Wedding and portrait photographers. Husband and wife. All-purpose nerds. Extremely enthusiastic. Durham, NC.
Amanda & Chip | Colorful Marvel & Space-Themed Vow Renewal at the Schiele Museum
Vow Renewal: 14 March 2022 | Posted: 24 March 2022
From the first conversation I had with Amanda & Chip early in 2021, I have been excited for this celebration. It's easy to see why, and I'll talk about the details in a sec, but the unseen motivations are just as compelling: This year is Amanda & Chip's 20th anniversary. When they got married back in 2002, well...it was Amanda's mom's celebration, down to the dress and hairstyle. And that was fine for them at the time, though not ideal, but they always wanted a re-do, one that felt more true to their style and personality. Opportunity: 20th anniversary!
They chose Pi Day——3.14!——for their celebration, and if it fell on a Monday in the year of their choosing, so what? Being avid science enthusiasts, Marvel fans, and cosplayers themselves, Amanda & Chip decided to theme their vow renewal celebration around space and Marvel elements: table color schemes modeled on each Infinity Stone, galactic-styled cake and donuts, vows quoting Carl Sagan, and cosplay, cosplay, cosplay. The couple's friend Rob officiated their ceremony as Thanos. Ghostbusters showed up behind the wheel of the Ecto 0.5. Marvel characters aplenty abounded, from Captain Marvel herself to Agent Carter to President Loki. Even the couple's outfits are cosplay inspired: Amanda cosplays as Gamora, and wore her Gamora wig and bold green eye makeup to accent her incredible sequined gown (honestly——sorry, everyone else——one of my all-time favorites!). Chip, who cosplays as Peter Quill / Star Lord, chose his custom-made burgundy suit to invoke Star Lord's ass-kicking burgundy outfit and carried a custom-made version of Quill's sling bag.
The overall effect was stunning. The couple tango'd down the aisle to the altar area of their ceremony, a hexagonal arch that Chip himself built. Between the table décor and the color-changing uplighting, the reception room burst with color all night. Amanda's stunning gown and masses of burgundy Gamora curls brought the fire wherever she stepped. Their collection of Marvel paraphernalia——the Infinity Gauntlet, Star Lord's face shield, Mjolnir & Stormbreaker, Captain America's shield——made its way onto the dance floor, adding an extra element of fun.
For anyone who's still unclear, this is the exact type of celebration we love to be involved in: one steeped in bold color, born out of the couple's passions and interests, and buoyed at all quarters by a deep and abiding love. Enjoy a scroll through our favorites from the day, and if you're planning something like this, by all means, please get in touch!
Vendors
Venue: The Schiele Museum of Natural History
Catering, Bar, & Cake: Guilty Pleasures Catering & Bakery
Rentals: Creative Solutions Special Events
Officiant: Rob Cochran as Thanos (friend of the couple)
Photography: MKM Photography (that's us!)
Music: Zac Lozaga, ATG Entertainment
Flowers: DIY by Amanda
Hair & Makeup: DIY by Amanda
Stationery: Shutterfly
Amanda's Gown: Jovani Fashions from Bedazzled Bridal
Chip's Suit: Custom from Men's Wearhouse
Donuts: Yummm Donut
Cosplayers: The Ultimate Experience and Southern Belle Ghostbusters
Love the nerdy commitment and colorful looks of Amanda & Chip's vow renewal? Want similarly fun and bold photos of your own fandom-heavy celebration? Something completely different in mind? We'd love to hear what you're planning! Use the Contact Us link above, or send Kate an email directly to start the conversation. We can't wait to hear from you!
kate@mkm.photos | (919) 808-5852