Erin + Henry | Downtown Wilmington Engagement Session

We set out on a gloomy Sunday afternoon for Erin and Henry’s Downtown Wilmington, NC engagement session—right in the middle of River Fest weekend. Our original plan was to photograph around their wedding venue, The Elia, located in the heart of downtown on Front Street. But with River Fest in full swing, that area was not only packed with people but also blocked off for the street fair. Instead, we headed to one of my favorite hidden gems—the South side of downtown, around Dock and 2nd Street. It’s a quieter pocket of Wilmington that offers so much charm: cobblestone streets, ivy-covered walls, and those beautiful old brick buildings that give the city its historic character. Erin envisioned a more elegant, urban vibe, reminiscent of the New York streets she and Henry recently moved from. So, we focused on the cityscape elements—clean lines, bold architecture, and the energy of downtown—but I couldn’t resist slipping in a few shots surrounded by greenery, like the curated gardens at the City Club of Wilmington. As the afternoon went on, we made our way toward one of Erin’s top picks: the Alton Lennon Building on Water Street. We took our time wandering along the Riverwalk, with views of the Cape Fear River, the Memorial Bridge, and the USS Battleship North Carolina, before wrapping up at our final spot—the grand concrete staircase of the Alton Lennon. The clean backdrop, framed by tall palms and simple lines, made for some of my favorite images from the day.

I can’t wait to see these two again next year when they say “I do” in the same historic heart of downtown Wilmington.