect to be coincidence, Caleb saw her and thought, “If I get on that plane without taking the opportunity to say hi, I’ll regret it forever.”
So he took the chance.
And that one little “hello” became the beginning of something much bigger—a love that would eventually bring them together to celebrate their marriage surrounded by the people they love.
An Intimate Summer Wedding at Covington Gardens
On July 26th, Caleb and Lucie exchanged vows at the beautiful Covington Gardens, surrounded by lush greenery, a gorgeous garden setting, and their closest family and friends.
Their intimate wedding was the perfect reflection of their relationship—personal, meaningful, and filled with moments that felt completely theirs.
From the moment they walked back down the aisle together, you could feel the excitement and joy between them. There was so much laughter throughout their day, and their portraits captured the playful side of their relationship just as beautifully as the romantic moments.
Before the “I Do’s”
Before the ceremony began, there was a beautiful sense of anticipation throughout Covington Gardens. The afternoon was filled with those quiet little moments that happen before a wedding day truly begins—the final touches, getting ready, and the excitement of knowing that, in just a little while, Caleb and Lucie would finally be standing together at the altar.
Lucie looked absolutely beautiful as she stepped into her wedding dress, surrounded by the people closest to her. Her classic gown, soft veil, and bouquet of white blooms were the perfect fit for the elegant garden setting.
Meanwhile, Caleb prepared for the day in his military dress uniform, adding an especially meaningful touch to their wedding portraits. There was something so special about seeing him getting ready knowing that the journey that brought these two together had started thousands of miles away.
As the ceremony approached, the excitement grew. Guests began taking their seats along the garden aisle, surrounded by trees and lush greenery, while the beautiful white arbor waited at the end of the walkway.
And then came that moment.
The moment when all the getting ready, planning, traveling, and waiting would lead to one simple thing—Caleb seeing Lucie walk down the aisle.
Their love story had already crossed an ocean.
Now, they were just moments away from beginning the next chapter together. 🤍
Saying “I Do” at Covington Gardens
Surrounded by towering trees, lush greenery, and the beautiful gardens of Covington Gardens, Caleb and Lucie finally said “I do.” The garden arbor created the perfect backdrop for their intimate ceremony, with their closest family and friends gathered to witness the beginning of this next chapter.
There was something so fitting about their ceremony taking place in such a peaceful, natural setting. After a love story that began across the ocean, they were now standing side by side, surrounded by the people who mean the most to them, promising forever.
Covington Gardens was the perfect setting for their “I dos”—romantic, timeless, and filled with the natural beauty that made their intimate celebration feel completely their own. 🤍
Just Married
Once they said “I do,” we took some time to soak in the fact that they were officially husband and wife—and capture the two of them in the beautiful grounds of Covington Gardens.
From the lush garden pathways to the stunning wrought-iron gates, every corner gave us a beautiful backdrop for their portraits. I especially loved how the timeless setting complemented Lucie’s elegant lace gown and veil and Caleb’s military uniform.
But beyond the beautiful setting, my favorite part was simply the two of them together. Their joy was contagious, and there was no shortage of smiles, laughter, and those quiet moments between them.
These are the portraits that tell the story of a couple who crossed an ocean, took a chance on love, and finally got to call each other husband and wife. 🤍
A Little Piece of the Czech Republic
One of my favorite parts of Caleb and Lucie’s wedding day was seeing them incorporate Czech wedding traditions into their celebration.
One tradition involved breaking a plate after the ceremony.
The broken plate symbolizes the first test of marriage, and the newlyweds work together to clean up the pieces—representing their ability to face life’s challenges as a team.
But there was a fun little twist.
Just when they thought they had finished cleaning everything up, someone came along and made another mess!
It was such a fun reminder that marriage isn’t about everything always going perfectly. It’s about laughing together, working together, and continuing to choose each other through whatever comes next.
And honestly, that felt like the perfect tradition for these two.
Surrounded by LOVE
Another moment that stood out to me happened during their first dance.
Instead of simply watching from their tables, their guests gathered around the dance floor and held hands in a circle around the newlyweds as Caleb and Lucie danced together in the center.
It was incredibly sweet.
There was something so beautiful about seeing everyone physically surrounding them—almost like a picture of the community and family that will continue to surround them throughout their marriage.
It was intimate. It was joyful. And it was one of those moments that captures the feeling behind the image.
A Wedding Day Full of Meaning
From a love story that began overseas to a wedding celebration in a beautiful North Carolina garden, Caleb and Lucie’s day was filled with reminders of just how special their journey has been.
Their wedding wasn’t about putting on a show. It was about celebrating their love, their families, their cultures, and the life they are beginning together.
And that’s exactly what made it so beautiful.
Caleb and Lucie, thank you for allowing me to document such an incredibly meaningful chapter of your story. Your wedding day was full of laughter, genuine emotion, beautiful traditions, and so much love.
Here’s to a lifetime of saying hello, taking chances, cleaning up the messes together, and choosing each other every single day. 🤍
Wedding Vendors
Venue: Covington Gardens
Photography: Jenny Petit Photography
Bakery: Rach Bakes Cakes & Catering
Hair & Makeup: Updo’s Studio
Rentals: The Enchanted Event Co
Officiant: Personal Ceremonies NC
DJ: DJ ALMYX
Bartending: Fletcher Bar Services LLC
Catering: The Smoke Pit