Second Shooting A Fall Wedding | The Grayson House in Uniontown, PA

There is one last wedding that I photographed in 2020 that I haven’t blogged about yet – and this one has two really great stories attached to it!

Okay, so first off: this is a wedding that I second-shot for my sweet friend Jess of Jessica Fike Photography down at Deep Creek Lake, MD. It’s kind of a crazy story of how it all went down – but in 2020 I ended up helping her with two weddings, two weekends in a row, and both were at the same location! How wild is that? It was a lot of fun to be at The Grayson House two weekends in a row (and on two totally different days – it’s so crazy how quickly the weather can change in October!)

Anyways – crazy story number one: 3 days before I shot this particular wedding with Jess, I had a meeting with a sweet couple who had unfortunately lost their photographer for their upcoming wedding. This couple had actually originally reached out to Jess – who had referred this couple on to me – as she was booked on their date. (Are you still following me?)
As we chatted on the phone & they told me their story, they said that friends of theirs were getting married that coming weekend & were the ones who had referred them originally to Jess. I was like, “Oh my gosh – wait, is Jess shooting their wedding?” And they said, “Yes!” and I literally jumped out of my skin (and probably screamed just a little bit): “OMIGOSH, I’m helping Jess this weekend – I will be at your friends wedding too!”

So, it was absolutely crazy – but I got to meet sweet Haley & Travis, in person, at Dennis & Kelly’s wedding. (And yes, I went on to photograph their wedding just 6 weeks later!)

Ready for crazy story number two? Okay, you’ll have to scroll down a bit, as the story needs some photo-context.

SO, as we left the bridal suite at The Grayson House (it’s called June’s Cottage & it’s such a fun little house to get ready in!) to head over to the church, Jess says to me: “Okay, here’s the deal. I need you to do me a HUGE favor.” I nodded along, I was game to do anything!
“The bride specifically asked me to capture ONE photo during her ceremony & I’m going to have you take it.” (No pressure, right?) “I’m sure you’ve seen the photo on Pinterest, it’s super popular, of the bride & groom’s first kiss – but it’s taken from the point of view of the officiant – with the couple’s friends & family in the background?” I nodded my head, “Yep, I’ve seen that photo.” “Well, Kelly wants that photo.”
Enter a state of pure panic.
Jess went on to explain that she had talked to Kelly & explained: That Pinterest photo is taken in a SUPER controlled & unique environment (and more than likely, it isn’t actually a couple’s first kiss). There is so much to that photo that makes it so “perfect” – which also makes it nearly impossible to replicate. PLUS, 95% of the ceremonies that we photograph in churches have strict rules about where the photographer can & can’t go. (And, spoiler alert: walking up onto the altar with the bride & groom is a HUGE “no-no”). So, Jess explained all of this to Kelly, and yet Kelly still had her heart set on this photo, so they came up with a plan.
They talked to the Pastor of the church (because if he said “no way”, it was an easy no-go), and after explaining what Kelly wanted – he happily agreed to make it happen for her.

Which brings us to the wedding day & Jess telling me that I would be responsible for taking this photo. No pressure, right? I was more nervous to take this one photo than probably any other photo I’ve ever taken!

And here it is! It turned out to be a really sweet photo & I love it, but WOW was it terrifying to take!

While Jess was shooting portraits, she sent me into The Grayson House to shoot the reception decor & details – it’s such a beautiful setting for a wedding! And I loved to see how different it was set up over the week before!

And look who I found!! Haley & Travis! When I talked to them on the phone I told them: “You guys have to come find me & say hello! I won’t know who you are, but you’ll be able to tell who I am – so pleas say hi!” And they did! It was so fun to meet them in person before their wedding!

This wedding was photographed by Jessica Fike Photography, with Kara Abbey Photography acting as her second shooter. The reception was held at The Grayson House in Uniontown, PA.