Joe + Beppy

Two weeks ago, I traveled to Maryland to shoot the wedding of Joe + Beppy. I knew it was going to be a beautiful one too, which made the 99 mile drive to Running Fox a little more enjoyable. Beppy was surrounded by her best friends as she got ready for the big day. Upon solving the mystery of the missing bouquets and flowers, Kalysta and I shot their first look out on the driveway - and as always, it was beautiful. I really do love first looks and can't recommend them enough.

Bridal party photos were followed by their ceremony at a local church and before we knew it cocktail hour was in full swing. We rushed to get back to the giant field behind the venue for more bride + room photos before it started to downpour. Thankfully the rain held off just long enough for me to snap a few of my favorite photos from their entire day. After their first dance, speeches and prayer, it began to rain like crazy. Guests spent the night dancing with glow sticks to country music, eating some of the best wedding cake I've ever had, and rushing back and forth from the tent to the house with umbrellas in hand.

Joe + Beppy's wedding was a beautiful celebration of love + family. Kalysta and I were incredibly happy to capture it all. Enjoy my favorite images below! Leave comments! -Brooke

Nick + Alyssa

After I photographed their engagements, I knew Nick + Alyssa's wedding would be tons of fun! The two of them are probably in the top ten of nicest people I've ever met! No, seriously, they're THAT kind! When we made our way to the Peter Allen House for the reception, I immediately saw some high grass that would be the perfect spot for portraits. Deep down inside, I was hoping that Alyssa wouldn't mind taking a short hike into the woods. Thankfully, she was escatic about the idea and those photos of them are some of my favorites this year! I'm so thankful for clients like Nick + Alyssa, they make my job the best one in the world. -Jeff

Nathan + Meghan

I might be a bit biased, but this wedding was nothing short of amazing! Meghan is my sister and I was her matron of honor. Even though I had the privilege of being part of the wedding, it didn't stop me from taking their first look and bridal portraits. Nathan and Meghan are a very laid back and relaxed couple. Their wedding reflected just that! It was held in our aunt's back yard and the reception was a big dance party celebrating the newlyweds. When I first met Nathan, I immediately knew that he was the perfect match for Meghan. And obviously she did too. I'm so happy to have been able to share this awesome moment with her and all of our family! Here are a few of my favorite portraits from the day! -Liz

Matt + Leslie

Brooke and I were so excited when Leslie asked us to be a part of her big day! As always, we love taking part in friends weddings - they always seem to be extra special. I met Leslie my sophomore year in college, at Temple University, because we lived in the same off campus dorm.  I quickly became close friends with Leslie and her roommate, Julia.  The following year the three of us decided to become housemates, and some of my fondest college memories easily took place in our apartment on 1512 Green St.  We all loved that place.

It was so exciting to see Leslie step into the next phase of her life with Matt by her side.  Their day was beautiful and filled with so much happiness. They had their cocktail hour before the ceremony, which was really enjoyable and pretty cool! It let the guests arrive slowly, enjoy drinks and hors d'oeuvres while we wrapped up family photos and prepared for the ceremony. I'd recommend it! Enjoy some of our favorites from the day.  Also, please note that I am wearing a tie covered in cats!  Heyo! - T.J.

Ben + Bethany

Several weeks ago, on probably one of the hottest days of the year, T.J. and I had the privelidge of shooting Ben + Bethany's wedding in Balitmore. I went to high school with Bethany and am always appreciative when people I know include me in their wedding celebration! It was my first time shooting a wedding (reception) at the American Visionary Arts Museum and I loved it. Here are some of my favorite images from the day! -Brooke

Brandon + Jamie

Brooke and I feel spoiled that we get to do what we love for a living, especially when people like Brandon + Jamie are our clients! Brandon + Jamie tied the knot at Riverdale Manor in Lancaster on a beautiful summer day, surrounded by friends and family. They were simply amazing on their wedding day. They both looked fantastic and were equally laid back! They just seemed super happy to finally be getting married and moving on to the next phase of their lives together! Brooke and I are always honored to be a part of peoples lives on such important days. 

Two moments stood out as extra special in their day, both of which are captured below. The first moment was when Jamie's Grandma arrived for the day, where she greated the girls in their pink dresses on the lawn. She could not contain her excitement to see the girls and Jamie looking so beautiful. And she was equally thrilled that she matched their dresses.

The second moment was when Jamie walked down the isle. I know that's always a special moment during any wedding day, but the two images below of Jamie's Mom turning to watch her, and the one of Brandon seeing her for the first time, are just fantastic. You can feel the excitment in the air in those photos.

Enjoy our favorites and leave comments! -T.J.

Clint + Kim

Every wedding I've ever had the chance to photograph has been a blessing in one way or another. But some stand out above the rest - and Clint + Kim did just that. Kim has been a long time family friend and I'd always hoped I'd be able to photograph her wedding some day. Kim and her kids are such wonderful, kind-hearted, genuine people ... and Clint is the perfect addition to their family.

Clint + Kim's friends and family pulled together this amazing celebration at almost no cost to the couple. Food, desserts, decorations, location, photography, music and so much more was simply given to them out of sheer joy and support for this next step in their lives. It was amazing. In addition, it rained the entire day. It did not stop or slow down for a single second, yet it barely phased Clint + Kim because they were getting married, starting a few family that day and nothing else mattered. I will say, however, Praise God for that little four foot wide porch that allowed us to do family and bridal party photos outdoors. I wish there was a photo of the 10 of us crammed onto that porch as I directed the organization of umbrellas, plants, rain boots and portraits, all in 20 minutes time.

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I've had many conversations about remarriage with by best friend Kate. And since she is a way better writer than I am, I asked her to write down her thoughts on the subject of remarriage to better explain why Clint + Kim's wedding was so heavy, in the best way possible, on my heart.

Kate writes, "Remarriage can be a brave choice, having seen firsthand the hurt and loss and sadness and extraordinary difficulty that comes when you connect yourself so intimately to another person.  Remarriages are based on hope, the belief in love, the belief that life isn't a 1-chance kind of operation, but that if you keep moving forward, it can keep getting better.

Marriage is a metaphor.  Marriage is supposed to be a reflection of how God loves us - how he loves the church.  Sacrificially, eternally, and without condition, in spite of our ugliness.  People sometimes say things like "marriage won't fix all your problems" and "your husband (or wife) won't complete you," and while that's true, we sometimes miss how much marriage DOES affect us, how much it does change and complete us, how much we truly, actually, emotionally need another person - in the name of individualism and independence, and standing on our own two feet to protect ourselves from possible future hurt. Marriage is full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness - because the love of Jesus is full of all of those things.

The truth is, marriage IS a shelter, because the love of Jesus is a shelter.  It IS full of hope because the love of Jesus is full of hope."

Enjoy my favorite images below - and leave comments if you'd like. -Brooke

Kyle + Sam // Wedding

Kyle + Sam's big day was wonderful in every single way. The weather was more than anyone could have asked or dreamed for, and as a photographer, that's pretty amazing. Every detail that Sam and I (and the other lovely craft ladies) worked so hard on looked perfect. The girls dresses were brilliant shades of red and the sky was an unbelievable blue. Kyle + Sam's first look was precious and their portraits turned out beautifully. Sam walked down the isle at the exact moment in the song we had worked so hard to get right and they both said "I do." It was a night of families coming together coupled with confetti filling the dance floor. All in all, it was magical.

Kyle + Sam's wedding was more of a celebration than almost any other wedding I've been to before. And in my opinion, it shouldn't have been anything else. While driving home the night of Kyle + Sam's wedding, I remember feeling two things. 1. Complete exhaustion. Planning, coordinating, designing, styling, shooting, dancing and bridesmaid-ing is a lot of work. And 2. That although Kyle + Sam's wedding day was just "another day" in their lives (ie: a beautiful wedding doesn't make the marriage, commitment and all sorts of other good and Godly things do), that it was completely perfect how much we celebrated this one day. That we all took the time to laugh, dance, eat and focus on the start of their marraige -- something so wonderfully life changing.

I think one of my favorite authors (Shauna Neiquist) sums up what I was feeling best, "Today is your big moment. Moments, really. The life you've been waiting for is happening all around you. This is it. This is life in all its glory..." 

Enjoy the photos and please leave comments. It's always fun to hear what you think and which ones are your favorites! -Brooke

This wedding was shot by our entire team: Brooke, Jeff, T.J., Kristen and Tori.

Kyle + Sam // Rehearsal

The week of Kyle + Sam continues with some photos of the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.  Sam had our Mom's wedding dress slightly altered so she could wear it to the reahearsal as a total surprise. Mom had no idea and it was great to see her blown away by the surprise.  Our family might also have the most Smilebooth photos ever taken, because it is a staple at any party or event that we have.  The (Chick-fil-A!!!) rehearsal dinner was no different and we all crammed into the booth for one last photo with Sam as a Mousetis! Enjoy! - T.J.