Over the years, I’ve been privileged to photograph some amazing weddings – each one unique and beautiful and special on its own merits. It really is very hard to “compare” weddings from any perspective, particularly from the photographer’s point of view. This, of course, reinforces the old adage that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”.
But once in a while, I come across that extra special wedding where, again from a photographer’s standpoint, it contains every possible configuration of unique aesthetics, details, texture, accessories and props, etc., making the photographs all the more interesting, colorful, and artistic.
That was the case for Diana and Ryan’s wedding which took place at the sprawling 300-acre farm owned by Ryan’s God-mother and her darling family. The farm boasts a large pond with a fishing pier, a barn, 2 homes, and farm equipment that makes any camera lens jump for joy. The 83 year old property owner was born in one of the buildings which appears in the First Look and Bridal Party poses. He still serves within his community of fellow farmers. Incredible!
Diana and Ryan’s wedding started with a First Look session, where the bride and groom got to see each other for the first time before the wedding ceremony! Diana and Ryan asked to use the old fieldstone Quaker-vintage-looking house as their back drop for the First Look and Bridal Party photos. I then took the the bride and groom to the pond where the water served as a mirrored effect for several landscape photos that turned out much better than I expected for a partially cloudy day.
The bride made her grand entrance atop a horse drawn carriage which gave me an enormous amount of color, contrast, and texture to create some beautiful landscapes. The ceremony, held in one of the barns, was decorated as you might expect, but I was a sucker for the straw bales used for seating the guests. Great idea that perfectly fit the occasion. The flower accented wooden arbor arch made for an intimate and personal setting as Ryan’s friend officiated the wedding. Cellist Arielle Jocham played background music to set the mood.
After the ceremony and family portraits, the bride and groom made their 1/4 mile dust-plume emanating trek to start the party using grandpa’s gynormous John Deere! The tented reception was nestled between the horse farm (and yes, with galloping horses to boast as if on queue!) and the main farm house. DJ Jean Smith (from Beatmix) did a great job juggling the music selections and changing conditions of the reception timetable. Flowers were provided by Natural Treasures Florist (Diana) and the wedding cake was created by Sugar Bakers. One of Ryan favorite pastimes is fishing and crabbing, and so an extra cake was made in the shape of a crab pot by Starry Night. Diana’s wedding gown as well as the bride’s maid’s gowns were tailored by K & B Bridal with her elegant pearlescent shoes from David Tutera. All the dapper looking fellas were outfitted in custom tailored tuxedoes from Country View. Horse drawn carriage was driven by Sandy Ludwig of Oh My Heart Carriages.
With the reception in full swing, party goers enjoyed a delicious catered dinner by Biddle Streets Caterers which offered a pig roast as the feast’s piece-de-la-resistance. Oh so yummy and colorful! How else do you out do a colorful, festive, delicious, and entertaining reception? You bring in fireworks. Lots of fireworks. How about a 15 minute fireworks show provided by Odyssey Fireworks? A visual feast for the eyes!
So, now do you know what I mean when I said this was a photographer’s dream come true? Please enjoy these beautiful images (okay, I am slightly bias!) of Diana and Ryan. And remember, if you’re in the need of wedding photography, please contact me at Trans4mation Photography (based in Annapolis, Maryland but serving the Annapolis – Baltimore – Washington metro region and beyond!) at 443-388-7192 and I’ll be sure to knock your socks off!
List of Vendors:
Photographer: Trans4mation Photography @ https://www.trans4mationphotography.com/
Florist: Diana Martin from https://www.facebook.com/pages/Natural-Treasures/643719565639599
Horse Drawn Carriages: Sandy Ludwig @ http://ohmyheartcarriages.com/
Jean Smith from BeatMix: ijeanie434@gmail.com and 410-446-7020
Wedding Cake: Sugar Bakers @ http://www.sugarbakerscakes.com/
Crab Pot Cake: Starry Night: http://www.starrynightbakery.com/
Wedding Gown: K&B Bridal @ http://www.kandbbridals.com/
Tuxedoes: Country View @ http://www.countryviewtuxedo.com/
Shoes: David Tutera @ http://davidtuterashoes.com/
Bridesmaids Dresses: K & B Bridal @ http://www.kandbbridals.com/
Decorations: Several sources including Etsy @ https://www.etsy.com and Kirklands @ http://www.kirklands.com/
Fireworks: Odyssey Fireworks @ https://www.bigfireworks.com/eSource3/default.aspx and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Odyssey-Fireworks-Glen-Rock/109557639082382
Caterer: Biddle Street @ http://www.biddlest.com/
Cellist: Arielle Jocham