Danny + Sherry || Weddings At The Venetian
Making photos is our job, but celebrating stories is truly what brings us so much joy in this profession. For Danny + Sherry, their long distance love story started a few years back. Being separated by the entire expanse of the eastern seaboard of the U.S. did not stop their love for eachother from growing and flourishing. Fast forward to this day, when their families came together for an unforgettable celebration.
Everything about Danny + Sherry’s wedding was just as we hoped for. The October weather was favorable and void of rain for most of the day, and loved ones flew in from all over the world to join the celebration. Thankfully, we are no strangers to Sherry’s family, having already photographed her sister’s wedding just a few years earlier… seeing her family + church friends felt like a mini reunion on so many levels.
Having already photographed their engagement session earlier this summer, we already knew how easy going this bride + groom would be on the day of. Sherry and her gown certainly stole the show at their church ceremony, while the ring bearers charmed the crowd every step of the way. Thank God the stormy weather held back the precipitation all the way until the end of the evening, just as we wrapped up our portraits in the garden of the Venetian.
Our favorite part of their wedding? Definitely the reception party. We love, love, LOVE being witnesses to the wedding party unwind on the dance floor– there is always so much personality to capture when all the formalities have concluded. From the LED thunder sticks to watching the newlyweds conquer the dance floor, it was most definitely a party to remember.
Many congratulations to our newlyweds, Danny + Sherry!
Last but not least, our warmest thanks to the other wedding professionals who helped make this day possible:
Hair/Makeup: @AngelfaceNYC https://www.facebook.com/angelfacenyc
Video: @TheBleuStudio https://www.facebook.com/TheBleuStudio/
Florals: Dee’s Flower https://www.facebook.com/DeesFlowersAndGifts/
Reception:The Venetian https://www.venetiannj.com/
Lea + Dean || Hermann Park Wedding Portraits
For Dean + Lea, exchanging their vows was a really meaningful part in their wedding day celebration in downtown Houston. Having already done their civil ceremony a few days earlier, this vow exchange was purposed for just them two— no spectators, no distractions. The day before, we spent a few hours scouting the park for inspirational, logistical + creative purposes. During their vow exchange, we found a vine-covered trellis deep within Hermann Park, far from the crowds. Positioning our cameras some 75ft away allowed for our newlyweds to have complete privacy, as well as the freedom to enjoy these moments together, the expertise you hire for your wedding day will determine the quality of your photos, so be sure to engage with the best Wedding Photographer Newcastle has available.
With Lea + Dean, exploring Hermann Park was so much more fun. Not only did we get to hear a little bit more about their story (having first met while stationed in Nebraska a few years back), we also got to see the many different facets that encompassed this historic park: memorial statues, arid plants, a manmade waterfall, generously shaded pathways and sky-high hilltops. Following their portraits were more portraits (this time with family), then finally ending the evening with a cozy dinner reception at Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille.
We absolutely love intimate wedding celebrations like the one you are about to view. There is something truly special watching a couple exchange promises with nobody else around. Stepping away from the more traditional wedding day layout, we admire couples who craft a day that is void of lengthy checklists, instead embracing a more intimate setting that naturally gives way to some really amazing moments. Just as importantly, we are confident that you can feel the fun-loving, goofiness that embodies this couple as you peruse the images below… not to mention all the romance, honesty and love interwoven throughout those same images.
Portrait locations: Hermann Park
Reception Venue: Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille, Friendswood, TX
Patty + Andrew || Westmount Country Club Weddings
What an unforgettable wedding celebration! We present to you, the lovely (and newly married) Andrew + Patty.
What an honor it was to celebrate with these two. From start to finish, our job was non-stop… and that is exactly why we love our jobs so much. Moments upon moments upon moments– from the tight-knit feel being surrounded by their bridal party the morning of, to cherishing the moments where mom and dad help with the finishing touches of their wedding day attire, to the first time Andrew sees Patty entering the wedding ceremony– there were so many images that helped encompass the emotions of the wedding day. This wedding was the first time we had a proper “confetti shower”, and we were so stoked to hear that there was some more at the reception.
Our favorite moment? Definitely when Patty + her father are honoring the father-daughter dance, and their family looks on with teary eyes.
A million congrats to you both, Patty + Andrew!
John + Meredith || Duportail House Wedding
Days before their wedding weekend, we had some slight concerns regarding the weather. The forecast was pretty dreary; thunderstorms and heavy rain were suppose to soak the Valley Forge area for the entirety of the wedding day. When we find ourselves in this kind of situation, the best we can do is develop a rain plan, and pray, pray, pray.
Come the wedding day, we were greeted with the hot and humid weather that was typical of May in our part of the country. We started with our couple at the nearby Embassy Suites, followed by their first look at the historic Duportail House. Built in 1740, the house + surrounding property are an amazing representation of colonial American history. Meredith + John had expressed to us how much they loved the architecture around Duportail House property, so we made sure to plan our portrait session around various parts of the estate.
By early afternoon, the sun was still out and the storm clouds were nowhere in sight… prayers answered! Our bride and groom ended up having an amazing outdoor ceremony, presided by their dear friend + pastor. At some point during the wedding ceremony, while singing along to the hymn “How Great Thou Art,” the storm clouds could be heard in the near distance. We kid you not; seconds after the crowd sang the verse, “…I see the stars… I hear the rolling thunder…Thy power throughout the universe displayed,” the sound of roaring thunder cracked through the sky. As soon as the ceremony concluded, the booming sound of canon went off from the nearby Valley Forge National Park— all in perfect timing. This series of unplanned event were definitely the most memorable for us that day.
The reception started just around the time the rain began (and the rain came down on us hard). We loved the intimate space that they planned for when planning their reception— an outdoor tented reception, a cozy first dance on the patio, followed by an evening of crazy dance movies + bellyaching laughter on the main dance floor. At one point on the dance floor, we spotted John lifted up his baby nephew into the air in very Lion King-like fashion. Meredith later reflected on this very moment, saying in an email to us that she was both laughing and terrified.
We reached out to Meredith + John the week after their wedding, while the wedding memories were still fresh on their minds. We asked them to send us a few of their favorite moments, and funny enough, their list pretty much aligned with the same set of teaser photos we posted the week after the wedding.
A very special thanks to Meredith + John for hosting an amazing marriage celebration, and we hope you all enjoy the photos that follow!
Jen + Tim || Chimney Hill Estate Inn Weddings
In one of our last email conversations together leading up to their wedding day, we asked Jen what was most important on her wedding day. This was her response:
“In general, I am going for a very laid back ceremony and reception. I’m not very sentimental when it comes to items, but I am with the people in my life. A theme that keeps popping up in my head in the planning of the details is the phrase ‘Rejoice always’ from 1 Thessalonians 5:16. So that’s what Tim and I are trying to do, and what we want this ceremony and reception to be about.”
We’re so thankful for the opportunity to document their wedding celebration. Beyond the delicious brisket, curiously fuzzy alpacas and the beautiful May weather, it’s always refreshing to have a bride + groom whose heart is focused on something Greater than a perfect execution of wedding day details.
For the record, we absolutely loved working at the Chimney Hill Estate Inn in Lambertville, NJ. The staff were incredibly cordial, and everything from the food to the grounds to the alpacas made for an impeccable experience. A very special thanks is in order to staff + management at the Chimney Hill Estate Inn. Only with their cooperation and service did we truly enjoy our visit there.
