Hsin-Ying + Mike: A Garden Wedding at Brantwyn Estate

Let me first say that Brantwyn Estate in Wilmington, Delaware is beautiful. It is located on the grounds of the DuPont Country Club. This mansion is so well maintained and the grounds are drool-worthy with lush landscaping and bursts of color everywhere.



Now onto my couple, Hsin-Ying and Mike. They met at UC Davis in 2002 and their relationship has obviously flourished since. If they were burnt out from their massive celebration in Taiwan last fall or their city hall ceremony in California, I certainly couldn't tell. This multicultural wedding was beautiful and so much fun.

Hsin-Ying, her crew, and dress with no less than 5 feet of train (no joke) hid away in the bridal suite as the guests filtered into the beautiful garden on the side of the mansion.





The light was gorgeous as her father walked Hsin-Ying down through the brick and down the asile.




The ceremony was both funny and touching, interspersed with readings from family.




We quickly rounded up the family for the formals before we lost the great light but not without everyone catching a snapshot or ten…


As the sun was setting I had a few minutes to spend with the newlyweds in the gardens and I'm so glad I did.


(And this was with the train bustled!)

The reception began with lovely toasts and even some classical Asian melodies sung by Hsin-Ying's mother and accompanied by a strings and a keyboard.


Guests were treated to pasta, salad, and carving stations as well as passed hors d'œuvres, cheeses, and fresh vegetables. Dining room centerpieces were small picture cards of Hsin-Ying and Mike from a photosession in Taiwan and large bowls of floating peonies. Meanwhile, a slideshow of their other wedding festivities played in the study.





Hsin-Ying and Mike worked the crowd during their choreographed first dance to Bocelli's "Cuando Me Enamoro".


Check out the front and back of the estate. I'm not lying when I tell you this place was beautiful.



And I can't forget to mention the ring bearers…


Hsin-Ying changed from her fairy tale white gown into a graceful eggplant-colored cheongsam with black lace accents and a see-through back. It looked perfect on her. She returned to the party for more speeches and a dancefloor kept hopping by John from Tom Barrett DJs.



Hsin-Ying and Mike, thank you so much for letting me be a part of your day. Many happy wishes from this coast to yours and all around the world.

Cuando me enamoro
Doy toda mi vida
A quién se enamora de mí
Y no existe nadie
Que pueda alejarme
De lo que yo siento por tí
~Andrea Bocelli, "Cuando Me Enamoro"

[The Fab Bride] features Stacy + Mike

Go check out The Fab Bride right now. They posted even more images from Mike & Stacy's elegant Wedding at Stotesbury Mansion last month. It's an awesome blog for all you Philly brides – it highlights tons of Philly-centric real weddings and plenty of wedding ideas. I am honored to have been asked to be a part of this awesome blog!

[teaser] Michelle + Alastair's big day

I got to head up to Ithaca, NY to photograph Michelle & Alastair's rainy day wedding at the picturesque Cayuga Nature Center. Here's a teaser from their big day.

Happy father's day!

Happy father's day, Dad!

I love you.

I miss you.

Your little girl,
Lindsay

"Any man can be a father but it takes someone special to be a dad."
~Anne Geddes

Ailene + Jason's e-session

I couldn't have asked for better light for Ailene and Jason's e-session. It was breathtaking. It was magical. It was golden. It was Perfect. (That's right, capital P.)

We met on a warm summer evening at Valley Forge National Park in King of Prussia for some engagement pictures that are sure to thrill. Valley Forge Park was meaningful to them because they often ride their motorcycle all around the park together.

Ailene is this sweet little thing – full of smiles and absolutely bright and beautiful in her white sundress. Jason plays it cool but his face lights up and he just grins when Ailene eggs him on. It's fantastic. They met at a funeral of all places and the rest is history. He proposed last June while out on a canoe. Two days before he came up with the idea of planting the ring inside an old fishing tackle box that they "found".

We mostly shot around Washington's Headquarters – making use of the clover, light, and stonework.



We made friends with some local creatures (but stayed away from snakes – Jason's not such a fan).





They indulged my futile efforts to explore each of the buildings and we actually figured out which was Washington's Headquarters (the big one).



Towards the end we moved up to the arch.



There was a perfect group of trees nearby too. We ended our time still basking in golden hour. It was glorious!




Ailene & Jason, I can't wait for your wedding later this year at the Joseph Ambler Inn. You made great models and I couldn't be happier with the pics. See what you can do about calling in this kind of weather in November, okay?

"One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life. That word is love."
~ Sophocles

Emily + Chris' e-session

Emily and Chris are awesome. As I wrote before in the teaser post, these two are 100% goofy, 100% fun, and 100% in love. You'd better believe 300% means awesome.

They live in the outskirts of DC and came up to spend time with friends and family and to have a fun romp around the Philadelphia Museum of Art for engagement pictures.

When you're around the Art Museum, where is the first place to photograph? The steps, of course!




And on a hot summer day there was no resisting the fountain just screaming for them to come in and play.


I LOVE how Emily just nuzzles up into Chris. Totally smitten.


Emily and Chris love the water. Chris proposed to Emily at a bayfront restaurant in front of all of their friends (she consequently tackled him with a "yes!" and he made her take the ring for fear that his shaking hands would drop it into the water). So it was important that we have a little agua in the background of some of the pictures. Philly's got the Schuylkill.

We moseyed around the Water Works restaurant and gazebos.



So they might not be classically trained ballerinas, but they've got moves.


We walked around to Boathouse Row as well and made friends (enemies?) with the geese.


We frolicked around in the Azalea Garden on Kelly Drive. Don't let Chris' tough Navy exterior fool you for one second – this guy can frolic and goof off with the best of them. Something tells me Emily brings it out of him.



We ended our session basking in gorgeous light and clover.


Emily and Chris, I hope you had as much fun as I did! Can't wait to hear more about your Tarrytown, NY weddings plans for next year!

"Love is being stupid together."
~Paul Valery