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

Vendor Credits: Officiant – Reverend Christina Ruehl | DJ – Ryan Miller | Florist – Robin Metz | Cake – Camp Hill Bakery | Caterer – C&J Catering | Hair/Makup – Sass Salon | Coordinator – Heather Rohrer

Sara+Ed Get Married in Pittsburgh, PA

Our last Pittsburgh wedding until next year went out with a bang and a giant duck. A giant, 40-foot inflatable rubber duck, to be exact. Where did we get this rubber duck?

The giant duck is an art installation (read more about him here) whose first stop in the US was to Pittsburgh at Point State Park – a triangular shaped park where the three rivers meet in the ‘Burgh. Sara and Ed conveniently got married on the last weekend the duck was in town, so we were able to snap a few pictures with him after their ceremony in Sara’s childhood church. It was raining, and we were also surrounded by quite possibly hundreds if not thousands of people, so thankfully the umbrella-weilding bridal party was able to form a temporary body barricade while we took a few pictures with the duck. Also (thankfully) is the fact that Pittsburgh citizens love weddings and are also very nice, so they were cool with being kicked out of the way for a minute or so. It was worth it, and thus the pictures with the giant duck. :)

The reception of the wedding took place at PPG Aquarium at the Pittsburgh Zoo where the very large sting rays that you can pet quickly became the most popular wedding guests (if you held your hand above the water by a couple inches, they should slide up the glass and touch your hand with their… nose? face? what does a stingray have?). Both locations – Sara’s childhood church and the PPG Aquarium – were quite fitting as Sara was born and raised in the ‘Burgh (although Ed hails from Ohio). They both live in New York City now, but Sara wanted to capture the ‘Burgh atmosphere in all locations. We had an amazing time at their wedding and wish them both the very best at their super awesome tv/film jobs in New York!

Date: October 19, 2013

Ceremony Venue: St. Anne Catholic Church // Pittsburgh, PA

Reception Venue: PPG Aquarium at Pittsburgh Zoo // Pittsburgh, PA

First Dance Song: “Time After Time” – Eva Cassidy

Sara’s Occupation: TV/Film Producer

Ed’s Occupation: TV/Film Assistant Camera

How You Met: College

Interesting Groom Fact: Ed loves Legos.

Honeymoon Destination: Paris

Vendor Credits: Officiant – Father Cedolia | DJ – Mark Zini | Florist – Kim Wagner of Dragonfly Florist | Cake – Bethel Bakery | Caterer – PPG Aquarium | Hair/Makeup – Pretty Hair Salon | Coordinator – Roseanna Stewart of St. Anne’s and Gabby Boldizar at PPG Aquarium

Lindsay + Jonathon + Beaumont in Pittsburgh, PA

I went to high school with the very lovely and talented Lindsay and was so happy to be contacted by her and her fiancé Jon for their engagement pictures! I went to high school with Jon too, and not that he wasn’t very lovely and talented, but we didn’t know each other then so I can’t comment on just how lovely and talented I’m sure he was at the time. ;) I can say that I’m very happy to have finally met him and that he’s a wonderful person and an amazing match for Lindsay. They love each other very much, writing adorable things about one another in the questionnaire we gave them, and they were super easy to work with despite us dragging them down back alleys in Oakmont and putting them next to construction dumpsters. :D They wanted the session to feel romantic, and while dumpsters don’t seem romantic at the time, they look REALLY good, ok?

The adorable white ball of fluff that you see in the beginning of this post is Beaumont, the happiest of all terriers. Lindsay saw a Cesar Dog Food commercial and decided that she must have a Westie… which I kind of think is an amazing inspiration for adopting a dog. They got one, named him Beaumont which sounds quite regal, and he lives up to his darling name. He can play dead and high-five and just generally runs around being cute. He has a super loving home with Lindsay and Jon and tells us that he is very excited for his parents to finally be married.

We’re so excited to be photographing the wedding of these two next summer! We will miss Beaumont’s presence, but maybe we can Skype him in?