During my initial consult I usually recommend we do their engagement session in a place that is meaningful to them.  It can be a place they met, fell in love or where they spend a good deal of their time now building new memories.  For some people, this is not so easy.  I’ll be introducing you to such a couple in a coming post. This couple, though, it was easy.

In fact everything about them is easy going.  Maybe it’s the teacher in them.  I don’t know… But I will tell you Kate is on the ball and because of her attention to detail it’s truly a wedding I’m really looking forward to.  And yet, she makes it all look easy and stress free.  Yes, it must be the teacher thing.

They’ll be getting married next June at St Paul’s Catholic Church and their reception will be held at The Nassau Inn, both in Princeton, NJ.  It’s going to be an amazing affair with Kristin Rockhill of Details of I Do planning the affair.

For those who know me, you’ll know I get excited about things like dresses and shoes and stationary and well any other meaningful details.  Kate’s ideas get me excited for June 2011!

So, without further adieu… Meet Kate and Andrew…

Love completely and great love is yours.

From the moment I met them on that freezing cold day last winter, I knew I would.  You get to learn a lot about people when you spend a few hours in that kind of climate. #1- Their lips turn blue when they are cold.  #2- They are not complainers and #2 – Marc can make anyone, even me,  laugh with just one look and #3 – They are both  genuinely kind, gracious and just plain fun to be around. I feel incredibly honored to have been included in their wedding day and touched by how warm their friends and family were.  From the Ever-Enjoyable Father of the Bride to the little boy who danced dangling from my leg, I honestly enjoyed every minute of it.

They were married at high noon at the beautiful Tavistock Country Club in Haddonfield, NJ.    Reverend (Dr) Marks  did the honors and it’s always so meaningful when the officiant has known one of them their whole life. That was the case with Brittany.  He  was good for a few laughs and tender moments too.  I asked Brittany which things were most meaningful for her when I was preparing to shoot her wedding and she said, “Our family, especially  those who we don’t often see in one place together.” It was amazing for me too.    There is no doubt where Brittany gets her good looks and amazingly infectious smile.

To Marc and Brittany,  Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your beautiful love story.    I was truly touched by watching your grand parents together at your wedding and was left hopeful that one day you two will be dancing at your own grand daughter’s wedding.  They remind me of something I heard once about great love and how it never grows old.  Such a beautiful thing to see!

Wishing you great love….

An excerpt of images taken by Shari DeAngelo. Brittany and Marc toughed very cold temperatures at Longwood Gardens and we got to put together a Save the Date slide show for the upcoming wedding at Tavistock Country in Haddonfield, NJ

Related posts:

1. Brittany and Marc |Longwood Gardens | Philadelphia Wedding Photographer
2. Tiffany and Cody | Engagement | NJ Wedding Photographer

So what do you get when you mix 2 amazingly beautiful people in love, freezing cold temperatures, a little snow and bright bright sunshine? You get breath you can see, love you can feel and…well OK, you get cold fingertips. But just a little.

Brittany, Marc and I met up at Longwood Gardens to 26 degrees.  We weren’t sure how comfortable we’d be outside for any extended period so Longwood really was the perfect place to pull off a January engagement session.  OK, nearly perfect.  I had put an order in for 4 inches of snow and only about 1.5 fell.  And Marc had visions of water fountains that were off because of the freezing temps.   Still, we needed a place that  represented this outdoors couple. Too bad they don’t allow dogs for photography (then it really would have been perfect)!

We all were pleasantly surprised by how pleasant it was out there. Maybe it was the brisk pace and acreage we covered, but I think it was the good company and fun we were having! Seriously… the most I’ve laughed in a session in a long time!

For example… We were walking around inside the main arboretum when we fell upon the children’s garden area. Marc, without skipping a beat was up on a ledge opening his mouth for the pulsing water fountain to aim so that it was going in his mouth. A second later, Brittany was up there joining in the fun. Just as the water started to spray across and behind them, it hit Brittany square in the back of the head. We were all laughing so hard that I only got one photo that was in focus. Thankfully it was the one I show below.

I am often finding myself amazed at how lucky I am by the couples I get to work with. To say I absolutely adore this couple and can’t wait for their wedding day, is an understatement!

To Brittany and Marc, thank you, from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to play a small role in your beautiful love story. May 22nd can’t come soon enough!

Related posts:

1. Tiffany and Cody | Engagement | NJ Wedding Photographer

From this day forth.

I really love a good love story, so when I got the call from Mike McNett about this wedding I jumped at the chance to join him as his second. I love the way Zoey and Ike wove together the traditional aspects of the Nigerian and American cultures and how they honored their families, and most importantly the mothers.

They opted to have a very private moment to see each other (commonly referred to as the “first look”) prior to meeting each other in front of everyone and walking down the aisle together. There was such an amazing and intense moment between the two of them that Mike and I were both fighting our own tears. It was so pure and so beautiful that it reminded us why it is important to take these little moments. We remember all that is behind them and took look forward to the future.

Together. Forever.

This wedding was so romantic and touching that as I put together this blog post, I got choked up all over again.

Those who know me will know that I have a particular weakness for shoes. I was like a little girl squealing when I saw Zoey’s red shoes. So, you know I had to take a shot of those and the ever lovely Zoey granted my whimsical nature with it.

To Zoey and Ike, thank you for having me along and may the best days of your past be the worst days of your future and may you always experience the kind of beautiful love I witnessed that day. Oh and Zoey, can I borrow your shoes now?

Shari DeAngelo Photography | Philadelphia Wedding  Photographer & Lifestyles Photography | Fine Art, Fashion, Lifestyles and Wedding Photographer located in Haddonfield, NJ and Philadelphia PA. Local and Destination services available.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t share something with you besides a few images from the day.  The staff at Bear Creek Mountain Resort were outstanding… I mean above and beyond great.    The Wedding Coordinator for this event was Lisa Geiger.   She never missed a beat and was more than on-top of things.  I’ve seen quite a few coordinators and she stands out as one of the better.  The food and service were amazing too, thanks to the capable hands of Jonathan and Jenny.  I was very pleasantly surprised by how organized and pleasant the entire staff was.  Right down to the porter who made sure I never ran out of cranberry juice.  It may seem like a little thing, but if they did that for one of the other vendors, imagine how they took care of the guests.   Indeed it seemed to be the way things are just done there.  I look forward to the next event I get invited to shoot there!

The wedding.  It was an absolutely beautiful ceremony, complete with sun spilling in beyond the soon-to-be snow covered slopes and my own favorite wedding temperature: 65 degrees!!  There was enough positive energy in the crowd to warm anyone who may have preferred warmer temperatures, I’m sure.   It was really really perfect.  Lauren was so beautiful and elegant and Jason looked so calm and collected.  My favorite moment actually occurred as the processional was starting.  Both the the flower girl and the ring bearer were not feeling well and just as they got to the back line of chairs the ring bearer decided he didn’t want to go.  He was held up by one arm and bounced down the aisle off one foot for the remainder of the walk.  We were all laughing and enjoying the good-natured fun.  It was too cute!!

Lauren and Jason.  Just beautiful.  Inside and out.  Thank you for having me along.  May the rest of your lives be as blessed as your wedding day was.

Shari DeAngelo Photography | Philadelphia Wedding  Photographer & Lifestyles Photography | Fine Art, Fashion, Lifestyles and Wedding Photographer located in Haddonfield, NJ and Philadelphia PA. Local and Destination services available.

This couple contacted me awhile back about some Post Bridal work I’d done at Eastern State Penitentiary.  When Amber told me their story about how they’d gotten married in Niagara Falls and that their wedding photographer didn’t show, it broke my heart.  I was more than happy to oblige their whimsical nature and rock that frock at ESP with them!

And that we did.

She met with my hair and makeup artist prior to our shoot and she looked stunning.  I mean really stunning.  Sam is one of those guys you instantly like when you meet.  That was they case with me.  He had me laughing the entire time we traipsed through Philadelphia.  Our afternoon together started inside the prison then we meandered to some of my favorite corners to photograph subjects.

Eastern State Penitentiary always delights me with the way the light plays off the subjects and how it offers such dramatic views of this historical land mark.  Closed in 1972 it remains as notorious today as it was when it was still a working prison.  Famous prisoners included Al Capone and today you can see his cell, and just how the prison gave certain privileges to this oft idolized mobster.

Although ESP is not the first place some folks think of for romantic backdrops it always ends up being just that.  Everyone leaves with the same feeling.  There’s just something extraordinarily beautiful about a bride and groom celebrating their love amongst ruins.

I am tickled pink to share this most recent session with you.  Please meet Amber and Sam.  Congratulations you two crazy wonderful people!  May your life always be blessed together and may you always find your love, even amongst the ruins!

Shari DeAngelo Photography | Philadelphia Wedding  Photographer & Lifestyles Photography | Fine Art, Fashion, Lifestyles and Wedding Photographer located in Haddonfield, NJ and Philadelphia PA. Local and Destination services available.

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Every so often we hear a story about high school loves that withstand time and the tribulations that life sometimes throws at us. When you meet Tiffany and Cody you’re instantly aware of how deep their love is for one another and for how real and genuine they are to each other and even though the years of their youth are behind them, they still have that special something. It makes me believe there really is that one true love for each of us… and to believe some people are really lucky and find it early in life. I really and truly believe that is the case with this two.

I had SO much fun with this couple. We started at the place they met and actually got to go inside the high school building (who knew we’d be able to do that on a Sunday?) We found her locker… we sneaked into the stair well, we went to a park, splashed around in some water and then headed to the beach… but not without out stopping once or twice for my whimsical moments (soybeans anyone?)

I absolutely cannot wait until their wedding. They are as beautiful on the inside as they are outside!

Shari DeAngelo Photography | Philadelphia Wedding  Photographer & Lifestyles Photography | Fine Art, Fashion, Lifestyles and Wedding Photographer located in Haddonfield, NJ and Philadelphia PA. Local and Destination services available.

Mary and Zach… July 11, 2009.

In the meantime… a teaser…

Many thanks to Mike McNett for second shooting and to Vida Carson for pinch hitting as my assistant for the day.