There is one word to describe this wedding from start to finish……STUNNING!!! From the moment I drove up to The Inn at Willow Grove I was in awe of the beautiful house and grounds. I wandered around checking things out and around each corner was a cool unique element. I was directed to the barn for the reception and when I walked in I was speechless. The tables, the flowers, the gorgeous light and wood beam ceiling, AGH it was truly stunning!! I was so glad I arrived early so I could spend extra time photographing each table with it’s gorgeous flower arrangements. The staff at The Inn at Willow Grove did an amazing job setting up for Dylan and Erin’s wedding! Erin, her Aunts and her cousin Raygan were a wedding planning dream team. Everything was perfect!
I headed up to the Inn to photograph Erin getting ready. She greeted me with a big smile and a hug and asked how my hubby was feeling. (We ran into each other late Thursday night at Target where she was doing last minute wedding shopping and I was on a Nyquil run for David.) I thought it was incredibly sweet that on her wedding day when I know she had a million things going through her head that she asked about him. As Erin headed back for makeup her bridesmaids excitedly crowded around the door to watch. When she was done she folded her birdcage veil back down over her face and emerged a bride on her wedding day to a room full of her closest friends and family. The tears welled up almost immediately and she quickly turned to face a window till they subsided. When she turned back around she was strong and ready to put on her dress to walk down the aisle towards Dylan and her new married life.
I count myself lucky that when a bride walks down the aisle I get to photograph her groom during those first moments he sees her. He always looks at her tenderly sometimes choking back tears. What I loved today was seeing Dylan’s best man, his Dad, put his hand on his son’s shoulder as Erin came down the aisle on the arms of her brothers. It made me think of the saying pinch me I’m dreaming, it was almost as if his Dad was saying no your not dreaming she is real. Erin did look like a beautiful dream floating down the aisle! They picked an amazing officiant in Deb Porter from I Do’s to Remember, she created a beautiful ceremony for Erin and Dylan. As she pronounced them man and wife the crowd celebrated their first kiss!
After the ceremony the guests proceeded out to the courtyard area to witness a balloon release in honor of Erin’s parents who have passed away. I know her parents were looking down on her and cleared the rain from the skies for her perfect day. It was a beautiful memorial with a wonderful reading by Deb, I was so honored to be there to capture all the memories for them. I wish Erin and Dylan a lifetime full of happiness and marital bliss!
I have to say that Erin and Dylan gave me one of the funniest cake photos to date! Lesson to future grooms if you smash cake on your brides face first then all bets are off!!
To see more of Erin & Dylan’s wedding at The Inn at Willow Grove, CLICK HERE for a slideshow!
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The following wedding vendors contributed to Erin & Dylan’s wedding:
Ceremony and Reception Venue: The Inn at Willow Grove
Photography: Melissa Arlena Photography
Catering: The Inn at Willow Grove
Bride’s Attire: Moni’s Bridal Boutique
Bridemaid’s Attire: David’s Bridal and Perfect Bridal
Makeup: Suburban City Salon
Florist: Bridgette Morrow & Raygan Ketterer
Cake: Sweet Reasons Cupcakes
DJ: Danny & Erin Acosta
Officiant: Deb Porter of I Do’s to Remember
Invitations: ChikPea Graphics
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