Angel & Kirk’s Very Fall Wedding

Ahhhhhhh! Deep cleansing breaths! **cue the deep breath because I’m feeling SO refreshed sounds** Sometimes you show up to weddings just having this gut feeling everything is going to be amazing…and it’s going to be a great day…and it IS! Angel (and Kirk) have been two of the most laid back brides and grooms I have ever had the pleasure of working with and photographing. They’re very go with the flow…whatever you think…it’s not a big deal…and we trust you. They’re quite literally and should be the poster couple for “if you go with the flow, your gallery will reflect it in a big way”. Perfect weather…amazingly kind and laid back family and friends…but then homecoming events that left us no where to park…you name it. This wedding was a chemistry equation that equaled one of the most amazing weddings I’ve photographed this year! I’m rambling…and that’s what happens in these blogs when it’s been A DAY in a great way! So, I’ll get back to business! Angel and Kirk’s wedding is on the blog right now! Please give them all your Hannah Barlow Photography love and ENJOY! I’m going to tell you ALL about it!

Lacey and I met up at the Pine Room! We checked out the reception area. We got to see some of our FAVORITE vendor friends (Hey, Brad and Rodney!!!! Masterpieces of Old Town) and got into full wedding mode! We went straight to where Angel was getting ready and said our hellos and got right down to wedding detail business!

While we were doing that, we were also capturing some of the candid getting ready moments!

This couple opted not to do a first look so we did bridal photos with and without bridesmaids and even had her parents step in there for a few (included but not pictured)! When I tell you this day was perfect, I can’t think of a thing (except the mad traffic I’ll tell you about later) that went wrong. WAIT! That’s not true. There was a tux that didn’t get picked up…but like the rest of this day…they figured it out! Shoutout to Angel’s sister and wife for making the trip so the tux made it to the wedding! Anywayyyyyyy…I’m distracted again. Bridesmaids and bridal photos loading! Let me tell you how excited I was to see some color again!!!! Emerald greens…pinks….the fall colors! It just works!

Angel told me she saw this dress and wanted to try it on…but the salon didn’t have it. Shoutout to Sorelle for always going over and beyond for brides! They ordered it and even after having her try on lots of other dresses…this was THE ONE. I’ve never photographed anything like it…and it was a DREAMMM!!

Then, I texted and talked to Kirk on the phone and let him know I was on my way! He opened his gifts from Angel (which he didn’t know about ahead of time) and then his mom helped him finish getting ready!

Best man also stepped in to help!

The whole day……we ran HEAD OF SCHEDULE! I couldn’t even believe it. I still can’t believe it typing it! Even with the most perfect timeline and no “issues”…wedding schedules typically still run on time or behind a bit! Not this wedding…we kept finding ourselves ahead of schedule! And in this moment too! Kirk and the groomsmen left and arrived ahead of schedule with me to the ceremony location so we got right down to his photos! Would you believe me if I told you these were taken in a parking lot?!

Then, it was time for the ceremony!

After the ceremony, we went RIGHT into family formals! Shoutout to Lacey for being one of the best second shooter assistants and multitaskers of ALL time. At some point, I sent her inside for a different lens or sandbag or something…and she caught the reception details! This would have been the ONLY moment for us to get this photo because Brad and Rodney were repurposing ceremony flowers to reception centerpieces (so it wasn’t set up ahead of time for us). Lacey, you’re the real MVP or I wouldn’t have gotten these!

Not pictured, per request…were some of the children! I ALWAYS ask to post and I respect it but never want them to feel left out. Those photos are in the galleries, moms! I promise! But also, I HAD to share what I could of family formals BECAUSE these groups define “family”…in the best way! AND they very much made us feel like family too! We got SO many more too with individuals not posted below! All in the couple’s gallery!

I wanted to take a moments and make sure Angel’s late brother had his photo moment. So, I had all the family include their hands.

We did full bridal part photos at this point and then Lacey ran and got the car!

It’s always been a joke with my assistants and I that I’m a good driver…seriously. I’ve never gotten a parking ticket, never got in an accident (that was my fault) or anything like that in all my years! HOWEVER, when it comes to a wedding day, they often joke I drive like Cruella Deville. I always promise myself and my couples to NOT do this when they are in the car with me. Well, that lasted about…three minutes? We got close to our photo location only to realize it was homecoming for many…and I mean MANY. I have NEVER seen the place so packed in all my years…which is strange because I’ve been out here a lot for both homecomings and proms! It was INSANE! So, we had to use a back parking lot and walk….a lot.

Most couples (rightfully so) would say, “absolutely not”…not Angel and Kirk! When I tell you we all high tailed it from a parking lot all the way across campus to our photo locations, fighting for our lives for photo space with no one in the background…I mean it. And this is a true estimate that if you just go with the flow, the photos will SHINE. This is, by far, one of the largest bride groom formal portrait galleries I’ve delivered in a long long time…and we did it all in 25 minutes WHILE having to walk a great distance and zig zag through crowds!

So, cue the lovey romantic music! These photos are SOMETHING! The Wedding Gods showed up with that light again!

Black and white photos were stunning too!

We were walking. We were photographing them. We were multitasking!

Walking back to the car, Lacey reminded me we didn’t do any veil photos! Check!

The joy and satisfaction I was feeling when I got them back in my car to head to the reception can’t be measured! I can’t even explain it. I KNEW the photos would be great…I didn’t realize HOW great until I got home and sorted them. This is largely due to this couple just being themselves and enjoying all the moments! The crowd was very overstimulating. They didn’t let it bother them!

We got back to the Pine Room and Cassi met up with us! She took over! Then, the couple was welcomed and they got right down to their first dance!

Then, it was time to party!

This wedding…will always be in my happy thoughts memory bank. This couple wasn’t worried about all the “extra stuff”. They were actually SO laid back me and the other vendors were laughing because it was stressing US out…making sure we were doing a good job and the couple was happy because they just let us do our thing…no input necessary! Like I said before, this couple could teach a course on how to just go with the flow…wedding planning edition…and I’m here for it! I absolutely loved this wedding from start to finish! It’s very bittersweet it’s all over! BUT…I’d love for you all to give the new Mr. & Mrs. Menapace all your Hannah Barlow Photography love! Their wedding is done!

And for one last photo…I had an idea and I took pictures of the table numbers that was their wedding date – 10/24! I also snagged a photo of their late night snacks! That’s it, everyone! BYE!

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Disclaimer: Hannah Barlow Photography blogs only represent a small portion of photos the couple actually receives in their private gallery.  The blogs are meant to highlight favorite photos and favorite moments of the wedding day and do not represent an entire gallery.

With permission specifically from the couple, galleries can be shared if you wish to view it in its entirely and/or order prints.

info@hannahbarlowphoto.com for more info.

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Vendors

Wedding Planner – Cassi Mazeska – Oglebay

Bride’s Gown – Essence of Australia from Sorelle Bridal Salon

Bridesmaids’ Dresses – Azazie

Men’s Attire – Calvin Klein from Joseph A. Banks

Hair and Makeup – Envy Salon and Spar St. Clairsville, Ohio

Florist – Masterpieces of Old Town

DJ – Fireside Events

Catering – Oglebay

Officiant – Aaron Menapace