I apologize for being MIA the last week or so.  It has been a crazy couple of weeks, but I have a lot of fun weddings to share with you soon.  My baby sister got married last weekend so I was “off” for a week helping her take care of last minute details.  It was a beautiful wedding and I’m so incredibly happy for her and my new brother-in-law!  I must admit at first it was sort of weird to actually be a guest at the wedding, but after a few glasses of wine, I started to remember what it was like.

I absolutely love when you can completely tell a couple’s personality based on their wedding.  Joanna and Chris are a laid back couple who are all about having fun.  In turn, they wanted their guests to have a relaxing and unforgettable time on their wedding day.  We started off the day getting ready at the couple’s house (the guys were downstairs and the girls were upstairs).  We continued with a first look and portraits right in the couples back yard.  Chris wore a snazzy brown suit, a brown hat, and sported a walking stick to complete his ensemble.  I joked with him that I was disappointed that he wasn’t carrying a pocket watch as well.  Since Carroll County Farm Museum, the venue for the ceremony and reception, was only about 1/2 a mile from the couple’s house, the bridal party rode over in the back of Grandpa’s pickup truck (which by the way was so awesome)!

Family members played guitars for the ceremony music.  Joanna and Chris’s vows were song lyrics that they had chosen.  And in fact, they actually sung them to one another during the ceremony although I’m not sure that was part of the original plan.  There was so much joy and laughter during this ceremony and it was infectious.  The couple danced down the isle after saying their “I Dos” and then we had time for more portraits around the Farm Museum.

Once at the reception, guests were having a blast as Joanna and Chris had planned so many fun activities.  Tim Bracken and his band kept the dancing going for this music loving couple, BBQ was being served under the tent by Salerno’s Catering, several picnic areas were set up where guests could play cards and drink wine while laying on blankets, and yard games including Corn Hole, Horse Shoes, Ladder Ball, Kan Jam, Washer Toss, and Bocce Ball lined the perimeter of the party. The girls all brought a change of red shoes for the red shoe dance which was so fun.  And these two had THE BEST cake smashing I have ever seen!

On another note, Chris is the brother of one of my sister’s very best friends so it was fun to know some of the people in the wedding and it was an even bigger honor for them to allow me to capture their special day.  One thing I know for sure is that this Joanna and Chris will have a life filled with laughter (check out their engagement session) and I have a feeling that they will never let life get boring.  So happy for these two!

Thanks to all fo the amazing vendors who made this day possible:

Venue: Carroll County Farm Museum

Bridal Dress Store: The Bridal Boutique

Dress Designer: Maggie Sottero

Hair/Make-up: Carnegie and Company Hair Design, Inc.

Florist: Cutting Garden

Caterer: Salerno’s Catering

Cake/Bakery: Clement’s Pastry Shop

Reception Music: Tim Bracken and his band

Rentals: Elite Tents