Hope + Joseph | Intimate Four Seasons Philadelphia Elopement | Pennsylvania Wedding Photographer

This winter, I had the honor of documenting Hope and Joseph’s intimate Philadelphia elopement. Hope and Joseph are one of the many couples whose original wedding plans were impacted by the Covid pandemic.

Hope and I have had an online friendship for years, but we never actually met in person until her wedding day arrived! She is such a kind soul and has a positive, uplifting personality. Her spunk and smile are contagious! I was so happy to experience the love that she and Joseph have for each other. He absolutely adores her, and they both deserve so much joy and love. I only spent a few hours with them, but it’s obvious they have found that and much more in each other.

They had a first look, and then exchanged vows and wedding rings in their hotel room in the Four Seasons Philadelphia. Their room had the most amazing view of the city skyline! Next, we bundled up and met up with some of their dearest loved ones at Water Works for some family portraits. This day was blustery and downright cold, but they were such good sports through it all.

Thank you again for giving me this honor, Hope and Joseph! I know that you are enjoying life as husband and wife.

Here are a few of my favorites from our wintry afternoon together.

Monica + Micheal | Wind in the Willows Fall Wedding | Grantville, Pennsylvania Wedding and Portrait Photographer

This past fall, I was honored to spend my evening on the most popular wedding date of the year (10/10/2020) with Monica and Micheal. (Yes, that’s how his name is spelled - E before A.) I was originally booked with another couple on that date and turned down many additional inquiries, but their request came through at just the right time. Due to the Covid pandemic, my other couple decided to reschedule their celebration and I ended up being available! I am a firm believer that everything in life happens for a reason - we just don’t always know what the reasons are right away. I guess I was meant to photograph this celebration!

I was actually quite nervous to shoot this wedding, as I had never spoken with the bride or groom ahead of time. Monica’s best friend was taking care of the planning for them, so all of my contact was with her via Instagram. In retrospect, I really need a friend like that in my life! Wedding planning is no joke (especially during 2020) and I bet that kind gesture relieved so much stress and anxiety for them, so they could just focus on their relationship.

I showed up at the Wind in the Willows venue that day ready for just about anything - and the day turned out to be more perfect than I ever imagined. When you see the photos, I’m sure you will agree. The venue was decorated in stunning simplicity, with red and white roses and bunches of eucalyptus. Some of my favorite moments were the emotional first look, when Micheal started singing to Monica during portraits, and the last few minutes we spent together capturing images (and fun memories) in the rowboat! We concluded our portraits just as we were gifted the most amazing golden hour sunset light.

Congratulations again, Monica and Micheal. I wish you a lifetime of love, laughter, and roadtrips together.

Taylor + Storm | Reinhart's Christmas Tree Farm Barn Wedding | Pennsylvania Wedding Photographer

If you follow my blog posts, you might remember Taylor and Storm from their engagement session (click here). They loved their wedding venue so much, they wanted it to be the backdrop for their engagement photos as well. (I really can’t blame them - it is a fabulous venue, and once you see these photos, I’m sure you will agree!)

Fast forward 10 months after that engagement session, and throw in a global pandemic for good measure, and we found ourselves at the same venue - this time ready to celebrate their wedding! Taylor and Storm were so easy going, and managed to roll with some last minute hiccups with an incredible amount of grace. (Big thanks to Mimmo’s for saving the day when the tot cart cancelled at the last minute!!) They were just thankful to be getting married that day, and were focused on themselves and their loved ones. (Something I have noticed during weddings that are taking place during this pandemic is that people are not letting the little things bother them as much - their overwhelming priority is on enjoying their time and making memories with the people they love. People just are not sweating the little things as much anymore, and I hope that trend sticks around long after life returns to “normal” again!)

They were gifted a beautiful day, with a touch of rain for extra good luck. Their venue, Reinhart’s Barn in Bernville, PA, had recently finished some renovations on the bridal suite and reception barn, and it made an absolutely stunning backdrop. Throw in a bunch of Taylor and Storm’s closest family and friends, and we had all of the ingredients for incredible memories (and photos). During their planning, Taylor and Storm described their wedding-day vision as traditional, semi-formal, rustic, and modern - I agree with all of these adjectives… plus a whole lot of fun. With their siblings by their side, Taylor and Storm got married in the intimate tree grove at Reinhart’s, followed by an incredible dance party in the barn, and ending with sparkler sendoff. It truly was an incredible day.

Without any further delay, here is a selection of my favorite images from their Day #1 as husband and wife. Congratulations again, Taylor and Storm. It was a pleasure and incredible honor celebrating with you.

Huge thanks and high fives to the following vendors who helped make Taylor and Storm’s wedding day dream become a reality:

Venue: Reinhart’s Barn Weddings

Coordinator: Camrin Edwards, Tollhouse Shoppes

Florist: Rachel Stevenson, Ever After Floral

Cake Artist: Jamie, Cake A Fare

DJ: Ryan Thomas

Hair Artist: Megan Lutz and Kristen Shirk, Clear Spring Salon

Makeup Artist: Liz, MKUP The Beauty Studio, York

Wedding Dress Boutique: In White, Lancaster

Groomswear Boutique: Jos. A. Bank

Catering: Mission BBQ, Fox Meadows Creamery, Mimmo’s

Jim + Kate | Intimate Shillington Backyard Summer Wedding | Berks County Pennsylvania Wedding Photographer

I’ve been trying to develop more of a “make lemonade out of lemons” mindset this year. In my opinion, if there is one positive thing to come out of the wedding industry during this pandemic, it is the uptick in intimate backyard weddings that have been taking place. Even though I love wedding celebrations of all varieties and sizes, there’s just something extra special about smaller, cozy affairs - like this one. Smaller weddings have proven to provide just as many (if not more) emotional, candid moments as larger-scale events. What made this wedding even more special is that fact that the bride is one of my daughter’s favorite teachers!

While many couples are making the difficult decision to postpone their weddings these days, Jim and Kate actually moved theirs up a little bit. Fortunately for all of us, their celebration took place the same weekend that our Pennsylvania county loosened the restrictions on gatherings. (Ironically, their engagement session was my last session before the Covid stay-at-home orders were issued, and their wedding was my first to take place after the orders were lifted!) On this beautiful June Sunday, Jim and Kate’s closest family and friends gathered in their yard -and street- to witness their much-anticipated marriage. With a little help from some of their favorite local businesses, Jim and Kate’s wedding day vision went off without any hiccups. Even Mother Nature cooperated, and we were gifted the most amazing sunshine and blue skies!

Here are a few of my favorite photos of their celebration. Congratulations again, Stuckert-Rennix Family! It was such a joy to celebrate with all of you.

(But first, thank you to all of these vendors who worked together behind the scenes to make Jim and Kate’s wedding day absolutely perfect!)

Photographer: Carrie Kizuka Photography

Florist: Royer’s in Shillington

Cake: Unique Desserts Chef by Anne-Louise

Ice Cream Truck: Sweet Ride Ice Cream

Table, Tent, and Chair Rentals: Wolfe’s Rental

Boxed Lunches: Panera

Dress: BHLDN

Suits: Menguin

Jenny + Luke | Intimate Wyomissing Backyard Summer Wedding | Berks County Pennsylvania Wedding Photographer

"When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."

—Billy Crystal, from When Harry Met Sally

Anyone who has met Jenny and Luke can confirm that they are some of the most positive, optimistic people alive. Luke and I go way back, our friendship initially forged by our mutual love for snowboarding (and for my husband LOL). I met Jenny last year through Luke, and I was instantly drawn to her gentle nature and kind heart. Regardless of the curveballs life may throw their way, they navigate them fabulously, making every day a new adventure full of love, smiles, laughter, and memories. When they reached out and asked me to photograph their intimate backyard wedding, I agreed without any hesitation. I am a happier person whenever I am in their company, and I felt honored to be the one to capture this chapter of their love story in pictures.

You would never know that they brought their wedding-day vision to life in just a few short weeks, or that a surprise thunderstorm the night before forced them to quickly tear down all of their decorations and then set them up again the morning of their wedding! And they did it all with smiles and lots of love. On July 4th, in the middle of a heatwave, Jenny and Luke exchanged their vows and rings in the company of a handful of their closest loved ones in their beautifully decorated backyard. Then, we headed to the nearby Wyomissing Park for a few photos of just the newlyweds. We returned to their home for some delicious food, cold drinks, and some of the most incredible wedding cake I have ever tasted! (I still can’t believe that their red velvet cake was gluten free - it was sooo good!)

Big thanks and socially-distanced high fives go out to the following vendors who made Jenny and Luke’s wedding vision come to life!

Photographer: Carrie Kizuka Photography

Hair/Make-Up Artists: Iron Roots Salon

Florist: Events by Kelly’s Florist

Wedding Rings: Made Jewelry

Cake: The Cake Pros

Catering: Russo’s Gourmet Foods & Market

Here are a few of my favorite moments from their wedding day. Thanks again, Jenny and Luke! Congratulations!!!