Summer Hookstown Farm Wedding | Casey & Zac

Hello, everyone! Are you all surviving the heat? I’m BARELY surviving it even sitting in my air conditioning today while typing up this blog BUT that brings me to Casey and Zac’s very warm wedding last weekend that STILL wasn’t my hottest to date (looking at an Aug. 2021 wedding…you know who you are)! I think a July 2019 wedding may even beat it…so I’m calling this wedding a huge WIN despite the multiple extreme heat warnings we all kept receiving on our devices! Since we were being forecasted record “extreme heat” AND knowing we’d all be outside all day long – ceremony, reception and all – a lot was going through my mind on what could happen walking into this wedding and I REFUSED to let that get me down! I’d been SO excited for this wedding for SO long! This blog is going to be a good, juicy, long blog too with all the behind the scenes and Hannah typos!

So, buckle up for this wild ride! This couple has been planning this wedding for some time too and I’ve been privy to a lot of the little details even getting my own tour when we did their engagement pictures last fall (see that HERE). So, before I get going more than I already have with this whirlwind of a wedding, please give the new Mr. and Mrs. Kamplain ALL your Hannah Barlow Photography love! Their summer Hookstown, PA wedding is live on the blog right now! ENJOY!

Lacey and I met up at Casey’s grandparents’ home first thing this day and this was where most of the festivities would be held. LITTLE DID I KNOW, I’d be back and forth…back and forth…and one more back and forth to this location all day long BUT…that story is coming later! I feel close with this couple and we have some history from a previous wedding so I’m going to tell you what REALLY happened behind the scenes this day to mix it up a bit…the great and the not so great but turned out grand kind of thing…and if you know Casey and Zac…well…you’re going to be laughing along with the rest of us! It was pure chaos at some points but we never let it get to us (ok…maybe I had a weeeee mini meltdown in the car over a slow moving tractor but that’s for later too).

So, we got all those little details taken…this is the wedding version of the “calm before the storm”. Nothing’s been touched yet by guests so it’s always a good idea I get these photos in the beginning of the day! I LOVED Casey’s “place cards”…they were vases of flowers with names and table numbers! I’ve done so many weddings at this point in my career I get SO excited with new wedding themes and vibes and details! This wedding had lots of that and Casey was kind enough to text me throughout the last year to keep me updated on everything! It was a whole moment when I got to step out of my car and see it had all come to life!

Then, we headed over to Casey and Zac’s home they’ve been remodeling in anticipation of living together after this day! It’s 7 minutes if you use Apple Maps…and five minutes if you use android maps (on Lacey’s phone). It’s an extra minute if you’re driving like Cruella De Vil and over shoot your turn…and it’s about 10 if you get struck behind a tractor. But I DIGRESS right now! You’ll see here in a minute WHY I know all this.

So, we arrived at their home where the ladies were getting ready. I got to park at their kind neighbor’s garage down over the hill (Hi, Dave!)! Dave becomes a surprise pivotal person in this day and blog too. We didn’t know it at the time though. So, we parked and hiked up the hill to their home…in the heat. I have asthma…so this was one of those weddings I was super pumped about but super struggling but NOTHING was getting me down. NO WAY! I wore these new real flowy pants too to try and stay cool…and I’ll never wear them again. They tried to kill me multiple times…including walking up the hill. My foot would get caught when I was walking too fast and I’d face plant…BUT AGAIN…I digress. These details are important though! I know …I know…you’re wondering where I’m going with all this! I promise we’ll get there. This is called “setting the stage”…yes? I’m so manic right now…this is what happens when I’m excited!

SO…we arrived and got RIGHT down to these beautiful wedding details!

Hair and makeup was in full swing too! Lacey and I were switching in and out on doing details and photographing all the happenings in the living area. About ten peeks at the timeline and I realized real quick…we were falling behind…and quickly. I remained calm at this point. It’s pretty “normal” for us to fall behind at the beginning of the day and I told Casey the same! It’s totally FINE (right now).

This is where all those little, random details I’ve provided start to come in…we went outside to scout photo locations and once again…my pants kept tripping me! BUT HEY! We laughed…and I was cool (temperature…not mentally..let’s not get crazy here). I was SO excited for this day the Wedding Gods really wanted to bring me down a notch and I think the pants were trying to slow me down. I feel like it was a test!

…and you know…if there’s one thing I’m good at…it’s catching up a timeline and my energy never wavers! So, we pulled some girls from the hair and makeup chair. We put PJ tops back on some ladies who’d gone ahead and got dressed for sake of our timeline…and we got these pajama shots which I LOVE! They’re all random and all have personality! I know everyone thought I was crazy but this was a photo Casey asked for and she DID tell me we could skip it but I’m like “you only get to do this once!”…so we figured it out and you’d never know! Thank you to ALL who helped make these happen!

So, what do I always say in the midst of a chaotic and behind timeline? “NEW PLAN!” My new plan was to go over to the property where the wedding was being held and where the men would be getting ready and I was going to photograph them as planned. I texted a 2023 bride who would be in attendance and asked for her husband’s phone number (a former groom of mine and one of the groomsman that day). I texted THAT former groom/groomsman and told him we were running a weeeeee bit (lot) behind and that I was on my way over.

You WOULD THINK (I know his wife is reading this and chuckling)…this would be the point he’d tell me the groom wasn’t even there. But not in this story! Nope…we like suspense here. He said “okie dokie”…which I’m dying laughing about now. So, we RACED back to the other property – 8 minutes not 7…because I overshot my turn remember. Before I left, I made it halfway down that hill to the neighbor’s and I ran back up to Zac’s mom’s car (Lacey’s idea) and got all Zac’s details off her so we could get him started and ready for her to arrive for her mom and son photo moments…I tripped on my pants going to my car AGAIN…pretty sure I broke a toe (no joke)…and off we went. We won’t even talk about how out of breath I was from the running in the heat! HA! I really did miss my turn…but we made it! Woooo!!!

After arriving, I photographed some details…and found out the groom WASN’T EVEN THERE! That’s right people! Giggle with me! I was not giggling there at the time. I was more like, “Excuse me…WHAT?!” Now, we were already about an hour behind at this point. Men’s photos were supposed to start at 2:15…it was past that. Zac, the groom…WAS IN THE SHOWER IN ANOTHER LOCATION. So, because I’m close with this couple…I literally asked two different people how inappropriate it would be for the professional photographer to find the bathroom and pound on the door. I was dead serious…but then someone told me “he’s not even here…he’s at another house”…HE IS WHAT?! WHERE?! I told you this was going to be a REAL behind the scenes of a wedding kind of blog!

SO, while everyone was waiting on the groom AND for the ceremony (which wasn’t that far away in time)…I went BACK to Casey’s location. 7 minutes…we got this! Also, Zac swears he wasn’t told what time to be ready…and I know Zac well enough to know he’s always been where he needs to be and on time any time I’ve needed him and photographed him (including giving me a ride to a wedding a couple years ago). SO, I’m going to choose to believe this and laugh now!

I’d have to look at time stamps but I’m pretty sure we were less than an hour to ceremony time…and I wasn’t even at the ceremony location nor had I photographed a whole lot. I’d taken NONE of the formal photos I’d planned…and everything was fineeeeeeee. Lucky for me, when I got back…ALL of the ladies were dressed and ready to go! So, we got all those last minute photos with Casey and her mom! This room should be rented out (below) for wedding portraits! It’s so clean and bright and beautiful!

On my way back to my car and BACK down the hill (I probably tripped again but was getting used to it), I got to meet neighbor Dave. He was circling the properties in his side by side making sure everyone had a ride and got where they needed to go. He even offered for me to use his garage and ride over with him. I assured him I was good and was driving myself…little did I know…he’d end up being my Uber for the rest of the day!

Back to the wedding location we go! 5 minutes…Lacey’s GPS!

…and we got stuck behind a tractor. WE GOT STUCK BEHIND A TRACTOR. We were already behind, ceremony was minutes away…and we were stuck behind a TRACTOR. Cue my mini meltdown. Lacey just laughed and took photos of me.

We made it. I did think I left a camera with the guys (Poor Dakon kept getting Hannah texts..I am sure he was SO over me)…turns out the camera WAS in my car…but got buried which is FUNNY because I left my sunglasses and lens cap at this location LAST year during the engagement session. At this point, it’s clear…I’m just a MESS…but a good mess. So, we got all our gear together and guess who showed up…. neighbor DAVE! Dave and… I believe it was, Eric?, were sitting there parked…I asked them if they could give us a ride…and they didn’t even miss a beat. Looking back, I was watching guests head to the ceremony location and we…were not at the ceremony location. I probably looked pretty panicked. They grabbed our stuff swiftly, we jumped in and off we went!

We ALMOST missed Casey in the truck as we raced to the ceremony location! She must have taken the back way and somehow beat me (it was the tractor probably)! We did a quick first look with dad and then we took another truck to the ceremony location! Is this farm and location not just so GORGEOUS?!

A few tractor loads of guests were still coming so I had time to grab Zac and his mom and get some pre-ceremony photos! Timeline be you know what…but I was NOT missing these moments! Nope! I’ve made up timelines like this before…I’m going to do it again! The details at this wedding were so unique and great I also selfishly just wanted all of it on my camera too!

Lacey was in the other direction of the property getting some of those important detail shots! Do you all remember this tree from last year? And now, we were back on track and it was time for the ceremony!

So, I had a plan…I’d had multiple plans and pivot moments throughout the day and now I had 1.5 hour after this ceremony to take every single formal photo for the day…if it started on time. We can DO THIS! The tractor drivers probably didn’t know what to think of me as I asked “how many more people”? I was begging Mikey the DJ to have everyone sit down and I was texting Casey who was waiting in the car. It was craziness but I was determined.

….andddddddddd 20 minutes past ceremony start time…we got started! My past bride who was a guest and mentioned a few times already (Hey, Ang!) said she saw me checking my watch a lot! THIS IS WHY! My Hannah brain was creating a plan and all I kept thinking was, “Good things it’s THIS wedding…I know these people. I love these people…these people are going to hear me in my drill sergeant wedding Hannah mode here REAL soon and be A OK with it! BECAUSE WE HAVE TO!”

But first…the beautiful FOREST ceremony must be seen! This location should also look familiar if you saw their engagement session. I got to see and tour it last year! It’s truly magical and so special the way they planned all this. It was more beautiful than I could have imagined!

And just like that…they’re a married couple! Alright, everyone! IT’S GAME TIME! And again, if there’s one thing I’m good at and one of the only advantages to having the volume and energy I do…is that we CAN do this!

So, family formals! CHECK!

A few “front of the aisle” couple photos…CHECK!

…and let’s not forget Casey’s something “blue”…they helped with the curtains at the beginning of the ceremony and it was such a nice touch! I just loved this photo and even put it in the sneak peek!

It was a decent sized bridal party but they were 100% “go with the flow” and we were moving FAST!

I am in LOVE with these colors! What a way to incorporate a fall palette into a summer wedding!

I was also standing in a corn field (I got permission and used the same steps each time so I didn’t trample too much). Lacey was off entertaining one of the flower girls and getting her second angle while the adults had their photo taken!

If you’re going to have to move fast on a HOT DAY, these are the people you want to do it with. I can’t say it enough…ALL of my Hookstown weddings have been 10/10 soul fulfilling happiness!

These people are one of a kind great!

Casey had a fall engagement session and those colors then complimented these colors now!

Let’s break it down now! Casey’s energy and my energy have always jived! And we were getting caught up on time so we were both feeling the energy and happiness! Give me allll those smiles! She combined a farm wedding with elegance SO well! I should also mention her and her mom own the floral business that GROWS and did the floral decor at this wedding!

We even had time to do some fun photos and mix and match bridal party members! There are many weddings this just wouldn’t have been possible for SO many reasons (heat being one of them)…it was easy to forget about the heat here! There was also a great breeze…and again…good people.

Zac! You’re up! Again…I felt like it was the perfect combo of country living AND wedding charm! They also incorporated a lot of nice little touches…like Grandpa’s belt. It was a whole “moment” when I squatted down to get the photo of his belt and ring. Use your imagination…and we were laughing then too! Keep it G rated, people!

….and FINALLY…my favorite part of the day…bride and groom formals! In hindsight, I’m really glad they didn’t do a first look…we would have NEVER made it so this was very bittersweet getting all these photos! We took advantage of EVERY moment we had!

Up the hill…find the SUN! You all know I love that glow! Tripped on my pants…couldn’t breathe…the bride and groom even checked on me. Pretty sure Zac said, “it’s easier going downhill…” YOU DON’T SAY?! HA!

But the GLOW!

Thank goodness for Lacey…we were all up in the moment and ALMOST forgot about the tree photo! We wanted to redo the hand photo we did for their engagement session!

And now we had a reception to get to! WE DID IT! I do believe…we were six minutes late BUT…that’s because Zac had to pause and go to the bathroom. Yes…I included that in the wedding blog (with permission). I may take it out later…we’ll see! HA! SO…I stand FIRM on I got us back on schedule! HA!

Dave waited on us with Eric (if I got that wrong…TELL ME). I couldn’t believe it and was so touched. They missed cocktail hour and just hung around for us so we’d have a ride back. I think a written “thank you” is in order. So, they grabbed all our gear and packed us up and we raced back (literally raced back to Limp Bizkit on the sound system). That’s when I looked at Lacey and said, “It’s only 5:36…we’re only 6 minutes later” which actually shocked me. That’s when she said, “Yea and if Zac hadn’t gone to the bathroom….” and we started busting out laughing!

Zac and Casey rode back in the truck. AND, I will continue to stand on the hill of, “I’m never late to receptions” and it wasn’t my fault! HA!

Why were we so excited to get to cocktail hour? Well, not only because we had a wedding reception to photograph BUTTTTT…because there were beer donkeys! AT COCKTAIL HOUR! You read and see it correctly! They are also available for hire at future weddings!

Beer Donkeys! They were walking around with cold beer in their saddle baskets!

Even in the heat, there is nothing better than an intimate, family farm, tent wedding! They did ALL the traditional things which was a great spin on a “nontraditional” farm and tent wedding!

Entrances, speeches, cake cutting…all the things!

First dance moments!

Parent dances happened and then Zac danced with his grandma. It would have been her 34th wedding anniversary on THIS day. Lots of dry eyes weren’t so dry anymore!

There was lots of mingling and candid photos! Some dancing at this point!
Casey didn’t ask for much either but she did ask for Golden hour photos!
…and she soaked it ALL up and lived for these moments! It’s so DREAMY!

*cue the music*

…and one last one…with the cows!

Then, they partied the night away literally into sunset and the nighttime! I sent Lacey home and finished off the night with everyone before giving all the sweaty hugs and being on my own way home!

…and that’s it on wedding #6! HOW do I even end this? The amount of photos Casey and I have sent back and forth and the amount of texts we have sent can’t be counted or tallied. I know this younger generation isn’t as into getting close with their photographer or wedding vendors as they were ten years ago and that’s OK…it’s something I’ve had to adjust to. Casey wasn’t that way though…she feels like a friend after all of this and someone I could text for anything…but that’s very much been my experience with ALL my Hookstown couples! Zac too!

So, who is NEXT?! Who is getting married and needs a photographer?! I’m not about to part with these gushy feelings I’m having with the Hookstown crew.

Casey and Zac…I think the smiles on your faces tell us this wedding was everything you wanted it to be and MORE! I hope these photos reflect all that! All good things must come to an end though…but let’s go out with a BANG! With their “awkward” 90’s studio session photoshoot we secretly did back in March! These were on their table and a HUGE hit! One last laugh for the blog and more to come so be sure to follow me on social media! ENJOY!

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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.

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Vendors

Bride’s Gown – Treasured Moments in Boardman, OH

Bridesmaids’ Dresses – Azazie and Birdy Grey

Men’s Attire – Ariat Jeans/Button Down Shirt/Boots

Hair – Groove Beauty

Makeup – Rachel Bongiorni Makeup

Florist – Tokarskis Little Red Hen Flower Farm

DJ – Loyalty Entertainment (Mickey)