Wedding | Erica + Aaron | Elyria, OH

• Erica and Aaron booked me over 2 years out from their date for their wedding.  I know some may think that was excessive but I think it was smart – as within about a month of their booking I had repeated inquiries for this date (I even had someone move their date since this one was booked to have me!).  For me, the busiest dates are usually the long weekends bookending the summer – Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends.  If the 4th of July falls onto a weekend that one also usually books out quickly as well.  By booking their vendors early in the game, they got the vendors they chose and were able to focus on the other things in their lives (like buying a house!) in the meantime.  Once your date is set, it’s never too early to book (I currently already have 12/31/12 booked!).

• I have been looking forward to this wedding for such a long time, it’s hard to believe it’s already come and gone!  I knew that after their engagement session they were going to be a dream to work with the day of their wedding, and they were!

• One thing that 2+ years of planning can’t control is the weather.  However the rain managed to hold off so that we were not only able to shoot outside (although it was crazy windy and cool) but the looming rain gave us some great clouds!  I know that Erica and Aaron were wondering why I was quite literally doing a happy dance when I saw how spectacular the sky was but they understood when they saw the images.

• I love when I am able to work with personable and awesome videographers that want to work as a team the day of the wedding.  Props to Attention to Detail for being a dream to work with.

• Confession: I love blinky LED lights.  If there is a blinky LED lit object nearby, you can be assured that I will find a way to own it.  I have the blinky LED glasses (thank you Royal Caribbean), I have blinky LED sunglasses, of COURSE the necklaces and even a spinny fan that goes on your head and blinks.  When I walked into their reception and saw that the uplighting was LED lights that strobed I about DIED in ecstasy.  THEN to top it off… SHE HAD MINI ONES ON HER HEAD TABLE!  Gah gah gah!  Erica, you darn near made me get sticky fingers with envy.  Needless to say, I played when it came to ring shot time… see below for my favorite ring shot to date (I do say this a lot don’t I?).

• Nothing makes a reception more awesome than dancing and Erica and Aaron made sure to set the stage for a fun night with their first dance and changing the mood to a club feel once the dancing started for the evening with lower lights, a club style DJ and making the LED lights change and strobe with the music.  LOVE!

Wedding Vendors

Bakery: The Cake Loft
Ceremony: Good Shepherd Baptist Church
Day of Coordinator: Heidzillas
DJ: Lo Key Entertainment
Florist: UFloral
Photobooth: Photobooth Cleveland
Reception: Embassy Suites Beachwood
Rentals: L’Nique
Transportation: All Occasions Limousine
Videographer: Attention to Detail

The ceremony was gorgeous and I adored all of the attention to detail Erica put into it including the petals on the aisle.

 

Congrats to the new couple!!!

 

I loved this bridal party for being so much fun despite it being a bit chilly!

 

You can’t tell the girls were freezing, they were troopers!

 

The guys were a bit more prepared for the weather but some were in awe of Lake Erie (having never seen it before) so I went with the “looking off into the distance” look to allow them some time to gaze at the lake.

 

Sometimes the traditional pictures are my favorites and this one is a definite favorite from the day!

 

Oh the sky… the sky!  It may have been windy and a bit cold but oh the sky was worth this shot!

 

Then the sun came out right on cue to illuminate Erica and Aaron and left the dramatic sky behind them.  FAVORITE!

 

This cake was GORGEOUS and delicious as well!

 

The table settings were perfect and I loved how the various shades of purple were carried throughout the room (and the uplighting!!! WOO!).

 

So often I hear the DJ’s telling the couple and bridal party that their entrance sets the mood for the night.  Erica and Aaron’s entrance certainly set the mood for a fun, upbeat evening!

 

Their first dance started out slow and sweet…

 

Then they busted out into some hip hop moves that got the crowd ROARING!

 

I love almost all of my first dances I get to photograph but I have to admit, I’m pretty partial to just how fabulous this one was!

 

To see the video of the entire perfection of this, hit up Heidi’s blog!

 

After the dancing it was time to slow it down a bit and do some toasting to the wonderful bride and groom.  First the girls were up – notice how their dresses changed looks from the ceremony to reception?  LOVE!

 

The guys followed the girls and did just as good of a job (but didn’t get the nifty wardrobe change!).

 

Before I left for the night I got a chance to play with the rings resulting in my favorite ring shot until this point.  I’m still in love with this shot nearly 2 months later.  I told you, I have a blinky light obsession!

 

Erica & Aaron, thank you SO much for trusting me with your day.  You two were super fun and I miss looking forward to shooting your day!  core

4 comments
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  • AndreaOctober 19, 2010 - 5:19 AM

    There are so many things I love about ts wedding! The sky and the sun and her shoes and the ring shot and the bridesmaids changing dresses and the cake and…. and…. and…..

    Perfect!ReplyCancel

  • ValerieOctober 20, 2010 - 1:57 PM

    GORGEOUS.COM!!!ReplyCancel

  • - Corey Ann PhotographyFebruary 20, 2012 - 11:56 AM

    […] it was for Svetlana and Sandor, Codi and Joe, Jillian and Kevin, Jennifer and Todd, Erin and Tony, Erica and Aaron and Colleen and Marshall (I’m sure I’m forgetting […]ReplyCancel

  • Erica ParkerMay 9, 2013 - 1:42 AM

    Can’t believe it has been almost 3 years. ReplyCancel