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

A winter wedding, outside. It was a central decision to Meghan + Ian’s wedding planning. Now living in Virginia, they both had years of memories in snowy Vermont and it stood out as the place they would travel to and celebrate. After deconstructing the wedding day they rebuilt it to be something of their own, a intimate weekend with family and friends in a snowy mountain town.

A few years earlier they had crossed paths. Running in the same circles – literally – they missed a few chances to get to know each other until one winter night. Meghan made it clear that it would be a good idea if Ian asked her out, and he took the hint. They planned to meet up on the eve of one of Virginia’s biggest snowstorms two years ago. Not knowing where each other lived, they talked on the phone and toyed with the idea of putting off getting together… until they realized they basically lived around the block. It was too good to be true. Perhaps there were many other times they had passed by on the street.

Both similar and yet so very different, together they found balance and a relationship that worked. Their wedding day was as unique as both of them and it looked like this…

Meghan wanted to add her own touch to her wedding dress and made a velvet sash to tie around the waist. It was crisp and elegant and her whole ensemble was stunning.

Ian and Meghan commissioned rings from Victoria Moore, a jeweler and metalsmith who works with damascus steel, referring to the layers of metal folded and forged together to created the signature pattern you see above. Highlighted with inlays of gold, the rings fit together and are one of a kind.

The vibrant and bold colors contrasted the cold winter day and added such life. Meghan and Ian chose to do a first look which is something I love so much. They had a moment alone to revel in the day and enjoy taking pictures while guests finished getting ready for the wedding.

We ventured throughout Middlebury and braved the cold for scenic images… but it was cold!

I had found the perfect spot to capture mountains without an excess of buildings in the background on the edge of Middlebury’s campus the day before the wedding. I love getting to know a location and often travel to new locations so I do so a day before when possible.

It was time for the ceremony, and if you didn’t believe me this wedding really was outside. In the gazebo on the town green Meghan and Ian gathered surrounded by their 15 guests and exchanged their vows.

Afterward everyone gathered across the green at the Middlebury Community House, a historic home with the intimate feeling Meghan and Ian were looking for. It was decked out for Christmas and allowed everyone in attendance another chance to get together and celebrate before the holidays.

The table was beautifully clothed and accented in fabric designed by Meghan’s cousin. Stockings were sewn and stuffed with goodies hanging off each chair for guests to enjoy. Custom pints bore the logo printed on all materials for the wedding, adding a common thread that tied the day together.

Safe from the winter wind talking, drinking, and laughing commenced. Around a long table everyone sat down to an early Christmas dinner and intimate wedding reception as they shared a family style meal and toasted the relationship before them. Congratulations again M+I and thanks to everyone for inviting us in to document the day!

venue Town Green, Middlebury VT   wedding dress Impression Bridal  veil Etsy : The Red Magnolia   hair Valerie Smith-Hastings   makeup Hannah Zeno   rings Victoria Moore   flowers The Blossom Basket  groom’s attire Highland Outfitters  officiant Zeke Church  paper goods  mygatsby.com  custom pint glasses Etsy : Factory21  reception music Celticladda  catering  Janice Munson

The romance of winter was visible as Meghan and Ian wed on a crisp cold day in Middlebury, Vermont. It was everything you dream of when you start to picture a small winter wedding in a snowy mountain town. With 17 guests in attendance it was an intimate day, shared with an inner circle of family and friends. Being invited to document this occasion was a treat. Matt accompanied me as second shooter and sherpa, carrying bags and prepping lights as I tried to convince him to leave his job and work for me full time. (It hasn’t worked yet) We felt especially honored to be among the small group of guests and provide the images that would be remembered and shared with all those not in attendance. We were welcomed in and I can’t thank everyone enough for their hospitality.

Upon arriving to Middlebury we got acquainted with the locations for the wedding and then went off on a run to scout locations for photos. I always love to get to know a place with a run, and as the sun set the town twinkled with lights and the warm glow of houses which seemed to welcome us in. We soon joined those inside as we headed to the rehearsal dinner and the first official events of the weekend kicked off. The only thing missing was snow. Fortuitously we awoke to a light blanket that had been laid overnight to cover the ground. The temperature had also dropped at least 10 degrees from the day before, but we were prepared for the cold. I’m not sure if Ian could have prepared for wearing a kilt in such weather but he didn’t flinch. After warming up from the outdoor ceremony everyone gathered across the green in the Community House for a reception equivalent to the Christmas dinner you always wish you had with those closest to you. It was a beautiful day, remembered in the warmest light as the memory of a cold day fades with the passing of time.

Each time I head to Vermont I find another reason to return. The small towns nestled between snowy mountains are so inviting and ready for exploration. Just a few miles north of Middlebury we fell in love with Vergennes Laundry, a wood fired bakery and coffee shop that fit our tastes perfectly. More and more I’m drawn to the simple and expertly crafted espresso drinks found only at small establishments like this. Pair that with fresh bread, tarts, and french treats like caneles and it’s almost enough reason to pick up and move or actually start building that wood fired oven we have been talking about. A trip to Vergennes was the perfect treat after a cold day shooting outside. Enough so that I’m ready to plan for next year.

As you might know I had fun this past weekend working with Sassafras Flowers to document a winter wedding shoot. Maura and her team at Sassafras organized and designed everything for the shoot and used the inspiration of jewels and ice to create an elegant wedding scene at Warner Castle in Rochester, New York. From the dress to accessories to table scape and more, the details are almost endless and if you are planning your own wedding right now you know what I mean. It was wonderful to be a part of and I loved being able meet and collaborate with other local wedding vendors. The other talented businesses and people that took part in the shoot include: Ryan, stylist and owner at Salon Raven, Moire’s Millinery who provided incredibly unique handcrafted headpieces, One Enchanted Evening who provided the gorgeous dress, and Bella Carta Studio who created custom paper goods. Here’s a little preview from the snowy day, and if you’ve ever dreamed of a winter wedding it is possible!

About a year ago I met up with Andrew + Arryn in Java 101 to talk about their wedding plans. They were relaxed, creative and planning a day that was focused on their commitment to each other and the friends and family that support them. That can be a hard thing to do in the world of wedding planning; it is all to easy to let things get out of control and forget where you are in the first place. If that ever happened to Arryn and Andrew it didn’t show. I looked forward to their wedding from our first meeting until I headed up to Maryland in mid December for the big day.

Arryn was an art major and more specifically a ceramicist, but she is an all around creative person and it showed at the wedding. In the collection of details above, let me walk you through the decorations and details she incorporated. The colors were red and green with an all around wintery vibe, so the tables were decorated with evergreen and berries in vases that she made. As a favor to all of the guests, she made the mugs you see pictured – each and everyone of them, which I think totaled 125 at least. One of my favorite parts of the decorations was the dropped chandelier/ceiling you see in the dancing photo. It was lined with lanterns and draped with fabric and totally transformed the room. We’ll have to see if we can get a tutorial from Arryn on how she made it, but first on to the wedding day… (update: I’ve learned that Andrew + Nate Gerard engineered the construction of the ceiling, and it was a family project that everyone contributed to- great job everyone!).

Looking fabulous, Arryn got ready with her bridesmaids and mom nearby. The yellow room they were in was perfect to light and cast a soft warm glow – getting ready rooms are usually tricky to work with but this one was an exception.

See the ceiling that I’m talking about? Honestly it was perfect for their reception and I’m so impressed. As much as the wedding was about them (as it should be) it was also about everyone who is in their lives. As a statement of marriages that have gone before them, they hung photos of couples and the years they’ve been married around the room. There is also nothing like friends at a wedding, and so I love the two pictures below, and all the others like them.

The evening finished off with cake and giving away the bouquet to Arryn’s grandmother. Looking at the picture below makes me think of family moments that you pass down through generations. It is so fun to witness and share these events, so once again thanks to Arryn + Andrew and all of the family and friends involved in the day. To see the complete set of photos go here and enter their last name for the password (You must also create a profile first for login). I’m sure they would like a nice large print to display in their home so leave a comment to help earn one for free! (20 comments=11×14, 40 comments=16×24).

I think if you are going to have a wedding in the winter when there’s snow, you should embrace it. So, naturally I was delighted when Stacy told me she wanted to take some photos in the snow and she and Rob braved the cold and stood out there as well. I love how you can see their tracks out- it was fairly deep in some places, so I’m glad I brought some extra boots for Stacy to borrow – always come prepared!

Before I show you more of those, let me go back to the beginning…

The ceremony was beautiful, and afterwards we headed out back to the woods. There’s a bit of variety so I’d love to hear what you like. I think the ring shots turned out fabulous, I love how the stone is turned at an angle in the setting, it’s a gorgeous ring in my opinion.

a little bit of a vintage look with a gray tone…

…and I’ll leave you with this because I absolutely love it! Talk about a wedding day – each one is unique and I love being able to capture them.