Colorful Strawberry Wedding at Deer Run Winery

This Deer Run Winery wedding was one of my most highly anticipated weddings ever. Emily and James are so special to me. Emily was a bridesmaid in Jessica and Ryan's backyard wedding in 2023, and she was a godsend that day. She was so helpful and kind, and I could tell then that she was just a party in human form.

Emily reached out to me at the end of 2023 about photographing her own wedding, and I was so excited about the chance to work with her again. We officially booked together, and had their engagement photos done in the summer. They brought a strawberry cake to their engagement session, and let me in on the little secret that it would also be their wedding cake!

On the wedding day, Emily got ready at a lakeside Airbnb right on Conesus Lake, one of New York's beautiful Finger Lakes. We got a bit creative with her invitation shots, even placing them in the lake for some playful images. Eventually, we made our way to the stunning Deer Run Winery, where Emily stepped into her dress and I met up with James and his guys for the first time.

It was a chilly, rainy late-May day, so we moved the first look to the tank room-- a perfect Plan B. Their first look and vows were so intimate and emotional that I felt honored to witness such a private, tender moment. It was impossible not to fall in love with them that day.

Afterward, we started couples portraits and bridal party portraits before guests arrived, and I am just always so stinking thankful for a happy bridal party. It was all smiles and jokes and laughter, and it just makes the day feel so peaceful and exciting.

The ceremony spot at Deer Run is breathtaking, with soft fabric canopies and grapevines climbing along the beams. Emily and James both teared up as she walked down the aisle with her parents, and many guests followed suit. The love surrounding them was palpable.

Just to give an idea how loved they are, an unplanned receiving line happened right after they walked back up the aisle, as guests couldn’t wait to hug them, and they made sure to hug every single person before cocktail hour even began. Dinner, catered by the amazing Partyman Catering, was fabulous. During their first dance, Emily’s brother surprised everyone with a soulful rendition of Elvis’s I Can’t Help Falling in Love. The cake cutting was pure joy, the music was bumping, and their golden hour portraits were full of laughter and playful moments.

This day was one of those that lingers. You carry it with you long after it’s over. Emily and James, your wedding was unforgettable, and I feel so lucky to have been a part of it.

Congratulations, Emily and James. I love you big!