Paul & Jennifer – Wedding
I was the DJ for this event, but had done the bride’s sisters wedding previously and worked with the photographer and he was cool with me taking photos. All of them are candids and I appreciate that he was ok with me shooting.
A wedding with rain is to be good luck and when we woke up on September 1st 2018, it looked like today’s couple would have a very lucky wedding. This summer has been bad for outside weddings. It’s either too hot and humid or raining. Today there was drizzle in the morning. The clouds were a little low this morning as the rising for didn’t rise as much as we’d like, considering we were going to Union Grove near Broad Top Pennsylvania. If you know central Pennsylvania, you know Broad Top sits on Broad Top mountain.
My wife and I packed up and headed on our way. As we arrived at the facility (Union Grove), we saw that the fog was sitting on the venue but it was starting to life.
Union Grove is a beautiful place and has an AMAZING view. Today because of the fog, we were not getting to enjoy THAT view, but what happened was pretty cool. What i thought it looked like was having an image in photoshop and putting a white layer on top of the view and then lowering the resolution of that layer so you could still see the background but it had a curtain of fog atop of it. It was going to make a beautiful day as long as the rain held off.
Union grove has a ver natural place for a wedding with a small “deck” for the couple to stand. For this wedding Josh made a beautiful piece of woodwork for his bride and him to stand under. The wedding was beautiful as well with the pastor of the Germany Valley Church of the Brethren officiation. Tim, the pastor was also the uncle of the pride. I thought it was going to be a rough wedding to get through as when Tim started talking, I heard his voice crack a couple times.He made it through the service and we started getting things moved inside. As we did a rain started to fall. Not five minutes laster but as soon as the bride and groom finished greeting and dismissing people to go inside.
That rain didn’t last long. We got moved inside and started with introductions and then the first dance. After that we had a meal served by Adler’s Cater, who I believe are from the Altoona area. The caterer had just arrived and we thought we were going to have to rearrange things but after the first dance and a prayer, they were ready to go.
It’s time for the father daughter dance. A time I always zeroed in on the father and try to catch a moment. A lot of times I know if it will happen with the song that plays. My little girl by Tim McGraw this time, so it could go either way. I kept the camera on them but didn’t see tears but did see a couple very cool moment. Next was the grandmother son dance. This was a little tougher, as the two talked I knew they weren’t talking about the weather. Then it happened and I saw the grandmother lean in and the groom give her a hug. That moment is one of the moments I love and remember.
Another thing VERY memorable about this wedding was the photographer that was the photographer for this wedding and two other family members wedding. He was a family friend and told me before the ceremony he wanted to sing a song to the couple. A Billy joel song.
After the toast I ask if there was anyone else that wanted to say or do anyting. That was his cue. He came over grabbed a mic and started to sing. This is the one time in the evening I caught a tear from the bride.
We were finishing the dances and other ceremonies with a sparkler line. Mentioning to the photographer that I have never been able to get a really really good sparkler picture, we head outside. I have been reading and i think I know why so this was going to be the time. I walked to the end of both lines of sparklers and got ready. The photographer and videographer went about half way then stopped. I am ready, picked my settings, do this. I was ready! This was going to be a great shot.
I actually had a couple minutes to practices and tings looked good. Again, the photographer and videographer stopped about half way down the two lines. They counted down and the couple started between the two rows. The photographer and videographer didn’t back up. The couple stopped and went back. Surely they would come the whole way down and I would get that shot. Nope, they stopped again! Then a third time they did it! A few people said hey what about us. As their sparklers puttered out they finally made it to the end of the row. And I did NOT get a good shot!! It’s Ok.
I’ve enjoyed working with the couple and everyone involved. I hope they enjoy their lives together and want to thank them for everything. Above are a few photos from the evening with more posted on my facebook page. Thank you again!