Alysha Yoder Photography
Capturing Moments. Making Memories.
Lindsey & Shiraz’s Wedding Celebrations
Posted on August 11, 2018
It’s not every day you get to shoot two different wedding celebrations for the same couple, but that’s exactly what I got to do with Lindsey and Shiraz’s marriage! This awesome couple planned two wedding celebrations, each one bringing a bit of each couple into it! Not only were both ceremonies lovely, but many of their friends and family got to experience both! The weather was completely the opposite on both days also. The first ceremony everyone rocked, despite the rain, while the second ceremony was bright and sunny. Both were outdoors at lovely venues and both featured this amazing couple and their love for one another!
The first ceremony took place at Jacob’s Resting Place Bed and Breakfast. It was a traditional Islamic ceremony, complete with a beautiful dress that the bride handmade by herself. You heard that right, the bride MADE her dress and it was absolutely stunning! Did you see her beautiful henna too? Absolutely gorgeous! Despite the drizzle of rain we had, everyone beamed on as these two became husband and wife. All of Lindsey’s bridesmaids came too and coordinated all their outfits! Not only did everyone look lovely, but the venue itself was a green paradise. I couldn’t get enough of all the lovely foliage backgrounds offered here! Did you see the size of that magnolia tree with family portraits?! The reception was held under a large tent, complete with chandeliers and a delicious food spread for guests! Family photos were had, congratulations were given, and everyone was relaxing and taking in the views of this happy couple! Check out the first half of their wedding celebration!
Stunning right? You can see all that happiness with everyone right after Lindsey and Shiraz are officially married and everyone just lines up to congratulate them. Makes your heart happy 🙂
Onto the second wedding celebration held at the stunning and newly renovated Allenberry Resort. It was my first time shooting here since the renovation and wow, it’s an absolutely beautiful venue! I started off the day by getting shots of the bride with her bridesmaids getting ready, popping some champagne, getting into that gorgeous wedding dress, and getting some great reactions from the gift for Lindsey, sent over by Shiraz (a portrait of her dog). We even did a first look with the bride and her dad. Many happy tears were had! After all the ladies were done, I headed over to the groom and his groomsman getting ready, to get some shots of them, as well as some family photos! He had just come in from fishing in Yellow Breeches Creek (running right through the venue) and we even incorporated his love of fishing in some later photos!
Onto the ceremony, which was held on a beautiful terrace over looking the creek and wildlife. Under an arbor, these two tied the knot surrounded by their party and all their friends and family. Following the first kiss and walk down the aisle, we headed onto family photos and then the lovely Allenberry staff golf carted us around to get some photos of the bride and the groom at all the prettiest spots on the grounds. That fishing shot cracks me up every time, especially when you compare it to the American Gothic painting. These two are doing their own modern wedding day twist! After photos were done, we headed to the large tented reception area where the couple’s signature cocktails were served, guests danced to live music, and they even had a place for guests to take photos with an old Fuji Instax camera. The party and couple did their entrance, had some wonderful toasts given by the maid of honor , bride’s father, and the groom’s brothers. This led into dinner and then the couple had a beautiful first dance, followed by the parent dances. And guess what? In lieu of cake, these two had a doughnut station!? Yes, you read that right, DOUGHNUT STATION. After doughnuts were had, I grabbed these two to head off for some sunset and backlit shots. With a venue like this, the possibilities were endless and the whole place is almost lit up with lights everywhere. It was stunning! As the night began to end, I left to the happy couple dancing the night away with friends and family. So here’s to this lovely couple, Lindsey and Shiraz, I wish them nothing but happiness for many years to come!
Photography and writing by:
(b) www.alyshayoderphotoblog.com
(e) alyshayoderphoto@yahoo.com
(p) 610.762.7810
Rings: Mountz Jewelers
Venues:
- First Wedding – Jacob’s Resting Place Bed and Breakfast
- Second Wedding – Allenberry Resort
Catering:
- First Wedding – Zahra Restaurant
- Second Wedding – Allenberry Resort
Doughnuts at Second Wedding: Duck Doughnuts of Mechanicsburg, PA
Band for Second Wedding: Cruise Control
String Ensemble for Second Wedding Ceremony: Vivace Strings
Officiants:
- First Wedding – Rizwan Moosa
- Second Wedding – Reverend Susan Olson
Dress Maker for Second Wedding: Essence of Australia
Rachel and Josh Wedding – 4.30.17
Posted on June 9, 2017
A Sunday brunch wedding with a doughnut tower, spin art, piñata, and lego place holders! Yesss!! It’s not every day I get to shoot a wedding as awesomely unique as Rachel and Josh’s wedding! These two certainly had some wonderfully unorthodox components to their wedding day. The day started off with these two getting ready in their perspective corners of the lovely Stone Mill Inn.
Let me tell you, an awesome set of bridesmaids and groomsman surrounded these two. Just picture four groomsman all getting knives as party gifts. Now picture posing them with said knives. It was awesome! They even pretended to do a little barber work on the groom!
Guests then began to arrive and file into their seats for the ceremony! As the party walked to the altar, a string quartet (missing one member, who happened to be the bride’s mom!). The bride’s parents walked her down the aisle as the grinning groom looked on. The ceremony began, and was being performed by the groom’s sister. It was lovely! And then, after some heartfelt personally written vows, these two donned full body smocks and began to do a unity spin art. Not only was that awesomely unique, but the groom himself built the spin art machine! Talk about being a handy-man to have around!
The ceremony ended with a ring exchange, lovely kiss, and everyone exited to be led into family and couple photos. I mean seriously though, could you ask for a more beautiful place to do wedding photos? The estates at the Stone Mill Inn were just stunning. I think the couple’s photos look like they are in a woodland fairy tale. Those wooded areas are the places wedding photographer’s dream about for couples photos! It also helps when you have a couple so plainly in love that it shines through in their photos!
Following a lovely brunch cocktail hour (with mimosas, of course!), everyone headed into the reception area, grabbing their Legos place cards as they went. The guests certainly enjoyed those, as much as the bride and groom enjoyed putting them all together! The groom’s best man introduced the couple and they danced their first dance as husband and wife. Speeches were had, guests were greeted and thanked, and an epic doughnut wedding dessert tower was cut! The groom had a special dance with his mom before everyone headed outside to SMASH A PINATA, of course! Guests took turns spinning and swinging until finally the piñata was obliterated! Guests scrabbled with their candy gift bags to get some tasty treats. The day slowly came to an end as everyone posed for photos, said their goodbyes, and exchanged hugs and well wishes. There was even a guest cheerleader pyramid at one point. These were some great people, guests, and a couple to spend the day with! So here’s to many more years to this fun couple! And without further ado, Rachel and Josh’s wedding:
Photography and writing by:
(b) www.alyshayoderphotoblog.com 
www.alyshayoderphoto.com
(e) alyshayoderphoto@yahoo.com (p) 610.762.7810
Venue and Catering: The Stone Mill Inn
Flowers: Moonchild Floral Designs
Doughnut Cake: Centercut Doughnuts
Kate & Marshall – 8.23.15
Posted on September 25, 2015
One of my favorite weddings hands down this year. Seriously… not only was this couple like crazy in love BUT they picked one of the most unique locations, The Hall of Philosophy in Mt. Gretna AND the glowing bride is just starting to show the most adorable baby bump. One of my favorite photos from the whole wedding is when I was photographing Kate and Marshall by themselves, the sun streaming in through the trees, both looking at each other full of love and the groom is resting his hand on the baby bump. It was quite magical. The love surrounding this family and couple was just spectacular. While the wedding crowd was kept small and intimate, you could tell everyone was there just really loved, cared for and supported the bride and groom.
There were so many beautiful small details at this wedding too. The ring bearer carried the rings in a little bird’s nest, favors were little ornaments made of bird seed, little nests decorated tables, napkins even sported the bride and groom’s names. You see a little theme going on here? The bride’s mother, Pat, did a heck of a job planning. She even hand-painted little bird houses for the decorative tree! The bride’s sister, Moira, serenaded the couple as they danced their first dance as husband and wife. The rest of the night was filled with the sounds of Jazz music by Perseverance Jazz Band and the gourmet eats of 14 Acre Farm (seriously, yum!). It seemed everyone pitched in to make this a perfect evening for these two and it was truly an honor to be a part of it and get to document the evening.
Vendors:
– Venue – The Hall of Philosophy, Mt. Gretna – Catering – 14 Acre Farm –
– Band – Perseverance Jazz Band – Flowers – Hernley Farms, Mt. Gretna, PA’s “Flower Lady” –
– Photography – Alysha Yoder Photography –
www.alyshayoderphoto.com (e) alyshayoderphoto@yahoo.com (p) 610.762.7810
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