Being a wedding photographer, there's perks.
The main one, building connections, relationships, friendships that you never would have thought!
The second one, is getting to see all the different, beautiful, amazingly gorgeous venues your clients choose for their wedding day.
The amount of venue selection is insane, in a good way.
There was one specific venue that I had a jaw dropping experience with this past weekend on June 7th, and that one is going to be in this top 5!
Before we start let me just say, all of my clients venues are absolutely stunning and I love each and everyone of my clients styles! If your specific venue is not in my line up, please don't be offended, as it might be in the next one (wink-wink).
Shall we get started?
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#5: Sweet Arrow Lake
108 Clubhouse Rd, Pine Grove PA, 17963
If you're looking for a ceremony that is outside, with natural pews, a stunning view of water behind the bride and groom getting married; this is the place. Hands down.
When you get to the clubhouse, it has a long stone path down to the corner of the lake. You can have an arbor overtop of you if you'd like, or just allow the scenery to do its job, which it absolutely will. The guests will have ample amount of room to sit as there is a lot of pews!
It is downhill a bit and curved a lot more than wanted, the aisle, but it doesn't stop the beauty of a bride walking down it.
The lake as a little area with rock and sand that taking photos by after the ceremony is the vibe. You get the details of the pine trees behind the couple. along with the lake and the big rocks in the photo as well - use the rocks as props (duh)!
The clubhouse is a decent size as well and a massive front porch where you can go outside to just breathe for a second. The other best part is that the food doesn't have to be in the same room as the guests during the reception, there is a back room that is super quaint and you can have tables lined up around the room and have the food placed in their too avoid losing any seating space. A kitchen is also accessible as well, which allows your cook or anyone to use it if needed!
There is windows that line the clubhouse which brings in a beautiful evening glow and the bride and groom can have their table in front of the massive fireplace to be able to see everyone and vice versa.
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#4 Susquehanna Valley Country Club
1 Country Club Dr, Selinsgrove PA, 17870
Oh man oh man where do I begin with this venue. It was laid out perfectly. I mean, what country clubs aren't ya know?
This was very, VERY beautiful especially the indoor ceremony area, but the outdoor ceremony area, whewwww... chef's kiss! The mountains that you would be facing and having it as a background for the bride and groom is stunning. During the right season, the mountains are just, perfect for that extra detail.
The indoor ceremony area, is beautiful, the fireplace instead of wood and lighting the wood, they have a chandelier in the fire place. There is a fireplace with a chandelier on either side of the indoor ballroom. It has dark wooden beams on the ceiling to give it texture, and French doors to the left, and then the remaining ball room where tables and carpet are at for eating/reception.
The good part about it being inside is that the ceremony would be right next to the reception rooms (may I not forget there is a full bar!) and the chairs that are in the ceremony ball room area, they're cleaned up so it turns into a massive dance floor.
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#3: Well Wishes Farm
1140 Felton Rd, Red Lion PA, 17356
The Well Wishes Farm is a beautiful farm on land with an old house that is put together very seemingly. The space in the house to be used for getting ready, the ladies get ready downstairs and it gives stunning vibes for getting ready photos. Natural light that comes in through the bay windows and the decor inside the living area fits perfectly if you're looking for a vintage, modern, but subtle style for photos. The upstairs is smaller for the grooms, but the wallpaper in the one front room is the perfect groom style. Then, with the windows being open and the white sheer curtains that are flowing in the breeze, give's it all the aesthetics.
The Barn where you can get married in, I'm not joking when I say it is an absolutely perfect area. There is a top part to the barn where the reception will take place and the downstairs is where the ceremony takes place. The downstairs of the barn is lined up with the original barn doors and windows that open and close.
It has a great amount of room for a decent size of people for the ceremony. For the reception, it's upstairs on the main floor, and there are multiple different ways you can set up your reception hall. The food area can be on the wall by the stairs that lead back downstairs. There is a built in bar as well in the reception area and big beautiful original barn doors that open on both sides of the barn.
Outside, you are met with a gray stone patio and a lounge chairs. Up above, on a steep hill, is a fire pit that is maintained very well, and lounge chairs as well. Another way to get up to the barn, around the back end, is a little pavilion area that you can stop at and take a break from the walk if you need too! Haha, Lord knows I had too.
I think the most amazing part about everything isn't just the barn but the scenic area. Behind the barn is a massive hill, with a wired fence, and a stunningly beautiful field with purple flowers and so much dazzling greenery.
This venue is such a modest but beautiful choice for your wedding day!
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#2: Kings Mansion
2201 N Front St, Harrisburg PA, 17110
This mansion is everything you have thought about growing up as a child. The massive pillars that line the front of the mansion that face out toward the river. The ceiling-to-floor doors that line the front of the mansion also. This mansion is the definition of having an elegant, dazzling, giving the look of generational-wealth status for a great budget too!
As soon as you walk in through the big front doors, you're met with Beauty and the Beast stairs. You know, the stairs that you can so daintly stand on with one hand on the railing and the other holding a clutch of your dress so you look elegant. Yes, those stairs.
The ballroom area has windows that touch the ceiling and they are vintage looking, the entire mansion gives the vintage/modern/wealthy feel. There's lounging areas inside and a built in stunning bar.
Don't get me started not the OUTSIDE ceremonies because WOW. Seriously, just beautiful. Having the bride and groom standing on the stone porch in front of the French doors and big, white pillars, is the way to go. The guests sit on the lawn on either side of the walk way that the bride enters and walks down. The Susquehanna River being behind them. It's a beautiful sight to see, truly.
Kings Mansion is just truly beautiful in its entirety.
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#1: Bubes Brewery
102 N Market St, Mount Joy PA, 17552
When I initially looked up this venue, it didn't give me the good vibes. It actually made me want to cry because there was no good photos I could find of the venue on their website/social media that actually told the story of this insanely stunning venue. So, when I showed up to the venue to not just see the size of it was MASSIVE, but to see the literal elegance of this gigantic brewery/hotel, my mind was in a huge chaotic mind-bending creative lockdown at this place. Every turn I took when I was being escorted to 'The Penthouse', which is where the bride/bridal party was getting ready, my brain was fuming with creative ideas for my bridal portraits and bridal party photos.
There are multiple different rooms with different 'genres' so to say.
The Penthouse has a built in bar, a massive bank lock door basically for the room doors, the bed area is holstered upon above the built in bar, and the bar is huge.
They also have a brewery room with barrels in side which that in itself is beautiful.
The basement is the catacombs and where indoor ceremonies are held and it's absolutely stunning down there! It's pretty dark so photographers - flash is a MUST!
There are 4/5 floors all together and each floor has it's own spectacular taste. The main floor is the food/dining area, the basement is more dining area/barrels/catacombs for dining or wedding/events.
On another one of the floors is another bar room, it's not used other than for events, and in that room off to the side is a taxidermy room which that in itself, is breathtaking.
Outside is a whole other world honestly, There are bamboo trees lined up everywhere. A wooden fence that goes the whole way around, a massive chess board with humongous chess pieces. The chess board turns into the dancing area/entertainment area while the rest of the space is used for tables/seating for people during dinner/reception time.
Overall this place took my breath away, the wedding photos are absolutely stunning and this venue is MAGNIFICENT. I truly don't know where I will reach more of a creative venue at.
So, if you're looking for something that is creative, not your 'typical' venue, fun, vintage - this is your venue.
Stop looking and book them.
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I hope you all loved these ratings and have looked over these venues as all of these venues have truly made me feel beautiful and even more creative as my couples photographer. So thank you, thank you for allowing me to capture these beautiful, scenic, insanely stunning photos for you on your once in a lifetime day.
