Love, laughter, style, a “first look” that literally made the groom loose his balance and an unbelievable sunset…

Laura shared, “We met Lisa and Kris at our wedding planner’s Christmas party a few years ago. When she told us she was a wedding photographer, I immediately went home and pulled up her Facebook – and was beyond impressed! I knew from that moment that I wanted to have her as our photographer.”
Jeff explained, “On top of Lisa’s amazing photography skills, we felt like her personality fit really well with ours.  She appreciated our back-and-forth banter, be it in front of the camera or just hanging out, and it was nice to know she understood and valued us, that we were more than ‘just another client’ to her.”
They went on, “We’re hoping that our pictures bring back memories of our amazing day. We also are looking forward to seeing our guests’ experience through a different perspective and maybe seeing some moments that we may have missed that day.”
They continued, “Working with Lisa was so much fun! She really encouraged us to be ourselves the whole time and made sure that we got every shot we wanted. We knew from our engagement photo session and other experiences that Lisa goes above and beyond – climbing trees, getting up on the bar, etc. Her number one concern is capturing the moment– this is why we hired her. She gives 150% to everything she does and it shows!”
One thing that I really loved about working with Laura and Jeff, aside from their banter, which is both hilarious and adorable, was the way that they valued, respected me and trusted me to “do my thing.” It really allowed me to flex my creative muscles and present a comprehensive and eclectic view of the day, one that will allow them to relive it for years to come… honestly I probably posted way to many photos, but it is so hard for me to choose favorites…

Laura explained their overall look and style, “We really wanted something classic, chic, and timeless. The goal was to have a modern upscale, but relaxed vibe.”

I personally appreciated the light-airy aesthetic and how it felt classic/romantic and also involved sparkly sneakers!

I tried to bring that overall chic look and color palette to all of their detail photos and found spaces throughout Linwood Estate that would incorporate silver, gold, white, blush, etc…

I placed their rings in sunlight to allow the diamonds to sparkle and to create beautiful orbs in the background:

There is something so intimate about this moment– I used a special macro lens that is able to catch even the most subtle detail, like the texture of the card…  It is my goal that when they look at these photos they are literally transported back to the day…

Linwood Estate is one of my very favorite wedding venues!  For starters, it is a mere 16 miles from my house, so my commute is amazing, haha, but it has everything from breathtaking mountain views, to Grecian-style topiary gardens, to a large, exquisite ballroom with grand crystal chandeliers to a historic, to open fields and lawns, even a pond with a dock and elegantly decorated mansion.
Laura shared, “My mom was my sidekick planning this wedding and we really had a lot of fun.  I loved being able to spend time with my mom alone in the bridal suite before all of the reveals, first looks, pictures, etc. I know she’s dreamt about my wedding day since I was a little girl, so I wanted to make sure her and I had some special time together.”
Here Laura’s mother helps her to button her wedding gown in the beautiful bridal suite…

Laura shared, “I found Linwood Estate on Instagram a few years back and immediately fell in love. I knew I would get married there – I just needed the man! Luckily Jeff loves Linwood as much as I do, so there wasn’t too much to discuss there, haaaaa!”
She continued, “Everything is breathtaking – the main house is the perfect combination of grand and cozy. The grounds offer countless options for photos. The chandeliers in the ballroom really give it that spectacularly grand feeling that I really wanted our wedding to have.”
Laura peeks out the window at the fall foliage…

There was something about the way the light kissed the beading on Laura’s veil, her fingers and diamond ring that caught my eye…

Jeff shared, “Laura’s laid back personality compliments my more outgoing self.  She’s a very caring person, and it shows. I can always count on her to have my back and be by my side.  We can spend all day talking about anything and everything, or both comfortably sit together in silence.”
I wanted this portrait of Laura to convey her more reserved side and strength simultaneously…

Jeff continued, “I’m comfortable being my true self around Laura.  I have never had to try to be someone I’m not, she loves me for me.”
He went on, “I’m constantly challenged to be a better person for Laura, because I want to support her and give her everything she deserves.”
I am totally blown away with all of the chandeliers in Linwood Estates, there must be more than 50!  I thought there was something interesting about the light and shapes created by the crystals, it fits that light, airy, classic, romantic vibe of their wedding so well, and again capture’s Laura’s inner confidence and wow those eyes!!!

Jeff shared, “My favorite part of our wedding was being able to spend time with friends and family on the grounds at Linwood Estate throughout the entire weekend. Having everyone we love together was such an awesome experience.”
Laura continued, “To us, it was all about the guest experience. In planning every aspect, we really tried to put ourselves in our guests’ shoes to create the best possible scenario for them.  We also wanted to really swag our bridal party out for the day.  One of our special gifts was matching monogrammed robes for the bridesmaids.”

Laura explained, “The bridesmaid reveal was one of my most anticipated moments of the day. I was SO nervous because my dress was a secret that none of them knew about!”

Laura continued, “Their reaction was priceless!  I love surprising people and planned small surprises for our wedding guests throughout the day– it was so worth it!”

I am obsessed with this next photo of Laura!!!  I wanted to capture her movement down the staircase as well as the unique lines and contrast created by the white banisters and dark hardwood in the mansion.
It was technically quite challenging and required me finding the perfect: lens, angle, shutter speed and moving my camera in complete synchronization with her to allow some elements to remain in clear focus.   I love the feel of this shot…

Another more artistic, creative shot of Laura’s father reading a card that Laura wrote for him…

Laura shared, “I’ve always been ‘daddy’s girl,’ so I knew doing a little first look with him would be a great way to represent the importance of our relationship.”
She went on, “I had written each parent (as well as my in-laws) a nice little note to read before the wedding – I had no idea that it would be such an emotional moment for them! But I’m glad that they could see the enormous impact they’ve had on my life and how much I love them through that note.”
I exposed for the highlights to draw attention to the card and Laura’s father’s expression.  I think his facial expression says it all!!!

His first look with Laura– there were so many cute shots, but I really like the smile and hugs here:

Laura shared about the overall look and wedding style, “We chose gold and navy because it really fit the feel we were going for. With more formal wedding party attire, that helped accentuate the upscale aspect, but having the men in a trim fitting tux and the bridesmaids in slim dresses put the modern twist on it. We went with white flowers and kept it simple – we really wanted to let the beauty of the property speak for itself.”
And speaking of beauty– wow these ladies are knock-outs!

Now it is the men’s turn for the spotlight…
Jeff shared, “As much as the day was about us, it was also about how we got there. The reason we got there is because of our friends and family, and having our closest friends and family in the wedding party to me felt reflective of how important they are in our lives. I was really excited to dress up the guys and make them feel special after everything they did from planning the bachelor party to being in our wedding. I wanted to do something special for them for being supportive of me throughout my life.”

Getting in some creativity with this silhouette– I love how you can see the Linwood grounds subtly in the background:

Jeff shared, “Growing up, you don’t realize how important your parents are. Now that I’m an adult, I really appreciate every opportunity they provided me and all of the sacrifices they made to raise me and mold me into the person I am today. For the longest time, my parents have been my two biggest supporters. It makes me happy that they’ve welcomed Laura into their lives and have really made her a part of the family.”

Laura shared, “When I met Jeff, he was authentically himself, and let his outgoing, goofy personality shine. I loved that he was just so comfortable being himself. He loves to be social with friends or go out and experience new things, and if it weren’t for him, some of the best experiences of my life wouldn’t be some of my favorite moments and memories.”
She went on, “Jeff loves with his entire heart, and that’s why I wanted to marry him. He never misses a chance to tell me he loves me or that I look beautiful (even in sweatpants) or to give me a quick kiss. Neither of us have it all figured out, but it’s okay because we have each other.”

I love downtown Carlisle and the beauty of the lands that connect my hometown (Shippensburg) to Carlisle.  There are forests and streams and fields.
The land that surrounds Linwood Estate is particularly beautiful– rolling hills, golden fields, all that sky!!!

Getting in a little putting with the groomsmen…

Jeff gifted the groomsmen with these incredible watches saying that he wanted to so something special for them, and thank them for their support thought his life!

The first look was awesome!!!  When Jeff saw Laura for the first time he wiped tears from his eyes and nearly lost his balance!!!
Laura shared, “Of everything on our wedding day, I was most excited for the first look! I was really looking forward to finally show Jeff my dress and spend some quality time with him before the whirlwind of the wedding.  When I saw him tear up my first thought was “Awww!” and then it was ‘Victory!!” haha!”
Jeff explained, “I had something in my eye, I wasn’t crying, haha!   In all seriousness, I was just thinking about how gorgeous she looked. She is everything and more that I could have hoped for in a wife!”

While I love to capture natural, candid moments and spend the vast majority of the day watching, waiting and creating, I also make sure to get a good amount of traditional portraits as well…

I love the golden tones of these leaves– part of it is fall and part of it is light… and how happy they are:

Laura shared, “Everyone says marriage is a lot of work, but I know he is fully devoted to making our marriage a great one. I’m looking forward to just doing life by his side – going on adventures, experiencing new things, visiting new places, I am so happy that Jeff is my husband!”

I mentioned the pond and dock at Linwood Estate— it is just one of the many beautiful locations on this 300 acre estate.
I must share that this photo was also made possible by Laura’s wedding planner, my friend, Kevin.  I have an “out take” of him leaping in the air with the veil in his hands to get it to catch the breeze!  Kevin’s cocktail party is how Laura and I met, and also a time that I got to know the Solomon family (an amazing family that I photographed last year in Harrisburg) better as well!   So yeah total shout out to Kevin (of KLB Events) here as well as for coordinating the whole day– wait until you see the reception!!!!
You need to see the color of the water– it is so beautiful!

The mature trees surrounding the pond are stunning as well!  In this photo I wanted to allow the trees to fill the frame and give you a feel for the majesty of this space.
For me this photo captures Laura & Jeff’s personalities so well– the way they are humble and think of other’s before themselves, the way they look inward towards each other for strength and don’t feel a need to be someone else or have it all figured out…

Jeff shared, “Laura & I have similar traits, but one person’s weakness is the other’s strength.”
Laura agreed adding, “He is definitely the more outgoing of the two of us, and I think that meshes really well with my relatively introverted personality.”

Another traditional portrait of the couple…

Laura shared, “Family is super important to both Jeff and I.  We wanted to include my great grandmother’s antique settee and chairs because they brought in that familial element and because they fit our wedding aesthetic of timeless/romantic/classic.”

Laura  continued, “We included family in several other ways, all of our siblings were in the wedding party, my grandfather officiated, our brother in law read during ceremony, my cousins were included as ushers and passing out programs.”
The wedding decor was simply beautiful, white beads caught the sunlight as roses caught the wind and swayed in the breeze…

The ceremony began…  this handshake says so much!!!

Wow what a scene!!!  The fall foliage, the backdrop and florals:
Kevin Braasch of KLB Events and Erika Hegedus of JDK really outdid themselves… and this moment!!!

Laura shared, “We were both really excited to recite our own vows – it was something we worked hard on and thought that would add a great personal touch to our ceremony.”
Awww Jeff’s face as Laura recites her vows…

Laura said, “My favorite part of the wedding day was our ceremony!  To be surrounded by all of our loved ones but to be solely focused on marrying the love of my life was absolutely amazing. Our vows came together really nicely!

They saved and held their vows in a box that their best man brought forward for them…

Jeff laughs while reading his vows, I love the vibrant gold fall foliage in the background…

Just adorable…

The ring exchange: 
Husband and wife…

Here come the Hermans…

Cheers to the newlyweds!!!

I really wanted to capture the Linwood Mansion itself and the perfectly manicured trees that surround it…

We took that timeless, classic, look up a notch with this chic bridal party portrait– Vogue and GQ called and want their models back 😉

We captured a few more traditional shots…

And then had some fun:

Laura and Jeff stepped into the Appalachian Ballroom and the sight literally took Laura’s breath away!

The sweets table by Jasmine Clouser of Couture Cakery as seriously out of this world…

The Appalachian Ballroom was absolutely stunning!!!  Well done, Linwood Estates, JDK Group and KLB Events!

As you can probably tell, I really like the chandeliers and wanted to try to really capture the feeling of the whole room and the perspective that a guest would have to share with Laura and Jeff who did not get to experience this side of things…

Laura shared, “Our first dance song was Please Keep Loving Me by James TW.  Jeff randomly found it on YouTube one day and we just loved it, so our band learned it for us.”

Laura shared, “When my dad cried during the father-daughter dance, I was shocked! He is even less emotional than Jeff, so the fact that both of them cried at some point during the day really showed me how important the occasion was to them and it made my heart full to know that they cared so much.”
I opened up the aperture of my camera to turn the chandeliers and candles into these pretty orbs of light and focus the attention on Laura’s reaction to her dad’s tears…

Laura’s grandfather gave the blessing.  I focused on him and allowed the ballroom windows, couple and guests to fade into the background…

Jeff shared, “Everyone nailed their speeches!  They were the perfect combination of humor and heartfelt, with some great stories thrown in there from our friendships.”

Cheers!

Laura shared, “The Band, ‘Rio’ of EBE Events was phenomenal! They played Jeff’s sister’s wedding and Jeff’s parents knew they wanted to bring them back for Herman wedding: round 2!”
There are so many awesome photos from out on the dance floor!  As always, Rio was incredible…  grandma is out on the dance floor cousins are singing–

Everyone had a total blast, there was so much joy in the room!!!

Laura and Jeff reserved stools at the bar for their dads– it was adorable to see these two interact…

A Cumberland Valley cheerleaders wedding wouldn’t be complete without a lift!!!
Laura explained, “Quite a few of my good friends (the two bridesmaids Tricia and Zara) I met through my high school’s cheer program – Cumberland Valley. On top of that, my mom has remained friends with both of their moms and some of the other moms who made the journey through the program.”
She continued, “Everyone in the picture had some sort of involvement in the cheer program, be it an alumni, former parent, or even coach (yes the two Varsity coaches were there as well)! It’s a tradition to put the bride up in a stunt on her wedding day, so that’s exactly what they proceeded to do!”
Haaa!  My chandelier obsession continued!

Laura shared, “At the end of the night I was also exhausted but felt so blessed and fulfilled. The day was everything I had ever dreamed of and more. I was so excited to finally start this adventure with Jeff!”

Jeff shared, “At the end of the night, I was married to my best friend! Our wedding day couldn’t have been better!”
High five…

Heel clicking…
And hand-holding ensued…

It was the perfect end to the perfect day, and I’m so blessed to have been there by your sides to capture it all!!!  Laura and Jeff thank you for entrusting me with the privilege of capturing these important memories for you!  I hope that these photos allow you to re-live your day!  I am so excited to hear your thoughts!  Please feel free to comment below :).