Kati and Joe fell in love with the River House at Odette’s even before construction on it was finished! Then, pandemic. Construction and their wedding were both delayed. It was a long year of waiting, but their patience was rewarded when things opened back up and they were able to have the wedding they’d always dreamed.
Getting Ready at the River House at Odette’s
It was a sunny and somewhat humid day as we drove alongside the Delaware River up to the beautiful and brand new River House at Odette’s. We ran into Kati’s lovely planner Andi from Musa Weddings in the parking lot, and all walked upstairs together.
When Kati opened the door, she was the picture of calm. Her flawless makeup by the artists at Gloss Studio and hair were perfectly set. As we got her details in place to capture, we heard lots of laughter as one of her flower girls entertained everyone with some killer dance moves. She and Joe each had the wedding date engraved into their rings. A somewhat gutsy move, considering all the pandemic rescheduling. But we admired the moxie and their gamble had more than paid off.
Kati was more than ready to get dressed, and with her stunning Morilee wedding gown, it was easy to see why. So we didn’t keep her any longer. She slipped into the lacy sparkling gown with the help of her mom and matron of honor, Noelle.
When all the buttons were done, they stood back and stared in awe. She was utterly stunning. But the best came next when her father, Mati, entered the room. As he saw Kati in full bridal attire, his eyes welled and his voice broke. “I’m not sure what I expected, but this is better than I could’ve imagined. You look beautiful.” He then gave her a huge hug and a gift from him and her mother. A stunning bracelet for a stunning bride. One of the sweetest family moments we’ve had the joy to photograph so far this year.
Meanwhile, Joe had been spending an easy-going morning with his groomsmen. His suit fit him spectacularly, and his hair was perfectly coiffed. Both his parents lent a hand as he got ready. It takes a village sometimes. But he was ready to rock n roll and so we left the River House at Odette’s to get to the church on time.
Ceremony at St. Cyril of Jerusalem
It was a short drive from the River House at Odette’s to the beautiful church where Joe and Kati would exchange their vows and rings. Guests were arriving and being seated when we pulled up in the bus. There were only a few minutes and an aisle separating Kati and Joe from being together forever. It was go time.
The traditional “Here Comes the Bride” rang out as the doors opened to reveal Kati with her dad. It was a long and graceful walk down the aisle for Kati, a moment of time we’re sure is preserved in Joe’s memory with vivid clarity. Mati raised her blusher, and placed her hand in Joe’s.
Their traditional ceremony lawfully bound them together as husband and wife, which they sealed with a kiss and those lovely engraved rings. After some family portraits at the church, we made our way back to the River House at Odette’s for portraits and the party!
Portraits & Reception at the River House at Odette’s
It was still fairly warm – ok, hot – when we got back to the River House at Odette’s for portraits. We worked our way through wedding party portraits as quickly as we could to get people back to the air conditioning. Kati and Joe were troopers as we kept them outside for a bit longer to capture some stunning portraits of the two of them. However, once the bugs descended on Joe, our time quickly ran out. And we don’t blame him at all. They literally followed him around. So we ran away, and took a few minutes during their reception to grab an epic portrait during their party. Just wait.
Kati and Joe’s River House at Odette’s reception kicked off with a bang! Deja Blue by BVT kicked off the night with introductions of the wedding party and the new Mr and Mrs Opalka! Kati and Joe invited everyone to join them for their first dance and when that wound down, the dancing began in earnest with a short dance set.
Once everyone had found their seats to begin dinner, Kati’s father, Mati, had the chance to offer a toast to the newlyweds. His speech was sweet, and he reminded his daughter that he was immensely proud of her. He offered a small piece of advice from his over 50 year marriage to Kati’s mom (WHOA). Don’t sweat the small stuff, and fight for each other. It was beautiful.
Noelle’s speech, likewise, ended with a great piece of advice. Love in marriage is a daily choice, and if you choose each other each day, even when it’s hard, you’ll have a beautiful marriage that lasts the ages.
Once dinner was finished, it was party time! Kati and Joe were flitting about the whole night. Dancing with friends, sitting with people at the tables, visiting and celebrating with anyone and everyone they could. Deja Blue kept the dance floor packed, and we briefly got Kati and Joe to sit for a few minutes to create a more unique portrait.
Their wedding at the River House at Odette’s was a stunner and we hope they have many happy years together!
