Jennifer + Steve's Barn Wedding at Arlington Acres
When Jenn first contacted me to photograph her and Steve’s barn wedding at Arlington Acres, it was because their original photographer had recently moved away. Despite the circumstances, it felt like total fate that I got the chance to celebrate their wedding day with them. It’s not every day you get to photograph a wedding with dogs, but anybody who knows me, knows about my love for canines, so this was a dream come true.
Jenn and Steve hosted a small wedding at Arlington Acres, a barn wedding venue in Lafayette, NY. In addition to their golden retriever Blueberry (who made his debut at their engagement session), they had recently added 4-month-old Teddy to the family. They requested special pictures with both of them, which I was happy to oblige! It was so fun having the dogs roaming around all day, and it cracked me up all the times Blueberry decided to just lay down and take a nap in the middle of the action.
The day kicked off with getting ready and detail photos, followed by a group first look with Jenn’s dad, Steve’s parents, and Blueberry. Jenn and Steve shared a sweet first look outside the barn with their dogs in tow. Once they had a chance to breathe, we switched gears and knocked out the formal family photos before the guests arrived.
The ceremony took place outside under a bright sky, next to a field of corn. Steve stood with his Best Man as they waited for Jenn to come down the aisle. She was escorted by her dad and Blueberry, who acted as ring bearer. Jenn’s brother, Chris, officiated the ceremony in front of a beautiful arch covered in the most perfect sunflowers.
After the ceremony, guests enjoyed time in the barn to relax and catch up with family and friends, while we took photos with the newlyweds and their dogs. Blueberry was such a good sport and took direction wonderfully. Teddy was a bit of a wild card, but added tons of cuteness to the portraits.
The reception took place inside the barn, with cheers erupting when the happy couple arrived. Jenn and Steve were all smiles during their first dance, while Blueberry kept watch from the floor. After a delicious BBQ meal by Limp Lizard, one of their med school mentors gave a toast that felt really special and personal to them as a couple. Afterward, the parents partook in some extremely precious dances with Jenn and Steve.
They cut their cake, which was cascading with sunflowers, then guests enjoyed a dessert table covered in an assortment of pies. The rest of the afternoon was spent on the dance floor, with guests enjoying themselves until the very end. I want to give a very special shoutout to Arlington Acres for being a pet-friendly venue where couples can enjoy a barn wedding with dogs by their side. It clearly meant a lot to Jenn and Steve.
Congratulations to the newlyweds. I hope you and your pups have a wonderful life together!
Venue: Arlington Acres
DJ: Great Music Company
Food & Bar: Limp Lizard
Cake: Sugar Top Bake Shoppe
Florals: DIY
