June 26, 2019 / Weddings
Alex + Madison's Fantastic Outdoor Wedding in West Virginia
Knowing where to begin with this West Virginia destination wedding is hard. Like, insanely hard. Do we start with the fact that within an hour of being there, Madison and her girls had broken a bed with their shenanigans, or that Alex and his guys are basically the Parkersburg beer champions? Or do we talk about the fact that both of their families are some of the coolest people on the planet? How about the fact that I’ve never seen so many epic Dirty Dancing leaps (and failures) in my life? Or the fact that Alex wins all the husband points for his response to seeing Madison walk down the aisle? All of these things happened, as well as loads of other crazy awesome moments!
West Virginia isn’t too terribly far from Dayton; I headed out on the 3 hour trek early Saturday morning, not really knowing what to expect. But nothing could have prepared me for the epic day that awaited! From the moment I arrived, Madison and her girls greeted me warmly, and immediately felt like one of their crew. Laughter abounded and I found my cheeks hurting from smiling so much with these ladies, which is never a bad thing!
But not to be forgotten, Alex and his guys were equally amazing and hilarious. As we walked to Parkersburg Brewery a few blocks away, again everyone was lighthearted and full of life. It’s such a joy to create on days where everyone is so excited to be present, and both Alex and Madison had loved ones ready to celebrate! Throughout the day they all told me I wasn’t ready for a West Virginia wedding, and I’m pretty sure they were right. I’ve never seen so much fun and such a hilarious group as this crew!
However, not only were they fun, but they truly love one another. Alex + Madison’s wedding ceremony was absolutely stunning, and Alex’s reaction to seeing Madison walk down the aisle to him was an amazing moment. Choosing to have their wedding ceremony overlooking a stunning valley and the Ohio River, their ceremony boasted a jaw-dropping view. Their vows were beautiful, and happy tears abounded from everyone. It was a truly moving moment to see them say, “I do!”
After the ceremony, Madison + Alex enjoyed some moments alone, then we jumped into their portraits! As they wandered their beautiful wedding ceremony site, we created portraits for them, then headed to their reception site at a nearby local park. Under the bistro lights in their tent, they kicked off one of the most amazing parties I’ve been a part of! From karaoke, to Dirty Dancing shenanigans, to shirtless groomsmen, this party was loud, wild, and hilarious: exactly the way a wedding reception should be! The celebration never ended, and we shut the park down with their fantastic party.
Alex + Madison, thank you so much for allowing me to capture your wedding for you! It was such a joy to get to document your day, and I can’t wait to see all the photos from your honeymoon in Thailand! Enjoy your first adventure as Mr. & Mrs., and here’s to many more years of adventures to come!
