When I was asked to photograph Alli and Chris’s wedding, I was so excited. Alli and I have been friends since childhood, growing up around the block from one another. I’ve seen her come of age and blossom into an incredible person; she is a talented musician with a beautiful voice and skilled at song writing. Her heart has always been full of compassion for others which has lead her down a path of serving others in her career. Her energy is both fierce and soft all in the same breath. It had been a few years since we saw each other in person (thanks distance + pandemic) so I hadn’t gotten a chance to meet her fiancé Chris. I knew he proposed to her using a Pokéball and that he worked on cars. They lived in Philly together creating a happy life. I had seen Instagram photos of their shared husky, Misha. I went into this day, 8 months pregnant and working solo; I didn’t mind though, I knew it was going to be special.
I personally loved that they chose Shady Acres Organic Farm for their wedding venue, it was completely true to Alli’s roots located just two miles of her childhood home. Shady Acres is as the name suggest, an organic farm that makes in house jams, honey and provisions. The manager, Sasha (who I’ve become friends with and absolutely adore) grew up on the property and has helped create the venue portion of the working farm. The farm house has a lovely downstairs event space and a fantastic upper level lofted bridal suite. Sasha has a passion for interior design and aesthetics, and it shines throughout. There is a large open air pavilion, small green houses and outdoor organic garden beds, a row of fruit bearing trees (with the prettiest flowers in the spring!) and a lush pine forest that houses their ceremony location.
So fast forward to day of. It’s a chilly, drizzly Saturday in May. The Hudson Valley is green and overcast with the occasional rain coming through. I packed my car with a bunch of clear umbrellas because there was no avoiding the forecast. I arrive, and immediately get the last few moments of Alli getting ready. Chris has arrived, and I quickly stock him up with an umbrella and we decide to proceed with the first look outside in the elements. Having not met Chris until this moment, I took him in. He stood stoic and calm in a dark green suit that matched the woods behind him. I put him into position and run upstairs to get Alli. As I approached her in the loft, the skies outside suddenly eased up, and the first hint of sunshine glimmered through the clouds and shined into the bridal suite; which is where these photos begin.
When Alli got outside and made her way to Chris I was excited to finally see these two together. When they saw each other they both beamed. They walked us over to their ceremony area and we took some quick portraits before guests began arriving.
Pokémon evolution references were made in the ceremony like poetry. After they kissed and walked to the end of the aisle, Chris swept Alli up into his arms to carry her down the hill. It was magical.
It was an honor to capture this day and I look forward to seeing these two evolve together in the future.
Vendor credits:
Venue, Shady Acres Organic Farm, Middletown NY
Dress, BHLDN
Suit, Giorgio Fiorelli
Florist, Deja Vu Florals
Misha’s collar, FlowerHungry
Rings, Aeriswings
Band, Nailed Shutt
