Kelly is one of those super easy-going girls who really make my job a pleasure. Likewise, Joe, Joe’s mom, and Kelly’s mom were all some of the sweetest, friendliest people you’ll ever meet, and there wasn’t a single “zilla” to be found in this entire wedding!
Besides getting to work with such fabulous people, I was really looking forward to Kelly’s July 23rd, 2011, event because I was very excited for the opportunity to shoot at her venue, the Skytop Lodge in Skytop, PA. I had heard great things about it, and had even seen pictures online, but nothing could quite prepare me for the actual beauty and grandeur of the place until the minute my husband and I set foot on the grounds…
Gorgeous as the venue was, our beautiful bride, Kelly, was not to be outshined. She looked absolutely stunning in her Pronovias Wedding Gown, which I had already become quite familiar with during our crazy Off-Beat Bridal Portraits Session. Not to mention that every single one of her bridesmaids looked super-sexy in their single-shoulder purple dresses too!
Joe and his boys needed a little explaining that for guys at least, whatever you do on the wedding day before getting ready, also makes for great “getting ready photos” and there should be no “hiding” from your photographer(s) while participating in said activities, haha. I mean, come on guys, who doesn’t want action shots of them playing ping pong?
The ceremony was held at Saint Mary of the Mount Church in Mount Pocono, PA. The church itself had character, and it’s priest had an awesome personality, but one thing it didn’t have was AIR CONDITIONING. That’s right, on quite possibly the hottest day of the year thus far, the couple’s full Catholic mass seemed like the longest hour of Joe’s life (and mine), as we literally melted in our long black pants and long-sleeve shirts. However, in spite of being the hottest many of us have been that we can remember, we still got some nice shots!
In the limo on the way back to Skytop, I was awarded “line of the night” by one of the bridesmaids when someone joked with Kelly if she had changed her Facebook status yet. I apparently said “I guess that’s our generation, pretty soon they are going to make it part of the ceremony — right after ‘You may now kiss the bride,’ they’ll add ‘You may now change your Facebook status.”
As expected, the couple’s venue provided some amazing scenes for our bride-and-groom photos. We started in the courtyard, but there was no shortage of locations around the front of the building as well.
The reception hall looked gorgeous all decked out in Kelly’s purple and green wedding motif. I also just wanted to give a big hats off to the DonEatonBand, which was truly one of the BEST band’s I’ve ever heard at a wedding!
With live music so good it made you forget you weren’t listening to the radio at times, you certainly couldn’t blame the couple’s guests for shaking their groove things all over that dancefloor! Sorry for the insane amount of photos I am about to post here, but this has to go down as one of my favorite collections of reception shots yet!
To Kelly and Joe: You two make a truly beautiful and amazing couple, and I just want you to know that I felt very welcomed at your wedding and very much a part of the wonderful celebration that occurred that day. I am grateful to you both for letting me share in your joy the whole day through. Please accept my warmest wishes for a long and happy future together!
Second Shooter: Sean Brimhall
Venue: Skytop Lodge
Ceremony: Saint Mary of the Mount Church
Makeup: Lauren’s Makeup Designs
Band: DonEatonBand
Dress: Alice by Pronovias
Kelly & Joe’s Engagement Session
Kelly’s Bridal Portrait Session