I Do — Spring/Summer 2023

Your guide to planning a beautiful Lancaster County wedding

President: Caroline Muraro

Art Direction: Andrew Albright

Content Editor: Margaret Gates

Design: Jenny Althouse

Writers: Rebecca Logan, Lis King, Maddy Pontz

Advertising Director: Chris Fidler

Production: Angela Faust, Erica Feltenberger

For feature story ideas, email mgates@lnpnews.com

For advertising opportunities, call 717-291-8711

Cover photo by: ANNIE SHARP PHOTOGRAPHY

MOVE OVER, DIAMOND

engagement rings

MADDY PONTZ LNP CORRESPONDENT

When proposing to his now-wife Libby Ethridge, Lancaster city resident Carl Wischner Jr. knew that he wanted to do so with a unique ring.

“My wife is such a wonderful person and just so unique,” Wischner says. “She just deserved something one-of-a-kind.”

Wischner worked with the jewelers J.A. Sharp Custom Jeweler in Lancast design a custom engagement ring bringing in Ethridge’s love of pearls, certain floral arrangements and even small lace details from her mother ’s clothing, to design a ring that is “lifelike and organic,” he says.

“The sides (of the ring ) kind of look like a tree or vines being twisted, and the main diamond is almost like you'd picture a flower," Ethridge says. “It has little blue sapphires around it, kind of like raindrops, and then two small diamonds, so it almost looks like a little bouquet.”

When you picture an engagement ring, you are likely envisioning a diamond. Perhaps a simple gem cut and band. But these days, couples like Ethridge and Wischner are throwing the rule book out entirely

“The whole idea behind the engagement ring is that it's an emotional piece of jewelry that's really supposed to represent your relationship,” says Janine Orsini, a bridal

specialist at Brent L. Miller Jewelers in Lancaster. “It's a symbol of your love for each other

“No two couples are alike, no two relationships are the same,” Orsini says “So the engagement ring is that one piece that you get to wear every day that gets to be a symbol of your love for each other and so that should be just as unique as the relationship.”

ALTERNATIVE STONES

Though the diamond is still the most popular stone for an engagement ring, some couples are shaking things up with colored stones, says Andrea Miller Amey, owner of J.A. Sharp

“If somebody wanted to use a colored gemstone, sapphires come in all the colors of the rainbow,” Amey says. “They're not locked into just having a diamond as an engagement ring. I would put colored sapphires as the second most popular to diamond.”

Sapphires are as durable as they are versatile, Amey says The Mohs hardness scale, a rating system for the hardness of gemstones, ranks sapphire as a 9 out of 10.

Couples are bucking tradition when it comes to

Black-and-white photo submitted by Libby Ethridge and Carl Wischner Jr Middle and right photos by Sparrow & Lace Photography.

(For comparison’s sake, diamonds are rated a 10 on the Mohs scale.)

Sapphire isn’t the only alternative stone on the market but not all gems are equally suited for use in an engagement ring or wedding band.

“We have noticed an increase in alternative gemstones for engagement rings,” Dahlia Jean, inventory manager at Maejean Vintage, an online retailer of fine vintage, antique and estate jewelry based in Lancaster, shared in an email. “We have sold a lot of aquamarine and morganite engagement rings, especially.”

“When selecting an alternative engagement ring, it is important to consider one's lifestyle and select a suitable style,” Laura Mae, co-owner of Maejean Vintage, said in an email. “Diamonds are the most durable gemstone with exceptional hardwhich is one of the reasons they are for engagement rings.

e are some gorgeous and actical alternative gemstone options we recommend based on durability: sapphires, rubies, aquamarines and morganite,” Mae says “On the other hand, softer gems such as opal, pearl and emerald we typically don't advise for engagement rings. If a client does select a softer gemstone for an engagement ring, it will require extra care and maintenance.”

And even if one’s heart is set on a diamond, there are alternative options available, including lab-grown diamonds or vintage or heirloom stones

“Lab-grown diamonds are starting to be a really big selling point,” Amey says.

“Our customers are savvy enough to cognize that these stones (traditional diamonds) that are being mined are not always environmentally great for the Earth and they are possibly not great for the miners who are mining them.

“The lab-created (diamonds) have the same chemical composition (as a standard diamond), but it’s made in the lab versus nature,” Amey says. “So if I were to test that stone with a diamond tester, they would both test the same.”

“We have seen an increase in consumers seeking out ethical jewelry, which is why we believe we have seen such a demand for unique nontraditional vintage engagement rings (at Maejean Vintage),” Jean said.

ANTIQUE OR UNIQUE

For those interested in a vintage aesthetic, restoring or repurposing a family heirloom or other antique ring is an option.

“I really enjoy using family pieces, if at all possible,” Amey says “If somebody has something in their family that they're willing to pass down and use, I think it's such a meaningful continuation of the family story

“Sometimes the antique ring is so far gone, the metal can't be used, so that's when I tell people to put the sentiment on the stone, not the entire ring itself,” Amey says “Some

gated shapes, besides oval” (which is the best-selling diamond shape at Brent L. Miller, as of late) are growing in popularity.

“Emerald cuts, elongated cushion or a radiant cut are some other more unique cuts that you didn't used to see quite as much that I'm starting to get more and more people just starting to ask for,” Orsini says

Macy Alejandra, associate jeweler at Maejean Vintage, has noticed more couples selecting statement rings for their engagement.

“We have seen more and more interest in heavier, more substantial styles of engagement rings and wedding bands,” Alejandra shared in an email. “The last few years, very dainty bands have been at the forefront, and we've been seeing an increasing amount of interest in more statement designs. The reality of having a delicate ring is that you have to be delicate with them, and for most people an engagement ring is a piece that you want to wear every day without worrying too much about it. Having a ring with a larger or wider band increases the durability and longevity of the ring.”

“If somebody wanted to use a colored gemstone, sapphires come in all the colors of the rainbow. They’re not locked into just having a diamond as an engagement ring. I would put colored sapphires as the second most popular to diamond .”

people will go for a completely different design, and for other people, we have the ability to recreate the original ring.”

Even those seeking a traditional look can add unique touches to their ring, Orsini says

“(Couples) come in when they’re looking for a ring, and they really want it to be different They don't want it to be something that everybody else wears,” Orsini says “So even if it's a simple ring, but something that just has a touch (of something unique) whether it has a secret birthstone hidden inside of it, or it has a beautiful detail from the side profile, or a unique cut instead of a traditional round (stone). Something that just makes it a little bit different from everybody else's is always something that people desire in their ring.”

For those looking to be ahead of the bridal trends, Orsini predicts that “elon-

No matter what trends come and go, there’s only one thing that matters, Amey says: that you love your engagement ring.

“I think people get caught up in the, ‘I'm supposed to have this, this is tradition, this is what we're supposed to do. We're supposed to have two rings, an engagement ring and a wedding band’ and they can't move beyond that,” Amey says “But the people that can have made some really cool and interesting rings. It is completely up to you. It's such a personal decision, and there are no rules about it.”

Ignoring tradition worked out well for Ethridge and Wischner

“The first time I saw (the ring ) was when he actually was proposing, so of course, I was just overwhelmed,” Ethridge says “Then when I saw the ring, I think I burst into tears again. I couldn't even have pictured a ring so perfect for us, for me.”

Carl Wischner Jr. designed a one-of-a-kind engagement ring for his now-wife, Libby, that included diamonds, sapphires and pearls.

ANDREA MILLER AMEY, OWNER OF J.A. SHARP

THE COOKIE TAB LE

How a western Pennsylvania tradition has made its way to this side of the state

REBECCA LOGAN | LNP CORRESPONDENT

When Pittsburgher Susan Roland learned that her grandson would be having a July wedding near Lancaster, she started baking.

In May. About 200 dozen cookies

“I had them in my neighbors’ freezers, my freezer,” Roland says. “We left on a Thursday because it was a Friday wedding. My husband packed them up in coolers in the back of our truck and we just drove them out the four hours.”

Her daughters also baked cookies for guests to enjoy at the reception at Stoltzfus Homestead and Gardens in Gordonville.

“It was a big hit A lot of people there didn’t even know about the Pittsburgh cookie tradition,” Roland says “But they ate them.”

Wedding cookie tables – famously associated with western Pennsylvania’s largest city but which also make appearances at fire halls in rural communities throughout the state – have popped up at other venues around Lancaster County

Kallie Bucsok and her husband, Ryan Frye, had one in October at their reception at Osbornia Farm Wedding and Event Venue in Little Britain Township Kallie is from Pittsburgh and has attended plenty of cookie table receptions

She wasn’t intent on having one at her own. Her mother was.

“I’ll be honest with you, my mom was driving me crazy with that cookie table,” she says “But once it got closer, and once I saw all the cookies she had made, it really

was impressive. Everyone loved it.”

The bride even found a sign on Facebook Marketplace that said: “All You Need is Love and a Pittsburgh Cookie Table.”

The couple live in Maryland, which is where Ryan grew up They chose Lancaster County for the reception to keep it inside Pennsylvania in deference to Pittsburgh family members who would be traveling the turnpike.

All attendees were treated to a spread featuring several cookie varieties including some of her mother ’s specialties like the round little chocolate and peanut butter marvels known as buckeyes. Ryan’s mother made thumbprint cookies. She didn’t know about the table tradition before her son got engaged.

“She does now,” Kallie says Additional cookies came from other relatives and friends who were accustomed to chipping in cookies.

“We have them in western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio because we grew up with that,” says Karen Laszlo, one of the authors of “The 25 Must Have Cookies at Your Wedding Table: a Pittsburgh Tradition.”

“It started in the early 1900s because people couldn’t afford cakes. So everyone got together and had these cookie tables,” she says “Now if you don’t have a cookie table in Pittsburgh people are like, ‘What’s going on?’ ”

Today Laszlo lives near the University of Colorado where she teaches and will on occasion talk cookie tables with her students She says they all tell her they want one, which is one of the reasons she’s

recently given renewed attention to weddingcookietable.com, a domain she has had for years.

“About three weeks ago I hired an intern to help me revamp this and get it moving again,” she says “We think it actually could go nationwide because of the changes we’re seeing happening in the wedding industry.”

Among them is a move away from massive cakes and toward dessert tables in general.

Pittsburgh. Kallie’s mother wanted to make sure she had a cookie table and brought many dozens of her specialties.

Kallie Bucsok and Ryan Frye chose Osbornia Farm in Little Britain Township for their reception last year, in part to keep things geographically fair to family from both Maryland and

PHOTOS BY EMERALD STONE PHOTOGRAPHY

“Especially the older people. They like to see their cookies on the table. I’m 38 and I like to see my cookies on the table,” says Laszlo’s niece, Kearstin Sarver, who also worked on the cookbook. “I make them with my children. … When someone gets engaged in our family that’s the first question. What cookie are we going to make? ”

Tables are often loaded down with marzipan peaches, pizzelles, Russian tea balls, shortbread, snickerdoodles and such. Some are made fresh right before the wedding. Others may spend a month or more in a freezer so that those bakers who are doing the heavy lifting can pace themselves

In many families when a Pittsburgh wedding hits the calendar, relatives and close friends just assume they’ll be cranking out at least a batch or two.

But in places like Lancaster County –where the cookie table tradition isn’t baked in

it might take a bit more explaining to request not only the pleasure of someone’s attendance, but also their baked goods

“It’s like french fries on a salad,” Sarver says “Outside of Pittsburgh people might look at you like you’re crazy.”

But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t ask, she says Laszlo suggests looking for what friends or relatives do well.

“I’m famous for my sugar cookies. And chocolate chip. And, well, peanut butter. Those are the ones that everybody knows me for. So they could easily call me and say, ‘Would you mind doing five dozen sugar cookies for the wedding ?’ ” she says. “A lot of people take intense pride because you just approached them for something that you treasure with them. Five dozen cookies? That’s not a big deal.”

Bakers just drop them at the home of the mother of the bride or whoever is arranging the table and mission accomplished, Laszlo says

Jacob Martin – the first of Roland’s seven grandchildren to get married – says the cookie table at his 2021 reception was basically automatic.

“My mom, my aunts and my grandma,” Martin says “They just kind of told me, ‘Hey, if your venue has a spot, we’re going to bake all these cookies.’ ”

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While his wife, Sarah, was partial to a minty variety, his favorites were his grandmother ’s signature lady locks. Roland fills those with a mixture of vanilla pudding, sugar, Crisco, milk and vanilla. She also made those for her children’s weddings and more recently her own 50th anniversary party, which featured a cookie table nod to the one family and friends filled for her a half-century ago.

“I enjoy baking,” Roland says “I’m 68 I hope I hang in there to bake these cookies for all the other grandkids.”

Justin and Kelsey Jarkowsky had a Pittsburgh cookie table –plus ice cream and cupcake food trucks – at their July 2022 wedding at White Chimneys in Gap. For more details, see their feature wedding on page 12.

A cookie table was a foregone conclusion when Jacob and Sarah Martin married at Stoltzfus Homestead and Gardens in Gordonville. Says Jacob, “My mom, my aunts and my grandma. They just kind of told me, ‘Hey, if your venue has a spot, we’re going to bake all these cookies.’ ”

PHOTOS BY JOHN MALLOY PHOTOGRAPHY

Two-story loft-style spacewith a state-of-the-art sound system, lighting, and abar area forcatering. Our spacecan hold up to 150 guests.

Five tips for bringing a Pittsburgh cookie table to this side of the state

1

How many cookies should you have?

Answers varied greatly when that question was posed this year on the Facebook group “The Wedding Cookie Table Community.” But many responses fell in the range of 6 to 12 cookies per guest.

2

To-go bags or boxes are a well-established must. Opinion is a bit more divided on whether to identify individual cookies with labels. That debate also played out on the aforementioned Facebook group, which is followed by lots of Lancaster County residents, at least some just there for the recipes.

3

You’ll find other recipes with a western Pennsylvania/eastern Ohio flair in cookbooks like “The Belt Cookie Table Cookbook” and “The 25 Must Have Cookies at Your Wedding Table: a Pittsburgh Tradition.” That book’s sister website, weddingcookietable.com, lists several that aren’t in the book

4You can find on Etsy and elsewhere cookie table swag such as replicas of Pittsburgh bridges made specifically to hold cookies.

5Check your venue. Rules against outside food at some Lancaster County locations put the kibosh on cookie tables. Best tell Burgh relatives before they start baking.

I DO Featured Wedding

We dding dat e and loc ation: July 22, 2022, at White Chimneys in Gap

How did you meet?

On Bumble.

Did you have a theme for your wedding?

“We didn’t have a theme in mind. We just wanted it to feel like us! I’m a huge animal lover and my husband loves everything bougie. White Chimneys also allowed us to just have a fun, interactive space inside and out.”

What was your color scheme?

Pinks, yellows and greens

Were there any personal elements that you incorporated into the ceremony, the reception or the décor and details that made the day extra meaningful?

“Justin and I surprised my parents with the first dance they never had. My parents had a wedding planned, but my dad ended up getting deployed before their big day, so my parents never got to have a special ceremony or wedding day that they wanted. Since they were so generous in helping Justin and I have our special day, we wanted to give them a moment they never thought they would have It was a complete surprise and there wasn’t a dry eye there! It was such an amazing moment to give something like that to my parents after they gave so much to us.”

PHOTOGRAPHER:

ANNIE SHARP PHOTO GRAPHY

HAIR AND MAKEUP: NVS BRIDAL

FLOW ERS:

WEDDING FLOWERS BY CY NDI

CAKE:

LANCASTER CUPCAKE

ICE CREAM: PENNY’S

Tell us about your Pittsburgh cookie table:

“Justin grew up in Lancaster, I grew up in Pittsburgh. Cookie tables are such a significant tradition for Pittsburgh families! How it works is all of the cookies are provided by friends and family to share with everyone on the wedding day. This tradition runs deep, and it is truly a very meaningful way to show love to the couple on their wedding day. My Uncle John and my Aunt Tracey were a huge part in making this happen. They started baking weeks in advance. They drove all the way from Pittsburgh to Lancaster with boxes of cookies literally stacked to the roof of their car. My cousin Austin sat in the back with cookies stacked on top of him the entire ride! We had so many cookies it is hard to count, but we easily had 500 Throughout the night we kept restocking, and everyone had plenty to take home! We had your classic chocolate chips, peanut butter blossoms, snickerdoodles, lady locks and more! But most importantly we had the Pittsburgh cookie table must, pizzelles! I couldn’t imagine my wedding without the fun and joy the cookie table brings.”

You don’t often see an outfit change for the groom. How did that come about?

“Justin is a bougie guy He loves the finer things in life, and he loves to put on a good show. When we landed on our wedding colors, he took them very seriously. He just so happened to stumble upon the perfect green suit and the perfect pink suit. He couldn’t choose between the two, so he wore them both! Fun fact: Justin actually had three outfit changes, and I had one. Unfortunately, my outfit change and his final one didn’t get photographed because it was late into the evening after our photographer left. We took photo booth pictures, though!”

Where did you get the idea for the donkey delivering Jell-0 shots?

“This is actually something the venue offered to us! As soon as I heard we could have the little guys running around I was all over it. I grew up training horses and working with animals, so any chance I could get them involved, I took it!”

What was the biggest challenge in planning your wedding?

“You never know how much time goes into planning a wedding until you do it We planned our day in just six months! There is a lot to keep track of and a whole lot to pay for. My mom was my rock through all of it.”

Would you change anything?

“Looking back, I would have made the day longer by having our ceremony start an hour or two earlier. By the end of the night when we got to join the party after all the photos, it all moved too fast and was over too soon. Other than that, even though it was the hottest day of the year, I wouldn’t change a thing. We felt so loved and we really had the best time.”

What advice do you have for newly engaged couples?

“Make sure you have time on your wedding day to soak it all in. I was extremely happy Justin and I decided that after the ceremony, we went directly into the bridal suite alone to eat some appetizers and just be with each other before the whole party and pictures. We took just 10 minutes to do this, and it made all the difference.”

Any other details or information you’d like to share?

“Hope you saw our fun ice cream truck and cupcake truck at the end of the night! Justin and I aren’t too fond of traditional receptions. We loved having a live band outside, yard games, people could go visit the Highland cows, eat tons of cookies, dance, do the photo booth. We even had custom coloring books for the kids. All the good things!”

LOVE

Live wedd ing painters of fer one-of-a-ki nd way to capt ure a memor y

Lexi Braverman and Chris Bylsma exchanged gifts shortly before their wedding ceremony.

He opened a fancy collar for a dog they’d been talking about getting one day. She opened a box containing a tiny easel with scribbly art and a note saying something like, “Hopefully our painter does a better job.”

Unbeknownst to Braverman, Bylsma had hired an artist to set up an actual easel at their reception, where she then created a watercolor version of the married couple’s first dance at Lancaster ’s Excelsior

Braverman – intrigued by the growing live wedding painting trend she saw mentioned often while planning her day – was thrilled.

“It was such a great surprise. And it’s something I’ll always cherish,” she says “It will be such a beautiful reminder of our wedding day. I would recommend it to anybody.”

Search for live wedding painters online and you’ll find styles ranging from realistically detailed to almost abstract. Pricing varies greatly, too. The Knot reported in February that couples can often expect to pay between $1,500 and $10,000 for a live

wedding painter. Sometimes it’s more. Experience factors in. So do travel costs

One family flew Ben Keys from Charleston, South Carolina, to Pennsylvania to paint a 2021 Lancaster garden wedding inside a massive tent festooned with flowers and twinkly lights. Keys and his wife, Jennifer, own a company called Wed on Canvas. He studied marketing and worked for a startup before the dot-com bust of 2000 and then switched gears to study at the Torpedo Factory, the Art Institute of Chicago and the International School of Painting in Umbria, Italy He did

Ben Keys, live wedding artist and co-owner of South Carolina-based Wed on Canvas, painted this image of Jennifer and Eric Candino during the hora at their Lancaster wedding reception.

SUBMITTED BY WED ON CANVAS

REBECCA LOGAN LNP CORRESPONDENT

architectural portraits in coastal North Carolina and has been painting weddings for years.

“My wife says I’m one of the OGs,” he says “I was doing this before people had even heard of it thanks to a New York bride who was ahead of the curve.”

He now paints about 40 weddings each year, preferring to reserve some weekends for his young children. Most of the time, Keys paints couples’ first dances At the Lancaster reception of Jennifer and Eric Candino, he tackled the hora – a Jewish tradition where the couple is lifted on chairs while guests hold hands and dance in circles around them.

“We had never done a hora before, for obvious reasons. It’s a wild scene,” he says. “Jen talked to them and said, ‘Be prepared. This is a new thing.’ And they were like, ‘Yeah. Let’s try it and see what happens We trust you. Do the best you can.’ ”

Jennifer Candino says she was happy with that decision and the painting. She says she and her husband don’t love the typical “here’s the bride and here’s the groom” vibe.

“We wanted something a little bit more fun that we were excited to hang in our home,” she says “Don’t get me wrong. I’m a girl. I wanted a wedding. But I’m not into the Mr and Mrs. stuff So we thought it would be more fun to try something else.”

The Candinos – who recently welcomed a daughter – live in New York City. She’d encountered several wedding painters at receptions there, as well as in Florida, and discovered Keys online.

He worked off photographs for facial details of the bride and groom. Painted versions of guests circling their chairs are

more identifiable by hairstyles and ensembles Keys knew he had to incorporate certain people, like parents Others made it into the painting, at least in part, because the color of their dresses worked well with the flower wall and centerpieces that he painted first

“It’s sort of like setting the stage,” he says That’s basically how Baltimore-based artist Patricia Bennett approaches it

“I try to get there two or three hours before the wedding starts,” she says. “I’ll paint the background so by the time the guests arrive there should be a structure …. And then I just fill in the guests throughout the night.”

Bennett counts among her past gigs a reception at Lancaster Country Club, which she recalls being filled with lovely flowers and lots of athletes No matter the crowd, communication with the couple is crucial, she says

“I have to be a little bit strategic because the guests that are closest to me appear to be the largest and they’re usually not the most important guests to the bride and groom,” she says

She always incorporates key people. From there, part of the decision-making comes down to whomever catches her eye.

“I like people in red dresses I like to paint people with blonde hair. I like polka dots,” she says. “The bridal party has to be in there, of course, and obviously the bride and the groom are the most important people there.”

She favors acrylics for weddings because with those there’s no strong smell accosting guests and she can wash her brushes without getting into trouble in fancy venue sinks. She used to be nervous Now she knows she can do it

Bennett says she’s always been a fast painter and is able to stay completely focused for about eight hours – even as guests look over her shoulder, observing her progress and making small talk.

“That’s one reason I really like this,” she says “Nobody has ever said, ‘Oh my gosh, that looks absolutely horrible.’ People are always very kind and it’s fun talking to them.”

Bennett has been painting weddings since 2012 and has done in the ballpark of 300. Maria Tomassetti has done around 10 – including Braverman and Bylsma’s last August. She linked up with Lancaster ’s 3West Productions in 2019 to provide live painting

through that company. Then the pandemic hit She didn’t paint her first wedding until 2021.

Tomassetti likes using watercolors for her live creations

“I’m not painting a lot of details I’m not painting something that is every single freckle or anything like that,” she says “I’m really just trying to get the movement and the excitement to come through. I think that’s what people are moved by when they get the final piece.”

She finishes and frames wedding paintings on site and presents them to the couples there. Other painters put final details on after the event and deliver their works later.

Braverman, who works as an emergency room physician’s assistant, says she and her engineer husband looked at their framed, finished product around the time they had their quiet dance after guests left. They now live in Florida. The painting is still in Lancaster County at her parents’ house because she’s worried about transporting it – especially if they ever decide to move north. But she knows she’ll keep the painting for years.

“I hope it’s a legacy piece,” says Tomassetti, who enjoys the opportunity to create in the emotion-infused environments that are wedding receptions

“I can feel the joy and the love and the livelihood of the night. That’s what I really try to capture,” she says “There’s definitely a different kind of energy to live painting than there is when it’s me just painting in my studio.”

Chris Bylsma and Lexi Braverman stayed after everyone had left their Excelsior reception in August for one last dance by themselves. They also got a look at the finished, framed painting of their first dance as husband and wife.

Chris Bylsma surprised his now wife, Lexi Braverman, by hiring an artist to paint their picture during their reception at Excelsior in Lancaster in August. Artist Maria Tomassetti of Lancaster whipped up a small painting of the cake before the reception started, then spent most of the night on the couple’s first dance.

PHOTO BY JULIANA TOMLINSON

PHOTO BY JULIANA TOMLINSON

How did

“We met at our part-time sc hool. We we re 15

As kids we ne ve r though marrying

Di d yo u yo ur we dd ing?

“Our theme wa s modern minimalistic. Lanc (with) barn we dding ar en’ t to o fo nd of . We modern spaces, which mor e of an industrial

co lo r

“Black, whit e and earth y neutral to nes and not to o PHOTOGRAPHER

Were there any personal elements that you incorporated into the ceremony, the reception or the décor and details that made the day extra meaningful?

“We hosted children at our wedding and aimed to keep them occupied, so we created a customized activity book for them! We included puzzles, coloring pages, and provided crayons. Also, our dog couldn’t be at the wedding, so we named our bar after him, ‘Cooper ’s bar.’ ”

Wh at wa s th e bi gge st cha lle ng e in pl ann ing yo ur we ddi ng ?

“There was a wedding boom in 2022, which made it difficult to secure specific vendors. In the end, we had a great team that made the day flow beautifully.”

Wo uld yo u ch ang e anyth ing ?

“Absolutely not! There were some minor issues the day of the wedding, but we didn’t let that bother us. We had a great celebration with all our favorite people!”

Wh at advi ce do yo u have fo r newl y engag ed co uples?

“Don’t sweat the small stuff. As much as we plan every detail to make sure the wedding day is perfect, some things aren’t going to go as planned. It’s important to remember what the day is really about marrying your best friend!”

REBECCA LOGAN LNP CORRESPONDENT

The cover photo for Drumore Mill’s Facebook page features a couple frolicking in front of a waterfall.

Shimmering droplets fly past their faces They’re laughing. He’s barefoot. The bottom of her bridal gown is floating in Fishing Creek. It’s the kind of image that many couples would be thrilled to have in their wedding albums.

Spoiler alert: They’re models. They were splashing around outside the Southern End event venue last year during a photo shoot for Lillian West, one of the collections from Justin Alexander, a design house with offices in New Jersey, London, Rotterdam and Hong Kong.

Photographers know that stunning shots can happen in settings diametrically opposed to white dresses and high heels – be it streams, rocky outcroppings or pastures where livestock graze. They also know that real-life brides aren’t always as anxious as models to go there. They’ve got practical logistics to consider.

Lizzy Senft, owner of Lizzy Jo Photography, wasn’t involved with the Lillian West shoot, but worked with different models for a styled event at that waterfall. She’ll be shooting an actual wedding at Drumore Mill this spring during which the bride is planning to brave the creek.

to the

Some of the best wedding day imag es require embracing a little dirt

dress

“She told me, ‘I want to get in that water. I need you to kind of give me some input on the best method of doing that,’ ” Senft says. “She even said, ‘It should probably be after the ceremony, huh?’ ” Definitely, Senft told her As for the rest of the day ?

“With outdoor weddings, I always tell them it’s going to happen. You’re going to have mud on your dress You’re going to have beer on your dress You’re going to have wine on your dress,” Senft says “So, for this particular bride I said, ‘Your dress is going to get dirty anyway. If you want to get in that water, get in the water.’ ” Senft says her client even suggested she might just stay soggy at the reception.

“I told her, ‘If you want to spend the rest of the night in a wet dress that is completely up to you’,” she says “Or you could get a nice cheap reception dress to eat your dinner in Or the other option is to change into another dress for the waterfall shots, which is what we did for that styled shoot.”

That model wore an elaborate dress for most of the day but changed into a simple Amazon purchase for the creek.

“If you want to buy just a cute, white, long maxi dress to play around in the water it will give that same vibe,” Senft says.

“Those are the options I gave her. She’s still thinking on what she wants to do.”

When Sarah Gotwols’ wedding photographer asked if she’d be comfortable laying down on the forest floor, the active volunteer with the Lancaster Conservancy wasn’t as worried about her dress as she was about making sure she didn’t disturb anything fragile.

She often volunteers at Shenks Ferry Wildflower Preserve and sees many people going for photos among the blooms

“It’s great that people want to have a moment captured in nature,” Gotwols says “But at the same time, they have to be very careful and aware of their surroundings and making sure that they’re not disrupting any of that natural landscape.”

After she and her husband, Matthew Moran, were married at Drumore Estate last May, they took a quick trip for pictures to another Lancaster Conservancy destination near there. That was Climbers Run Nature Preserve, which features a cascading stream buffeted by enough steep forest to accommodate wild brook trout.

Lizzy Senft was the photographer for this staged shoot last year at Drumore Mill in Drumore. Model Lauren Ney, here with Joshua Ney, wore a fancier dress for shots that didn’t involve wading in Fishing Creek but changed into an Amazon purchase for this. Senft is booked to photograph an actual wedding there this spring during which the bride-to-be is determined to get in the water.

PHOTOS BY LIZZY JO PHOTOGRAPHY

“We knew that going down into the creek area was risky. There was a good chance that one or both of us could have spilled it into the creek,” she says. “So I think doing the shots at the end was a good idea so that we didn’t have to worry too much.”

It all comes down to perspective, Gotwols says.

“You wear that dress once. You have those memories once,” she says. “So if it’s a space or a shot that is important to you, I think that overrides getting a little bit of dirt on your dress.”

Her photographer, Mel Faraci of Shifted Focus Photography, welcomes that attitude.

“If I were to give a percentage, I would say maybe 60 to 70% of my brides are not super, super concerned about their dress,” she says “And then I have a solid 30 who are like, ‘Absolutely not I will not walk in the grass. I will not go anywhere near anything that will get it dirty.’ ”

Faraci respects those wishes -

“Those are the ones I will not push for anything unless there’s absolutely nowhere else to go,” she says “And in that case, there are different tricks.”

Clear shower curtains beneath the bride are among them.

Taylor Kramer, formerly of Ephrata, hired Faraci to photograph her 2021 marriage to Daniel Eichler. The couple, who now live near Asheville, North Carolina, had a doughnuts-and-mimosas reception. But first they posed for pictures at Pinnacle Overlook, dizzyingly high above the Susquehanna River near Holtwood.

“I was more frozen than nervous Daniel, however, was pure anxiety,” Taylor says

“He knows I’m a clutz on a normal day, but add heels and a dress that needed hemmed and he couldn’t even watch me move.”

Those heels were inexpensive purchases from Amazon.

“I wasn’t worried about them getting messed up,” she says “But I was worried about how dirty the dress could get since we took pictures pre-ceremony.”

She tried to keep it off the ground as much as possible.

“Honestly, it got more ripped and dirty walking through Lancaster than it did on the overlook,” she says. “Mel reassured me, though, that everyone inevitably rips their train, and usually you can’t even tell. I don’t have any plans for the dress now, but after a dry-cleaning, it’s still in great shape.”

Material makes a difference, especially when it comes to water.

“If I go in and I see a pure raw silk dress I won’t even think to ask them to step into wet grass because I know that will stain,”

Faraci says

She suggests that brides research how their dress’s material fits with photo priorities

“Most fall in the middle, somewhere between, ‘Yeah, I’ll lay on the ground and roll around,’ and ‘I’m not stepping on that grass,’ ” she says.

Some couples will go to the edge of crop-filled fields.

“But they’re not necessarily willing to take

Bailey and Rhiannon Groff braved the longhorn pasture in September at Ironstone Ranch at Stone Gables Estate in Elizabethtown.

Taylor Kramer and David Eichler took their time getting out to Pinnacle Scenic Overlook Preserve near Holtwood. The bride managed to navigate the rocks and roots in her blue heels.

PHOTO BY AMY MARBURGER OF PLUM PERFECT PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTOS BY MEL FARACI, SHIFTED FOCUS PHOTOGRAPHY

the plunge and go all the way in. And that’s perfectly fine,” Faraci says. “It’s pretty easy to make it feel like you’re in an entire field of wheat even if you’re standing just a couple inches inside. You don’t always have to get down and dirty to get good pictures.”

Sometimes it’s the couple who initiates taking chances.

In September, Amy Marburger of Plum Perfect Photography, followed Bailey and Rhiannon Groff into a pasture of longhorns at Ironstone Ranch at Stone Gables Estate in Elizabethtown.

“Obviously the biggest hurdle for us was steering clear of their droppings,” Marburger says.

Rhiannon was nervous about their massive horns for maybe a minute until she saw the wedding coordinator interacting with the animals. But she never worried about her dress. All they had left to do after those pictures was dance.

“And it was going to be dark in there then anyway,” Groff says Marburger admires her calm. About 25 years ago she thought differently.

When Sarah Gotwols’ photographer asked if she’d be OK laying down on the forest floor, the active volunteer with the Lancaster Conservancy wasn’t as worried about her dress as she was about making sure she didn’t disturb anything fragile growing there. She and her husband, Matthew Moran, took pictures at Climbers Run Nature Preserve near Pequea on their wedding day last May. They didn’t end up falling into the creek but knew there was a good chance they could. She would have been fine if she did. “Things happen. Flow with it,” Gotwols said. “There is no sense in getting bent out of shape if you get a little bit of dirt on your dress.”

“I was very worried about keeping my dress perfect,” Marburger says. “I was one of those brides.”

She ended up having three sons and nobody to pass the dress on to.

“Keep in mind that dress is washable. You can take it to the dry cleaner. You can get repairs done. I do understand that it’s a keepsake,” Marburger says. “But what you walk away with after the wedding day are these photos And if you’re willing to step outside the box, ultimately you will wind up with something really incredible.”

There is no sense in getting bent out of shape if you get a little bit of dirt on your dress.

SARAH GOTWOLS

PHOTOS BY MEL FARACI, SHIFTED FOCUS PHOTOGRAPHY

First steps for filling YO UR FIRST HOME

Compromise, common sense and a careful ly crafted wedd ing registry

Your engagement is an exciting time with lots of decisions to make, and some of the hardest ones may involve planning your first home together That begins with the wedding registry, but even with a big wedding and lots of gifts, you’ll surely need to bring many additional functional and decorative items into your lives.

Choosing those items as a couple can be a challenge. Even if you already share a home together, you may want to upgrade with, say, new linens, a faux fur throw to make movie night feel even more special, or a pretty area rug to anchor the sofa and coffee table.

“I know it isn’t always easy to agree on colors and design,” says Lancaster designer Henrietta Heisler “But disagreements can turn into loud arguments, and that’s no way to start a marriage. So don’t be close-minded as you share opinions You might actually be surprised at what you like when you are exposed to new ideas But be sure you wind up with style decisions that will make both of you happy.”

Liza Redcay, a design consultant with Interiors Home in Lancaster, agrees. A newlywed herself, she says that even though she works in the home furnishings business, she and her husband, Luke, had to work out differences before buying larger furniture items for their home.

“For me, style and comfort are most important,” she says “Luke is more interested in staying on budget He also prefers bright bold colors while I think neutrals are the way to go But we made sure to communicate to resolve our differences I suggest that couples look at photos online and in magazines for room ideas, color schemes and styles This way when it’s time to choose you have something to reference that you both like.”

The wedding registry

Registries have changed a lot Now you can create all-in-one registries rather than set up multiple lists with various stores This is easier for both couples and guests Conventional advice has it that couples should register for twice as many gifts as the number of guests so there are plenty of choices.

What to ask for? Kitchen items are still popular registry items, but these days couples are getting creative. For example, Jennifer and Joseph Anstine, newlyweds who married in Lancaster County and now live in King of Prussia, registered for camping gear, such as a tent, sleeping bags and a cooler.

“Besides camping, we love cooking together,” Jennifer Smith-Anstine says. “So we did ask for a lot of kitchen gadgets and equipment, including a stand-up mixer with interesting attachments. And our bridal party pooled funds to get me a Cricut, an amazing crafting machine.”

Sometimes a wedding gift becomes a future heirloom. That was the case with a black walnut dining table gifted to Danielle and Kristopher Kellogg.

“It was a present from my parents, who are great admirers of furniture handcrafted by George’s Furniture in Marietta,” Danielle says “We love the table and use it daily It’s the perfect look for our stone colonial in Drexel Hill.”

George’s Furniture caters to couples by offering some unusual wedding registry perks. “The couple meets with our designers to create their dream piece of furniture,” says owner Juanita Horst. “Family and friends, who decide to share the dream, place money in the bride’s account, and we keep a detailed list of guests for thank you notes.”

Designing the nest

The key to furnishing that first home is prioritizing, both Heisler and Redcay say. “Splurge on items like sofas, area rugs, dining sets and bedroom furniture,” Redcay recommends. “These are items that will be with you the longest and will set the tone for your home. Accessories are something you can add to your wedding registry. Think lamps, framed artwork, pillows and throws. They are a simple and quick way to transform your spaces, plus wedding guests really love having a list of something pretty to bring.”

Heisler says a good mattress is a great first item to splurge on. “The room where you spend most of your time is where you want to dedicate the most care,” she says “So of all the items on your checklist, having your mattress and bedding ready on day one is important. You can hold off on a bed frame at first, but the last thing you’ll want to do is sleep on the floor after moving day.”

Heisler warns to set a budget “It isn’t smart to start a marriage by going broke,” she says “Make sure you can afford whatever style you choose for your new place. And don’t worry if you’re working with a limited budget You can probably salvage some on your old furniture and decor Also, these days where we all appreciate recycling and reusing, you might go treasure hunting at used furniture stores, yard sales and auctions Look for pieces with good bones and refinish or paint them. Lately, social media is full of examples of splendid furniture flipping.”

Both designers agree that couples should take their time furnishing that first home. “As time goes by the two of you will be more confident in your choices,” Heisler says. “And besides, you may be opting for a new place down the road.”

That’s exactly what prompted the Anstines to register for mostly functional household items. “We love our little bungalow in King of Prussia, but we will be looking for a bigger place in a couple of years. That will be the time to think furniture and decor.”

tò-dò lìst

12-18 months before

❑ Establish your budget.

❑ Hire a wedding planner (optional).

❑ Set a wedding date.

❑ Determine the size of the wedding.

❑ Book a venue

12 months before

❑ Determine the theme of the wedding.

❑ Start picking wedding colors and overall design.

❑ Have an engagement photo session.

❑ Start shopping for a wedding dress.

❑ Create your wedding website.

❑ Interview and hire vendors, such as photographers, bands and videographers.

8-10 months before

❑ Choose the wedding party.

❑ Finalize the guest list and send save-the-date cards.

❑ Order invitations.

❑ Start shopping for wedding party attire.

❑ Visit stores to create registry gift lists.

❑ Look into reserving room blocks for out-of-town guests.

❑ Start planning your honeymoon.

6 months before

❑ Order wedding bands.

❑ Meet with a makeup and hair stylist and book a trial.

❑ Get passports for honeymoon, if necessary

❑ Meet with florists and other vendors, like transportation companies and hotels, to secure these arrangements.

❑ Inquire about any classes or preparatory meetings required by your place of worship If you will not be getting married in a place of worship, hire an officiant at this time

❑ Choose attire for groomsmen and give them a deadline for fittings and orders.

❑ Reserve any rentals.

❑ Book ceremony musicians.

❑ Book transportation to and from venues.

4 months before

❑ Get honeymoon travel plans in order.

❑ Book cake tastings and order the cake if it is not part of the venue food and beverage package

❑ Have an initial gown fitting if you haven’t already done so

❑ Compile rehearsal dinner guest list.

❑ Book rehearsal dinner venue.

❑ Order rehearsal dinner invitations.

3 months before

❑ Book a photo booth rental or other reception entertainment.

❑ Finalize ceremony readers and readings.

❑ Plan reception seating.

❑ Buy toasting flutes, serving pieces, a guest book, flower basket and ring bearer pillow.

❑ Finalize reception menu.

2 months before

❑ Apply for marriage license

❑ Buy wedding party gifts.

❑ Book beauty and spa treatments for you and your wedding party.

❑ Address and mail the wedding invitations.

❑ Finalize fittings for wedding party and parents. Work with the seamstress for the final fitting date just before the wedding.

❑ Create a wedding day timeline and send to venders, officiant and wedding party.

❑ Finalize any song selections with the DJ or band.

1 month before

❑ Confirm all RSVPs.

❑ Touch base with all vendors.

❑ Finalize vows.

❑ Attend final walk-through.

❑ Finalize decor

❑ Finalize timeline for the day.

❑ Confirm honeymoon reservations.

❑ Pick up wedding rings.

❑ Order ceremony programs.

❑ Write thank-you notes as gifts are received.

2 weeks before

❑ Start breaking in wedding shoes.

❑ Make arrangements for pet and plant care during your honeymoon.

❑ Follow up with guests who haven’t RSVP’d.

❑ Send final guest count to caterer.

❑ Delegate someone to return tuxes and rentals.

The day before

❑ Pamper yourself

❑ Rehearse ceremony with wedding party and attend rehearsal dinner

❑ Get a good night’s sleep.

Source s: Stylish Occasions Wedding & Event Pla nning Alyssa Christine Photogra phy, Metro Creative Connection

Make sure you’ve got all the major wedding day elements covered with our at-a-glance checklist

11 years ago, I star ted this business out of the pure love and satisfaction I received from making my guests feel beautiful. Since then, so many love stories have come through this studio and we are so honored to be par t of each and ever y one.

I love, love. And there is nothing more special than the first time a bride sees herself in the mir ror and realizes that, today and forever, she is someone’s bride.

When you work with Envy Studio, we hope you feel that love as much as we feel yours. We look for ward to sharing in all your special moments!