In the thick of winter, nothing makes me happier than sharing some sweet memories of Amy and Matt’s Grace Winery Wedding. It’s one of the only weddings I shot hybrid, both digital and film, and I am so proud of that fact. Film is stunning, albeit a bit scare (hello where is the preview screen?? Oh… Right…), and I knew Amy and Matt would be the perfect couple to incorporate film with. You might not even be able to tell which photos below are film and which are digital…. and that’s the goal!
This was my first time shooting at Grace Winery, and it was everything I could have dreamed of! Not only are the old stone buildings and red barn full of charm and history, but the staff were all incredibly warm and helpful. And don’t get me started on the food! Amy and Matt had their ceremony in a grassy knoll behind the barn. It almost reminded me of an outdoor theater, with benches built into the earth. Matt built the wedding arch, and all of the florals….well…. that was Amy and Matt!
For me, one of the highlights of the day was sunset portraits in the vineyard. We somehow hit the vineyard at the perfect time and soaked in all of the orange sunset goodness. More than anything, I love how Matt and Amy’s joy is so perfectly captured. If you ever get a chance to meet them, they’ll become your favorite people 🙂
For as long as I can remember, as far as my business is concerned, I have always dreamed of photographing a wedding at Terrain at Styers in Glen Mills. It’s whimsical take on all things woodland and natural have always called to me. The only way I can explain Terrain is– Nature, but make it polished. Basically it’s the kind of nature I like to immerse myself in.
I remember texting my friends when Victoria and Nate booked me for their Terrain wedding. It might seem so silly, but don’t ever forget to celebrate the small accomplishments! I knew Victoria from our days working at Anthropologie and I knew that she would have no problem creating a visually stunning wedding. Along with their team of vendors (see below), Victoria and Nate threw one of the most memorable weddings I’ve ever photographed. It wasn’t just the Jimmy Choo green velvet shoes, the Anne Barge dress, or the Nutmeg Cake Design wedding cake, it was the atmosphere. It was the way Victoria and Nate threw themselves into their day, pure and joyful and ready to be carried away.
I cannot rave enough about this wedding and express what a joy it was to be a part of. Take a look and check out these incredible vendors who made the day a smashing success!
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.
