Do This- Alternative Floral Bouquets

Welcome to a new Blog series posted every Friday morning called Do This.  Do This is created to be a super quick read, highlighting awesome wedding ideas that you may want to incorporate into your own event!  Got an idea for our Do This readers?  Email me at mmcclainphoto@gmail.com with your idea! 

I love a gorgeous bouquet regardless of what it’s made of but I have to highlight this gorgeous masterpiece created by Leah McMaster of Weddings and Blooms in Mechanicsburg, which features kale and an artichoke!  Along with the greens and beautiful succulent, this bouquet is seriously amazing and completely different from the traditional flower alternatives!

Be sure to follow all of Leah’s gorgeous creations on Facebook or give her a call if you’re still in need of an amazing florist! (Photo courtesy of Leah McMaster)

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Sarah & Thomas’ Autumn Country Club Wedding

Damn! I picked one hell of an amazing wedding to make my first back from maternity leave. First off, I adore Fall and everything that goes with it (except for the pumpkin spice craze… what gives). The weather was simply magical on Sarah and Thomas’ wedding day!  The sun was shining but there was that cool brisk breeze, marking the start of really good fishing weather:)

Sarah and Thomas celebrated their vows at St Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Mechanicsburg– a beautiful natural light sanctuary with a semi-round pew setting and a nice long aisle from which Sarah’s father led her down.  We had a blast capturing natural emotions as Sarah looked to Thomas with a beaming smile filled with love.

Couple creatives were captured back at Blue Ridge Country Club which boast stunning views at the base of the Blue Mountain line. Although most leaves hadn’t quite turned yet, we were able to do some creative editing to bring out some fall vibrance.  Back inside guests feasted on a traditional (and OMG tasty) Pittsburgh style cookie table after dinner.  Seriously every wedding should have a cookie table!  Sarah and Thomas’ night was filled with a kick ass dance floor and some good ol’ Pennstate love including a crazy awesome dance off, passing the viking hat, and tasty dollar dance shots.

Although there were so many amazing moments, the nearest and dearest moment was watching Thomas’s parents give hugs and kisses before he walked down the aisle.  I blame the I-have-a-newborn-and-my-hormones-are-still-awol but it was beyond touching and I may have had a mommy moment tearing up and trying to see through the smudging mascara as the processional started.

Congratulations Sarah and Thomas!  You guys had such a fun event and I know you’ll both keep each other laughing through many years of married bliss!

Check out more images from Sarah & Thomas’ wedding day!

Vendor Love:

Ceremony: St Elizabeth Ann Seton Church

Reception/Catering: Blue Ridge Country Club

Hair/Makeup: Changes Salon

Entertainment: Ryan Miller Entertainment

Flowers: Weddings and Blooms    

It’s PBJ Time- Julie & Peter’s Classy Downtown Wedding!

Ah… a Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich.. seriously who didn’t grow up on these?  It was the perfect pairing of sweet jam with salty peanut butter.  Cut diagonally on white bread, with cheese puffs… OMG I’m salivating!  Couples have been finding cute acronyms and sayings to sum up their wedding theme for years, but no one has met the ultimate PBJ couple like we have!

Peter and Julie contacted us from California for their super classy downtown Harrisburg wedding, with visions of elegance matched with good old fashion fun!  Through the planning process, Julie emailed often with new ideas and details that were being planned.. basically teasers up to their wedding day!  I was blown away when walking into her Crowne Plaza Hotel suite as she had all of her details laid out perfectly to be photographed.  From the invitations, to rings, to her lucky six-pence.. it was all there!  My favorite detail was her drool-worthy shoes from Pedro Garcia that complimented her gown beautifully!

Post first look, Peter, Julie and their small bridal party got creative with us around the state capitol complex.  One of my favorite creatives captured is a recreation pose from a pick up they pulled off on their engagement session!  Their ceremony concluded to a line of silver streamers and a brief carriage ride to their reception at the Harrisburg Civic Club.  As were her getting ready details, Julie planned every last touch of class to the tiniest detail including PBJ chocolates from Trader Joes, Beautiful white floral arrangements, and multiple versions of Mad Lib cards for guests to fill out and share with the couple.  Julie and Peter even planned a live local band, Cruise Control, for some top class entertainment!  The day was simply magical and will go down as one of those weddings we could photograph over and over again! 

Click here for more images from Peter and Julie’s wedding!

Ceremony: Harrisburg State Capitol Rotunda

Reception: Harrisburg Civic Club

Catering: Karen’s Catering

Officiant: Dave DiRaddo

Flowers: Weddings and Blooms

Ceremony Music: Molly Rahe

Gown: Taylored For You

Coordinator: By Design Weddings and Events

Entertainment: Cruise Control Band

Makeup: Makeup by Chelsea

Cake: Camp Hill Bakery

AACA Wedding Show

One of the absolute best wedding shows in the area is the AACA Wedding Show held annually in February.  It’s the perfect, uncommon setting for meeting with unique couples looking for something a little different than most traditional style weddings.  We’ve met so many amazing people in the past few years and always have a blast networking with other great professionals in the area.  To our surprise and excitement, Nuria, who is hands down one of the best venue coordinators we’ve worked with, contacted us to photograph promotional images for the upcoming wedding show featuring a mascaraed theme.

We set up with one of our sweetest couples, Tina & Adam, from 2012 to model, obtained a gorgeous dress from Taylored for You Bridal Salon, and had the talented Chelsea Nolan of Makeup by Chelsea rock out Tina’s hair and makeup.  Along with a beautiful arrangement created by Leah McMaster of Weddings and Blooms and some magical lighting from Klock Entertainment, we had a premier line up for a perfect session, however mother nature thought differently with a very cold, very breezy evening.  Despite the weather challenge, Tina and Adam were amazing sports and we captured the needed images!

Venue: AACA Museum

Dress: Taylored for You

Makeup/Hair: Makeup by Chelsea

Lighting: Klock Entertainment

Flowers: Weddings and Blooms

Dana & Robert October 5, 2013

A warm 85 degrees, a delay caused by a sudden downpour, and stinkbugs galore.  That may not have been what was expected when Dana and Bob planned their October wedding!  Regardless of nature’s little quirks, the outdoor wedding at Ski Roundtop was a simple, beautiful event.  The patio was adorned with mums of every color and an intimate gathering of friends and family.

One thing I really loved about this couple was the unique personal touches they brought to their special day.  The guys all donned special superhero socks which included Superman, Batman, Captain American and others.  Also, all members of the wedding party wore a “Find a Cure” bracelet representing Parkinson’s disease in honor of a loved one.  It was fun for Whitney, Pam and I to capture these special items.

An entertaining reception at the lodge followed the ceremony and included a yummy cupcake tower, a chocolate fountain and plenty of dancing.  The highlight was the speech made by the maid of honor- she performed it as a rap song!  It was a funny and memorable part of the day which I will remember as one of my favorites.  We wish Dana and Bob all the happiness in their new life together!

Venue: Ski Roundtop Resort

Entertainment: Klock Entertainment

Flowers: Weddings and Blooms

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Courtney & Josh October 5, 2013

The second wedding of our crazy October weekend streak was with Courtney and Josh, one of the sweetest, most adorable couples of the year.  A match made in the halls of middle school, Courtney wooed Josh in homeroom by a handwritten note asking him for a date and the rest is history.

On their gorgeous day, Courtney and Josh exchanged vows at the AACA Museum Rotunda in front of close friends and family.  The look on Josh’s face was priceless as he saw his tearful bride walk around the rotunda, arm in arm with her father.  One of my favorite moments was catching the sunset after the storm for some awesome and unique images, not to mention the raining money on the dancefloor!  All in all, an amazing day with such wonderful people.  Congratulations Courtney & Josh.. we wish you both many happy anniversaries to come!

Venue: AACA Museum

Florist: Weddings and Blooms

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