Taylor + Kelsey

This blog post has been a long time coming! My younger, and only, brother Taylor started dating Kelsey years ago. We all liked her from the very beginning. So, naturally we were super pumped when he popped the question (which you've got to check out HERE) last fall. Ever since that day on her parent's front porch, Kelsey and I have been dreaming and scheming about their wedding day. Kelsey and I put a lot of time into planning and designing their big day and I can honestly say everything turned out even better than I'd imagined. The plan was for it to be a "mid-century-modern-confetti-exploding-dance-party" ... and that's exactly what we got.

I could go on and on about Taylor + Kelsey and how much we love them, and how hard Kelsey worked on every detail, and how much fun their day was - but I'd really like to get to the awesome photos. Their wedding day was a team effort between Jeff, Liz and myself. I'm so glad I have such talented photographers to work along side of me on super important days like Taylor's.

Last, but certainly not least, Taylor is a DJ - The Electric Gentleman - so, he created the dance mix for their reception. It was so much fun. I felt like the photos weren't quite doing justice to JUST how bananas the dancing was... so I added a little something extra, just for fun.

Tune in tomorrow for a blog of the Smilebooth photos from their day! In the meantime, leave comments - I always love to know which ones are your favorites! Enjoy! -Brooke

Ian + Beth

Last year T.J. and I traveled to Boston to meet Ian + Beth and shoot their engagements. We had such a good time walking around the city with them and their dog, and I was certain that their wedding day would be just as enjoyable as they are.

Several weeks ago T.J. and I drove to Penn State for the wedding celebration of Ian + Beth and ask expected - it was a wonderful day. Their ceremony was one of the most joyful ones I've ever been a part of. People were practically cheering when she came down the aisle. It was awesome.

Since both Ian + Beth, and most of their bridal party, are Penn State Alumni, we spend most of their portrait time driving all around campus to the different places they wanted photos at. It was such a fun group. We ended their portraits in the stadium just as the sun was setting! And the best part was that Coach Franklin happened to be on the field at that time with several new recruits and they all yelled "Congrats!" to Ian + Beth and then started the "WE ARE!" "PENN STATE" chant. I'm certain that was a super memorable moment for the newlyweds.

I'm so grateful for fun and happy couples like Ian + Beth. They make my job even more enjoyable! Enjoy!

Jay + Blythe

I had been looking forward to Jay + Blythe's wedding for months. I shot their engagements last summer and knew right then and there that their wedding day would be so easy to photograph. Jay + Blythe met in 9th grade and were dating by 12th grade - and two or so years after that, Jay popped the question with a custom made pearl engagement ring.

Their wedding was so laid back and natural - the perfect summery, woodsy, vibe. Blythe made her bouquet and the boutonnieres, along with countless other details. Blythe's mother (along with another friend) made Blythe's dress, which was fabulous! Their "cocktail hour" was a homemade granola bar with different yogurts and fruit! The reception was stuffed french toast, assorted sides, coffee, orange juice and an ice-cream bar.

I'm so happy that Liz and I were able to be a part of their day. Like I said, it was something I'd been looking forward to for a long time!  Enjoy! -Brooke

Warren + Kathryn

Warren + Kathryn tied the knot several weeks ago at The Farm at Eagles Ridge and it was downright beautiful. The weather was perfect and their celebration was literally bursting at the seams with details. Everywhere you looked there was Kathryn's calligraphy, flowers, drink stations, favors, more flowers - details, details, details!

Warren and his guys got ready for the day at The Cork Factory Hotel, while the girls got ready in the house at the farm. Kathryn's Mom sewed a piece of her Mother's wedding dress to the inside of Kathryn's, which was such a sweet and intimate moment among the usual chaos of a wedding day.

Warren + Kathryn decided to get married at The Farm because Kathryn grew up riding horses and always wanted to get married on a farm. You can see throughout the photos that horses and horseshoes were part of their theme - it was such a unique element that I just loved. In fact, their Uncle wrote a song for them called "Horseshoe" which the cousin's performed as a surprise during cocktail hour!

Hope you enjoy the images from Jeff and I! Be sure to leave comments with your favorites!

And to Warren + Kathryn - Thank you for letting us be a part of your special day. It was so wonderful!

Alex + Grace

Alex + Grace trekked from New York to Lancaster for their engagement session and I couldn't have been more thrilled that they did! We spent some time on an unfinished floor in our studio building before heading out into the beautiful weather that we were blessed with this past weekend. I took them to a hill that I had been wanting to shoot at for a while and the sun was perfectly setting behind it. It's so refreshing to meet couples over and over again and always feel like we've been long time friends. Alex + Grace were no exception. I can't wait for their wedding this fall! -Jeff

Damian + Kayla

Damian + Kayla's wedding was a wedding I'll never forget. I don't think I've ever been around a bridal party that expressed as much joy and excitement as they did! And because of that, it was one of the most fun weddings I've ever been a part of! Before their date, Kayla expressed to me how important their niece was to them. Through a difficult time in Damian's family, Kayla was there to provide support for both Damian and his family. They shared a first dance with her and she was by far one of the most adorable flower girls ever. Damian's greek heritage was on full display throughout the day and it was fun to be engulfed in it. As we were saying our goodbyes, Damian insisted we took home some of their homemade olive oil, with ingredients from Greece. So he found an empty six-pack case and loaded it up for us. Damian, Kayla and their families were a pleasure to celebrate with and I'm so excited to share these images with all of you. -Jeff

Steve + Britni

This was my first time shooting at Lauxmont Farms so you can imagine Alyssa and my excitement when we pulled in and saw the gorgeous scenery! We met Britni and her bridesmaids in a small white cottage where they were getting ready and we knew right away they were going to be a fun group! Prior to the ceremony we took a few bridal party pictures and Britni had a very sweet first look with her dad. The ceremony was held in the Sunken Gardens and Steve and Britni  wrote their own vows to each other that were just awesome. Everyone was crying and laughing. Steve and Britni have a two year old son Jackson, who is not only adorable but seemed to have a huge impact on everyone there. He was, of course, mentioned in both vows! 

When the ceremony was over a horse drawn carriage took the new Mr. and Mrs. Stack and Jackson around the property before the reception began! We had gorgeous weather all day up until the sun went down. It got really windy and poured for a good 10 minutes but that didn't stop anyone from having a good time. I have to say this was one of the craziest and most fun receptions I have been at to date! Congratulations Steve and Britni!! 

-Liz

Kyle + Carley

I could probably write a novel about Kyle + Carley. We first met when I took their engagement photos last summer. Immediately, we hit it off and it had felt like we had been longtime friends. Carley befriended my fiancé Liz, who would eventually be asked to draw fashion sketches of each bridesmaid as a gift. It's amazing to have friendships come from my job. Like Liz and I, Kyle + Carley spent a lot of time apart during their relationship, sending each other letters to pass the time. During their ceremony, they each wrote one another another letter and it was a beautiful moment to witness. Their reception was held at the super-cool Reading Art Works! It's an absolutely beautiful space. This was a wedding I was anxiously waiting for this year and I couldn't be happier for a couple I can now officially call my good friends. -Jeff

Ian + Olivia

I recently took a trip to the Big Apple to spend an evening with Ian + Olivia! We met in SoHo and got to know each other while walking through the crowds. They both work in advertising and met through a social event at work! While we were zig-zagging the blocks, we randomly stumbled upon the restaurant they had their first date! In the moments after, it was endearing to hear them reminisce. Afterwards, we jumped in a cab and headed over to Brooklyn, where they currently reside. We walked around Brooklyn Bridge Park and later hopped on the bridge to end our session. With people and bikes buzzing by, Ian + Olivia squeezed themselves in the middle of the pathway to get us some of my favorite portraits! It was such a joy to meet with them in New York and now I'm even more excited to shoot their wedding in October! -Jeff