Josh & Ali: DJ on the Green

July 18, 2016 Kiersten Shank

Photography by Daniel Fugaciu: www.danielweddings.com

Josh and Ali were such a fun couple to film, it felt more like sharing a special day than work! Especially when Ali took over the dance floor with her serious DJ skills!

The wedding was at White Manor Country Club, which had some really beautiful scenes like the one above. I don't even mind that I had to run all around them to get the right shots! :)

Creative Eventology did all of the event planning that made the night special and really really fun!

Including when Ali took over the DJ station and jammed out! She's no amateur!

Josh and Ali is the kind of couple that is fun just to be around, it's more like one cool person than two different people. You could tell they were in love and all that jazz, but you could also tell they were just two fun people on a regular day.

Look out soon for the highlight video that will cover this whole awesome wedding! In the meantime, you can check out Daniel Fugaciu's blog for more pictures!

Rustic Wedding Ideas at the Phoenixville Shoot!

June 21, 2016 Kiersten Shank

I love big bridal styled shoots because I get to work with a bunch of wedding companies all at once. Ashley Gerrity Photography and Elizabeth Moore Photography worked with me in capturing this Rustic Phoenixville styled shoot! If you are interested in having a rustic wedding, this should give you a hundred ideas!

Photography by Ashley Gerrity PhotographyBrides (from left to right): Sydney Paige, Siv McKinlay, and Amberlee Namini — Photography by Ashley Gerrity Photography
Brides (from left to right): Sydney Paige, Siv McKinlay, and Amberlee Namini

We worked with three brides at this shoot, which was great because they all had their own unique personality.

Photography by Ashley Gerrity Photography | Bride: Amberlee NaminiBridal Gown by The Wedding Shoppe — Photography by Ashley Gerrity Photography | Bride: Amberlee Namini
Bridal Gown by The Wedding Shoppe

The stunning dresses were provided by The Wedding Shoppe in Philadelphia. Each wedding dress was a little unique, a little classic and, fittingly, a little rustic.

Hair and makeup was done by The Bonafide Ginger. I could have chosen a picture of any of the brides because they all looked incredible!

Photography by Ashley Gerrity Photography | Bride: Siv McKinlay — Photography by Ashley Gerrity Photography | Bride: Siv McKinlay

Rustic Wedding Ideas

Hair and Makeup

The hair at this shoot was intricately detailed, but also had a natural look. As seen in the picture below, the bride (Amberlee Namini) had her hair braided and pinned. This bride had the most rustic look of all, in a great way! The pinned braid looked very classic but also approachable and interesting.

Photography by Ashley Gerrity Photography | Bride: Amberlee Namini — Photography by Ashley Gerrity Photography | Bride: Amberlee Namini

Calligraphy

All calligraphy was done by Tallula Ketubahs

The calligraphy is very detailed and historic. It is so far from print, you almost have to squint to read it! The style added a sense of rustic elegance to the wedding and, in my opinion, tied the whole theme together.

Photography by Ashley Gerrity Photography | Calligraphy by Tallula Ketubahs — Photography by Ashley Gerrity Photography | Calligraphy by Tallula Ketubahs

Advice Box

Photography by Ashley Gerrity Photography

There are many options that can be chosen, but I think an advice box is a perfectly rustic accessory to the wedding. All flowers and event design arranged by Lindsey Morgan Events. The calligraphy reads "advice for the newlyweds," and the box itself is glass and surrounded by flowers.

A modern substitute for the advice box would be a wedding hashtag where everyone can send their messages through social media. This is a great, interactive event at weddings, but not for a rustic theme. Instead, have each relative pick up a paper card with styled calligraphy, where they can write out an honest, heartfelt message between you and them. That old-fashioned connection between family is what I think a rustic theme should be all about.

If you are looking for a creative wedding theme, I think a rustic design is a great decision! And if you decide to go rustic, I hope these tips and ideas can help!

Wedding at the Philadelphia Zoo!

June 21, 2016 Kiersten Shank

Credit: http://www.philadelphiazoo.org/Plan-an-Event/Weddings.aspx — Credit: http://www.philadelphiazoo.org/Plan-an-Event/Weddings.aspx

Monica and Jamie were geniuses and celebrated their wedding at the Philadelphia Zoo! The photography and DJ were provided by PartyMasterz! The venue was something different but it was also beautiful and classic at the same time. It was a great way to celebrate the warm weather and everyone had something to do!

The night started with cocktails in the PECO Primate Reserve. The log-cabin design makes it feel like we're coming back from a safari, and all around the room are glass exhibits featuring primates like orangutans and gorillas! The theme is that you are entering an abandoned logging camp out in the wild, it was one of the coolest reception concepts I've seen :)

PECO Primate ReserveCredit: http://www.philadelphiazoo.org/Plan-an-Event/Exhibits-Event-Spaces/PECO-Primate-Reserve.htm — PECO Primate Reserve
Credit: http://www.philadelphiazoo.org/Plan-an-Event/Exhibits-Event-Spaces/PECO-Primate-Reserve.htm

Most of the reception was at the Rare Animal Conservation Center. This area was a gorgeous glass exhibit for all of the most endangered animals at the zoo. Animals like the Golden Lion Tamarin and the two-toed sloth had their own exhibits. Even with all of the animal exhibits in the room it still felt big and comfortable.

The conservation center also highlights the different conservation projects and scientific research that the zoo is helping to fund. It was great to have the reception in this room, because hosting a wedding at the zoo is a big contribution to these projects! It almost felt like a big 'thank you' from the zoo and it felt really special to be celebrating in that room.

Keep an eye out for the full highlight video of Monica and Jamie's amazing wedding coming out soon!

Wish Upon a Wedding at Bolingbroke Mansion

June 21, 2016 Kiersten Shank

I was able to take part in a big collaborative event in February to support Wish Upon a Wedding, a non-profit service that grants weddings and vow renewals to couples that have a serious illness. The event was held at Bolingbroke Mansion in Radnor.

Bolingbroke Mansion. Photography by Brittani Elizabeth Photography

The event was in February but The Perfect Palette was kind enough to make an article all about it on Monday! We worked with vendors like Brittani Elizabeth Photography and The Master's Baker to make this shoot as special as the organization we were celebrating. Floral design was done by Garnish, event design by Trilogy Event Design, and My Arbelle provided a stunning gold tree to commemorate the occasion.

Tree by My Arbelle. Photography by Brittani Elizabeth Photography

The Master's Baker made a wonderful watercolor cake as part of the event.

Cake by The Master's Baker. Photography by Brittani Elizabeth Photography

It was a great opportunity to work with vendors from all over the industry to help support this wonderful foundation. Wish Upon a Wedding has helped so many couples facing serious illness to have the wedding or vow renewal of their dreams. It was an honor to help support a great cause.

Bolingbroke Mansion was the perfect venue for the cause. The quaint but classic feel of the venue matches the meaning of the event perfectly; people throw elaborate weddings and they are always so much fun, but sometimes it's more special to celebrate the day with a simple, rustic, beautiful location.

Photography by Brittani Elizabeth Photography

A giant ballroom is stunning, but the historic stone and the wooded paths of Bolingbroke are home. It's the comfort and history of family. It's entire lifetimes that have come before you and made wonderful memories in the same house you're now making memories in. On a day celebrating an organization that makes memories for the people that need it, Bolingbroke felt absolutely perfect.

Dan and Ashley's Big Day!

May 25, 2016 Kiersten Shank

We were able to join Josiah and Steph Photography to capture Dan and Ashley's special day! Dan and Ashley celebrated at Barn on Bridge, a wonderful wedding venue that is hidden away in Collegeville, PA! And to cap all of the excitement together, DJ Silver Sound provided the entertainment.

The Barn on Bridge is the perfect venue for an out-of-the-box style wedding. Everything rustic and country is celebrated at Barn on Bridge. Mason jars, lace, candle chandeliers and wooden beams mark the unique and comfortably different style. Half of the excitement of Dan and Ashley's wedding was just being at the venue!

&nbs… — **Source:**
http://www.wedding-spot.com/venue/3241/The-Barn-on-Bridge/

Photography by Josiah & Steph at josiahandsteph.com

I love a great outdoor wedding, when the weather cooperates :) It's that much more special in the open air.

The wedding had a beautiful rose gold color scheme, including the dresses and the grooms fashion.

Photgraphy by Josiah & Steph at josiahandsteph.com — Photgraphy by Josiah & Steph at josiahandsteph.com

The picture above captures the color theme really well. Everything pink all the time!

Another cool part of the color theme was the groom and groomsmen outfits. Navy blue suit, rose gold tie and matching corsage. Perfection!

Check out all the excitement in the official video coming out soon!

The Dress Matters Bridal Show!

April 30, 2016 Kiersten Shank

Last weekend I went to a bridal show at The Springfield Country Club! Many of the weddings I film are at Springfield so it was extra special. There were so many fun games and events throughout the day, it was great just to be a part of it! It was hosted by The Dress Matters, whose bridal and bridesmaid dresses were given as prizes!

We were able to share the bridal show with many great vendors and enjoy a wonderful day with brides and families. With all the weddings and events I've filmed at Springfield Country Club, I felt so lucky to be able to speak with soon-to-be brides at the same venue.

The Dress Matters is a wonderful boutique in Media, PA, in suburban Philadelphia. They have such wonderful and unique dresses, from elegant-affordable to completely extravagant. Their dresses were featured in the bridal show, and made the event that much more exciting!

One thing we heard them talk about was the VIP Bridal Experience, where brides get a luxury service when trying on dresses. It can sometimes be a crowded, quick experience but at The Dress Matters brides can choose to have a private space and a full hour to try on their dresses!

The Springfield Country Club is always a wonderful venue for weddings and any celebration fit for a ballroom. I love filming weddings here, partly because it's my local stomping ground but also because it has such a great personality to it. The rolling greens of the golf course is a wonderful backdrop for anyone's special day, especially when the sprinklers go off at sunset :)

I always enjoy being a part of bridal shows because I get to spend time with so many vendors I don't always see. It was also great to work with the Springfield Country Club yet again, in something a little different from the weddings I'm lucky to do so often here. And it's fun to see the brides still in the exciting planning stage, I normally only see them when it's all finally coming true!

Bridal Show at the Elmwood Park Zoo!

April 14, 2016 Kiersten Shank

We had another awesome bridal show last weekend, this time at the Elmwood Park Zoo! It was great walking around all the different exhibits, imagining someone having their wedding here. If you're looking for a unique way to celebrate then a trip to the zoo would definitely be a great idea!

When it comes time for the reception, they have a whole banquet hall prepared with a super fun zoo theme!

The coolest thing about Elmwood Park is it's not just a place where they show off a bunch of exotic animals. They're all about wildlife conservation and the protection of endangered species. So when you walk around and see animals like golden eagles, squirrel monkeys and jaguars, you're seeing endangered species that are being protected by the zoo!

The day wasn't just about "ooh"ing and "ah"ing over the zoo, though. Time to get to work!

I love setting up the table because it's my chance to show off my brand! I was able to feature Bethany & Ryan's wedding which was a blast to film, and I got a bunch of cool hand-out things too!

Loved those hair ties, almost felt bad giving them away!

Got a little cutesy over at etsy, how cool are these!? :)

Perfect for when you want to sneak a piece of cake home!

I was really excited about all these fun little giveaways! Sometimes the extra things say the most at these shows, I made sure mine were saying it the cutest way possible.

And you guys should book at Elmwood Park Zoo so I have an excuse to come back!

Brett & Hayley Highlight Video

April 1, 2016 Kiersten Shank

The video is done! It was so wonderful capturing Brett & Hayley's day and working with Olivia Rae Photography at the Pomme Venue! Like our video, the day began with a beautiful ceremony at Malvern Prep.

As any good wedding should be, this one was filled with old memories and new ones, with great stories like the overly-bejeweled nose and the smart-aleck older brother. The band Soul Patch Philly kept everyone out on the dance floor and was a blast as always. The best thing about sharing stories and a wonderful night is that two families are becoming one, and Brett and Hayley are starting an adventure of their own.

Friends at the Bliss Bridal Show!

March 27, 2016 Kiersten Shank

The Bliss Bridal Show at Valley Forge Casino Resort was a great opportunity to showcase Elvira Mary to a huge amount of brides and members of the industry. We were treated to live entertainment, delicious samples and all while meeting many wonderful people. The event was in the Independence Ballroom, but the best part about the venue is that there are five different ballrooms, each with their own unique size, style, and amenities.

More important than showcasing Elvira Mary, though, was the chance to spend time with many vendors that we may not see all the time. One of those vendors was Ashley Novak from Glam On Demand, who was kind enough to do makeup for the whole Elvira Mary team!

Glam On Demand did a wonderful job, and you know we're serious when we got it ourselves! Ashley is so cool because she goes a step beyond regular makeup artists and travels with the bride throughout the day. It's not enough to go into detail in the morning and leave the bride to go through the whole hectic day alone. Ashley will be by the bride's side whenever she needs her, so that every bride can feel confident and beautiful the whole day through.

Another great vendor we got to spend some time with was Richard Barnes from Richard Barnes Photography. Richard is a fantastic local wedding photographer, and nothing captures his dedication more than his proposal photography. To do this, he goes undercover on location and discretely photographs the moment when the groom proposes. There's only one chance to capture a moment that is so uniquely special, he can't run over and ask him to do it again at a better angle. And working with just the groom is hard enough as it is!

Another vendor I was able to reunite with was Bob Mills from Philly Event Group. They are awesome because they turn organizing the wedding ceremony into a fun, easy experience. With Philly Event Group, you have access to everything you'll need for the reception. They have award-winning bands, DJs, and a professional Karaoke experience, along with different photographers, lighting specialists and videographers like myself! In one site, you can get it all done and let an awesome motivated group of people take the pressure off your hands.

The Bliss Bridal Show was an amazing, energizing experience. The whole Elvira Mary team met so many great people, reunited with the amazing professionals above, and got all the more excited for the incredible wedding season about to kick off!

Brett & Hayley

March 9, 2016 Kiersten Shank

It was a blast spending the day with Brett and Hayley! We were lucky enough to work with Olivia Rae Photography at the beautiful Pomme Venue.

There's so much we can learn from weddings like this and people like Brett and Hayley. All day long, it was clear how much Brett and Hayley love each other and have loved each other for a long time. The day was beautiful thanks to the great venue and all of the hard work involved, but most of all it was a beautiful snapshot of their lives together.

Whether it was dancing along with Soul Patch Philly or bringing their lives together at a wonderful ceremony at Malvern Prep, it was clearly a special day worth celebrating and learning from.

Joining the Legacy of Bolingbroke

February 29, 2016 Kiersten Shank

It's always so rewarding to work with professionals from different parts of the industry, and over the weekend we were lucky enough to work with designers and photographers at Bolingbroke Mansion. The history and legacy of the building was only made more inspiring by the talented people we were able to work with.

Brittani Elizabeth Photography  did a wonderful job capturing the magic of the day — Brittani Elizabeth Photography did a wonderful job capturing the magic of the day

Bolingbroke Mansion dates back to 1727, and walking around you can feel the sense of its important history and legacy. Over hundreds of years many people have passed through it and left an important mark. Since 1727, the site has been renovated and expanded by the different owners but it still feels classic and traditional. From the rolling hills in the backyard, to the classic elegant interior, to the backyard patio filled with hanging lights and a casual atmosphere, every spot on the property has its own story.

The Masters Baker, Catering By Design and Trilogy Event Design made a wonderful cake and floral display. — The Masters Baker, Catering By Design and Trilogy Event Design made a wonderful cake and floral display.

Usually we join all the different professionals, but this time we at Elvira Mary Weddings had the unique opportunity to step back and capture everyone while they worked. It was inspiring to see such wonderful event design, garnishing, photography and baking and get a chance to really appreciate it.