As a wedding photographer, I often think about how each wedding is its own little journey, and how I get to be a part of that journey for so many amazing people. My little life feels big because of the journeys my sweet clients welcome me on - I’m so grateful for that.

I remember almost every single wedding consultation I host, and I distinctly remember Meagan and Mike’s. They were sitting on their couch, sharing their story with me. The blinds behind them were closed, but some light was peeking through. They told me they live near the ocean, and I was so enamored with that - I haven’t lived near an ocean for over a decade now, and I miss it. What struck me about Meagan and Mike was their body language. It was welcoming. They were comfortable. I was being accepted into their story from the moment we met.

THE COUPLE

When Meagan and Mike first inquired with me, their dream for their day was a beautiful Catskills destination wedding that felt like a big family get-together - “family, good friends, good food, good music, and good times is what we want the vibe of our weekend to be.” There was nothing stuffy about this, no desire to bend to wedding traditions - they just wanted to have a good time. I appreciated that about them.

It rained on their wedding day - no big deal to them. It was windy on their wedding day - no big deal to them. There was some mud we had to contend with for their portraits - no big deal to them.

This dear couple are wonderful apart, but even better together. They make each other giggle. They light up in each other’s presence. I know I say this about so many of my couples, but they are a GOOD match - one of my favorite matches in front of the camera, ever, actually.

THE VENUE

When I drove onto the property of the Inn at West Settlement, all I could think was: What a breath of fresh air - literally. The air was so clean. The cell phone service was so weak (🤣). It felt like I had entered a little slice of homey, off-grid heaven in the Catskills.

Even though the venue is in the Catskills, the property is easy to traverse so it doesn’t feel like you’re having to go on a whole trip to get to each location. If you have good weather, you can host your ceremony just about anywhere outside. Your indoor option is the barn, which is truthfully lovely for both a ceremony and reception space.

The grounds also boast mountainscapes, a little pond, a small garden, and lots of other nooks and crannies that are just perfect for portraits.

THE DETAILS

The details at Meagan and Mike’s wedding were a mix of eclectic textures and colors. It was a fall wedding, and while pumpkins were involved (I mean, you can’t NOT when you’re having an October wedding!), lots of teal candlesticks, yellow flowers, and ashen mini pampas grass were mixed in. The details were fun, but not the whole focus of the day - the focus of the day was the love and the party.

THE RECEPTION

I have never seen such a fun-loving and celebratory vibe on a dance floor like what I saw at Meagan and Mike’s reception. It was just filled to the brim with sweet but exciting little moments - everywhere I looked, I saw a new core memory being made. My shutter button was constantly clicking.

But, nothing beat when everyone took out huge cutouts of Nicholas Cage (Mike’s doppelganger) to surround Meagan and Mike with after their first dance. Like I said, this day was FUN.

This Catskills wedding day felt like home because this couple felt like home.

What a gift to have spent this day with them.

FROM THE COUPLE

“How I found Sweet Alice Photography and Erica was a true 6 degrees of separation story. My chiropractor recommended her husband’s cousin who worked in the area where I was getting married. When I reached out to her, she wasn’t available that day but recommended two other photographers who she already checked in with and were available that date. One of those recommendations was Erica and Sweet Alice Photography. I think Sweet Alice’s work speaks for itself so let me tell you a bit about the woman behind the lens who makes all those stunning photos possible

From the minute I looked at Erica’s website I was hooked. I loved the way she put herself out there, and I felt like I already knew Erica without ever speaking to her. We scheduled a Zoom to connect, and the second we ended the call I turned to my fiancé and said we need to book ASAP.

I went into wedding planning with little to no idea what I was doing. The one thing I was adamant about was that I wanted to surround myself with the right people/energy on this special day. Your photographer is not only going to be capturing all those special moments, but they are going to be spending the whole day with you. We had the opportunity to meet Erica in person for an engagement shoot a couple of months before our wedding. Meeting Erica in person was like being reunited with a long lost friend. Her smiles are infectious and her personality is radiant. After the engagement shoot, I knew we made the right choice in booking with Sweet Alice.

My most favorite thing about Erica, and what I think is one of her greatest strengths, is how intuitive she is. She can tell if you feel awkward and don’t know what to do with your hands, and immediately redirects you without you even realizing what she’s doing. She knows when you just need a minute to breathe/connect with your partner before moving on. She makes you laugh so your best selves can shine through. She is your biggest cheerleader and a one person hype team. When it came to our wedding day, Erica brought all that and more. She even sent us sneak peek photos the morning after our wedding. Erica is truly a gem of a human being and I suggest not hesitating on booking Sweet Alice Photography.

She makes the entire process super easy with each client having access to their own private client portal where you can make payments, fill out forms, and more. She offers location and outfit support for engagement shoots, and will check in with you every step of the way before your big day to make sure all your needs are taken care of. I cannot recommend Sweet Alice Photography enough, and I hope everyone is lucky enough to have someone like Erica with them on their wedding day.”