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Modest-Glam Wilbur Mansion Wedding in Lehigh Valley | PA Wedding Photographer

This Wilbur Mansion wedding could not have been more perfect and picturesque for two longtime sweethearts. Journeying through the previous year with Andrew and Rachel has been a true privilege. From photographing the moment Rachel said “yes” to Andrew’s proposal at National Cathedral, to their picture-perfect snowy engagement session at the DAR Headquarters, to a warm rehearsal dinner at Hotel Bethlehem (more to come on that in a later ENP Journal post). Now I cannot wait to share highlights from their wedding day in Lehigh Valley, PA!

Andrew & Rachel’s Love Story

As sweet as any love story could be, Andrew & Rachel are longtime childhood friends. They attended the same elementary school, where Rachel first developed a crush on Andrew (unbeknownst to him)! But it wasn’t until 2020, after years of casual, occasional connecting on social media, that Andrew reached out and eventually shared his feelings for her. The plot twist – she was a taken woman at the time!

Remaining friends, Rachel’s previous relationship ended and they once again connected and began officially dating in the summer of 2021. Their relationship endured long distance as Rachel moved to DC and family tragedies with the loss of Rachel’s father. Andrew’s love was steadfast and his remote job allowed for extended visits to keep growing their love together. Finally, on November 5, 2023, Andrew proposed to Rachel at the National Cathedral, a milestone in their relationship I had the honor of preserving as their photographer!

Returning to Lehigh Valley, PA for a Wilbur Mansion Wedding

Now Andrew & Rachel are preparing to move into their new home together in Arlington, VA. But they returned to the setting their connection first started – the Lehigh Valley – to seal their commitment to one another. I first arrived at the Bethlehem Hotel to photograph their Rehearsal Dinner and “Night Before” portraits. Befitting this childhood friendship-turned-marriage, the warmth and love between their dinner guests was palpable.

By the next morning, that buzz of energy and excitement was still riding high. Andrew & Rachel both got ready at Wilbur Mansion, their wedding reception venue. The mansion was a perfect setting for their wedding day design, blending traditional, steeltown manor charm with minimalist, mid-century modern decor.

A Touching Packer Memorial Church Wedding Ceremony

After a sweet first look with her bridesmaids, we all headed to their ceremony at Lehigh University’s Packer Memorial Church. The ornate cathedral sat in stunning glory against Pennsylvania’s peak fall foliage. There, Andrew & Rachel shared their personal vows before their friends and family, committing their relationship to the Lord.

We couldn’t help but use the gorgeous fall backdrop at the church for their family formals and bridal party portraits! Of course we had to stay behind a tad longer for their newlywed portraits, as well. The glow on both their faces was so fun to capture in the vibrant, sunlit colors surrounding them.

Wilbur Mansion Wedding Cocktail Hour & Reception

Returning to Wilbur Mansion, we continued with a few more portraits before sending the couple off to their cocktail hour. They were welcomed by their guests and were able to spend time greeting each one before beginning their reception dinner.

After dancing into the reception space, everyone settled at their tables with salad to hear from the couple’s friends and Rachel’s mom for toasts. Admittedly, Rachel’s mom’s toast had me tearing up. Maybe that’s because I’m now a mom to a baby girl. But she so beautifully made tribute to Rachel & Andrew’s story.

One touching moment I’ll always remember was when Rachel was surprised by an additional toast. Her best friend Lana, who was originally to serve as maid of honor but could not make the wedding, recorded a toast speech for Rachel. It was watched on an iPad while guests got to listen through the speakers as Lana shared her love for Rachel and her new marriage to Andrew. There were few dry eyes in the room.

In Andrew & Rachel’s Words…

In the spirit of my mission to magnify the beauty of marriage, I always love asking couples what it is that they love most about one another. Emily Nicole Photography best serves couples seeking to build beautiful marriages. That is so often done through the little mundane moments that remind you why you love each other. So, in Andrew & Rachel’s own words, here is how they answered.

What Rachel loves about Andrew: “It is so hard to say what I love most. Andrew is truly the best person I know. He is so selfless. He puts others first in every single scenario. I love how much he loves and takes care of his family, and does the same for me.”

What Andrew loves about Rachel: “I love Rachel’s sense of humor. We laugh so much in our relationship and just have some much fun teasing one another.”

What do you value most about your relationship?

“We value the unwavering commitment we have one another, and the friendship and love we have in one another.”

What is the most beautiful thing about marriage, in your opinion?

“The most beautiful thing about marriage is its representation of Christ’s love for His church, and its life long commitment.”

Congratulations, Andrew& Rachel, and to your families as well. I wish you both such a beautiful married life ahead. May it be filled with wonderful adventures, gracious blessings, and plenty of new restaurants to visit together. 😉

Vendor Shoutouts

I was honored to work alongside a vendor dream team, consisting of the following talent:

Planning & Coordination: Ariel & Rebecca of Ariel Ashton Events
Venue(s): Packer Memorial Church (ceremony); Wilbur Mansion (reception)
Videography: Little Kings Media
Invitations/Stationery: Designs by Allison Rene
Floral Design: Orinthea House of Flowers
Bride’s Dress: Antonio Gual, purchased at Love Couture (Potomac)
Groom/Groomsmen Attire: Men’s Warehouse
Bridesmaid Attire: Jenny Yoo, purchased at Bella Bridesmaids
Hair: Eileen Hale from Salon Sonder
Makeup: Dew Harbor Beauty
Cake Design: C upcakes2Cake
Catering: W ilbur Mansion
Live Music: Elysium Quartet
DJ/Entertainment: Sonic Entertainment
Transportation: Lazer Limo

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A Low Country-Inspired Hilton Head Island Wedding | Hilton Head Island Wedding Photographer

When Taylor reached out about having me photograph her Hilton Head Island wedding, I could hardly believe it. Since marrying my husband, I’ve enjoyed annual trips to Hilton Head with my in-laws, who have been visiting for years. I’m not much of a beach person (love my lake life!) but the beauty of the low country made this a top bucket list place for photographing a future wedding. Kolby & Taylor made that a dream come true, as they lived their own dream day! On September 14 at the Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort, Kolby & Taylor tied the knot – and I got to be a Hilton Head Island wedding photographer.

A Hilton Head Island Engagement

Kolby and Taylor met while they were in their respective professional programs. Kolby was attending Duke University for Physical Therapy. Taylor was attending law school at UNC Chapel Hill. They connected pre-Covid, stayed in contact all throughout, and finally met in person when they each returned to campus in August of 2020.

As a couple, they made a habit of exercising together every morning, taking walks and runs to talk about life and their goals. They also love visiting Hilton Head Island, where Taylor’s family lives. The beach is their happy place, where they both enjoy the sunshine and relaxation time. Kolby will listen to a podcast, and Taylor will read her books. They also like to play Spikeball, chat about life, and enjoy the water.

Fast forward a couple years. Kolby and Taylor would travel to spend a lot of time in Hilton Head, where Taylor’s family lives. After what Taylor thought was just a normal weekend visit, they went out to dinner, and her whole family decided to take a walk through a nice park on the water. While posing for pictures, Kolby got down on one knee! That park has now become a special place on the island for the two of them.

Their Hilton Head Island Wedding Day

Their wedding day was a source of some slight anxiety that week. Kevin and I decided to take a week to visit Hilton Head. We celebrated our second anniversary on the island. But the entire week, the weather was not kind to us. It was rainy, chilly, humid, and very few hours of actual sun the entire week. The forecast threatened much of the same miserable wedding for Kolby and Taylor’s big day.

To be clear: RAIN ON A WEDDING DAY IS OK. It’s unavoidable, and you can still get GORGEOUS images on a rainy day. I have plenty of proof of that from Zach & Camille’s wedding, Mary & Joey’s wedding, Kevin & Emma’s wedding, and so many more! My own wedding day still stands as the rainiest wedding I have ever attended, and I LOVE my wedding photos.

But I knew rain would add certain challenges based on their chosen Hilton Head Island wedding venues. Their ceremony was set for the beach at the Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort. I selfishly wished, for the sake of my photos (and for Kolby & Taylor’s experience), that the sun would peek out even if just for the ceremony.

The Lord heard our prayers, because the entire day was fantastic weather!! Our only challenge was the intense wind on the beach, but even that couldn’t affect how beautiful the ceremony was. I shot quickly and took many photos of each shot to ensure we had at least one good option despite windswept hair and dresses.

Between the glorious, glowy sunlight and the wind, their portraits on the beach turned out to be so epic! Taylor’s dress flew dramatically in many of the shots. And her hair and makeup artist deserves a round of applause. Her updo survived and looked gorgeous even as the wind took the wispy pieces left out.

Highlights of the Day

There was so much to love about this wedding. On a personal note, it was my first wedding back in the saddle after giving birth to my daughter! (Birth story soon to come!) Despite worries of feeling a little rusty with postpartum brain fog, I’m feeling bold enough to say this was my favorite/best work yet! Here are some highlights you’ll want to seek out as you scroll:

A Dreamy Tower

Shoutout to Taylor’s friend and bridesmaid Jordan for showing me the tower room at Gull Island Manor, a short-term rental house in Sea Pines! I never would’ve known to wander up there, but it ended up being the dreamiest spot for details and Taylor’s getting ready photos! That light – *chef’s kiss*!

Lean Supplies And A Broken Ring Dish

For the couple’s wedding day details, I really didn’t bring a ton with me from my usually packed styling kit. We had to travel light to fit the essentials. What’s more, my favorite ring dish snapped in half when I dropped it going up the stone steps to the manor!

It was time to get creative. I actually ended up loving the look of my broken ring dish and decided to use it! I also found some dead palm foliage on the outer landscaping to feature in the flat lay of details. Paired with a wisp of Spanish moss, what once was a lean styling kit soon became true-to-location details that made the photos sing “Hilton Head Island wedding.” This just goes to show: Less is more. The less I have to work with in preparation for styling details has sometimes led to my most creative work!

A Touching Island Wedding Ceremony at the Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort

Despite the crazy wind, we were all so grateful for beautiful sunlight during Kolby & Taylor’s wedding ceremony at the Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort. Kolby & Taylor opted out of having a First Look, so I was dead set on getting Kolby’s reaction to seeing his beautiful bride. What I captured was one of the sweetest Groom reactions – instant happy tears as she came down from the dunes.

Another standout moment from their ceremony happened toward the end. Kolby’s dad officiated the ceremony. After a beautiful exchanging of the rings, and just before inviting the first kiss, he began choking up as he pronounced them husband and wife. It was so profound coming from a father (and now father-in-law). You could hear the soft “aww” reactions from the guests. That was such an emotional, happy moment!

Experience > Tradition

Kolby & Taylor planned a truly personal and intimate wedding reception at Gull Island Manor. It more so mimicked a dinner party than wedding reception. They hosted a warm cocktail hour with an open bar featuring their signature cocktails. Guests could explore the grounds while enjoying appetizers and getting their photo taken by the live painter commissioned to watercolor their portrait for a unique take-home gift.

When dinner was ready to start, guests descended to the lower tier of the garden overlooking the marsh. There, a long singular table was set with cheesecloth, candle sticks, place settings, and customized name plates made out of oyster shells.

The couple came down last, but there was no planned fanfare. They decided to forego the traditional dances and simply welcome guests to a laid back dinner serenaded by live musicians. This allowed the couple plenty of time to mingle with each guest and create special memories with the entire party, including a surprise visit from Keebler their dog. I absolutely loved this approach to a wedding celebration – and I could tell everyone else did too!

Final Thoughts From Kolby & Taylor’s Hilton Head Island Wedding

I’m so honored to have served as Kolby & Taylor’s wedding photographer. The entire experience was a dream for me – one that I hope opens the opportunity for even more chances to expand as an HHI wedding photographer. Their warmth and friendship was extended to me from the start, and their guests and family were a true delight to spend the day with.

I’ve begun asking couples to share what they love most about one another, and what excites them for marriage. Here’s how they answered.

What Taylor Loves Most About Kolby

“I love how devoted Kolby is to our little family. He is the most selfless person I know and would do anything to make things easier on others. He supports me emotionally and has the utmost patience when it comes to helping me navigate stressful situations, and he would do literally anything for our dog Keebler. Keebler gets to go to the dog park, walks, gets bones, pup cups, everything! He’s so spoiled because Kolby likes to take such good care of him.”

What Kolby Loves Most About Taylor

“I love how much Taylor guides and anchors me in our life. I am a very good-with-the-flow person which helps me stay optimistic and positive. However, I struggle sometimes with direction and focus because of this. Taylor has given me so much purpose in life and given me the direction for how I want my life to go. She is so ambitious and helps me make goals for ourselves that I would’ve never thought possible. Even in the few years I’ve known her, she’s helped me achieve goals and see a future I would’ve never thought possible for myself and for us.”

The Most Beautiful Thing About Marriage: According to Kolby & Taylor

“The most beautiful thing about marriage in my eyes is the commitment to stand by your partner no matter what life brings. My parents have had a long marriage and I admire the way that they’ve stuck by each other through every challenge. It’s easy to walk away from something when things become difficult but marriage is the commitment to another person to instead engage with them and work through the issues instead of walking away. In my eyes, marriage is beautiful because its permanent.”

K&T, I wish you both so much happiness in your marriage. Enjoy your honeymoon in Europe!!

If you love my work and you’re considering getting married in Hilton Head Island, or another destination in the southern East Coast, I would love to chat! I am based in the DC area but travel often for weddings. Contact me for more information!