Jonathan + Shawnika - Married!

My last wedding of the 2017 Fall Season! Whoaaa, what an amazing one!  Jonathan + Shawnika’s wedding was at the beautiful Harmony Hall on one of the most gorgeous days of the year. Their wedding was filled with so much love from their friends + family + ended with a party that was out of this world. When I had met with Shawnika at her wedding consultation she had stressed how important family was to her + how that is what she wanted to focus on in her wedding gallery. Well, Shawnika - we definitely accomplished that! I kind of feel like after editing this wedding that the whole dang Santana family needs to enroll in modeling because HOLY GORGEOUS!

Most importantly, Jonathan + Shawnika’s wedding was filled with so much joy. They didn’t wipe the giant grins of their face the whole night + I’ve never seen friends + family SO happy for a couple. The new Mr. + Mrs. Santana got ready in Harmony Hall’s beautiful farmhouse which was extra special as Jonathan + Shawnika’s children helped them get dressed. And then there wasn’t a dry eye as Shawnika’s dad walked her to Jonathan at the top of the small waterfall on the property. Picture time was, of course, soooo easy with this good looking crew! And MAN - let me tell you about this reception… Their reception gallery is bigger than some wedding galleries combined! I’ve never seen people have so much fun in my life!

So to wrap up the final wedding I will posting this year, I just have to say what a privilege it was working with these beautiful individuals and the family they have created. They have a beautiful life together ahead of them + I am so happy I could tell a little part of their story. Enjoy some of my favorites!

Colin + Chelsea - Married!

Colin + Chelsea are two of my favorite people to photograph + Drumore Estate is one of my new favorite venues to photograph now, too! I knew this wedding was going to be something special.  I know from chatting with Chelsea how terribly hard they worked to make this day perfect. And I’ve got to say - it was exactly that. PERFECT.

Colin + Chelsea arranged for several sweet moments to take place on their Big Day. Colin reading Chelsea’s card + opening her gift, Chelsea’s First Look with her dad + Chelsea’s dance with her brother are just a handful of wonderful moments that we captured. Drumore Estate made for a stunning backdrop for their ceremony. Once portraits started - we couldn’t stop! The lighting was just so beautiful + we could not get enough of the grounds! The reception was equally flawless with tons of personalized decor from the bride + groom including a beautiful memoriam to family that were watching from Heaven that day. There wasn’t a dry eye in the audience as Chelsea’ dad, her MOH + Colin’s BM gave their toasts… and don’t even get me started on the emotional parent/brother dances! We ended the night with Chelsea getting a few shots of portraits of her mother as a beautiful tribute to a woman that was dearly missed that night.

To see Colin + Chelsea together, you sense they find home in each other. There is such a warm comfort between the two of them + what could be more beautiful in a marriage? They’ve overcome so much already + I don’t believe there is anything that can ever stand in their way if they are together. Congratulations Mr. + Mrs. Plank … you are truly adored by all who know you! Enjoy some favorites!!

Jim + Hannah - Married!

I could say a lot about Jim + Hannah - like how their zest for life is contagious, how they are the most beautiful couple with the most beautiful souls. I could talk about how I traveled to Philly for their engagement session because I just KNEW we were making photography magic together. Or even about how I will never forget meeting them at my studio for their consultation + while discussing whether they would do a First Reveal or not, I made the comment “Whether you see each other before the ceremony or not, it doesn’t matter because when she’s walking down that aisle you will be seconds from being husband + wife + it is still a beautiful moment” - + Hannah’s big blue eyes welled up with tears! Everyone has a lot of wonderful things to say about these two, but words aside lets just say I’m sad to see this gallery go + was either smiling or tearing up the whole time I was editing it.

Jim + Hannah had a big wedding party which made for some really fun getting ready pictures. Historical Acres of Hershey is one my absolute favorite places to photograph, ESPECIALLY the bridesmaids in the farmhouse.  The lighting was perfect + Hannah was stunning in her bridal gown. I can’t leave out Jim + the groomsmen though - whoa, were they dapper! Jim + Hannah did opt for a First Reveal + thank gosh because it was SO sweet. Jim was literally stunned into silence over his soon-to-be beautiful bride. Afterwards we did TONSSSS of portraits. I mean TONS. I can’t even pick a favorite because the colors, venue, people - everything was perfection! The best thing is the connection the bride + groom had with each other + their family + friends. You can’t pose that magic!

It was also drizzling on Jim + Hannah’s wedding day.  Everyone was starting to chat about doing the ceremony indoors (which just tore my photographer heart apart with how beautiful the ceremony site looked!) + I casuallyyyyyy mentioned - hey, we have clear umbrellas if you’d rather try to risk it . And of course, because Jim + Hannah are just awesome, they TOTALLY did their ceremony in the drizzle with Jim’s best man holding the umbrella for them (sorry about that, buddy! I hope your arm recovered!)  This is the second time I had ever tried to sway my couples to do this and both times I did this, it made for my absolute favorite ceremony pictures. Who says rain has to ruin your Big Day? ;) Their ceremony was beautifully said + their obvious adoration for each other shows in their eyes the whole time. Then off they went to what I call The Party of the Year. Their reception had the most intoxicating live band + the party started the second they walked in!

As I said before, I’m at a loss for words when it comes to such an amazing couple. At the end of the day, my hopes are that these two never change except to grow together.  They are the epitome of all that is good —— AND THEY BETTER COME BACK TO SEE ME SOMEDAY! Enjoy many many many favorites.

Michael + Christina - Married!

Michael + Christina are the sweetest, smartest people I have ever met so it’s only natural that I adored photographing their wedding (and engagement session!). Their Big Day was at a beautiful venue called the Mercersburg Inn. It was full of beautiful character, history + it fit Michael + Christina’s classy style wonderfully. The Acela wedding felt like a big party among best friends + made for the sweetest gallery.

Michael + Christina were married outside surrounded by beautiful mums, family + friends. Then we explored around the beautiful property that was bursting with autumn colors.  I had a lot of favorite moments from Michael + Christina’s wedding - their First Dance song being “Nothing Else Matters”, the fact that Christina had a framed portrait of Cinderella as her bridal inspo, the fact that Michael had an extra awesome person in his grooms party - his sister!   Oh, + of course the very hardcore dance moves that happened at the end of the night ;)

Most of all, my favorite thing in Michael + Christina’s wedding is the giant smiles the two of them had while they were together.  If anyone deserved this flawless wedding, it was this incredibly brilliant + fabulous couple! I have LOVED getting to know them. Enjoy some favorites!