“Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.”― Robert A. Heinlein
Wedding photography is a non stop job, especially in upstate New York during fall. This is prime time for us, and for good reason; the gorgeous shades of changing leaves, the crisp air (making for an ideal temperature in a wedding dress), and the cozy feeling it creates, autumn weddings are just overall so charming! With the rush of fall sessions and weddings winding down we only had a few left, and Andrea and James’ was one that Tom and I had been looking forward to since we met them last year. When it comes to a couple like Andrea and James, it’s a giveaway that their wedding is going to be amazing. They are seriously such a sweet couple. What we love most about Andrea and James is their warm welcoming personalities, and the heartwarming love they have for each other, for James’ son, and their adorable little pup.
So let me get to telling you about their wedding day! Picture the perfect fall morning, the sun shining and the birds singing to me on my way to JoJo Bean salon, where Andrea and her bridal party was getting ready for the big day. The girls welcomed me with sweet smiles as I made my way over to the bride to be, as she was getting makeup done. After that was finished we went back to Andrea’s parents house where I got to see her sweet little doggy Rooney, whom Tom and I met at their engagement session and loved. Everything was running smoothly and everyone seemed so relaxed and calm, (even if they weren’t), except Andrea’s wedding shoes ended up with the guys. Luckily, Gavin Law Videographer and shoe delivery man saved the day. When Andrea asked me if it was a crazy wedding, I replied “Not even a little bit, it was a really relaxing wedding day”, and she exhaled and said “good that’s what we were going for”. And they nailed it, because even with all of the crazy things that could happen during a wedding day, Andrea and James kept their heads clear and you could really tell that they were living every moment and just so happy to be getting married.
The ceremony took place at Saint Paul’s in Whitesboro (Tom’s childhood church) As Andrea waited in the bus you could see the excitement growing in her smile, and as I peered up the aisle to see James, his smile was as big as ever as well. When it came time, Andrea’s father escorted her to meet James at the altar. Andrea made a stunning bride and her entire bridal look was the perfect mix of modern and timeless. They shared a beautiful ceremony ending with two kisses (because just one was not enough) and floated back down the aisle arm in arm as husband and wife.
Andrea and James took us back to her family farm, where we took some of their engagement pictures and we all reminisced about that day and felt lucky that the weather was in our favor on this day compared to the rainy/ snowy day we last shared there. We wandered through the tall grass in the fields, taking time to let out some cheers and even practice their first dance. When everyone got hungry they loaded back up on the bus for a short drive to Andrea’s parents house where lunch was waiting for everyone.
Valley View was the next and final stop for the day. White pumpkins, flowers, and candles with gold accents were centerpieces. My very favorite part was the Star Wars inspired cake topper on the dessert table, joined with so many delicious treats. Not only was the desert amazing, but the dinner was one of the best! It just kept getting better, because after dinner, everyone was in for a real treat- a fireworks show. Andrea decided to surprise James in a really special and explosive way! Everyone was oohing and aahing at the incredible display, but the best part of that was being able to capture Andrea and James as they were wrapped up in each other’s arms watching the sky light up next to the orange harvest moon. What a perfect way to end a perfect day!
Thank you Andrea and James for inviting us to be a part of your wedding day! We wish you all the love and happiness!
Simply beautiful