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

Chelsea & Brandon Wedding – 7.22.18

Posted on September 5, 2018

Bowling alley, Elvis, mariachi band?! Yes, yes, and yes! Not only did Chelsea and Brandon seriously plan an epically unique wedding, but these two and their guests were a blast to photograph! This was definitely a first for me, shooting in a bowling alley, but I hope it’s not my last! To begin their day, I started off at South Bowl Philadelphia, where they had rented out the event space on the top floor. Not only does it have ample seating space indoors and outdoors, but their guests got to play old pinball games, bowl at the private lanes (complete with Chelsea and Brandon graphics), and snack on finger food and a tower of pies that the groom drove all the way from New York!

Not only that, but the groom and groomsman were decked out in sequin jackets, while the ladies rocked more rockabilly type dresses. Chelsea and Brandon were all about the details from the wedding program they designed to look like a bowling score sheet but with all the wedding details guests needed, to the ‘gif’ video generator guests could make on a green screen, even down to the bowling sock take aways, and the bowling pin guests got to sign as a ‘guest book’ when they arrived. Once the wedding begin, Elvis serenaded guests as everyone took their seats and then the mariachi band played in the party and the bride and groom. After a hilarious service with plenty of Elvis puns, these two love birds were hitched, much to the cheers of their family and friends. The couple then walked down the aisle and did their first dance along with the bride’s parents (whose anniversary it was) to a rendition of their song by the mariachi band. Following some family and party shots on the bowling lanes, I headed downstairs with the happy couple to get some shots of them at the shoe check out and the vintage dining area with a huge light up ‘SPARE!’ sign. With our couple shots done, the bride went to change into her second party dress while I went upstairs to grab some detail shots.

The night continued with guests dancing, bowling, and pin-balling the night away. The couple fed each other pie (they even had a custom ‘pie cake topper’ featuring them), took group photos, and tore it up on the dance floor. As I was leaving, the bride and groom were having the time of their lives dancing with guests on the dance floor. To quote The King, “When I get married, it’ll be no secret” and with these two, it definitely wasn’t a secret, and their family and friends will certainly always remember this day of awesomeness! So here’s to many more years of happiness for this wonderful couple!

Photography and writing by:

Alysha Yoder Photography

(b) www.alyshayoderphotoblog.com

www.alyshayoderphoto.com

(e) alyshayoderphoto@yahoo.com

(p) 610.762.7810

Venue: South Bowl Philly

Catering: South Bowl Philly

Pies: Lemon Meringue Pie from Beiler’s

All other Pies from NYC – Rudy’s Bakery and Cafe

Mariachi Band: Mariachi Villasenor

DJs: Mon Amie – Kyle Art Threat – Edan

Officiant: Ryan Downy as Elvis

Dresses: Bridesmaid’s Dress from Asos

Flowers – Matlack Florist

Hair and Makeup – Pretty on Arrival

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!