I am so SO excited to share this wedding with all of you!! Leanna and Hayden had a beautiful wedding at Leanna’s family farm, Green Valley Farms in Wantage, NJ surrounded by almost 300 of their family and friends! From a tearful first look with her dad to the beautiful music during the ceremony to a rocking dance party at the barn to end the night – every detail of their day was simply perfect.

Earlier this year, I had so much fun with these two during their engagement session at Raymondskill Falls in PA. During the session, they shared details of their love story and described the moment that Hayden proposed during one of Leanna’s visits to see him in Texas. You can read more about the proposal, their relationship, and all the fun we had at the Falls that day on the blog! Leanna and Hayden’s Engagement Session at Raymondskill Falls.

As for the wedding day, Leanna and her bridesmaid prepped for the day at Leanna’s parent’s house which is a beautiful farmhouse on 250 acres in Wantage, NJ. Leanna had so many amazing women surrounding her that morning. Her bridesmaids included all of her sisters, Hayden’s sister, and her closest college friends. Both her mom and Hayden’s mom also joined the prep and they were both a bundle of tears and joy the whole day! It was so sweet to see the two families TRULY come together as one. The energy and excitement that morning with everyone made it such a fun bridal prep.

After Leanna was finished getting ready and in her dress, we did all the bridesmaid pictures on the farm which was SO special! When we finished up the bridesmaid’s photos, it was time for Leanna and her dad to do their first look. AND OH MY GOODNESS, their first look was honestly one of the sweetest moments of the day. Within seconds, her Dad was crying as he looked at his oldest daughter on her wedding day. It was the beginning of a very tearful and joyful afternoon with both families! Her dad joked later that night that he could have mopped the barn with his tears LOL.

While this was happening on the farm, the guys were getting ready at Crystal Springs Resort nearby! I love the photos they got there with the mountains in the back! I just love my town!!

After the prep, everyone headed over to Leanna’s home church, Sussex Christian Reformed Church, where the ceremony was being held. A close family friend and local in the community member, John Kuperus, officiated their wedding. As soon as the doors of the church opened, the tears started flowing from the wedding party, the parents, all the family members, me and everyone else I could lay my eyes on. Hayden especially had tears streaming down his face. I think it was one of my favorite career moments watching Hayden’s lip quiver and tears stream down his face as he anticipated his beautiful bride coming down the aisle. It was so unbelievably sweet and now I’m crying just thinking about it. Leanna was no different, and as she walked towards her husband to be, she cried the entire walk down the aisle, as did her father! When she got to the end of the aisle, she was joined by her mother who was also crying tears of joy and Hayden’s parents who were no different.

As for the ceremony itself, it was absolutely beautiful… especially when everyone sang Amazing Grace together as a congregation. Everyone attending the wedding was so clearly invested in the love between these two and it was amazing to see how many people shared in their emotion and excitement that afternoon. Throughout the ceremony, Hayden and Leanna kept looking at each other smiling and crying all at once. I wish I could put into the words the feeling that I had on their wedding day watching them up at the altar together. Pure bliss and magic are all I can say. It was so special!

After the ceremony, Leanna and Hayden had a receiving line where they greeted all the guests. Then, they jumped into a blue Corvette Stingray for their exit while everyone cheered them off! This is apparently a family tradition and a dang awesome one at that! After a lap around the neighborhood, they returned to the church for family formals. Once we finished the family formals at the church, we headed over to the farm to do wedding party photos, bride and groom portraits, and a few more family formals. The energy of the big wedding party and family made for some amazing photos that afternoon!

We finished with bride and groom portraits during golden hour and they turned out just perfect! Leanna’s family did such an amazing job prepping the farm for the wedding, and this back field was the perfect backdrop for portraits!! After we finished their photos, everyone joined the end of cocktail hour at the barn. While they enjoyed the last bit of the cocktail hour, we photographed all the reception details in the barn. And I’ll say it again because it deserves repeating… Leanna’s family did such an amazing job turning their working farm into a beautiful reception venue. All the details were so unique and personal. There was even a homemade bar at the front of the venue which was really awesome!

When it was time for the actual reception to begin, everyone moved into the barn. All of the first dances were super sweet, especially Leanna’s dance with her Dad to “I Loved Her First” by Heartland. After the first dances, all of their siblings gave toasts to their love and future together. Each and every one of them reiterated that is was clear to them that this was a match made in heaven.

I think my favorite part of the whole day with these two was seeing how much their families were overjoyed about their marriage. They were so excited to unite and bring a new person into their families and become one big family! It was such an honor to be able to witness this and be a part of their special day with family and friends.

Leanna and Hayden, thank you for letting me share your beautiful love story and giving me the opportunity to celebrate with both of you this summer. It was so fun to meet you and your families and see how much love they have for you and your future together. I know this is the beginning of many, many happy years together!