Jonathan & Rachel's Fall Chickasaw Wedding

Jonathan and Rachel are seriously two of the sweetest people I've ever met! I loved getting to know them as they planned their wedding, and I had a great time documenting the perfect day earlier this month. Rachel is incredibly talented and made a ton of the decor for the wedding. Everything inside the cozy Sagamore Lodge looked amazing! When I first arrived, I went to one of the cabins where Rachel, her bridesmaids and her daughter were getting ready.

After a few getting ready photos, I shot some details at the cabin and at the lodge.

I went back up to the cabin for some final getting ready moments, then it was time for Rachel and Jonathan to see each other and have their portraits made. We picked this adorable dock on Lake Placid. Even though it was a cloudy day, the temperature was wonderful and the trees still had a bit of that lovely fall color on them.

They had a few sweet moments together, then we took a ton of photos around the Chickasaw grounds.

The bridesmaids joined us for a few.

 

The sweet family of four heading down to another dock for a family photo. The geese saw us coming and decided to vacate the shore. 

The cake by David Kerns of DK Cakes was stunning! It's so perfect for a fall wedding, and the topper was adorable.

The ceremony was short and very sweet.

After a reception full of great conversation, delicious food by Matter of Taste Too and some dancing, they called it a night. It was really a wonderful wedding, and I'm so happy that Rachel and Jonathan chose me to document it.

Sara & Timmy - Chester County Elopement and Chickasaw Portraits

Earlier this year, I booked Sara & Timmy's wedding and was so excited to work with them! We did their engagement photos at Lake Graham, and were set for their wedding in September. Well, a little while later, Sara messaged me and said they were thinking about just nixing the whole wedding thing and eloping. I can't blame them at all! Weddings are stressful and expensive, and they did what was right for them.

I think more brides should consider this, to be honest. I know it seems weird coming from someone who makes a living from weddings, but sometimes the planning and headache isn't worth it. If you're doing it for anyone but yourself and your fiancé, don't do it! You don't want to look back on your wedding day and remember how uncomfortable you were with the whole event. I don't think the majority of brides feel this way, but some personalities just don't do well with having attention on themselves all day.

I thought Sara and Timmy's ceremony on the courthouse steps was perfectly lovely, and I was so happy to have been witness to it. When they return from their honeymoon, they're having a reception for friends and family to attend and celebrate with them. Speaking of honeymoon, they've been at Disney World and I've been stalking Sara's facebook to see pictures. I am going in two weeks and am SO PUMPED! Ok, I'm done rambling. Here are my favorite shots from Sara & Timmy's courthouse wedding and photo shoot afterwards:

Waiting in the hall of the courthouse 

The family stood on the porch, while Sara & Timmy stood at the edge of the steps. The best place for me would have been at the end of the walkway by the street and zoomed way in. Alas, the sprinklers were going all over the place, so I couldn't back that far up without getting soaked. I'm still happy with the ones I got!

And just like that, they're married! It was short and so very, very sweet.  

They headed back inside to make it official and file it. I was glad to get a few shots of them inside the courthouse offices. 

We went over to their home and they dressed in the clothes they had bought for the wedding. Figuring out how to fasten the dress was a bit of a fun challenge!

A quick photo with their street sign. 

After some family shots at their home, we headed out to Chickasaw for some portraits. 

Thank you two so much for letting me a part of this special day! I hope you're still having a blast at the most magical place on earth.