July 18, 2014

Sarah+Joe’s Felicita Wedding in Harrisburg, PA

There are so many good stories entangled in this one wedding that it’s going to be a bit difficult to explain them all to you, but I’ll try.

Once upon a time at WVU, two girls named Diane and Jane were roommates. Diane was dating this other guy on campus named Mike. Mike had a roommate named Rick and Jane thought he was cute. Jane and Rick were introduced. Later, of course, Diane and Mike married. Jane and Rick married. Jane and Rick grew up and had two kids: Sean and Sarah. Diane and Mike had children too, all of whom became very close to Sean and Sarah, but a particularly close friendship grew between their daughter Abi and Sarah. Around this time Geoff (yes, our Geoff) was born in a town far away.

Fast forward several years and Geoff goes to college at RIT and gets introduced to his first (and forever) roommate Sean, Jane’s son. They hit it off right away, and that’s when Sean started intruding on several of our long-distance calling card phone calls to each other in college, and sending me ridiculous pictures of Geoff on AIM. This went on for several years.

Around graduation time, I went up to RIT and was introduced to Rick, Jane, and Sarah, who were all there to see Sean graduate. Everyone graduated (thank goodness) but kept in touch despite us moving to North Carolina and Sean moving to Seattle with his wife Mylissa.
Fast forwarded a few more years and we received and inquiry from a girl named Abi and her fiancé Ryan, who had been referred to us by Jane. We then shot Abi and Ryan’s wedding at WVU in 2011 and were introduced to Mike and Diane and took pictures of Joe but didn’t know him at the time! Then fast forward a few more years and finally we arrive at Sarah and Joe’s inquiry for their upcoming wedding in Harrisburg, PA at Felicita Gardens (a really amazing resort). We were so thrilled to finally get to meet and know Joe (who is an incredible guy!!) and to reunite with Sarah, Sean, Mylissa, Jane, and Rick.

And how’s this for how amazing the whole family is? Sarah let us sleep in her childhood bedroom the night before her wedding while she slept on a futon in the office. Don’t worry – we did try to argue with her and felt really bad, but she insisted. :) We are SO grateful to be a small part of this seriously wonderful group of people, and so honored to have had the opportunity to shoot this lovely wedding. Here’s a few of our favorites. :)

Date: June 28, 2014

Ceremony and Reception Venue: Felicita Garden Resort // Harrisburg, PA

First Dance Song: “Crazy Love” – Van Morrisson

Sarah’s Occupation: Labor and Delivery Nurse

Joe’s Occupation: Elementary School Phys Ed Teacher

How You Met: Like all great love stories… in a bar.

Interesting Fact about Sarah: In college Sarah and three of her bridesmaids once ate a Ben and Jerry’s Vermonster (26 scoops of ice cream) in 1 minute and 48 seconds, defeating ten other teams including one comprised of all UVA football players.

Interesting Fact about Joe: Joe can recite where 98 percent of all NBA players attended college.

Honeymoon Destination: Italy and Greece

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July 11, 2014

Shanon+Ryan // Wedding in Morgantown, WV

Welcome back to West Virginia, readers! We’ve had three weddings now in Morgantown… all at the Erickson Alumni Center at WVU… and each time the weather’s been a bit crazy in its own way. The first time was absolutely hot. Ridiculously hot, even. The bridal party did their photos inside because everyone was melting. The second time brought a ton of tree-leaves-turning-inside-out wind. This time finally brought the rain. Up until about 10 minutes before we took their photos, it rained. Thankfully it was hot enough that most of the moisture evaporated by the time we got out there, and all was right with the world… until their ceremony. The clouds came back, and a large rain drop fell on their officiant’s notes… at which point Shanon told him to hurry up the ceremony and they all escaped unscathed. :)

Shanon and Ryan are two hilarious and awesome people. Their friends were also quite entertaining (one of which was impressively able to do crazy dancing despite being incapacitated in one leg) and super nice (the maid of honor ordered me a pizza). The reception featured an awesome band (The Soul Miners) whom Shanon and Ryan frequently see in downtown Morgantown when they get a chance… and they came sporting a Lava lamp, which we think might’ve been the source of their power. Shanon’s dress was our first heavily sequined wedding dress, which I was thrilled about (sequins, as well as most shiny little dots, photograph really well!), and Ryan’s wedding present from her was a watch equipped with a note scribbled on a paper napkin that said, “Don’t lose this one.” Here are our favorites from an awesome weekend with two people that we absolutely love.

Date: June 21, 2014

Ceremony and Reception Venue: WVU Erickson Alumni Center // Morgantown, WV

First Dance Song: “Nothing Can Change This Love” – Sam Cooke

Shanon’s Occupation: Pre-Kindergarten Special Education Teacher

Ryan’s Occupation: Master of Public Health and Master of Science in School Health Student at WVU/ Substitute Teacher/ Teaching Assistant/ Farm-to-School Intern

How You Met: We first met in our early high school years through our group of friends, but it wasn’t until 4 years later (after those awful years of braces, shaggy Beatles-wanna-be hair and puberty) that we decided to date when Shanon started her freshman year of college and Ryan was a sophomore.

Interesting Fact about Shanon: Shanon survived cat scratch fever as a young girl. Needless to say, Ted Nugent is not her favorite recording artist.

Interesting Fact about Ryan: Ryan was a chicken chaser at the Dixie Stampede, an interactive dinner show created by the wonderfully well-endowed Dolly Parton.

Honeymoon Destination: St. Lucia

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July 2, 2014

Lindsay+Jonathon’s Wedding in Pittsburgh, PA

It was so great to be back in Pittsburgh, PA to photograph Lindsay and Jon’s wedding! I went to high school with the two of them back in the day (Lindsay I specifically knew through show choir and drama club), so it was pretty awesome to see a bunch of people I hadn’t seen in a long time all together in one place. :) And, following in the tradition of us acquiring awesome wedding venues in Pittsburgh, the wedding was held at the Pittsburgh Athletic Association building across from the Cathedral of Learning at Pitt, and super close to the Mellon Institute of Carnegie Mellon… and also super close to Phipps Conservatory… and super close to an adorable carousel. And lucky for us, we had a limo driver to take us to all of the cool super photogenic places, so it was kind of a “best of” tour of Oakland. ;)

Aside from being really, really ridiculously good looking, both Lindsay and Jon are also ridiculously kind people and head over heels for each other. Jon did a great job of not only helping carry Lindsay’s dress across treacherous terrain, but also comforting her when we all got incredibly nauseous from driving around. ;) Their friends (some of whom we knew from high school) are all pretty ridiculous and also super sweet and accommodating after we toted them around Oakland for a while. :) We cannot thank everyone enough for being cooperative and helpful and generally fantastic at this wedding! I am going to miss all the Burrell friends I was briefly reunited with, but it was a great reunion. :)

Date: June 14, 2014

Ceremony and Reception Venue: Pittsburgh Athletic Association // Pittsburgh, PA

First Dance Song: “My Love” – Paul McCartney

Lindsay’s Occupation: Merchandise Analyst for Dick’s Sporting Goods

Jon’s Occupation: Construction Technician for Galway Bay

How You Met: High School

Interesting Fact about Lindsay: Lindsay used to make mystery movies with her cousins when she was little, and to this day her family calls her Lindsay Drew.

Interesting Fact about Jon: Jon has traveled to more than 13 different countries, almost all in the past 4 years.

Honeymoon Destination: Maui, HI

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