Fall Wedding at Shady Elms Farm

Fall Wedding at Shady Elms Farm

Shady Elms Farm was a new venue for me and I absolutely loved photographing Meg and James’ fall wedding there!

A bride and groom stand hand in hand outdoors, smiling at the camera. The groom wears a black tuxedo with a bow tie, and the bride wears a white lace dress and veil. Tall green trees are in the background.

Everything about the place is lovely and well thought out. I’m looking forward to working there again in the future.

Getting Ready at the Farm

A triptych showing: teal bridesmaid dresses and a white dress hanging, a rustic wooden Shady Elms Farm sign, and a wedding favor tag with a brooch and teal ribbon on a black background. A collage featuring a wedding dress hanging on a mirror, bridal bouquets and accessories arranged on a wooden table, and a lace curtain beside a plant near a window.

Meg and her girls got ready in the basement of the barn. The space is light and airy with plenty of room to get dressed and even have a sit-down lunch before the wedding.

A bride in a white dress looks at her reflection in a mirror, while in the second photo she poses smiling with five bridesmaids wearing matching blue satin robes in a bright, plant-filled room with white shiplap walls. A bride in a lace wedding dress smiles and gestures, surrounded by joyful women in a bright, cozy room with plants and wooden walls, preparing for the wedding.

The ladies had matching blue dressing gowns. Meg’s mom and sister loved the bracelet she wore as “something borrowed.”

Left: A group of men in formal and casual clothes walk on grass carrying grocery bags and garment bags. Right: A smiling man in glasses and a white shirt holds a suit bag inside a rustic room with mirrors and wooden walls. Two photos: On the left, a man helps another man with cufflinks in a rustic indoor setting. On the right, a man in glasses and a tuxedo smiles as another adjusts his bow tie outdoors.

James and the guys arrived shortly after the ladies. It was a comfortable fall day so they got ready in the carriage house.

A close-up of a vibrant bouquet with orange, red, and pink flowers, green leaves, and white lace wrapped around the stems, decorated with pearls and a blue pin, resting on a green surface.

The beautiful flowers were from Shady Elms Farm’s in-house florist.

A woman in a black dress stands indoors, smiling as she opens a bottle of champagne. The sequence shows her popping the cork, champagne spraying, and holding the bottle, celebrating happily. A bride in a white wedding dress poses with five bridesmaids in black dresses indoors; on the right, the bride smiles holding a bouquet of vibrant flowers.

Meg’s sister popped the champagne then we did a portrait with the ladies in their elegant black dresses and Meg in her wedding gown.

First Look and Portraits

A bride and groom stand together outdoors on a grassy field. The bride wears a lace gown and veil, the groom wears a black suit. They smile, hold hands, and share a joyful moment under trees near a wooden fence.

Meg and James were high school sweethearts. So to see the emotion of the first look was special and beautiful.

A bride in a lace wedding gown and veil stands facing her groom, who is wearing a black tuxedo. They gaze at each other and hold hands outdoors on a grassy hill. Another photo shows them posing and smiling together. A bride and groom stand together by a wooden fence in a grassy field, holding hands and sharing intimate, loving moments on their wedding day. The bride wears a lace dress and veil; the groom is in a black suit.

Next to no posing was needed for the portraits after the first look. Just real moments.

A collage of three wedding photos shows a bride in a white dress and veil embracing and smiling with her groom in a black tuxedo outdoors, surrounded by greenery and wooden fences. A bride in a lace wedding dress holds a vibrant bouquet and poses alone, then stands outdoors smiling at a groom in a black suit. They are surrounded by greenery and rustic fencing.
A bride and groom stand together on a grassy clearing, surrounded by tall, dense pine trees. The couple appears small in the expansive, natural landscape.

I saw this open area surrounded by big fir trees and knew that it’d be a great spot for a portrait!

Fall Wedding Details at Shady Elms Farm

Four images show: the exterior of Shady Elms venue, a decorated dining hall with draped ceilings, a floral-adorned sweetheart table, and a white wedding cake with autumn-themed flowers. A rustic wedding reception setup with a wooden wall displaying Meg & James 10.14.2023, floral centerpieces, teal napkins, and table settings on round tables in a warmly lit room.

The barn interior is rustic while being comfortable. Climate control inside of a barn makes a huge difference. The tables, chairs, linens and flowers were from Shady Elms. The cake from Bethel Bakery.

Five women in black dresses sit around a circular stone table outdoors, filling out papers with red pens. Green grass and people in the background suggest a formal event or gathering.

The bridesmaids filled out their Meg and James bingo cards before the ceremony.

Three photos: a white chair with a floral mason jar and reserved sign, a shaded outdoor seating area with a plant centerpiece, and a rustic welcome station with gifts, foliage, and a wooden backdrop.

Little details like flowers on the chairs and tables at the ceremony site make a big difference.

Wedding Ceremony

A split image: On the left, a groom in glasses and a tuxedo smiles while waiting. On the right, a bride in a white gown walks arm-in-arm with her father down the aisle, surrounded by seated wedding guests. A bride smiles as her father kisses her on the head, holding her bouquet of colorful flowers. The groom stands nearby, smiling. Guests watch the moment during an outdoor wedding ceremony.

Meg’s dad gives his daughter a kiss after escorting her to the front of the pavilion for the wedding ceremony.

A bride and groom exchange vows outdoors, surrounded by bridesmaids in black dresses holding colorful bouquets. The groom places a ring on the bride’s finger under a canopy with greenery around them. A split image shows wedding guests seated and wiping away tears on the left, while on the right, a bride in a veil wipes her eyes as she stands with the groom during the wedding ceremony.

There was a lot of emotion and many touching moments during the ceremony.

A couple stands at the altar under a canopy, exchanging vows at an outdoor wedding ceremony. Bridesmaids and groomsmen line both sides, while guests watch from seated rows. Tall trees and sunlight create a natural, scenic backdrop.

A beautiful place to exchange vows.

A bride and groom kiss at the end of the aisle during an outdoor wedding ceremony as guests on both sides stand, clap, and smile. White flower petals are scattered along the aisle.

You’ve got to be ready at all times for a kiss!

A bride and groom walk hand-in-hand down an outdoor aisle lined with guests, white chairs, and scattered flower petals. The bride wears a white gown and veil, and the groom is in a black suit with a bow tie. A woman in a black dress gently touches the face of a bride in a white dress and veil. Both hold bouquets and are outside on a sunny day, with trees and a building in the background. Two photos: On the left, bridesmaids and groomsmen in black formalwear laugh and hold paper programs outdoors. On the right, bridesmaids and a bride in a white dress celebrate together, holding colorful flower bouquets.

Happiness after the ceremony!

Post Ceremony

A wedding party poses in front of a rustic white wooden barn. The group is dressed formally, with the bride and groom in the center surrounded by bridesmaids and groomsmen, all smiling on a sunny day.

The bridal party.

A dessert table with various treats is set up against a wooden wall. Next to it, a groom in a suit feeds a piece of dessert to his bride in a wedding dress. Both appear happy and smiling.

Meg and James had a great cookie table. It’s nice when the couple gets a look at things before the guests are let into the reception.

Dinner and Dancing

Four side-by-side photos show a bride and groom at a rustic wedding reception table with autumn decorations, sharing a kiss, laughing, and listening to speeches from guests.

There were some sweet moments during toasts from the best man, maid of honor and the couple’s dads.

A bride and groom dance together at their wedding reception while another couple dances nearby; guests sit watching in a warmly lit rustic hall decorated with drapes and string lights.

Parent’s dances were first.

A bride and groom share an intimate moment, embracing and touching foreheads while dancing together in a warmly lit, rustic wooden room. The bride wears a white dress and veil, and the groom is in a dark suit.

Followed by the couple’s first dance together.

A bride and groom embrace and smile at the center of a large, joyful group of wedding guests dressed in formal attire, all posing happily together indoors on a wooden floor.

We did a big group photo.

A bride in a white lace gown and veil dances joyfully with guests, including a man in a tuxedo, at a lively wedding reception in a rustic wooden venue.

Then it was on to the dance party. Everybody was out there!

Two photos side by side show groups of people dressed formally, laughing and dancing together at an indoor event with warm lighting and hanging string lights. A bride in a white dress and veil smiles widely while dancing with guests at a lively indoor wedding reception. Everyone has their hands raised and looks joyful. Warm lighting and wooden floors create a festive atmosphere. A collage showing: left, a boy in dress clothes dancing energetically; top right, two men dancing, one leaning back dramatically; bottom right, four young women laughing and hugging on a lively dance floor.

A bride and groom share a first dance at their wedding, gazing into each other’s eyes. Other couples dance in the background under warm string lights and a wooden sign with cursive writing.

I knew that I wanted to incorporate the graphic that was projected on the wall into a photo of the couple. I got the opportunity during the anniversary dance. What a wonderful day for a fall wedding at Shady Elms Farm!

Check out another great farm wedding venue in the South Hills of Pittsburgh.