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!

We’ve been so excited for their wedding since we met Natalie and Aash at their enagagement session earlier this year in Brooklyn. This time we got to travel a bit south for their special day to the incredibly beautiful Lake House Inn in Perkasie, PA. We had such a blast getting ready with everyone in the morning with excited anticipation filling the air. Natalie and Aash decided to incorporate a first look into their day before the celebration began, giving them a chance to just be with each other and us a chance to capture some really awesome moments. Before we knew it, Aash was seated atop a white horse for the most incredible Baraat procession complete with dancing and the biggest smiles on every friend and family member. Aash’s father led a traditional Hindu wedding ceremony on a breath-taking mandap [wedding alter], and we were blown away with the beauty and meaning held by every little detail. After the ceremony, Natalie and Aash changed into their reception attire and joined all of their loved ones in night full dancing and cheer including the most epic of Horahs. The look on the newlyweds’ faces when they were lifted up on their chairs is everything. We wish them all of the best in the world!

To Natalie and Aash!

PHOTOGRAPHERS: Steve and Lisa

VENDORS:

Ceremony/ Reception Venue: The Lake House Inn

Bridal Reception Dress: The Reformation

Hair/ Makeup Artists: Jazmin Rae Company

We wish we could review the amazing people we get to capture memories for like they write reviews for us. Taylor and Jeremy would definitely get an infinite amount of stars. We first met them a couple years ago for their engagement session in Jim Thorpe when we learned that they were planning on getting married in Punta Cana. In the two years leading up to their wedding, we’ve shared so many laughs, got to meet Taylor and Jeremy’s parents, and can whole- heartedly call them family now. Taylor, Jeremy, and all of their family and friends are such down to earth, genuine, fun loving people who understand what’s important in life and cherish that to the core. That showed in every little detail of both… yes, both… of their weddings. In order for their destination beach wedding in Punta Cana to be performed in English, Taylor and Jeremy had to make it official in the states first. They had the sweetest wedding at Harveys Lake featuring Taylor’s beautiful dress by BHLDN and Jeremy’s father’s awesome vintage Chevy. A few weeks later, our very own Steve and Stephen were on a plane heading to the hottest, but most incredible wedding ever. Taylor’s brother officiated the ocean front ceremony, reminding us all that we could do anything we want to do, but we can’t always do it alone. Taylor and Jeremy are the absolute perfect match and truly bring out the best in each other and everyone around them. We continued the celebration with the reception right on the sand under the stars. Talk about dance moves (please refer to Jeremy in the wedding film below)! The next day we got to capture Taylor’s “trash the dress” as she and Jeremy ran right into the waves in full wedding attire. Yay for underwater housing and cooling down!! We had the best time on this incredible journey with the now newlyweds and everyone else involved, and are so honored to make the KJAD family even bigger. We really love what we do! Oh, Steve also highly recommends everyone try the pineapple juice in Punta Cana! He still won’t stop talking about it!

Congrats to The Williams!

PHOTOGRAPHER: Steve

VIDEOGRAPHER: Stephen

VENDORS:

Harveys Lake Ceremony Site: Our Lady of Victory

Harveys Lake Ceremony Dress: BHLDN

Harveys Lake Suit: Tuxedo Junction

Punta Cana Reception Venue: Palladium Palace

Salon: Zentropia Spa

Dress Shop: The Bridal Chateau

Dress Designer: Maggie Soterro

Bridesmaid Dress Shop: The Dress Lounge

Tuxes/ Suits: Tuxedo Junction

Wedding Bands: Tovon & Co.

Decor: Waves of Love by Karen Bussen