McKenzee + Dillon’s wedding day was a long time coming – and after 6 years of tying the knot, they (finally!!) had their celebration last November. From the 70s retro candlelit vibes of their church ceremony, to their custom Dungeons & Dragons cake topper, this was truly their day, and it was incredible to be a part of – along with my dedicated film photographer, Derek!
After a relaxed, laid-back morning of getting ready, McKenzee and Dillon read their vows to one another at Faith Lutheran Church in Florence, PA, where Dillon used to volunteer when they lived in town. The sanctuary was decorated with red + white florals, winter greenery, and dozens of candles – their soft lighting was a perfect cozy touch against the snowy backdrop outside!! The vintage feel of warm wooded + stone accents gave an ethereal yet nostalgic air to their ceremony.
McKenzee was waiting 6 years to finally wear her wedding dress, and the wait was worth it – she looked STUNNING! With gorgeous makeup, a witchy manicure, and some seriously McKenzee platform Mary Janes, she put her own unique twist on what ‘bridal’ can look like. Dillon’s dark blue suit fit the snowy backdrop amazingly, and I think more grooms should take advantage of jewel-tones!!
After family formals, and a moment to decompress, we ventured outside to take some snowy portraits while the rest of the guests headed to the reception. It was so peaceful + quiet outside the church, and McKenzee and Dillon took that time to just enjoy each other’s presence. I always recommend that couples carve out some relaxation/alone time together – ironically, you usually don’t spend a ton of time focused on your spouse on your wedding day, so guaranteeing that time in your timeline is 100% worth it!!!
After arriving to Ace’s Events in Johnstown for their reception, McKenzee wanted to take some night time flash photos around the nearby buildings downtown. I LOVE doing these kinds of photos – if the time of year doesn’t really allow for sunset photos, some night time flash during your reception is a whole vibe and will never not look cool.
At the reception, complete with a Pittsburgh Cookie Table, a HUGE tower of Gobs (basically the Central PA version of a whoopie pie), and sweet personal touches (including cake toppers made of their D&D characters), everyone had an amazing time celebrating this long-awaited moment. Kids and grandmas alike got down on the dance floor to “Hot to Go”, and a Polish dollar dance really got the crowd moving!! We ended the night with a sparkler send-off, coordinated beautifully by the in-house manager and DJ of Ace’s. It’s always a pleasure when I get to meet couples as cool as McKenzee and Dillon, and we yapped about our D&D characters and Baldur’s Gate III until the night was over. See if you can spot the film shots in this gallery!!!
On the hunt for a wedding photographer who will fully embrace your nerdiness? I’d love to talk with you!
- Photographer: Afternoon Media
- Ceremony Venue: Faith Lutheran Church in Florence, PA
- Reception Venue, Decor, + Catering: Ace’s Events
- Florals: K & K Flowers
- DJ: Top Dog Productions
- Dress: Stella York from White Lace Bridal
- Suit: Stych, Inc.
