I’m thrilled to announce that Lauren and Kyle’s Wedding was featured on Green Wedding Shoes! See the full post here: Pennsylvania DIY Barn Wedding: Lauren + Kyle.

I photographed Lauren & Kyle's wedding in September at the beautiful McDonald Barn (private residence) in Seven Valleys, Pennsylvania. From the very first email I received from Lauren I knew we were a perfect fit. Lauren & Kyle are the friends you wish you had. They are the life of the party while still oozing a genuine, pure love for their friends. It's beautiful to be present at a wedding where every single soul at the wedding is bursting with joy for the bride and groom. Lauren & Kyle's love for one another poured into every aspect of their wedding. The amount of detail from the hand-drawn programs to the table decor to dessert for every kind of food allergy/preference imaginable (a personal favorite) was simply breathtaking. I'm so happy to finally show you the photos from their beautiful wedding day!

Tattooed Boho Bride at Rustic Farm Wedding | McDonald Barn | Maryland Wedding Photographer

I'm not big on posting every first-look, but something about this one gets me. Maybe it's because I know how nervous Lauren was. Or how squirmy Kyle was. Or how all of that was forgotten the instant they laid eyes on each other.

"With you, I feel completely loved. I can be 100% myself, fully accepted, you are the place where I feel most comfortable. You are my home."

Lauren & Kyle's wedding was home to some of my favorite things: beautiful lighting, cats and good tattoos. This guy filled all 3 quotas.

Lauren & Kyle - I wish you all the happiness in the world! You are beautiful together and I'm lucky to have photographed your wedding day. And many thanks to may baby girl and past-bride, Caitlin Gore, for second shooting!

VENDORS:

Venue: McDonald Barn (Private Residence)
Bride’s Dress: Sarah Seven
Bride’s Belt: Untamed Petals
Bride’s Shoes: J.Crew
Florist: Crimson & Clover
Hair & Makeup: Roxanne Farias-Walsh (Friend)
Groom’s Suit: Zara
Paper Goods: August Schwartz (Bridesman)
Videographer: Tyler W. Davis
Cake: Providence Divine
Caterer: Pizzeria Moto
DJ: Ryan at Mixing Maryland

An Artist and Farmer’s Boho, DIY Wedding | Maryland Wedding Photographer

Every once in a while I receive an email that stops me in my tracks. So much so that no matter what time, what date (well, as long as I'm not booked), what location - I'm there, baby. A word to all potential clients, personality and individuality go a long way. Visual aids don't hurt either. Sweet miss McKenzie did both.

McKenzie emailed me exactly one month before her wedding. Clearly last minute, her email was titled "a desperate plea". By her third sentence in she was telling me about her farm and the sheep, ducks, alpacas, chickens, and honeybees that live there. She also attached a photo of her wedding invitation (below) that she illustrated herself. Take me now, sailor! I needed to shoot this wedding.

Be sure to check out McKenzie's illustrations. She makes some beautiful work! I'm jealous of her skills.

Did I mention the farm animals dressed pretty for the wedding too?

And thus began a most sincerely beautiful wedding day.

The ceremony was held just down the path from McKenzie & Jamie's house. It loved how everything took place on the farm but it felt like three entirely different locations. And wow, the ceremony site was a dream.

This is about where I lost my breath. Could you have asked for a more beautiful day? I think not.

I told McKenzie and Jamie to give me their best "Alpaca Face". It's not every day you can say that. I took advantage of it.

The highlight of the day for me was when McKenzie said "Let's get some pictures with the animals!" I thought "Cool!" imagining some dorky kneel-by-the-fence-and-smile! kind of shot. Before I knew it McKenzie had changed out of her wedding gown into a beautiful summer dress and was holding a trough. The below picture reminds me of something from the Dorothea Lange era. It's my favorite shot of the day.

How to end a post like this? With a sheep cake, of course!