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How5brides chosetheir “something blue.”
Should youhireacontent creator?
What’s in and what’s out?
Featured wedding:
Melissa andJames Rogers.
Will youbemybridesmaid ?
Featured wedding:
Trinityand Johnathon Gillespie.
Hair trend: the wedding chop.
Whattoknowabout nontraditional venues.
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Melissa andJames Rogers on their wedding dayin June 2024 at Moonstone Manor in Elizabethtown. Seepage14.
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Maddy Pontz’s mother,Marian, admiresthe blue cameo she purchased in Italyover20years agofor her daughter ’s wedding. PHOTOBYALYSSABUNTON PHOTOGRAPHY
BY MADDYPONTZ
omethingold, somethingnew, somethingborrowed, something blue…
By incorporating these four items,a bride is said to bring good luck to her wedding day.
Many historians believe thatthis traditiondates back to Victorian England, with the first documented mention being publishedin1871, according to Reader’sDigest. Now, some modern couplesare finding unique andmeaningful ways to makethistradition their own.
My own“something blue” story began more than twodecades ago. When Iwas 5yearsold or so,my mom —ahistory teacher—chaperoned aschool trip to Italy.While she wasabroad, shesoughtout one of the oldest cameo artisans in Florence and purchased a lightbluecameo necklace.Upon her return, she showedmethe necklace and told me thatshe had purchased it formetowearonmy wedding day, to be my “something blue.”However,Iwasn’t to wear the necklace beforethatday
It wassuch aspecialmoment to have my mom with me on the morning of my wedding, helping me claspthe necklace aroundmy neck and reminiscing together,all theseyearslater
Whether it’s meanttohonor a lovedone or to bring good fortune, hereare four ways thatotherlocal brides incorporated“something blue” on theirwedding days.
Kailee Ricks askedthree friendstowearsomething blue to her October wedding.
PHOTO BY ALYSSA BUNTON PHOTOGRAPHY
AbbyePorts hadasmall blue bowfromher late grandmother’swedding dress sewn into herown dressfor herMay 2024 wedding.
Wedding date: Oct. 11,2024
Venue: Rosewood Farms (Elkton,Maryland)
“I hadavery large wedding party, and every personthatwas in it was avery special persontome. You have alot of people in your life who comeindifferentphases of your life,and Ireally wanted to find a waytoincorporateall of my girls into my wedding day,”Ricks says “I decided to usethe ‘something blue’ (tradition) as agroup of three girls thatwereall from different phrases of (mylife) —childhood, high school and college. …I had them wear ablue dressoftheir choice. Ithoughtitwas afun way to incorporate morepeople and givethem aspecial role.”
Ally Droboniku-Groth carried a handkerchiefwith allher aunts’ andgrandmothers’ names stitched in blue
PHOTOBYALYSSABUNTON PHOTOGRAPHY
Wedding date: Dec. 7, 2024
hand-stitched with all of my aunts’and grandmothers’names in blue,”Droboniku- Groth says “It wasvery special because my great-grandmotherhas passedatthis point, andone of my grandmothershas notbeen healthyrecently,sothis meant alot.”
Wedding date: May4,2024
Venue: The Bond (York)
PHOTOBYKATECABRAL |CABRAL CREATIVE
Venue: Historic Ashland (Wrightsville)
“Mydad’s great-grandmother wouldpassdownhandkerchiefs (Mymom) gave me one of those at my bridal shower, and it was
“My‘something blue’ wasapiece of my grandma’swedding dress —alittle bluebow …Welost my grandma in acar accident…soI took thatpart of herdress andhad them sewitonthe underneath part of my dress,”Ports says “Eventhough she wasn’t there the dayofthe wedding, we incorporatedher in the ceremony. …Itwas emotional andheartfelt. It waskind of like alittle secret becauseyou couldn’treally see the part of the dresswhere it was sewn on, so every time Ilifted (my dress) to showsomeoneitwas emotional, happymemories.”
Chelsea Jordan wore herlategrandmother’sgold bracelet, featuring threeblue gemstones, when shemarried husbandSpencer
Wedding date: July 16,2021
Ceremony venue: Saint Joseph Catholic Church (York)
Reception venue: Historic Ashland (Wrightsville)
“The December prior to (our wedding )both of my grandparents passedaway. …Itwas the tail end of COVID -19, and …therewasn’tany kind of memorial or celebration to reminisceon their stories.Mywedding waskind of the first big, extended family eventthathappened after that,”Jordan says.“Ijust knewthatIwanted (mygrandmother) to be apart of my wedding somehow. …Mymom and her siblingshad to go through all of my grandparents’ thingsand she found all of (mygrandmother’s)jewelry. …(I wore)areally simple, dainty gold bracelet and it has three blue gemstones in the middleofit. It wasamoresentimental thing, to me, to have her be apart of that day.”
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Morecouples are looking to content creators forraw smartphonefootage, short-form
BY MARGARET GATES
Maddie Barkmanisa24-year-oldLancasterCountycontent creatorwithher ownsocialmediachannels devotedtofashion, beautyand lifestyle. It’sajob thatmakes the smartphoneher constantcompanion.
Butonher wedding dayinMay 2023, Barkman unplugged so she could be fully presentinthe moment. It meantshe’dmissedall of the funfootageshe’dnormally be capturingwithher phone forclever Instagramand TikTok posts
“I went into my wedding just kind of expecting to getalittle behindthe-scenes content to share my daywithmyfollowers,” she says.“That’s kind of whatsparked the idea forme. …Iwould love to offer this forother brides and justgivethem the experience of in-between moments and not having to holding their phone.”
later, after successfully doing just swedding,Barkman launched a enture as an eventcontent creator weddings. It’sa servicemoreLancaster and grooms areseeking and one thatlocal der agrowing trend in 2025.
ittle lessformal. And it’s something ady in the next dayortwo,” says Diana na,owner andleadwedding planner for tion in Lancaster.
ost of trends gaining traction here, contentcreation is “cutting edge,”says ukens,leadevent plannerfor Lancasterimple Soiree.
Where I stand out is just kind of getting those candid, unposed moments, like the bridesmaids in the room right before they’re walking down the aisle or dancing to a song.”
- MADDIE BARKMAN
Barkman says her business has kind of snowballed since she did her first wedding in September 2023. She had 14 weddings through summer and fall of 2024.
While some photographers and videographers now offer content creation as an add-on to their packages, others like Barkman offer it as an exclusive service. She says some photographers have also reached out to her to explore the possibility of having her join them on a shoot
“Where I stand out is just kind of getting those candid, unposed moments, like the bridesmaids in the room right before they ’re walking down the aisle or dancing to a song,” Barkman says.
She promises a 24-hour turnaround, delivering raw footage via AirDrop or Dropbox along with ready-to-post video Barkman estimates content creation services can cost anywhere from $500 to $1,500, depending on how many hours the vendor spends onsite and what extras the couple
might include Barkman’s website offers a $1,200 package that includes eight hours of coverage and three ready-topost short-form videos for Instagram and TikTok along with all the raw footage and photos so couples can also create their own videos Her $1,500 package includes 10 hours of coverage and six videos
Some couples may also pay extra for an Instagram story takeover, where the content creator posts in real time throughout their wedding day, Barkman says, adding she has not yet offered that service.
Videos featuring guests wearing sunglasses are among the most requested, Barkman says The couple typically will provide sunglasses that include their initials and wedding date, and the content creator will stitch together individual clips of the couple and each of their guests wearing the glasses
“It’s a really fun way to get all of their guests involved,” she says.
Transition videos featuring the bride and her bridesmaids going from matching robes or pajamas to formal wedding attire are also popular, she says What has surprised her most in her short time in the business are those who are interested in the service.
“I thought my biggest clients would be personal content creators like myself,” Barkman says “I actually have a lot of couples who aren’t really into the social media side of it.” They just want to relive the candid moments of their special day months, and even years, down the road.
“What I provide for brides now I would have absolutely loved to have for myself looking back,” she says “I kind of feel like I missed out in a way.”
Long veils are ‘in.’
BY MARGARET GATES
Hiring a content creator isn’t the only trend on the upswing in Lancaster County. Here’s a look at what else is in — and on the way out — according to some local wedding experts.
Color is back in a big way for dresses and flowers.
In many cases, guest lists are closer to between 80 and 100 people, with fewer couples inviting everyone they know. Usually, a smaller guest list means couples are putting more thought and money into some other aspect of their big day, such as food. “They’re spending the money on different things,” says Amy Lukens of Simple Soiree in Lancaster. “They are prioritizing the parts that are most important to them, so that’s where they’re funneling their budgets.”
Lukens says some couples are even opting for a smaller bridal party, or no bridal party at all
Color is back in a big way, and we’re not talking muted tones. Think orange, fuchsia and magenta, Lukens says. The same goes for flowers.
Speaking of flowers, Diana Everhart-Hanna of Planned Perfection in Lancaster notes that couples are becoming more cost-conscious and environmentally conscious, opting for varieties that are local and in season. On a related note, Lukens puts groomsmen’s boutonnieres on her “out” list.
A trend that’s been popular on the West Coast for a few years is starting to catch hold here, Everhart-Hanna says Serpentine tables are curved tables that are arranged together to create an elongated “S” shape for reception seating. You can also place round tables together in a winding pattern to create the same effect.
“Stranger Things” actress Millie Bobby Brown was definitely on-trend last year when she married rocker Jon Bon Jovi’s son, Jake, while wearing a wedding dress featuring a structured corset bodice and lace straps. The style also reflects the continued influence of the Regency-era Netflix series “Bridgerton,” Everhart-Hanna says Other dress trends seen locally include lace gloves, pearls and removable sleeves. Wedding and fashion content creator Maddie Barkman also adds long veils to the list.
When that march down the aisle begins, all eyes are on the bride and her gown. But once the ceremony and formal photos are over, many brides just want to have fun in something a little more comfortable. That’s why an outfit change into a shorter party dress or jumpsuit continues to be popular, the experts say. Some couples are even taking the trend one step further by changing into fun matching sweatsuits for the last few dances. “Then they’re able to go right out to that after-party and hang out with their friends,” EverhartHanna says
When it comes to wedding décor, one part of the venue getting more attention is the dance floor Personalizing that space can be as simple as adding a decal featuring the couple’s monogram or as elaborate as a custom-fit vinyl wrap in a coordinating design or pattern.
Dessert stations have been the popular go-to in recent years, but Lukens says she is seeing a re-emergence of wedding cakes, in particular those with vintage styling. Even so, Everhart-Hanna says she continues to see couples opting for a smaller, personalized cake and a “silent cake cut” where they cut the cake surrounded only by family, without a special song, cake smashes or other fanfare.
Couples create a QR code and provide it to their guests, who can then upload all their candid photos from the day to an online album. “They’re really, really neat,” Lukens says “Pretty much every single wedding is doing that.”
It’s a trend that makes sense, especially for a couple that’s really into food, says Lukens, who has one such wedding coming up this year “They know the food is always going to be 100%,” she says It may even have the added sentimental value of being one of the couple’s favorite places to dine.
From writing letters to their guests to incorporating their relationship story into various elements of the wedding décor, couples are adding more personal and meaningful touches to their wedding day. “I think couples are really going for an intimate feel,” Lukens says
“Disco balls were super popular last year,” Everhart-Hanna says “We’re still seeing it a little bit but it’s starting to fade out.”
Fewer couples have an appetite for the postwedding-day brunch, once a staple of the wedding weekend, Everhart-Hanna says. The decision is largely practical, she says, citing feedback from couples. Many brunches are not well-attended for the cost, and the rise of after-parties is probably one reason.
“After the wedding day, if you’re up with your friends till 2 or 3 in the morning, the last thing you want to do is be up greeting your friends and family from 8 a.m. to noon,” EverhartHanna says. “(Couples say) if we’re going to choose between an after-party and a brunch, we’re going to choose the after-party.”
Barkman notes that couples seem to be ditching the dramatic send-offs for a little more time on the dance floor Fire risk is another reason sparklers are dying out, Lukens adds, noting that some venues only allow a small group of people to participate for the photo op. For those who still want a send-off, cold sparkler machines or foam glow wands are considered safer alternatives.
“Favors have kind of seen their day,” Lukens says. Unless it’s something people can eat as they’re walking out the door at the end of the night, don’t do it, she advises. “If you want to spend that kind of money … donate to your favorite charity.”
Wedding date: June22, 2024
Howdid youmeet?
“James and Imet online and hadour first in-persondate at EJ’s BarinSeasideHeights,New Jersey.”
Did youhavea theme foryour wedding? Howdid youincorporate it intoyour day?
“I nevergavemythemea specific name, but Ihad a visioninmyhead —something whimsical, ethereal and colorful.IfIhad to describe it,I’d call it ‘Pastel FairytaleDreamscape’ meets‘EnchantedGarden.’ Icombined elements Ilove—mushrooms,moss, butterflies,bubbles,bunnies and brightcolors— until it allcametogether in away that felt like stepping into afantasy world.”
Whatwas your inspiration for all of the brightcolors?
“Having worked as abanquet server foryears, Isaw countlessweddingswithmuted, two-tone color palettes. While they were beautiful, they didn’tfeel excitingtome. Iloverainbows,neonand bright, bold colors,soinstead of narrowing it down, Iembraced theentirerainbowasmycolor palette.Seeing it all come to life on theday-ofwas even betterthan Ihad imagined.”
Is there asignificance to the butterflies?
“Butterflies symbolize transformation,new beginningsand growth,which felt perfect forour wedding. They also tied into thewhimsical, fairytaleaestheticI wanted to create.Mydress wascompletelycoveredin3Dembroidered butterflies,which felt magical, ethereal and made me so happy.”
Corset-style bodices are growing in popularity What drew you to that style for your dress?
“I was drawn to the corset style because it flattered my body shape best, and I wanted something I could have tailored to include strong metal boning so I wouldn’t be uncomfortable or adjusting myself all day. After trying on dresses at a bridal boutique and not feeling great in anything, I went with my gut a ordered the Teuta Matoshi gown I had been eyeing online for almost a year it was absolutely perfect.”
Were there any personal elements yo incorporated into the ceremony, reception or décor that made the day extra meaningful?
“Yes! We had a memorial table honoring James’ grandparents, my late mother and my first husband. It was important to us to have them be part of the day in some way. We also used a family heirloom card box that had been passed down fr James’ sisters’ weddings we updated it with fabric to match our theme, just as they had done for theirs.”
actual pages from classic stories into our décor, and I sourced recycled vintage book pages from an Etsy seller, so no books were harmed in the process.”
What about the mushroom cake?
“I didn’t want a traditional wedding cake, where cutting and serving it became a whole production. Instead, I imagined ll-apart cupcake cake designed to look bow mushroom and the caterer e it for us so that we didn’t have to another vendor It was unique, playful theme perfectly Plus, it made dessert accessible for guests no waiting for and serve slices, and way less waste at night.”
was your biggest challenge in planning your wedding?
est challenge was trying to plan a while struggling with severe depression. period where I was just going through ying to maintain excitement and o working full time. Eventually, I w months before the wedding, and e myself again, my vision came back to life but by then, I felt behind on the planning timeline. It was overwhelming, but in the end, it all came together beautifully.”
What is the significance of the framed book pages?
“The storybook elements in our wedding were a nod to the fairytale theme, and the framed book pages were a fun DIY project that tied it all together I loved the idea of incorporating
Would you change anything?
“Unfortunately, you can’t control the weather, and no one could have predicted that our wedding day would fall during an oppressive heatwave, so much so that our entertainment had to cancel. That was disappointing, but we made the best of it. If I
Jeriah and Zion had awater balloon send-off
could redo anything, Iwouldhaveinterviewed more DJs. The one we choseended up playing generic wedding musicinstead of songsfromthe playlists Igavehim,and to topitoff, he played acliché wedding song Ihad explicitly banned. My husband andI were visibly annoyed, so the DJ cutthe song off,causing groans andboos from the guests.Thatmomentkilled the vibe alittle, but at the end of the day, we still gotmarried, and that’s what mattered most.”
What advice do youhavefor engaged couples?
“After working so manyweddingsasabanquet server,Inoticed most followthe same formula.Myadvice is that if something doesn’texciteyou or feel likeyou, don’tinclude it.There’sno rule book,and youshouldcreateawedding thatreflects youas a couple,makes youhappy,and (is)somethingyou look backon witha smile. It doesn’t have to be timeless,traditional or cost a year ’s salaryifthat’snot your vibe.”
PHOTOGRAPHY: KYLEE BPHOTOGRAPHY
HAIRAND MAKEUP: JOJO FROM GLAM BRIDAL BEAUTY
DRESS: TEUTAMATOSHI
FOOD AND CAKE: FARMACY CAFÉ &CATERING
FLORALS: WEDDINGS BY JDK -FLORAL &EVENT DESIGN
Alaina Troiano had nine bridesmaids for her August 2024 wedding, eight of whom were able to join her for a bachelorette weekend in Las Vegas.
PHOTOS BY EMILY KANE PHOTOGRAPHY
Be fo re yo u pop th e ques tion , be ope n about yo ur ex pe ct ation s
BY REBECCA LOGAN
Recently engaged? Well, before you start leaving little pink proposal boxes on your besties’ doorsteps, you might want to Google a “Saturday Night Live” sketch called “Bridesmaid Cult.”
It’s a hilariously accurate reminder of what it can be like these days for buds who agree to hold a bouquet. The 2023 sketch pretends that Netflix is filming a serious documentary on cult survivors.
“They sell you on the ‘big day,’ ” says an SNL cast member “I thought it was a oneday commitment. But for 18 months, I was fully sucked in.”
The sketch goes on to mention a 200-question poll about customized T-shirts and how one bridesmaid with student debt interpreted a sparkle emoji from the maid of honor to mean she must sell her car to make a Nashville bachelorette trip happen.
“I spent $300 on a bridesmaid’s dress. The bride swore I’d find other times to wear it,” says that week’s SNL host, Quinta Brunson. “Like, where am I going that calls for a floor-length, light-blue chiffon gown with a modest neckline?”
Of the 54% of Americans who attended
a wedding in the past five years, nearly a third went into debt to do so, according to a 2024 Lending Tree survey. And of that group, 23% racked up more than $2,500 worth of debt for their most expensive wedding, per Lending Tree.
Bills can be bigger for members of the bridal party, with pre-wedding activities contributing to overspending, per Lending Tree. Travel (32%), accommodations (27%) and outfits (26%) were the top expenses, the survey found. Lending Tree reports that 27% of guests said no to being in a wedding party due to cost
If I’m getting asked to be a bridesmaid in a wedding, how much is the dress going to cost? Am I responsible for my own hair and makeup? Are you OK with going to a local winery for a bachelorette, or are you trying to fly to Cabo?”
Alyssa
-
Social media and a desire to create experiences are driving the trends, says Alyssa KurtzPrice, CEO and founder of Miss Lyss Planning, which coordinates many Lancaster County weddings.
“That all kind of culminates as the SNL parody shows in this snowball that just kind of grows and grows,” Kurtz-Price says “And then it becomes a personality and a lifestyle. It’s just kind of the day and age that we live in.”
think social media has played a huge part in that.”
She was maid of honor for her sister ’s 2022 wedding. Her sister gave her a Cricut (a computercontrolled cutting machine for crafters) as a thank-you gift for planning her shower. She made signage for seating charts and custom drinks for the wedding and straws, cups, bags and more for the bachelorette trip to Nashville.
Troiano’s sister didn’t borrow the Cricut when it was her turn to be matron of honor That’s not her style, Troiano says But she did plan a great Las Vegas bachelorette excursion, she says
Alaina Troiano, who got married in August at Lancaster ’s Excelsior, says online inspiration factors into making modern bridesmaids’ experiences quite different from when their mothers were walking down aisles
“There are a lot of standards for being in a wedding,” Troiano says. “It’s way more than a dress at this point. And I definitely
“I do a lot of CrossFit, and she reached out to the CrossFit gym in Vegas and got us booked with our own private session in the gym,” she says. “They did a workout specifically for us and that was super fun.”
She booked a hot pink stretch limo that drove them around Vegas and to a show. She locked in a pool party and a chance to see the electronic music duo The Chainsmokers.
“She had the whole weekend completely planned out,” Troiano says “She’s not super crafty, but she did well.”
She says she appreciates the investment put in by her bridesmaids She says each is special to her and that she couldn’t have imagined her wedding day without them sharing it
Eight of her bridesmaids made it to Vegas. A ninth did not as she was pregnant. Looking back, Troiano says she might have discussed costs earlier
“I guess I wasn’t super upfront about everything I expected them to do And it’s definitely a commitment,” she says. “For some of my friends who hadn’t been in a wedding before, maybe they were surprised about how expensive some things can be. But it all worked out amazing.”
Bridesmaids’ smiles in her wedding pictures at Excelsior tell a story of some happy friends and family Troiano’s advice for brides-to-be includes grace.
“Just try and be as understanding as possible if they can’t make something. And enjoy every single second with them,” she says “Just be present and enjoy it Because it really is the best time ever.”
According to the Lending Tree survey: 74%
of those who went into debt to be in or attend a wedding said it was worth it
wedding prep impacted her own wedding plans
“Honestly ? We went to the JP (justice of the peace) because I just couldn’t stand the thought of it all,” she says.
The party-planning app Batch ranks Nashville as the top bachelorette party destination. That city accounted for 13,105 or 18% of all bachelorette trips planned last year on the app, which serves more than 30 cities – Philadelphia being the only one in Pennsylvania. The next most-popular destinations were Scottsdale, Arizona (10%) and Las Vegas and Miami (7% each).
Discover Lancaster, which promotes tourism, did do a blog post last year offering Lancaster County options for bachelorette and bachelor parties.
“The fact that we’re kind of on the radar for impending nuptials can lead you back to those different steps that come along beforehand,” says Joel Cliff, director of communications and advocacy at Discover Lancaster
Samantha Young, studio manager of Board & Brush Creative Studio in Lancaster, says bachelorette groups come in constantly throughout the year. All that’s involved in
But she does see spending three hours together in the studio making a project as a rather low-stress, practical way to check a bridal party block.
“I personally would much rather pay (not quite) $80 for something that I’m going to take home with me forever versus a limegreen bridesmaid dress I’m never going to wear again,” she says
Granted, the dress is pretty much unavoidable, she says
Even Kurtz-Price, who plans for a living, says wedding party prep can be a lot
“I’m 31. I am done with being a bridesmaid. And I think my friends, the young millennials, are over it,” she says. “It’s the youngers, the Gen Z, that are making this a big thing.”
She tries not to get too involved in bridal party specifics, though she does suggest some things.
“We’ll often talk with a couple, right after they get engaged, and they ’ll say, ‘We’re
planning a wedding two years out and I’ve already asked all my bridesmaids,’ ” Kurtz-Price says “And I’m like, ‘Oooooh, you might want to hold off on that.’ ”
Friendships can change in two years, she says.
Kurtz-Price does also discuss the booking of hair and makeup, which she says should happen early as those dates fill fast
“Part of that conversation is, ‘Do I pay for everyone? Do I need to get their approval of what they’re comfortable with spending before booking hair and makeup?’ ” she says Feelings on that vary, she says.
“The way we frame it is, you’ve asked these people to be in your party. And if this is an expectation you have of them having finished hair, finished makeup then you kind of should provide that,” she says “If that’s not within your budget and your folks are more than capable of doing their own hair and makeup, and you’re OK with
that, then great.”
Have a solid understanding of your own expectations and communicate those with your party, she says A few years back a bride went viral for trying to do that in a detailed slide presentation.
“I didn’t take it in a conceited way,” Kurtz-Price says “But it was very controversial.”
As a planner, she loved the idea
“If I’m getting asked to be a bridesmaid in a wedding, how much is the dress going to cost? ” she says “Am I responsible for my own hair and makeup? Are you OK with going to a local winery for a bachelorette, or are you trying to fly to Cabo?”
She also urges brides to offer other ways for important people to be involved if they can’t swing a trip. A lunch could be nice, she says
“Maybe celebrate in that way,” she says “It doesn’t always have to be this dog and pony show.”
Dateofwedding: July 27,2024
Locationofceremonyand reception: Evermore Events, Lancaster
Howdid youmeet?
Theymet freshman year of high school when Trinity ’s momwas working at thesame school Johnathon attended. Trinity would helpher mom with athleticactivities at the school and Johnathon washer mom’sstudent helper.“(My) momintroducedusto each otherone night, and it seemed like from that nightonwewerethe best of friends,”Trinity says.
Howdid youdecideon the black-and-white color scheme?
“Weboth wanted the weddingtofeel classy and timeless.Black and white was thebest wayfor us to achieve this look!”
Were thereany personal elements youincorporated into the ceremony, reception, ordécor thatmadethe day extrameaningful?
“Forour ceremony we addedaframed picture of Johnathon’slate grandparents to honortheir memoryintheir absence. We also had Johnathon’sauntofficiate theceremony.
During the reception, we had the traditional mother-sonand fatherdaughter dances.But we alsodecidedto include amother-daughter dance to the song “The Best Day” by Taylor Swift, whichTrinity used to singwith hermom when she waslittle. The whole wedding highlighted membersofour family and celebrated their impactonour lives.”
What wasthe biggest challengeinplanning your wedding?
“Wehad awedding planner(Magda Ruiz) throughout the entire process, whichmadethe weddingplanningvery simple and as stress-free as possible. Although we had to learn howtoget used to silencingthe influx of opinions offered by family and friends, we were truly blessed throughout the entire process by everyoneinvolved.”
Wouldyou changeanything?
“Nope!Wewould notchangea thing about ourwedding day. All of the moments throughout the day were so special,eventhe ones that did notgo as planned.Now we have tonsofgreat memories from that day!”
“Our advicewould be to soak up as much of the engagement period as possible.Use that timeto prepare forthe marriagemorethan preparing for the wedding.But on that special day,once yousay,‘Ido,’stay by each other’sside all day so youcan experience all the memories together.”
PHOTOGRAPHY: EMERALD STONEPHOTOGRAPHY
HAIR: KORIN SIMMONS
DRESS: DAVID’S BRIDAL YORK
TUX: CENTRAL PA MENSWEAR ANDTUXEDO
FOOD: SALT, PEPPER &LOVE
FLOWERS: FLORESDEMAGDALENA
CAKE: OREGON DAIRY
WEDDINGPLANNER: MAGDARUIZ
BY REBECCA LOGAN
Sarah Peters patiently grew her hair out for two years before her January 2025 wedding at The Star Barn Village in Elizabethtown.
She wanted a dreamy long look. But she couldn’t wait to swap it for something shorter In fact, she didn’t wait for her reception to be over The cake cutting was as far as her long hair lasted Peters and her hairstylist then quietly excused themselves from the festivities Fifteen minutes later, more than 6 inches were gone.
“I’m a (preschool) teacher, so my hair is always up so the kids don’t touch it I was like, ‘I need a good chop,’ ” she says “And I kind of wanted something different I saw some people do it on TikTok. And I wanted something new and exciting with my outfit change.”
Peters joined the ranks of brides letting go of locks on their wedding day. She says her husband, Adam, didn’t know the chop was coming. He did know she’d be changing ensembles Wedding day dress No. 2 was a short one.
“At first he was more shook about the outfit because I’d had a huge dress on,” she says “He was just looking at that for the longest time. I said, ‘Did you notice my hair?’ ”
Once he did, he loved it, says Peters, who lives in New Oxford in Adams County
“A lot of my guests didn’t even realize I chopped my hair,” she says.
“They just thought I took out hair extensions.”
Her stylist, Morgan Keller of Hanover, was excited for the opportunity.
“I see the trend on social media all the time, but this is the first time I’ve done it,” she says “She came up and asked, ‘Would you want to cut my hair for the reception?’ And I was like, ‘Oh my God, yes.’ It was really cool.”
Keller says she wasn’t particularly nervous She’s done the bride’s hair for years and knew she preferred it shorter
“I did have Sarah book an actual haircut appointment a couple days following so I could make sure it wasn’t jacked up,” she says “On the wedding day, I just did my best with dry cutting it and making sure it looked as even as possible without dampening her style.”
Sarah Peters spent about two years growing her hair out before having 6 inches chopped off right after she and her husband cut the cake during their January reception at The Star Barn Village in Elizabethtown.
PHOTOS BY CMS PHOTOGRAPHY
Such logistics are important to remember when thinking about a mid-wedding-day cut, says Brittany Yost, owner of Brittany Lynn Beauty in Lancaster.
“Last year I had a lot of brides considering it,” she says “But with the style that they ultimately wanted it wouldn’t have gone well.”
Two days before her November 2021 wedding at Brick Gables in Lititz, Danielle Frey’s stylist suggested cutting her hair during the cocktail hour.
PHOTOS BY CHRISTIE HEIMBACH PHOTOGRAPHY
Updos and reception venue haircuts don’t mix, Yost says “Once you take the style out, with all the product, all the back combing, all that good stuff, it makes it hard to get the hair to fall in length to give it an even she says “When the hair is it’s a little bit easier to
Even in those cases, follow-up appointments are key when haircuts happen during receptions, she adds.
“Everyone loves seeing the videos on Instagram and TikTok,” Yost says “But I don’t think we’re seeing as many now. And I think that’s because there’s more awareness of what’s involved.”
Danielle Frey didn’t have long to weigh the pros and cons of a wedding day chop before she sat down in the chair at her reception at Brick Gables in Lititz.
“I actually had not heard about people doing it before I got married,” says Frey, who lives in Exeter Township in Berks County “That was in November 2021. So, it wasn’t like a huge thing then. And it was my hairdresser who suggested it.”
Frey was in the salon having her wedding nails done and talking to him about how she was tired of growing her hair and was anxious to get it cut
“Two days before my wedding he said, ‘Why don’t we just do it after you get married? ’ ” Frey says “And I said, ‘What? Like the day after? ’ And he said, ‘No. Aren’t you having a cocktail hour? You’re changing your dress, why don’t you just change your hair? ’ ”
Her husband, Justin, got a kick out of the day’s second reveal
“He was just laughing and said, ‘I bet you’re happy,’ ” Frey says
Even more ahead of the haircut times than Frey was longtime bridal designer Janell Berté, whose dresses were once sold in more than 150 stores, including Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Kleinfeld Bridal.
Berté who moved to Pennsylvania after years working in California sold Lancaster ’s Posh Bridal last year Shortly after, during an interview about her career, she reflected on her own 1991 wedding day, which was featured in Modern Bride magazine that year.
Berté wore an ivory high-neck dress that she designed herself for the ceremony and an afternoon tea for 200 She wore a watermelon evening gown that night to a dinner for close friends and family.
“There was a two- or three-hour break between the tea and dinner. So, I went back and changed and went to the hairdresser. And I had my hair completely cut,” she says. “It was down to here (well below her shoulders) for the wedding. And then it was a bob.”
Berté and her husband honeymooned in Europe. Her hair is naturally curly Things would have gotten out of control.
“So, I had to get rid of my hair,” she says. Berté has to laugh at social media attention garnered by wedding-day chops
“When I see some of the stuff today of girls starting a ‘trend’ by cutting their hair 2 inches, I’m like, ‘Girl, pfftt No risk on you,’ ” she says “These girls don’t take risks.”
Frey says her friends thought it was plenty risky and none have followed suit And she’s still known around the salon as “that girl who cut her hair at her wedding.” But, to her, it just felt natural.
“The last time my hair was past my shoulders I was in high school,” she says “And man, I was excited to get it cut off.”
After hearing about Berté’s back-in-the-day experience, Frey says she can definitely see benefits of a mid-reception cut in preparation for a honeymoon on, say, a humid tropical island. That wasn’t her motivation, though. The Freys honeymooned at Niagara Falls in November
“It was freezing,” she says with a laugh. “It probably would have been better if I kept my hair long. It would have kept me warm.”
Don’tthinkawedding daychopisfor you? Well, hereare some bridal hairdos to consider,according to threeLancaster County stylists.
BrittanyYost, ownerofBrittany
Lynn Beauty in Lancaster
“I’mseeing alot of that cutePam Anderson’90s French twist,” shesays. “A lot of high buns.Really,anything elevated.”
The high bun allbut disappeared foryears butisonce again quiteabundant, Yost says “Kim Kardashian is wearing it again.
All thesecelebrities,”she says.“Then the bridesstart doing it andittrickles down fromthere.”
KristieHigh, ownerofHairbyKristie in Lancaster
Soft wavesand romantic curls arestillin, she says.
“Maybe not as pronouncedassome of the Hollywood wavesthattheyweredoing,” sheadds. “Just softer wavesthatare kind of natural but glammedupa littlebit.”
Relaxedbrides striving forcomfort and elegance seem to be gravitating more
toward medium to high ponytails,High says,but adds awordofcaution.
“There’salot youcan do to teaseand get volume out of it (a ponytail),”she says.“But definitely,theyusually need hairextensions to getthatfullnessthatpeople areshowing youfromthe Pinterest boards.”
She alsodetectsanincreasing willingness by brides to embracetheir natural curls.
“Noteverybodyhas thesame curlpattern to theirnatural hair,” shesays. “So, I feel like that’s agood wayfor themtobe themselves and be alittle bit moreunique.”
Courtney Lehman, stylistand weddingdirectoratArdor andSagein Elizabethtown
High tousled up-dos areindemand, shesays.
“We’re allloving thatstyle. It’salittle something different than your typical boho lowbuns,which acouple yearsago everyone got,”she says.“ We all love them (the lowbuns). We’regood at them. But after alittle while it’slike, ‘OK, anything else?’”
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Considering a nontraditional venue foryour wedding? Here’s whatyou should know.
SavThorpe Capizzi and her husband, Jordan Capizzi, wanted to celebratetheir marriage at afun venue whereguestscould play, so they chose Lancaster ScienceFactory.
PHOTOSBYJUSTACE FAITHPHOTO
BY MADDYPONTZ
AsSav Thorpe Capizzi and her husband, Jordan Capizzi, planned their wedding, theywerefocused primarily on onething:having fun.
“We’re just very playful people,”Thorpe Capizzi says. “Wewantedtocapturewhatmakes ourhome and our communitysobeautiful,just scaled up alittlebit.”
Andso, after exploring some of themoretraditional local wedding venues,theydecided to go an alternate route.
In March2024, theyheld their wedding at theLancaster ScienceFactory
“Wehaveareallygood senseofwho we are. We didn’t have this heavysenseoftradition that we had to uphold,” Thorpe Capizzi says.“ We wanted to have aparty to celebratethe communitythatwehad builttogether,and we felt really stronglythatthe best waytoexecuteonthe vision of celebrating this really beautiful thing we’d built togetherwas to play.”
Thorpe Capizzi continues,“So we (asked ourselves) what venuewould accommodate adultsplayingtogether?The ScienceFactory wasthe easiest,best answerfor us.”
Forothercouples looking to plan an authenticand uniquewedding day, anontraditional venue canprovide the grounds to do so.
Kellie Kemper, lead planner at Planned Perfection, says thattheir Lancaster-based wedding coordination businesshas seen “a rise of nontraditional venues this past year,” such as backyards, museums, greenhouses, national parks, artgalleries,breweries and boats.
“The biggest pro (of booking a nontraditional venue) is that it really gives the couple complete creative control,” Kemper says “The biggest thing about the wedding day is that you want it to feel like you. You want to incorporate your personality as much as you can. Straying away from those traditional wedding venues gives you the freedom to do that, and to really create your own wedding vision from the ground up.”
“It gives more creative flexibility,” says Gillian McSherry, owner and lead planner at Lancaster-based Events By Gillian & Co “Booking a nontraditional space since it’s not normally a wedding venue you have to bring in all of the elements to make it feasible for a wedding. So, I think it gives couples the opportunity to really bring their vision to life.”
The flip side of that complete creative control? According to the experts, couples hosting their wedding at an alternative venue often must give a great deal more thought to the logistics of their event.
“For nontraditional wedding venues, I always say that you can’t go into it without a vision,” Kemper says “If you’re leaning towards that route, you need to know exactly what you want, you need to do the research and have the correct vendor team.”
A short list of things that Kemper suggests keeping in mind:
• Where will your guests park, and how will they be transported to the ceremony or reception spaces?
• Does the venue have enough restrooms available? How about running water?
• Will you need to rent tables and chairs?
• Where will your caterer set up, and will they be able to cook on-site?
• What’s your plan for inclement weather? And don’t forget to take insects into consideration during buggy Pennsylvania summers.
• Is your electrical setup sufficient for a large event?
• Will you need to bring in and install a dance floor? DJs and other entertainment generally cannot set up on grass, Kemper says.
McSherry also recommends looking into permits and local noise ordinances, making sure to note the required music-off times, local liquor laws and the mandated end time for your event.
“Whenever you’re doing a wedding that’s not in a quote-unquote traditional space, there’s all these other logistics and factors to bring in,” McSherry says.
With so many details to consider, couples who choose a nontraditional venue primarily to save money might find themselves disappointed.
“It’s a lot more planning on the front end,” Kemper says. “It’s a lot more strategic than people think. So, for the people who just want to save money and think it’ll be more hands-off, I always say it’s not a good idea.”
“A lot of times people automatically think it’s going to save them money, which always ends up not being the case,” McSherry says “Just because you’re bringing in all these facilities, you’re going through way more logistics than you would have had to at another venue.”
But for couples who understand the potential challenges presented by a nontraditional venue, a creative space can offer the opportunity to host a true dream wedding.
For Thorpe Capizzi, budget was not the driving factor behind the decision to host their wedding at the Lancaster Science Factory.
“It wasn’t necessarily that we were looking for a less expensive venue. We were looking for a venue that was going to be fun,” Thorpe Capizzi says “It depends on who you are and the vibe you’re going for, but when we thought about what was important to us at a marriage celebration, we wanted it to just be really, really fun.”
Now, one year after their wedding, Thorpe Capizzi says that she would “absolutely ” recommend looking into alternative wedding venues
One benefit that the couple might not have anticipated?
“I will say,” Thorpe Capizzi notes with a laugh, “no kids cried at any point because there were so many toys.”
