Oh, Blaine + Brian. Where, oh where, can I begin? Blaine found us through one of our past brides – Melissa – who is besties with our very good friend Maggie of Maggpie Vintage Rentals. (I make these connections to emphasize my belief that Maggie + Blaine should & could be best friends, too. Work that out!) I had a feeling from our first writings back and forth that Blaine + Brian would be creating a personal wedding experience unlike anything I’ve ever witnessed before, especially when Blaine told me they had chosen Brian’s parents’ wedding anniversary to get married and when they chose Blaine’s uncle’s farm to throw down one heck of a celebration.

When we met up for brunch in Philly just two months before their big day, Brian divulged his love of dinosaurs – specifically Triceratops – and his wish to dress one of the cows up at uncle Frank’s farm on their wedding day. (It didn’t happen, but we can photoshop that dream, I’m sure.) I instantly connected with these two over our common loves – food, dinos, fashion & design – and our shared sense of humor. Blaine + Brian reminded me so much of friends I’ve had all my life and for that, I knew this wedding was going to move me in a special kind of way.

I wasn’t always supposed to shoot this wedding alone. (I never shoot weddings alone. There are so many elements to capturing a powerful wedding story that sometimes, I even feel like 2 of us are inadequate.) It took a certain kind of courage and a certain kind of couple to make this even possible for me to capture solo. And beyond that, it took knowing that Blaine + Brian were working with Abby + Jamie Caldwell as their photographers – people whom I didn’t meet until their wedding day but people who reassured me in advance that they would be so easy going and on my side every step of the way. Without diverting too far off page, photographers can make or break our ability to capture as openly and honestly as we like to. There’s no other way for me to explain it but to say that working with Abby + Jamie was heaven sent. They were patient as I ran up and down floors, capturing both the guys & the girls, and accommodating as I staged cameras for the first looks & the ceremony. I must have burned a million calories on Blaine + Brian’s wedding day with all of my running and lugging of gear but the smile I left with – both on my face and impressed on my heart – made me want to do it all a million times over again.

I love weddings when you don’t want to put the camera down for a single second for fear of missing something miraculous. I love weddings when you don’t want to put the camera down because everything around you inspires you. The amount of personal thought + detail Blaine + Brian put into their wedding weekend was unlike anything I’ve ever witnessed. My favorite detail had to be how Blaine cut out flowers from the dress she wore on her first date with Brian and handed them out to guests to wear at their wedding. So personal. So memorable. So cinematic. I could go on for days about how much I loved this wedding experience, but it’s time you just watch the film. Blaine + Brian – I love you guys.

A few gorgeous images from Abby Caldwell Photography. Love these folks.

**All images Copyright Abby Caldwell Photography**

Photographer: Abby Caldwell Photgraphy
Videographer: Birdhouse Productions
Planner: Stefanie Hansen of Blue Shoe Events
Ceremony Location: Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption (Marietta, OH)
Reception Venue: Private Residence (Lane Family Farm, Williamstown, WV)
Florist: Rose Bredl
Band: Alex White & Friends
Wedding Gown: Nadine by Amsale
Custom Ties + Pocket Squares: Fox & Brie