Westmoreland Club, Wilkes-Barre, PA

We’re so excited to share our favorite photos from Scott & John’s Westmoreland Club Wedding!! Steve & Nick spent the day with them from Groom Prep at their home through their reception. They captured quiet moments of them in their home, photos with their beloved Saint Bernard, their marriage certificate signing, a quick classy photo shoot in the Westmoreland Club’s Terrace Room turned Speakeasy with a pair of cocktails, and lots, lots more.

Their wedding day was truly remarkable, from the people around them to how they planned the day and the aesthetic. You could feel the love and care the families and guests have for them, and the camaraderie that tethered the grooms to their groomsmen (and vice versa) was tangible. The day was also filled with fun and lightheartedness. Officiant, Dave, kept things both touching and gleeful. Not to mention, Scott and his mom, Ruthie, broke it down to “The Twist,” and smiles and good times filled the Westmoreland Club during their reception.

Some of our favorite photos came from our time with them in the Terrace Room at the Westmoreland Club, where they took the classic Georgian look of the venue and turned it into a contemporary speakeasy.

On a joyful day filled with love, kindness, support, and fun, we can’t thank these two enough for having us create, capture, and archive such an important day in their lives.

Check out more KJAD Westmoreland Club Wedding Photography in our blog section!

PHOTOGRAPHERS: Steve & Nick

VENDORS:

Ceremony & Reception: Westmoreland Club

Entertainment: 570 Events

Tuxes: Haberdashery Custom Tuxedo, Forty Fort, PA

Tuxes: Mr. Shop, Syracuse, NY

Accessories: Tag Heuer Formula Chronograph

Florist: Back Mountain Floral

Florist: Floral Designs

Transportation: Westmoreland Club Shuttle

Check out their First Dance Song!

District Winery, Washington DC

over the 2021 holiday season, we received one of the highest compliments we can get as artists in our industry: Kaitlyn reached out to us via email to express how meaningful her sister Kara’s Wedding Film was to her and their family, and asked us to capture her wedding day with Ryan just a few short months later at District Winery in Washington DC. so, in early spring of this year stephen and stay from our crew arrived in D.C., met with familiar faces, and prepared to tell the story of another Maloney Family milestone!

it’s been such an incredible honor to have the opportunity to archive and create at every turn for this wonderful family, and we are so grateful for the responsibility.

P.S. you can also see Kara & Rob’s Wedding Film here after you watch Kaitlyn & Ryan’s! https://youtu.be/PEWLWnFgKrM

KJAD CREW

Videographers: Stephen & Stay

Editor: Stephen

VENDORS

Venue: District Winery

Dress: VOW Floral + Formal

Rings: Mervis Diamond Importers

HMU: MAB Artistry

Lighting & Entertainment: Dan Goldman Events & Production

Photographer: Sarah Culver Photography

The Banks, Pittston, PA

The Pandemic affected so many 2020 weddings, and Mia & Sam were no different – even though their wedding date was initially set for the last day of the year, New Year’s Eve. Though we had to wait just a few extra months to celebrate, and we were ringing in the summer of 2021 instead of the new year, they still partied at The Banks in Pittston like it was 1999…er…2021, complete with champagne, confetti, backflips and a whole KJAD crew of photographers and videographers to capture all best moments.

PHOTOGRAPHERS: Steve & Nick

VIDEOGRAPHERS: Stephen & Stay

VENDORS:

Ceremony: Prince of Peace

Reception Site: The Banks – A Waterfront Venue

Entertainment: Picture Perfect

Dress Shop: Kleinfeld Bridal

Bridesmaid Dress Shop: Lulus

Tuxes: Sarno & Son

Shoes: Christian Louboutin

Invitations: Etsy

Catering: Arcaro & Genell’s

Cake: Minooka Pastry Shop

Florist: Petals Fleurs

Transportation: Gilbride Limousine

Hilton Scranton & Conference Center

It’s always exciting getting the opportunity to work with families we have worked with before. Just about 4 years ago we were photographing (and recording) Alyssa, Ashley’s sister, and Karl’s wedding at the Hilton, and are so appreciative to know that they enjoyed what we captured so much that Ashley and Bernie asked us to do the same.

This was a BIG, well overdue party with their family, friends, and loved ones which made the Hilton in Scranton a perfect venue for them. The Hilton is a great option if your guest list is growing and growing, nearing upwards of 250-300+ people and is right on Scranton’s Courthouse Square where we did their Bridal Party and Mr + Mrs photos making it a great central location for your day. It’s also a great place for your sister to tell the DJ to drop a beat so she can throw a few verses down and remix The Fresh Prince Theme Song to end her Matron-of-Honor speech. 😉

We can’t thank Ashley, Bernie, and their little one enough for having KJAD be a part of their day!! Cheers!

PHOTOGRAPHERS:

PHOTOGRAPHERS: steve & michael

VIDEOGRAPHERS: stephen

VENDORS:

Entertainment: 570 Events

Salon: Bella Madre

Dress Shop: Tunis Bridal Shop

Tuxes: Tuxedo Junction

Jeweler: Sorick’s Fine Jewelers

Cake: Minooka Pastry Shop

Florist: Petals

FIRST DANCE SONG:

Edgewood In The Pines, Drums, PA

Our first wedding of the season at Edgewood in the Pines was one we looked forward to celebrating with Melissa & Cody all through 2020. After they navigated how the year would affect their wedding, we were there to capture what was initially planned to be a September autumn celebration and became a beautiful day in May. They are truly wonderful people and we are so grateful to have had the opportunity to photograph such a monumental day in their life together.

PHOTOGRAPHERS: Steve & Evelyn

VENDORS:

Entertainment: Frankie Carll Productions

Dress Shop: Bridal by Sandra

Tuxes: Tuxedo by Sarno

Florist: Smith Floral

Transportation: AJ Limo

Sand Springs Country Club, Drums, PA

This day was especially close to the KJAD crew as Todd is a former student of Steve’s from Wilkes University, where he & Alysa met through mutual friends. Two years later, Todd would propose during a private meet & greet with Rapunzel, which brought us all together here at their beautiful Disney Inspired Wedding at the Sand Springs Country Club in Drums. From the details (that hairpiece!!), a heartwarming first look with dad, a smiley Todd watching Alysa come down the aisle, and a magical first dance, to the happiest inspired decor on earth, their wedding day was truly something special. We are so appreciative to have had the opportunity to capture these moments and memories. Cheers to Alysa + Todd!

PHOTOGRAPHERS: Steve & MJ

VENDORS:

Ceremony & Reception Site: Sand Springs Country Club

Entertainment: Skuba Entertainment

Salon: Alexander’s Salon & Spa

Wedding & Bridesmaid Dress Shop: Tunis Bridal Shoppe

Engagement Ring: Zales Disney Designer Collection

Tuxes: Men’s Warehouse

Shoes: Christian Louboutin

Invitations: Shutterfly

Officiant: Rocky Bonomo

Wedding Rings: Neil Lane & Manly Bands

Florist: Mattern‘s Floral

Coordinator: Rachel Dunn at Sand Springs Country Club

Congress Hall, Cape May, NJ

Our photography and videography crews started our 2021 wedding season at Congress Hall in Cape May, NJ with Kiki and Dave. Kiki had been planning her destination Congress Hall wedding for as long as she could remember. So, being able to carry out her dream wedding despite the global pandemic, meant more to her than one could imagine. With a stately, historic yellow building and a perfectly blue sky as the backdrop of this chilly early spring Cape May beach wedding, we give you Kiki’s dream wedding… oh and Dave’s too!! ; )

Oh and be sure to check out the “KJAD aqua” ballroom. So cool.

PHOTOGRAPHERS: Steve and Tom

VIDEOGRAPHERS: Stephen and Stay

VENDORS:

Ceremony & Reception Site: Congress Hall, Cape May, NJ

Entertainment: BME Event Group

Salon: Say I Do Hair and Makeup

Dress Shop: Van Cleve Bridal

Bridesmaid Dress Shop: The Dress Lounge

Tuxes: Tuxedo by Sarno

Shoes: FitFlop

Invitations: The Knot

Officiant: Judge Joseph Carmondy, District Magistrate

Cake: The Bake Works

Florist: The Manic Botanic

Coordinators: Erin O’Brien (ICONA Resorts) & Shauna Strellish (Westmoreland Club)

This past week KJAD had the opportunity to photograph two weddings (highlights included below). One was quite small, focused around a short ceremony, and the other was much more of a standard wedding day. It included hair and makeup, bride and groom prep, a full church ceremony, posed family and wedding party photos, and portraits of the bride and groom. Both weddings chose to have small and informal outdoor gatherings rather than a “full” reception, and both will celebrate with larger groups later this year at “part 2” receptions.

After preparing for and photographing each, I realized what stands between getting married now (during the pandemic) or postponing your wedding to later this year or even next, is the ability to envision your wedding in different ways. What you have imagined for the past year or more is likely not be what you will experience.

But, by no means is this a bad thing. Reimagining your 2020 wedding can be challenging and frustrating, but so can waiting another year to have the wedding of your (pre-COVID) dreams. Thankfully, a reconfigured 2020 wedding and the wedding you originally imagined have one thing in common – two people, joining their lives and families together with love and trust. The rest comes down to your comfort level. Options can include the following: a wedding on your original date, with a small party afterward or a more inclusive reception in the future; or, a more traditional full wedding ceremony and reception next year.

Whatever you decide, KJAD is here to help you navigate your long list of to-do’s and offer things to consider along the way. We are hosting a live stream session at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 28, to talk about wedding options for 2020 and beyond, and showcase our new KJAD LIVE service.

Consider these things if you would like to keep your 2020 date: Reconfigure the traditional wedding format – hair and makeup, bridal party prep, ceremony, formal photos, cocktail hour and reception – by evaluating the entire day to see what parts matter the most to you and only include those – safely. Think a little outside the box: change locations, activities, guest count, or even day’s timeline. Just remember, whatever you decide to do, make sure it is in line with your venue’s rules, and state and county’s guidelines.

It really comes down to one of a few options: get married on your original wedding date with pandemic restrictions – have a small ceremony on your OG date and then a party to follow later in 2020 or 2021 – or completely move your entire wedding to next year and hoping that the coronavirus doesn’t pose such a serious threat.

Quick Sidebar: I captured this photo of a section of the wedding party, safely spaced out throughout the entire church, wearing their face masks this past weekend. I understand the photo seems a bit “dark and grim” at first, but really the intention is far from that. (I also really just like the look and strong social narrative to it.) The church planned and executed safe practices throughout the entire service. They held a full Catholic mass and made it quite worry-free. While my photo has a darker overtone to it, the ceremony was the exact opposite; joyous, exciting, tearful, and full of all the tradition one hopes for at a mass. You can find more photos at the end of this blog.

The weddings we experienced last weekend (through a face mask and a little distancing) were two pandemic-era weddings held in completely different fashions. Both formats worked for the individual couples, and perhaps some aspects could work for you, too. We will share what we learned during our live discussion at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 28, and will also blog about each wedding in the weeks to come.

All my best to you, and please don’t hesitate to reach out if you would like to talk through your upcoming wedding. Also, if KJAD isn’t a part of your wedding, we’d still be more than happy to consult with you over the phone or video chat. We are all in this together.

Take great care and see you soon!