When Ashley and Billy talked with me about their wedding plans, Ashley repeated over and over that she felt like the most “non-bride” ever. I think that was her was of saying she was not a bridezilla, because from what I observed, she was bridal perfection! She and Billy had picked a venue (Harvest View Barn in Hershey) that suited their day perfectly, had thought through every little detail, and had ensured their guests were in for a good time. But with or without a big wedding, what made Ashley the perfect bride was the love she showed Billy throughout the day. I’m not sure a smile ever left her face!
Harvest View Barn was a perfect country escape for this wedding. From the two story barn to the old farmhouse to the weeping willows, it was certainly a nice break from the city!
I so loved working with Ashley and Billy. They have such a love for life and each other and the world. They are two people you want to be friends with and go on adventures with! It’s hard to sum up the magic of their day, but here are some photos to give you an idea.
Nestled in the heart of Bethlehem in Lehigh Valley is the landmark Historic Hotel Bethlehem. The sparkling gem on the main street has hosted it’s fair share of famous names over the year, and currently, it’s become a hot spot for weddings. It is no wonder that Kimberley and Greg chose the Hotel for their wedding!
Kimberley and Greg’s wedding was such a whirlwind day! Everything went so smoothly, but before I knew it, the day was over! When I first arrived at Hotel Bethlehem in the morning, Kimberley and her girls were jamming to music in their suite, all smile and laughter (and a few happy tears). Kimberley is someone who is always making sure everyone around her feels happy and appreciated. There was no question in my mind as to why she had so many bridesmaids and so many wedding guests! She is kindness head to toe and I love her for it!
Greg on the otherhand is one of the warmest people I’ve ever met (personality-wise). There is always a smile on his face and a laugh in his throat, and his eyes are always on Kimberley. He just may have shed a couple of tears throughout the day, and we just may have captured them on camera!
From gallivanting around downtown Bethlehem, to raising the roof inside the Historic Bethlehem Hotel, this wedding was one for the books!
In the warmth of the summer, Northern Pennsylvania is a beacon of cool mountain air. There really is not better reason to escape the Philadelphia heat than to head up north for a romantic wedding. Skylar and Corey’s Tyoga Country Club wedding had me excited for months. After getting to know them and working with them during their Ridley Creek State Park engagement session, I knew without a doubt that their wedding would be one of my favorites ever. AND IT WAS.
Honestly it has been so hard to edit this wedding because everything was so good. From the details to the emotions to the weather— everything was amazing- Even things Skylar and Corey had no control over! I really couldn’t be more thankful.
I remember so well that Philly was struggling with a massive heatwave the second half of June. Since Wellsboro is several hours away, I booked a one room school house Airbnb (IT’S AMAZING check it out here) and enjoyed sleeping with open windows at night (hello 20 degrees cooler!). I had only ever been to Wellsboro, PA, once before, but it was as charming as I remember.
I was lucky enough to work with Skylar as she was getting ready for the day. I rolled up when she was still in jammies with rollers in her hair. She and her girls were all smiles and laughter and I loved every second I spent with them. Elizabeth, my amazing second shooter for the day, spent the morning with Corey, and the guys looked just as relaxed and excited.
Despite the threat of rain, Skylar walked down the aisle at Tyoga Country club under a cloudless sky. Corey was grinning ear to ear as her waited for her. Confetti was popped and friends and family cheered as the said I Do.
Skylar and Corey’s wedding is a prime example of how amazing wedding portraits can be when they are prioritized. We have plenty of time for portraits, and then to top it all off, Skylar and Corey were up for 15 minutes of sunset portraits (when all of the fun like Kiss Tag happens). It has been such a joy reliving their wedding while editing. I can’t believe it has come and gone. I am so happy to have these amazing photos to remember it!
Planning a timeline for your wedding day can induce insane levels of stress. How much time will family photos take? How long do you really need for a first look? What if there is traffic??!!! When you are getting to the last push before your wedding, the timeline can be the thing that pushes you over the edge.
After 7 years of photographing weddings, I have helped my couples with hundreds of timelines! I am breaking it down for below with my Ultimate Timeline Guide!
Planning the Perfect Wedding Day Timeline
Before we get started, it’s important for me to clarify that this timeline is for your wedding photography. Also, every wedding is different, and one timeline does not fit all. Therefore, I am not GIVING you a timeline, but more of a guideline. So buckle up. We are about to begin in my FAVORITE form —- BULLET POINTS
Step # 1- Hire a photographer like me who will do this for you (I kid I kid…but shoulda-coulda-woulda….)
REAL Step #1- Map out a VERY basic timeline draft with ceremony time, reception start time, reception end time. This is all you need to do to start. See, not too hard!
Step # 2- Work BACKWARDS from the ceremony. Yes. That’s right. What needs to be planned prior? Several major things. First look (if you are having one), getting ready (as in getting dressed), travel, detail photos, and portraits are the main objectives. Some couples who choose a first look also want all wedding party and family photos done prior and I AM ALL FOR THAT. Keep in mind you will need step #3 before to complete step #2….
Step #3- how long does everything take? This is the trickiest part! This is the general cheat sheet I use for EVERY wedding:
Estimated times for wedding day portraits
Family photos- 20- 30 minutes OR 3 minutes per grouping
Bride and groom portraits- 30-40 minutes (can be broken into 2 times, such as first look and sunset portraits)
Detail photos at the start- 45-60 minutes
getting into dress- 20 minutes
wedding party photos- 20-30 minutes (usually only 20 but I always put 10 extra minutes here)
And now….
Step # 4- put it all together working backwards from the ceremony to organize the beginning half of the day (and don’t forget travel time!). What might this look like? See below!
12:00- Photographer’s arrive to photograph details.
12:45- 2nd shooter to guys for getting ready photos
1:00- Bride into dress
1:30- First look (on location)
1:45- Bride and Groom portraits
2:15- Wedding party portraits
2:40- Family portraits
3:10- Prep for ceremony
3:30- GET MARRIED!
4-5:00- Cocktail Hour
5:15- Reception introductions
Okay, see not so hard! And guess what I have to tell you now? Psych! That’s the hardest part! You have the majority of the timeline done! The last step is to figure out the reception with your band/dj/mc and let the photographer know of the ending time and any special moments.
Make sure to leave some room for flexibility in your timeline (I do 10 minutes before and 10 after the ceremony) for any delays or any spur of the moment photo ops- or to just relax! Remember that this is your day, and at no point should photos get in the way of your special moments.
Anniversaries call for a celebration. While they usually symbolize a year, when you really break down that year- or all of those years!- they are made up of so many incredible moments. The good and the bad, it’s another year of working through the tough and relishing in the joy.
Kris and Dave knew they wanted to document their anniversary and drove a few hours for a shoot at Valley Forge Park. With amazing weather and great conversation, we chased the sun around and I was able to get a sneak peak into their life together. Love, sweet laughter, respect, and joy.
I am so happy we were able to celebrate a beautiful love story!
