Generations.

I have two favorite moments from Stephanie and Ryan’s wedding day, though there are many others that I could classify as favorites I’ll stick with these two. The first happened early on in the pre-ceremony coverage.  We began pre-ceremony coverage at the hotel where all events were taking place. We headed up to Stephanie’s room and we always like to get a few photos of the details, so her dress, shoes, garter, flowers if they are available, jewelry and any old, new, borrowed and blue items. We went in and were there all of 5 minutes before her mom had me crying. As I come from a very close knit family, there aren’t very many of us but we are as close as they come. Stephanie’s family reminds me much of my own. When we asked to gather her things to photograph her mom made sure to show us a very special tribute to her grandfather, they had taken and sewn a pocket from her grandfather’s jeans into her skirting of her dress. Cue the waterworks.  

Following the pre-ceremony coverage with the bride, we headed downstairs to get photographs of the groom and groomsmen getting ready. Guys are funny, I’ll just say that. I love how simple and easygoing most of my grooms are they crack me up! We walked in and all the groom and groomsmen were hanging out and relaxing, cocktails in hand, dressed in their plain clothes and just talking and enjoying each other’s company. It was a nice, relaxing site to see, but I informed them that they needed to get dressed and in true Brother…Best man…already married man fashion, Ryan’s brother Beau got the wheels rolling. We quickly ran to the ballroom to get pictures of the room as it was bring prepared. Once we headed back, we got pre-ceremony pictures with Ryan and his absolutely adorable daughter Layla. What a sweetheart this little lady is. Watching her and Ryan together reminds me so much of my young lady, Addison and her Daddy that it was an honor to capture. Until you are a parent, you won’t fully appreciate those moments, those embraces as the true gift that they are, seeing a little girl run up to her Daddy on his wedding day, like she hadn’t seen him in a million years and she was so excited to be finally reunited with him. It melts my heart. I get that same pleasure every day when my husband walks in from work and both my kids run up to hug and say “Hi Daddy!”

The ceremony was short and sweet and held in the ballroom that was adjacent to the ballroom where the reception was being held.  We followed up with family photos at the altar and heading to the West End Overlook for bridal party pictures. We were able to make it there at the perfect time; despite the cloudy Pittsburgh skies we were able to capture a sliver of that golden hour and twilight night sky. Stephanie and Ryan had a super fun group of people who made quick work of everything I had them do. They had fun with it and really played it up for the cameras. Even the kiddos were hams. What I love most about the West End overlook is the diversity there! If you want a gorgeous park photo, no worries there are giant trees that frame the city view and are a gorgeous red, burnt orange color in the fall. We really lucked out this year with the fall leaves hanging around beyond their expected life span.

We returned to the hotel shortly after and went immediately into events. As Ryan and Stephanie were thoughtful to the fact they wanted to be present, be available and enjoy their wedding reception. They entered, cut the cake, their Bridal Dance, Father Daughter dance for Ryan and Layla, Father Daughter dance for Stephanie and her Dad, Ryan danced with his grandmother, toast, blessing, Dinner…Enjoy the rest of the reception! LOVE that!

Stephanie chose a beautiful red up lighting for the reception space and I love it in the background of the dance photographs, it really made the subjects pop out of the frame.

Watching Ryan dance with Layla, oh my word, talk about melting my heart, that sweet girl put on quite the show, dancing and singing for all in attendance! She is such a doll!

One of the only photo requests that Stephanie had was to get a photograph, once she was married, of the ring hands of herself, her sister, her mother and her grandmother. What a super sweet gesture but her sister is hilarious and added some of her own to the mix with a fun mini session of these four ladies.

We enjoyed a delicious dinner and then it was time to get this party started. DJ Bob McClune took over at this point and played many wedding reception favorites, so we got some great dance shots and we were even able to capture a few family portraits of Best man Beau and his stunning family!

Up next was the main event, besides Stephanie and Ryan of course, Future Thieves was set to go on at 11PM. But we scooted outside and got a few photos of the bride and groom with the band and they decided to go on early. Seriously, who has a concert with an amazing band at their wedding reception??? Celebrities, the elite, this Stephanie and Ryan! It was hands down the coolest part of their day and my FAVORITE part of the day! They started with a song that I had already heard before and I was LOVING this! I am a huge fan of concerts, live bands, musicians, talented singers, skilled song writers. All things music! Music is my calming place, keeps my sanity, energizes me and brings me more joy than most things on this planet. I went home and downloaded Future Thieves music and retouched Stephanie and Ryan’s photos with headphones blasting the band I was honored to enjoy at their wedding. It was the perfect ending, the perfect “Fireworks” at the end of the night.  I have Stephanie and Ryan to thank for introducing me to some great music. I am a very eclectic music listener; I love everything from OLD school Country to 70’s Rock, 90’s gansta rap, indie hip hop and alternative. If you look on some of my favorite playlists you will wonder who in the world listens to this???? Haha. My current playlist includes Aesop Rock, Chris Stapleton, Tom Petty, Barenaked Ladies, Salt-N-Pepa, Dave Matthews, John Mellencamp, Johnny Cash, Rusted Root, Sam Cooke, Van Morrison, Zac Brown Band and now Future Thieves! Thank you Stephanie and Ryan for the introduction!

This is my current favorite song from Future Thieves:

“Once in a while, in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairytale.”

I’m going to start with the engagement session for this blog post, Sharon and Jacob met at a Pittsburgh Steelers football game so it was only fitting that we would start their engagement session there. They are an amazing couple and so fun to be around, but they also have two sides of themselves, as we all tend to, they are fun, energetic and full of life but they are also parents, that’s not to say they aren’t one in the same, but they are wonderful parents and their exceptional parenting skills are shown through Kaeleb’s behavior. He is such a sweet, kind, gentle young man, he was so sweet during our entire session and so well behaved. He stole the show a few times and loved every minute of it, but also stuck to me like glue when we needed him to and wanted to get some photos of just the two of them. He is absolutely adorable and remains to be my little buddy.

We started the day with pre-ceremony coverage of Sharon and the girls at the hotel, to say that Sharon is hilarious is an understatement. She is so fun, vibrant and full of life. She had everyone cracking up! From the moment that we walked into the room, Sharon’s mom, in true Cheryl fashion starting trying to feed us. Haha. She is so warm and inviting, she has raised three amazing kids and I am blessed and honored to have photographed all of them. Following pre-ceremony with Sharon we proceeded to Northway Christian Community to photograph the groom and groomsmen getting ready.

I couldn’t wait to get there and see Kaeleb in his little tux, he is just so handsome, composed of all the best parts of his Mom and Dad. We arrived and got some photographs of Jacob and the guys and Kaeleb and waiting for Jacob’s parents to arrive. I am honored to have met his grandmother, Sajida and his parents Karim and Tammi once they arrived; she is 89 years young and immigrated from Afghanistan in her 60s to the United States. I really think that we need to step back in our American culture and take notes every so often, because the honor and respect that the Afghan side of Jacob’s family showed towards this elder was a beautiful and humbling act to witness. The day was a celebration of the wedding of Jacob and Sharon but Jacob’s grandmother was a star of the show. I was raised to honor and respect my elders and it was so nice to see a family doing this, hugs, kisses, holding her hand, kneeling before her and talking to her, asking for photographs with her, all of it was something I noted and hope that my children will do one day.

The ceremony was perfect, fairly short and sweet with a flair that screamed Sharon and Jacob; there were laughing (Sharon and Jacob), crying (Cheryl and Tammi) and tradition (everyone).

Following the ceremony, we did family portraits at the altar and headed out to go to Sewickley to get some park shots, Sharon planned perfectly and accordingly so that we had plenty of time for photos. We did some of just the two of them as well as the entire bridal party. Sharon is such a trooper, climbing in places most brides wouldn’t dare, to get the perfect photo complete with their reflection in the water. Fall leaves and confetti photos rounded out this location and we proceeded to Old Economy in Ambridge to get some more photos.

At Old Economy, there was a couple of adorable little girls who came up to Sharon and told her how beautiful she looked and I have to agree, they handed her a flower which she instantly added to her bouquet as she hugged and thanked them.  See Sharon has such a great personality and she is beautiful, people are just drawn to her, everyone, from all walks of life. It’s like her soon to be mother in law said at the pre-ceremony when she hugged her son, “she’s a good one” and she is, a truly good person.  

Following the outdoor photos we made our way over to the reception at Franzee Javy’s in Ambridge and I’ll be honest, I haven’t been here for a wedding in many, many years. Upon entering the reception, Jacob’s family showered them with Noghl, which is a traditional Afghan confection; it is made by boiling sugar with water and rose water and then roasting almonds in the mixture. These are the kinds of things that make me love shooting Pittsburgh weddings, they are always different and we live in a pretty diverse area so you have so many amazing cultural mash ups that it’s so fun to see all the different traditions that take place. This leads me to the toasts and Jacob’s family throwing money at the couple, yet another Afghan tradition.

The evening was about to get started and we paused for a moment prior to events to get Jacob’s family together for a family portrait then sing Happy Birthday to Sharon’s Aunt followed immediately by first dance, father daughter and mother son dances. The DJ was super laid back and accommodating, Jacob’s family provided her with some traditional Afghan music which lead to an entirely filled dance floor with some very enthusiastic dancers! It was awesome! This of course means I get to capture some fantastic pictures! During the dancing I pulled some of my favorite people and snagged some photos of their individual families and couples, who just happen to be some of the VIPs of the evening as well. We ended the evening with Sharon dancing with her mom, Cheryl.

To say this wedding felt like home to me is an understatement, some of my best weddings are those of family members or friends who I have photographed before. I know Sharon’s family, there were no questions, I could have filled out her paperwork on my own, it brings a level of comfort, that’s not to say that I put down my guard, and it means I really have to be on top of my game! She knows exactly what she’s looking for, it’s me, my work, my creative mind, my personality and its 100% one of the biggest honors of my life to know that a bride didn’t even call another photographer because she knew what she wanted, she wanted me. The Ash family will always hold a very dear place in my heart, they are amazing people and I am blessed to be the one to capture all the best moments of their lives. I get to share in those moments with them, it’s such a gift.

It’s wedding days like Sharon and Jacob’s that remind me exactly why I fell in love with photography and specifically wedding photography. Wedding photography is my jam, I LOVE it! It is well with my soul. It calls to me. I get to see all the best parts of people, of families, of joy, of love, of hope for the future. I truly stumbled into photography, I had taken all the AP classes in high school, applied and was accepted into 4 schools, weighed my options on tuition, scholarships, etc. The summer of 1998, I went to have my senior portraits, I left there and said to my mom, “So…you can actually do this for a living???” with a panicked look on her face, she said “Well, some people can” by the time we got home, I planned on changing my major and applying to Art School, out of fear my Dad told my mom “Oh gosh, she’s going to be a starving artist!?!?!”. I did just that, applied to the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and would go in to pursue a degree in photography. Why this was a surprise to my parents, I’m not quite sure, since I was in the band (I was 1 of 2 female section leaders on the drum line) and had traveled to Disney World in Orlando, Florida for a trip to play in Magic Kingdom, when I returned I had spent nearly all of my spending money on film and returned with 30 rolls of film over the course of the trip. My mom wanted to kill me! LOL She said, “Do you have any idea of how much that costs to get developed??”. Ummmm I guess I didn’t think about that part.  I did my prerequisites at the Community College of Beaver County and in 2000 followed up by attending The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, within three months of  beginning my adventure there a new adventure was underway. I met a guy by the name of Jeremy, he was roommates with one of my dearest friends, the following Monday he found me in the library at school and in true “Pretty in Pink” fashion (Do you remember that scene where Blaine intercepts her work on the computer) he sat down next to me, asked me to go to lunch and the rest is history. My life changed, it was altered in a way I cannot express into words. He had something about him that I had never experienced before. He was sweet, calm, soft spoken, attentive and caring. Jeremy is now my husband of 11 years, but this coming February will be our 16th year together. Shortly after starting school and the summer following meeting Jeremy I had already photographed two weddings, I knew it was all going to be ok, I wasn’t going to be the starving artist my Dad feared. 

The two greatest loves of my life are my family and photography. I can be having a bad day and look through that lens and see the love of a couple like Sharon and Jacob and all my misery, anxieties and annoyances disappear. I have the distinguished honor of stopping time, there is no other job on the planet that can accomplish that. I capture so many firsts, for so many people, I am completely and utterly thankful to the dear Lord everyday that I get to do what I love. How many people can say that? Watching the joy of a couple who have committed their lives to each other is truly a gift, capturing the first moments of their newborn child’s life is an honor, stopping time throughout their lives is a blessing.

This song sums up Sharon and Jacob, PERFECTly, all the puns intended!

What do I think of when I think of Rick and Jean?  True Love, Soul Mates, Destined for each other.  They are the type of couple that makes me believe 100% in every clique term related to love. I’m pretty cheesy, I love the Happily Ever After, the fate of finding the one with whom your soul loves,  simply put they are perfect for each other, they know it, I know it and everyone around them knows it.

Both successful in their own right, Jean a physician and Rick, let’s be honest, I don’t know what he does as it is far above my head haha. They compliment each other in every sense of the word, watching them together is one of my greatest joys. They are magnetic in their love and attraction for each other, never veering far from one another.  

The day started at Jeans, soon to be Ricks home, for pre-ceremony coverage. From the moment I saw Jeans dress hanging in her bedroom, I knew before it was even placed on her that it was absolutely perfect for her, gorgeous and with just the right amount of sparkle. After capturing all the important moments of the ladies getting ready, we headed to the church to capture Rick and his groomsmen. IT took all of 5 minutes to realize, that this group was going to be just as fun as the ladies and it was going to be a great day!

In the wedding planning, Jean is the master planner and always kept me in the loop and asked for recommendations, which I appreciate and also feel very honored that she would consult me for recommendations. I have been shooting weddings for 18 years and I know a ton of vendors for just about every aspect of wedding planning that you can think of.  Jean had so many details in her day that it would literally be hard to list them all, but one of my favorites was the horse drawn carriage ride,  John Popp brought Jean and the bridesmaids from the Museum in Beaver to the gazebo for a few photos then proceeded to take them to the ceremony, the carriage wait during the ceremony and took Rick and Jean from the ceremony to the gazebo in Beaver for some follow up photos. It was so sweet and romantic to see those beautiful, majestic horses galloping down Third Street.

I truly don’t know how I could ever choose my favorite moment of the day from the wedding of Jean and Rick, as they are all my favorites. Their entire day was everything I hoped it would be for them, everything they planned it to be and everything that Hallmark movies are made of(my favorite this time of year). Just like a Hallmark movie, you can see Jean and Rick for 5 minutes and get sucked in, their love is contagious, their attraction undeniable and their love for one another clearly shown.

This blog post could be a hundred pages long and still not cover all my favorite moments from the wedding day. But here are a few, the horse drawn carriage rides, Rick and Jeans face as she walked down the aisle, it was as if there was no one else there, it was electric, full of emotion and heartwarming. Their embrace at the outdoor photographs, their first dance, holding each other and connecting on a level that others dream of, the sparklers pictures, these people are professionals! It’s like they had done it a thousand times before.  

 You know, I connect with all my clients in one way or another and maybe if Jean and Ricks wedding was a different weekend, a different time of year or even a different year all together I would have ugly cried at a different moment, but their wedding it happened during Rick’s dance with his sister. I don’t know why it hit me so hard, maybe because my baby brother(he’s 26 and I still call him my baby brother despite the fact that he is now 8-9 inches taller than me, but we are 11 years apart and to me, he will always remain just that) had just moved back from Chicago, a month prior to their wedding and I had missed him terribly while he was gone. But my goodness, watch Rick and his sister dance at his wedding, wiping tears as they did, I knew what a special connection they had and now that Rick was moving to Pittsburgh following the wedding, I knew that she would miss him terribly, just as I had missed my brother. It was sweet and I hope to share in a moment just like that one day with my baby brother, Jesse.

Jean and Rick are extremely thoughtful in their planning and invited those who mean the most to them in the whole world, that being the case, it was a “smaller” wedding in number of guest but larger in love. We discussed prior to the wedding how we wanted to walk around to each table and get a photo with all the guests, as each one was hand selected and thoughtfully meant to be there.  

It is in that thoughtfulness that Jean and her family and friends prepared cookies for the cookie table, this resulted in, hands down, mic drop, the largest Pittsburgh cookie table I have ever seen in my 18 years of shooting weddings, this was not a cookie table, this was a cookie room! They had the main cookie “table” that was 3 tiers high and 24 feet long, with smaller 6 foot tables at the corners of the room with cookies on them, as well as the hallway that leads to the room adorned with plates of cookies. I would love to know the exact number of cookies, I’m going to have to ask Jean, I’m sure that she knows. My uneducated guess would be well over 10,000.

It was truly unbelievable! In fact following the wedding, Jean’s mom brought me a container of cookies for myself, my mom and my kids, they were delicious and so sweet of her to think of us.

Jean had thought of everything in her planning process and there was not an inch of the room that didn’t scream Jean and Rick, it was stunning, but what I left with on their wedding day was that true love does exist, their love for one another is sweet, inspiring and not at all tangible. When you are in the room with them their connection is deep and amazing and the things of fairytales or story books, but the excitement of the wedding planning, the day, the honeymoon…it has not left them, not for even a second. This is their life and I am blessed to have met them, honored to have been chosen to photograph their wedding and humbled to know of their gratitude.

May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, The rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of his hand. May God be with you and bless you… May you be poor in misfortune, Rich in blessings, May you know nothing but happiness From this day forward. May the road rise to meet you May the wind be always at your back May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home And may the hand of a friend always be near. May green be the grass you walk on, May blue be the skies above you, May pure be the joys that surround you, May true be the hearts that love you.

Let me just start this blog post by saying that sometimes the stars align, you meet someone that brings you joy, they enrich your lives and will forever hold  a special place in your heart. While there is no doubt that Theresa and Nate have this but here, I am talking about my relationship with this couple. Theresa is truly one of the sweetest, most hard working individuals that I have ever met and she can no longer be called a client, I knew this, I felt this about 5 minutes into meeting her…she is my friend and I treasure her.

Our day started at Theresa’s sisters home with pre-ceremony coverage, where I truly believe that I witnessed a family dynamic that is unparalleled on so many levels. The entire family gets along so well and it made everything run so smoothly that we were able to leave and arrive at the Timberhouse to continue the getting ready photos. Once we completed the pre-ceremony coverage with Theresa complete with photos of her very soon to be in laws, we proceeded to another area to get photos of Nate and his family and groomsmen.

I have met Nate a few times but the stunning woman that is his mother has got to be the reason to which I had the honor of photographing Theresa and Nate’s wedding. Nate’s mother, Susan AKA Sue is so sweet and a long time friend of ours. She is an amazing chocolatier and the owner, operator of Noland Chocolates. Seriously, if you have not tried her chocolates, they are a must! They are so delicious and creamy and the take away box that Theresa and Nate packed up for me at the end of the night seriously saved my sanity of the weeks following their wedding haha. October is always a crazy month for me with several, always popular October weddings and my amazing daughter Addison’s birthday is on Halloween, which since she was born has become a month long celebration with Pumpkin Festivals and Fall farm visits all month long.  But truly Sue Noland’s chocolates are amazing and I insist you try them I promise you won’t be disappointed!

FAVORITE MOMENT OF THE DAY: Pre-ceremony…who knew that it could or would happen so soon! Theresa and Nate’s only photo request was that we capture their prayer prior to the ceremony. You will see tons of wedding samples on Pinterest that have a photo of the bride and groom on either side of the door, to preserve that precious first moment of seeing each other as being that moment that she walks down the aisle but this, this was different. These two are starting their lives together is the best way, they are putting God first! A marriage requires three people for it to be whole, to be successful, for it to be long lasting and true. Those three people are a bride, a groom and God.  These two…they just get it!

We had gorgeous 82 degree weather and the Timberhouse steps set the stage for this amazing couple to get married. The ceremony had all the perfect elements to unite these two, there was family, friends, laughter, tears, pure joy and excitement!

Following the ceremony we use those same steps for family photographs, I LOVE how you can see the reflection of the gorgeous fall trees in the reflection above that window, immediately followed, by bridal party and bride and groom portraits. This Rolling Acres Golf Course and Timberhouse have so many options for photography that we just simply walked across the street to capture all those special moments.

After heading in to the reception, they made quick work of the first dance, toasts and blessing. Now in talking with the couple they expressed extreme interest in sunset photos, based on our timeline that sun was going to set right in the middle of dinner, while I wouldn’t normally interrupt a couples dinner for photos,  let’s be honest, we need that break for food as well, but Theresa said to come get her and we will go.  So we hit up the buffet line after immediate family, scarfed our food and got back to work. Boy o Boy am I glad we did! The sunset portraits are definitely my favorites, the sky was fairly clear and the colors are spectacular. I also LOVE getting that photo on the front steps of the Timberhouse with the warm ambient light indoors contrasting with the cool twilight sky outdoors.  I feel these moments are essential to a successful wedding; it gives the couple a moment to calm down, regroup and realize just how quickly this day is flying by and to really savor the moment of THEIR day!

Following dinner we started the dancing off with parents dances. Theresa and her father, followed by Nate and Sue and in quick succession was Theresa and her step father, bridal party and open dance floor. Open dance floor, there wasn’t an open space on that dance floor that wasn’t being occupied but a guest dancing the night away! Everyone was having so much fun and it was a blessing for us to capture all the love in that room. Speaking of love and it may just be my second favorite moment of the day, let’s talk about Nate’s dad Pat and his mad dancing skills, now I don’t want to call myself judgmental but maybe I just happen to lump all men into a category of non-dancers and bad dancers LOL.  I see a lot of my dad’s “type” in Pat, strong, hardworking, amazing providers and fantastic fathers…but my Dad will slow dance with my mom but that is 100% absolutely it, my Dad would never even consider “fast” dancing on the dance floor! I truthfully don’t know why I do this judgment, my husband is a dancer, he’s quite good also, he has good rhythm and doesn’t look goofy at all. I just never in a million years expected that from Pat, to the point where my husband was jealous and taking notes haha. Kidding of course, but it was one of those moments where I thought to myself, everyone should have video at their weddings because this is fantastic! Theresa, please tell me someone, anyone captured this!

We left shortly after the garter and bouquet but not before hugging and congratulating my dear friends Theresa and Nate. That’s when Theresa asked if WE could get a picture together, I don’t get very often but once in a while and let me just say, its super sweet and I treasure it each time it does happen, it really shows me that I have made some sort of impact on this bride, I am appreciated and an important part of their day. While I HATE having my photo taken just as much as nearly every groom I encounter, which is why I am behind it haha.

I will forever treasure Theresa and Nate, as clients whom I was honored to photograph on their wedding day, but more importantly I am blessed to call them friends. We made a promise on her wedding day that just because the wedding day was “over” that we would remain friends and stay in touch, I intend to keep that promise because I made a vow many years ago to surround myself with kindness, with people who have good values and integrity, people who love the Lord and recognize their blessings as much as I do and those who just simply make me feel good.

These are the Hands

These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever.

These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together you build your future.

These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other.

These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind.

These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow, and tears of joy.

These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children.

These are the hands that will help you to hold your family as one.

These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it.

So many special moments at this wedding, that’s all I have to say, blog post over…

Just kidding!

We started pre-ceremony coverage at Seven Oaks, the bride and groom both got ready there which made it super convenient to get the photos we wanted and needed. Suzy is such a sweet girl and I was so excited for her day to finally be here.

We were both under the weather and Suzy promised to not be a bridezilla, haha I don’t think I have ever had a bride say that to me. She is hilarious! We were once again blessed with a gorgeous 68 degree beautiful day, blue skies and big white puffy clouds. It was perfection for this early “fall” outdoor ceremony. The sun peeked out from behind a cloud and cast this gorgeous glowing sunshine on the ceremony. We were able to get lots of lovely views and luckily we only had a few golfers in the way that we were able to easily get out.

Following the ceremony we were able to get out on the course for some amazing bridal party photographs as well as some of just the bride and groom. After the course we went back up where the ceremony was, just outside the Hickory room and guess who was there to meet us???

Jaycee! Suzy and Tom’s stunning Australian Shepard! Suzy and Tom warned me that she didn’t like people, which had me nervous at first, but looking at these photos, something tells me that she not only loves “Her people” but she should be a dog model…not even kidding, she sat perfectly, looked, smiled, tilted her little head. Seriously??? My Angel girl is 16 years old and while at this point she cannot hear me, she has never been this photogenic…EVER!   

We quickly entered into the reception and skipped through the main events fairly quickly, Cake cutting, first dance, father daughter dance, mother son dance and the wedding came to a screeching halt for me when Tom’s dad, Don gave his speech, my favorite moment of the day. It’s not every day that a groom chooses his father as his best man, for a man to choose his “step father”, that’s completely unheard of.  As I have said before my parents met when I was 18 months old, married when I was 5 years old and while my Dad is not biologically connected to me, he is my Dad, there’s no doubt about it.  

It obvious, given that Tom chose his Dad as his best man because they are undeniably close, but Don’s best man speech had me in tears. He speaks of Tom not as anything other than, “my son”.  Everything about Don’s speech was amazing, he spoke jokingly about Tom and his baby sister, Amy, he spoke of Tom’s character, hard work ethic and what a fun and amazing person he is. Everything in this speech spoke to me, it was as if someone was talking about the relationship that I have with my Dad. Memories of fishing, family time and love. My Dad is the strongest person I know, he is an amazing father, wonderful and caring person and he is the rock that we lean on when needed, I am blessed. I couldn’t help but cry when Don gave his speech, Tom and Don are blessed to have one another, their relationship and friendship. Something tells me, they both know it.  

When dinner was finished, we ran outside to capture a few sunset shots, family portraits and allowed the couple to mingle with their guests. I just knew I had to go up to Don and tell him how wonderful his speech was, not only because it was but to tell him how I connected to each and every word in it and I also needed him to know how much I know it must have meant to Tom. I know that guys are the best at expressing themselves, but I needed Don to know that as a adult child to an amazing “step parent” (PS I don’t even refer to my Dad in that context, to the point where people whom have known me for year don’t even know that he wasn’t my biological father until I told them otherwise and  I have had countless people tell me I look just like him…..hmmmm really? Haha) that speech was flawless, amazing, sweet, emotional and downright one of the best I’ve ever heard.

I received Monika and Gerry as a referral from Gerry’s cousin, Nicole, I photographed Nicole’s wedding in June. They were in need of a photographer and Gerry’s mom, Domenica is local and handling some of the wedding planning.  After a few conversations with Domenica, I began calling and emailing with Monika. Can I just say… I adore this woman! She is everything that a professional photographer can hope for in a bride, she is cool, calm and collected…she also happens to be hilarious and I knew just from the photographs that she had asked for and her demeanor that this wedding was going to be a blast, not only a fun day for the bride and groom but one of the many fun days that this awesome couple would spend together.

As with all my couples, I know it may initially feel like an invasion of privacy or a nosey photographer but I do truly need to know all details and I need to know about family circumstances so that I can effectively photograph your wedding day and capture all those special moments without any awkward moments coming from me. Monika made it very clear from day one of speaking to her that she had a daughter, Mackenzie who is 4 years old, while she is not Gerry’s daughter biologically, she is in every way his and Gerry is 100% committed to not only this woman, Monika, their marriage, their life together but also to this precious little girl. I have more to talk about with this, but we will move on for the moment.

After a couple months of Monika and I striking up a constant email correspondence, it was time for the big day!

We drove 90 minutes to The Grand Estate at Hidden Acres and upon arriving at the house, to say I was excited was an understatement. I was excited to meet Monika, excited for this gorgeous September day, (the weather was a perfect 67 degrees, big blue sky with white puffy clouds) and very excited to explore this venue I had heard and read so much about. The Grand Estate is the stunning Bed and Breakfast owned and operated by Thomas and Melanie Waddell.  When Monika initially booked her wedding with us and told me about this gem, I had not heard of it as most of my weddings are in the Beaver, Butler and Allegheny Counties. (Trust me, we will travel anywhere, we LOVE to travel and have had two weddings in South Carolina ). I took to Google and did my research as I always do and read the history of this property and it was beautiful, awe inspiring and I could not wait to get there and check it out for myself. This property was originally a 3,000 square foot modest home owned by John and Margaret Ann Liperote that was later renovated and expanded to the 10,000 square foot mansion that it is today. When John and then Margaret Ann passed away, the family sold the home to Thomas and Melanie so that this lovely home could be enjoyed by all who come and stay at the Bed and Breakfast. I encourage you to check out their website and read their story. http://thegrandestateweddingvenue.com/about-us/history/

We toured the grounds, checked out all the wonderful picturesque locations and found the outdoor tent where the reception was to be held. We were then on a mission to find and meet this bride for the very first time, when we entered the bridal suite we were greeted by a sweet 4 year old little lady who would be my inspiration for the day, Mackenzie is adorable, she has a sweet, outgoing personality that is as big as the room that she is in, beautiful blonde hair and her mama’s face. LOL.

We headed to the church for the ceremony and I was very much looking forward to the portion of the ceremony that would become my first of two of my favorite moments of the day. I will fully admit I am a cheesy, emotional person I don’t deny this…I am the mom who loves to get matchy matchy outfits with her daughter and will intentionally dress her son in a matching shirt to his Daddy, I love weddings and all that they represent and I don’t always but don’t be surprised if you witness me wiping a tear away. The moment had arrived, the family vows, the vows that Gerry would recite to Mackenzie. Not even kidding, I may have ugly cried for a brief second. 

A few lines that he recited were…

“I know I wasn’t there when you were born or when you took your first steps. But I promise to be there for every day and every milestone, your first day of school, your wedding day to walk you down the aisle*insert ugly cry from the photographer*…

As the daughter to the most amazing father to ever grace the planet, my Dad was not there for my birth,  he was not there for my first steps, but he was there for all the milestones thereafter and he still is and will remain to be. I envision a life filled with love, laughter and happily ever after (there’s the cheesy line you were waiting for) for not only Gerry and Monika but also Mackenzie.

If I were to give out awards for specific moments throughout the wedding season, which might I add is no longer a season for me, as I shoot weddings all year, this wedding hands down would get “BEST GROOM SEEING HIS BRIDE REACTION”,  seriously I couldn’t have posed, dreamed or hoped for a better reaction.  

My second favorite moment occurred at the reception, where this couple literally knocked it out of the park with their first dance!

Need I say more??? I mean seriously, it had romance, fun, sweet moments, hilarious moments and while we have all seen the You Tube videos of couples who try this, this couple succeeded in a way I have never seen before. Trying not to block the view of any of the guests, I spend a good portion of the dance kneeling down near the grandparents and Aunts and Uncles of the groom, I truthfully do not know how old they are but their giggles, clapping and cheering made them sound as young, fun and playful as this gorgeous couple.  Every song was relatable to a group of people in attendance and this dance was perfectly perfect for them and their personalities!

We ended the evening by heading down to the stone bridge and fountain that is on the property for a gorgeous photo session and a breath of fresh air in the chaos of the evening. I cannot recommend this to my couples more, as long as weather and timing works out, I always take my couples out either around sunset or at twilight so that we can do a short 5 minute photo session with just the two of you. Not only it is a great ending to your wedding album design but it also gives you just a few brief moments to take it all in, breathe and collect yourselves. When we got married , we intentionally scheduled that time since it was something that I had been doing with my clients for years. But it was just something that my mentor had recommended years ago, I never fully understood it until that day, August 5, 2006. I had been shooting weddings for 7 years at that point and I had lots of ideas and plans and “I knew it all”…but had never been on the brides side before, truly when people say it goes so fast…it  does. You start with your hair and makeup in the morning and don’t stop until the wee hours of the evening, morning whatever the case may be. This 5 minute session stops you, gives you focus and allows you to really soak it up and enjoy the rest of the best day of your life.

I wish nothing but the best for Monika and Gerry but truly as an adult child with similar parental circumstances, I know that Monika realizes how blessed not only she is but little Mackenzie. I wish Gerry all the wisdom, courage and support that I can muster.  Because it takes a special person to be a parent, it takes an extraordinary human being to make the choice to love another’s child as their own, just as my Dad, loves me.

This is a wedding that I have been looking forward to for a very long time…long before these two were engaged. You see, Chad and Danielle are not family by blood, not by marriage, they are however still family. My mom and Danielle’s mom, LouAnn have been friends since our brothers were little and played baseball together.  I am talking elementary school and before. My mom is an only child and when my grandmother, Minnie passed away, LouAnn and her sister Sandi became a close and amazing confidants for my mom, taking us under her wing and caring for us the way that only family does. She has been there every step of the way. We spend Halloween night together eating LouAnn’s delicious, homemade Italian wedding soup, we spend Christmas Eve with their family with an amazing spread at Sandi’s home and giving and receiving of gifts. We spend lots of days in their company and were blessed when my youngest and last child was born on LouAnn’s birthday, leaving her to be my son’s birthday twin and a bond that can never be broken.

I remember the first time I met Chad, I, like any other family member, had to put my feelers out and see what I actually thought about him…to say that these two are perfect for each other is an understatement. They are beyond compatible and their daughter, Mya could not be a more perfect mix of the two of them, she looks just like Chad in every way with her Momma’s Italian personality, she’s gorgeous and spunky and I just love her to pieces.

Once engaged, we scheduled their engagement portrait session, these two are funny when it comes to pictures, whether it be like a family member who doesn’t want to put you out or they are truly that laid back about them, I may never know. My suggestion was all in the City of Pittsburgh, that is where they met, fell in love, used to live, had their daughter…it was beginning of many first for them as a couple. We started at the West End Overlook, hands down my favorite view of the city, wide and expansive and on a nice clear day you can see passed the Cathedral of Learning in Oakland. Then we headed downtown near The Point, which is close to where they lived and ended our session at The Point with sunset. At the end of the night as darkness had fallen upon us we talked about the details they had recently accomplished, they asked me to please come and enjoy myself(to the wedding)…I reminded them that I would be! The best weddings for me are the ones that I am photographing…I truly love and adore what I do, I wouldn’t even know what to do with myself at a wedding that I was “just a guest”. I mean really, what do you do in between ceremony and reception? I am bride and limo chasing, I don’t know what you are doing haha. We talked about Danielle’s sister in law, Stephanie as we had been since we started, as she was STILL in labor with her second child! We knew the baby was a boy and I asked if Dean was going to be the ring bearer and obviously Mya, their little girl would be the flower girl and that’s when Danielle asked me for Gabe to be a ring bearer as well… Not even kidding, I may have teared up, said yes and spent the next 11 months dreaming of how handsome my sweet boy would be, hoping that the tux we purchased would still fit come August 12 and praying that my rambunctious 3 year old would please, please, please not throw a fit and wreck Danielle and Chad’s wedding day.

With the wedding day fast approaching and all the preparations complete, we are here….the morning that Chad and Danielle will become man and wife…I. WAS. TERRIFIED! Her ceremony was scheduled for 5PM and Gabe begins to melt at 3PM, he needs naps but has been refusing them like that was his job. I have a few things to recommend for parents of the flower girl/ ring bearers in and around the ages of infant – 5 years old. A backpack! We happen to have  one that we sell that says “Ring bearer” on it, but any old bag will do. I stocked that thing full of goodies. I packed snacks, drinks, candy (just in case it got really ugly) and activities as well as what I like to call, the reward system. My daughter was no a reward kinda kid, she didn’t care that you had a lollipop waiting for her if she went potty or behaved well in church, my son however will do just about anything for a Matchbox Car. I had a series of 8 cars that he would receive for each thing that he did. He walked down the aisle, enter 1969 Corvette Matchbox car….he stood still and smiled for pictures, enter 1970 Camero Matchbox car and so on and so forth. Even I the reward giver could not believe this childs behavior.

Some of my favorite weddings have all events in one location, it makes it so easy for guests and as well as myself during the preceremony coverage. When scheduling weddings, we typically get coverage of the groom and his groomsmen at the church, having all events at one location allows us to easily go back and forth between  Bride and groom at capture all the those special moments. Danielle got ready on the 15th “penthouse” floor while Chad got ready on the 3rd floor.

From the moment we walked in, it was like a dream, my kids were well behaved and Danielle was the portrait of beauty. Her dress is AMAZING, Her jewelry  was perfect and those Valentino shoes!

We sent the girls to get their dresses on and proceeded to take photos of the “details”. It was now time to deliver the gifts to Chad, Dave(Danielle’s Dad), Matt and Brian(Danielle’s brothers). It warmed my heart to see Mya all dressed up in her little flower girl robe and handing out those precious treasures. We returned to Danielle’s room and got her dressed. Knowing this family as well as I do, if they cried, I cried, if they laughed, I laughed. I adore each and every one of them and today was going to be amazing and flawless and perfect.

Watching Danielle walk down the winding path to the ceremony was surreal, I have known Danielle since she  was a little girl, taken her senior portraits and here I was, on this day, capturing one of the biggest moments of her life. I have watched her grow into a successful, gorgeous woman and mother, now wife.

We did outdoor photos of the bridal party and bride and groom in the courtyard at the Marriott, no need to fuss with traveling, we were on a strict timeline. But we were able to capture so many beautiful moments along the way, from trying to get Brian to jump, to a dance line, to my crazy directions…”OK, stand as close to the fire as possible without torching your dress” to “wait, wait, wait, the reflection is perfect”.

Upon entering the reception, I always like to get photos of the room before as I like to say “Anyone messes it up”. Everything was beautiful. The STUNNING ice sculpture was breathtaking and each and every decoration was well thought out and planned. It was Danielle, it was Chad, it was perfectly them, together.

This brings me to the first dance, Danielle and Chad started together and ended as a family with Mya joining in, the irony is not lost on me. They all held each other close, enjoyed and soaked in the moment. Danielle and her Dad, Dave shared in the father daughter dance as well as Chad and his Mom, Wilma, neither would be complete without that sweet little lady, their daughter, their granddaughter, Mya.

Let the fun begin! Dancing the night away was a blast for everyone, group pictures of every guest, dance battle of guys versus girls, dance line, special dances for Jackie and her new husband, little girls and big girls alike twirling the night away, Lou and Dave, Danielle and Chad, Stephanie and Brian, Wilma and Jim and my dear parents and many others…all joined in for the Anniversary Dance…which Wilma and Jim won!

With a certain little ring bearer getting pretty sleepy, we ended the night with a photo session outside where we congratulated “my family members”, hugged and wished them well, which happens at every wedding…but this time it was different. This isn’t a couple that I will keep up with on Social Media or when they come in for their next newborn session, this is a couple that I love, care for and will see very soon. I will know that they are not just OK, I will know that they are happy and in love and that they have found that person to which their soul loves. I truly do not have a “favorite moment of the day”, they are all my favorites, many of which include my little man. Watching Danielle walk down the aisle, seeing LouAnn’s face as she turned to Chad, their first kiss, the moment that Mya gave me her “big cheese” at the altar, seeing my little man enter the reception, watching Jeff give his best man speech, watching Danielle during the Maid of Honor Speech, the first dance, the parent dances, the anniversary dance, the dance line, the end of the night kiss. Each moment of EVERY wedding fills me with joy, in a world such as ours is now, I HAVE to believe in weddings. I have the believe in marrying the love of your life, the joy in families, the eternal happiness that one feels being with your soul mate, the one that God designed for you and you alone. I have to believe in the fairytale. I love weddings, each and every one. 

A short two months later we planned the engagement photo session for Erika and Dan, we have a couple locations(all within nearly walking distance) that were meaningful to them that we wanted to make sure we captured, the first being a small park on the North Side of Pittsburgh. Erika and Dan are high school sweethearts and we just HAD to include a throwback to those times when they were young, carefree and falling in love. Dan had purchased a building nearby and renovated it, top to bottom, restored it to its former glory with the help of Erika’s dad. We then proceeded to the North Shore, near Heinz Field and PNC Park. We worked fast at the second and final location, the forecast didn’t have a drop of rain in it, but boy o boy you could certainly see that they were incorrect and there was something looming! At the final location, I am still shocked at what we accomplished, some of my favorite photos were taken there, dark clouds in the background and all! In the last few photos I angled towards the city, because you could literally see the wall of rain in the other direction, it was coming straight for us, photo wise, we were good…walking back towards the car, not so much!

The wedding day started off with preceremony coverage at the home of the sister of the bride, Rene. Any professional photographer will talk and talk about the light, the light! Preceremony coverage can be tricky if you don’t know what you are doing, but Rene’s home made my job easy with natural light flooding in from every room, it was a dream! YAY! No yucky tungsten light to mess with!

We captured the girls getting ready and I may have flirted with Rene’s baby boy, Chase…but seriously that face, he is pretty irresistible!

The ceremony location is a church I am well acquainted with and I love and appreciate its “out of the norm” architecture, its LONG aisle and the stunning stained glass. Following the ceremony we had plenty of time to explore but yet again, just like at the engagement session, we quickly moved on due to impending rain in the forecast. Let me just say, it is like these two have an angel who declares the weather for them…its truly unbelievable.

Preceremony…down pour (that’s ok, we are inside, who cares)

Driving to the church…Sunshine

Ceremony…downpour

Alternate locations…overcast…sprinkles(enough to do some adorable photos with the umbrellas that Erika preplanned, just in case)…sunshine and blue skies. Wait, I’m sorry, WHAT? That’s right, it was as if the clouds separated and the blue skies, big puffy white clouds and sunshine was made just for them.

Drive to reception…rain

Reception…rain…clear….rain….

Outdoor Sunset session….yep, how in the world do you get sunset pics on the day that rained, was cloudy about 90% of the time?

We were able to squeeze in some photos at Allegheny Commons Park on the North Side of Pittsburgh, The Pennsylvanian in Downtown Pittsburgh and “The Pillars” AKA Mellon Institute, before heading to Irwin, PA for the reception.

Favorite moment of the day…

Hands down, MIC DROP, without question….Erika’s dads speech.

It was AMAZING, we laughed, we cried, I may have let out a light sob…AMAZING!

He made it so special, so personal, yet so relatable to all those in attendance that I was in awe of his public speaking and speech writing skills, haha. He talked about the young, tomboy little girl that he knew and the beautiful woman that stood before us. He spoke of their close connection with camping adventures at Camp Kon-O-Kwee in Ellwood City where they received a wooden coin, he knew that one day he would return that wooden keepsake to Erika, but he didn’t know when…this was the day. He spoke of their adorable matching sneakers and handed Erika a box, the box contained a brand new pair of those precious sneakers…it wasn’t the sneakers that made me swoon, it was the meaning behind them…they were intended not for Erika…not for Dan…not for anyone but his future grandchild that Erika and Dan will someday be blessed with…<Insert Ugly Cry Here>.  

We ended the evening, a beautiful wedding with a gorgeous couple on a slightly soggy July day with a few photos with those that are this couples whole world…their family.

What oils are good for which ailments?!

Note: NOT all essential oils are created equally. Always be picky about which brand you choose! Here at Generations we offer Young Living essential oils. They are a verified, high quality, seller. 

NOW TALK TO ME ABOUT SALT LAMPS?!

IS IT JUST A MODERN NIGHTLIGHT? 

While they do make beautiful nightlights, there is actually a science behind them. 

“Himalayan salt lamps purify air through the power of hygroscopy. This means that they attract water molecules from the surrounding environment then absorb those molecules, as well as any foreign particles they may be carrying, into the salt crystal. “ Pollen, dust, dirt, dander and smoke... They all get pulled from the air by your salt lamp. This makes them amazing for people who suffer form allergies! 

They also emit negative ions into the air, which cancel out electromagnetic radiation given off from electronic devices. (Tv, Cell Phone, Computers...)

SO WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED!

Not all oils, or lamps are created equal. We offer high quality products at our shop, with a satisfaction guarantee. 

I photograph all types of weddings, big ones, small ones, crazy and calm, but I will say that this one will stand out for me for a very long time. It was pure, true, unadulterated bliss from start to finish. Samantha wanted simple, she got anything but that in my eyes, she got lovely, cool, meaningful, beautiful and complete perfection. There were 58 of us in attendance for Samantha and Paul’s wedding, the perfect number for the perfect couple. Each and every person in that room was someone they know, love and care for deeply.  Talk about making your guests feel special, to know that you were handpicked to be a guest is not only an honor but they also chose to do a portrait with each table and completely share every moment of their time at their reception was not centered around them, it was the entire group, ensuring that everyone was happy. What an amazing and thoughtful couple they are.

I am so blessed to have been there to capture each and every moment of their amazing day!

We started the day with some preceremony photos of the bride and groom separately and then moved on fairly quickly to the first look. Some first looks are all about time constraints and it’s just easier to just “get it all done” beforehand.  Some first looks are special, this is one of them, Samantha and Paul, truly I have never seen a couple so excited to see each other, it was as if they had been away for so long and just now coming back together and I was able to be present to photograph it, the looks on their faces, their embrace, his glances at his gorgeous bride as he got to finally see her in her wedding gown.  Her excitement, her wrapping her arms around him, kissing him sweetly and deeply, this is what the emotion of a first look should be and as a photographer, you hope it to be. It was as if any thread of nervousness just simply disappeared when they came together.  

We proceeded to photograph Sam and Paul as well as the rest of the bridal party all over the grounds of the Hyeholde restaurant and if you have never been, I highly recommend you check it out. Its gorgeous both inside and out. My favorite photos came when we went inside, to what the Hyeholde called “The Engagement Table” if you come in and say that you are going to propose they have a special, quiet, secluded table for the big moment. It is a quaint small series of two tables upstairs with stunning stained glass windows all around you and the light coming through those windows was breathtaking to photograph.

The ceremony was short and sweet and filled with smiles as the groomsmen and Best Woman “couldn’t find the ring” *wink, wink*.  Followed by dinner and a few events.

My favorite moment of the day

They did an anniversary dance,  the bride’s grandparents “won” and watching them dance, embrace and love each other so deeply even after all these years was inspiring and proved to me that Samantha and Paul have met their soul mate, I don’t normally use that term.  I think that people fall in love under all types of circumstances, but when your love is so deep, so pure and so sincere, you love that person not with your whole heart but your whole soul, then you have found your soul mate and I 100% believe that that is true for Samantha and Paul.  Sam clearly saw this type of love before, in her grandparents, they have the same love for one another. Besides when he dipped and kissed her, my heart literally melted. The kicker…the song that was played for the anniversary dance was  “their song”, wait, WHAT? The DJ did not speak to them beforehand, he had no idea that they would win and he just happened to play their song. Get outta here!

Giuseppe is originally from Catania, Italy(near Sicily) and Sheryl is from Beaver, PA, they met online and sparks flew and let me tell you, they are still flying! These two are in love and it is truly a love that you can feel when you are in the room. If they are across the room from each other they still remain connected, like magnets they are simply put attracted to each other.  

When planning Sheryl and Giuseppe’s engagement portrait session, we threw around several ideas finally settling on a couple locations, Ambridge Library being one of them. On top of being a beautiful building and stunning architecture it also happens to house some of my, Sheryl and Giuseppe’s favorite things…BOOKS!

After much planning and preparation,  it came to the day and due to a fear of flying, Giuseppe’s family was unable to make it, however thankful for Sheryl’s brother Matt and his technological knowledge Giuseppe’s family was there, via Skype and present for the entire preceremony at the church, the ceremony as well as the reception, despite staying up until the wee hours of the morning to do so.

Sheryl is literally the master planner, each and every detail about their wedding was well thought out and planned accordingly. She is also incredibly thoughtful, having the day surrounded by love and family is all that anyone can ask for, Sheryl completed this flawlessly.  Her uncle was the priest to officiate the wedding, her aunt the soloist to play during the ceremony, the center pieces filled with stunning locations to which their love of travel has taken them and the head table was Houston, TX, a place where they will now start their new adventure and begin to build their future together.

I honestly do not know if I can include a Favorite Moment from this particular wedding, as I loved them all!

From the preceremony coverage where the bride and groom wrote good old fashioned love letters to eachother, there truly is something to be said about a love letter written by hand and what those words on a page will mean to you not only on your wedding day but all the days to come.

To the ceremony, where you could see Giuseppe’s parents waving and clapping via Skype, they were there, they were present and they were included and not to mention adorable in their excitement!

In speaking with Sheryl and her family, it is an Italian tradition for the parents of the groom to walk him down the aisle as well, Giuseppe’s family was not there, not in the traditional sense, so when I spoke with Sheryl and Sheila and they told me that Giuseppe’s mom had asked Sheila AKA Giuseppe’s new mommy, down the aisle…<insert ugly cry here> So Sheila walking her “New Son” down the aisle was so sweet and the fac t that I knew the meaning behind it, made it all that more special.

To the alternate location with those intimate moments where they get to slow down for a brief moment, embrace and be completely in awe and consumed in one another, those are the “I just want to see you interact together moments” that I am looking for. You’re natural, relaxed and at ease with your spouse!

spouse!

To the reception, where to even begin with the reception…

The speeches were breathtaking and inspiring from Sheryl and Giuseppe’s fathers as well as their Best man and maid of honor…Giuseppe’s best man had some hilarious moments and sweet ones from the not so typical college roommate stories comparing Giuseppe to Russell Crowe’s character in A Beautiful Mind to sweet ones when Giuseppe came to visit and taught him how to fold a $5 bill into a heart. Her maid of honor shared sweet moments and her love for Sheryl that left everyone just a tad misty eyed.

I always ask that the couple give me a list of “must take photos” things that are important to you, whether it be the cookie table that your mom, aunts, grandmas worked tirelessly on or a large family portrait that only happens once a decade. Sheryl’s list was simple and to the point and honestly I love that, she gets it, FAMILY, that is the most important thing. She wanted lots of photos specifically with her parents in addition to those other special people with whom has shaped her life and career, college friends and Giuseppe’s colleagues.

Sheryl’s father daughter dance was filled with so many emotions as was all the moments with Sheryl and John and Sheryl shared that moment that is oh so special to her with her husband and his “new mommy”. By the end of the dance, they all danced, held each other close and shared more hugs and kisses than one can count.  

Finally, at the end of the evening we set up a balloon release at the gazebo and with slightly deflated balloons from the heat they ended the night on the perfect note, in the perfect moment, surrounded by Sheryl’s parents, brother Matt, nieces and nephew, each other and many more friends and family.  

All of those that truly matter.