Before I totally dive into this blog post, I need to preface by saying that I’ve known Alyssa for over a decade! (No, like really… a selfie from the first summer we met popped up on my Timehop as I’m writing this post, and it was taken 11 years ago!!) She and my sister were roommates, and Alyssa was one of the first people to welcome me to Penn State when I started my first summer semester!
Seeing her meet the man of her dreams and fall in love over the last couple of years has been so incredibly special. It’s truly so amazing to see her building a life that she loves with Quinn and their pup Goose by their sides… being asked to photograph her wedding? *Catch me with all feels*
Being asked to photograph a friend’s wedding is always an honor, but being asked to photograph a friend that you have known so well for so long comes with a little more pressure than a usual wedding day! Heading into Alyssa’s wedding day, I was feeling a little nervous, but as soon as I saw how excited she was to marry Quinn, all of my nerves turned right to excitement!
Alyssa and Quinn’s Cork Factory Hotel wedding day was an absolute dream, and I can’t wait to share more about the day with you!
I knew we would be in for an amazing wedding day from the moment we started planning, but I truly wasn’t ready for how much FUN we would have! When I arrived to do details, I was greeted by many familiar faces (including my sister who was in the wedding party!), and throwback jams turned up to a 10. As I styled some of the prettiest details and fluffiest florals, the ladies finished up hair and makeup while the gents arrived and started to prep for the festivities ahead. At this point in the day, we were actually running ahead of time (Which you know is rare on a wedding day!), so the ladies took a dance break before slipping into their attire for the day.
As Alyssa stepped into her gown and transformed into a glowing bride, the anticipation for all of the fun ahead started to build! Alyssa is one of the warmest and kindest people I know, and she surrounds herself with people that have so much in common with her. It was so sweet to see each of her bridesmaids hype her up for the day ahead! While she needed no help getting excited to see her man at the altar, I can only imagine that the encouragement helped get her through portraits outside in the July heat in a gorgeous but heavy bridal gown!
After Alyssa was dressed in her gown and Quinn in his Marine Blues, the day was in full swing!
Alyssa and Quinn opted to see each other at the altar during their ceremony which meant that pre-ceremony was all about bridesmaids, groomsmen, and individual family side portraits to make cocktail hour juuuuuust a little easier. We covered A LOT of ground in 90-minutes and were all very grateful to be back in the AC once everything was said and done. I can’t thank their crew (Family, friends, littles, and grown-ups!) for being such troopers on such a hot day. While I can’t remember the exact temps, I CAN remember the heat of the sun, and I can only imagine that it was tough to be dressed to the nines while smiling for the camera!
Once portraits were complete, it was time to get these two hitched! Thankfully, the Cork Factory Hotel ceremony space is indoors… and is also absolutely gorgeous! While the AC was a welcome bonus, my absolute favorite part of their ceremony design was the floral and greenery installation that marked their altar (Just WAIT until you see how gorgeous it is!)… and the smiling faces of their guests, family, and wedding party, of course!
As Alyssa walked arm in arm with her father down the aisle, it was so sweet to see the smiles on both her and Quinn’s faces. They had been waiting a long time for their Cork Factory Hotel wedding day, and the wait was clearly worth it! They exchanged rings and vows, and finally, it was time for them to be pronounced as husband and wife!!! They kissed, the crowd cheered, and it was time to party!
Cocktail hour flew by in a blur of family, wedding party, and couple’s portraits, but somehow, we managed to get Alyssa and Quinn a few minutes of peace before guests entered their reception space!
*Insert Miracles Happen from Princess Diaries here*
As guests started to find their seats, the wedding party lined up for entrances, and things kicked off with a bang! Alyssa and Quinn included many of their traditions at the start of their reception which saved so much time for dancing and socializing after dinner. Alyssa’s niece, nephew, and other littles opened the dance floor after dinner as we snuck outside for sunset portraits. We got to explore some of the hotel property in the gorgeous summer glow before heading back inside to celebrate! Soon, the party was in full swing! My parents were actually guests, and it was so much fun to see (And photograph!) them having so much fun while also knowing how excited they were to see me work as a wedding photographer for the first time (The feeling was mutual!).
Alyssa and Quinn’s people were SO ready to celebrate these two! It was so much fun to photograph their dance floor, especially seeing so many familiar faces enjoying the festivities! Alyssa and Quinn spent so much of the night catching up with and dancing with the people closest to them. While Alyssa and Quinn settle into their new home in VA, we all get to scroll back through their gorgeous wedding day! But… before you do, a little thank you!
Alyssa and Quinn— thank you so much for having me along as your wedding photographer! Watching you fall in love over the last couple of years was so incredibly special, and it was the biggest honor to photograph your Cork Factory Hotel wedding day. Enjoy a sneak peek into your day! I cannot WAIT to see all of the amazing adventures that lay ahead for y’all!
OBSESSED with these colors together! Can I bring this wall with me to every wedding?!
Married!
Congratulations, Alyssa and Quinn! It was such a joy to spend your wedding day with y’all!
A special thank you to Alyssa and Quinn’s rockstar vendor team:
Venue + Catering: Cork Factory Hotel | Bridal Gown Boutique: Nicole Bridal | Bridal Gown Designer: Rita Vinieris | Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaid’s Attire: Dessy | Hair and Makeup: Brushed Beauty LLC | Floral Design: Petals with Style | Videography: Agape Films | Stationery: Zazzle | Reception Entertainment: Andrew Bunty of Provolve Entertainment
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