Jess + Sean | White Chimneys Wedding | Lancaster Wedding Photographer

During my busiest months, I often fall behind in blogging so that I can dedicate as much time as possible to making sure my amazing clients get their images delivered quickly.  Jess and Sean's incredible wedding is one that I haven't blogged yet - but that's all changing now!

The first time I met Jess and Sean in person was when we shot their engagement portraits at Longwood Gardens.  (You can see those pictures by clicking here.)  They have so much love for each other, are incredibly kind and full of joy, and are so much fun to be around.  We hit it off right away, and I knew that their wedding was going to be one of my favorites to photograph!  When their wedding day rolled around last fall, my prediction was accurate - I had a blast!  Their ceremony and reception took place at White Chimneys, located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  Their DIY decor was a combination of romantic, casual, and rustic.  Their personalized vows and rope braiding ceremony reflected not only the strong love they have for each other, but also their strong faith.  I found myself giggling at the adorable "ring bears" that made their presence, and then I broke down in tears when I witnessed Sean's reaction as Jess walked down the aisle toward him with her dad.  (Give yourself a high five if you got that How I Met Your Mother reference!)

The fun continued throughout the portraits and the reception, too!  There was no shortage of toasts, laughter, or dancing... and a few special guests made their appearance on the dance floor as well!

Jess and Sean, thank you so much for asking me to capture your Day #1 as husband and wife.  You both deserve this Happily Ever After, and I'm honored that I was able to celebrate with you.  I hope you enjoy this selection of photos from their day.

This day wouldn't have been a success without the collaboration of these vendors:

Photographer:  Carrie Kizuka Photography, LLC

Second Photographer:  Bill Johns

Venue:  White Chimneys Estate

DJ:  Levi McCurdy, Sparxx Entertainment

Florist: Greta Bomgardner, Lace and Peonies Floral Design

Cake Artist: Patty, Cake Creators

Hair Artist: Lizz Maldonado

Makeup Artist: Marked by Tiffani Rose

Wedding Dress Boutique:  David's Bridal

Photo Booth:  Shining Star Photo Booth

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.

Columbia Station Wedding | 2nd Shooting | Chester County Wedding Photographer

When I'm not busy photographing my own weddings or portrait sessions, I can often be found assisting other photographers.  I really enjoy the freedom (and lower stress level) that comes along with second shooting!  A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of second shooting a wedding for Jessica Lynn Photography.

We met our couple, Danielle and Dan, at the Courtyard Marriott in Collegeville, PA where they were making their final preparations.  After a few detail shots and candid photos, we packed up and headed to The Columbia Station, where their first look, wedding ceremony, and reception were going to take place.

Here are a few of my photos from the day.  I'm always grateful when the photographers I work with allow me to share my work!  Thanks, Jes!

Nona + George | Everly at Railroad | Icona Golden Inn, Avalon | New Jersey Wedding Photographer

On Saturday, I had the incredible honor of photographing Nona and George's wedding.  Their engagement session at Longwood Gardens is still one of my all-time favorites - click on the link and you will see why!  While their engagement photoshoot happened to take place on one of the hottest days of summer, their wedding day was just the opposite.  Once I arrived at their hotel in Avalon, however, I didn't even notice the below-freezing temperatures outside.  Just seeing Nona and George instantly warmed me up.  They were absolutely stunning - seriously, they both took my breath away.  But more importantly, the love that surrounded them was palpable.  Anyone in their presence can instantly tell how head-over-heels in love they are for each other, and their friends and family very obviously share in that joy.

Nona and George's final preparations took place at the Icona Golden Inn, in Avalon.  This hotel is amazing!  The rooms were completely white, and gorgeous natural light just poured in through all of the windows.  (Oh, how I wish I lived closer so that I could schedule some sessions there!)  After getting ready with a few of their closest friends and family, Nona and George snuck away to a staircase for their "first look".  Their reactions were priceless, and George shed a few tears at the sight of his stunning bride.  (I have such a soft spot for my grooms who cry!!)

After a few bridal party portraits, we packed up and headed to the wedding venue - Everly at Railroad, in Tuckahoe, NJ.  I hit the venue jackpot today!!  Everly was so unique and full of character, and was the perfect place for Nona and George to exchange their wedding vows.  Nona and George made their marriage official surrounded by their loved ones and a few thousand super cool antiques!  After Nona and George became husband and wife, we snuck outside and braved the cold for a few more portraits across the street at the Tuckahoe Railroad Station.  Then, we came back inside and the girls kicked their shoes off - and replaced them with Eagles socks and glitter sneakers!  When they scheduled their wedding, they had no idea that it would also serve as a pre-Super Bowl party for their favorite NFL team!

What a celebration this was!  The food was delicious, the drinks were flowing, the band was so talented and full of energy, and the bridal party and guests were so much fun.  Everything was as perfect as Nona and George had planned it, and more so.  I have to take a moment to praise Nona in this blog.  She is such a talented artist and created so many of the wedding details herself, including the dip-dyed bouquet and boutonniere flowers, the centerpieces, the invitation suite, the hand-painted chalkboard sign easels, and more!  Nona's father built the arbor that they used in their wedding ceremony, and their bridal party created their own wedding version of the "Guess Who" game you probably grew to love as a child!

Nona and George, thank you for including me in your Day #1.  I'm so glad that I happened to be online and came across your Facebook post last year when you were in the hunt for a wedding photographer - and out of the long, long, long list of photographers who threw their names into the mix, that you both chose me.  I'm so honored that our lives are intertwined, and the love that you share for each other inspires me.  I hope that you have an amazing time on your honeymoon!!

I would like to thank all of the incredibly talented people who poured their hearts and talents into Nona and George's wedding day!

Getting Ready Location:  Icona Golden Inn, Avalon, NJ

Wedding Venue:  Everly at Railroad, Tuckahoe, NJ

Wedding Coordinator:  Emily Moulder

Florist:  None!  Nona created the arrangements herself with flowers made of sola wood!

Cake Artist:  They bought their wedding cake and one for every guest table from their local Acme grocery store!

Hair Artist:  Kate Bryan

Makeup Artist:  Micaela Vibanco

Wedding Dress Boutique:  Tesi Bridal

Bridesmaids Dresses Boutique:  David's Bridal

Groom and Groomsmen Tuxedo Boutique:  Express

Officiant:  Nona's cousin, Jack Poole

Shoes:  Marc Fisher

Catering:  Shore Side Catering

Band: The Red Hotts

Videographer:  Sia Koletas

Lead Photographer:  Carrie Kizuka

Second Photographer:  Olga Hinchman (Olga, you are a rockstar and it was so great working with you!  Thank you for sharing your passion and talent with me today!)

Becca + Joey | Rustic Fall Bern Farm Wedding | Pennsylvania Wedding Photographer

Becca and Joey got married a few weeks ago, and I was honored to be the one to capture it all for them!  I had such an incredible time hiking around Jim Thorpe and Glen Onoko Falls with them while we photographed their engagement session last fall.  I knew that their wedding day was going to be incredible!  And, I was right.

If I had to choose a few words to describe their wedding at the historic Bern Farm, they would have to be rustic, romantic, and fun!  Becca's floral crown, stunning bouquet, and gorgeous wedding dress (that she fell in love with and bought 3 years before her wedding day!) all gave off a fabulous boho chic vibe.

There were plenty of tears shed that day, but they were all tears of pure joy.  There were tears when Becca and Joey opened each other's sentimental gifts to each other, tears when Becca and her father saw each other right before they walked out to the ceremony together, tears when Joey set his eyes upon his bride for the first time as she walked down the aisle, and tears from Joey, Becca, and Lily as they officially became a family of three.  (I shed plenty of tears myself - thank goodness my cameras are waterproof!)

Becca and Joey's wedding day had so many personalized touches that reflected their personalities and their story together.  From Becca's handmade rings, to the handgrown flowers for the decorations and centerpieces that Becca was painstakingly growing all summer, to the handpainted signs and mugs, to the gifts they exchanged before the ceremony.  I can't forget to mention the awesome Sweet Ride ice cream truck that made an appearance during cocktail hour, or the Mission Barbecue dinner service!  It truly was an amazing, intimate, and incredibly fun wedding celebration to be a part of.

Here are a few of my favorite photos from their Day #1 as husband and wife.  I hope you enjoy them.  Congratulations, Becca, Joey, and Lily!  I hope to see you out on the snow this winter.

Big thanks to my husband for assisting me that day, and for all of the talented vendors that helped make Joey and Becca's vision become a reality.

Florist:  Majestic Florals

Cake Artist:  Scratch Bakes

DJ:  Sean Shipper, The Party Express DJs

Hair/Make-Up Artist:  Tricia Barrell

Bridesmaids Dresses:  David's Bridal

Groom's and Groomsmen's Tuxedos:  Mens Wearhouse

Rentals:   Knight's Rental

Venue:  The Bern Farm

Photographer:  Carrie Kizuka Photography, LLC

Ashlie + Eric | Westin Ka'Anapali Maui Wedding | Destination and Pennsylvania Wedding Photographer

It seems like forever ago that I photographed Ashlie and Eric's engagement session at French Creek park and casually commented at the end of the session that if they wanted me to fly to Maui to photograph their wedding to reach out to me.  I was half-joking when I made that remark, because I was still teaching high school mathematics full time and knew that I probably wouldn't be able to get away to photograph their October wedding, even if I wanted to.  I only had limited personal days, and would use them every year to fly to Colorado to cheer on my daughters as they competed in the national snowboard championships each winter.

Shortly after they received their engagement gallery, Ashlie reached out to me again.  She and Eric loved their photos and wanted to know if I was serious about flying to Maui to photograph their destination wedding - and if I was, they would love to have me join them.  I instantly agreed, and set out to find a way to make it happen... even though I was still teaching full time.  Once I set my mind on something, I make it happen - 100% of the time.  I'm determined, to a fault.

Soon after I accepted their offer and we worked out the details, a crazy chain of events happened in my life that that involved my dog running away (we got her back), me chasing her and running face first into my garage door (and getting a pretty severe concussion and shattered nose), taking time off of teaching, and eventually resigning from my teaching position.  The entire time, in the back of my head, was Ashlie and Eric's Maui wedding that I had booked.  I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, and I feel like this was the Universe's way of assuring me that I made the right decision to shift my focus from education to photography, and was helping clear the path for me as I pursued this dream of mine.

Fast forward to late September.

I put out a request on social media asking if any of my friends would like to fly to Maui with me and be my assistant for the wedding day, in exchange for a place to stay and someone to adventure around Maui with.  I was thrilled that someone took me up on my offer and booked my exact flights a day later!  (Bonus: She happens to have a lot of the same interests as I do!)  So, we flew to Maui together, spent a few days sightseeing and surfing, and met up with Ashlie and Eric to photograph their Day #1 together as husband and wife!

We couldn't have asked for a better week.  The temperature was in the 80s every single day, the typical Hawaii rain showers were kept to a minimum (even though we did have a few that brought with them some stunning rainbows!), and Ashlie and Eric and their loved ones were so much fun to celebrate with and photograph!  It was a bit windy on their wedding day, but I think it made their photos even more incredible.  From the beachside ceremony, to the sunset portraits, to the ukulele player/singer, to the incredible Hawaiian buffet and bar menu, everything was absolutely perfect.  A rainbow even made its appearance while Ashlie's dad was escorting her down the aisle.  On top of that, Ashlie looked absolutely breathtaking in her silk wedding gown, and Eric was as handsome as ever!  (Ashlie's wedding dress even had pockets - how amazing is that?!)

I hope you enjoy this small selection of my favorites from their destination wedding.  For a list of all of the local vendors who made this day possible, scroll down past the photographs.

Congratulations again, Ashlie and Eric!  Thank you again for asking me to be your photographer.  And big thanks to my friend Amanda for joining me on this adventure!  I surfed more during that trip than I have in the last 5 years combined, and I probably wouldn't have done it if I didn't have a friend along for some added peer pressure!

(And if anyone else is looking for a photographer for a wedding outside of Pennsylvania, be sure to check out my Wandlerlust deal that is currently running!  Help me check more states off of my list so I can complete a personal project, while you score a great deal on a wedding photography package!)

Thank you to the following people who helped make Ashlie and Eric's wedding day truly magical!

Ceremony and Reception Venue:  Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas

Wedding Coordinator:  Beata Vanderzee

Ukulele Player/Singer:  Music by Kalo

Hair/Makeup Artist:  Melissa Dyckman, Melissa Brooke Hair + Makeup Maui

Wedding Dress Boutique:  Sabrina Ann Couture, Ardmore, PA

Bride's Sandals:  Sam Edelman

Photographer:  Carrie Kizuka Photography, LLC

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

ASHLIE + ERIC | WESTIN KA'ANAPALI MAUI WEDDING | DESTINATION WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

The Nelson Family | 10-Year Anniversary Session (With MUD!!) | West Chester Pennsylvania Wedding and Family Photographer

Last week, I met up with the Nelson Family to help them celebrate their 10-year wedding anniversary.  Due to some unfortunate circumstances beyond their control, their wedding photographer never delivered their finished wedding gallery.  So, they decided to celebrate this milestone anniversary by dressing up and recreating some of their wedding day portraits.  This time around, however, their wedding party included their two amazing little boys!

We started off with some formal portraits in the church where they exchanged their wedding vows, and finished at the beautiful Oakbourne Mansion.  Mother Nature threw a wrench in our plans, however, and it poured during their entire photoshoot.  We exchanged a few texts and phone calls earlier in the day about whether or not we should cancel, but the Nelsons assured me they were up for anything and didn't mind the rain one bit.  As you will soon see in the photos, they weren't kidding!!  This is hands down one of my favorite photo sessions ever.

This photoshoot with the Nelson Family reminded me of a few important things.  First, a little rain (or a lot of rain) is only a problem if you allow it to be a problem.  The best thing to do when a hurdle suddenly appears in your path is to problem solve, roll with it, and stop stressing about things that we cannot control.  Second, my favorite families to photograph are the ones who allow their kids to just be kids.  Mud is temporary, but these memories will last forever.  I can still hear the laughter from this session, and I can still feel the joy in my heart.

If rain on a wedding day is lucky, rain on a 10-year anniversary recreation of your wedding day has to be even luckier! Congratulations, Alicia and Jeremy!  I hope you had a nice dinner after you dried off and warmed up from our photoshoot, and I'm guessing the boys slept very well that evening. ;)

Thank you so much for this opportunity. I had so much fun chasing your boys around and capturing these moments for you.

(Big thanks to my daughter Mika for assisting me with my lighting, for keeping my gear dry in the rain, and for scouting out the perfect water and mud puddles for us!)