This wedding day is so special to me for so many reasons… I almost don’t know where to start. Rachel and Roger are two of the kindest, most joyful people you’ll ever meet, but this one goes back further than just their wedding day for me. I’ve known Rachel since 2021, when she was maid of honor in her sister’s wedding (Hi, Alison and Dan!). Since then, I’ve photographed the arrival of both her nephew and her niece, so getting a Wedding Day at the Inn at Grace Winery on the calendar for Rachel and Roger felt much more like a family reunion than it did a job.
Hair and makeup kicked off in the Sweetwater House, and the vibes were immaculate.
By the time I arrived, everyone was munching on snacks while the glam team worked their magic. Rachel had her gems and stationery organized so perfectly that I got to jump right into detail shots the moment I walked in. Hair and makeup wrapped soon after, and Roger started getting ready with my second photographer, Ashley, on the other side of the house. I love that this venue has two separate, beautiful spaces for both people to get ready in.
Before we knew it, it was time for Rachel to step into her dress!
The joy in that room was impossible to miss. Alison helped her into her veil, her mom helped her with her earrings, and Rachel was radiating the entire time. Her and Roger’s wedding day had officially arrived, and it was clear it was going to be a good one. The rain from the day before had cleared out completely, and while it was hot, the sun was shining and everything was moving like clockwork.
A first look with Rachel’s dad (Actually one of my favorite people— more in him in a moment) came next, before we headed to the vineyard for Rachel and Roger’s first look.
Once we got Rachel and Roger together, they took a moment, a few happy tears included, before ducking into the shade to exchange private vows. I’ve seen more and more couples choose to do this, and I love it every time. It takes the pressure off writing something for an audience, and it gives you a few minutes of just being grounded with your person before the day picks up speed. After a morning typically spent separate, this is such a beautiful way to get any stress settled and to remind each other what the day is all about.
Portraits around the gorgeous property followed, and soon the whole wedding party and both families joined in.
This crew deserves some serious credit. Not only were they absolute champs in the heat, they were also on time, if not early, for every single thing all day. (When I say this day went off without a hitch, I really mean it.) Plus… the kiddos did INCREDIBLE! Rachel and Roger had a little time to connect with their people before everyone headed inside to cool off and freshen up before the ceremony.
Their ceremony was in the amphitheater, and the views were unreal.
The walk down from The Barn, where their reception and cocktail hour would happen, might be one of the most iconic entrances I’ve photographed all year, and not a single person tripped on the stairs (I say that a little jokingly, but also, I always hold my breath a bit when gowns, fancy shoes, and a lot of stairs are all in the mix). Rachel and Roger were married by one of their close friends, surrounded by their favorite people, nature, and the kind of golden late-summer light you wish you could bottle up to enjoy on a cloudy winter day. As they kissed and made their way back up the aisle (up, not down, thanks to those stairs), there wasn’t a dry eye anywhere in that amphitheater.
Cocktail hour moved into The Barn, and it did not disappoint.
Delicious food, plenty of hugs, custom craft cocktails, and of course, the winery’s own wine made the rounds. While guests mingled, I got set up for the reception and photographed the gorgeous florals waiting upstairs. As people took their seats a little later, there was a real buzz in the room, part excitement for Rachel and Roger, part anticipation for the toast everyone had been waiting for. Rachel’s dad gave a legendary twenty-two-minute toast at Alison and Dan’s wedding, so naturally, the room was ready to see how close he’d come to breaking his own record.
First, though, there was a first dance to enjoy.
Rachel and Roger opened their reception with a choreographed first dance, followed by a few toasts from the wedding party. Dinner was served not long after, right alongside a gorgeous sunset. Earlier in the day, the sun in the vineyard had been high and brutal, so we’d opted for a shadier spot for their pre-ceremony portraits instead. Rachel and Roger were still up for heading back out at golden hour, and I am so glad they were, because these ended up being some of my favorite photos from their entire day. That’s saying a lot, considering how many favorites this day gave me. Married, glowing, and spinning through rows and rows of grapevines? I couldn’t have asked for a better way to close out the portrait side of the day!
Then… it was time for the toast everyone had been waiting for.
As dinner wrapped, Rachel’s dad took the mic, and more than a few guests had bets riding on how long he’d talk. A couple of people started stopwatches (I may have been one of them—oop). Eighteen minutes, lots of laughs, a few tears, and a whole lot of stories later, he’d given another one for the books, just shy of his own record (much to Rachel and Alison’s relief), and the dance floor opened wide. Once it did, it did not stop. Rachel and Roger danced together for most of the night, cake and cobbler and ice cream got passed around, and the whole party wrapped with a big circle surrounding the two of them.
It’s clear how loved these two are, and it was such an honor to document another love story for a family I already feel so lucky to know. I can’t wait for you to see the joy from this one. Congrats, Rachel and Roger! I just adore you two!
Before you scroll through it all, a quick thank you to the rockstar vendor team who made this day happen:
Photography: Cait Kramer Photography | Venue: The Inn at Grace Winery | Catering: John Serock Catering | Wedding Planner: KPW Productions | Bridal Gown Boutique: Claire’s Fashions | Bridal Gown Designer: Adore by Justin Alexander | Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Groom’s Attire: The Black Tux | Bridesmaid’s Attire: Azazie | Hair and Makeup: Shear Satisfaction | Floral Design: Flowers by Lori Ann | Dessert: The Master’s Baker | Stationery: Zola | Reception Entertainment: Silver Sound Entertainment | First Dance Choreography and Dance Lessons: Society Hill Dance Academy
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