Mr & Mrs Shive
Raymond Paul & Jennifer Shive
Midway Arches - Coatesville, PA
August 2023
Raymond and Jenny’s love story began in a small college town north of Philadelphia, close enough to the city to be fun for the weekends but still slow enough to park your car easily and enjoy the fresh air. We remember taking photos of Raymond & Jenny at a nearby park one chilly morning before they even had engagement on the mind - actually at the same park where we had our engagement photos done. These two are steeped in romance, and they care about each other in a way that is so sweet to witness. They both took each others breath away on their wedding day, and those lucky enough to see them exit the room where they said their private vows the morning of the wedding saw two smiles with an energy that people go lifetimes searching for.
The scene is a temperate August morning that is not too warm, almost inviting people to venture outdoors to share in the anticipation as the couple prepared for their ceremony. The bridesmaids taking their time, carefully getting dressed and wielding their flowers in copper, mauve, and burnt warm tones - with eucalyptus that maintains the brightness of summer while hinting at the upcoming fall. The historic and charming Airbnb would become its own character in the story of their day, and serve as the perfect backdrop for photos and memories on that morning.
A creaky window where light spilled into the living room created a halo around the wedding dress as it was steamed and prepared for its big moment. The dress captured Jenny’s romantic essence and vitality with its puffy but flowing sleeves and smooth but not stuffy fabric. The men wore grey suits, adding to the seasonal ambiguity and timelessness of their wedding.
The ceremony similarly had a nature-forward focus without being outdoorsy; natural light, ferns, and clean white all throughout the hall created space for the romance and love to fill. The decor, food, and music all contributed to the wonder that any onlooker might feel of not being able to tell what decade they had dropped into. Dinner was followed by dessert served by a man who wheeled in a quaint bicycle that could have been straight from Charleston or Nantucket. Upon the wheels was his seemingly endless vat of ice cream, reminding us that it was indeed summer. Once they had shared their scoops and as much dancing as they pleased, the couple departed as the quiet street was lit up by sparklers held out by their guests, whose cheers were reminding the neighborhood to give the couple their best wishes. We can only hope that each and every couple that we work with have as much love as Raymond & Jenny, but know it is a tall order. Thank you for allowing us to share in it for a day.
- Ish + Maya
