Would you ever plan your wedding at venue across the country that you’ve never seen and book vendors that you’ve never met all based on the trust you have in your husband to be and his connections? That’s exactly what Molly did. This super-busy and ever-so lovely pediatric physical therapist contacted me months ago from Texas where she and her fiancé Nooch (Dom) were planning their late August wedding. Nooch hand picked their officiant, Nate, a long-time friend from his high-school years. Nate just happened to have some beautiful farm property where the couple planned to have their super laid-back, mountains and adventure themed wedding. The ceremony was private to a few dozen family members, and then the newlyweds were joined by 250 friends and family at The Backyard event hall just a few minutes away.

Dom likes to spent a lot of time in the woods, so the theme seemed really fitting. In fact, sometimes when Dom is out in the woods, he will put a turtle in his pocket and carry it home for Molly to see. He always prefaces this with "I brought you a present!" Even though they tried to stay true to themselves, Molly shared that she actually wanted the wedding to be WAY more laid back and casual than what it turned into, but having their families there turned out to be a bigger priority than some of the other details they originally wanted. Molly said that “It was stressful planning a wedding all the way from Texas! I promised my mom I would wait for her to go dress shopping, so when she visited for Christmas we went and picked it out together. It was my first official wedding purchase.” She was actually so excited about the dress that she showed it to her future hubby (in the bag, at least!) as soon as she got home!

When I asked how they met, Molly shared that they met on a (surprise) blind date. (Surprise because she didn't know it was happening, she thought she was just going to a friend's house to hang out.) Her family actually didn’t know Dom existed until 3 months later when she totaled her car leaving his house late one night and her parents had to come pick her up. Talk about an awkward conversation!

“Getting the ring and getting engaged was a whole saga”, she said. “He told me when he bought the ring because he was too excited to keep it a secret, but I didn't know *when* he would propose. Then the ring was held at customs and the government called saying it was under investigation, which is a whole story in itself. Then Dom was going to ask for my hand from my Dad while they were working on the car but my Dad's hand got accidentally crushed...it was a whole fiasco. In July 2018 when I was waiting for a ride to the airport I texted him that I just really wanted to be engaged to him, so he drove home on his lunch break and proposed in the living room. I left for the airport to fly home 10 minutes later. Dom doesn't like our engagement story - I guess he had big plans that didn't work out and thinks the real way it happened is ‘blah’, but I'm glad he proposed when he did.” I think their story, just like their day, was absolutely perfect and so “them.” Hope you enjoy some of the highlights!

Ceremony: Wood Crest Point

Reception: The Backyard

Gown: Melissa Sweet from David's Bridal

Hair: Main Street Hair Design

Rings: His- Renaissance Jewlery Hers- Doron Merav

Invitations: Hobby Lobby DIY

Florals: Michaels DIY

DJ: Maximum Music DJs

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Jill StifflerSeptember 10, 2019

Allegheny Park Engagement Photos

Pittsburgh engagement session at PPG place

There are so many amazing spots in Pittsburgh to take engagement photos, including Allegheny Park, the Northside Allegheny Commons Park and the most colorful place this side of the three rivers - Randyland!

As Pittsburgh natives, Janelle and Zac love their city, the architecture, the bridges, the skylines - and have all of that amazing goodness to look forward to in their wedding photos next year that will highlight the city scape and bridges near their reception venue, the Renaissance Hotel. For their engagement session, however, they still wanted to be true to their love of Pittsburgh and it’s architectural features, but maybe something a little more fun and casual!

We started the evening at PPG place, where by summer it boasts a really unique and fun water fountain feature that springs right out of the ground, and by winter is a magnificent Christmas tree surrounded by an open, public ice skating rink! We made good use of the architecture, with it’s dark mirrored glass and silver lines, to add drama, while Janelle’s cute pink dress provided the movement and whimsy to keep things light. And, of course, I made them step in the fountain.

They told me that they wanted to incorporate some bright colors, so they asked if I have ever heard of Randyland and if we could go. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT MY DREAM COUPLE?! Yeah girl, I’ve been to Randyland. hahahahaha! We snapped some cute photos around the sidewalks just as golden hour was hitting, and were even treated to a monologue by Randy himself about some of his methods and finds that make his courtyard so special.

After wrapping up in rainbow paradise, we ended our session at Northside Allegheny Commons Park where golden hour was in full force. It was almost impossible to take a bad picture there while everything glowed a gorgeous yellow. We met up with their sweet pup Sophie to get some family pics, and of course captured more of that Pittsburgh skyline Janelle and Zac love so much.

I hope you enjoy the highlights of this shoot. It was, and I don’t say this lightly, probably by favorite session as of yet! I can’t wait for the wedding!

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Engagements, Photoshoot LocationsJill StifflerAugust 21, 2019PPG Place

At Home Engagement Session

If you’re looking for an engagement photo location that’s meaningful and special to you, consider doing your session at your home, a family member’s farm, or somewhere that you and your fiance spent a lot of time getting to know each other! When I first met Dawn and Richard one evening over a Starbucks coffee, I was excited to work with such a sweet pair. Little did I know how fun and playful they were, and how totally opposite their upbringing was! We started this sun-kissed country engagement session at the farm where Dawn grew up in Mineral Point, among ponds with Queen Anne’s Lace, dairy cows, frisbee-fetching collies, and corn fields drenched in golden hour light.

Our first few snaps were playing around in the corn field where I learned RIGHT AWAY that these two would be a DREAM to photograph. Richard probably has the best, most natural smile for a groom (to be!) that i’ve ever been blessed to capture. Whether he was actually having fun or found the whole process hilarious I’m not sure, but dang those smiles are killer! Dawn is of course a knock-out, so it was almost too easy to get incredible photos of these two enjoying the place that’s so dear to them.

We found little spot beside a pond along their lane up to the farm rimmed with “weeds”, but framed the right way, the weeds can be beautiful! To me, this session was all about chasing light. Both Dawn and Richard just returned from the beach the day before, so their glowing tans coupled with the beautiful gold light made for a warm, rich feel to the photos.

After the pond, we paid a visit to their pet dairy cows (yes, one is named Annabelle!) and even made sure these girls had a chance to photobomb some moments to make the session even more memorable. Besides the dairy cows, Dawn’s family also has beef cows, pigs that eat marshmallows out of your hand, kittens, a Great Pyrenees, and two Border Collies! We ended the session with some piggy-back rides under the family’s apple trees and a good round of frisbee with Dawn’s 10 year old Border Collie Lilly.

These memorable sessions are what make my job amazing - to be invited into someone’s world to experience the things that make them happiest, the people who make them who they are, and the moments they want to hang on to forever. I hope you enjoy some of my favorite moments from this county engagement session on the farm!

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Engagements, Photoshoot LocationsJill StifflerAugust 13, 2019

Soldiers and Sailors Wedding in Pittsburgh, PA | Brian + Elizabeth

With it’s incredible architecture and dynamic, flippable rooms for large groups, Soldiers and Salior’s Memorial Hall in Pittsburgh truly was one of the best wedding venues I had the pleasure of working in! Brian and Liz’s elegant wedding offered some of the most stress-free and accommodating benefits that an upscale wedding couple could hope for. The wedding coordinators made everything effortless for not only the vendors but the bridal party and guests as well. .

The day started with the girls getting ready in the Board Room on the 3rd floor, right next to the ballroom where the reception was. The big benefit of this was that the bridal party could leave their things in this room for the day and easily retrieve them when they were ready to leave for the night because it was right beside the reception area. The Board room was also stunning in itself for some great portraits. The rich browns and leather furniture gave everything a painterly look, and the stained glass made for a great backdrop against Liz’a beautiful dress. Besides her exceptional strapless lace ball gown, Liz also wore pearl earrings that her husband-to-be bought her, her grandmother’s pearl necklace, and a very special bracelet. A few months into Brian and Liz’s relationship, he bought each of them matching anchor bracelets when they knew things were getting serious. Functioning as a promise ring of sorts, the anchors symbolized their loyalty to one another as well as their foundation in their faith and their God that anchored their journey from the beginning.

Their beautiful ceremony, held in the first floor auditorium, featured meaningful scripture readings, the sweetest hand-written vows to one another, and a special time of worship songs. From the very first time I met Brian and Liz, I knew their faith played a very important role in their lives, their relationship with each other, and happily, also played an important in their wedding ceremony.

Other than their steadfast faith in the Lord, when first meeting Brian and Liz, the interesting fact that Brian is Canadian is sure to come up shortly after! Brian was born in Canada and Liz grew up in Pittsburgh. Brian ended up moving to Pittsburgh just as Liz was leaving for college, so it would still be some time before they met. Liz had dreams of teaching internationally, but God had other plans. After some time traveling, Liz eventually moved back to Pittsburgh and started teaching at a local school, where one day her coworker told her about “this cute, kind Canadian” she needed to meet. So it ended up the international came to her, instead!

When I asked them about the early days of their relationship, Liz shared that for Brian, it was love at first sight. For her, though, it took a little longer. Brian was certain she was going to fall in love with him, and after a while into our relationship he even told her so! She told him she'd just have to wait and see... but then about 6 months in, told him he was right. :) Since then, Brian and Liz enjoy time together between their busy schedules and always tend to end up grocery shopping when they are together. Or eating chips and salsa, Liz says!

I hope you enjoy the highlights of this amazing day at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial hall!

pittsburgh wedding Vendors:

Lead Photographer: Jill Gearhart Photography

Second Photographer: Becca Dietrich

Venue: Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall

Gown: Beloved by Casablanca Bridal at The White Orchid

Hair + Makeup: Caruso Hair & Esthetics

Bridesmaids Dresses: David's Bridal

Tuxes: Men's Warehouse

Rings: Trinity Jewelers

Invitations: Minted

Florals: Pete Donati Florist

Cake: The Pie Place

Caterer: The Chef and I Catering

Favors: Etsy - A Gift with a Smile

DJ: Royal Heir DJ

Videographer: Dylan White

getting married at soldier and sailors? Click here!

WeddingsJill StifflerJuly 30, 2019Soldiers and Sailors Memorial HallPittsburgh, Soldiers and Sailors

Inclusive Wedding in Johnstown PA | Eden + Ro at the Grand Halle

Johnstown PA Wedding Venue

If you love Disney and donuts, puppies and popcorn, macarons and movies, fairytale venues, and believe that everyone deserves to have the wedding of their dreams, then buckle up and hold on for this amazing All-Inclusive LGBTQ Johnstown wedding! I met Eden and Rochelle in a fun twist of fate when I walked into a local distillery and was introduced to these amazingly down-to-earth and kind women that were planning one heck of a wedding. Through several meetings, lots of emails and texts, and a super cute engagement session, I got to know these two amazing people and call them friends!

Eden and Ro met 8 years ago during a complicated time for the both of them, and Eden became a light during a dark time for Rochelle. They've been together ever since. Eden always begged Ro to propose to her in Disney World, and it was always a joke of how amazing it would be. The two took a trip to Florida with Eden’s family in October of 2017, and they shared that one of the best parts was going to Animal Kingdom. Little did Eden know, Rochelle had the ring.... but it was back at the hotel! She waited until the next day at their favorite beach in Clearwater. Ro knew she wanted to ask the big question at sunset, but Eden decided she needed pizza right as the sun was setting! So with a slight delay, they sat in the sand and Ro told her that she had a letter for her to read. When she opened the envelope it was her beautiful ring. She paused for what seemed like forever, and then said, “WAIT. Did you ask my dad?!?!?” (of course she did!) Another long pause... then Ro just had to ask, “so is that a yes?” …YES! She said yes! Later on that evening Rochelle distinctly remembers Eden saying, “Wait, you couldn't have done this yesterday at DISNEY?!?!” Either way, she said yes! …and then FaceTimed every human imaginable that entire night to tell them!

Their favorite thing to do together is travel. They’ve done some amazing things: hiked the Smoky Mountains, watched dolphins migrate up the coast in Cape May New Jersey, been to Florida so many times, enjoying sunsets, Disney, and Harry Potter World. The very first vacation they went on, Eden surprised Rochelle with an experience of holding a baby tiger (her favorite animal)! They have always loved traveling together, and long car rides don't bother them, it gives them time to always connect and fall even more in love with every adventure!

And what an adventure this wedding was! The day started at the Hampton Inn where everyone in their 16 person bridal party got ready for the big day, all in the same hallway! I snuck in some shots of their incredibly fun and thoughtful details, like the grape soda cap pins from “Up”, Ro’s Gryffindor socks and Harry Potter handkerchief, and their something old, new, borrowed, and blue which were special gifts from their grandmothers, aunts. and mothers. Eden shared a beautiful first look with her dad, where he placed a penny in her shoe and then put it on her foot (how Cinderella-like!), then the two women shared their first look together in some peace and calm and quiet before hopping on the trolley!

The decor at the Grande Hall was spectacular, each table having a unique vignette of the couple’s favorite Disney movies, sprinkled with macaron’s under mini glass domes (hello, Beauty and the Beast!). All these nestled next to hot tea bags with “drink me” on the tag to match the “eat me” tag on the macs! Guests enjoyed a snack PRE ceremony, too, from a vintage popcorn machine, allowing them to munch through a 17 minute slideshow of the couples most treasured photos together to start off the ceremony. The couple exchanged their first “kiss” as married women by gifting each other necklaces with an acorn and a thimble pendant, reminiscent of the kiss exchange between Wendy and Peter in the Peter Pan movie.

After post-ceremony photos at the gorgeous Forest Lawn Cemetery, we returned via trolley to the Grande Hall where guests had been busy enjoying a dozen adoptable puppies from A Darrah Bull Bully Rescue, and of course breaking the internet with the cuteness and kisses and all the pup-selfies! We snapped some quick photos with the adorable pups before grand entrances, and then DJ Jack Labarko started off the night with an awesomely curated Disney dinner music playlist, and then the best mix of dance music through the ages all night! My favorite was the cloud machine expertly used to make Eden and Ro’s very special choreographed first dance to “A Million Dreams” from the Greatest Showman look like there were literally dancing on a cloud!

Enjoy some of my favorite highlights from this extremely well-produced and insanely unique wedding!

Photography: Jill Gearhart Photography assisted by Rachel Russel

Venue: The Grand Halle Johnstown PA

Gown: Essence of Australia dress - White Lace Bridal Indiana PA

Hair: Whitney Helman, Real Deal Salon; .Amber Mertens

Bridesmaids Dresses: White Lace Bridal

Tuxes: White Lace Bridal

Rings: Kay's

Invitations: Zazzle.com

Florals: Penna Flower Company @pennaflowercompany Taylor Pascuzzo

Cake: Peace, Love & Little Donuts - Monroeville

Caterer: Anthony's Restaurant

Favors: Macaron's from La Gourmandine (Hazelwood location)

DJ: DJ Jack Labarko Inc.

Transportation: Rix Limo (Trolley Service)

Puppy Adoption Event: A Darrah Bull Bully Rescue

getting married at the grand Halle? click here!

Weddings, Photoshoot LocationsJill StifflerJuly 2, 2019Grande HallJohnstown, Grand Halle, LGBTQ

Things Your Wedding Officiant Won't Tell You Openly

Would you really believe me if I told you that often the wedding ceremony is the worst part of the day for most everyone involved? A lot (read, LOT) of couples don’t spend nearly enough time thinking through the significance, details, and logistics of the ceremony. I sat down with a local pastor who has officiated many weddings to ask him his real, honest opinion on why the ceremony can be the worst part of the day, things every officiant wants you to know but may not tell you, and some things that you can figure out before meeting up with him or her to make everyone’s life easier (also check out the freebie below!)

Wedding Ceremony Planning Checklist

click to download and share with your officiant!

Why do you think people don’t plan out their ceremony like the rest of their wedding day?

In comparison, the amount of money put into the ceremony is less than most any other wedding expense. People tend to treat the ceremony less valuable because there is less monetary value tied to it. With current wedding trends, there’s less emphasis on the ceremony and more emphasis on the reception and the fashion. I think some of it, too, is that people don’t have a high view of marriage anymore and don’t see it as a sacred covenant between both of you and the Lord.

What’s something you wish couples knew about planning their ceremony?

You have to actually plan it. Most people don’t really even think about it. You should definitely at least have a coordinator for the ceremony, otherwise the officiant often has to coordinate, or it ends up being someone in the wedding party or family member that does it, and often none of those people are really great at it. It’s important for you as a couple to specify the expectations on the officiant, because in cases like this it becomes much more than just conducting the ceremony.

What’s your biggest pet peeve when someone asks you to officiate?

When I don’t know the couples at all. I always urge people to be plugged into a local church or meet up with your officiant at least once before your rehearsal. If the officiant knows you, it’s easier for the ceremony to be meaningful because it can be more customized to you, your relationship, your personalities, your family, etc. If I don’t know you and I officiate your wedding, I can only bring so much to the table. In my opinion, it’s actually better to pay for a friend to become ordained online than to hire a pastor you don’t know.

What kinds of questions do you ask couples that come to you to officiate?

First off, have a plan when you meet your officiant. Don’t put more time into thinking about the music than the actual vows. Some questions I like to ask are:

How long do you want the ceremony to be?
Do you want it to be a Christian ceremony?
What’s the feel? Light? Solemn? Emotional?
Are there special elements like communion, feet washing, candle lighting, sand ceremony, etc.?
Who will set the stage/altar with decor, flowers, or anything needed for special elements mentioned above?
Do you want to do your own vows? Traditional vows?" “Repeat after me” vows?
Can the officiant write the vows for you if you don’t?
Do you want to exchange rings during vows, or after?

How do you coordinate a wedding ceremony?

It’s basically coming up with answers to a bunch of logistic questions BEFORE your rehearsal such as:

Where are people going to enter from?
Who is on stage at the beginning of the ceremony?
Who is walking in and when?
Is the dad giving away the bride? Will he be down front?
Where do you want bridal party and family to stand? Sit?
Do the ring bearer or flower girl stand or sit?
What is the speed of professional? Is there music?
Is there a stage with stairs? Who is on that stage or stairs?
Where does bride and groom stand in relation to officiant?

What does it mean to have a “Christian” wedding ceremony?

To me, it means that the Pastor is allowed to use the Bible and biblical terms of marriage. Some things to think about that would make it a “christian” ceremony would be”

Do you want an “altar call”?
Do you want the officiant’s message to have a “counseling” feel with advice?
Do you have verses picked out?

Popular wedding ceremony verses:

1 Corinthians 13
Ecclesiastes 4:12
Song of Solomon 2.10-13; 8.6,7
Genesis 2:24
Ephesians 5:22-33
1 John 4:8; 18
John 3:16
Proverbs 5:18-23
Proverbs 31

Why is the ceremony the most important part of the day?

That’s the moment that the commitment is made. It’s way better to remember a special ceremony than to remember a special night dancing with your friends. Because we don’t put much thought into the ceremony, it it’s easy to forget the details of it years later. You can have a marriage without having a reception and a dress and flowers and rings. You can have a marriage without all of those things because it’s most importantly a covenant to one another and the Lord.

getting married? click here!

Wedding TipsJill StifflerJune 27, 2019Jill Gearhart Photography

Graystone Church Indiana, PA Wedding | Brandon + Jenna

Graystone church is know throughout the county as being a breathtakingly beautiful location both inside and out, so if you’re looking for a wedding venue with impressive architecture that has fairytale style (its literally a castle!), this is it.

Brandon and Jenna met online (more and more of my couples are meeting online and I think it’s SO inspiring!), and while Jenna finished up her degree and Brandon jumped into a career in police work, they both planned their June wedding. What I appreciated most about their big day is that they budgeted for the “big things” (like awesome photos and an awesome DJ!) and were able to make efficient decisions on a lot of other things. The result was a beautiful and financially smart day that their guests loved, and that they will have beautiful memories of forever!

As the girls got ready in the family room downstairs and the guys got ready in the library, we snapped candids and details, eagerly waiting for the time to come when Jenna’s dad AND grandpa would walk her down the aisle! It was such a special moment and the first time I had seen that done during a ceremony!

Brandon’s brothers, best man, and Jenna’s best friend and MOH were able to honor and serenade the couple by leading the congregation in some awesome worship songs mid-ceremony. The couple also chose a traditional unity candle and traditional vows. After the ceremony was over, the guests headed downstairs for refreshments while the bridal party and family went outside for formal photos, then bridal party photos, then finally, my favorite part - the bride and groom portraits!

Jenna and Brandon made portraits truly effortless by being willing to sit, be lifted, walk, laugh, and climb through bushes. It was so easy to capture their sweet love because they weren’t worried about the time, the dress, guests, or the million other things that go through a bride or groom’s head on wedding day. They just enjoyed the process, trusted their photographers, and ended up with some amazing images! I hope you enjoy some of my favorites from their beautiful day!

getting married at Gravestone? Click here!

WeddingsJill StifflerJune 18, 2019Graystone Evangelical Presbyterian ChurchIndiana, Graystone

Urban Wedding Photo Location Ideas

Sometimes wedding photo locations can be very surprising, even just the Main Street of your town can provide for some awesome photos! Here we highlight some of the great urban locations in Indiana, PA to hopefully inspire your next photo session or give you some ideas if your wedding day doesn’t have a park and trees nearby.

We started our session on a rooftop with great views of downtown, but many times accessing these locations requires special permission and permitting, so if you spot a building in your own downtown with roof access, be sure to do your homework first and contact the building owner. Another thing to note is that there is no shade on a rooftop, so if you’re shooting in the middle of the say, prepare for sunny and harsh lighting.

Other great options are business facades with fun artwork, interesting architecture, or just historical significance to you! I’ve taken beautiful wedding portraits in front of bowling alleys, in college bars, and in front of abandoned buildings. If you’re willing to be creative and open minded, you can undoubtedly have unique portraits that won’t look like any one else’s!

These particular models had been married in a small, private ceremony at a local park previously, and as they were planning for a big wedding, life had different plans and they chose to do what felt right to them and just enjoy their married life together without a big party. We ended this super fun session with a few photos at the park where they got married at for sentimental value!

These types of urban sessions would also be great for anniversary photos or senior photos! Don’t be afraid to tell your photographer about locations that are special to you - almost any place can be photographed well!

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Families, Photoshoot Locations, Wedding TipsJill StifflerJune 11, 2019Revelry Church

Covered Bridge Engagement Photo Ideas

The covered bridges at Yarnick’s Farm in Indiana make for a beautiful engagement or anniversary shoot location! I had the pleasure of meeting these two lovely people when my husband and I traveled to Texas for a once in a lifetime destination wedding with the sweetest couple, Cody and Faith (see the wedding here!) Brooke and Jake went to college with our friends that invited us to Texas, and also found themselves in Indiana, my hometown! For their 1 year anniversary, Brooke contacted me to do some photos, and I thought her unique story of living over 1,000 miles away from home to honor her husband just needed to be told. I admire her strength and steadfast faith in the Lord for getting her through leaving everything and everyone she loved to dedicate herself to a strong marriage and the man she loved. Enjoy their story!

In February of 2017 Jake had received a phone call that two weeks later found him in Indiana, PA. He received a job offer from an Energy company as an assistant project manager. March 6th he moved across the country while I stayed back in Stephenville, Texas to finish my school- to say the least I was terrified of what to come. Our long-distance relationship lead to long nights and even longer lonelier days. I had phone call after phone call with my mom telling her I can’t do this. I thought I wasn’t strong enough and would lose the person that I wanted most.

This was a complete whirlwind from our relationship prior to Jake taking this job. When we met we instantly clicked. It didn’t take long until my cousin told me “when you know you know”. We started going to church together, studying together and started dating 3 months after meeting. Needless to say I had less desirable moments with my roommates at the time and found myself at Jake's house the majority of the next year and a half.

Jake decided that this job was a chance that he couldn’t pass up, but made me promise him that if the distance ever got too tough to tell him and he will find a way to come home. “It’s just a job” I remember him saying. It was a big, hard change but Jake still managed to make me smile and keep faith in our relationship from 1,260 miles away. Thank goodness for today's technology because daily Facetime dates made the distance somewhat bearable.

Fast forward through a lot of flights back and forth and a few days worth of driving, Jake proposed September 1st 2017. That same weekend I moved up to PA with him and we bought a travel trailer together where we lived at Yellow Creek with our two pups. Oh, an adventure that was! We encountered our first PA winter and it was HARD. Canned goods, hairspray, and my toes froze some nights, but together we made it.

A few months before the wedding I decided that it was best to go finish planning my wedding back at home. May 5th 2018 we had our dream wedding and I permanently moved up to PA to live with my new husband. The thought of moving away from all of my family and friends was gut punching- I have a nephew whom doesn’t know me and a niece that is getting “too cool” to come jump in my lap and snuggle.

Since the wedding I had not seen my family for 7 months. It was hard, I went to bed many nights with tears in my eyes from missing my sweet family. However, in those seven months Jake and I had created a beautiful marriage. We did everything together: cleaned together, cooked, went shopping, everything. There was never one of us without the other unless it was forced.

Before I got a job up here I had no one but my husband in Pennsylvania- I had no friends, I had no family, no job to even have co workers to talk to. I had my husband who worked long days six days a week and even seven sometimes. Being away from my home that I left everyone in is hard, do not let me trick you into thinking opposite, but being able to rest my head next to my best friend every single night is beyond priceless and worth it all.

This season of life will one day pass, but for right now we are grateful for the foundation of our marriage being built away from home letting us focus on just each other. We have had to fully rely on one another as that is all we had. I believe that waking up everyday with just my husband for the past year has given our marriage a unique but strong foundation. We look to each other for everything- support, answers, advice, assurance.

Jake and I along with many other people believe that life’s priorities are in this order: God, your spouse, your children/family, yourself, and lastly work. Our first year of marriage has modeled this so easy- we have been able to focus on only each other and create the best foundation possible before we start a family and life’s stressors are thrown into the equation. One day we will move home from this strange place that we call “home” where we will start a family and create a new life that we will love and together we look forward to that. But for right now I look forward to tomorrow that I get spend with just my husband.

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Engagements, Photoshoot LocationsJill StifflerJune 4, 2019

IUP College Lodge Wedding Indiana PA | Summer + Dane

The College Lodge is a great wedding venue if you’re looking for something reasonably priced, private, and surrounded by nature while still being very accessible to guests. The surrounding hiking trails and disc golf course lends itself to some great portrait spots with plenty of shade, all within walking distance to the main lodge building where you can hold your reception.

Summer and Dane’s wedding day was super easy and stress free (for the girls at least!), and even though the guys were dealing with some wardrobe malfunctions of their own, we were still able to get some great prep shots and pull everything off according to Summer’s perfectly timed time-line. Speaking of the timeline, I have never met a bridal party or family that was more organized, on-time, detail oriented, and respectful as this crew. I’m sure most of that flowed down from the beautiful professor-bride herself, but I appreciated everyone cooperation and enthusiasm! The best man, Tyler, even hiked up that giant hill everyone sled rides down just to bring us (yes US, me too!) some water bottles after the bridal party was done and the bride and groom portraits were about to start! As if that weren’t enough, I even had a name card and a chair at the reception! I definitely don’t take that for granted. (Thank you Summer!)

There were so many special details to this wedding. The groomsmen opted for “real” bow-ties because the best man, (clearly the MVP of the day) not only knew how to tie them, but gladly wanted to serve both Dane and his dad by making them look their best and tying the bowties! Summer’s details included a cameo pin from her great grandma, and makeup done by her extremely talented cousin! At the reception, Summer and Dane both shared their parent dances to songs that their parents sang to them growing up. Summer’s dad used to sing “Summer Breeze” to her, so it was a very sweet and fitting dance for them! Dane and his mom used to sing “I Remember You” by Frank Ifield while he stood on her feet and danced around the house! Lastly, there were homemade cookies for the cookie table that featured the signature recipes from their friends and family! How can you go wrong with a cookie with “grandma’s” in the title?!

Enjoy some of my favorite shots of this sweet at whimsical wedding at College Lodge!