Heather and Stephen Wedding – 6.22.19

Posted on September 11, 2019

It’s not every day you get to see a Disney fairytale come to life, but that’s exactly what happened with Heather and Stephen’s wedding! Throughout the day, there were so many special moments and I was so honored to have captured them. Not to mention, more of the Disney theme came through as the day continued, and put a smile on guest’s (and my!) faces. From the magic mirror photo booth, to the Disney castle sign in heart blocks, and even a Disney themed candy bar, these two went all out with their theme! To begin this fairytale, I started off the day with getting ready photos with Heather and her bridesmaids. Note those amazing hangers! A super touching first look with Heather’s dad, had everyone a little teary eyed.

Then we all headed over to the church so these two could get hitched! St. Joseph’s is a truly stunning church, and built in 1882, it’s the oldest Slovak Roman Catholic Parish in the Western Hemisphere. I met with Stephen and his groomsmen to get some getting ready shots behind the alter before everything got started! The service was a traditional Catholic service, with many of their friends and family doing readings, rose gifts to their mothers, communion, and of course, their ring exchange and first kiss! We all headed outside afterwards for a fun bubble exit and then proceeded to take family shots inside!

After the ceremony, we made a special stop to visit Heather’s ill uncle in the hospital. The look on his face when he realized they had stopped to see him was a priceless moment. There were some truly touching moments caught on film with the bride and groom as well as his family. It won’t be a moment any of them will forget soon.

Next we all headed to our final destination, the reception at Edgewood Country Club! The place was DECKED out in Disney themed decor! The guests enjoyed a cocktail hour on the patio while the bridal party and myself headed out on golf carts to get some lovely photos of them on the grounds. Guests walked in to pick up their seat cards with a mirror mirror on the wall, little wooden hearts to sign and put in a Disney castle, Disney themed cocktails, a magic mirror photo booth, stunning Beauty and the Beast rose centerpieces (that the bride and groom made themselves!), a Disney cake, and even a Disney themed projection on the dance floor above the sweethearts table. We proceeded with entrances and the couple had their first dance as husband and wife, followed by the bride dancing with her mother and father, and the groom doing his mother son dance! After dinner, we did a cake cutting and then headed out to do some nice sunset shots. It was the longest day of the year, so sunset wasn’t until almost 9pm! The couple then had a lovely dollar dance or shots with the groom, and shortly after that, I bid the couple ado and headed out! Congrats to the happy couple and here’s to many more years of happiness! So without anymore delay, Stephen and Heather’s wedding!

Photography and writing by:

Alysha Yoder Photography

(b) www.alyshayoderphotoblog.com

www.alyshayoderphoto.com

(e) alyshayoderphoto@yahoo.com

(p) 610.762.7810

Venues: Edgewood Country Club

St. Joseph’s Church

Catering: Edgewood Country Club

Cake: Edgewood Country Club

DJ: Skuba Entertainment

Videography: Heisey Productions

Flowers: Smilax Floral Shop

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:

Alysha Yoder Photography

(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

Tricia and Tor Wedding – 10.14.16

Posted on November 14, 2016

Fall weddings always leaves me breathless and Tricia and Tor’s wedding was no exception. The lovely fall colors, a wonderful wedding, and a beautiful location, I mean… does it get any better then this? Now this wasn’t the first time I’ve photographed these two, they had a wonderful fall engagement shoot last year with their fur babies. Seriously though, does it get any cuter??

12194639_10153389231168264_706437563567394337_o

10548892_10153389231398264_2049517657980869346_o-1

Lucky for everyone, they picked the most beautiful fall day for both shoots! Not only did we have a fantastic first look overlooking the Blue Mountain ridge on the eastern edge of the Appalachian Mountain range, but we got to get four-wheeled up the mountain to get some spectacular scenic shots as well! It’s not every day you have a bride and groom who are willing to four wheel up a mountain in full wedding garb! Also, special shoutout to the wonderful bridesmaid and driver, who helped us make all our mountain photos!

This kickass couple also added so many touches to this wedding to make it their own. The bride hand crocheted little pumpkins as guest table seatings and rocked some rockabilly shoes. The groom and groomsman rocked funny socks and an orange bow tie. These two had the ring bearer don a Star Wars themed ring pillow, their dogs and cats made for their cake topper, and awesome take-away custom chapsticks for their guests.

Following their first look and photos, these two got married at a beautiful outdoor ceremony at golden hour. With a waterfall and mountain range behind them, guests looked on as these two read their own vows, and got hitched right as the sun set. The cocktail hour followed with bonfires, human sized checkers, and lots of laughter with friends. As the night became chilly, everyone moved inside for the reception.

Dances were had and speeches were given. One of my favorite quotes was the MOH giving her speech and saying, “these two were such a perfect match, even Obi One Kenobi couldn’t have made it!” And it’s true, the love and affection these two, and their family and friends, have for one another is infectious. With each little photo session we snuck away for, these two kept each other, and me, laughing with their contagious happiness and love for one another! So here’s to that love and laughter for this wonderful couple for another 100 years!