I had the pleasure of photographing Nathan and Jackie Daniel’s intimate, home wedding ceremony in West Chester, Pennsylvania. They exchanged vows surrounded by close friends and family. The guest list was short in numbers, but high in love and support!
An emotional and intimate home wedding ceremony
Emotions ran high as Nathan got ready in the basement of his childhood home. Proud family members were bustling around, expertly hosting their wedding day! We took portraits of the guys in the yard, and I went back upstairs to see Jackie slip into her wedding dress. She had the sweetest little bridal look reveal with her wedding party, who were all ready to hype her up! Then, Jackie had a private first look with her father before the ceremony.
It was a chilly day, but under the backyard tent we felt all the warm and cozy feelings as we watched Nate and then Jackie make their way down the aisle. Intimate home weddings are typically more emotional, but there’s something extra special about this gallery. The photos show just how proud and happy friends and family were to see them joined in marriage! Nate’s reaction to seeing his bride for the first time was precious, and a testament to how much he adores her.
This small, January wedding was not without gorgeous details! The family decorated the tent for the ceremony and reception in lush florals with classic white roses and overflowing greenery. Finding gorgeous blooms in January is no small feat. They did such a great job with the décor!
Unique newlywed portraits at sunset
When it came time for the newlyweds’ portraits, the sun was setting and natural light was nearly gone. We expected this for a January wedding, when there’s limited daylight hours. We wanted to capture that gorgeous, colorful sunset, and also create some romantic photos. While we usually prefer natural light photography, we had to break out the artificial light for these! OCF — off camera flash for non-photographers out there — helped us light the couple well, without creating a lot of grain or washing out the colors in the sunset. We think they turned out gorgeous! A little something different than our usual style, but just as beautiful.
P.S. For those reading this who are planning a wedding: Weddings present all sorts of lighting challenges. When you’re looking for a wedding photographer, be sure to ask them if they’re comfortable working with flash in difficult situations! Even at this intimate home wedding, we encountered multiple lighting challenges.
Thinking of us for your wedding day? Inquire here. Dates are filling up for 2022 already!
West Chester Wedding Vendors who made this day possible!
- Florist: Kati Mac Floral Designs (@katimacfloraldesigns)
- Hair: Daneene Jensen And Associates (@daneenejensenhairmakeup)
- Dress: Noel Pirolli (@lipstikjunki)
- Rings: Benari
- Bridesmaids Dresses: David’s Bridal
