Nicole & James Wedding – 5.19.18

Posted on June 24, 2018

It’s weddings like Nicole and James’ that I look forward to. Not only were they an awesome couple with an amazing group of family and guests at their wedding, but it took place at a petting zoo!! I seriously have the best clients! We started the day off with some getting ready shots with both the guys and gals. Needless to say, the groom and the groomsman had me laughing the whole time. The groom pranked all his groomsman the night prior and brought a whole stack of suits that were incorrect and mismatched! Also, let’s talk about the awesome T-Rex bride and groom shirts that these two were wearing! Not all my couples can be this awesome sauce.

Following getting ready, everyone headed to Green Meadows Petting Farm to get hitched! Guests got to wander around to get to the ceremony barn to the calls of peacocks, and were also able pet goats, sheep, not to mention piglets, and even a baby kangaroo! The ceremony went off beautifully, with the bride riding in on her horse! These two even did their own lovely vows. After they kissed as husband and wife for the first time, they were led off to do photos with the bride’s horse, and then we headed down to the petting zoo barn to get some photos of Nicole bottle feeding a baby kangaroo, hold a baby goat, and pet the most adorable baby cow with huge ears! Her horse was even a bit jealous of the other animals getting pets and got in on the photo action!

After family photos, we all headed to the reception for the couple and their party to make their entrance. The couple came in last and began their first dance. These two have quite the moves! They pulled off some spins and dips beautifully! Dinner was served shortly thereafter, and guests raved about the food. Nicole and James went around to greet all their guests, and get hugs and congratulations from all their family. We even pulled off a huge cousin photo with all the groom’s cousins! He wasn’t kidding when he said he had a lot of cousins! Once the sun had started to go down, I pulled these two away for some backlit shots, which they champed through despite the rain that had been going on all day! After that, these two headed back into the reception to dance the night away with their guests, who all were obviously of the dancing persuasion. As the night ended, I bid these two goodbye, and I wish them nothing else but happiness! Congrats to the happy couple and without further ado, I give you this awesome petting zoo wedding of Nicole and James!

Photography and writing by:

Alysha Yoder Photography

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

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

Venue: Green Meadows Petting Farm

Catering: Carterque

Cake: Eds Country Bakery

Flowers: Blossom and Basket

DJ: DJ Luccio – Adam Carluccio

Alexandra & Mike Wedding – 8.25.17

Posted on October 15, 2017

Vineyards are quickly becoming some of my favorite venues to photograph at, and Alexandra and Mike’s wedding was no exception! From when I arrived, to when I left, this couple and their family and friends were nothing but smiles, laughter, and love. Not to mention Alex and Mike’s two adorable dogs who sat patiently for pets and had their own roles in the wedding procession. This wedding was a stunner, with shades of gold, light pinks and white throughout, it certainly all came together beautifully.

After getting ready, the couple and their party headed down to the ceremony area, a large oak tree hung with lanterns and lights, overlooking all the vineyards at Monterre Vineyards. Their children and dogs brought up the end of the processional before the bride made her appearance. Each dog had a sign, one reading, ‘I’m just here for the cake’ and the other ‘I loved her first.’ It was truly a charming moment, and left all guests laughing as they made their way down the aisle.

As guests looked on, Mike beamed as he saw Alex for the first time all decked out in her dress. After her brother gave her away, these two had a beautiful ceremony and when their first kiss was had, guests broke out in applause. As they walked down the aisle, as husband and wife for the first time, we all headed right into family photos and couple photos throughout the vineyards. Guests headed right to the cocktail hour, filled with his and her cocktails, yard games, and laughter. As the cocktail hour came to a close, and the sun began to set, the Monterre staff led guests up to the main banquet hall where dinner, dancing, and the reception were to be held.

Seats were taken by guests, as the couple’s family and party were introduced, before Alex and Mike made their entrance and began their first dance as husband and wife. They were serenaded by their aunt, as they spun around on the dance floor. As the song ended, the couple took their seats and the toasts began! The bride’s sister and brother gave a joint toast followed by the groom’s best man. Glasses were raised as guests applauded the couple!

After a lovely dinner, the couple headed down with me to get some night shots under the oak tree they had gotten married under. Now all the lights were lit up and some beautiful night shots were had. After we were carted back up to the reception area, dancing began! The groom and his mother shared a touching dance, while the bride invited everyone onto the dance floor in memory of her dad. Dancing ensued as guests gathered on the dance floor to show their moves. As I was heading out, I left behind a dancing crowd, with a glowing bride and groom, surrounded by friends and family who so clearly love them both. So here’s to Alex and Mike, to many more years of happiness, love and laughter! And without further ado, Alex and Mike’s wedding:

Photography and writing by:

Alysha Yoder Photography

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

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

Venue, DJ, and Catering: Monterre Vineyard

Special thanks to all the wonderful staff of Monterre Vineyards who helped me get photos throughout the night!

Flowers: Ruby’s Floral Factory

Cake: Granny Schmidts

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: