Jes and Chris exchanged vows in an intimate ceremony at the Kula Kamala Ashram in Reading, Pennsylvania. They got married on Earth Day, which is pretty appropriate considering how prominent nature and spirituality are in their lives. This was my first time visiting the ashram, and as soon as I stepped inside I fell in love with the colors, the smells, and the overall sense of calm that existed there. This was the perfect place for Jes and Chris to be wed in the presence of their loved ones - including Jes' son Ronan who played an important role in their celebration.

Their decorations were simple yet beautiful, and created a romantic backdrop for their very personalized celebration. Because the reception was taking place inside the ashram, strict rules had to be followed regarding the ingredients and preparation of the food. In addition, no alcohol was to be served. That didn't have any impact on the celebration, though, and I witnessed some of the best dance moves I have ever seen.

Mother Nature decided to bless them with ample amounts of luck (i.e. rain) on their wedding day, so our outdoor portraits were kept to a minimum. These were rescheduled for another day, which is shared in Part 2 of their blog post.

Without any further delay, here is a selection of photos from their wedding day. Congratulations, Jes, Chris, and Ronan!

Kula Kamala Ashram Reading Pennsylvania wedding photographer

Big thanks to the following team of people for working together to pull off this amazing wedding celebration:

Photographer: Carrie Kizuka Photography, LLC

Videographer: Brian DiRenzo, Artistic Hands

Venue: Kula Kamala Ashram

Florist: The Rustic Bunch

Cake Artist: Amanda Blake, Savory LLC

DJ: Greg Nyce

Hair Artist: Iris, Salon EveLeila

Makeup Artist: Alisha, Alisha's Spa Euphoria

Wedding Dress Boutique: Adrianna Papell, Macy's

Groom's Tuxedo: Men's Warehouse

Officiant: Sudha Allitt, Ashram Co-Founder

Henna Artist: Yenna Hill

Harmonium Player: Charles Feenstra

Readers: Sam Watson, Felicia Walk

"Lord of the Rings": Ronan Ayres

Happy Mother's Day! I thought it was the perfect day to post this fabulous, romantic, unique, and FUN wedding on my blog!

Jackie and Dustin got married on Earth Day, and it was out of this world! (Pun intended.) They opted for a galaxy theme for their nuptials, and it was amazing! All of their details and decorations fit the galaxy theme perfectly - their constellation invitations, the groomsmen's constellation socks, their hand-painted galaxy guest sign-in canvas, their vow exchange under the planetarium dome, their constellation table placards, and their stunning purple, blue, and pink flowers! When you see their photos, I'm sure you will agree!

That morning, I met up with Jackie and Dustin at the Crowne Plaza in Wyomissing for some "getting ready" and detail photos. Then, we headed to the Reading Museum and Neag Planetarium for their first look. Let me tell you about that first look - it was my favorite one yet, even in spite of the falling rain!! Jackie walked up behind Dustin ever so slowly, the anticipation of seeing her soon-to-be husband visibly building on her face. The instant Jackie tapped Dustin on his shoulder and he turned around, Dustin set his eyes upon her and spurted out some obscenities that shouldn't be repeated on my blog! He just couldn't contain his excitement, or his love! It is so obvious that they are crazy in love with each other, and it was so much fun to witness! They couldn't take their eyes off of each other, taking each other in and realizing that they were going to be husband and wife in just a few short moments. I posted a bazillion photos of the first look below, so you'll be able to see for yourself!

Everything about this day was all about Jackie and Dustin - as it should be. They had their first date at the Neag Planetarium, so they decided it would be the perfect location to exchange their wedding vows. As Jackie's "something blue", she painted the bottoms of her stunning heels a gorgeous shade of blue. Dustin provided all of the groomsmen - and Jackie - with personalized karate belts. They threw tradition to the wind, opting for an ice cream sundae bar over a cake, including their own signature ice cream flavor! Even their wedding rings reflected their unique love for each other, bearing infinity sign designs. Their officiant was a close friend of theirs who actually joined them on their first date at the planetarium! And, they exchanged vows in the planetarium underneath a starry sky... which turned to fireworks as they shared their first kiss as newlyweds!

I'm so honored that I was able to celebrate this special day with Jackie, Dustin, and their loved ones. Big thanks to my friend and fellow photographer April Westhafer for second shooting with me for part of the day!

Congratulations, Jackie and Dustin! I hope you enjoy this selection of memories from your Day #1.