West Virginia Wedding Photography

West Virginia Wedding Photography at the Clay Center in Charleston:

bride and groom kiss on the steps of the west virginia capitol building West Virginia Wedding Photography

While most of my work is in the Pittsburgh area, I always enjoy traveling to new destinations and photographing weddings at new locations. The challenge is that the wedding day is often the first time that I meet the bride and groom in person. Telephone calls and technology like Skype make it easier to communicate, but there’s nothing like a good, old face-to-face meeting to get to know someone.

So it was with Sara and Adam. Everyone was so excited for the day that it only took a couple of minutes and we were all getting along like old friends. The wedding ceremony was at B’nai Jacob Synagogue and the reception at the Clay Center.

Getting Ready

Adam’s sisters Lindsay and Bari kept the mood light as the girls got ready.

bridesmaids sing and dance while the bridal party has their hair and makeup done West Virginia Wedding Photography

Sara enjoyed the act.

bride smiles as a makeup artist applies mascara to her West Virginia Wedding Photography

Adam and his friends relaxed before getting ready for the wedding (Lisa’s photo).

groom and his best man play cards and drink beer before the wedding West Virginia Wedding Photography

Sara faced east as she said her prayers. It was a beautiful, quiet moment of faith prior before the busyness of the rest of the wedding day.

a bride reads from a prayer book before her wedding West Virginia Wedding Photography

Sara and her bridesmaids Joey and Nicole sing on the way to the synagogue.

bride and her bridesmaids sing and hold hands in a van on the way to her wedding ceremony West Virginia Wedding Photography

Adam’s guys made sure he was looking good (Lisa’s photo).

groomsmen help a groom get his jacket on West Virginia Wedding Photography

Sara’s maid of honor Jessie is overcome with emotion as she sees Sara in her wedding gown.

a bridesmaid tears up when seeing her friend in her bridal gown West Virginia Wedding Photography

Sara and her mom Janet share a moment prior to the wedding.

mother of the bride caresses her daughter prior to the wedding West Virginia Wedding Photography

The Bedeken

Adam and the men danced together (Lisa’s photos).

groom and a rabbi dance before the wedding West Virginia Wedding Photographyjewish men dance with the groom prior to the wedding ceremony West Virginia Wedding Photographya groom makes his way to the bedeken to see his bride West Virginia Wedding Photography

Sara beams as she sees Adam enter the room for the Bedeken.

a bride smiles and laughs as she sees her groom as he enters the room for the bedeken West Virginia Wedding Photographybride and groom share a few words of love during the badeken West Virginia Wedding Photographya groom pulls the veil over his bride's head during the badeken West Virginia Wedding Photography

It was a small room, filled to capacity with people. Lisa found this angle of Sara after Adam placed the veil over her face.

closeup photo of a bride with her veil West Virginia Wedding Photography

More dancing!

The groom dances with other men during the bade ken prior to signing the Ketuba West Virginia Wedding Photography

The Ceremony

Nicole and Bari really love their brother. It was beautiful to see them together.

a groom's sisters show their love and affection for him before his wedding ceremony West Virginia Wedding Photography

Adam and his mom.

groom and his mother share a moment of love before his wedding ceremony West Virginia Wedding Photography

Sara walks down the aisle with her parents Janet and Michael.

a bride is walked down the aisle at a synagogue by her mother and father during her wedding ceremony West Virginia Wedding Photography

Sara circled Adam seven times before they walked to the chuppah. Watching Adam, it was obvious that this was a sacred moment for him (Lisa’s photo)

groom looks up to God as his bride circles him seven times West Virginia Wedding Photographybride and groom under the chuppah for their wedding ceremony West Virginia Wedding Photographythe groom places a ring on the right forefinger of his bride West Virginia Wedding Photography

The love that Sara and Adam showed when they walked out after the ceremony was so wonderful to see. This is one of my favorite photos of the day.

bride and groom exit the wedding ceremony deeply in love West Virginia Wedding Photography

Going Off Script for Portaits

There was no time in the schedule for portraits besides the formals at the synagogue. So it required a bit of planning to have one of the shuttles stop at the West Virginia State Capital for a brief photo session. I’m glad we did because we were able to get some really lovely photos in just that short bit of time:

bride and groom in front of the West Virginia State Capital West Virginia Wedding Photography

Decor and Details at the Clay Center

Details from the wedding day. B.Belle Events did an amazing job with the decor.

detail photos from a wedding at the Clay Center in Charleston WV West Virginia Wedding Photography

Reception

First dance.

Bride and groom during their first dance West Virginia Wedding Photographybride and groom dance close to one another during their wedding reception West Virginia Wedding Photography

I love the Hora!

bride dances in a circle with other women during the hora West Virginia Wedding Photography

That terrazzo floor made for a great view of the action from above (Lisa’s photo).

groom dances with men during the hora West Virginia Wedding Photography

The couple is raised on chairs.

bride and groom on chairs during the hora West Virginia Wedding Photographygroom's parents are lifted on chairs during the hora West Virginia Wedding Photography

Janet’s reaction is priceless!

bride's mother is shocked as she is lifted on chairs during the hora West Virginia Wedding Photographybride dancing with her friends during her wedding reception West Virginia Wedding Photography

Adam’s family had a great time! (Lisa’s photo)

groom's family dancing together during the wedding reception West Virginia Wedding Photography

bride embraces her parents during her wedding reception West Virginia Wedding Photographybride and groom dance during their wedding reception West Virginia Wedding Photographybride and groom dancing during their wedding reception West Virginia Wedding Photography

Sara and Adam share a quiet moment at the end of the night as they watch their guests enjoy themselves.

bride and groom during a quiet moment watching their guests dance at their wedding reception West Virginia Wedding Photography

This bit of West Virginia Wedding photography in Charleston, WV was a great adventure. Here’s another beautiful Jewish wedding that you’ll enjoy looking at: Alisa and Jonah