(Spoiler alert: this is a long blog post because I have much to say about these lovely families!)

There was no better feeling in the world when I walked into Madi’s hotel room on her wedding day. I was greeted by the brightest smiles and given the warmest hugs. It was incredibly heartwarming to see that Madi and her family were just as excited to see me (and Barry!) as I was to see them.

A little backstory on how I met and have connected with this family…

Rewind almost four years ago, we photographed Madi’s sister, Katie’s, wedding (Hi, Katie and Geoff!) Upon first meeting this family, I remember feeling so welcomed and a part of it all in a different way than how I usually feel when I photograph weddings. In a special way.

Fast forward a few years, and Madi’s sister, Jane, gave me the opportunity to photograph her as she completed the impossibly remarkable feat of running MS Run the US. Jane and I share a love for running, so this opportunity was double the enjoyment for me! And, last year, Jackie (the mother of these lovely sisters) and Katie came to cheer me on for the virtual Pittsburgh Half Marathon! You can see the love that Madi’s family has for one another, and how they spread that love.

I can actually write paragraphs about how much this family means to me, but I want to talk more about Madi, Calvin, and their wedding day!

Madi and Calvin’s day was flooded with sunshine that beamed through clear-blue skies. The entire day flowed beautifully . In addition to their nuptials, the focus was on the meaningful time that Madi and Calvin got to spend with their family and friends. Oh, and also how to rip it up on the dance floor!

I’ve never known a couple to be so laid-back, welcoming, genuine, funny, respectful, and inclusive as this couple is. The same goes for their families. Having just met Calvin’s family, we were showered with warm compliments about how impressed they were with how we photographed the day. Madi and Calvin made it a point to make us feel included in their wedding day, above and beyond photographing it. Before we left the wedding, both Madi and Calvin made sure to say goodbye to us, and also let us know how appreciative they were that we were a part of it all. Madi and Calvin are humble, gracious, and a gem of a couple. How lucky for us to know them and to photograph their special moments!

Madi and Calvin are the couple that every other couple strives to be. Not only for the aforementioned traits, but also because they are up for anything, and every single minute that you experience with them is outright fun. They like to spend time with their families, enjoy tailgating, attend sporting events, heck, Madi even likes to fish! You couldn’t get me to sit for hours on a lake, waiting for a fish to bite, or touch a worm even if you paid me. And, they are creatively clever… you should see the Schitt’s Creek Halloween theme that Madi’s family dressed up to be! Anything that Madi and Calvin do, you want to be a part of.

I am going to curtail my writing or else you’d be reading this blog post for a century. So, without further ado, here are some of the images that tell the story of Madi and Calvin’s wedding day…

Ceremony Venue: St. Paul Cathedral
Entertainment: The Bachelor Boys Band
Florist: The Blue Daisy Floral Designs
Hair and Makeup Artistry: AtHome Beauty
Invitation Provider: Nota Bene Fine Paper
Photographer: Lavender Leigh
Reception Venue: The Pittsburgh Field Club
Videographer: Weekend Projects Studios
Wedding Dress: …and Something Blue Bridal Boutique
Wedding Dress Belt: Clarissa Boutique

It is a match made in heaven when you find someone who not only shares common interests with you, but also shares a love for Dachshunds. When Rebecca first met Kyle and learned that he also owned two Dachshunds, she already knew that he was the one! This is the beginning of the story for this beautiful couple.

Theirs was a beautiful wedding day, chock full of emotion. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a groom as elated as Kyle when he turned around to see Rebecca during their first look. He was all smiles, and without even saying it, you could tell that he felt like the luckiest man in the world to be wed to such a beautiful (on the inside and outside) lady.

Their wedding theme was a nod towards something you would see out of an old Western movie. They had custom “Wanted” signs at the entrance, a Whiskey unity shot during the ceremony (scroll down to see their tiny whiskey barrel), and instead of numbers, they used styles of beer to label each guest’s table. Not to mention the fun signage along the lines of “Prohibition Ends Here!” Clever, creative, fun, and enamored in love with each other. These are just a few words to describe this couple, and set the tone for their wedding day.

Take a look to see what I mean…

Cake: Prantl’s Bakery
Caterer: Chef & Catering
Ceremony Musicians: Stellare Strings
DJ: Loyalty Entertainment– Ryan Mitchell
Venue: Five Pines Barn
Florist: Bobby DiBiase
Hair Artistry: Vybes Studio- Angela
Makeup Artistry: Stand Theory- Tyler
Photographer: Lavender Leigh