Brittany Castillo’s path to wedding photography began in 2010 in a small coastal village in Costa Rica, where she first documented surf culture, nature, and life by the ocean.

Set along the shoreline of Carolina Beach, Kindred is a venue shaped as much by its history as by its coastal surroundings. Once a long-standing community gathering place where generations marked life’s most meaningful moments, the building has been thoughtfully reimagined into a modern wedding and events space that still carries the imprint of its past. Original architectural details sit alongside a bright, coastal-chic design, creating a setting that feels both timeless.

Tucked just minutes from the coast in Wilmington, Canterbury Stables is a wedding venue that feels worlds away—where coastal air meets the quiet romance of a historic horse farm. With its centuries-old live oak, sweeping pastoral landscape, and refined equestrian aesthetic, the property offers a setting that is both transportive and deeply rooted in legacy. Here, timeless charm and modern sophistication exist in perfect balance, creating an atmosphere of unhurried luxury.

Mackenzie Ottinger of Sounds of Shutter, is a wedding and lifestyle photographer with a heartfelt, documentary approach to storytelling.

In conversation with photographer Meagan Forbes, we explore the story behind her decade-long journey in wedding photography and the passion that first sparked it all.

Long before she was orchestrating elegant wedding weekends and seamless celebrations, Jihan Francois was assigning roles, drafting order forms, and mapping out growth plans for a childhood friendship bracelet business. For the founder of Amani Affairs, planning has never been a learned skill—it’s been an instinct.