Background

Many of you already know that I am currently enrolled in a 12 month long business course which has been absolutely amazing for me, my clients, and for the growth of Hope & Stay. Because of the time commitment and my desire to make sure I don’t overextend myself, I have consciously decided to limit the number of wedding clients Hope & Stay accepts in 2019. (Though, we are actively booking 2020 weddings!)

However, because I just adore photographing Lehigh Valley weddings so much, I have made myself available to serve alongside some of my Lehigh Valley wedding photographer peers as an associate shooter as a second photographer for their amazing couples’ wedding days!

This past April, I joined my friend Emily from Elle Studios in Nazareth to serve as her second shooter for her clients’ wedding day.

Introduction

Tom and Nicole got married at the gorgeous Riverview Country Club, which is a beautiful country club and golf course in Easton, Pennsylvania. They had their ceremony at St. John’s UCC, which is their the local church (wait until you see photos from their bubble exit!) It was a beautiful day full of love, magical portraits and even a ride on a few golf carts!

Beginning the Day

When beginning the day as an associate photographer, the “second” typically begins by spending the morning with the groom and groomsmen to document their time getting ready for the wedding day. Tom got ready at home with his groomsmen and parents. When I arrived, the atmosphere was so calm and relaxed. The guys were just hanging out, watching TV and enjoying one another’s company.

We used the living room of their home as the “getting ready space” since the color of the walls complimented their navy blue color scheme and because this room had the brightest light. (We always look for spaces with the best natural light when it comes to taking portraits!)

Once Tom was all ready to go, the guys toasted Tom and Nicole with a celebratory shot of Eight Oaks Craft Distiiller’s Applejack. After the toast, the guys stepped out front for a quick group photo before heading to the church for the ceremony.

Before leaving, Tom gifted me a bottle of wine, a celebration moscato. (You may remember this from my Instagram stories!). What a lovely and thoughtful gesture!

The Ceremony

The ceremony was a beautiful service held at St. John’s UCC in Nazareth, Pennsylvania.  The church was absolutely stunning with it’s stained glass windows and warm wooden pews. Nicole was escorted down the aisle by her father where she met Tom at the altar for their vows, while their parents, guests, and closest friends looked on.

Following the ceremony, the couple were cheered on by their guests who showered them with bubbles as the exited the church as newlyweds.

Portraits

Tom and Nicole had a large segment of time between their wedding ceremony and the start of cocktail hour which gave us over TWO HOURS for portrait time with them, their bridal party and their family. This was SO incredible because it allowed us to take our time during their portraits without having to rush everything in. This, truly, is the way to do it if you’re not planning a first look.

I absolutely love when couples prioritize their portraits by giving the photography team ample time to be creative and take our time. The result is TONS of wedding day portraits at multiple locations throughout the venue done at a low-stress pace.

The Reception

The reception was hosted in the Villa on the Green at Riverview Country Club. The room was absolutely incredible with its tons of natural light, breathtaking views of the golf course, wood beams, and featured stone fireplace. I love shooting country club weddings because the views are so amazing and the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape makes a beautiful backdrop for portraits. 

The reception unfolded with lots of dancing, beautiful toasts, and completed with Tom and Nicole smashing their cake in one another’s faces. They were so fun and joyful throughout the entire day!

The best part of the day was when we hopped on golf carts to tour the property for bride and groom portaits. (Emily was a fantastic driver—cue lots of giggling by the two of us as we bumped along the paths). Thankfully, it was a gorgeous sunny day, so the ride through the gold course was so beautiful and the fresh air felt amazing!

Tom and Nicole’s wedding had such a relaxed vibe and such a beautiful theme of love and celebration. A special “thank you” to Elle Studiios for having me join her for the day! Here’s some of my favorite captures from their gorgeous Riverview Country Club wedding!

If you’re planning a Riverview Country Club wedding, get in touch!