Dawn and Richard had the wedding of their dreams at the beautiful Fairman Family Farms in Sheltocta, PA! When I first met Dawn and Richard, besides being super adorable and ridiculously photogenic, I quickly discovered their love of the outdoors and animals, so this elegant yet rustic venue was perfect for them.

We started the day at the Hilton Garden Inn, a favorite of brides in the Indiana area for a gorgeous getting-ready location on their wedding day. Dawns adorable nieces and super sweet bridal party made it so easy to capture beauty in every corner of the room. The girls already arrived with their hair and makeup done, so after capturing some quick detail shots and candids, all that was left was getting the stunning bride into her dress! After the finishing touches, Dawn read a letter that Richard wrote her specially for their wedding day.

After capturing a few tears and a lot of smiles, I headed to the barn venue to photograph the guys getting ready. Richard was careful to make sure his hair looked perfect, and was probably one of the most kind grooms I’ve ever had the pleasure to photograph. We snuck away around the side of the barn so he could read his letter from his bride to be, and then we were ready to start the ceremony!

I was able to grab a few wide room shots in the time in-between, which is always a treat to see your venue untouched and looking perfect with your decor. Luckily, the barn comes already decked out with lights and tulle, so you can have a magical wedding look with minimal effort. The ceremony was gorgeous, taking place in front of the venue’s signature waterfall landscaping with the beautiful barn in the background. Even though it was hot and sunny, the guests didn’t seem to mind and by the time the “I-do’s” came around everyone was all smiles.

A lot of people think that sun is great for photos, but in actuality shade is always best. As such, I was able to find a shady field across the street from the venue, which was a really nice change of pace for me since I’ve shot weddings here many times before and had yet to discover the magical light over on that side of the venue! Family photos were very important to Richard and Dawn, so much so that she even had me get updated family photos of their siblings and their families, without them in it, as a gesture of kindness. What a sweet idea!

After blazing through portraits and getting the timeline back on track after a delayed ceremony start (photographers always save the day, friends!), the bridal party came bursting through the barn doors to get the party started! I was pleasantly surprised working with a new (to me) DJ that was one of the most kind and laid back I have encountered (check his link below). I was also ELATED that we vendors had our own table and were told to eat first. A chair and a meal is something I don’t take for granted for a second! Dawn was so kind to make sure we had both.

After some dancing and fun (check out grandma getting down in the pics below), we snuck out for some sunset photos and some special moments with the beautiful horse that lives on the property. The night ended with a beautiful sparkler exit where I was able to take THE sparkler shot of my LIFE. I hope you enjoy the photos of Dawn and Richard’s special day!

Vendor Team: