I have known Richard for years; our grandmothers were best friends and because of this amazing friendship, their two families essentially became one. When we were young, our families would combine for countless gatherings, but as everyone grew up and moved away, it was sometimes years before another gettogether. For this reason and many others, I was SO excited when Richard and Kate chose me to photograph their wedding!

The day was absolutely perfect; mid-70s, mostly sunny with a few light clouds painted across the sky. Kate and the girls were busy getting ready when we arrived at the La Quinta Inn & Suites in Verona. We took the opportunity to grab some shots of the dress hanging outside before Kate put it on and her mom added her veil as the final touch. Before we had to get moving to the church, we had time to quickly set up a first look with dad shot, which was so sweet!

St. Mary’s Parish in Clinton, NY was absolutely gorgeous, inside and out. As the family arrived, I saw many familiar faces and was greeted with hugs. The ceremony was beautiful, heartfelt, and at times quite humorous. I caught Richard and Kate smiling or laughing together many times throughout and I couldn’t stop from smiling as well. Once they exchanged vows and sealed them with a kiss, the newlyweds proceeded outside to thank their guests for coming.

After a few family photos in front of the church, we proceeded to the picturesque Hayloft on the Arch, a spacious, beautifully restored barn with unique architecture, situated on 18 acres of lush countryside. This reception had everything from a delicious taco bar, by Alto Cinco in Syracuse, to a plethora of lawn games to adorably well-dressed kids that LOVED to dance.

As the night went on, I noticed the light outside beginning to glow through the large open doorways. We were able to steal Kate and Richard away for a few more portraits featuring one of the most magnificent sunsets I have ever seen. Radiant colors were painted across the sky with a variety of clouds adding texture to the scene.

I absolutely love capturing genuine emotion; true, honest expressions of love and joy, and it never gets more real than the smiles at a wedding. As I clicked through to edit, picture after picture, I found myself smiling; the love these two share is so completely obvious, it’s infectious.

Kate & Richard – thank you so much for choosing me to capture your day, it was such a pleasure! I wish you all the best – CONGRATULATIONS!

Here are some highlights from Kate & Richard’s day:

Special thank you to all who made this event an incredible success, including my best friend, Breanna, for being my second shooter!