Elissa and Zach had some nuances that needed to be included during their ceremonies (Yes, plural! This was a 2-part wedding.)…

Because they were planning a wedding with space for both joy and grief to exist, side by side, without trying to hide either.

And since I’m the photographer for unconventional love stories in Lancaster for weddings about connection, compromise, and consideration…

It was abundantly clear we were a perfect fit!
(The fact that it was at one of my favorite venues, The Farm at Eagles Ridge, was the cherry on top!)

Curating A Wedding Weekend That Felt Like Them

Instead of trying to make everyone happy with one ceremony that felt incongruent in ways to both the bride and groom…

This wedding worked because Elissa and Zach allowed it to be two things at once.

On Saturday morning, they held a small Catholic ceremony led by Zach’s grandfather to honor his family tradition and faithful upbringing.

The Unconventional Layers

Because Elissa does not practice this religion, they spent Sunday executing a gorgeous ceremony and celebration that felt undeniably them!

Additionally, this was a pretty emotional day for Elissa, as her mom had passed away and wasn’t able to be by her side.

So Zach’s mom helped Elissa get ready and surrounded her with support, which was a very special opportunity as the mother of the groom.

She also had first looks with her dad and brother, and I will always remember this wedding because of how much space they gave everyone to just be human.

And when Zach’s contact lens popped out mid-moment? It reminded us that even the most magical days are still real life!

Holding Space for Moments That Matter

While Elissa’s mom wasn’t physically present, her absence was felt throughout the whole weekend.

And photographing moments like that requires care: you have to know when to lift the lens and when to take a step back.

This is why it’s so important to have a photographer who captures your curated Pinterest inspo…and all the magic that happens in between without interrupting the special moments.

The Lancaster, PA Wedding Vendors Behind The Scenes

Behind every smooth wedding is a team that knows how to work well together!

I photographed the DiPasquale’s wedding with Gretchen Elaine, one of my longtime second shooters of over a decade. We’ve grown in this industry together, and our shared history makes a huge difference when photographing days like this!

Hair and makeup were done by LGBTQIA+-friendly The Charlee Salon and Meg Ebersole, both of whom I’ve worked with many times and love seeing at ceremonies.

Petals With Style created beautiful florals that maintained the fresh, modern style throughout both ceremonies.

The post-ceremony catering was done by John Serock Catering, but one of my favorite parts was the Penny’s Ice Cream stand at the reception! Because the best ice cream around with dance parties by 3WEST Productions simply can’t be beat.

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Two ceremonies with completely different energies…

And a lot of care went into shaping the perfect wedding weekend that honored what mattered most to both the bride and groom.

I hope this serves as our reminder that weddings don’t have to be either traditional or unconventional! They get to be whatever makes sense for your relationship,

If you’re planning a wedding (or two) with layers that make room for real life…

Book your consult call here because these are the ceremonies I live for!