A Summer Burgettstown Wedding

It’s such a happy day, everyone!  I’m so excited to show you the wedding of two of the sweetest and most humble people I’ve had the opportunity to photograph!  Words just can’t explain how easy these two are to be around…and how fun they are…and how much they made us laugh…and how relaxed I felt throughout their whole wedding day!  It was just perfect!  So, everyone please give your biggest Hannah Barlow Photography congratulations to this couple and please enjoy their summer, Burgettstown wedding!  Amanda and Tony are now Mr. & Mrs. Kurtz!

I started the day off arriving a little early at the reception hall.  I wanted to get those details out of the way, of course!  So, I got to meet Amanda’s dad, Pat, first!  He was kind enough to let me in and we chatted a bit while I browsed around and photographed  all those wedding reception details.

Then, I waited for Kari and Sam to arrive!  If you follow me on IG (you can do that HERE), I posted stories waiting for them.  The weather this day was PERFECT and I was feeling all kinds of wedding giddiness! ‘Tis the season, I guess!  But anyway, after they arrived and hopped in my car, we headed off to Amanda’s aunt’s house where the girls were getting ready.  We met with the videographers, devised a game plan for the day, and got right down to it!  These detail shots are soooOoOo pretty!! It just FEELS like August, doesn’t it?!  Kari, Sam, and I all took some shots!  Enjoy!

Then, we prepared to get this beautiful  bride ready with the help of her mom and some of her best girlfriends but not before we went out for some of my favorite robe shots I’ve ever taken!!!

..and Amanda popped some champagne!! I haven’t done this in a LONG time!  We were all a little nervous! HA!

…all was well though and I LOVE to see her laugh like this!

Then, I met up with the guys!  This timeline was pure perfection!  We made sure the bride was in hiding…and we got right down to it!  These guys were SO relaxed…and chill.  It was also REALLY sunny and hot…so we rushed it for sake of the sweat shine! HA!  I didn’t know it at the time either but we were being watched from the window by all the ladies! I’m sure that was a sight to see and I’m also sure Kari and Sam knew exactly what I was saying even though they couldn’t hear me!  Check out the men!

They even abused the groom a little during his last few hours as a single man!

Ok…so then I headed back inside to photograph this beautiful bride getting all ready!  Her laugh in these photos makes me smile!

Grandma’s dress was even on display…this IS grandma’s real wedding dress too!! PRETTY COOL, right?!

Then, the ladies got to come outside for their photos!  AHHHH!! I love these colors and those sunflowers SO MUCH!

Isn’t she beautiful?! Koda Bridal ALWAYS dresses my brides so well! AHHHH!!!

And while we’re at it, let’s compare the guy’s take vs. the gals’ take on the “group hug”…this makes me laugh hysterically EVERY dang time.  Guys are such literal beings!

…and then we were off to the ceremony!  Amanda and Tony said their vows and were united in front of their family and friends in the most quaint little church I’ve ever been blessed to photograph a wedding in!  Seriously, there were no more than maybe eight pews on each side, I think!

This moment between father and daughter may be one of the sweetest EVER!

…and it happened!! They became Mr. & Mrs. Kurtz!

At the end, the officiant told Tony he could now kiss his bride and he replied…”Finally!”…and I loved it so much!  SO MUCH!  Kari, Sam, and I all nailed it! WOOOOO!!

Then, we headed back to Amanda’s aunt’s home for some family formals AND then some bride and groom formals!! In case I forget, I want to thank her Aunt for welcoming us into her home and letting us do out thing!!

We had so much fun with this bridal party!! It’s been a long time since we’ve done some walking and snuggling with the whole bridal party!

…and we just kept on shooting!

I knew the little bridge was made just for them.  I could smell the fresh stain and Tony told me it had been built for us to use! YAY!  I also wonder if this sign was the same way!  Photo compliments of Kari.  I was stressing about that shadow (I was even jumping up and down trying to figure out how to block it).  Kari’s cool and collected…she ignored it and just snapped away! HA!

Then, I found this log (stump) thing…and wanted to use it to our advantage!! I think it worked perfectly!!

It was hot.  We were sweaty.  These two just kept letting me do my thing!! EEEKKK!

We did eventually move into the shade, so that helped!  I almost fell in the creek at one point trying to get some flowers.  Meanwhile, Kari was giving me the scientific names of each (which I could not have cared less about). HA!  If you spend time with Kari, you always get an education.  It’s something I totally love about her.  She’s chill and full of knowledge.  A forest could be on fire.  You’d be running and she’d be letting you know about the population size affected, the demographics of it, and the scientific names of the plants destroyed.  Not even kidding!  Anyway, here are some more bride and groom goodies!

…and I finally announced we were done and told them to show me all their excitement!  I think they were more happy about the idea of AC again! HA!

I’m never ever REALLY done though…so we snapped a few while they walked away.  This wasn’t staged.  This was them literally trying to get to the car! HA!  It makes for the perfect photo though, right?!

Now, it was time to PARTY!

My summer couples are killing it.  It was another cake in the face!

A lot of brides would freak out about cake on their faces…not Amanda!  She just laughed it all out and got him right back!! It’s what I love about these two!

First dances were danced to Amazed by Lone Star!!! AHHHHH! It’s an oldie and a goodie!! I should also note that Sam shot this reception with me.  Many of these photos are hers AND she’s the ONLY one who will sing and dance along with me.

So, I guess Tony got cocky ahead of this wedding reception and told the DJ he was going to remove the garter…in a NON-traditional manner.  He admitted on the mic that he was having some second thoughts with Amanda’s dad sitting so very close! HA!  His personality makes me laugh and smile!  I love it!  He did show off after he had that garter in his hands though…exhibit A below!

These two caught the bouquet and garter!  I looked…they didn’t have rings on yet!  HmmmMMmmmmMmm…things happen.  Sometimes couples end up back on my blog one day! HA!  Don’t they look like a ton of fun?!  And they photograph well too!

Then, the party REALLY got started and it was quite the party, I tell ya!! The dance floor was PACKED!

We even had some karaoke going on…and DJ Mike knows how to party!!!

Seriously, it was a “camera strap around the neck” kind of night because there was so much dancing and so little room to move around (which is a great thing).

Sam and I ended the night with lots of laughs and hugs…BUT…not before a sunset!  I had to pull out some tricks AND a good bit of photoshop to remove some power lines.  I promise you though…the sky is 100% legit!  As they say, “no filter needed”!

That’s it!  That’s a wrap on the 11th Hannah Barlow Photography wedding of the year.  THIS would have been the official half way point for me this year but then another couple swooped in last week and booked a wedding for November.  That makes 23 weddings total this year so I’m not quite halfway now!  I love it!

Amanda and Tony are seriously two of the sweetest and most sincere humans I’ve met and photographed.  We also have some mutual friends!  Their happiness and sense of humor is contagious and I’m so glad I got to spend their wedding day with them!  They’re currently on the beach in Barbados soaking up the sun and I’m SO jealous!  For real though…who wants to take me on their honeymoon?!  HA!  I’ll photograph it.  Is that weird?  It’s totally weird…ok…never mind!  Nonetheless, they did share some of their happiness and I LOVE LOVE LOVE when couples do this!  Look what they sent me!  Gosh…I want to hug them again! AND AGAIN!

AND one more…because we can!  Congrats to the new Kurtzs!

____________

Vendor Shout Outs!

Bride’s Gown – Koda Bridal

Bridesmaids’ Gowns – David’s Bridal

Men’s Attire – Men’s Wearhouse

Hair – Kylee McConnell Hair

Videographer – Brandon Williams

Cake/Other Desserts – Bethel Bakery

DJ/Band – DJ Mike, Music Express

Catering –  The Cooked Goose

Save the Dates/Invitations/Programs – Shutterfly