winter wonderland wedding | indiana county, pa wedding photographer

Do you want to know what I LOOOOOVE about small town weddings?! Well, you know besides the fact that the whole parking situation is SO MUCH EASIER than shooting in the city….but it’s because they are among some of the most beautiful in my opinion! The wedding pictures Indianapolis turn out amazing every time! It’s very difficult to find scenery like this in the city and if you do find it, chances are you have to fight over with 12 other photographers and weddings all waiting for their turn. When you get married in small town usa-also known as Indiana County, you not only get your choice of beautiful scenery but you get it allllll to yourself!!!

When we met the first time to talk about Stephanie and Patrick’s wedding, she kept mentioning that she REALLY wanted a winter wonderland wedding. It wasn’t looking so great the entire winter months leading up to it! We had unusually warmer weather for that time of the year and we were getting so much rain which was leaving everything bare AND muddy! I’m not sure she even knew that her prayers would be answered when the night before her wedding we were getting the biggest winter storm we had gotten all winter! Yeah, it made the roads a little slick, but by the time her ceremony and reception rolled around, the roads were clear and no one had any problems getting to where they needed to be! I left early in the morning (I don’t get a 2 hour delay in the wedding world) so when it was time for their portraits, we had the most gorgeous surroundings. The snow was fresh and heavy so it clung to all the tree limbs…it was so calm and because we were in small town USA…it was so quiet and serene! The kind of quiet where you could hear your own heartbeat! She threw on a pair of boots and we hiked thru 12 inches of snow to get these! She didn’t complain one time that “a spec of dirt” may get on her dress, that it was cold, that the snow was REALLY deep in some areas or that the snow may get her dress a little wet……she was amazing..and Patrick you weren’t so bad yourself! haha!

Also, can I just mention something while I’m thinking of it! I love that these girls were prepared for outdoor photos. So many times, I’m shooting weddings where the brides want outside shoots and it’s been raining or it’s during the really cold/wet months of the year and they try to wear those skimpy high heels. Everyone starts complaining that their feet are cold, their heels are sinking into the ground or that their feet hurt….not this time around. Everyone was prepared for shooting outside and because of that we were able to spend a little extra time getting the shots she wanted! So future brides, if you want outside shots, please have your girls wear proper footwear for the weather…they can always change in the other shoes before the ceremony! That’s all for today’s nuggets of wedding info from Jen McKen! haha!

Her makeup was from the fabulous Lisa with Kiss and Makeup-ladies if you’re looking of doing your own makeup for your wedding…….just don’t! Lisa is absolutely amazing and she’ll drive from an hour away in a snow storm just to be there! haha!!

I mean…c’mon! Fresh heavy snow and a gorgeous couple…this is my job!!

She is stunning! I mentioned that I wish we had a sheet or something for her to sit on so that she could sit in the snow…she says: “you mean like this?!” and she sat in the snow! My kinda bride! <3 I can’t quite put my fingers on it, but she reminds me so much of Adele! Hello….it’s me! haha! And let’s talk about the fur shaw! THAT was a suprise when I showed up…I had no idea that she bought it so I did a little happy dance when she told me! There were all taken on Patrick’s parents property….so I love that the photos mean something so much more than stopping at some random place! I love that some day their future kids will play in these very spots when coming to visit the Grandparents!

I just love these guys!

The entire wedding party was absolutely amazing! They all knew it was going to be cold so everyone prepared by wearing boots under their dress. Well, if you do decide to purchase your dress from sites such as https://www.winniecouture.com/, no matter what shoes you decide to wear with it, the dress will still make the impact that you initially hoped for. And the guys…..well, boys will be boys! haha! The entire group……..and let me tell you, they knew how to cut a rug. I have so many hilarious dancing photos from their reception at the Rustic Lodge…but that’s for a whole other blog post! Stay tuned!