If there was anything that I learned while shooting Ashley & Vince’s engagement session, it was that these two know how to make each other laugh from the soul! So that was reason number one why I was so excited to be a part of their Sheraton Valley Forge wedding day. Add in a ceremony at one of my favorite churches and portraits in my backyard, and the recipe for a perfect wedding day is set.
Getting Ready for their Wedding Vows
When we arrived at Ashley’s family home for bridal prep, the room was filled with joy. The ladies were buzzing with excitement, all the way down to the littlest flower girl. While we were upstairs styling and capturing the beautiful details, the wedding party were goofing off in the backyard and celebrating with Ashley. When it was time to get ready, Ashley’s mother & sister joined us upstairs to button her into her beautiful Martina Liana wedding gown.
When Ashley came down the stairs, her dad was nervously waiting for her in the front room. As he saw her for the first time, both Ashley & her father were holding back tears. It was an emotionally overpowering moment for both of them!
Ashley’s wedding party had a letter from Vince for her to read before she left for the church. It was perfectly written in poetic form. Even when he was nowhere to be found, Vince left Ashley laughing.
At their home, Vince and his guys were putting on the finishing touches. After a few minutes, they headed over to St Matthews in Conshohocken to prepare for the wedding ceremony.
Their Wedding Ceremony at St Matthew’s
As Ashley walked down the aisle, she took the breath out of the entire crowd, but no one gasped more than her groom. Vince was beaming as she approached him. They celebrated with a full Catholic mass, including a lovely homily that included harassing Ashley for every minute she was late. But every minute was worth the wait when Ashley & Vince held each other for their first kiss as Mr & Mrs. They were absolutely beaming as they floated down the aisle together.
Valley Forge National Park wedding portraits
One of the best things about the location of the Sheraton Valley Forge is it’s proximity to Valley Forge National Park which has a ton of different backdrops for an epic portrait session. So, before we headed out for their reception at the Sheraton Valley Forge, we started off at the Memorial Arch at the national park for a beautiful portrait session. One of the interesting things about shooting in a public place is that you never know what other people might be sharing the space with you. On Ashley & Vince’s wedding day, we encountered a random meditator who walked in to the back of their pictures and hung out on the ledge of the monument, another wedding photographer who moved in and shot directly over my camera, and plenty of sightseers and dog-walkers. But none of the distractions could have detracted from the real focus of the day – Ashley & Vince with their best friends & family!
Then we wandered over to the Maurice Stephens House for a change of scenery. This time, we left the wedding party on the bus and focused on Ashley & Vince together. We took some of our favorite veil shots there with these two! Once we got through their portrait session, it was just a quick ride over to the Sheraton Valley Forge.
Wedding Reception at the Sheraton Valley Forge
Ashley & Vince had a wedding reception for the record book. The ballroom at the Sheraton Valley Forge was stunning with walls of mirrors, purple uplighting, and towering centerpieces. From the beginning, these two entered in party mode. The entered with blow up guitars riffing and laughed their way into the first dance. Ashley teared up as her sister toasted her happiness. These two danced joyfully with their parents. And then, the dance floor opened up and the party began!
Ashley & Vince, we had the best time celebrating and laughing the day together with you. We hope that this was only the first of a lifetime of parties that you celebrate together.
