Cassie & AJ's Intimate & Intentional Wedding in Berks County
Cassie & AJ knew what they wanted from the start. In her inquiry form, Cassie wrote “Our vision for the day is to be as relaxed and intentional as possible,” followed by what specific parts of the day she wanted included in her coverage, describing the vibe as candid and loosely structured. As soon as I read her inquiry I did a little happy dance!! and then we got right to work crafting a wedding photography experience that felt aligned and effortless for her and her fiancé.
From the consult call, to the engagement session, to their responses in their pre-wedding questionnaire, Cassie & AJ were deliberate about each and every choice they made for their nuptials. When they decided to get married, they decided they were going to do it their way or not at all, and I love that about them!
Even when it came to small details, they chose what made sense to them. Like when AJ decided to wear his wedding band during their engagement session. Why have I never photographed a groom-to-be who did that? It makes so much sense! And it made their engagement session feel even more personal and meaningful. Take a look >> Fall Engagement Session in the Rolling Hills
There’s so much noise in the wedding industry telling you what to do, how to feel, how to look, who should be invited, etc. etc. It takes courage to choose (your) peace and simplicity in a world of over-complications and unecessarily high expectations.
The couple decided to book a wedding weekend at The South Mountain Inn in Wernersville, PA. This cozy bed & breakfast sits atop a secluded hill and is surrounded by tall, beautiful trees. The view is stunning and the woods are so enchanting in .
What I love most about this venue (other than the wonderful family who owns and maintains it) is that they have up to ten rooms available for you and your closest friends and family to stay for your wedding weekend - breakfast included!
Cassie’s main priority for getting ready coverage was to capture heartfelt moments with her parents. We didn’t spend too much time on AJ’s “getting ready” moments, but of course I had to snap a few natural candids for him to remember the anticipation and excitement he felt on his wedding day.
Then we headed to the couple’s first look. This was something Cassie knew she wanted from the start. Choosing to have an intimate first look, followed by wedding party and family photos, was important to the couple so they could feel present and relaxed during their cocktail hour with their favorite people.
Cassie & AJ chose to legally get married during a private church ceremony a few days before their official wedding day. The ceremony was not documented, as only the couple’s closest family was present. So their documented ceremony at the South Mountain Inn was intentionally kept short and sweet so they could spend more time celebrating with their favorite people.
As the beautiful late afternoon light began to fade, I stole the couple away for 5 minutes of golden hour portraits before they danced the night away.
