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
Kayla & Matt’s Wedding 5.28.17
Posted on July 19, 2017
So this blog post has been a long time coming! I’ve been busily second shooting, photographing families, and packing for Japan which I leave for in the AM… today now, I guess lol. But these two love bugs, Kayla and Matt, are clearly two peas in a pod. Not to mention, their family and friends really knew how to throw a party! They had to reschedule the venue unexpectedly THREE DAYS before the wedding took place. And holy cow, did they all come together as a family to pull this event off! We started off the day with the women getting ready at Kayla’s grandmother’s house. Everyone enjoyed subs and chit chat, as everyone’s hair and makeup was done.
After the lovely bride was put in her dress, I headed out to the groom’s mothers home to get shots of her with the men. She sadly was unable to attend, so the couple wanted to include her in photos! Everyone piled in their cars and headed to the lovely Banana Factory in Bethlehem. Family members and friends showed up with cookies and desserts in hand for a dessert cookie bar (which was also served with gelato, yum!) after dinner. Soon, the family was all hands on deck to put together the stunning arbor for the ceremony.
With everything put together and decorated, the go ahead was given for the ceremony to start. Guests were seated as the groom and groomsman walked in. Kayla, being given away by her father, led to chuckles as they circled the sign post a few times before heading to her soon to be husband. And let me tell you, Matt was beaming as soon as he caught a glimpse of his stunning bride headed down the aisle for him. The ceremony was lovely, and guests looked on as these two got hitched. Rings were exchanged, a sand ceremony (where sand wasn’t exactly ‘combined’ like it was supposed to haha!), and a first kiss were had! The couple was announced as husband and wife for the first time and headed down the aisle and right into their couple pictures.
With two super handy bridesmaids to help, we went all around the Banana Factory property, capturing these two in the scenery. You couldn’t ask for a more photogenic couple, could you? And both are so clearly in love with one another in every single photo! With couple photos checked off our lists, we all headed inside to prepare for the party’s entrance. First dance and father daughter dance commenced, followed by all guests joining in on the dancing festivities. There were some winning dance moves by some for sure, and I caught a butt grab or two 😉
The best man and maid of honor stood up and toasted the couple in two sweet speeches. Glasses were raised and clinked, while guests blew on noisemakers to signal that the couple should kiss! The bride’s father followed up with a thank you speech as guests were then asked to make their way to the dance floor for the garter and bouquet toss. There were some awesome dive bombs from both the men and women for these and the reapplication of the garter left the room in stitches! A touching ‘longest married couple’ dance began and the winner’s were presented with a plaque as they gave marriage advice to the newlyweds. Cake was cut (and smashed in faces) and guests were served gelato and tons of yummy homemade cookies before we headed out for some lovely night photos. These two rocked it, even though it was raining outside. They win some of my favorite photos ever! Just look at how in love these two are! The night wrapped up and I headed out, but not before exchanging some hugs and congrats. So three cheers for this lovely couple and to many, many more years of happiness. Now enjoy, Kayla and Matt’s wedding:
Photography and writing by:
(b) www.alyshayoderphotoblog.com 
www.alyshayoderphoto.com
(e) alyshayoderphoto@yahoo.com (p) 610.762.7810
Venue: The Banana Factory
Flowers: Flower Essence of Easton, PA
As well as the expertise of Aunt Shelli and bridesmaid Melissa.
Cake And Catering : Simply Smooth of Allentown, PA
DJ: Laser DJ of Bethlehem, PA
Nicole & Jim Wedding – 12.17.16
Posted on January 27, 2017
It’s not every day that one of your best friends gets married. It’s also not every day that you have the honor of photographing their wedding. But this is exactly what happened with Nicole and Jim’s wedding! First, let me say, that I love these two to death and this wedding has been a long time in the making. I’ve known Nik since I was young.. like… awkward brace face, acne, middle school young. We’ve been through a lot together, from breakups and heartache, to becoming coworkers, to being roomies who share a love of Taco Bell and pizza. I have so many memories with this lady and I’m so happy for her in her marriage to Jim. It was hard walking in at the beginning of their wedding day and NOT crying when I first saw her… and that’s saying something as I’m not a cryer.
When I arrived and valiantly composed myself to avoid tearing up, all the ladies and gentleman were getting ready in two separate rooms downstairs. Everyone looked stunning. The red colors, lights, and wreaths everywhere certainly emulated the holiday spirit. Now the day was a bit of an ugly one weather-wise. It had iced and snowed overnight, so roads were a little hairy and I gracefully glided on concrete more then once trying to photograph shoes and flowers. But it definitely helped to give the photos a little “White Christmas feel.” I only wish it had been snowing big fat snowflakes when we were doing some couple shots, but a photographer’s dreams can not always be met, haha!
The morning went off smoothly with hugs and greetings to be had with all family members. Nik’s mom and mother in law helped her get in her dress, while bridesmaids helped button her up. The dress was stunning! A flowing, strapless dress, with a gold highlighted waistline, and a sweetheart neckline, it was beautiful! Nik looked incredible and again…. photographer waterworks threatened to occur. The bridesmaids all gathered around to ooo and aww, and I headed over to the groom’s room to see the gift exchange of sports themed shoes. Not as amazing as Nik’s sparkly Christian Louboutin stilettos, but hey, can you tell these two share a love of shoes too?
And with that, the ceremony was officially ready to begin! Now, as many of you may or may not know, my mom and I have actually ‘worked’ a few weddings together. She is a Dr. Rev. and occasionally, when the stars align, we actually get to work together. She marries them and I shoot them! All we need is a caterer and a venue and we could be full service organization haha! My mom led in the groomsman, to be followed by the bridesmaids, and then Nik and her dad. The moment Nik walked down the aisle and Jim saw her was one of those moments that make a wedding. So many happy emotions and just a truly beautiful moment to witness. This was it! Game time. The ceremony went off swimmingly and ended with two happily married people grinning at each other as they walked down the aisle for the first time as husband and wife.
The rest of the night flowed by. Dances were had, speeches were given, and laughs were exchanged. One of my favorite moments was when Jim gave a little speech, thanking everyone and Nik for everything they had done to make their wedding day so special. And then he said, “Everyone kept asking me today if I was nervous, and I can honestly say, I am not, because I have never been so sure of anything in my life. I am so happy to be married to Nicole.” And that folks, is true, happy, butterflies in the stomach, love.
The rest of the night was filled with dancing and a LOT of it. This was a dancing crowd! Everyone was out on the dance floor at least once. Even grandma was a dancing machine! Garter and bouquet were tossed (and there were battles for both)! And the night wrapped up with a lovely dollar dance. Nicole’s dad was the last to dance with both of them and that was a precious little moment. All in all a truly wonderful wedding. I couldn’t be happier for these two and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for them! I wish you two nothing but the best! So with lots of love, I give you Nik and Jim’s wedding.
Photography and writing by:
(b) www.alyshayoderphotoblog.com 
www.alyshayoderphoto.com
(e) alyshayoderphoto@yahoo.com (p) 610.762.7810
Venue and Catering: Wyndridge Farms and Winery
DJ: Klock Entertainment – Josh Wagner
Flowers: Wildflower
Cake: The Couture Cakery
Videography: JKM Productions