Kayla and Ryan share a love for reading, so their fairytale-themed Normandy Farm wedding included so many unique and special touches. From a wedding cake that looked like a stack of books to a beautiful story-themed welcome speech by the father of the bride, there were sweet little personalized touches from start to finish.
The day began off fairly cold and gloomy for Memorial Day weekend. We had unseasonably low temperatures and rain for most of the morning. Thankfully, Kayla and Ryan knew that we’d have a plan for beautiful portraits regardless of the forecast. They completely trusted us to take care of them no matter what Mother Nature brought our way!
Ryan and his groomsmen began the day at Normandy Farm Hotel & Conference Center where they spent the morning getting prepped. Kayla and the girls spent the morning getting prepared for the day at Kayla’s parents’ home.
It’s always important for us to find a getting ready location that has ample natural light. Our preferred space is a big room with large windows and a neutral color palette. On days where it’s extremely overcast, sometimes we find the best light in unexpected places. On Kayla and Ryan’s wedding day, we found a perfect spot in the foyer of Kayla’s parent’s entryway!
One of the best ways to ensure the bride and groom can be present for most of cocktail hour is to do bridal party portraits before the ceremony. After getting dressed, Kayla and the bridesmaids had portraits taken at a private estate while Ryan and the groomsmen had their portraits captured by my amazing associate, Alexis, at Normandy Farm! After the ceremony, we brought everyone together for group portraits. I love scheduling the majority of portraits pre-ceremony so everyone can enjoy mingling during cocktail hour while we capture reception details!
We arranged Kayla and Ryan’s first look and portraits to take place at a neighbor’s house. Their neighbor’s beautiful farm provided the perfect backdrop for their First Look and formal portraits (and even a quick guest appearance from their pups).
Ryan and Kayla were married at Our Lady of Guadelupe Parish in Doylestown. The church is a photographer’s dream! Even on a dark, dreary day, there was ample natural light inside the sanctuary. There, guests watched on in-person and online as they lived streamed their ceremony to their family in Germany!
As soon as we completed family portraits at the church, we headed over to Normandy Farm for a few more newlywed portraits and to gather the bridal party for a few quick group shots of everyone together. Their reception took place in the Normandy Farm Grand Ball Room where they shared heartfelt speeches, beautiful dances, and celebrated the night away with their closest friends and family.
Alyssa is a Lehigh Valley-based wedding photographer specializing in fine art wedding and portrait photography. To inquire about your upcoming wedding, send a note here.