Sonneborn Shelter Wedding in Wheeling | Erica & Billy

Hello, everyone! This is the busiest time and season of any wedding year for me and that means…another wedding is on the blog!!! Fall is FINALLY starting to peak through! HORRAY! Erica and Billy renewed their vows in front of some of their closest family and friends last weekend and had me there to photograph it! So, please give the new Mr. and Mrs. Fanning (Yes! She decided to change her name which was an amazing first look surprise) all your Hannah Barlow Photography love! Their wedding is on the blog right now! ENJOY!

We were welcomed into what Erica put down as “Casa De Fanning” also known as Dr. and Mrs. Fanning’s home! Lacey and I started off the morning there. Billy’s mom (Hey, Cheryl!) gave us a lay of the land and let us do our thing! So, we got right down to details! If you know Lacey, she is the lover of all things fall and fall colors so she was totally feeling these details. Also, as someone who loves white and bright…there was just SOMETHING bold and OooOo so beautiful about these details! I can’t get enough! I think it’s the colors!

Because we had a first look planned at another location, the morning happened SO fast and before we knew it, it was time for everyone to get dressed including Erica! Erica’s mom and sister jumped in to help.

…and Cheryl (Billy’s mom mentioned earlier) played chauffeur and drp off person. It was her job to pick up the men and deliver them to the first look location…hat and all!

Then, we (and the ladies) raced off to Oglebay to stake our claim on the mansion steps – Erica’s request. It was homecoming for three different local high schools (and if the past repeats itself…I have to fight for any little space to get photos…I have some wild stories, y’all…homecoming families don’t mess around) but lucky for us…we were early enough and there were no issues! My favorite part was after Billy checked out Erica’s dress and complimented her…she then had him spin so she could do the same!

As we always do, we got right down to some bride and groom formals while we assembled the bridal party. Every second matters on a wedding day and we had lots to do!

Billy’s mom was not just chauffeur but also the carrier and protector of the rings…and the deliverer of the rings when we needed them!

I do love a sweet and simple wedding portrait!

Erica really wanted fall and if you’re local here…you know it’s JUST now starting to turn. So, I had to get creative. We went on what I like to call a “field trip” to find any and all leaves that were starting to change! The flower girl and ringer bearer (mostly not pictured in this part of the blog for privacy purposes) were some of the most fun AND most well behaved kids so they definitely deserve some mentions in this blog! Nothing screams fall like this color palette!

I’m not sure I’ve ever photographed this combination or colors and palette and I LOVE it! I can’t say it enough! While I love weddings that go non-traditional fall, there is something so cozy seeing traditional fall colors too.

Time for the gentlemen to have their photos!

AND ANOTHER FIRST…”party sleeves”…that’s what I believe they call it! I was shocked and excited to photograph these! You’d NEVER know what they had under their jackets!

…and of course we had to get the couple together showing off those sleeves!

At this point, we were done (for now) with big group photos so I started searching. I looked over and saw the most FALL tree in the area and got real excited! I promised them we’d make it fall…and we did!

AHHHH!!! These are definitely some of my favorites!

Ok. No…THIS one (below) is in my top five of the whole gallery (and it’s got like 1000+ photos or something crazy)! I’ve been very shutter happy lately with these couples!

While you look at these photos, just imagine the sound of them walking in the leaves! It’s finally fall, y’all!

And just a few more! Then we were off! Lacey is always killing it with those second angles!

Then, they had a special request. They wanted to stop at Figaretti’s Restaurant in Wheeling (who graciously opened early for them). It’s a common stop for them and one of their favorite places! I got to see some friendly faces I’ve seen at other weddings when Figaretti’s catered so that was totally fun too!

Then, we left the couple and bridal party to have some private drinks without cameras. We met up with Miah and Brian Oliver to get set up for the ceremony. This was my first time at the Sonneborn Shelter in Wheeling! I loved it! It’s a nice little spot for an outdoor ceremony!

I had to include this because it was so sweet. The flower petals the flower girl threw were dried petals of flowers that Billy has given Erica at some point or another over the years. I can’t!!! I love that so much! My couples have come up with so many sweet, creative things this year.

Here comes the bride! Everyone burst out laughing…including Billy…when Erica entered to The Imperial March…Star Wars fans…where are you?! You’ll know!

The weather and light were just perfect for this ceremony! Sonneborn Shelter…I love you! Funny enough, Erica called me the night before to confirm placement for the ceremony in regards to light. She NAILED it.

Then, as we always do, we got right down to family formals after the ceremony! Erica had a special request that after we do big groups, we break down the family and allow them to request photos off to the side. That was Lacey’s job. It’s not uncommon for us to do this at weddings so we made it work and got the BEST collage of photos for everyone! There’s absolutely no way to show them all here because there are so many but, rest assured, they are all in the gallery. Nothing was missed! So, I’m going to highlight the two immediate families because they were the sweetest!

Then, it was off to Wheeling’s White Palace so DJ Brian Oliver could get the reception started!

The couple was introduced, they did their first dance and Erica was very pumped about the cake! I love her energy…big personalities unite!

After parent dances, speeches, and a very delicious dinner (Wheeling’s White Palace staff has been killin’ it in the food department lately…hats off to the chef(s)!), DJ Brian Oliver had everyone gather for group photos!

Then, the party got started and boy OooOo boy did the dance floor get PACKED! I saw different faces on that dance floor every time I circled and THAT is the kind of party we love!

Erica and Billy were super fun to work with and gave me all the outtakes (just like they did at their engagement session – HERE). There was never a dull moment and we had plenty, at all times, to photograph…both posed and candid…both expected and unexpected. They joked a lot that this was “round two…or round three” since they’d already eloped. It was a huge compliment they asked me to be the one to take the official official (official) wedding photos! I’m still not sure what round of marriage this was…Ha! It’s funny when I type it – that’s Erica and Billy!

So, one more time…give it up for the NEW Mr. & Mrs. Fanning! Happy Friday, everyone! I’m off to wedding #3 for this month tomorrow! Let’s do this!

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Disclaimer: Hannah Barlow Photography blogs only represent a very 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

Ceremony Venue/Location – Sonneborn Shelter, Wheeling, WV

Reception Venue/Catering – Wheeling White Palace

Wedding Coordinator – Miah Runkle Events

Bride’s Gown – Bella Sposa Bridal

Bridesamaids’ Dresses – Azazi

Men’s Attire – Men’s Wearhouse

DJ – DJ Brian Oliver

Officiant – Mr. Shawn Martin