Elga + Mathew | Married

Weddings

***A Stoltzfus Homestead & Gardens Wedding | Lancaster, Pennsylvania***

I’ve been so excited to share Mathew and Elga’s wedding since the day I took these photos. They are such an amazing couple and capturing their love in pictures was an honor for me. With boho vibes and gorgeous colors, it was truly one of the most unique and beautiful weddings of the summer!

Mathew and Elga were high school sweethearts. Meeting when they were just 15 and staying together until their wedding day is the stuff movies are made of! After high school, they continued to get more serious until Mathew proposed in New York City, where they were both born and raised. It took a few years to finally get to the day they had been dreaming of for so long. In the meantime, they survived wedding planning and a pandemic, and welcomed their son, Leo. He’s 2 years old now and Mathew and Elga were so happy to have him be part of their special celebration, committing their lives to each other forever as a family.

They chose Stoltzfus Homestead and Gardens as their wedding venue. It’s lush flower gardens and open fields were perfect for the bohemian vibes and laid back feel of the day. Elga says all of her vendors brought her vision of the perfect wedding day to life better than she could have dreamed. It was unforgettable to her…and to everyone else who attended.

When the day of the wedding finally arrived, they were both so excited. They couldn’t wait to be husband and wife and were also so happy to see their extended families. The majority of their family had traveled hours for the celebration and some of them even came from other countries. It was a special reunion in so many ways.

The ladies prepared in the bridal suite and we got some beautiful photos. Elga and her father had a touching first look that was emotional and sweet. I always love this part, as it reminds me of what I’ll have to do someday when my girls get married. Meanwhile, the men were having a great time getting ready, laughing and enjoying the beautiful day.

Mathew and Elga had decided to write their own vows and wanted to read them privately before the ceremony. For Elga, this was the most sentimental part of the day. She hadn’t seen Mathew all day and hearing his words of love written so beautifully made her so happy and even more ready to say “I do.” Likewise, while Mathew read his letter, I was able to capture all sorts of emotions from deep sentiment to joyful laughter. They were both thankful they had this personal moment to relax, breathe deeply and read about each others devotion and love for one another.

Elga was able to watch the processional and seeing Leo be part of the day was a true blessing to her. He was so adorable in his little tuxedo. He walked down the aisle just like a little man, and mommy and daddy were so proud of him

I’ve often shared how much I love when the groom sees his bride for the first time. The look on his face is priceless. Stoltzfus Homestead and Gardens makes this even more special because of the way the set up is in their restored Tobacco Barn. In the back of the barn, there are giant rolling doors, that when opened, reveals the moment we’ve all been waiting for…it’s truly ethereal. The backlight is gorgeous and the moment is always so breathtaking. For Mathew and Elga’s wedding, when those doors rolled open and Elga stood there in all of her wedding finery, she looked stunning. She said she felt like she was in a dream. Seeing Mathew standing at the end of the aisle waiting for her, was more than she ever imagined. It was perfect. The ceremony was sentimental and sweet. When they were pronounced man and wife, they were both so happy!

The wedding was followed by a fantastic reception with delicious food, dancing and a lot of fun. The weather was perfect and we were able to get some amazing photos. The lighting was truly a photographer’s dream that day, and Mathew and Elga are naturals in front of the camera. They both look like they stepped off the page of the latest bridal magazine.

The whole day was wonderful, but what made this wedding so special was the way Mathew and Elga love each other, support each other and stay strong for one another. They became my friends that day, and I’m so happy I was able to capture their beautiful memories. Congratulations, Mathew and Elga! May you have a lifetime of happiness together!