And here it is, my first Poconos wedding couple who got “bewooded” at Silver Birches! Remember the woodchopper and his beautiful bride who live in my community? See how fun their wedding was!
Lots of you already saw their rustic engagement session that had all the cool things I’ve been dreaming about—a pretty girl next door, a tough wood chopper, a saw and axe, wilderness, waterfall, antique Ford, giggles, drama, and of course, raw love! If you haven’t and don’t have time to look, here are a few shots to give a sense:
Booking them was a big deal to me. Having moved to Poconos 3 years ago, I remained focused on my 15-year-strong NYC clientele, continuing to commute to NY and NJ for weekends. I volunteered for the local events and projects when available, and made new friends in local groups. Soon, people started to ask about a shoot here and there, but then Jackie came. She told me about her Poconos wedding at Silver Birches, and that was it! “Why not fill a few open dates with local weddings?” I thought. Thrilled about this new heartwarming, neighborly chapter, I offered her all my support, resources, and wedding expertise.
Their engagement shoot was a one-of-a-kind addition to my already diverse engagement portfolio. I’ll skip the details and jump right into their Poconos wedding at Silver Birches. The guys rented an Airbnb by the same Lake Wallenpaupack where the reception would take place. To give it a more rustic feel, I took the details shots outdoors. I spotted a nice rock and moss formation in the neighbor’s yard and asked them if I could use it. Got the green light.
Kindly refrain from re-uploading images to social media during the first week of the exclusive feature. Share instead and give credit to @ZorzStudios. Thank you for your help!
You notice Dave is a tough, well-built guy. How could I not take advantage of it for photos? I also spotted a guitar and turned out it was his. He doesn’t play much yet but wants to learn. Putting this all together, I recalled Conan the Barbarian’s movie poster. I watched Arnold Schwarzenegger in that 1982 fantasy hit when a little kid. Those movies, along with Boris Vallejo’s fantasy drawings, contributed to my early development as an artist (my pen drawing below as a fitting example), later morphing into photography.
So I offered to do a quick tribute using the guitar, followed by “normal” getting-ready shots:
We then moved to Silver Birches at Lake Wallenpaupack, where the bride finished her getting ready part. This renovated vintage lake resort dates back to 1920s and offers an old-fashioned feel with cozy cottages and romantic inns with rambling porches. Popular among the families vacationing in Poconos, it also offers a beautiful ballroom and terrace, all overlooking the sunset at the Lake Wallenpaupack. No wonder the wedding couple picked it!
The ceremony, unforgettably conducted by Heather Ferrante, was touching and emotional. Dave didn’t see Jackie as a bride until her father walked her down the aisle.
I usually omit family portraits in the blogs but how can I skip this four-generation portrait?! And of course, the tree boys our lovely couple shares.
Then came the fun part! I took the bridal party to Silver Birches’ docks. Their wobbling nature presented an irresistible opportunity for silly photos. The guys were a load of fun and offered full cooperation with my whoopee ideas.
Romantic bride and groom photos followed promptly. I did them in two sets: first during the cocktail hour, later pulling the couple out of reception for the gorgeous sunset portraits by the lake.
I loved the many rustic decor details of this Poconos wedding at Silver Birches.
Ken from Sound Wizards Entertainment rocked the floor. The crowd was wild and playful during the reception. Look what they did with the garter! The traditional way wasn’t enough, so they switched! The bouquet/garter catchers happened to be a couple!
Love, respect, excitements, and happiness to you, Jackie and Dave!
