Wedding at the Inn at St John’s

Kelsey and Tony’s wedding at the Inn at St John’s

Sometimes, towards the end of the wedding season, it can be difficult to get excited.  Your body is sore, you have spent endless hours in front of a computer, and all you can do is think about having a weekend off so you can spend time with family.  However, I was more than excited this New Year’s Eve, not because my season was almost over, but because of the people I got to celebrate it with.  Two years ago, I met with Kelsey and Tony to discuss their wedding.  Due to some unfortunate circumstances, the wedding had to be delayed.  What happened during that time was a beautiful transformation of what the wedding would come to represent.  It wasn’t just a celebration of love anymore; it was a celebration of life as well.

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Kelsey and Tony had their wedding at the Inn at St John’s.  Having all aspects of the wedding day – bride and groom prep, ceremony, cocktail hour, and the reception – makes for an easy and enjoyable day for everyone, especially your guests.  Flowing from the ceremony right into the cocktail hour and dinner normally encourages all of your guests to attend all of the festivities.  It also makes for a different type of wedding experience for the bride and groom, with more private time built into the beginning of the wedding while the evening is more for socializing.  Regardless, Kelsey and Tony’s wedding at the Inn at St John’s was perfect.  Kelsey’s morning was spent surrounded by friends sharing tons of fun, memories, and laughs.  I knew it was going to be a great bridal party to work with when I knocked on the door and waited…and waited…and waited…because the music and laughter was so loud no one heard me knocking!

As Kelsey was putting her finishing touches on, Tony was getting ready.

With a mix of nervousness and excitement, it was time for their first look.  A secluded hallway was the perfect spot to share this private moment.

After a few minute together, it was time to use the beautiful grounds at the Inn at St John’s for their formals.  Unfortunately, it was raining all day; however, there is more than enough place to shoot inside for any wedding at the Inn at St John’s.

After spending some time together, we met up with their families and bridal party and continued documenting their day.  I love photographing lineage and families.  Tony’s grandpa had a quiet and warm presence that served him well as the patriarch.  I wanted to create an image that all three generations of men would be proud of.

With guests starting to arrive, we didn’t want them to see Kelsey before she walked down the aisle.  The ballroom was beautifully decorated with the help of Lasting Touch.  The gold hues and black linens perfectly complimented the bouquets and dresses of the bridesmaids.  Each one of the bridesmaids had this confidence about them, so I decided to change up the pose a little bit and create something less formal and a bit more expressive.

Kelsey’s dad was adding some tasteful, yet colorful commentary about how beautiful the bridesmaids were.  We decided to let him in have his own photo with them.

With a few minutes left before Kelsey walked down the aisle, we wrapped up our formals with timeless family portraits.

Next, it was time for their wedding at the Inn at St John’s.

The chapel at the Inn at St. John’s is beautiful.  It used to be a convent used as a place of study and prayer, hence the unique location of the pews.

The priest for their ceremony was genuine and thought-provoking, while also very down-to-earth.  Before Kelsey and Tony could sit down, he asked that their chairs be turned so they could face their guests, making the homily more of a communal experience.  It was a wonderful touch.  Instead of speaking to Kelsey and Tony and the guests feeling like passive observers, we were all one as he delivered his homily.

After a touching ceremony, it was time to celebrate.

I don’t think I have ever had a groom so animated to enter into his own wedding reception.  Like I said, this was more than just a wedding; it was a celebration of life and all the joy it has to offer.

After a round of heartfelt speeches and an incredible dinner, it was time for their first dance as husband and wife.

One of the best things about a New Year’s Eve wedding, especially a wedding at the Inn at St John’s, is that guests stay late, party hard, and can safely spend the night in the hotel above.  All night, the dance floor was packed with people having fun and enjoying themselves.

Even Tony got in on the fun before the clock struck midnight.

As midnight approached, guests grabbed champagne and surrounded the newlyweds.

“5…4…3…2…1…HAPPY NEW YEAR!”

Before I end this post, I have to give special recognition to Jennie from Beautiful Day Planning.  Everything went smoothly from the moment I arrived because her and her team worked so smoothly, were proactive, and communicated effectively with Kelsey, Tony, and other vendors.  She was an integral part to the success of this wedding.

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Congratulations Kelsey and Tony!  I couldn’t have imagined a better way to bring in 2019.