An elegant, romantic Linwood Estate wedding with an authentic, fun-loving couple– you won’t want to miss their beautiful photos or story:
Tierney shared, “I chose Rhinehart Photography because I felt like I couldn’t possibly choose anyone else after seeing some of her silhouette photos! When I look at a picture, I don’t just want to see an image – I want to feel an emotion, that is what Lisa’s work does! I knew that Lisa had the ability to capture all our “wedding day feels” for us to appreciate for many years to come.”
I made sure to open up this set with one of those silhouette photos, and also really pulled out the stops on the creativity– during our first meeting, they had mentioned, “We also love that your photos are so artistic! We really noticed those creative reflection shots and love them!” Here is one of those, too– so much sparkle!
Here I’m playing with another reflection, creating a silhouette and framing it with the window pane on one side and curtains on the other.
Here talented make-up artist Carmina Christina does her thing. 😉
What a romantic, unique fall bridal bouquet! This is the handiwork of the extremely talented Erika Hegedus of the JDK group…
I couldn’t resist squeezing in one more reflection…
Tierney shared, “From the minute our car turned onto Encks Mill Rd in Carlisle, I knew that the rustic country elegance of Linwood Estate was where I wanted to get married. Turning into the estate, my breath was literally taken away in a series of dramatic unfoldings: the beautiful Grecian gardens, the breathtaking brick mansion, the handsome groomsmen cottage, and the romantic barn-wood reception hall with its grandiose chandeliers.”
She continued, “I felt like I was living the “Princess Bride” and that any moment, I would be whisked away on horseback to enjoy a cocktail under the stars on the stone patio, or in front of the enormous stone fireplaces inside the mansion. I was most excited to experience our ceremony on the front lawn – but I was also very excited to see all of our loved ones enjoy the beauty of the day with us. Linwood Estate could not have been any more perfect for our wedding day.”
Speaking of those chandeliers, here I brought one of them into the frame as Tierney’s sister finishes buttoning her dress…
The reveal…
Tierney shared, “My dad passed away of Cancer when I was a young girl. I carried his photo with me on my boquet– it was in a locket that said you are always in my heart. I miss him every day.”
Tierney continued, “My mom is the strongest woman I know. She raised four children as a widow, including an infant, and worked full time to put us through school and pay the bills. Then she met Rodger, my step-dad, and he was diagnosed with cancer as well. Thankfully, he beat it, but that doesn’t change the fact that she went through it twice with two men she loved.”
She added, “My mom always has the perfect thing to say, or the best advice to give for any given situation. She is the calm in the storm and the reason that my sanity is still intact. There is nothing more comforting than talking to my mom if I’m falling apart – because I know she’ll always put me back together.”
I absolutely love working at Linwood Estate and am so proud to be on their list of preferred vendors!
I love all of the high-contrast and lines in this next photo– Tierney you look gorgeous!
Ring that bell!
Tierney said, “My bridesmaids were the BEST! They threw me the absolute best bachelorette party and bridal shower, planned all of the things for my wedding, and even Megan did half of the decorations from all the way out in Washington! They are all so talented and I am SO fortunate to call them all my best friends.”
She continued, “Seeing our bouquets, I couldn’t imagine anything more beautiful! Greenery, white roses, shades of pink and romantic hues painted personally by the florist with touches of copper paint, wrapped in copper wire at the base! All of it was just so pretty!”
Beautiful, ladies!!! (dresses by Bijou Bridal just outside of Philadelphia in Ardmore, PA)
Tierney was Santa on her wedding day– so many gifts and cards– here she laughs as her mom reads her card…
Here I laugh as she kicks up her heels and has a little snack.
These heels only lasted until the ceremony was over. Immediately following it, she switched to flip flops, which was awesome because it allowed us to traverse a field!
Sean shared, “What made me fall for Tierney was, quite honestly, everything about her. I knew from the first time I saw her that she was a pure and genuine soul… and stunningly beautiful of course! I was immediately attracted to the overwhelming positive energy she exuded.”
Tierney is one of the most positive, genuine, people I have photographed– it was such a joy to spend my day at her side!
Tierney shared, “I fell for Sean because he is the most genuine, kind soul I have ever met. Our personalities are opposite, and perhaps that’s what makes us so attracted. We’re like opposite ends of a magnet. I am outgoing, goofy, and loud in public, but quiet and calm in the comfort of my own home. Sean is quiet, calm, and reserved in public, but the funniest, wild, playful person at home. We balance each other so well. Whatever I lack, he makes up for, and vice versa. I knew I wanted to have him be my life partner when I couldn’t stand the thought of living life without my best friend.”
I love seeing his laid back nature here– it contrasts to well with the perfectly spaced trees and fence posts…
Here he is showing his more quiet reserved side in this classic portrait…
Tierney explained, “There’s a really great quote from Milk & Honey that describes how I felt when I met Sean… “It won’t be love at first sight when we meet. It’ll be love at first remembrance, cause I’ve seen you in my mother’s eyes when she tells me to marry the type of man I’d want to raise my son to be like” – Rupi Kaur.
Looking dapper, gentlemen…
Time for the “first look”!!!
Sean shared, “The first time I saw Tierney on our wedding day was so surreal! It almost felt like a dream and it took a few minutes (and tears) for reality to set in…”
He continued, “Today, this beautiful human being that’s standing before me becomes my partner for life. I can’t remember the last time I had felt such pure happiness. All of my nerves dissolved into soothing calmness. It couldn’t have been more perfect!”
Tierney shared, “At first, I didn’t even want to have a first look, but it ended up being one of my absolute favorite parts of our wedding day! Having that alone time with Sean was so precious!”
Sean gave Tierney a spontaneous spin and told her how beautiful she looked, she may have strutted, just a little, hehe 😉
Sean shared, “It’s strange, I can’t think of an exact moment that I decided I wanted Tierney to be my life partner… I just sort of always knew. I had never met another person like her. Her patience, compassion and understanding continue to impress me every day. I am grateful and beyond spoiled and so thankful to be able to call Tierney my wife!”
I had a vision for this photo and was able to execute it with the generous help of the gentlemen at KP Films who were willing to help me with all these leaves! Thanks guys :).
Tierney shared, “Everyone expected me to cry on my wedding day, and don’t get me wrong, I came close! But really my primary emotion that day was pure joy and happiness, I was just so, so incredibly happy to marry my best friend!!”
Haaaaaa this made me laugh out loud!!!!
Sean shared, “I know she will always be there for me through the highest of highs and the lowest of lows and I try my best to make sure she knows that I will be that same person for her every day for the rest of our lives.”
Tierney and Sean were playful, joyful, fun, authentic, communicative, committed, living in the moment, taking it all in!
Here Tierney busted out her dance moves…
They both laughed and Sean gave her a huge kiss on the cheek or ten…
Sean said, “I’m really looking forward to building our futures together! I can’t wait to build a happy and honest life filled with love and growth and her. Life is too short to strive for anything less.”
One more kiss in front of the Linwood Mansion…
Tierney shared, “We are such a close-knit family, perhaps because we are so small, but we have always stuck together. We fight, we cry, we laugh… I never laugh as hard as I do when I’m with my family!” Awww I think her brother agrees…
Sean shared, “My Gram has been one of the most important people in my life from day one. She is such a loving and generous person and she stressed the importance of such virtues very early in my life. I can honestly say I wouldn’t be the man I am today without her unwavering guidance and I love her more than words can ever say!”
I am so inspired by Annie Leibovitz’s celebrity group portraits that grace the covers of Vogue, Vanity Fair and Rolling Stone. Here is Tierney and Sean’s version…
Tierney shared, “We wanted our wedding to be full of muted dazzle – because we didn’t want any extreme colors taking away from the beauty of the estate itself. We chose a color palette full of muted fall tones: greens, whites/ivories, coppers, rose gold, and greys.”
She agreed with me, saying, “As for the decor, JDK NAILED IT. I couldn’t have asked for a better team to work with. I brought everything in, and they placed it. The entire day, I felt like I was in a magazine shoot!”
Here is just one of the arrangements…
And another arrangement– there was one on each side at the front of the ceremony space…
Wow, just wow….
It’s ceremony start time, Seans heart was beating so quickly as he peered over the wedding guests to see his bride being escorted down the aisle…
Tierney beamed and guests wiped tears as her stepfather wore such a proud expression…
Sean shared, “As she walked towards me, I felt like I was looking at the rest of my life and it was good.”
Smiles all around… here she laughs as a train passes by not far from their ceremony– I think it shows her warm, easy going personality!
Tierney explained, “I’m looking forward to exactly what I promised him in my vows: Unpredictable kisses, unforgettable memories, and unstoppable laughter.”
Tierney shared, “Rustically Written by Kelley Horner made a lot of the signs from her personal Etsy shop — she is one of my extremely talented, lovely college friends!”
I focused on the beautiful ceremony decor and allowed the couple to blur into the background. I love these simple, hand painted signs lines the aisles along with pumpkins and gourds….
These two were so joyful and playful during the ceremony, here Sean waved his fingers like Beyonce in Single Ladies— Tierney cracked up and took his hand, then slipped on his wedding band.
It’s official– husband and wife…
JDK was awesome and had staff on site ready to give them food and drink as soon as they exited the ceremony…
I love playing with symmetry, especially with a couple like this that really balances each other out– it reminds me a bit of American Gothic— you know that pitchfork painting?
Inside the ballroom of Linwood Estate was literally glowing with massive golden chandeliers and an incredible tablescape.
Tierney explained, “Our center table looked like a magical green pumpkin patch, sort of like the country Cinderella. The décor was chosen based on the Estate itself – rustic pieces combined with elegant copper buckets, baskets, and homemade signs.”
What a perfect look for autumn!
Tierney added, “Rustic elegance, rustic elegance, rustic elegance!”
Beautiful wooden “handwritten” table numbers placed in romantic autumn-inspired blooms sitting on natural wooden slabs all cascading from a hand-carved white pumpkin vase.
They kept the organic autumn theme going with their sweets table and birch tree inspired cake, it even had their initials “carved” on the front. 
Tierney noted, “How about those s’mores dessert cups?! I’m glad I got to try at least one! Luckily it was too warm to have a fire and make REAL s’mores, but the cold s’mores was just as good if not BETTER! Keeping the rustic feel with the elegance of a mason jar cup!”
When I saw Sean pull out a fishing pole during his entrance I was interested to see what would follow!
Tierney explained, “We wanted to have Sean ‘reel me in’ since he is a huge fisherman and loves to spend time on our boat on the Susquehanna. He fishes for and has caught several musky, which are supposedly the “fish of 10,000 casts” since they’re so hard to catch… but I still tell him (and he agrees) that I’m the best catch of his life, haha!”
Tierney shared, “Our first dance was also something I will never forget – it was like it was just me and him singing to each other in the most beautiful setting.”
She continued, “I literally forgot anyone else was there. I got caught up in the feeling!” I think these are the sort of wedding day feel, Tierney wanted me to capture :).
Tierney explained, “I am the oldest of my siblings, so I was fortunate enough to get to spend the most time with him and have the most memories. It was especially important to have the first dance be with him, even if it was just on the wall in a video.”
She continued, “My step-dad Rodger has been such an important part of my life. He helped my mom so much when we were growing up. It wasn’t easy coming into a situation with a widow and 4 young children, but he stepped up and filled position that I was so desperate for!”
She went on, “Never once did he complain or hesitate… he attended all of our athletic games, was present for every dinner, and loved us as his own. I can’t thank him enough! … I thought the “God gave me you” song fit perfectly, because God (and my Dad) knew that I needed someone to step in to be my father figure. Rodg was undoubtedly the right guy for the job!”
I love playing with light on the dance floor and was thrilled to see that DJ, Kyle Alexander brought some color!
I loved how the purples and blues complimented the gold chandelier and candle light!
I love how the light hit Tierney as she danced…
Sean shared, “Mario never fails to make me laugh. He’s such an awesome best friend and just an all-around good guy. I’ve always been able to count on him no matter what… from goofy golf course antics to great wedding day speeches he has never let me down. He really was the greatest Best Man a guy could ever ask for and then some!”
Here is my favorite shot of Mario burning up the dance floor 🙂
At the end of the evening, I framed the happy couple I the candlelit arch of the doorway for a “happily ever after” shot…
Wow, what a sunset!
Somehow the stormy skies made it that much better…
Tierney & Sean, I hope that these photos were just the sort of creative, unique, emotional images that you were hoping for! Thank you so much for choosing Rhinehart Photography for your wedding day– I’m so excited to show you hundreds more photographs soon :).
