Brant Greene Wedding - Historic Acres of Hershey Wedding
I’m sorry. This is going to be a huge blog post.
Tommy + Taylor …. sighhhh…. I’M. OBSESSED. WITH. THEM. This gallery is so large because everything they do together is beautiful, fun + amazing to watch. Their wedding had a team of amazing vendors at the iconic Historic Acres of Hershey + now I’m stuck with way too many favorites to share.
This wedding had THREE teary First Looks - Taylor + her dad, Taylor’s bridesmaids + brothers seeing her first the first time, + Tommy + his Mom. I can’t pick a favorite between them - can you??! As always, Historic Acres offered a dreamy bridal suite for the perfect portraits. I will never get over Taylor’s bouquet done by Amanda from Everyone Deserves Flowers (my first time working with her and if you don’t hire her, you’ll regret it!)! And Taylor’s mom made the bridesmaid bouquets and most of the decor!?!? Despite it being a rainy day, it was an incredibly happy one. Tommy + Taylor made their own sunshine wherever they went. Their ceremony, led by Tommy’s grandfather, was probably MY FAVORITE of all time. Not only because of his grandfather’s beautiful words, but also because Tommy + Taylor are downright hilarious even when they’re in the midst of getting married.
Historic Acres of Hershey has tons of overhangs for rainy day weddings + we took full advantage. With an energetic + gorgeous bridal party, we were able to make magic! Then came the real party…. a teary father daughter dance, Tommy dancing this his Mom + bringing his Grandmother in on the love, a DJ that knew how to party, flawless wedding decor, a heart felt speech and then… an entertaining one - haha!, so many moments that I was so happy to capture for Tommy + Taylor. This couple is so celebrated + it’s clear to see why. I really couldn’t pick a more perfect couple!
Enough of my mumbling - start scrolling through this (huge +) incredible wedding!!!
Venue // Historic Acres of Hershey
DJ // DJ Waitaminute
Florist/Coordinator // everyone deserves flowers.
Caterer // Strictly Catering
Make up // Samantha Rose Carangelo
Hair // Jasmine Forney
Second Shooter // Autumn Smith
Andy + Cassandra - Married!
It was calling for thunderstorms on what ended up being one of the most beautiful Spring days this year. Andy + Cassi had their nuptials take place at the Fallen Tree Farm Bed + Breakfast which is filled with so much character! They got ready in the quaint, stone building with their closest friends + family. Everyone was radiant! Especially the bride + their daughter Sydney who was glowing as her beautiful mama put on her wedding dress with the help of her best friends + Mother of the Bride. Andy + Cassi’s ceremony took place in a unique stone ruin where they said heart felt vows to each other (How they didn’t bawl, I have no idea - because even I was about to!)
After that it was off to do our fun portraits! (If you ask me, maybe not the guys, haha!) This wedding party was a blast! They barely even complained about frolicking through ivy ;) The guys had some hilarious shots (which wouldn’t be complete without a crazy sock picture) while the girls glowed in their dark dresses + vibrant bouquets. Shout out to Veronica of Veronique’s Creative Artistry - as usual hitting it out of the park with the most crazy, incredible make up for these girls that even lasted through extreme temps! We stole away for Andy + Cassi to have some portraits by themselves. Literally. Seriously. Honestly. Most gorgeous couple - EVER! They prefer more candid shots so after a few poses, I just let them spend some time together. Rumor has it, this day was the most Andy has ever been seen smiling - ever. Even his Dad commented on how big he was smiling all day!
Now for the reception - talk about a party when Andy + Cassi entered the building! Now, I don’t know much about sports, but from what I gather there are some serious Steelers fans in the Casale family as they were welcomed with a parade of Terrible Towels swinging in the air. That was followed up by the sweetest dances + speeches/toasts from MOHs + the BM. I also snapped some shots of Andy + Cassi’s ring with a butterfly that sat in her bouquet. That butterfly was in memory of Cassi’s grandmother who was watching from Heaven, so I thought it would be sweet way to emphasize it. The rest of the night is history! They danced all night to the view of the sun setting over a gorgeous horse pasture. Andy + Cassi - I am so honored you chose me for your special day. You both exude so much compassion + charisma (duhhh, teachers - lol!) + I can tell your marriage is meant for great + wonderful things…. like a puppy with the best name, ever! Enjoy many many manyyyy favorites I have from this incredible day!
AJ + Jill - Married!
I’m so glad that I started the season with this phenomenal wedding. AJ + Jill are an amazing pair. They’re both kind, adventurous + you can tell they don’t take much seriously - I mean only the coolest of couples high fives after they are pronounced married! Their Big Day happened at Overlook Golf Course in Lancaster which was blooming with beautiful Spring flowers everywhere. AJ + Jill were all about traveling around the property to get the best shots which, if you ask me, was definitely worth it. Their reception hall was beautifully decorated + my favorite little touch was how each table was named after places the pair have traveled together.
Their wedding was full of warm sunshine (rare for Spring Weddings, especially this year!), the cutest little Bridal Party, touching speeches from AJ's big brother, Jill's best friend + mom, + a big party at the end of the night with friends + family. And who can forget Jill + her dad stopping halfway through their dance to bust a move?! Lastly we also captured a successful Sparkler Exit! (Successful = great pictures + I didn’t get caught on fire). I’m excited to share Mr. + Mrs. Enck’s wedding with you! Enjoy some of my 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.
Quin + Karly - Married!
This wedding was so, so good for my soul. Quin + Taylor are naturally hard workers + it is no surprise they put everything into this perfect day. Gorgeous weather, gorgeous wedding party, gorgeous decor, + gorgeous new Mr. + Mrs.!
Quin + Karly chose The Susquehanna Manor Inn for their wedding day. It was unique + had great characteristics which went with their shabby chic, classy style. The getting ready suite was my favorite all year! With big windows + a stunning bride like Karly, what more could you want?! We captured some of my favorite getting ready pictures here, of all time. Their wedding day was full of sweetness like Karly’s gifts to her parents, the fact that Quin couldn’t decide whether to get Karly pearls or diamonds so he gifted her BOTH, the cutest ring bearer + ring girls, a wedding party that was *full* of entertainment, THE BEST wedding vows I have ever heard in my life!!! (I mean, I was a bawl bag), a wedding reception that took place as the sunset began to set, + can we talk about the beautiful light during Quin + Karly’s portraits?!
Words don’t express how much I’ve enjoyed working with Quin + Karly. I knew last year, when we did their engagement session in negative temperatures + we still had a blast, that their wedding would be a favorite of mine. Here’s to the new Mr. + Mrs. Taylor + to my new favorite gallery!
Mike + Jamie - Married!
Mike + Jamie are the world’s cutest couple so it was only fitting that their wedding day was the cutest day, too! Jamie got ready at her parents’ home with her best friends, family + pup surrounding her (some of my favorite getting ready shots, ever!) while Mike was ready at the church that they attend together. Their ceremony was held at their church and beautifully decorated with 1 Corinthians 13:4 signs + mums lining the aisle. Although technically it was a fall day, it was HOT! And we just barely got their wedding portraits done as rolling clouds hung above us. I know I say this all the time about my couples - but Mike + Jamie just flow together. To see them belly laugh + the way they seek comfort in each other is what all beautiful marriages are made of. Jamie is now also officially the stepmom to Mike’s adorable daughters but you can tell they have already loved that woman for a long, long time (the pictures of them cuddling with her while she was getting ready - to DIE for!)
We finished off their wedding day at a nearby fire hall and words don’t express HOW MUCH decorating went into their reception! The details were endless! We all shared some laughs, some tears + before I knew the night was over for us. When I said good-bye + congratulations to them, I felt like I was saying it to good friends. Mike + Jamie (and their family!), in the short time that we’ve known each other, have shown me such unconditional kindness + it’s obvious they give that to everyone they come across. They are truly such a blessing + how wonderful that they found each other. Enjoy some favorites of Mike + Jamie’s wedding day!
Jake + Nath - Married!
What a memorable wedding. When I met with Jake + Nath for their consultation, I immediately could tell that they liked to do things out of the norm and that they were highly creative. I drove to this wedding, prepping my second shooter, saying I just KNEW this was going to be a good one. I was right!
There were a few things that made this day pretty incredible. Firstly, Nath is a talented make up artist (that’s how we met in the first place!) and she helped do hair + make up, as well as did her own. Also, the families at this wedding were such a good time to be around! I’ve never been at a wedding where families weren’t fun, but I mean sisters-posing-in-cornfields-with-cheese-and-beer-in-their-mouths fun. Thirdly, the details that Jake + Nath put into their wedding left me speechless. Gold beer barrows. A unique ceremony site simply designed with fabric + a beautiful tree. Weathered + gold leafed books + bookmarks for seating. Chandeliers that JAKE DESIGNED AND MADE HIMSELF. All on Jake's family's property which makes it a little extra special. Lastly - the couple. One second Jake was deeply staring into Nath’s eyes, the next he was licking her. They are just a perfect duo + I love the portraits we captured together. The romantic, the happy + the funny.
Congrats, Jake + Nath! You two are fabulous! And Jake, I’ll be hitting you up for one of those chandeliers the moment I buy a new house ;)
Enjoy some of my many, many favorites!
Matt + Abbey - Married!
What a beautiful day it was to celebrate Matt + Abbey. Abbey got ready in the comfort of the home she grew up in with her best friends + close family, Matt did the same at their home. The thing I liked most about this wedding was how obviously adored these two are and how sweetly humble they are about it. This wedding was a labor of love for everyone involved.
Matt + Abbey’s smiles were a mile wide from the beginning until the end. They are just such a happy, wonderful couple! They were wed in a beautiful Catholic ceremony + then celebrated at the West Shore Country Club. They had a BIG wedding party which was so much fun.
We snagged Matt + Abbey’s couples pictures right as the wind was picking up + the clouds were getting dark. A fewwww more minutes and we would have had rain wedding pictures. The rest of the evening was equally flawless as they ended their day dancing the night away with those they loved most.
The highlights for me at their wedding was the First Look between Abbey and her dad (such a tear jerker!), Matt + his mom’s fun dance, the groomsmen’s hilarious antics (which I didn’t see until later on my second shooter’s camera) + Abbey’s beautiful princess-inspired dress. I wish these two nothing but happiness together but I know they won’t have any problem achieving that on their own.
Enjoy their day!
Jake + Kristina - Married!
Jake + Kristina met while she was in college through a mutual friend and the rest is history. Throughout their wedding day I was overwhelmed with the love from their family + friends - proving that these two are something very special.
Historic Shady Lane is a beautiful - one of my absolute favorites! - and fit their classy style so well. We captured dreamy getting ready portraits; full of special gifts from the bride to the parents, happy tears after said gifts, classic details + a hilariously fun wedding party. The ceremony site at Historic Shady Lane is to die for and was perfect for Jake + Kristina’s sweet nuptials. We managed to capture a GIANT gallery for these two. A great mix of funny, romantic, loving + classy.
The funny thing about Jake + Kristina’s wedding is that the amount of reception pictures in their gallery is the same amount as the average wedding gallery. So much was going on at their reception + we captured it ALL! We ended the night with a beautiful send off with sparklers. I was not caught on fire + the pictures came out beautifully so I couldn’t ask for more!
I wish you a lifetime of happiness with each other, Jake + Kristina! You are truly a beautiful couple inside + out.
Nick + Amanda - Married!
I am the luckiest person alive that my job is to capture love stories like Nick + Amanda’s. The second best love story at this wedding was the families coming together to make one of the most touching days. There were happy, loving tears for days!
They met at their place of work + to show just how sweet of people they are - they gifted the woman who introduced them with flowers at their reception. The details on their Big Day were incredible, most of it hand-done by family. Can you even believe the candy table the put together?! They even had ice cream in the lobby!
Enjoy some some favorites from Nick + Amanda’s gorgeous day.
Ryan + Janelle - Married!
It was the first wedding of the season and I was like a giddy little kid with my camera gear sitting by the door, exploding with excitement about seeing these two get married. Ryan + Janelle picked their perfect wedding venue. The Links at Gettysburg was classy + offered beautiful views for their wedding day.
I am torn between some favorite parts of the day: I had the best time with the girls as they got ready - SUCH a fun wedding party! Janelle’s beautiful tears during her dance with her father + the way her Maid of Honor held her veil during a breezy ceremony. And even the way Ryan is such a poised person until he is hoisted on his friends’ shoulders during the reception, fist bumping his son, or looking at his beautiful new wife. Speaking of Ryan’s son - that kid has some DANCE MOVES!!
There is something so beautiful about a couple being so honestly + easily in love with each other. Ryan + Janelle are exactly that. I know this wedding is just the beginning to a beautiful new adventure for them. Enjoy some favorites!
Shane + Maureen - Married!
This is a love story … about how much I LOVE Shane + Maureen! Unlike most brides + grooms, I was booked by these two before they ever even worked with me after seeing the work I did for a past JSP couple (shout out to Chris + Liz!!). That can sometimes be worrisome for photographers. What if they work with me + it isn’t anything like they expected? What if they don’t like my corny jokes or crazy ways to get legitimate smiles?! I had nothing to fear. I met with Shane + Maureen just before their wedding + not only were they fun + super compatible but Shane offered me a full course meal instead of a vendor meal making him my favorite groom, ever ;)
By the time I got to Maureen on her wedding day, she was already glowing + I knew this day was going to be PERFECT (That's also thinks to the AMAZING Makeup by Chelsea! Loveee what she does for my beautiful brides!) I had the best time with Maureen, her girls + her mother but my favorite “getting ready” moment was when Maureen’s dad saw her for the first time. I mean - HOW ADORABLE IS HE?! The whole room was moved to tears. My second shooter covered the guys getting ready + I heard Shane was being very responsible by passing out water bottles to all of the groomsmen. Sorry I missed that, haha!
Shane + Maureen married in a gorgeous Catholic ceremony + we were blessed to have access to shoot all around the church during the ceremony. Then we headed to a location into Gettysburg for some bridal party shots. Lastly, we ended at The Links at Gettysburg for a beautifully set up reception. To top everything off, we were able to snag some romantic portraits with a rainbow after some drizzle + then the sunset.
I can’t tell you enough how wonderful it was to be a part of Shane + Maureen’s day. To know the Storms is to love them + as much as I love their wedding gallery, it still doesn’t give justice to how genuinely wonderful + in love these two are. Shane, I wish you a lifetime of kisses from Maureen ;) Enjoy!
Tim + Laura - Married!
Tim + Laura’s wedding couldn’t have been more perfect. They had their special day at a venue I absolutely adore (And I mean REALLY adore - I got married there a week later!) and the weather was the best of the season. Tim + Laura brought a lot of fun to their Big Day. I loved their royal blue colors, Laura’s unique dress, their hilariously adorable ring bearer and son, their epic gun picture request, and man, do these guys and their friends/fam know how to party! The reception was too much fun! Don’t even get me started on their superhero boutonnieres and fabric flowers. But one of my ABSOLUTE favorite parts of this day was when Tim’s son Gavin brought Laura a flower while she was getting ready and told her how beautiful she looked in her dress. I think everyone was in tears!! This was my last wedding of the season and I went out with a bang. I wish this little family nothing but happiness and love!
Ira + Chelsea - Married!
I am such a lucky person to have met Ira + Chelsea and even luckier to have been able to work with them on one of the most meaningful days of their lives. These two are just lovely, creative souls that truly just. GET. IT. In a world full of flash and fakeness, it is a breath of fresh air to meet a couple so truly genuine and meant to be.
Ira, Chelsea and their family worked their BUTTS off for their wedding. The whole thing was completely made from bare hands and big dreams. It was truly unbelievably to see. Chelsea’s dad HANDMADE their dance floor and ceremony site. UNREAL. The food was also homemade and delicious. And the swing, teepee and Photo Booth?! With my own wedding only being a monthaway, I wanted to just pick up the whole dang thing and use it as my own wedding.
So I might have put a little extra shots in here that weren’t necessarily needed for this blog post. But little things like the cutest/funniest flower girl and ring bearer, a song from the groom to bride, and a cat walking down the aisle just had to be shared. It’s a part of Ira + Chelsea’s story and they have created a beautiful one for themselves. Enough babbling. I will leave you with a quote that Ira dedicated to his new wife before singing to her in front of all of their friends and family.
"The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes “Awww!” - Jack Kerouac
Gerry + Stacy - Married!
Holy moley, it’s been awhile since I did a blogpost - but I HAD to blog this wedding. I know I say this every wedding, but the Bowerman Wedding was my largest wedding gallery yet and it is pretty easy to see why. A beautiful venue, the happiest couple (can we talk about Stacy’s mega watt smile though?!), a gorgeous wedding party and family (and shout out to all the kiddos - I could have made a gallery just for them!), tons of unique details, dance moves that I have honestly never seen before, and maybe even a few happy tears. It might have been the hottest day of the year but the only thing I could focus on was Gerry, Stacy and the beautiful little family they brought together that day. I’m a little sad to be sending this gallery off but I know a couple that well deserves it. Gerry + Stacy, you are both truly a couple to look up to. Your loving gentleness with each other, your kids, your friends, and everyone you come across is something the world needs a little more of. Thanks for giving me this beautiful day to capture.
Mike + Kim - Married!
Eliut + Alisha - Married!
Eliut and Alisha’s wedding was long awaited. They are high school sweethearts and Eliut even proposed to Alisha at the happiest place on Earth and her favorite place on Earth, as well - Disney World! Now, they weren’t able to actually get married in Disney World but their wedding was just as magical as any place because of the love they share between them.
As I always say, tears make the best pictures! We got the bride, groom, siblings, Mother of the Bride, AND Father of the Bride all tearing up in this gallery (Booyahhhh!). Alisha is also part of a sorority and had a special moment with her Big before the ceremony. You’ll notice the flower girl is missing for the ceremony after a little burn mishap but she makes some appearances later in the gallery - looking like the cutest little hand-wrapped MMA fighter, ever. Oh, and the wedding party was pretty hilarious. We battled some injuries, crazy weather, and time restraints but all in all, it was a beautiful night with a couple that I personally can’t get enough of. It was a perfect little fairytale.
Also, knowing that Alisha is a Disney fanatic, I added a little “magic” into one of their couples pictures. Can you find which one? :) Enjoy some favorites of this beautiful wedding. Eliut and Alisha - THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for choosing me to join you on this magical ride! Xoxox
Steven + Brittany - Married!
I shot one of my favorite engagement sessions when I worked with Steven and Brittany the first time so I had high expectations for their wedding. They far, far exceeded those expectations.
Steven and Brittany’s wedding was soft, sweet, and the perfect day from start to finish. Just a few of my favorite parts - Brittany’s beautiful jaw dropping dress (and the boots… obsessed with her BOOTS!), all of the families coming together and enjoying s’mores and games, the beautifully spoken ceremony, THE FIRST LOOK (the best one yet!), the hilarious wedding party, their epic cake smashing the fun, and of course, how beautifully and gently they showed their love for each other through out the day. Oh, and the amazing amount of portraits I was able to capture thanks to their awesome time management of their day!
God gave Steven and Brittany the most beautiful day and I know they deserved it. I cannot say enough about their friends, family, and the venue coordinators for making this the perfect day for them. I would go back and reshoot it every weekend if I could! I wish you both a lifetime of health, happiness and love!
Enjoy some favorites…
Sam + Shelby - Married!
I attended high school with Sam and Shelby - Sam was in most of my classes growing up and Shelby I recall seeing around our high school halls. I had never actually been around them when they were a couple but only a few minutes into our engagement session and I knew they complimented each other perfectly. From our time together, they were both so laid back and fun to be around.
It had been a rainy month but on the day that Sam and Shelby were to get married the sun came out and it was absolutely beautiful. They started with a Catholic ceremony and then went by trolley to a nearby park for bridal party shots. I have to give them props for fighting off bugs and swampy grounds without a single complaint (again, there’s that laid back personality of theirs ;) ) Lastly, their reception took place at the Park Inn.
This day was full of happy tears, hilarious moments, and the party hadn’t ended by the time I left that evening. It was the best kind of wedding. I am in loveeeee with this wedding gallery! Enjoy some of my favorites….
