A full military sword arch, bandmates from all over the USA, shared cigars– I love being an Inn at Leola Village wedding photographer!
Why Rhinehart Photography?
Ashley and Alex share, “We chose Rhinehart Photography because we love her creation of artistic compositions through light, color, and perspective. Her wedding photos capture more than just images; they show the dynamics and emotions of the moment!”
Ashley continues, “Lisa’s compositions use the principles of design (balance, contrast, movement, emphasis, repetition, and proportion) to create art out of real life events. It is impressive that she is able to do this in the middle of an event as hectic as a wedding! Her use of color makes these compositions vibrant and full of emotion.”
She adds, “Lisa was very open to my ideas and input. When we passed a beautiful fountain area on the property, and I proposed that we take a few pictures there, she immediately started scoping the area and finding the best spots for the space and lighting.”
They say, “With Lisa, we could be *entirely in the moment*. She not only captured moments as we got to enjoy them, but she also kept us on schedule as we frequently got distracted by the excitement of the day! We really appreciated Lisa’s professionalism and value her expertise.”
First Look: Inn at Leola Village Wedding Photographer
Ashley says, “An aura of joy, comfort, and peace was around the whole morning of our wedding. I was so happy to be with the people I love most in the world, getting ready and then seeing the love of my life. The first look is built up to be this momentous event that a lot of work has gone into, but since it was Alex at the end of the path it was so easy and natural to share that moment with him. Alex was dashing and swept me off my feet as he always does with his smiling eyes and genuine smile.”
Alex smiles, “I was just overcome with how perfect she looked. And how happy she seemed to be in that moment. I remember just feeling very grateful at that time. The weather was perfect, the setting was perfect, and she was perfect.”
Ashley shares, “I love his kindness; he deeply cares about others and wants them to succeed. I love his acceptance of people as they are; he is slow to criticize and quick to highlight strengths. I love his friendship with myself and others; he is a loyal, generous, and genuine friend.”
Alex adds, “I most appreciate Ashley’s desire to do good in the world. She is steadfastly committed to making the world a better place and doing the right thing, even when it is tough to do. I love how she brings out the best in me and makes me want to be a better person. I love how we are able to approach life as a team and are completely committed to each other’s happiness and success.”
Bridal Party Bandmates Stike a Pose!
Alex shares, “Music has been a huge part of our lives. My brother and I were lucky enough to spend countless hours with our dad playing music when we were growing up, and it is one of the things that has brought our family closer together.”
He continues, “Creating and performing music on stage has always been a passion of mine, and getting to spend the last few years sharing that with Nick was an unforgettable experience. Ashley and I bonded over a shared love of music and have had plenty of great nights at concerts performed by a truly diverse group of artists. From James Taylor to Pantera, we have enjoyed shows from opposite ends of the musical spectrum. I love that music is a shared way in which we can both foster our creativity, let loose, and enjoy ourselves.”
Ashley says, “Our wedding party commands charisma with ease. They are all such creative, intelligent, and interesting people in their own right that we didn’t need to do much to get this Vougesque image; we just had them be themselves!”
She adds, “Our wedding party members traveled from Hawaii, Florida, Alabama, Washington, Colorado, North Carolina, California, Virginia, Delaware, and New Jersey to be with us on our wedding day. Their love and commitment to being there to support us on our wedding day was humbling and overwhelming. It is so special for us to have a portrait of everyone together!”
Making it Work– Lighting is Everything!
Ashley shares, “I have seen many of Lisa’s pictures on her website and how well she frames her subjects into compelling compositions. So when she had us stand next to a parking lot with an electrical box for the bridesmaid’s photo and promised it would look great, I didn’t think twice about it! She even stood in the landscaping to get the perfect angle, haha!”
Inn at Leola Village Ceremony at the Italian Wedding Garden
Ashley says, “We both love being outdoors and wanted a natural, open-air space for our ceremony. Leola’s gardens set a romantic backdrop for all our events and were accentuated by the perfect early June weather. Our guests traveled from all corners of the country to be at our wedding, and we wanted to provide a whole weekend of events to maximize our time with them. The Inn at Leola Village has multiple beautiful event spaces, and the hotel and spa onsite made for leisurely transitions between activities, letting us worry less about logistics and focus more on each other and our guests.”
Ashley smiles, “The wedding garden was an exceptional space for our ceremony; I couldn’t imagine it being any more special than it was. The flowers were in bloom, the weather was perfect, and beautiful music from our string quartet was playing. When I got to the end of the aisle and stood in front of Alex everything else faded to the background as we said our vows to each other.”
They share, “We both vowed to be equal partners and friends. To stay curious and communicate so that we can create a home where we are free to be ourselves and keep our values at the center of our lives together.”
Ashley adds, “An important part of our ceremony was a moment of silence to honor those who could not be present, Alex’s father passed away two years prior to our wedding. Several guests saw a butterfly fly through the wedding arch as we honored him.”
She smiles recalling, “Alex and I met at a time in our lives when we were both fiercely independent. Shortly after meeting, becoming friends, and watching the entirety of Lord of the Rings together, I left for a 6-month assignment in South Korea. While I was there, I had plenty of time to reflect on ‘how cute that Alex guy is.’ When I returned from my Southeast Asia adventure, I desperately needed companionship for what was sure to be a slightly awkward work holiday party. Alex agreed to accompany me, and I spent the next few months wooing him on more romantic dates that didn’t involve watching coworkers uncomfortably do the wobble in front of their boss. I was quickly smitten by Alex’s fiercely loyal friendship, commitment to values, and genuine kindness toward everyone.”
She continues, “Just as I was getting ready to move to Florida for work, COVID hit. This gave Alex and me plenty of quality time as we quarantined together at his house and built a bar in his basement, our first major joint venture. Next came *three years* of long-distance dating. We were committed to each other, and the distance was necessary for us both to reach our career goals and pursue our hobbies. It was hard to be away from each other, but it solidified our foundation of mutual support, respect, and love for each other. COVID made the distance all the more complicated; at times, we had to go several months without seeing each other due to travel restrictions.”
Ashley adds, “Now that we are married and live together, this love has only grown stronger. Our experiences help us not take for granted the joy of seeing each other at the end of a long day or spending a leisurely weekend morning drinking coffee together. These collective experiences, and many more that would take too long to list, are the foundation of our love story.”
Full Military Sword Arch!!!
Ashley shares, “While I was living in Florida, I met some of my best friends. Our antics could have been fodder for any 90s sitcom, navigating work dilemmas, Key West bars, and almost getting stuck at sea in a tropical storm. Many happened to be Officers in different military services, so we decided to have a Joint service sword arch.”
She adds, “The sword arch is a military tradition but is usually done with four members in the same military service. Our arch had Marine, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard officers. The arch was a way to include my friends and make a nod to my own career as an Air Force Officer.”
♛♔ Check, Mate!
Alex smiles, “Ashley and I both love to play games and can be shamelessly competitive at times. Chess was a game that we gravitated toward in the early days of our relationship, and we continue to play regularly even now. I get a sense of nostalgia, thinking of those early dates every time we sit down to play.”
Wedding Reception Traditions: Inn at Leola Village Wedding Photographer
Ashley shares, “One of the great joys of the last two years has been seeing our two families come together. Everyone gets along so well that we have made it a tradition for all of us to get together for Thanksgiving every year. Having Chandler and Nick as our man of honor and best man was our first decision about the wedding. We are lucky to have brothers who are both our family and best friends.”
Alex continues, “We are truly blessed to have an exceptional group of supportive friends and family. When Ashley and I drew up our wedding parties it was really cool that we each had both guys and girls in our parties. Ashley’s brother, Chandler, was her man of honor, and my friend, Melissa, was my sole groomswoman. We gave her the option to wear a dress or a matching suit. She was very excited to wear a suit with the rest of us. I’d say she rocked it.”
He adds, “Ashley and I initially decided to take dance lessons in preparation for our wedding. We ended up enjoying the process and it has now become a weekly date night for us. We knew that we wanted to do something a little unorthodox and special for our first dance. We have particularly enjoyed learning Latin-origin rhythm dances and decided to do a cha-cha for our wedding. Certainly not the easiest to do in a wedding dress, but Ashley did a phenomenal job. Even now that the wedding is over, we still love our weekly dance classes and look forward to continuing to learn and maybe even compete in the future.”
🎉Let’s Get this Party started!
Ashley shares, “Our wedding brought together people from many different parts of our life. Guests came from 15 different states, including Hawaii, California, and Washington. It was humbling and meant a lot that our people traveled such long distances to celebrate our wedding with us!”
She laughs, “Work hard, play hard! Our guests included many friends in the military and in medicine. We know how hard they work, so it was great to see everyone let loose and enjoy themselves on the dance floor.”
😸The Cat’s Meow!
Ashley laughs, “Socrates, the cat, is infamous among our family and friends. He has a unique personality that combines cuteness with random acts of violence. He has been my constant companion for the last decade, and watching Alex and Socrates’ unlikely friendship blossom has brought a lot of joy to my life. Since he is a third of our new little family, we wanted him to be present at the wedding. Our friends and family embraced his cardboard form, which is much less dangerous and more outgoing than the original.”
🎶 Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
Ashley says, “We designed a cigar and whiskey bar that guests enjoyed around firepits outside the reception space for our afterparty. Alex crafted a custom cigar menu from his vast collection, and I selected our favorite bourbons and scotches for a whiskey-tasting menu. This was the part of the reception we were most excited about because it was so customized to us.”
Alex shares, “Cigars are certainly a passion of ours. When you sit down with a cigar in good company, you commit yourself to 30-60 minutes of focused quality time for conversation and companionship. We love any excuse to slow down, enjoy life, and have a deep conversation.”
Ashley concludes, “After all the big events, the after-party gave us time to slow down, connect, and catch up with everyone. The party featured an impromptu late-night concert from our musician guests. We couldn’t have asked for a nicer evening!”
Vendors:
- Venue: The Inn at Leola Village
- Music (String Quartet): Vivace Live
- Officiant: Sealed with a Kiss Officiants
- Flowers: Village Floral
- Food/Cake/Bar: The Inn at Leola Village
- Hair and Makeup: The Spa at the Inn at Leola Village
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