As I’ve been chronologically working through all of the galleries I want to blog about (there are so many, y’all 🤦🏼‍♀️), I’ve been looking forward to being able to blog about this one. 🥹I’ve never been more appreciative of and enamored with a couple, their group of friends, their family as I am with Alyssa and Jordan. They are the type of people you hope to always have in your corner. They are so incredibly thoughtful, so kind, so aware - they are pure joy to spend time with because they understand that the simplest things in life are what make life the best. They are inviting and welcoming and never make you feel like an outsider. To spend time with them feels like you’re in a sparkly snowglobe of warmth.

THE COUPLE

I first “met” Alyssa on Instagram - she followed my work, but, more importantly, she followed my heart. I know this section of this blog post is supposed to be about Alyssa and Jordan together - and it will be - but I believe she and I are kindred spirits. We think similarly, and have comparable values. She shared that what drew her to my work was how open I was about what is important to me on social media - especially regarding family. Before Alyssa and Jordan were even engaged, she knew she wanted us to work together based almost entirely on an Instagram post I published years earlier that described how important my relationship with my nephew is to me - and that I hope, if he gets married in the future, the photographer at that wedding will be gracious with the one request I will have of getting a photo with him. Family is important. I want my people to know that I understand and feel that - just like they do.

Alyssa and Jordan are two of the most gracious people I have ever met. Every time I see them, they greet or send me off with gifts. The way they interact with each other feels like they have simply always been together. There is an ease about them for each other, that radiates out to comfort everyone around them. They have no pretense; their mission in the world is simply to love others. They’ve never told me that explicitly, but it is felt and seen in every interaction I’ve observed or had with them. I have spent so many years with them now (from engagement to postponed pandemic wedding to couples sessions…and now to an upcoming maternity session 💛); the circle they have created with their people now feels like my circle (no joke - one of their best friends often house and dog sits for us, and it is hard to find someone I now trust as much as her!).

On the wedding day, Alyssa and Jordan’s first look was one of my favorites ever. They had been together for so long, gone through so much together, weathered the grief and sadness of a postponed wedding, and finally made it to this big day - the first look and private vow reading was incredibly emotional and special. They are the goodest people.

THE VENUE

Villa Venezia is a wedding venue in Middletown, NY that has some lovely options for outdoor photos. It also has a sister property across the street - the Barn at Villa Venezia. While the main property itself is not incredibly large, there are some pretty locations for portraits that are easily accessible for both the couple, and their family and friends. The willow tree behind the outdoor ceremony space was a favorite for Alyssa and Jordan’s couple portraits - I’ll never turn down the whimsy of a weeping willow.

THE DETAILS

Alyssa and Jordan chose a warm fall aesthetic for the details of their wedding day, with florals including sunflowers and bursts of red, and the wedding party wearing shades of gray and burgundy.

My favorite detail of the day was Alyssa’s gown. I loved how effortless it looked, while still looking bridal - elegant, yet modern, with its deep V neckline and double rhinestone-belted waist.

Another favorite detail: Alyssa’s mom, who was just an absolute delight to spend time with.

THE RECEPTION

I’m sure you can tell how obsessed I am with Alyssa and Jordan. I was equally as obsessed with their family and friends on their wedding day. This group enjoyed and partied like no other. They were all just so happy and appreciative of the opportunity to spend time with each other. They were an absolute delight to spend time with, to document, to love on, to receive their love in return.

The Instagram gods were on my side the moment they connected me to Alyssa and Jordan. They are a sparkling gem in my clientfriend roster, a pinnacle of the most ideal of clients.

I love you so dearly, best souls. Thank you for being in my world.

FROM THE COUPLE

"Where do I even begin?! I don't think there are even words to express how wonderful and special Erica is as a person and at her craft, and how lucky we are to have been given the chance to know her! Photography and photographs have always held a special place in my heart and this was without a doubt going to be one of the most important aspects of our wedding day. I knew that I wanted Erica to be our wedding photographer before we were even engaged, and when the day came and the planning commenced she was the VERY first person I reached out to because there was no way I was going to miss the opportunity to get to work with her!

Our very first Zoom call in 2019 solidified for me just how truly great Erica is, and for my husband too. We picked our original 2020 wedding date based on Erica's availability, and when we had to postpone our wedding because of the pandemic, we picked our new date based on her availability because there was no way either one of us wanted to not have Erica with us on our wedding day. Have I mentioned how gracious she is?! Not only was she overly understanding of our postponement, she made us feel so okay and at peace with our choice.

While our engagement pictures were not the first time in front of a photographer's camera, it is still a little nerve wracking because it's a new person behind the camera! Well, from the moment we said hello, so much of that nervousness fell away and it was like catching up with an old friend talking, laughing, getting to know each other - and it made for the most beautiful photographs because we were so comfortable! Erica radiates happiness, cheer, and love!

Erica was so great at checking in, making sure everything was going okay, to see if we needed help or recommendations with anything, always making herself available. She always answered any question or crazy thought so quickly, and when I asked her for some vendor recommendations she was more than happy to pass some along! Any time we had a phone call, Zoom meeting, or email check in, just talking to Erica gave myself and my husband such calmness and reassurance that everything was going fine and that the wedding day would be fantastic and go smoothly!

Erica listened to everything we spoke about from day one - most importantly she understood how important family is to both my husband and I, so much so that she allotted us an entire hour of family photos on our wedding day to ensure we got all the family photos that were important to us, and our hearts are beyond grateful for this. We felt such a calmness on our wedding day knowing that Erica was with us and would ensure that all the important moments would happen and be captured. Erica had sneak peek photos to us the morning after the wedding, and we were blown away at how beautiful they were.

Not only do my husband and I love Erica but so do our families! They just think she is the sweetest and so amazingly talented!

RUN do not walk and book Erica and Sweet Alice Photography for your wedding day - you will not regret it. Not only will you have a fantastic photographer and beautiful photographs, you will have a friend. We are so sad our wedding journey with you has come to an end but are hopeful our paths will cross again in the future!

Thank you will never be enough to express how truly grateful we are for you, Erica; for your wonderful self, your incredible talent, and the magic (that's truly the best way to describe it) you bring to those in your life. XO - Alyssa & Jordan”