The Barn at Firestone Farms Wedding

It’s another Friday and that means another wedding on the books! I am so excited to show you this BEAUTIFUL wedding we photographed last weekend at The Barn at Firestone Farms. It was our first time at this wedding venue in Columbiana, OH and it didn’t disappoint. You never know what you’re getting yourself into at a new venue but with everything in one place and a beautiful empty (and under construction) parking lot with ALL the dead stuff…you know you’re in for some beautiful photos when it comes to me and my business. I’ll NEVER and I mean EVER pass up an opportunity to photograph “the dead stuff”. Seems like a super random intro, right?! Well…if you know me you KNOW! And I’m going to show you JUST what I mean.

So, let’s do this! Mallory and Justin’s summer wedding from last weekend is on the blog right now! You know what to do so give them all your Hannah Barlow Photography love and ENJOY!

Becca and I left a lot earlier than usual and that’s standard any time there’s a new venue on the script for the day. I like to get a lay of the land and get an idea of where I want to take photos. Our first impression of The Barn at Firestone Farms was 10/10 AND we got to meet Mallory’s dad right off the bat who gave us our own tour (which I greatly appreciated). I’m pretty sure he and I could chat about anything for HOURS!

And now…if you’re a loyal blog reader, you know what comes next and how we do things around here. DETAILS! If you’re new here, WELCOME! I’m about to take you through Mallory and Justin’s WHOLE day! We got right down to reception details AND all the finer wedding details.

It’s been a while since I’ve photographed a true barn style wedding. I like to call this rustic elegance!

The morning sure did feel like a whirlwind and before I even knew it…it was time to get the bride dressed so we could prep for the first look! A lot of stairs and a lot of steps later, I was up and down and up and down and so was Becca to tag team the getting ready portion of the day!

Time for the first look. Last Sunday’s weather was beautiful…but brutal on the temperature scale. It’s always my goal to keep couples as comfortable as possible while still giving them the best of all worlds at a wedding venue. Lucky for us, this barn gave us lots of shady opportunities and I utilized this rock wall (in the shade…thank goodness).

It doesn’t matter if I’ve done this for one year…or now ten years (how did I make it to almost a decade already?!)…I’m always learning something “new” or changing the way I do things. Well, it’s very standard for me to do a first look and then take FULL advantage of all the (or lack of) time we have to get as many photos done as possible. Well, it never occurred to me until this wedding that I probably should explain these things to my couples and not just keep my secrets in my head. You see, it’s very common for me to go from first look and blow right into bride and groom formals while my assistants run and collect the rest of the bridal party. So, we took about ten photos of Mallory and Justin together before the bridal party was ready (they were fast) and I moved right into bridal party photos. Well, later Mallory asked, “We’re going to take more photos of just us, right?!” And it stopped me in my tracks…and I felt SO bad because she was thinking those ten photos were it….Girlllllll NOOOOOOOOOOO. I should have really explained the process in my head! I was stressed FOR her! HA!

So, now I’m going to fully explain to my couples that I like to use all seconds of the day and if there’s a point I can snap just a few in between I’m going to…BUT…that doesn’t mean that’s all!! ABSOLUTELY NOT! So, that comes into play later when we took more…and more…and more couple portraits BUT for now…we have to see those few couple photos AND the bridal party!

The “few” portraits I took while waiting for Becca to get the bridal party. I love these but I could NEVER leave it at just this! I’m laughing now…at the time my heart was crushed. I’m Hannah! I worry…and I want my couples to have a 10/10 experience! These are what I call the “just in case safety shots” because wild things happen and what if someone got sick and I hadn’t taken ANYYYYYY.

The men’s portion of the day!

Full bridal party!! AND more to come!

Field Trip! When a venue is this beautiful, you can’t hide in the shade all day long! So, we quickly took a walk!

We got some more “outdoor” wedding party photos!

…and right back to the shade! We didn’t want sweaty skin, running makeup and sweat stains! Nope! And you know the Hannah Barlow Photography blogs are real…and this is real life HOT wedding day thoughts and considerations!

On this day, I appreciated the shade AND the beauty that was this bridal party and color palette.

Mallory…you make a BEAUTIFUL bride!

We had run slightly behind our own schedule (not going to name names but Justin…I’m looking at you! HA!) BUT if there’s one thing I’m good at…if you know me you know…it’s working fast and catching up a timeline! Lucky for all of us, I had spotted a very “dead” area of foliage when I first arrived. Here’s where the dead stuff I talked about in the intro of this blog comes into play. I LOVE the dead stuff…that’s the foliage that gets nice and crispy and dead going into fall…stay with me. That’s right! I love it and it’s beautiful! It’s very early this year too! AND just to spice is up a bit…I put them on some spilled, hard concrete too! It makes me laugh that my couples let me do this crazy stuff 100% trusting me to make the most random and “ugly” spots look pretty. Mallory and Justin did NOT miss a beat! This spot also happened to be away from the venue so we were able to have some privacy and keep the couple away from the guests who were arriving to the ceremony. PERFECT! So, off we go to the dead stuff!

It’s sooooooooooo pretty! I’m sorry I shared so many…feel free to zoom. And would you believe it if I told you this was just a FEW!

Whewww…deep breaths, lots of water later and it was almost time for the ceremony!! It was pushing 90 degrees at this point but everyone was hanging on! One of the only things that was super important to Mallory was the cookie table and Becca, being another perfect addition to the team, kept reminding me of this so I made my way inside (it was a good excuse to enjoy some AC too) to get lots of photos of the cookies!

The Barn at Firestone farms has a beautiful ceremony space!

After the ceremony, we enjoyed some more shade for family formals Mallory and Justin’s families rocked them. I then wanted to take the couple back to their ceremony space now that it had cleared out for cocktail hour and take advantage of this positively stunning view of the lake!

…and at this point, Mallory was probably thinking “ok…she wasn’t kidding when she said we had SO much more to take for couple portrait time…” AND I wasn’t done yet! Becca and I were tag teaming these angles and I’m sure everyone at cocktail hour heard me squealing across the lake! How could I not?! I mean…COME ON!!!

Let’s take a walk to the lake…yet another great location for photos!

AHHHHHHHHHH!!! So pretty! That bright, hot sun was testing my wedding photographer patience but we did it! Aren’t they beautiful?!

…and just a few more to preview!

At this point, I screamed “What are you doingggggggg…we’re not done yet!! GO LEFT!” and they laughed but then I laughed and said, “It’s amazing people hire me…” because if you didn’t know me and you were over there at cocktail hour hearing me scream at my couples…you’d think I was nuts (and probably down right rude). I’m a wee bit excitable and we were having fun, people! Promise! Just ask Mallory and Justin! HA! But really…I’m never “done” taking photos! I like to get all opportunities!

So, then we left the couple to enjoy the rest of their cocktail hour. I was looking out the window and I had a whole circus of emotions in this moment and I don’t think the couple knows. I was just casually looking outside waiting for Eric the DJ to begin the reception (we loved him, by the way). I look out and see Justin carrying Mallory. And at first, I thought she was sick…or had passed out…so I immediately went into nurse mode. I dropped what I had in my hands…camera and all…and kept looking (ready to run and help). THEN, I realized she was smiling and he was just carrying her….WITHOUT ME. I was bummed…I figured I’d never make it out by the time he put her down. But he didn’t put her down…so I picked my camera BACK up and took off running. I’m sure you can all picture it. And I got it!

WHEWWW! Another thing checked off the list! We were plugging right along and the “hardest” part of my day was complete!! It was time to head to cocktail hour and prep for the reception! They did all the traditional wedding couple things!

People danced and people mingled outside.

Mallory and Justin’s request list for me wasn’t long…but the one thing she did ask for was sunset/golden hour photos. She even hired me to stay an extra hour JUST for that. That always puts the pressure on me because now I HAD to give them beautiful sunset/golden hour photos, right?! RIGHT! I had alarms set on my watch and I kept a close eye on that sun. We all have our “things”….well, this proves that Becca’s THING is golden hour. I can’t express my appreciation enough for the beauties that are these golden hour photos! These are all Becca’s…we both took photos and I included mine too in the final gallery but hers are sooooooooooo good. SO GREAT! So, please enjoy Becca’s golden hour photos. They didn’t even need me! HA! That bottom left one IS mine. I need some credit (and I taught Becca everything she knows…). But seriously, I’m a proud photographer mom!

I did take these below! I haven’t taught Becca hot to do silhouette photos yet but I need to! It’s all manipulation of light in camera…the above photos were taken just seconds apart from these below! Pretty neat, right?!

Then, we reset our cameras and back to the venue we went! These carrying photos weren’t prompted…Mallory had ditched her shoes and that field was prickly! You KNOW I was squealing with delight! How’d I get so lucky?! SUCH a cool and heart fulfilling job!

After that, they closed down the night with some open dancing and welcomed everyone left at the reception to their dance floor! Shoutout to Eric the DJ for keeping the night going and playing some amazing tunes! WHAT A DAY!

I’m a firm believer that like souls attract one another. I know Mallory and Justin had lots and lots of wedding photographers to meet/interview and asked around to narrow it down. I am always so touched when people choose me and not only am I sending my gratitude out to the couple but I’d also like to send my love to the other couples (and other photographer) for so highly recommending me so I could be the photographer for this couple. I also had Saturday prior to this wedding booked for a personal event so it’s so WILD to me that this couple chose a Sunday (and my only Sunday wedding this year) AND I happened to be available for it. The Wedding Gods really delivered this day too…no rain, beautiful light…amazing venue…STUNNING couple and bridal party…you name it. We got all the things we hope for on a given wedding day (the heat could have died down just a bit but I digress).

To Mr. & Mrs. Way (the NEW Mr. and Mrs. Way)…I hope this wedding was everything you wanted it to be and more but based on the huge smiles on your faces ALL day and these photos and the texts you’ve already sent me…I don’t think there’s any question. Please give this couple ALL your love…another Hannah Barlow Photography wedding is complete! 10 more to go for the year…we’re not even halfway there! WOOOOOOOOOO!!

Huge shoutout to all the new vendor friends I have too and especially the staff of The Barn at Firestone Farms for being so welcoming! I can’t wait to come back! Thanks for reading! HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

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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 delivered to the couple.

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Venue – The Barn at Firestone Farms in Columbiana, OH ( https://firestonefarms.org/thebarn/ )

Venue Coorindator – Angie Telshaw

Catering – Julian Gray’s

Bride’s Gown – Allure from Bridal Beginning of Pittsburgh

Bridesmaids’ Attire – Birdy Grey

Men’s Attire – Cable Creations

Hair/Makeup – Halo Salon

Florist – Events by Erin

Cake – The Dutch Haus

DJ – Eric of Schiemer Entertainment (Eric the DJ on most Social Channels)

Stationary – Truly Engaging

Official – Sam Waldron