April 16th 2016 | This couple very simply changed my life but truthfully that is a story for another day. Today I am excited to share the joy, heart, and a glimpse into this beautiful couples Spring 2016 Excelsior wedding.

I will never forget the call from Alex the day she said they had booked Excelsior as their wedding venue. You see Alex, she is a visionary. She has incredible grace, poise, and exquisite taste. She toured this venue with her fiance and saw something many may not have at the time. The Excelsior that stands today was only a vision at the time of this couple’s touring. Alex, however, saw the beauty of the space, she saw its potential, and she recognized that this historic venue was the perfect location for their mostly destination wedding. And boy am I glad they said yes to this venue (Excelsior was named a top venue in the country by the Knot this past year!) – from the neutral palette (a designers dream), floor to ceiling windows (hello natural light!), sweeping staircase, expansive space making every room feel grand, surprise nooks (looking at you catacombs, terrance, and courtyard!), history at every glance, rain plans that are as breathtaking as plan A’s and owners and staff that love their couples well – as just a small sampling of what makes this space special.

As some of my closest friends, it was such a honor to walk through the planning process with you, Kurt and Alex. Enjoy this well overdo stroll through this beautiful wedding for this beautiful couple. All my love you two!

The bride and bridesmaids opted for a fun getting ready morning at Bristle & Prim – a wonderful salon in the heart of downtown Lancaster. It was the perfect getting ready setting – full of breakfast snacks, laughs, and anticipation for the day ahead. And Niki – the unbelievably talented stylist – was also a future Excelsior bride! Maggie King of the MKUP Beauty Studio was on site for makeup services and as you can see from the images her work is flawless. She has this way of brining out every ladies natural beauty while providing that perfect bridal finish. And she has such a wonderful personality – – by the end of the day you feel like you are best friends!

The best part of the morning was the brides face when I popped in with flowers and a surprise from her groom. He had called me earlier in the planning process to ask if I would help deliver something special for her that morning. It was one of the highlights of my day. Seeing her face light up as she read his card – set the stage for all the joy that was to come!

The final prep took place at the Lancaster Arts Hotel just outside Lancaster city but the perfect distance for getting to and from the venue and church. The bridesmaids wore a stunning charcoal grey – the perfect neutral palette for the florals of blush, cream and the softest pastel greens to pop. And that sweet flower girl floral crown by Lori from Wildflowers by Design – the perfect flower girl accessory if you ask me! Not to mention the brides complete look – just stunning! The morning was full of excitement, anticipation, and the perfect spring weather!

I will never forget the ceremony for Alex and Kurt – set in one of Lancaster’s most historic churches {St. Mary’s Historic Church}. The groom saw his bride for the first time when she made her entrance down the aisle. Opening those doors you could see and hear the excitement from all the family and friends – this is the moment we had all been waiting for. It is one moment I look forward to after a full day of executing details – watching the joy from family and friends (and the groom) fill the room.

The ceremony and the encouragement was centered around selfless love – and was full of heartfelt messages that were focused on loving and serving others well. With humor and fond memories sprinkled in – the perfect start to the celebration.

How adorable is the picture above? It is certainly one of my favorites from the gallery. Maddie, the couples sweetest pup, made an appearance after the ceremony and tagged along for bridal portraits in a nearby city park as the couple made their way back to the venue.

I love these photos – not only can you see that just married glow but the fun of the bridal party makes for some of the most wonderful memories! And the covered bridge!! The groom grew up in Lancaster – featuring one of the iconic elements of this part of the country was such a fun way to tell party of their story.

The gorgeous details from the reception are a true testament to the collaborative efforts of the amazing vendor team. Infused with timeless elegance, the beauty of the room was enhanced with lush florals, pin spotting, and touch of sparkle in the chandeliers. We worked with a local calligrapher to create a once of kind escort display that included all the guests seating assignments on a West Elm mirror. The cake was created by the bride’s aunt and featured some of the most intricate design details. And the cocktail napkins featured the couples sweet Maddie as a way of including in her the celebration.

The wedding celebrations went well into the night – with everyone dancing from the moment the band kicked off the celebration (featuring so much fun you could hear the music down the street!) From the heartfelt speeches to a surprise performance by the brides mother, the night was full of those take your breath away moments. It was the perfect wedding weekend – the kind that you talk about for years and years to come!

Alex & Kurt – thank you for letting me be a part of your special day. It was such a gift to walk through the planning process with you and watch all the details come to life almost two years ago. So many of those details and moments have been imprinted deeply on my heart – moments I can still see unfolding as the magic of your wedding day came to life. Moments that ultimately had the ability to transform the trajectory of my life path. So much love and gratitude for you both.

Photography: Hoffer Photography | Venue: Excelsior | Hair: Bristle & Prim | MakeUp: MKUP Beauty Studio | Ceremony: Historic Saint Mary’s of Lancaster | Florals: Wildflowers by Design | Entertainment: Don Eaton Band | Calligraphy: Bow and Arrow Calligraphy| Transportation: Premiere 1 Limousine | Furniture Rentals: Maggpie Rentals (not pictured) | Videography: Lavon Films | Lighting & Production: Shumaker PDT | Linens: Special Occassion & Queen Street Linens |Catering: Jimmy Duffy Catering