Stephanie & Carl | Backyard Wedding | August 29, 2020

When Stephanie and Carl’s wedding venue had to postpone weddings because of the pandemic, they kept their wedding date and pulled together an incredibly beautiful and intimate family wedding in the backyard of Carl’s family home. Within a few short weeks they managed to put together the most beautiful ceremony location, complete with a gorgeous wooden alter and an aisle of lanterns. Carl’s old tractor, that he fixed up himself and which also made an appearance at their engagement session, made a cameo as decoration for their home style wedding.

The morning began with thunderstorms and risk of heavy rain and storms throughout the day, but just as the first look began the sky started to clear. By the time the ceremony began it was a hot and sunny summers day. The day started at a local salon as Stephanie and her crew had their hair done and their makeup applied. A beautiful tradition of Stephanie’s family is to give the bride a homemade book with photographs and letters from the women in her life. I remembered this tradition from her sister Ashley’s wedding a few years ago and it has quickly become one of my favorite wedding traditions that I have seen at the weddings I photograph. While the ladies returned to Carl and Stephanie’s home to get dressed, Carl and the gentlemen were getting ready back at the house.

A lantern lit walkway was put together by the fathers of the bride and groom and Carl’s grandfather. Candles were lit and Carl made his way to the end of the walkway and waited for Stephanie to arrive as their families gathered to the side to watch. The ceremony opened with flower girl, Kinsely, being pulled down the aisle in a decorated wagon by her father, the designated “flower man.” Guests were seated with their “quarantined for life” masks that Stephanie and Carl provided for their ceremony.

The ceremony was followed by an intimate outdoor cocktail hour in the backyard and the reception was held at the lovely local Chateau Hathorn. I remembered how much Stephanie’s family loved to get down on the dance floor so this was a reception I feel like I’ve been waiting for. I only wish I had more room in this blog post to share more reception photos. At the end of the ceremony, Carl and Stephanie were given a romantic sparkler send off. The entire day from start to finish was full of love and joy.

Congratulations, Carl and Stephanie!

 

Please leave a comment of love and support to Carl and Stephanie in the comment section below. I’m sure they would love to read your well wishes!

 

If you appreciated my photography of Carl and Stephanie’s wedding day, please support my business by following Live Lovely Photography on Instagram @LiveLovelyPhotography, on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/LiveLovelyPhotography, and by leaving a review on the Live Lovely Photography Facebook page. Thank you for your kind support!

Wedding Vendors:

 

Photography: Courtney of Live Lovely Photography, captured with Fujifilm X Pro 3 and Fujifilm X Pro 2

Hair & Makeup: Nicole’s House of Beauty

Gown: Jaehee Bridal

Bridal Shoes: Badgley Mischka

Suits: The Black Tux

Jeweler: George Massola of Massola Jewelers

Florist: West Milford Florist

Reception: Chateau Hathorn

Caterer and cake: Chateau Hathorn

DJ: Dee Productions

Videographer: Tim from Studio 94 Video