Venue shopping tip: ASK TO SEE THE RAIN PLAN – so important! Especially if plan A is an outdoor ceremony or cocktail hour or the primary plan for photos is the outdoor space. Make sure the rain plan is something you will love just as much and not be a hastily thrown together poor substitute. Ask yourself if you had to have your day with nothing but the rain plan – where would everyone sit, what would it look like, how is the lighting, can it be decorated, if you have no ability to go outside (maybe it’s hurricane season) where will you be able to take photos? And then make sure you’re not just worst case scenario “okay with those options” make sure you are still excited about them ! Be realistic and be prepared!! There are lots of opportunities for photos with the “good shoes” – your jimmy…
There’s a lot of things you don’t know about “old photographers” – I don’t just mean the retired ones or the ones who did photos before photos were digital. I mean the ones who have been doing it for more than a decade maybe a few decades. That’s “old” in a a creative industry where thousands of new “photographers” get their first camera for christmas every year and lots of “professional photographers” burn out and change jobs like a comet flashing across the universe into darkness. For those of us who have been at this so many years it’s not just what we do anymore, it’s who we are – sometimes we get to do one of those jobs where we call up our photog friends like I did and say “I got to shoot one of those jobs today, the ones that remind you why you started all this…
The words most spoken that day were “thank you” in every toast, every vow, every hug – they thanked God for each other, for the beautiful weather, for the chance to be together with family and friends, for life. Their wedding was so emotional. Tears of sorrow for loved ones dearly missed, and tears of joy for the power of love and celebration. I am so glad that fate brought this couple into my life because now we get to be friends for life. And I hope even in ordinary days in the future, happy times, or hard days when we miss people we love, that we always make time for champagne and confetti and fireworks and saying thank you. Pinehall at Eisler Farms is one of my favorite rustic venues because everything is all in one place! There’s space for both sides of the bridal party to get…
Ten years ago, I did Taylore’s senior pictures and we had SO MUCH FUN we talked about me doing her wedding someday. Someday became today on June 12th this year, and it was the most beautiful sunny day for a wedding! Taylore and her girls got ready in the farm house at Fieldstone and she did a first look with her Dad on the front porch *tears* ! Thomas and the guys had a visit from Armstrong’s furry mascot, Miss Rosey Allen over at the Drake Cabin. They danced in the fields at sunset and partied late into the night with Steven Vance Entertainment. What a privilege to know such a great family over the years and to get to be there for the most special day for them! I can’t wait to be there for all the chapters of their story ahead. Armstrong Farms Fieldstone Barn is one…
So much fun they did it TWICE ! After c*^!d downsized their plans last year, this summer it was time to be with family and friends again. And the theme for this day was JOY! Sometimes when it comes to happy things – more is more. Flower girls? They had 8. Pie instead of cake? How about an entire table full of pies. And 2 cookie tables, and an ice cream sundae station? When you got married in a pandemic, with less than 15 people, in masks – your postponed wedding day is all about FUN and celebration! They renewed their vows in front of everyone in a garden ceremony at West Overton Village and guests got to enjoy cocktail hour in the museum with all of the interactive exhibits. I love this historic distillery location for all of the different spaces on the grounds and the stories behind them….
THEY GOT MARRIED ON A WEDNESDAY! When they had to reschedule their Oak Lodge wedding due to c*v*d they took the next available date, which just happened to be a wednesday in the middle of the week! And everyone still came to celebrate! They were married at the one-of-a-kind log chapel venue at Oak Lodge in the Laurel Highlands. With cabins for all of you guests to stay, it’s the perfect place to make your wedding your own private retreat for the weekend! Two of my favorite people at the wedding (besides Kristy & Drew obviously), were Drew’s grandparents. They are in their 90s and came in from out of state to be a part of the weekend. Every time I saw Drew’s grandma she would say “isn’t this all just SO NICE?!” And I had to agree. They smiled and laughed and took lots of photos with the kids…
What happens when it rains and an ass shows up at your wedding ? You have the best day EVER and put all of it in the wedding photos !! Olivia and Shane were married at Armstrong Farms Westminster Preserve on a cool cloudy day – which is AMAZING in August! It rained off and on but it didn’t bother us one bit – we had fun with umbrellas and snuck out after dinner for photos with dramatic clouds. Even Carrots the donkey got in on the action trying to snuggle with Shane during portraits. Armstrong Farms Westminster Preserve is a unique venue experience because your wedding day is not just one day, but a three day celebration! Rehearsals typically take place on friday evening and you’re welcome to host your rehearsal dinner right on site at the barn. The farm house comes with it’s own kitchen or you can have…
I LOVED this wedding but never shared it before! No time like their 3rd anniversary to revisit happy memories!! The July weather was perfect that day for their Linden Hall wedding reception. To honor their Saint Vincent College alumni status, they chose to host their ceremony at the historic Saint Vincent Basilica Parish in Latrobe, PA. We took photos in the garden and then celebrated their reception at Linden Hall – one of the most unique and best kept secret venues in the area! It’s a gorgeous mansion high on a hill overlooking Fayette County. Their wedding was themed after the mad hatter and their cake wore a top hat and a pocket watch. They worked so hard to include a ton of small details from the cookie ROOM to the giant chess set for everyone to play with on the lawn. Maurissa wore two different dresses, one with a…
Armstrong Farms is one of my favorite rustic wedding venues! I met Kimberly and Jonathan at Armstrong Farms’ bridal open house last fall and we hit it off right away! This amazing couple was planning a wedding for March at Fieldstone barn and we had no idea if it was going to be spring with lots of flowers in bloom or a blizzard! Weather in Pennsylvania can be unpredictable, but these two knew the only thing that was important was that all of their family and friends were together. The morning of the wedding came, and it was forty degrees with strong wind gusts. The girls all got ready at the farmhouse right on the property at Armstrong Farms, and the guys got ready at the Drake house. Kimberly’s dress was custom designed just for her with illusion mesh sleeves and lace applique. She carried a brooch bouquet down the…
Wedding day timelines, what are they? Why are they important? A wedding day timeline is basically a planned schedule of how events will unfold morning to end of the day at your wedding. And if you’re reading this saying to yourself, “oh no, we’re super relaxed we’re gonna go with the flow” then Honey, you need a timeline more than most people. Why? Because the flow of a wedding with a planned timeline is like the Mississippi, steadily moving in one direction but with a lot of calm flat water. A wedding without a planned timeline is more like the raging rapids rushing over the edge of Niagara falls. They both might look great in photos, but one of them is a much more comfortable boat ride, if you know what I mean. *wink emoji* So let’s start this list from the bottom and work up to my number one…