There are weddings….and then there are celebrations….and then, if you’re really lucky, sometimes, just sometimes, you’ll get to experience a true wedding celebration. Matt and Alyssa’s wedding day was filled with excitement from the moment we showed up to the moment we left. Everyone at ever minute was always having a good time and that’s truly what makes a wedding day stand out more than others. Alyssa looked stunning in her dress and hair – I personally thought she was right out of a bridal magazine. She was so laid back and fun all day and truly, (this is some advice to all brides out there) – having a laid back and fun attitude on your wedding day sets the mood for everyone and everything else. The reception was by far the most fun and yet ridiculous reception I’ve ever experienced which is why I’ve included a lot of reception photos in this post. I hope you guys enjoy their wedding day as much as I did and can take away some of the emotion and joy from these pictures that I took away from the day. Here’s some of our favorite moments…

I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am about shooting Andy and Sam’s wedding next weekend! This couple is so stinking adorable it just makes your face melt. Seriously, though, Lauren, Andy, and I (yes it was bring your family to work day), had a blast meandering around Philadelphia a couple weeks ago with these two lovebirds. Their wedding will be so much fun! Here’s a couple of our favorites from the day!

If I’m being really honest (and I like to be as honest as possible) I think I enjoy engagement shoots more than weddings. One of the reasons is because I love working with new clients for the first time and really getting to know them, discover their personalities, their story, and capture the essence of their relationship without the constraints of time and the stress of the typical wedding day. Plus, you can go to really cool locations. Matt + Alyssa’s wedding is coming up next week and I can’t wait to capture the day for them! Lauren and I had a blast spending a couple hours with them at Hopewell Furnace National Historical Park in the Elverson area. I really enjoy shooting here as it’s typically pretty empty of people and there are a lot of great nooks and crannies and scenery to interact with. Matt + Alyssa were super fun to work with as it didn’t take much to get Alyssa to smile and laugh with Matt around. Here are some of our favorites from the shoot!

2012 has been shaping out to be a very different year for the photography business. Most of my clientele this year is an hour and half east of me in the Philadelphia area so I have found myself spending a lot more time commuting to shoots. This is definitely not a complaint because it’s been a blast to get to shoot at some new locations and experience some new scenery and face new challenges. Katie and Justin are getting married this July and in the interim we got some engagement photos done at the art museum – a place that seems to be THE location for photography. Here are some of my favorites, hope you enjoy them!

I’m often completely dumbfounded by my wife’s talents. Not only is she an incredible wife, mother, and musician but she truly is the most craftiest person I know. You should seriously see the actual “Smith Factory” in our house where we both do our work. The insane things that she visualizes and then creates from nothing is astounding. Anyways, enough of me bragging about how awesome my wife is. I wanted to take a post to show off her work to all of you because it’s worth showing and making the shameless plug.

Lauren recently made all the jewelry for my brother’s wedding. With the direction and help of the bride, my sister-in-law, Lindsey, and her bridesmaids, Lauren customized every necklace and matching set of earrings for each bridesmaid. They came out absolutely incredible! So proud of her. Here are all the pieces she made.

If you’re interested in using her skills for any custom work for your wedding, feel free to contact her at lauren@thesmithfactory.com

I should also say, if you need any product photography done, please don’t hesitate to contact me!

There’s so much to say about this couple that I don’t even know where to start. PW and I met almost 10 years ago when he left his career to pursue his calling as a musician and ultimately a modern day abolitionist. We met at a Young Life camp where we spent a portion of the summer playing music for campers from all over the country. It was a transformational time in my life and I know it was for PW as well. There are few people I have remained friends with over long distances and long periods of time between visiting – PW is one of those loyal friends that sticks around. Evidence of this was the 14 groomsmen on their wedding day.

I was honored when he and his bride, Amanda, asked me and Lauren to be a part of their wedding day and to have finally gotten to meet Amanda on the day of their wedding. It gave me so much joy to see my dear friend marry the woman of his dreams and see his heart’s desires and prayers be fulfilled by God. What an incredible day to witness and what a privelage to be a part of it.

PW, I love you buddy, and I’m so proud of who you are and the man you’ve grown into over the years. You will be an incredible husband and father and I can’t wait for what the future holds for you and Amanda. Now come visit us soon!

Here are some of my favorite shots from your wedding day.

Trevor and Lauren’s wedding in some ways was the first of the “wedding season” for me. They could not have asked for a nicer day than April 14th of this year, and I could not have asked for a nicer couple. This was the first time I shot a wedding where the ceremony took place before noon and the reception was over before dinner time. It was a very unique day in that sense for me but I could really get used to that schedule. Trevor and Lauren are incredibly photogenic and I discovered this after shooting their engagement pictures back in March. I had no worries that their wedding day would be a blast and that they would make it incredibly easy to capture their love and excitement for one another and for being married. Thank you Trevor and Lauren for including me in your wedding day and thank you Elizabeth Licitra (www.elizabethlicitraphotography.com) for your always awesome assistance and second shooting. As well, thank you Liza Horwath for tagging along for the day, shadowing, and helping out!

Here are some of our favorites from the day…

When I was in high school, my life was changed through an organization called Young Life. It wasn’t necessarily the organization as much as it was the leaders and relationships I created with them that transformed me so much. One of my dear friends, Jason, who was my Young Life leader in High school, has a brother Matt who leads an incredibly successful Young Life ministry in York. So when they were raising money for Young Life in their region, it was a no-brainer to us to give back. So a portrait shoot was auctioned off and I couldn’t be happier with who ended up getting their senior photos with it. Everyone, meet Alex! Ladies, I believe he’s single.  😉  From the time we got to spend with him we could tell he was a class act, great kid – the kind you just don’t come across that often. Was a blast to get to try some new things and try out some new locations in the Lancaster area. I’m pretty sure some illegal trespassing occurred, in so doing, we also discovered some squatters! Here are some of our favorites from the shoot.