Anniversary Photography Session | Lisa and Andy

Love, Stories Documented  //  10th June 2013

Anniversary Photography Sessions have become one of our favorite things to photograph! As our 6 year wedding anniversary fast approaches, (WAHOOOO!!!), we recognize the importance of celebrating the everyday moments and realize that the best days of our lives are right now… this day of our lives! With the hype and excitement surrounding weddings, it is hard to even imagine the days getting better… but they certainly have the ability to do just that!

Lisa and Andy contacted us months ago to set up a photography session to celebrate their 3 year anniversary! We could not have been more excited! They shared with us that work and school had them living in two different states for an extended period of time and they wanted to celebrate their reuniting! Umm, yes! This was definitely a much deserved celebration for them! Having the opportunity to spend a few hours with them and capture this AMAZING time in their lives was such an honor! Anniversary Sessions are the perfect way to reconnect and enjoy just being together! How often do we get the chance in our everyday crazy lives to do that?!?! We have to make it a priority and we are so grateful that Lisa and Andy did!

Lisa and Andy… thank you so much for taking the time to celebrate your love! ;) You guys captured our hearts with your love of football and connections to Central PA! ;) (Crazy enough, we found out that Andy grew up about 30 minutes down the road from us in PA! Small world! ;) ) Thanks for having so much fun with us! We wish you nothing but the best and many many more years of celebrating that AMAZING love you share! ;)

 

 

Weekend Wedding Photography: Kait and Adam’s Fusion Video

Love, Stories Documented, Wedding  //  7th June 2013

We gathered into a room full of smiling faces, happy conversation, good tasting food, and, of course, tasty beverages. We have learned that this seems to be just the way Kait and Adam’s family does things!… which might just be one of the many reasons we love them so much! ;)

We were so excited to see them again, just a little over a week since Kait and Adam’s wedding! It was time for them to finally see ALL of their photos from their wedding weekend and we could not wait to share them… most especially their fusion video!

The fusion video has become something that we absolutely love creating with our couples who include it in their weekend wedding photography collection. For Kait and Adam, we gathered on Friday for a quiet morning just 24 hours before their wedding day began! The day was full of fun activities ahead. Kait had a Bridal Luncheon… or Champagne as it has more appropriately been referred to as! ;) and Adam was on his way to a Dogfish Head Brewery Tour with about 20 of the guys he is closest to in his life! How fun is that?!? After their daytime activities, they had their rehearsal and rehearsal dinner… and everything else that comes with it being the day before their wedding! It was so much fun to sit down with them and hear all about their emotions at that very moment! At the end of editing the video and hearing their words a million times over and over again, I finally took some time to sit and back and watch it all the way through. As tears filled my eyes, I knew this was something that Kait and Adam and their families (including generations to come) would cherish forever!

What a sweet evening last night was for us! Not only were we surrounded by our new extended family members ;), we were able to give them something that will forever bring them back to Kait and Adam’s AMAZING wedding festivities and emotions of where it all began!

Kait and Adam (and really the whole family!!) – we love you. ;) Thank you for sharing your hearts with us! Marianne, thank you for your AMAZING hospitality (as always!)! We joked that we should make this a weekly gathering, but maybe we weren’t really joking!? ;) See you next week?!?! ;)

Brittland Estates Wedding | Laura and Richie’s Love Story

Love, Stories Documented, Wedding  //  6th June 2013

As we drove up the beautiful driveway, we were greeted by signs welcoming us to their special day. Every couple of feet was a new sign… leading us to the final two that read, “this is where our story begins.” Before we even reached the Brittland Manor for this stunning Brittland Estates Wedding, we knew we were in for a treat!

The reality is, Laura and Richie’s love story began a really long time ago! They grew up going to the same school and even found themselves hand in hand as they walked through their High School hallways together! Over the years, life has taken them in different directions, but their AMAZING friendship always brought their hearts back together. They have been through so many ups and downs… but as Laura says… the number of ups is far greater than the number of downs! They realized over the years that their hearts are much better together than apart!

We, along with over 200 of their family and friends who celebrated with them over the weekend, could not agree more! What a gorgeous wedding to help Laura and Richie kick off this next adventure in their Love Story together!

Laura and Richie… thank you so so so much for the opportunity to capture this special day (and day after!! ;)… more to come soon!!!!) for you! Every single detail you two put together for your day seriously blew our minds! We LOVED everything!!!… but most especially, we loved seeing your happiness and excitement for this day to FINALLY be here!! Richie… your shouts of excitement that came out after your ceremony made our hearts smile BIG!! Congratulations you two! You and your families will always hold a special place in our hearts!

HUGE thanks to everyone who helped to make Laura and Richie’s day so special! (With a special shout out to Allison and Tom for introducing us to their sweet cousins!… and an extra special shout out to Allison Barnhill Designs for creating the most AMAZING invitation we have ever seen!

Wedding Planner: Michele Damon Events | Stationery & All things paper!: Allison Barnhill Designs | Hair Stylist: Ashley Grossmiller | Makeup Artist: Karrah Rebstock | Florist: Intrigue Designs | Ceremony & ReceptionVenue: Brittland Manor | Officiant: Lew Schrumm | Ceremony & Reception Music: Adam and Liz from Absolute Entertainment | Caterer: Relysh Catering | Bakery: Yummy Sweet Shop | Videographer: ClickSpark | Bride & Bridesmaid’s Attire: Annapolis Formal | Groom & Groomsmen’s Attire: Men’s Wearhouse | Wedding Bands: Smyth Jewelers | Photographer: Liz and Ryan

Side note… Brittland Manor is absolutely stunning! As we got out of the car when we arrived… I definitely said to Ryan, “I want to live here!” ;) It is magical!

 

Live an AMAZING Life: Laugh at yourself

Amazing Life Manifesto, Dreaming  //  5th June 2013

Earlier this week we were outside walking together and our conversation went a little like this:

Ryan: “We go together like peanut butter and jelly”

Liz: “I love peanut butter and jelly! What kind of peanut butter would you be?”

Ryan: “Chunky of course”  suddenly feeling a little self conscious of my weight and what the implications of being chunky peanut butter might entail I quickly changed my mind “…er, wait, I don’t want to be chunky, I’d be smooth because I am so smooth ;)”

Liz: “How about smooth with just a few little nuts”

I think we will stop the story there. :) ….

This past week while we were editing photos from Kait and Adam’s wedding we came across a particularly funning photo of Liz at the end of the night.  I showed it to her and we couldn’t help but laugh.  Check out the photo below and leave your best caption in the comments section. :)
Whoever said laughter is the best medicine was definitely right. This was the second to last photo taken at Kait and Adam’s wedding.  I was setting the camera up to take a self portrait of Liz and I with Kait and Adam and did a quick test shot for exposure.  Little did Liz know her mid yawn/snear/my arm itches pose (we still have no idea what she was doing) would end up on the blog. :)

Sometimes we get so caught up in our lives and our to do lists that we forget to cut ourselves some slack.  Life is supposed to be fun, people!  Don’t take yourself so seriously all the time.  Allow yourself to laugh at yourself and the rest of the things weighing on your shoulders will suddenly feel so much lighter.  Today give yourself grace, laugh a little louder, and most importantly have fun with life!

… And because it wouldn’t be fair to just laugh at Liz, here is my best “It’s the end of the world” face from a session earlier this year.

 

Take time to be in the moment

Life in Love  //  3rd June 2013

Take time to be in the moment. We always joke that the clock moves faster on wedding days than on any other day! Bridal time flies by… always!

However, it always seems to be on the days that you want the clock to slow down it just speeds up! Especially on wedding days, but also every day of our lives, it takes an extra effort to slow down and take time to be in the moment. This life will pass us by if we don’t soak it all in.

This weekend we were reminded of this incredibly special lesson by Laura and her dad. As Laura and Richie’s originally planned timeline was pretty much thrown out the window due to Bridal time… lol… Laura made sure to make time for her and her dad to have a special moment together. They both have had this moment in their minds for quite some time and they made it a priority. No matter what, they were going to take time to be in the moment together!

This image is one of my all time favorite photos that we have ever taken. It is such a special moment for Laura and her dad… and for Ryan and I! This photo will always be an incredible reminder to us to stop on the busiest of days and take time to be in the moment together!

We can’t wait to share more of Laura and Richie’s AMAZINGNESS on the blog on Thursday!! In the meantime, we have shared a few sweet peeks on our Facebook page… including one of them making the jump to start their lives together! You have to see it! ;) Can’t wait to share more!!! ;)