It was an exceedingly pleasant July morning when we arrived to photograph John and Jaclyn as they got ready for the best day of their lives. They each were at their own home, sharing this last special morning under the same roof with their families. John’s living room was full of garment bags, shoes, ties, jackets and of course, rowdy groomsmen. In the midst of all these men was John’s mother, making sure the boys were fed and looking their best.
Jaclyn, meanwhile, was primping and getting dolled up at her house, just a few minutes away. Her dress was hung with care on a handmade hanger emblazoned with this very special date and what was to be her new last name. In the flurry of activity – hair, makeup, putting on dresses and shoes – there was peace on Jackie’s face. And as we photographed her details, we discovered why. There on her bouquet and on the belt of her dress were two small picture frames featuring a beautiful woman. In one she was in her own wedding dress and the other, she was standing next to a teenage Jaclyn with a look of pure pride and joy. This was her mother whom they very sadly lost to illness in 2008. It became apparent that even though her mother was not there physically, her spirit shone forth in Jackie’s smile and in the love she had, not just for John, but for her father and siblings as well.
They had opted for a first look which, besides being immensely practical at times, is a wonderful way to get wedding day jitters out before walking down the aisle. We set the stage at MERION GOLF CLUB where Jackie’s dad is a member. Beneath the welcome shade of a spindly tree, John waited patiently for his bride to be. As a soft breeze blew, she walked up slowly behind him and gently placed her hand on his shoulder. After a seeming eternity, John turned and saw his almost wife and the world stopped. Queue tears, kisses and long embraces. A singular moment, and one we were privileged to witness. After this tender memory had been formed, we took some time to take bridal party portraits before heading over to the ceremony.
After their ceremony, we headed over to the PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART and had some time with just John and Jaclyn (and a few dozen tourists). The stairs are a great way to get dimension and offer a variety of posing options. We even snuck off to the less popular side staircase for a preview of their first dance and some beautiful moments between the newlyweds. Then, it was a quick stop at Broad Street before delivering them safe to their reception to dance the night away!
You can read all the details of this lovely wedding in our previous posts here, here, and here.
