I was recently blessed to photograph the wedding and reception of Justin and Angie. The ceremony was an intimate Erie Pa backyard wedding held at Justin’s father’s house. This affectionate couple has actually known each other for a number of years; let me tell you their story.
Destined to Be
Justin and Angie met in high school when they were 14. Unbeknownst to Angie, Justin had a secret crush on her – she thought he didn’t like her at all! Fate reconnected them during a chance meeting during a 2015 concert; Justin immediately asked her out. He says he knew on the first date that they would be together forever. Angie knew soon after, and the rest is history.
A Perfect Proposal
Justin proposed to his lovely bride with the help of their two pups. He had two special tags engraved just for this occasion, one for each dog. One said “Thank you, Mommy, for making us a family,” while the other asked, “Will you marry our Daddy?” Justin was down on one knee with the ring before she stopped reading the second tag! How could Angie refuse, especially when second pup, Jax, stole the first kiss?
Unique Bridal Shoot
We shot the initial bridal photos on the Penn State Erie campus. This may not be a destination one first thinks of for a wedding-style photo shoot, but it’s a great one. Thinking outside the box like this can really add a unique, one-of-a-kind quality to your pictures.
The university area is full of manicured greenery and hidden garden nooks, as well as classical style architecture. There are many backgrounds to choose from.
Backyard Wedding to Remember
This beautiful Erie PA backyard wedding was private and elegant. The couple chose teal and black as their theme colors. The teal was a loving memorial to Justin’s mother who had passed away from ovarian cancer.
Angie’s sister, Erica, was her maid of honor. They’ve always been really close, and Erica even walked her down the aisle! Angie had 5 additional bridesmaids: Danielle, Kristy, Brianne, Amie, and Rachel. Their mix of friendship, family, and laughter really helped make the day special.
Joe was Justin’s best man. The two are best friends, practically brothers. They’ve been through a lot together. Justin also had 5 more groomsmen: Dan, Jeff, Kris, Shawn, and Chris. These men are all important family members and friends of the couple. Angie’s nephew, Chris, loves to remind Justin how lucky he is to have her!
A Catered Affair
The couple chose to hold their reception at Capers Catering located off Bayfront Highway and East 38th in Erie. The hall can accommodate up to 180 guests, boasts a full catering menu, and is easily accessible. Eclectic murals and antique glass mosaics make the venue lovely to shoot in.
Justin and best man, Joe, hammed it up with their keepsake cup which appears at every wedding they are in. There is never a dull moment with these two!
Justin and Angie did a “handoff” of the garter and bouquet to Justin’s sister Brianne and her long time boyfriend Kris. It was wonderful to see these two pass the gift of their love to their nearest and dearest.
Contact us to discuss photographing a backyard wedding of your own. We look forward to chatting with you!
Check out these other unique Erie PA weddings on our blog:
[…] Senior portraits are an exciting time for students. The photos represent a pivotal moment in their lives: the ending of one chapter and the start of a new one. One of my favorite things about photographing Erie senior portraits is that each of them have so much personality they bring to the shoot. Unlike wedding events, senior portrait sessions give me the opportunity to work one-on-one with each student. Class of 2019 graduate Dominique Magee’s senior portrait session was a lot of fun. I had the pleasure of working with Dominique’s mother last summer, when she was a bridesmaid in Angie and Justin’s elegant backyard wedding in Erie, PA. […]