• Last week I had the immense pleasure to work with Jon and Alyssa and so many great vendors for Wish Upon a Wedding. If you aren’t familiar with the organization hit up their website and read about it. It’s an amazing charity and I am so proud to be a part of it. To read a bit about their love story click here. Jon was diagnosed in 2009 with brain cancer and despite many surgeries and treatments, the cancer returned and is not curable. Those of you that follow my blog will know that I recently lost my sister in law to cancer and lost my father to it in 2006 so needless to say, their story is one that is near and dear to my heart.
• All wedding vendors donated their services so be sure to check out the links and leave some love in the comments for these vendors who really went above and beyond to make sure this lovely couple had a day to remember!!!
• Luck was so much on our side this day. Despite some really nasty storms coming through the area, they all went JUST north or JUST south of us. The only thing we had all day was a quick batch of rain that neatly came in just as I finished up their photos. Talk about timing!
• This is just a small, small fraction of their amazing day. To view more photos, please visit Facebook and view their gallery. It was so hard to narrow these images down to a bloggable size – I originally had 75 images selected to blog! While there are still more than my usual count, I at least did manage to trim it down from there.
• Their theme for their wedding was Endlessly which is after a different song but the song I immediately thought of one was the one by Joey McIntyre and Emanuel Kiriakou by the same name which they wrote in the days after 9/11. This song fits their love so well I wanted to post the song as well as the lyrics. It quite literally is one of my favorite songs, if not THE favorite.
Tell me what you find
up in the open sky
I only hope you know
how hard it is letting goAnd I will pray for you and me
that our love lives on endlessly
through all of time we will endure
we are earth and sea
endlesslyWill you walk with me
through valleys crossing rivers deep
then hand in hand
we will beOh yeah yeah
And I will pray for you and me
that our love lives on endlessly
through all of time we will endure
we are earth and sea
endlesslySo remember if ever you’re wanting to hide
don’t you know what you’re feeling, I’m feeling inside
Oh yeah
Don’t forget our dreams
It lives on endlesslyI will pray for you
and you will pray for meEndlessly
So remember if ever you’re wanting to hide
don’t you know what you’re feeling, I’m feeling insideWe are earth and sea
Endlessly, endlessly
• Jon lost his battle with cancer on November 13, 2011. He will be deeply missed by all the hearts he touched.
Wedding Vendors
Cake: The West Side Bakery
Catering: Spice of Life
Ceremony Music: Arion String Ensemble
Dance Floor: National Party Rental
Dessert: Bittersweet Chocolates & Culinary Occasions
DJ: The DJ Crew
Favors: Drummond Chocolates
Florist: Lynda Loren Floral Design
Hair: Tiffany Ford of Dino Palmieri Salon
Hotel: Wyndham Hotel
Lighting: Vincent
Linens: L’nique Linens
Makeup: Kajal by Kimberly
Officiant: Bob with Our Wedding Officiant
Rentals: Event Source & Lasting Impressions
Ring Pillow: Emici Bridal
Stationery: Pink Hearts Paperie
Transportation: A1 Mr. Limo
Valet: MVP Services LLC
Veil/Accessories: Christina Garcia Accessories of Distinction
Venue: Glidden House
Videography/Photo Booth: Moonstruck Productions
Wedding Planning: At Last Events
Wine: Colonial Beverage
Special thanks to Nicole from Simply Told Photography for being my second shooter for this day and also to Heidi of Heidzillas for popping in and lending a helping hand as well!
Alyssa getting her hair done, love hairspray shots!
Alyssa looked so fantastic getting her makeup done by Kajal by Kimberly! Her makeup was flawless!
The back of Alyssa’s dress was STUNNNNNNNNNINNNNNNNG! AhhH!
Alyssa made a GORGEOUS bride!
Nicole captured this lovely image before the ceremony of Jon looking at the wedding rings.
I loved the program! So pretty!
The ceremony began and it was beautiful.
Nicole captured this lovely image of the Maid of Honor tearing up during the service. There were very few dry eyes!
Not even Jon could hold back the tears, it was a very lovely ceremony.
The Best Men and Alyssa’s Aunt sung during the ceremony.
Their first kiss!
The entire bridal party, not a small one!
We were under a severe time constraint (and weather!) so Nicole worked with the guys while I worked with the girls. I love this image she captured of the guys and Jon posed together.
I love this sassy image of Alyssa and her bridesmaids.
This image of Jon and Alyssa is so so sweet!
🙂
It is *so* hard to choose but if I had to, I think this would be my favorite image of the day!
We told them to tell each other secrets, Alyssa had faked it for the camera into Jon’s ear but he really DID tell her a secret! Love!
This is their reaction to the said secret, wonder what it was?
Such a classic gorgeous portrait!
While I was doing most of the portraits, Nicole was getting these lovely images from the cocktail hour that was taking place at the same time.
Just a small fraction of the eye candy that was in the reception tent! Isn’t it beautiful?
A small selection of the delectable desserts that were available!
Such a sweet and sentimental speech by the Maid of Honor!
Props to Nicole for capturing this moment perfectly!
The Best Men delivered a perfect toast that was both sentimental and hilarious!
A selection of the vendors that donated their services to Jon & Alyssa on behalf of Wish Upon a Wedding.
The cake cutting was perfect and well played.
Their first dance was so lovely and heartbreaking. They are a stunning couple!
Moonstruck Productions played their Love Story during the reception, there were many hilarious moments – especially from Alyssa’s sisters!
This image is so tender and perfect.
The rings!
Bouquet toss!
Nicole captured this hilarious shot of Jon removing Alyssa’s garter.
Last dance.
May be my favorite dancing picture ever… so sweet.
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Corey, These images are beautiful, such a great job capturing the day. The entire event looked lovely so props to all the vendors!
AMAZING! Thank you so much Corey – you captured their fay so perfectly. On behalf of the board of Wish Upon a Wedding – THANK YOU!!!!!
[…] and it got accepted! Not only was that simple fact amazing to me but I was so excited that Jon and Alyssa’s amazing love story was able to touch more […]
I remember looking at this blog post when you first posted it and thought it was such a beautiful cause and occasion. I'm so sad to hear that their marriage was so very short. Prayers going out to the family.
Thank you!
I remember looking at this blog post when you first posted it and thought it was such a beautiful cause and occasion. I’m so sad to hear that their marriage was so very short. Prayers going out to the family.
[…] Trust me, their food though is AMAZING. To see a sample of just how amazing take a glimpse at Alyssa and Jon’s […]