Blair County Convention Center Wedding | Erin + Paul

The Blair County Convention Center is a great venue if you’re looking to have an all-inclusive, large wedding in the Altoona area that has catering included. Erin and Paul’s September wedding started in Colver where we were greeted with a flurry of activity and bridesmaids in the living room of their family’s home. Each member of the bridal party was so helpful, accommodating, and sweet to us the entire day. We were especially smitten with the little ring bearer who was the happiest, most cooperative little boy literally ever. I enjoyed photographing the gorgeous bouquet from Peterman’s, laid next to some of Erin’s prettiest details like her invite suite from White lace, shoes with pearl accents, and her very special Virgin Mary pin that belong to her grandmother. Her sister also used this pin at her wedding too! Grandma was with Erin in another special way, too, when her mother placed her grandma’s engagement ring on her finger after she zipped the dress.

The guys shared some laughs, brews, and shots in Paul’s garage before walking to the ceremony at the church just right up the road. It was so nice to be so close to everything! After a beautiful Catholic mass ceremony, Erin and Paul stepped out into the world as Mr. and Mrs. with silk ribbons and bells on sticks being wagged in the wind by their closest friends and family.

After some quick and organized family sessions (these are law enforcement officials, after all! Everyone listened well! hahaha), we got some photos near the historic Lemon House in Gallitzin. Erin and Paul especially liked the civil-war era type wooden fence, and Jackie and I especially liked the tall wildflowers and winding path through the field. A few puffy clouds against the dark blue fall sky made their portraits they stuff we dream of! Just right down the highway was an old stone bridge/archway that we stopped at for some more portraits. The Laurel Highlands truly have the best little hidden gems if you know where to look - like right in the middle of the highway!

It was just a short drive from there to the convention center, where guests mingled outside of the ballroom for cocktail hour. We were lucky to have the whole stunning room to ourselves to photograph before guests entered, and the crystal candelabra-style centerpieces and stunning ruffled cake form Maddie Cakes took everything to another level of elegance. We even got to encounter Erin and Paul experiencing the room and decor for the first time, too!

Erin and Paul started the night of dancing off by their first dance to “Eyes on You” by Chase Rice. She shared with me that it had significance to them because the first concert they ever went to together was to see Chase Rice at Stage AE. In fact, Paul proposed that night in Pittsburgh. She said this about the night:

” We first went to the melting pot for an early valentine’s dinner. We then went up to the top of the incline and he proposed on the overlook at the top of Mt Washington. One of the groomsmans was there to film it, and both of our families knew about it, but I was completely surprised! After we had plans to go to a concert at Stage AE. The concert was for a country artist we both love ... Chase Rice. It’s why we chose Eyes on You for our first dance! It was the first concert we had ever gone to and it was from the night we got engaged.”

We ended the night with a truly epic shot showcasing the stunning architecture of the convention center and highlighting the “thin blue line” that Erin and Paul both dedicate their lives to protect. Thank you both for your service, and thank you for an amazing opportunity to capture your perfect day!

Photographer: Jill Gearhart Photography

Second Photogrpaher: J.Jae Photography

Venue: Blair County Convention Center

Gown: Stella York at White Lace Bridal

Hair: JC Penney

Makeup: JC Penney

Bridesmaids Dresses: Sorella Vita at White Lace Bridal

Rings: Leo Diamond by Kay Jewelers

Invitations: White Lace Bridal

Florals: Peterman’s Floral

Cake: Maddie Cakes

Caterer: Blair County Convention Center

Favors: totallyweddingkoozies.com

DJ: DJ Boomerang

getting married at the convention center? click here!

WeddingsJill StifflerOctober 3, 2019Blair County Convention CenterConvention Center, Blair

Unique Engagement Photo Locations

Engagement photo locations can be as individualized as you want them to be - including the college bar you hung out in while you were dating! Mandy’s mom said she would never meet a nice boy in a bar, but I guess she proved her wrong! These two were absolutely adorable for their engagement session. Mandy grew up in Indiana, while Blaine grew up on farm property in Clarksburg, a neighboring town. They wanted to incorporate their love of Indiana in their shoot since that’s where they met!

We started the session at the iconic Vinegar Hill, a spot made famous by the actor Jimmy Stewart that Indiana is known for. The Stewart family used to travel up and down this hill to the family’s hardware store on Philadelphia street. (Interesting fact, there are 33 stairs on this hill - I run up and down them a lot when I exercise!) The hill is a beautiful spot in town because of the ivy that lines the staircase, and then of course the spectacular views of Downtown from the very top!

After spending some time on the stairs, we traveled to another iconic spot downtown - the Indiana Theater. We got some photos on the rooftop which afforded a unique look at Philadelphia street from above, and some of the best views of the clock tower that can be seen at most spots around town. It was then just a short walk to Culpepper’s where we did some photos in front of the restaurant’s famous black and white awning, the stairwell up to the second floor bar, and the lighted sign depicting the spot’s nickname, “Culps.”

We ended our session at Blaine’s family’s farm where Mandy and Blaine were great sports for literally hanging out of a two story barn and placing some lighting gear behind them for an interesting element. I forgot to turn the light on before the climbed up to the second story, so we had fun tossing it up and down to each other once they were in the loft.

I hope you enjoy this unique engagement session featuring some of the best spots around this little town we know and love! And I hope it inspires you to do a session, whether it be an engagement session, a family session (anything!) at places that are special to you, no matter how unconventional!

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Engagements, Photoshoot LocationsJill StifflerSeptember 24, 2019Culpepper's

Outdoor Wedding Photos in Johnstown PA

Johnstown might not have as many wedding venues as it’s Pittsburgh neighbor, but there’s still lots of beautiful places around the flood city to take great portraits on your wedding day. I was so excited when a friend of mine from church, Cassidy, contacted me at the end of April to see about photographing her brother’s wedding last weekend! It’s always so exciting when you can look forward to seeing some familiar faces during the wedding day, and by the time it was all planned, I got to add a few more friends to that list as well! Natalie, Cody, Cassidy and I met at the Commonplace Coffee House, where I do a lot of my client meetings, to talk about a lot of different things concerning their special day! It was really a unique opportunity for me to teach and guide them through the world of wedding photography, and it was so honoring that they leaned on my expertise for so much of their day including the timeline, photo ideas, the DJ and reception events, and more!

I arrived at the Greater Johnstown Fellowship Church early on their big day to ensure I had enough time to capture their sweet details while Natalie was away getting her makeup perfected! Her sweet lace tennis shoes were the perfect choice since she and her groom are about the same height, and her homemade bouquet and boutonnieres matched perfectly in their elegance and simplicity. When it came time to photograph the rings, Cody informed me that Natalie had never seen her wedding band, and it was a surprise!

During the ceremony, emotions were high as both families expressed excitement and so much love for Natalie and Cody. They chose some beautiful Christian music as a background for the candle lighting ceremony and presentation of roses to their parents. After the ceremony, we gathered up family members and got some great portraits under a beautiful archway decorated with tulle and twinkle lights. Everyone seemed to like my goof-ball tactics of getting the kiddos to laugh (and it always works on adults, too!)

From there, we headed to Greenhouse Park in Johnstown where the rock formations, greenery, open sky, and rushing river made for some unique and breathtaking backdrops. Everyone was so patient and accommodating as we worked to find the best light! I had the honor of driving the bride and groom to their reception at Anthony’s Restaurant in Johnstown where the DJ, my husband Brandon and his business partner Corydon , did a fantastic job of keeping the dance floor packed all night. We kicked things off with a sparkler exit and a killer sunset photo - I say killer because Cody dipped Natalie right into traffic on Scalp Avenue (hahahah just kidding! Kinda ;) )

I hope you enjoy the highlights of their special day!

@Jill Gearhart Photography | www.jillgearhartphotography.com

getting married in Johnstown? Click here!

WeddingsJill StifflerSeptember 19, 2019

Indiana PA Outdoor Wedding

Would you ever plan your wedding at venue across the country that you’ve never seen and book vendors that you’ve never met all based on the trust you have in your husband to be and his connections? That’s exactly what Molly did. This super-busy and ever-so lovely pediatric physical therapist contacted me months ago from Texas where she and her fiancé Nooch (Dom) were planning their late August wedding. Nooch hand picked their officiant, Nate, a long-time friend from his high-school years. Nate just happened to have some beautiful farm property where the couple planned to have their super laid-back, mountains and adventure themed wedding. The ceremony was private to a few dozen family members, and then the newlyweds were joined by 250 friends and family at The Backyard event hall just a few minutes away.

Dom likes to spent a lot of time in the woods, so the theme seemed really fitting. In fact, sometimes when Dom is out in the woods, he will put a turtle in his pocket and carry it home for Molly to see. He always prefaces this with "I brought you a present!" Even though they tried to stay true to themselves, Molly shared that she actually wanted the wedding to be WAY more laid back and casual than what it turned into, but having their families there turned out to be a bigger priority than some of the other details they originally wanted. Molly said that “It was stressful planning a wedding all the way from Texas! I promised my mom I would wait for her to go dress shopping, so when she visited for Christmas we went and picked it out together. It was my first official wedding purchase.” She was actually so excited about the dress that she showed it to her future hubby (in the bag, at least!) as soon as she got home!

When I asked how they met, Molly shared that they met on a (surprise) blind date. (Surprise because she didn't know it was happening, she thought she was just going to a friend's house to hang out.) Her family actually didn’t know Dom existed until 3 months later when she totaled her car leaving his house late one night and her parents had to come pick her up. Talk about an awkward conversation!

“Getting the ring and getting engaged was a whole saga”, she said. “He told me when he bought the ring because he was too excited to keep it a secret, but I didn't know *when* he would propose. Then the ring was held at customs and the government called saying it was under investigation, which is a whole story in itself. Then Dom was going to ask for my hand from my Dad while they were working on the car but my Dad's hand got accidentally crushed...it was a whole fiasco. In July 2018 when I was waiting for a ride to the airport I texted him that I just really wanted to be engaged to him, so he drove home on his lunch break and proposed in the living room. I left for the airport to fly home 10 minutes later. Dom doesn't like our engagement story - I guess he had big plans that didn't work out and thinks the real way it happened is ‘blah’, but I'm glad he proposed when he did.” I think their story, just like their day, was absolutely perfect and so “them.” Hope you enjoy some of the highlights!

Ceremony: Wood Crest Point

Reception: The Backyard

Gown: Melissa Sweet from David's Bridal

Hair: Main Street Hair Design

Rings: His- Renaissance Jewlery Hers- Doron Merav

Invitations: Hobby Lobby DIY

Florals: Michaels DIY

DJ: Maximum Music DJs

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Jill StifflerSeptember 10, 2019

Allegheny Park Engagement Photos

Pittsburgh engagement session at PPG place

There are so many amazing spots in Pittsburgh to take engagement photos, including Allegheny Park, the Northside Allegheny Commons Park and the most colorful place this side of the three rivers - Randyland!

As Pittsburgh natives, Janelle and Zac love their city, the architecture, the bridges, the skylines - and have all of that amazing goodness to look forward to in their wedding photos next year that will highlight the city scape and bridges near their reception venue, the Renaissance Hotel. For their engagement session, however, they still wanted to be true to their love of Pittsburgh and it’s architectural features, but maybe something a little more fun and casual!

We started the evening at PPG place, where by summer it boasts a really unique and fun water fountain feature that springs right out of the ground, and by winter is a magnificent Christmas tree surrounded by an open, public ice skating rink! We made good use of the architecture, with it’s dark mirrored glass and silver lines, to add drama, while Janelle’s cute pink dress provided the movement and whimsy to keep things light. And, of course, I made them step in the fountain.

They told me that they wanted to incorporate some bright colors, so they asked if I have ever heard of Randyland and if we could go. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT MY DREAM COUPLE?! Yeah girl, I’ve been to Randyland. hahahahaha! We snapped some cute photos around the sidewalks just as golden hour was hitting, and were even treated to a monologue by Randy himself about some of his methods and finds that make his courtyard so special.

After wrapping up in rainbow paradise, we ended our session at Northside Allegheny Commons Park where golden hour was in full force. It was almost impossible to take a bad picture there while everything glowed a gorgeous yellow. We met up with their sweet pup Sophie to get some family pics, and of course captured more of that Pittsburgh skyline Janelle and Zac love so much.

I hope you enjoy the highlights of this shoot. It was, and I don’t say this lightly, probably by favorite session as of yet! I can’t wait for the wedding!

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Engagements, Photoshoot LocationsJill StifflerAugust 21, 2019PPG Place

At Home Engagement Session

If you’re looking for an engagement photo location that’s meaningful and special to you, consider doing your session at your home, a family member’s farm, or somewhere that you and your fiance spent a lot of time getting to know each other! When I first met Dawn and Richard one evening over a Starbucks coffee, I was excited to work with such a sweet pair. Little did I know how fun and playful they were, and how totally opposite their upbringing was! We started this sun-kissed country engagement session at the farm where Dawn grew up in Mineral Point, among ponds with Queen Anne’s Lace, dairy cows, frisbee-fetching collies, and corn fields drenched in golden hour light.

Our first few snaps were playing around in the corn field where I learned RIGHT AWAY that these two would be a DREAM to photograph. Richard probably has the best, most natural smile for a groom (to be!) that i’ve ever been blessed to capture. Whether he was actually having fun or found the whole process hilarious I’m not sure, but dang those smiles are killer! Dawn is of course a knock-out, so it was almost too easy to get incredible photos of these two enjoying the place that’s so dear to them.

We found little spot beside a pond along their lane up to the farm rimmed with “weeds”, but framed the right way, the weeds can be beautiful! To me, this session was all about chasing light. Both Dawn and Richard just returned from the beach the day before, so their glowing tans coupled with the beautiful gold light made for a warm, rich feel to the photos.

After the pond, we paid a visit to their pet dairy cows (yes, one is named Annabelle!) and even made sure these girls had a chance to photobomb some moments to make the session even more memorable. Besides the dairy cows, Dawn’s family also has beef cows, pigs that eat marshmallows out of your hand, kittens, a Great Pyrenees, and two Border Collies! We ended the session with some piggy-back rides under the family’s apple trees and a good round of frisbee with Dawn’s 10 year old Border Collie Lilly.

These memorable sessions are what make my job amazing - to be invited into someone’s world to experience the things that make them happiest, the people who make them who they are, and the moments they want to hang on to forever. I hope you enjoy some of my favorite moments from this county engagement session on the farm!

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Engagements, Photoshoot LocationsJill StifflerAugust 13, 2019

Soldiers and Sailors Wedding in Pittsburgh, PA | Brian + Elizabeth

With it’s incredible architecture and dynamic, flippable rooms for large groups, Soldiers and Salior’s Memorial Hall in Pittsburgh truly was one of the best wedding venues I had the pleasure of working in! Brian and Liz’s elegant wedding offered some of the most stress-free and accommodating benefits that an upscale wedding couple could hope for. The wedding coordinators made everything effortless for not only the vendors but the bridal party and guests as well. .

The day started with the girls getting ready in the Board Room on the 3rd floor, right next to the ballroom where the reception was. The big benefit of this was that the bridal party could leave their things in this room for the day and easily retrieve them when they were ready to leave for the night because it was right beside the reception area. The Board room was also stunning in itself for some great portraits. The rich browns and leather furniture gave everything a painterly look, and the stained glass made for a great backdrop against Liz’a beautiful dress. Besides her exceptional strapless lace ball gown, Liz also wore pearl earrings that her husband-to-be bought her, her grandmother’s pearl necklace, and a very special bracelet. A few months into Brian and Liz’s relationship, he bought each of them matching anchor bracelets when they knew things were getting serious. Functioning as a promise ring of sorts, the anchors symbolized their loyalty to one another as well as their foundation in their faith and their God that anchored their journey from the beginning.

Their beautiful ceremony, held in the first floor auditorium, featured meaningful scripture readings, the sweetest hand-written vows to one another, and a special time of worship songs. From the very first time I met Brian and Liz, I knew their faith played a very important role in their lives, their relationship with each other, and happily, also played an important in their wedding ceremony.

Other than their steadfast faith in the Lord, when first meeting Brian and Liz, the interesting fact that Brian is Canadian is sure to come up shortly after! Brian was born in Canada and Liz grew up in Pittsburgh. Brian ended up moving to Pittsburgh just as Liz was leaving for college, so it would still be some time before they met. Liz had dreams of teaching internationally, but God had other plans. After some time traveling, Liz eventually moved back to Pittsburgh and started teaching at a local school, where one day her coworker told her about “this cute, kind Canadian” she needed to meet. So it ended up the international came to her, instead!

When I asked them about the early days of their relationship, Liz shared that for Brian, it was love at first sight. For her, though, it took a little longer. Brian was certain she was going to fall in love with him, and after a while into our relationship he even told her so! She told him she'd just have to wait and see... but then about 6 months in, told him he was right. :) Since then, Brian and Liz enjoy time together between their busy schedules and always tend to end up grocery shopping when they are together. Or eating chips and salsa, Liz says!

I hope you enjoy the highlights of this amazing day at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial hall!

pittsburgh wedding Vendors:

Lead Photographer: Jill Gearhart Photography

Second Photographer: Becca Dietrich

Venue: Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall

Gown: Beloved by Casablanca Bridal at The White Orchid

Hair + Makeup: Caruso Hair & Esthetics

Bridesmaids Dresses: David's Bridal

Tuxes: Men's Warehouse

Rings: Trinity Jewelers

Invitations: Minted

Florals: Pete Donati Florist

Cake: The Pie Place

Caterer: The Chef and I Catering

Favors: Etsy - A Gift with a Smile

DJ: Royal Heir DJ

Videographer: Dylan White

getting married at soldier and sailors? Click here!

WeddingsJill StifflerJuly 30, 2019Soldiers and Sailors Memorial HallPittsburgh, Soldiers and Sailors

Inclusive Wedding in Johnstown PA | Eden + Ro at the Grand Halle

Johnstown PA Wedding Venue

If you love Disney and donuts, puppies and popcorn, macarons and movies, fairytale venues, and believe that everyone deserves to have the wedding of their dreams, then buckle up and hold on for this amazing All-Inclusive LGBTQ Johnstown wedding! I met Eden and Rochelle in a fun twist of fate when I walked into a local distillery and was introduced to these amazingly down-to-earth and kind women that were planning one heck of a wedding. Through several meetings, lots of emails and texts, and a super cute engagement session, I got to know these two amazing people and call them friends!

Eden and Ro met 8 years ago during a complicated time for the both of them, and Eden became a light during a dark time for Rochelle. They've been together ever since. Eden always begged Ro to propose to her in Disney World, and it was always a joke of how amazing it would be. The two took a trip to Florida with Eden’s family in October of 2017, and they shared that one of the best parts was going to Animal Kingdom. Little did Eden know, Rochelle had the ring.... but it was back at the hotel! She waited until the next day at their favorite beach in Clearwater. Ro knew she wanted to ask the big question at sunset, but Eden decided she needed pizza right as the sun was setting! So with a slight delay, they sat in the sand and Ro told her that she had a letter for her to read. When she opened the envelope it was her beautiful ring. She paused for what seemed like forever, and then said, “WAIT. Did you ask my dad?!?!?” (of course she did!) Another long pause... then Ro just had to ask, “so is that a yes?” …YES! She said yes! Later on that evening Rochelle distinctly remembers Eden saying, “Wait, you couldn't have done this yesterday at DISNEY?!?!” Either way, she said yes! …and then FaceTimed every human imaginable that entire night to tell them!

Their favorite thing to do together is travel. They’ve done some amazing things: hiked the Smoky Mountains, watched dolphins migrate up the coast in Cape May New Jersey, been to Florida so many times, enjoying sunsets, Disney, and Harry Potter World. The very first vacation they went on, Eden surprised Rochelle with an experience of holding a baby tiger (her favorite animal)! They have always loved traveling together, and long car rides don't bother them, it gives them time to always connect and fall even more in love with every adventure!

And what an adventure this wedding was! The day started at the Hampton Inn where everyone in their 16 person bridal party got ready for the big day, all in the same hallway! I snuck in some shots of their incredibly fun and thoughtful details, like the grape soda cap pins from “Up”, Ro’s Gryffindor socks and Harry Potter handkerchief, and their something old, new, borrowed, and blue which were special gifts from their grandmothers, aunts. and mothers. Eden shared a beautiful first look with her dad, where he placed a penny in her shoe and then put it on her foot (how Cinderella-like!), then the two women shared their first look together in some peace and calm and quiet before hopping on the trolley!

The decor at the Grande Hall was spectacular, each table having a unique vignette of the couple’s favorite Disney movies, sprinkled with macaron’s under mini glass domes (hello, Beauty and the Beast!). All these nestled next to hot tea bags with “drink me” on the tag to match the “eat me” tag on the macs! Guests enjoyed a snack PRE ceremony, too, from a vintage popcorn machine, allowing them to munch through a 17 minute slideshow of the couples most treasured photos together to start off the ceremony. The couple exchanged their first “kiss” as married women by gifting each other necklaces with an acorn and a thimble pendant, reminiscent of the kiss exchange between Wendy and Peter in the Peter Pan movie.

After post-ceremony photos at the gorgeous Forest Lawn Cemetery, we returned via trolley to the Grande Hall where guests had been busy enjoying a dozen adoptable puppies from A Darrah Bull Bully Rescue, and of course breaking the internet with the cuteness and kisses and all the pup-selfies! We snapped some quick photos with the adorable pups before grand entrances, and then DJ Jack Labarko started off the night with an awesomely curated Disney dinner music playlist, and then the best mix of dance music through the ages all night! My favorite was the cloud machine expertly used to make Eden and Ro’s very special choreographed first dance to “A Million Dreams” from the Greatest Showman look like there were literally dancing on a cloud!

Enjoy some of my favorite highlights from this extremely well-produced and insanely unique wedding!

Photography: Jill Gearhart Photography assisted by Rachel Russel

Venue: The Grand Halle Johnstown PA

Gown: Essence of Australia dress - White Lace Bridal Indiana PA

Hair: Whitney Helman, Real Deal Salon; .Amber Mertens

Bridesmaids Dresses: White Lace Bridal

Tuxes: White Lace Bridal

Rings: Kay's

Invitations: Zazzle.com

Florals: Penna Flower Company @pennaflowercompany Taylor Pascuzzo

Cake: Peace, Love & Little Donuts - Monroeville

Caterer: Anthony's Restaurant

Favors: Macaron's from La Gourmandine (Hazelwood location)

DJ: DJ Jack Labarko Inc.

Transportation: Rix Limo (Trolley Service)

Puppy Adoption Event: A Darrah Bull Bully Rescue

getting married at the grand Halle? click here!

Weddings, Photoshoot LocationsJill StifflerJuly 2, 2019Grande HallJohnstown, Grand Halle, LGBTQ

Things Your Wedding Officiant Won't Tell You Openly

Would you really believe me if I told you that often the wedding ceremony is the worst part of the day for most everyone involved? A lot (read, LOT) of couples don’t spend nearly enough time thinking through the significance, details, and logistics of the ceremony. I sat down with a local pastor who has officiated many weddings to ask him his real, honest opinion on why the ceremony can be the worst part of the day, things every officiant wants you to know but may not tell you, and some things that you can figure out before meeting up with him or her to make everyone’s life easier (also check out the freebie below!)

Wedding Ceremony Planning Checklist

click to download and share with your officiant!

Why do you think people don’t plan out their ceremony like the rest of their wedding day?

In comparison, the amount of money put into the ceremony is less than most any other wedding expense. People tend to treat the ceremony less valuable because there is less monetary value tied to it. With current wedding trends, there’s less emphasis on the ceremony and more emphasis on the reception and the fashion. I think some of it, too, is that people don’t have a high view of marriage anymore and don’t see it as a sacred covenant between both of you and the Lord.

What’s something you wish couples knew about planning their ceremony?

You have to actually plan it. Most people don’t really even think about it. You should definitely at least have a coordinator for the ceremony, otherwise the officiant often has to coordinate, or it ends up being someone in the wedding party or family member that does it, and often none of those people are really great at it. It’s important for you as a couple to specify the expectations on the officiant, because in cases like this it becomes much more than just conducting the ceremony.

What’s your biggest pet peeve when someone asks you to officiate?

When I don’t know the couples at all. I always urge people to be plugged into a local church or meet up with your officiant at least once before your rehearsal. If the officiant knows you, it’s easier for the ceremony to be meaningful because it can be more customized to you, your relationship, your personalities, your family, etc. If I don’t know you and I officiate your wedding, I can only bring so much to the table. In my opinion, it’s actually better to pay for a friend to become ordained online than to hire a pastor you don’t know.

What kinds of questions do you ask couples that come to you to officiate?

First off, have a plan when you meet your officiant. Don’t put more time into thinking about the music than the actual vows. Some questions I like to ask are:

How long do you want the ceremony to be?
Do you want it to be a Christian ceremony?
What’s the feel? Light? Solemn? Emotional?
Are there special elements like communion, feet washing, candle lighting, sand ceremony, etc.?
Who will set the stage/altar with decor, flowers, or anything needed for special elements mentioned above?
Do you want to do your own vows? Traditional vows?" “Repeat after me” vows?
Can the officiant write the vows for you if you don’t?
Do you want to exchange rings during vows, or after?

How do you coordinate a wedding ceremony?

It’s basically coming up with answers to a bunch of logistic questions BEFORE your rehearsal such as:

Where are people going to enter from?
Who is on stage at the beginning of the ceremony?
Who is walking in and when?
Is the dad giving away the bride? Will he be down front?
Where do you want bridal party and family to stand? Sit?
Do the ring bearer or flower girl stand or sit?
What is the speed of professional? Is there music?
Is there a stage with stairs? Who is on that stage or stairs?
Where does bride and groom stand in relation to officiant?

What does it mean to have a “Christian” wedding ceremony?

To me, it means that the Pastor is allowed to use the Bible and biblical terms of marriage. Some things to think about that would make it a “christian” ceremony would be”

Do you want an “altar call”?
Do you want the officiant’s message to have a “counseling” feel with advice?
Do you have verses picked out?

Popular wedding ceremony verses:

1 Corinthians 13
Ecclesiastes 4:12
Song of Solomon 2.10-13; 8.6,7
Genesis 2:24
Ephesians 5:22-33
1 John 4:8; 18
John 3:16
Proverbs 5:18-23
Proverbs 31

Why is the ceremony the most important part of the day?

That’s the moment that the commitment is made. It’s way better to remember a special ceremony than to remember a special night dancing with your friends. Because we don’t put much thought into the ceremony, it it’s easy to forget the details of it years later. You can have a marriage without having a reception and a dress and flowers and rings. You can have a marriage without all of those things because it’s most importantly a covenant to one another and the Lord.

getting married? click here!

Wedding TipsJill StifflerJune 27, 2019Jill Gearhart Photography

Graystone Church Indiana, PA Wedding | Brandon + Jenna

Graystone church is know throughout the county as being a breathtakingly beautiful location both inside and out, so if you’re looking for a wedding venue with impressive architecture that has fairytale style (its literally a castle!), this is it.

Brandon and Jenna met online (more and more of my couples are meeting online and I think it’s SO inspiring!), and while Jenna finished up her degree and Brandon jumped into a career in police work, they both planned their June wedding. What I appreciated most about their big day is that they budgeted for the “big things” (like awesome photos and an awesome DJ!) and were able to make efficient decisions on a lot of other things. The result was a beautiful and financially smart day that their guests loved, and that they will have beautiful memories of forever!

As the girls got ready in the family room downstairs and the guys got ready in the library, we snapped candids and details, eagerly waiting for the time to come when Jenna’s dad AND grandpa would walk her down the aisle! It was such a special moment and the first time I had seen that done during a ceremony!

Brandon’s brothers, best man, and Jenna’s best friend and MOH were able to honor and serenade the couple by leading the congregation in some awesome worship songs mid-ceremony. The couple also chose a traditional unity candle and traditional vows. After the ceremony was over, the guests headed downstairs for refreshments while the bridal party and family went outside for formal photos, then bridal party photos, then finally, my favorite part - the bride and groom portraits!

Jenna and Brandon made portraits truly effortless by being willing to sit, be lifted, walk, laugh, and climb through bushes. It was so easy to capture their sweet love because they weren’t worried about the time, the dress, guests, or the million other things that go through a bride or groom’s head on wedding day. They just enjoyed the process, trusted their photographers, and ended up with some amazing images! I hope you enjoy some of my favorites from their beautiful day!