I love a story with a happy ending. This is the story of Jesse Thornton and Candan Olcer. The two were high school sweethearts who reconnected through social media and rekindled their romance. When I heard their story, I was super excited to photograph their Sheraton Bayfront Hotel wedding in Erie, PA. The couple had an intimate ceremony surrounded by close friends and family.
A Lake Erie wedding is always a treat because the photos almost take themselves. The sunsets are so romantic and serene with the orange and yellow of the sun as well as the purple of the clouds reflecting in the water. They make an ideal backdrop for the bride and groom. A Sheraton Bayfront Hotel wedding adds a few special architectural features to really set the landscape apart, including the Bicentennial Tower at Dobbin’s Landing. The hotel‘s own sky bridge, soaring 70 feet above the water, offers awesome views of the bay and connects with the Convention Center. At this wedding, the sparkling snow and ice of winter on Lake Erie set an idyllic scene.
As a wedding photographer, my job is to capture the unique quality of every ceremony. Candan and Jesse’s nuptials were filled with so many beautiful details that it was a challenge to capture every one. One of my favorite details was the place cards in holders shaped like tuxedos and wedding dresses. The champagne glasses had hearts etched into the crystal pattern. The pink frosting roses on the base of the three-tier wedding cake matched the color of the bride’s wedding dress. The soft pink made her look as much like a fairy princess as a bride!
Candan immigrated to the United States from Turkey, where her parents still live. Unfortunately, they could not make it to the wedding so Candan’s uncle and aunt gave her away. They also offered the first toast to the newlyweds, evoking both laughter and tears. Their joy was so obvious that there wasn’t a dry eye in the place when they finished speaking.
Before the wedding Jesse posed for a photo with his two sons, who acted as both ring bearers and best men. All the hugs and smiles made it very clear that the two boys absolutely adore Candan. No one could doubt that one very happy family came into being when the bride and groom said “I Do.”
With so much to celebrate, the only thing left to do was dance the night away. DJ Shawn Steele, owner of Memories in Motion made that happen. Just as I specialize in wedding photography, Shawn is a wedding DJ who never gets bored because he works to keep things fresh. During their first dance, Jesse pulled out a white long-stemmed rose from under his jacket and presented it to his beautiful bride.
If you are planning an Erie, Pa wedding and would like to discuss your vision for your wedding photos, I would love to meet with you. Please contact me here. If you would like to see more of my work, check out my portfolio. I look forward to working with you.
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