It was their senior year. As they were individually making plans for after graduation, lining up jobs and considering school and where they would move to, Dave asked Cally on a date. It was a small but life changing move. They began to build a relationship and found how much they complimented each other… and needed each other. In perhaps one of the most romantic moments of both of their lives, Cally went on a business trip to Paris and Dave followed. He even traveled on the same plane unbeknownst to her and surprised her at the hotel when she checked in. Later that weekend at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, he proposed.

Cally stepped in to the foyer at the Fox Chapel Golf Club and her heart skipped a beat. Her wedding day had finally arrived, confirmed by the fact that the club was decorated as beautifully as she imagined. Her bridesmaids drew in as everyone agreed it would be the most elegant wedding they had seen. Cally grew up dreaming of having her wedding at the club, and although she and Dave were settled in the D.C. area they made the decision to travel to her hometown of Pittsburgh for the wedding.

The night before family and close friends had gathered to celebrate and affirm the relationship she and Dave built. They laughed, told stories, and sang songs (as family tradition) to the soon to be newlyweds. That night started a weekend that marked one of the most memorable occasions in both of their lives, and a wedding that looked like this…

The diamond in Cally’s engagement ring was worn by her great grandmother and placed in a new setting, such a gorgeous family stone. She had two dresses for her wedding day, one Oscar de la Renta and the other Badgley Mischka. The first was a silk taffeta ballgown and the second a sequined dress for their exit. To accompany the dresses were a veil borrowed from Cally’s matron of honor’s mother (Blythe! remember her wedding that I shot?) and a fur coat owned by Cally’s grandmother. She brought two pairs of shoes to choose from on the day of, and decided to go with the jeweled Badgley Mischka pair in a light blush tone. It was a gorgeous ensemble.

At the salon, it was hard to resist the charm of their french bulldog. So hilarious and adorable! All of the bridesmaids were there getting their hair done and putting on makeup, and it was the best time to get some candid shots as they prepared. While some people are unsure of how many “getting ready photos” they want… in this case I can tell you it should not have been missed. It is a more relaxed time of preparation than the actual dressing right before things get started.

I love this image of bridesmaids watching Cally prepare for her wedding and put on the finishing touches. Phoebe – I hope you don’t mind but you were so cute trying to blot your eyes and figure out how to keep your makeup nice… you mastered it though!

With the preparations complete Cally was ready for the ceremony and looking stunning. I really mean it. We took just a few minutes to capture these portraits and I highly recommend adding time to your schedule and being in a great location so that you can do so as well.

Meanwhile Dave was looking dapper and having fun with they guys as they made their final preparations. Everyone met at the church for a dramatic walk down the aisle where they saw each other for the first time.

It was the snowy winter day they had dreamed of, and Fox Chapel Golf Club was lit up with sparkling lights to welcome everyone in.

The club has several rooms which flow in to each other, anchored around a large atrium with trees and a glass ceiling for tons of natural light. Flowers centered each table arrangement and candles each stair step so that greenery and soft light was present throughout.

After a welcoming round of cocktails and hor ‘dourves the introductions were made and the dancing began. There was not shortage of moves on the dance floor and a great time was had by all. At the end of the night, with sparklers lit and cheers of joy Cally and Dave made their getaway.

Cally + Dave, thank you so much for inviting me to document your day, and thank you to everyone else who allowed me in to their lives in the process. I can’t end this post without saying how fun it has been to be welcomed in to this group of friends… I think three weddings now makes it feel like friends right? Two years ago I photographed both Christie + Kyle’s and Steve and Blythe’s, and it was so fun to see everyone again. I hope it won’t be the last time!

Wedding Dress Oscar de la Renta  Getaway Dress Badgley Mischka  Veil & Jewelry borrowed Shoes Badgley Mischka  Bridesmaid’s Dresses After Six  Hair & Makeup MCN Salon  Groom + Groomsmen  Joseph A Banks  Flowers Allison McGeary Florist  Cake + Cupcakes Vanilla Pastry Studio  Ceremony Fox Chapel Episcopal Church  Reception Fox Chapel Golf Club

They didn’t expect to fall in love when they walked in to church one Sunday two years ago. Mike had come looking for a church after moving to the area and was drawn to the community passionate about serving others. Leslie had grown up in the church and attended while home over the holidays to find a tall handsome stranger sitting in Sunday school with her.  They couldn’t help but notice each other and on tried to avoid making their interest obvious throughout that first class. Afterwards, a typically shy Leslie approached Mike and introduced herself.  A typically outgoing and confident Mike found himself feeling a little shy.

Opposites attract. While similarities brought them together their differences made them stronger. Her artistic insight and his thoughtful organization allow them to balance each other, strengthen each other, and challenge each other. For Leslie, on time is a fluid term that can include a few minutes late. For Mike on time is 15 minutes early.

I arrived in Boston and spent the morning with Leslie and Mike, getting to know the area. We stopped in the church – where they first met and were getting married, drove to the beach where the first look would take place and finalized our plan for the next day. While it was the first time I had met both of them I felt as though I was back in town for a wedding of good friends. Leslie and Mike are the kind of people you just want to be friends with, and I felt lucky to be among those in attendance for their wedding.

There was an effortlessness with how the day unfolded. Nothing was contrived, but genuinely crafted to be an extension of their life together and expression of their love. In the same way, photographing their day came easily. Leslie and Mike are so obviously in love they were naturals and I can’t say enough how much I loved being able to document them. I hope you enjoy the images just as much!

Leslie handmade fabric invitations to set the tone for their personal day and invite everyone to join them. She tried a few methods before deciding on one that worked best – and she is going to share her process in a post on Monday!

After getting ready it was off to the beach in Nahant for the first look. These photos convince me even more that a first look is a necessary part of a wedding day. It allowed us to take the time to shoot in a gorgeous location before the ceremony and take advantage of the light when it was best – a must when shooting in the winter months.

I love the pops of color against navy dresses and muted landscape of November. That little bit of orange color in the bushes ties to together perfectly.

Flowers Blooms of Hope Dress David’s Bridal Hairpiece Simplybellatlb on etsy Jewelry Bridalbeads and OliniBridalJewelry on etsy Bridesmaid’s Dresses J.Crew Hair & Makeup Siobhan McKenna Venue Nahant Country Club

It was meant to be. There are times in each person’s life when you wonder what the future holds, what your purpose is and where life will take you. The friendships you form in high school are tested when life starts to unfold – and do so unexpectedly with twists and turns that take you in a new direction. No relationship is tested more than a romantic one, and Chris and Collen have weathered the storm.

They still remember that first prom, back in their awkward teenage years, and as Chris recounted in his vows, he never understood why Colleen loved him. She was everything to him, and it wasn’t until a few years later when she was facing life threatening illness that he fully realized his purpose in their relationship. He was there to love her, and when there was the possibility that she might not be there, he stood by her side and loved her more. To be there – in good times and in bad, in times of plenty and need, and in times of sickness and in health – is a promise they made on their wedding day. It was a promise in many ways they had already fulfilled, but on this day they pledged to do so for the rest of their lives.

There are few times when I cry at a wedding, but as Chris and Colleen read their vows written specifically for each other, my eyes welled up and hid behind my camera and I continued to document. Here was a relationship so meaningful, so real, you could not help but recognize what they had and celebrate their love… and celebrate they did. Chris and Colleen know how to throw a party and it was an absolute joy to document their day. Thanks again to everyone for inviting me in and I hope you enjoy this small story of the day.

The Cortland Alumni house is a gorgeous venue and of course a significant location to these Cortland grads. It was decked out in feathers which replaced flowers for most of the decoration. It was such a new and beautiful perspective on bouquets and arrangements! 

Isn’t that dress amazing?!

I always love a first look, it’s a chance to enjoy the day more fully and photograph everyone when they look their best, right after getting ready. Chris + Colleen met at the front of the alumni house and she came out the door to great him.

don’t they look so good together? they can easily make each other laugh and have fun on a moments notice which always helps

love those adorable headbands! Feathers were carried throughout the design and executed so well! Such a unique take on boutineers + bouquets.

The weather couldn’t have been better for this outdoor October ceremony. It sneaked into the 70′s at one point which is hard to believe for the fall.

Pumpkins were another decoration that was consistently used throughout the reception as the table centerpieces – and they carved a custom thank you pumpkin.

such a good looking bridal party! There were many unique aspects to Chris + Colleen’s day, her engagement ring being one of them. A family heirloom, I have never seen anything like and love how the rings fit together as one.

as the night progressed, the dancing quickly started and lasted well into the evening. It was a party, a celebration and most definitely a night to remember. Hopefully the photos helped you do so, and congrats again to Colleen and Chris and thanks for letting me document your day!

Who knew Boston would be so gorgeous in November? Yesterday Leslie and Mike were married and their wedding was simply wonderful. When I arrived in Boston on Thursday morning it didn’t take long for the rain to roll in and I soon found myself resigned to the fact that I would move between stages of wet and relatively dry for the next few hours. I ventured in to the city to have lunch with a friend and wondered if the forecast for a clear day on Friday would really come true. It did, with blue skies and gorgeous sunlight and a whipping wind that kept us from delaying longer than necessary on the beach for the first look.

Since Leslie and Mike planned a late fall wedding, when the sun sets around 5 and light is precious commodity, the made the best decision possible by taking their photos before the ceremony. Some people feel as though you miss out on the moment walking down the aisle when you see each other for a first look before… but I think it’s the opposite. You can’t replace the moment you see each other for the first time on your wedding day and being able to stop and enjoy it is something really special. In the ceremony that moment is concealed by stolen glaces as you stand at the altar with 100+ guests watching. At a first look you can laugh, cry, and start your wedding day together and you try to take in the fact that the day is finally here. While it’s not the right choice for everyone it was perfect for Leslie and Mike and as a result we captured some amazing images I can’t wait to share.

Even though Rochester is the city I work most in, I live in the country and I love any chance I have to enjoy city life and all it has to offer. I travel out of state for 5-7 weddings each year and love the change of scenery, challenge of a new environment, and opportunity to explore a location. So yes, you should send me a email to see if I will come photograph your wedding because I love adventures. Now I’m off to explore Boston with my cousin; we’re going to the MfA to see some amazing art and have some fresh seafood for dinner afterwards!

It was a day when a light rain took over the morning and caused the fall colors to appear even more vibrant. There was a feeling of anticipation in the air, as if you could sense there was a wedding that was about to take place. The usual bustle to get ready was concealed inside while outside all was calm. While most people don’t wish for a change in the weather on their wedding day, I love the mood it sets and on this day it definitely added an air of romance.

I first met with Jess a year ago to talk about her wedding and plans for the day. She and Ross were driven, hard working and ready to plan a celebration. I was drawn in by her enthusiasm and couldn’t wait to see what was in store when the day came. Everything was put together with an elegance and refinement that set the tone for the day. Even when the ceremony had to be moved to inside, nothing could rain on their parade and they went ahead with a wedding that will always be remembered… and I have the pictures to prove it! It was wonderful to be welcomed in to the events and document as they unfolded. Congratulations again to Jess and Ross and good choice honeymooning to Hawaii in January – that’s when you need to get away most in New York!

the bridesmaids wore their own choice of fabulous shoes, and these glittery Steve Maddens caught my eye

Jess’s dress was absolutely gorgeous – which of course made her look even more stunning. It honestly fit perfectly…

husband + wife! Right after the ceremony we took a few pictures with the wedding party and then the main portraits of Jess + Ross.

Really, you guys just look perfect together

Inside the guests had fun taking pictures in the photo booth, but I think these kids did the best job using the props…

Everyone danced the night away, and there’s no better way to end it than with a kiss…

It was almost midnight on New Years Eve. Peter had joined Sophie and her family in Michigan to ring in the New Year and attend her cousin’s wedding the next day. Once the ball started to drop he stood up and tried to get Sophie to join him. She thought he wanted to kiss her – which she had no intention of doing, standing in the middle of the room with her family watching. After reluctantly joining him he dropped to one knee and asked her if she wanted to do something special with him in 2011. Surrounded by her family, he asked her to marry him and she said yes.

When planning a wedding it can be easy to get lost in the details. To forget about the purpose of the day, worry about frivolous things, and get caught up in everything that the wedding is not. If you read the first post from Sophie and Peter’s wedding you know that their day was chalk full of details, personality, and diy projects. Despite their obvious inspiration and hard work they never lost sight of what they wanted their wedding day to truly be. Balancing these two sides and not letting one take over the other is a difficult task not easily achieved. It take a lot of effort to keep a wedding day about the wedding and yet have it personal and inviting enough to not look like the rest. They managed to perfectly marry the planning and details with the wedding and create one of the most unique weddings I have been a part of.

Today I invite you to take a closer look at the wedding day. This of course centers around the ceremony, which is only partly told through the photographs. It was Sophie and Peter’s intention to have a wedding ceremony that had a time for worship and singing, and time for prayer, and a time to exchange the vows that last til eternity. The choose their friend, Jim Ehrman to officiate and he spoke some of the most honest, accurate, and challenging words on a wedding day. Jim asked family and friends to describe Sophie and to describe Peter and the word that came up the most for both of them was driven. They work better together than apart when they put each other first – which really is what a marriage is all about. While I could go on an on about the wedding day I’ll leave you with the pictures and hope you enjoy once again looking into the lives of Sophie and Peter and the day that brought them together.

We pick back up before the ceremony, after the first look when the bridal party got together for a few pictures before heading to the church. It was drizzling at this point, but it didn’t last long and cleared up for the rest of the day!

The church was close to bursting at the seams filled with happy guests ready to witness the wedding. Sophie and Peter chose to be married there for several reasons, including the fact that it was the same place that Sophie’s parents and grandparents wed. The great thing about doing a first look – in my experience – is that it adds so much to the wedding day. The moments walking down the aisle are just as emotional, but being able to share your thoughts, excitement, and anticipation before the ceremony while you are alone and not in front of all of your guests, is something you can’t replicate.

Each reading, song, transition and story was purposeful and meaningful to both of them and soon the congregation as they witnessed the ceremony unfold. 

After a joyous exit, the bridal party loaded in to the Mog and headed back to the farm. The Unimog is an german truck known for it’s off road capabilities, and has made Sophie’s dad known throughout the county since he comes to plow people out in winter. After having the truck shipped from Germany he assembled it to his liking and it has become a staple in the family and community, so naturally it was a part of the wedding day. 

This might be the first picture I’ve taken while driving. Don’t tell. We stopped at the neighbor’s barn on the way to the family farm for some pictures…

The ground that was a cornfield less than a year ago was completely transformed into a grassy enclosure perfect for a wedding reception. To see all of the details from the reception head over to the first post, or continue on with the rest of the evening’s events.

The party had begun and lasted in to the evening as people danced till they dropped. It was a celebration, and one that I so enjoyed being a part of, so thanks again for inviting me along and three cheers for the newlyweds! hip hip hooray!

Sophie and Peter are the intentional. It was no surprise that their wedding was the same, and I don’t think they could have planned it another way. They thought about the experience they wanted to share with their guests, and how they would invite them in to their lives to share in the celebration of starting their lives together. They have a kind of love you rarely see, perhaps because of the unique challenges and experiences they have been through together. The journey that brought them to their wedding day shaped who they are and gave them many reasons to celebrate in a way that only they could. Not only was everyone present at the wedding a part of Sophie and Peter’s lives past, present or future, they were invited to join them on their journey moving forward, in to marriage. It was evident to all who attended that this wedding was an effort to continue building the community that had supported them and celebrate the part each person played in their lives.

Today I’m excited to share the hours of planning and hard work that went in to this day with part I of II from the wedding. This post focuses on the preparation, which includes the deatils of the day, getting ready and the first look. The details were so deeply rooted in Sophie and Peter’s lives and stem from the very things they love. They represent the investment of many family members and friends, and once again reinforce the idea of community Sophie and Peter built their wedding around. As Sophie said: Luckily, I have a family that was very willing to jump on board with our visions, and two parents who match me in creativity and energy. But I guess the story starts before me, to the fact that I was born into a family of hardworking farmers, dedicated carpenters, and traveling missionaries. The details of my heritage—maps, travel, wood, seeds and plants—gave me a taste for everything that I now appreciate so deeply. I come from a long line of people who value family, hospitality, and oneness. I knew that I wanted to make our wedding day not only a celebration of us but an invitation for our friends and family to participate in our lives more than ever, representing true community.

I have been looking forward to this wedding for a year, felt honored to document the wedding, and developed a friendship with Peter and Sophie along the way. They so intricately wove their lives into the planning of this day I hope the photographs tell the story for years to come. Enjoy the hard work they put in to their wedding (literally everything is handmade) and look for the story of the wedding day on Monday!

When she started to plan, Sophie realized that everything they needed for the wedding they already had. They decided to have a wedding at home, on the family farm, in the middle of a cornfield. Literally, in the middle of a cornfield. They spent a year preparing the field and planting grass so that it could be the space you see in the images today.

Me, my mom and sisters collected random china for months. We borrowed a lot of it from friends, and the rest we bought really cheaply at local second hand stores. Though we were washing and packing china sets away by table for a solid day, it was an awesome, inexpensive, beautiful alternative to renting china for 200 people… or eating off plastic plates.

I am in love with doilies in general. So, I decided that I wanted to make a big paper mache lamp of doilies. This was really complicated, actually, and I credit my mom with purusing this on her own after I gave up, and making it happen.

For favors guests were given personalized cedar coasters and homemade jelly!

For the coasters Dad got limbs of cedar from back in our woods and we worked in the shop to cut it into round pieces and sand down both sides. We only put 2 coats of varnish on one side, so that our guests could use it in their sweater drawer, if they wanted, or as a coaster. I then hand-wrote every guest’s name on the varnished side. This project took an extremely long time, though I don’t regret it at all. I loved doing those personal things.

We used old milk jugs from our friend’s dairy for water on the table, and I decorated them with strips of the burlap and some lace trim that I found in my grandma’s basement (which is literally packed with material that has been collected for the past 40 years for making quilts).

I’ve always been in love with my grandma’s book collection that’s hidden away in her basement, and she has no idea how valuable it is because she just says that they’re “her old books.” She has a lot of first edition classics that I remember her reading to us. I borrowed those and put about two on each table.

The girls got ready in the church just down a few roads from the farm. All of the dresses were handmade, by Aunt Sandy, adding another completely custom touch to their day

The gift I gave to my bridesmaids was their shoes, which I bought from an organization called Sseko Shoes in Kampala, Uganda. It is a company that employs young women who are pursuing college educations, and it was intentional to give them a gift like this. I ended up making my own straps for them out of lace ribbon.

Sophie and Peter got ready at separate locations and then had their first look at the farm where the reception was. They spent the morning setting up everything separately, so when they saw each other in the tent for the first time they were able to enjoy not only the start of their wedding day, but the hard work that brought it together.

For the outhouse area I knew I wanted a little seating area in this space. I asked Dad if it were possible to make a bench-like thing out of square bales. An hour later Dad came in the house and said I needed to go to the barn with him—the glamorous hay bale couch was born! The pump sink was probably my favorite. Dad and I found the old pump in the barn, and Dad stripped the paint off and gave it a coat of varnish. Then he built the wooden base, installed the trough and we had ourselves and awesome outdoor hand-washing station!

Since Peter loves nuts and Sophie loves candy, they decided to serve both as their appetizer. A table and a trough were set up with both and custom bags printed for guests to fill up and enjoy as they like. They way they displayed everything was perfect and guests couldn’t be happier having something to enjoy throughout the night.

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As with most relationships, becoming friends is how they started. Casey and her family moved up to New York to live near her mom’s side of the family after the damage of Hurricane Katrina to their New Orleans home. It was a new place, climate, way of life, and school that she had to transition in to, which is not always easy. One of those early friends that helped welcome her to New York was Aaron, born and raised in the area and a frequent visitor to the golf course her grandparents owned. However, their love story did not begin in high school, but after once Aaron headed off to join the National Guard and Casey studied at Nazareth. They found their friendship grow into something more and soon they were planning cross country trips to see each other while Aaron was stationed in California.

They were blessed to be surrounded by family and friends on a gorgeous September day and start their lives off together. Their journey to that day had been a long one, as it always seems, but one that allowed them to build a relationship that would last. It was somewhat fitting that for their wedding day they had several modes of transportation including a vintage Ford + a horse and carriage. Casey and Aaron were calm, confident and unwavering in their love for each other which is always a pleasure to document and I’m so happy to share these images from their day.

They had come back home. Life took Alison and Pat throughout New York and in to Brooklyn, but their roots were deep in Rochester. It was where they went to high school, where they first met, and today it was where they would marry. It took a while to get here – not only because they frequently drove through the New York City traffic, but because they took their time. They had grown so close they were already an essential part of each others lives, and now it was time to move forward and take another step together.

Alison sat in the sun room of her parents house while hairspray plumed like a cloud and mimosas were stylishly sipped. She reminisced with her bridesmaids about high school days when they would all gather in that very same room. Back then life was wide open and unexplored, but as they all grew up and found their way through school, relationships, and jobs they never lost touch. Some of them lived states away yet they knew how to come together and celebrate.

While the weather was being indecisive, Alison and Pat were not. Family and friends gathered at Irondequoit Country Club for a party they would remember. The bridesmaids and groomsmen were dressed in elegant black and white which made the vibrant bursts of color in their flowers stunning. There was not a detail unconsidered, and many talented people came together to make this wedding the gorgeous day that it was. It’s time to relive and remember it, and congratulate once again Alison + Pat!

Alison and Pat chose to do a first look – or “first peep” as they liked to call it. Not only did it allow them to have a smoother schedule to the day, it gave them a few moments alone which is rare on a wedding day.

Alison looked effortlessly beautiful the whole day

I personally think having children involved in the wedding ceremony is so fun. They just add so much life and I loved this custom sign carried down by little Brady.

the newlyweds! The ceremony ended and the party began after cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. The stage was set and with the inside of the club decorated beautifully, Alison and Pat entered and the dancing began!

one of my favorites! A kiss on the middle of the dance floor well captured. Cupcakes and sweets were set out for dessert and made by Oh, Sugar run by Alison’s cousin Jenette Delly. I will vouch for the fact that they are delicious!

The party continued late into the evening and fun was had by all. It was too good to be true, but for those involved I hope looking through the images helps you remember how real it was! Enjoy

dress Kendra by Amy Kuschel   bridesmaids Alvina Valenta   headpiece Twigs & Honey   shoes Kate Spade   earrings Alexis Bittar   grooms/men’s ties Ben Sherman   kid’s bow ties Etsy, baby by Stevie   ceremony programs designed by a friend   “Here Comes the Bride” sign  Etsy, Funkifolkart   flowers Jimmy, Kittleberger Florists   paper goods Pistachio Press