Sam and Von Wedding – 10.1.16

Posted on November 6, 2016

You ever meet two people that literally might change the world with kindness? Well I have, and it’s these two fantastic people. Sam and Von. One of my favorite aspects of their wedding day was on each table at their reception, they put photos of dogs that were up for adoption at a local shelter. I mean seriously, if that is not one of the most wonderful things ever, I don’t know what is! Their fun and loving attitude was evident throughout the day. Case and point, someoneeee forget their wedding bands, these two just laughed it off and had a good chuckle at the alter when they ‘exchanged their rings.’

The whole day was filled with that laughter. Despite Mother Nature deciding to make it rain all day, these two (and their party) rocked it! Sam pulled out rain boots for all the ladies and umbrellas were held as props. These two and their party certainly made the best of everything that was thrown at them! Purple accents highlighted almost every small detail from dresses, bouquets, the cake, and even small touches handmade by family like pumpkin decorations made by the bride’s mom.

The couple’s Best Man and Maid of Honor touched everyone with their wonderful speeches, even some happy tears were shed. The shoe game left everyone in attendance laughing. Not to mention, the looks of disbelief on both the bride and groom’s faces with their answers to some of the questions. We lucked out with some rain for their night photo session. Now most would not consider the rain ‘luck’ but wow! These two got a little wet, and we rocked some umbrella and rain night shots! Some of my favorite wedding photos to date!

The night winded down with a cake cutting and a very polite cake smash. With family and friends shots done, these two and their guests danced the night away. Von’s grandpa led the way with some of his moves! So here’s to another 100 years of laughter, love, and happiness to these two love birds! Without further ado, Sam and Von’s wedding.

Vendors:

Photography and writing by:

Alysha Yoder Photography

(b) www.alyshayoderphotoblog.com www.alyshayoderphoto.com

(e) alyshayoderphoto@yahoo.com (p) 610.762.7810

Venue: The Susquehanna Club

Cake: The Pennsylvania Bakery

Cupcakes: Lori – The groom’s talented mother!

DJ: Rick Hansberry of Sound Waves DJ Entertainment

Flowers: The bride’s mother and grandmother, more family talent!

Caterer: The Susquehanna Club

Jodi and Mary’s Wedding – 9.10.16

Posted on October 12, 2016

It’s not too often that you get two wonderful people coming together to celebrate their love while also almost making everything for their big day! You want to talk about DIY, these two nailed just about every part of that! From signs, to their ring box, and even cupcake toppers, these two made it all! Not to mention, they picked just about the most perfect day, and such a beautiful location to get married.

A backyard wedding, right on the shore line of Deep Creek Lake, MD. Sun streaming, friend’s laughing, and brides smiling. It couldn’t have been a more perfect day. As opposed to getting walked down the aisle by their fathers, these bride’s opted for ‘first looks’ with their dads. As they ascended down the stairs, each of their father’s beamed. Hugs, kisses, and tears were all exchanged before the ceremony began.

The bridal party were all decked out in blue dresses with lovely sunflower accent bouquets. Walking down the aisle, the brides rocked custom Converses that said ‘2gether’ and ‘4ever.’ How fantastic is that?! There was a wonderful moment when Jodi was waiting for Mary as she walked down the aisle, and as she looked up and saw her bride, the love shining in both their eyes was beautiful.

There were a lot of unique wedding traditions during their ceremony. Jodi’s mom did a beautiful Polish wedding blessing as guests passed around their rings to bless the couple and think positive thoughts of love for their marriage. The bride’s each wrote their own vows and as they read them to each other, guests looked on with tears of happiness in many of their eyes. Rings and a kiss were exchanged before these two lovely brides walked down the aisle for the first time as a married couple.

Speeches, dinner, and dances followed the ceremony with lots of hugs and laughs exchanged between. People loved the s’more bar and camp fire as kids spent time swimming in the lake and walking along the shore. As the sun began to set, these brides stunned in an evening photo session. Jodi even changed into a fantastic tuxedo t-shirt. Isn’t that just awesome sauce? As I was packing up to leave, I left with hugs, congrats, and a smile on my face. This is how Mary and Jodi’s whole day was, and I can’t imagine that any of their guests left without joy in their heart. What an honor it was to photograph these two and their wedding day. There aren’t too many couples who genuinely light up the place when they’re together. These two brides lit up the whole wedding and this was clear to everyone in attendance. I hope that this joy is obvious in the photos below, and you can see the love these two have for each other. So without further ado, Mary and Jodi’s wedding:

Vendors:

Photography and writing by:

Alysha Yoder Photography

(b) www.alyshayoderphotoblog.com www.alyshayoderphoto.com

(e) alyshayoderphoto@yahoo.com (p) 610.762.7810

Venue: Over the Rainbow in Deep Creek Lake, MD

Cupcakes: Mountain Flour Bakery

Cake: Kelly the Cake Lady

DJ: 1st Dance DJs

Flowers: Farmhouse Fete

Caterer: Archie’s BarbeQue

Category: Wedding Photography Tagged: 2016, art, blog, blogging, bouquet, bride, brides, brother, brothers, converses, dad, dads, dance, dancing, deep creek, deep creek lake, deep creek maryland, diy, diy wedding, dock, dock photos, dress, dresses, earrings, family, family time, flower girl, flowers, food, fun, games, getting ready, happy, lake, lakefront, lights, lottery bouquet, love, marriage, marry, maryland, maryland wedding, mother, photo, photography, rings, same sex, same sex marriage, same sex wedding, shoes, siblings, sister, sunset, thank you, thank you wedding, Travel, wedding

Tina & Todd – 9.23.14

Posted on November 3, 2014

Tina and Todd, what a great little wedding this was. This was the fastest turn-around on a wedding I’ve ever had. I had gotten an email from Tracy over at La Carta Luna Wedding Planning and Designs asking if I’d be free in two weeks to photograph a tiny wedding over at Fallen Tree Farms. Now most weddings I book are a year in advance so two weeks was rushed to say the least. I arranged to meet with Tina at the local Paneras and we hit it off right away. She’s one of the happiest clients I’ve met in a while. She was glowing and obviously very excited to get married (though I think at our meeting the fact that it the big day was happening in a week hadn’t hit her yet). She talked about her and Todd, smiling the whole time and told me about their wedding quilt (which is a very cool and unique tradition) which is how he had proposed to her while they were quilt shopping. After we discussed all the details and parted ways I couldn’t wait to photograph these two’s wedding day!

Fast-forward a week and two days and I pulled up to The Fallen Tree Farms Bed and Breakfast on the most perfect day you can imagine. The sun was shining, it wasn’t too hot, the leaves had just started to change and the whole landscape was just beautiful and blushing with colors. I headed upstairs to where Tina was getting ready while greeting some of the other guests and meeting Todd for the first time. Tina was so happy. Seriously, no joke, one of the most cheerful brides ever. I don’t think she stopped smiling the whole day. I went around getting small detail shots and photographing her with the quilt Todd had gotten her (a surprise for him when they had their big wedding celebration for friends and family). Her best friend and daughter had come up to help her and I couldn’t help but laugh and smile with them as they helped me get quilt photos and exchange jewelry with Tina. After everyone was set and ready we headed up to the little chapel area Fallen Tree Farms has outside for beautiful intimate ceremonies. Todd along with the couple’s family and friends all arrived and the ceremony was ready to begin! One of my favorite moments of the whole day was Tina walking to meet Todd at the aisle and when she first saw him she stopped, smiled and started to tear up (it’s one of my fav photos below) and Todd seeing Tina immediately began beaming, a huge smile spread across his face. These two are very much obviously in love and that moment made me tear up a little behind the lens.

The ceremony was beautiful, short and sweet and everyone clapped when the rings were exchanged, vows were given and Todd lifted Tina up in their big first kiss as husband and wife. They played music and danced the whole way down the aisle and walked hand and hand to the end of the drive. It was a truly magical moment. All the guests came back and congratulated the two exchanging hugs, hand shakes and beers. I then got to take some fun photos that I’ve been meaning to take but have never had a really tiny wedding thanks to my head filled with tons of pinterest ideas (I don’t know if you can tell the guests are in a heart around the bride and the groom in some of my favorite photos of the couple but it’s a fun photo nonetheless). We headed down to cake cutting and celebrating before the whole crew headed out to dinner. All in all, this was one of my favorite weddings I’ve ever shot. Everyone was so laid back, the couple and day couldn’t have been more perfect and the love shared with family, friends and couple was obvious. Thank you to Tina and Todd for letting me be the one to capture their special day and without further ado the photos of this fantastic day!