I am always starstruck by the freedom and flexibility available to couples planning a wedding in the modern world. Although weddings are rooted in tradition, they have evolved so much over the years and become even more elevated, personal, and expressive than ever before. Kris and Megan’s wedding weekend celebration in Hershey at the Gardens and day after celebration at Philly’s Harp & Crown was nothing short of incredible and so personal.

When Megan first inquired with me, it was easy to see her vision, attention to detail and personality coming to life in the celebration she was planning. On the day of, I met her at The Hotel Hershey and began commemorating the details of the day she had designed with so much thought and care. Her vintage Dolce & Gabbana shoes were the absolute star of the show. Before long we were diving into a sentimental first look with her Dad and then Kris before heading off to their ceremony amongst the flowers. Wanting to keep the ceremony a more intimate affair, they kept the guest list to just their closest family and friends on the day of.

While documenting a wedding day I strive to exist in two perspectives throughout the day. Over the course of the time leading up to the wedding I am extremely intentional on connecting with my couple and getting to know them without my camera in my hand. The first perspective is a result of this time connecting in the hopes of beginning to see my couple in some of the ways they see each other so I can document them as such. The second is a blend of how I see the world and my observations on how the day itself feels. I want to capture the way the sun feels kissing brushing up against your skin as you walk down the aisle, the glint of emotion that shifts in your eyes when you see your partner for the first time on your wedding day.

The ceremony was filled with these little emotional charges going from the couple to their family and friends as they exchanged vows and said I do. We lingered in the gardens for the sweet moments that exist solely after the ceremony, filled with wide grins and tight, long embraces that seem to convey so much more than words ever can. Soon I was encouraging their friends to let loose, allowing the joy and excitement of the day to play out in their photos as group as we explored the garden paths together.

Mingling over aperol spritz and charcuterie, their friends and family were able to connect as a string duo softly echoed through the upstairs halls of Harvest. I floated through the spaces both observing and capturing moments as they unfolded and giving opportunities for any requests their family and friends had throughout the evening. Dinner was drenched in the warm glow of the setting sun and candlelight as we heard from family and friends about Kris and Megan’s life together. We ended the first with flash and something sweet as the cake was cut and I headed off to Philly to prep for the next day.

One particularly beautiful aspect of their celebration was its intimate feeling leading into an editorial cocktail party with an urban twist. I met Megan and Kris at The Kimpton Hotel, an Art Deco-Inspired boutique hotel in Center City Philadelphia on Saturday to kick off the night with some editorial flash portraits and scenes around the city. I wanted to give them space to explore the city together and reminisce on their time in Philly while creating some relaxed yet romantic photos together wandering around the city.

When we made our way to Harp & Crown, a Michael Shulson Restaurant with a killer brunch I got to enjoy that morning with friends, we headed downstairs to Elbow Lane for them to be announced to a room filled with all their friends and family. We ate pizza in the moody, soft, romantic light and bowled with cocktails and friends nearby through the night. The old world touches mixed with the luxurious pieces throughout the room made so many perfect photo spots for both flash and ambient photography throughout the night. We ended their celebration with some editorial flash photos, complemented with an espresso martini and Chanel glasses.

A little known practice I’ve begun for myself in preparation for every wedding I do is to pick some words to shoot by throughout our time together. The words I chose to describe how I wanted Megan and Kris’s photos to feel were editorial, a little documentary, fashion forward, romantic, and vintage. I find that encapsulating my vision and my couples into a few words to keep in the back of my head for the day really shifts how I perceive the experience as a whole.

I adore every one of my couples wedding experiences because they are so diverse and unique in the way they choose to celebrate and express themselves throughout the day. If anything, I hope this encourages you to find what feels good for you and yours as you begin to dream up the perfect wedding experience. As always, I would love to connect with you and be beyond honored to help preserve those sweet, fleeting moments for years to come.

With love,

Kirsten