Calla + Mike | Longwood Gardens Intimate Elopement | Pennsylvania Wedding Photographer
Calla and Mike are one of the many couples whose original wedding plans were derailed by the COVID pandemic during 2020. They decided to postpone their grand celebration with their loved ones, but didn’t want to wait any longer to become husband and wife. So, they got married privately in a self-uniting ceremony. (If you’re not from Pennsylvania and don’t know what this is, it goes back to Philadelphia’s “Quaker” roots and allows for couples to legally marry themselves in the absence of an officiant.) Although now legally married on paper, they wanted their vow exchange and ring ceremony to wait until they could be captured in photographs at a beautiful and meaningful location. That is where I come in. Mike reached out to me to see if I was available and up for the job, and I answered an emphatic yes. I was excited to play such an important role in their love story, and the location they chose (Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square) also happens to be one of my favorite places.
When that afternoon arrived, one of my biggest fears as a photographer came true - my car broke down on the way there. I was devastated. My couples mean the world to me, and I give 110% to each and every one of them. Also, this wasn't any session that could be rescheduled, this was a long overdue vow exchange for a couple whose 2020 wedding plans were completely overhauled multiple times through no fault of their own. I couldn't be the reason that they had to change plans yet again - I wouldn't allow that to happen. So, I immediately jumped into problem-solving mode, made a few phone calls, arranged for my husband to pick me up along the PA Turnpike, left a note on my the dashboard of my broken down car, and decided to deal with that issue later.
When I arrived at Longwood Gardens (a little bit late), Calla and Mike were so understanding and gracious. I couldn't have asked for better clients that afternoon - they were just so kind and patient and ready to exchange their vows and wedding rings! They were excited and so eager to finally officially call themselves husband and wife.
And, they did just that, under their favorite tree at Longwood Gardens. (I can’t believe that I have been to Longwood Gardens a gazillion times and never noticed this glorious tree before! It is truly a hidden gem, and I can see why Calla and Mike love it so much.) Following their exchange of vows and rings, we wandered around the rest of the gardens making some incredible images together just as the sun was setting. Everything was incredible that evening. By some stroke of luck, the large fountains went off just as we were walking below them, and the wind blew the mist in a way that created some truly magical portraits for us. We used up every last bit of light we had, and literally got escorted out of the gardens by one of their not-so-fierce security cats.
Thank you again for your flexibility, patience, and kindness, Calla and Mike. And thank you to my husband for being the superhero that he is and jumping in to rescue me so that we could still make this session happen that night. He hadn't planned on assisting me that evening, but he did it with a smile - because that's how incredible he is and how lucky I am to have him as my main supporter. If there’s anything that I learned from 2020, it’s to be more flexible, expect the unexpected, and focus (pun intended) on what really matters in life. Sometimes you just have to rely on love and a little bit of luck.
Congratulations again, Calla and Mike! You make an incredible team, and I hope you are enjoying life’s adventures as husband and wife. I am so honored to have been a part of your story.
And without any further hesitation, here are some of my favorite images from our evening together. They requested that I keep the photos of their actual vow and ring exchange private, but take my word for it, they are equally as stunning as the rest of the images I am sharing here. Maybe even more stunning, because you can truly feel the love they share for each other as they were reciting their vows, exchanging their rings, and renewing their commitment to each other. (Above all, I honor my clients’ wishes when it comes to privacy, regardless of how beautiful the images turn out.) Newlywed bliss just has a way of making couples glow! You’ll see what I mean when you get to the images...
Here are some vendors who deserve some extra love for helping make their elopement dreams come true:
Bride’s Flowers: The Farm at Oxford
Bride’s Makeup and Hair: Emily Alice Salon
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
Olivia + Paul | Intimate Stirling Mansion Wedding | Reading, Pennsylvania Photographer
Last week, Olivia and Paul got married in an intimate self-uniting wedding ceremony. Their celebration took place at the incredible Stirling Guest Hotel, located in Reading, Pennsylvania. This mansion has so much personality and charm, and I love love love photographing events there! I was honored to document Paul and Olivia’s Day #1 as husband and wife, and I can’t think of a better way to start off my 2019 wedding season. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Marten!
(Olivia, you ROCKED those wedding socks and sneakers!!)
Liz + Phil | Macoby Run Golf Course Wedding | Montgomery County Wedding Photographer
I've been keeping a secret for the past week, and I'm finally allowed to share!
This amazing couple got married in a very intimate ceremony last Saturday before heading to Florida to do it all over again on the beach! They asked me to photograph their church ceremony here in Pennsylvania, which I was honored to do. After they exchanged vows and officially started their Day #1 as husband and wife, we headed to Macoby Run Golf Course for a few more photos. (Phil golfs there pretty frequently, and I could tell he was in his element driving the cart around to a few of his favorite spots! Liz was glowing the entire time - I don't think she cared where we ended up for photos, as long as she was by Phil's side.)
Congratulations, Liz and Phil! I'm honored to share an anniversary date with you. (Big thanks to my husband, Mako, for taking time out of our own anniversary celebration to assist me!)
I hope you enjoy this sample of photos from their (first) wedding day.
Katie + BJ | An Intimate Backyard Wedding | Pennsylvania Wedding Photographer
A few weeks ago, Katie and BJ celebrated their Day #1 with just a handful of guests in my most intimate wedding ceremony to date. Their celebration took place at a wooded family property in Birdsboro, Pennsylvania. We couldn't have asked for better weather or light. Everything was perfect, and all of the personalized details and decorations reflected the unique relationship and love that Katie and BJ share.
Katie and BJ are two of the funniest, most likeable people I have ever met. Their vows had all of us laughing, then crying, then laughing again. After they had officially become husband and wife, we snuck away into the woods for a few portraits. Upon our return, the driveway was turned into a dance floor, and the yard into a firepit. After the sun went down, s'mores were made, and stories were shared. And those stories revealed just how perfect Katie and BJ are for each other, and just how loved they were by everyone in attendance.
I'm honored to have been asked to photograph these moments for Katie, BJ, and their loved ones. I hope you enjoy this collection of images from their wedding day.
Big thanks to the following vendors for contributing to their celebration!
Florist: Cedar Hill Flowers
Cake Artist: Viking Pastries
Hair/Makeup Artist: Ulta Beauty, Wyomissing
Wedding Dress: ModCloth
Decor Rentals: Wolfe's Rental Company
Photography: Carrie Kizuka Photography, LLC