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Rachel Abi

@rachelabiphoto

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Wedding Photographer in Raleigh NC. Helping you feel comfortable and confident and have an amazing wedding day!

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A wedding is not just another day; if it were, you wouldn’t spend so much time, energy, heart and money on it.

If you are having a wedding you know you want it to feel magical. The magic of your wedding day doesn’t lie in the beautiful florals, the fantastic dress, or the best music. Your wedding is about your love, your life, what has been, what is and what you are manifesting for your future.

You don’t need to replicate your college bar at your wedding. Pulling from your love story to inspire what matters, where you focus, and what you emphasize in your celebration does.

This means sitting down to discuss what you care about the most and directing your budget toward those priorities. It means planning dates where you chat about what you both loved most about getting to know each other or key things, feelings, moments that mattered.

Maybe you bonded over karaoke
Maybe you loved trivia
You could have either at the reception.

Maybe you bonded over hiking and nature
Maybe you both are introverts
Maybe you both love travel
You could have your wedding reflect that.

You don’t need to fit into a box or have what others have; you are looking to really enjoy your life. Every moment: let your wedding be a beautiful core memory paying tribute to who you both are, how you arrived here, and how you want to hold hands and move forward.

Let it be more than traditions. Let it be your personal story come to life

Photography: Rachelabi
Live Music: @coverstheband
Wedding Planner: @sallyoakleyweddings
Venue and Cake: @nrcc1967
Makeup,Hair Stylist: @studiorilan
Wedding Dress: @alexiasbridal
Live Music: @udeshientertainment
Florist: @sourianafloralhouse
Decor/Stylist: @curatedeventsraleigh
Transportation/Limo: @charterup
Rentals: @jandjtentandparty
Makeup,Hair Stylist: @blonorthraleigh by @rachelabiphoto

Barks of laughter floated in to the main ballroom, beckoning nostalgia to come out and play.

Samantha and Justin have loved each other for years, but their whole story started back at Notre Dame and their favorite haunt Corby’s Irish Pub. As they look forward to all they will be doing, they looked back at where it all started and it felt like the best way to pull them back to this beuatiful present to duplicate that famous hant at their wedding.

It was from that replica Corby’s Irish Pub at their wedding at North Ridge Country Club was filled with just as much glee over their stories, past, present and future.

It was such an honor to be allowed to not only partake in this joy but capture it for you to always come back to. I am literally teary eyed writing this thinking about what a privilege and trust I was offered to be the one responsible for a visual retelling of your core memory.

Thank you Samantha and Justin for the honor and thank you to every amazing vendor who made it possible for this wonderful celebration of such a colorful love story. I am so glad to have been in the moment today.

Wedding Venue: North Ridge Country Club
Wedding Planner: Sally Oakley Weddings
Florist: Souriana Floral House
Dress: Alexias Bridal
HMU: Studiorilan
Rentals: Curated Events Raleigh and Jandjtentandparty
Ceremony Music: Udeshi Entertainment
Transportation: Charter Up
Invitations: Paper Buzz
Reception band: @coverstheband by @rachelabiphoto

When laughter flows as smooth as silence...
When a hand slides into another as your steps match...

When you find that life is good but better when they are there...

That's when you know🫶🏼 by @rachelabiphoto

You deserve the type of love that takes you to a hibachi restaurant and couldn’t care less about the show compared to looking at your eyes.

As I got the chance to get to know this fantastic couple, Justin was telling me about the first date: he did just that: got lost in Samantha’s eyes.

Their laughter and easy smiles were intoxicating and inviting. Before the session they spoke about how they rarely took pictures and felt weird about being in front of the camera.

Honestly that is one of my favorite things to hear because helping you know how beautiful and amazing you really are is my joy. Seeing the experience of taking photos can be a blast and making you feel like the rock star you are: is my JAM!

This quick little session was filled with so many gorgeous photos; I cannot wait for their wedding this fall! by @rachelabiphoto

The unhinged laugh-snort face.
The double chin from laughing too hard.
The blinking during the kiss.
The aggressively emotional happy-cry face that somehow looks like you just bit into a lemon.

And honestly? Those are some of my favorite wedding photos.

One of the biggest compliments couples can give me as a Raleigh wedding photographer is saying they felt completely safe to be themselves in front of the camera. Because the best wedding photography experience isn’t about performing perfection all day long — it’s about having enough comfort, trust, and freedom to actually LIVE your wedding day.

The truth is, nobody is serene and graceful every second of their life. Thank goodness for that. What an unbearably empty existence that would be.

Beauty was never meant to be pristine. It’s not about looking “photo ready” every second. It’s about fullness. Realness. The loud laughs, the weird expressions, the chaotic joy, the tenderness, the tears, the moments you never planned but will treasure forever.

Those hilariously weird faces?
They’re evidence you were fully alive in the moment.

So if you’re planning your wedding and searching for a wedding photographer in Raleigh, NC who wants the REAL you — not a stiff, curated version — I hope you know this:

You do not have to become more polished to deserve beautiful photographs.

You already are the magic.

Go live your life boldly, emotionally, awkwardly, fantastically exactly as you are. I promise those are the moments worth remembering. by @rachelabiphoto

I used to let life escape me.

So distracted by the do, "what’s next?" mentality that I was missing my life.

Catastrophe brought such a beautiful gift in my life: I don’t let myself get distracted by what’s next and miss what’s now.

I took my amazing children to take a weekday trip to the beach. A blessing of our very privileged homeschooling life.

On the way for years decades really I passed these wildflowers in North Carolina plants to help encourage be population... and I always wanted to stop, but I never made the time because it wasn’t "productive"

today is my reminder that your joy, your rest, your play, is your life and that process is the most productive thing you can do. It’s with fuels your ability to have the joy to continue doing the work that’s required to make that life possible.

So I hope today is filled with tiny glimmer of magical, beautiful moments of mundane everyday life like a dandelion dancing in the wind.

because it is those glimmers that make life magic🫶🏼

PS. My kids made this beautiful arrangement. I’m wowed by their creativity. by @rachelabiphoto

There is nothing like seeing love. Not the cute pretend and filter social media kind but the fully present and fully embracing the weird of yourself and the person you are choosing.

Today I got a chance to witness that kind of love with Quinn and Kyra.

Quinn knew exactly what he didn’t want: something that felt like “shopping for a human.” So instead, he asked a question that actually meant something: “What’s a song that makes your brain tingle?”

And somehow… that question led him to Kyra. 💫

From the very beginning, there was nothing accidental about them. They built something rooted in intention: where being weird wasn’t just allowed, it was loved. Where showing up fully as yourself felt safe.

And today? Every detail reflected that. From songs chosen for each table to a celebration filled with people who know them deeply, this wasn’t just a wedding, it was a reflection of who they are.

Quinn & Kyra don’t just love each other… they choose each other, fully and on purpose.

Wedding coordinator: @southern_veil
Dj: @miragemedia__
Caterer: @neomondemediterranean by @rachelabiphoto

Saturday energy hits different when the dance floor fills up! ✨

At 128 South, the music turns up, the lights dim, and suddenly everyone’s part of the celebration. From your first dance to the last song of the night, it’s all about those moments you’ll never forget (and the ones you didn’t see coming 😉).

Here’s to full dance floors, happy hearts, and Saturdays done right.

#Venue & Catering: @128south
Photographer: @rachelabiphoto
Planning: @domeafavorweddingsandevents
Rentals: @partysuppliersandrentals | @whitebirchrentals
Music: @activedj
Cake: @nothingbundtcakes
Beauty: @beautybarboutique
Wedding Content Creator: @contentby.tyler

#128South #SaturdayCelebration #WeddingVibes #DanceFloorMagic by @rachelabiphoto

If there’s one piece of advice, I can give when trying to choose your wedding photographer is their personality makes more of a difference on your wedding day and then your photos then you think it does.

Every wedding wire article or theknot.com or wedding magazines will tell you to make sure to look at a full gallery for sure. Do that look at a full gallery. They have a whole list of questions you can ask about equipment and all those different things feel free do all those things they can give you great answers.

But there are too many photographers who do a great job taking pretty photos your experience on your wedding day isn’t about pretty photos. Your experience on your wedding day is making you have a core memory that is so for amazing that you feel like $1 million. You don’t need a background that’s fantastic. You need to feel amazing and fantastic in your own skin and the personality of your Photographer making you feel connected and safe is huge in that experience. by @rachelabiphoto

Today, Latasha & Kayode stood hand in hand, celebrating a love that has already weathered more than most couples face in a lifetime. From navigating a pandemic, to big moves, new jobs, and long nights of studying and supporting each other through school: they kept choosing one another, over and over again.

But it was their trip to Africa that sealed something deep for Latasha… a moment where everything clicked, where her heart recognized the truest version of home standing right beside her. 🌍❤️

And today, surrounded by family who have witnessed their growth, their resilience, and their unshakeable commitment, they finally got to celebrate the moment they’ve been building toward all these years. A love strengthened by distance, change, and challenge: now stepping into forever. ✨💍

Venue: Chatham County Agriculture Conference Center
DJ: DJ Lyrical
Photobooth: In the Click
Dress: New York Bride and Groom by @rachelabiphoto

Remember, it’s all about prioritizing what matters most to you. Once you’ve nailed down your priorities, it’s easier to trim the budget in other areas. Here’s a pro tip: consider skipping wedding favors and opt for delicious food options instead: your guests will love it! 🍽️
Looking to save even more? Check out Facebook Marketplace or social media groups for gently used centerpieces. Greenery is a fabulous, budget-friendly alternative to expensive blooms and lasts longer too! 🌿 And if you’re open to a more affordable option, consider hiring students for certain services. Just keep in mind, while they may be cheaper, you truly get what you pay for.
Your wedding should reflect your unique love story, so focus on what truly resonates with you and your partner. Let’s make your special day both beautiful and budget-friendly! ❤️ #WeddingOnABudget #weddingplanning #YourDayYourWay #wedding #priorities by @rachelabiphoto

Just because you’re opting for a smaller celebration, like a courthouse ceremony, doesn’t mean you can’t have fabulous photos and feel amazing. This is your day to shine, and by choosing what truly matters to you, you can create memories that last a lifetime. Invest in the moments that count, celebrate with those you love, and let your love story unfold beautifully without breaking the bank. Your perfect day is the one that reflects your unique journey. ❤️ #courthousewedding #CelebrateYourWay #weddingphotography #WeddingYourWay #weddingphoto by @rachelabiphoto