Summer Wedding at Historic Shady Lane Pennsylvania | Kyra and Tom
Kyra and Tom’s summer wedding at Historic Shady Lane in Pennsylvania was a highlight of my summer as a Michigan wedding photographer. My first time at the Pennsylvania wedding venue, I loved the historic property and all of the beautiful homes, cottages, gardens and land that encompassed the venue. It really was a wedding photographer’s dream venue!
Kyra and Tom met online when they were both living in Michigan. Kyra was working in the athletic department at the University of Michigan while Tom was finishing up medical residency at Michigan State University. From the start, their relationship was long distance. But for Kyra and Tom, it worked. Their commute between Lansing and Ann Arbor, Michigan turned into a commute between Columbus and Ann Arbor when Tom got a job in Columbus, Ohio. Along the way, they learned to be very intentional in their relationship and time together, with frequent trips to see one another and lots of facetimes as they lived apart.
The Proposal
Tom proposed to Kyra on a Friday evening in Nichols Arboretum. Kyra’s family was in town for what she thought was a typical Michigan football game weekend. But Tom had surprised Kyra by being in town instead of at work, like she had thought. After some scheming, he managed to get Kyra to the arb where her family and his parents awaited and he proposed. One of Kyra’s favorite memories of the proposal is belting out “Love Story” by Taylor Swift in the car on the way to dinner with their families to celebrate.
Wedding Planning
From there, they started planning their wedding from afar. Since Kyra is originally from Delaware and Tom from Ohio, they chose to get married half way in between their families and found Historic Shady Lane in Manchester, Pennsylvania. This made it a destination wedding for everyone and a new, special place for Kyra and Tom.
I met Kyra through Ashley and Lew, and it’s been so fun to work with them from the start. From their below freezing engagement session in Ann Arbor to being able to travel to Pennsylvania with them for the big day, capturing their long-distance love story has been nothing short of exciting.
The Wedding Morning
The girls got ready in the historic cottage of the venue with the help of Makeup by Enna and Sara K Beauty. Kyra looked beautiful in her Marchesa dress from Jennifer’s Bridal. Meanwhile, Tom and his groomsmen got ready in The Den.
Hydrangea Garden Ceremony
Their 150 guests were shuttled in from the nearby hotel to their outdoor wedding ceremony in the hydrangea garden. It was a perfect sunny, blue skies and warm kind of summer day. They chose not to do a first-look so Tom saw Kyra for the first time when she walked down the aisle with her father.
Portraits and Cocktail Hour
Following the ceremony, we did family photos on the lawn. Kyra had asked all of her family to wear blue and I love the way it coordinated the family photos. The blue looked lovely against the vibrant green of the grass in the sun. Meanwhile, guests migrated up to the greenhouse for cocktail hour where they had an amazing charcuterie spread by Kelsas Sweet Box. After photos around the property with Kyra, Tom and their wedding party, we all got ready for the start of the reception in the tent. With so many beautiful spots, it was a dream to photograph around the property on both digital and film.
Handwriting and Wildflowers Tented Reception
Kyra and Tom are a divided household as Tom went to Ohio State and is a Buckeye fan and Kyra bleeds maize and blue as a Michigan fan. So as a fun surprise to everyone, including their wedding party and families, for their grand entrance, they entered in football jerseys of the rival teams! It was such a fun moment and a cool way to showcase a special part of their relationship.
Pizza Food Truck Dinner and Ice Cream
They went right into their special dances and speeches before starting their food truck pizza dinner. Common Good Pizza fired up pizzas in a wood-fire oven all evening long for guests. For dessert, guests enjoyed ice cream from Penny’s Ice Cream Truck and a tray of cookies at each table.
Party on the Dance Floor
It didn’t take long for the dance floor to fill up and Bring on the Bash kept the dancing going all night long. When guests needed a break from the dance floor, they could snap a photo in Good Golly Co.’s photobooth, enjoy the bonfire and yard games alongside the tent, or sip on the signature drinks by I Do Crew Bartending.
Kyra and Tom’s summer wedding at Historic Shady Lane in Pennsylvania was a colorful, fun and personalized celebration of their relationship. With their guest experience at the core, Kyra and Tom, with the help of Sapphire Road Weddings, planned an evening full of excitement, activities and fun experiences for all their guests that had traveled in to their Pennsylvania destination wedding.
Venue: Historic Shady Lane | @historicshadylane
Wedding Coordinator: Sapphire Road Weddings | @sapphireroadweddings
Photography: Emily Kyle Photography | @emilykylephoto
Invitations: Zola; Zazzle | @zola; @zazzle
Hair: Sara K Beauty | @sarak.beauty
Make Up: Bridal Makeup by Enna | @bridalmakeupbyenna
Florist: Lancaster Flower Co. | @lancasterflowerco
Tent Lighting: Baker Event Co. | @bakereventco
Linens: A to Z Event Rentals | @a_to_z_event_rentals
Dance Floor: Collective Event Group | @collectiveeventgroup
Dress Designer: Marchesa | @marchesabridal
Dress Shop: Jennifer’s Bridal | @jennifersbridal
Veil: Dareth Colburn | @darethcolburndesigns
Jewelry: Untamed Petals | @untamedpetals
Rings: Lewis Jewelers | @lewisjewelersannarbor
Bridesmaids Dresses: Azazie | @azazieofficial uu
Groom’s Suit: Men’s Wearhouse | @menswearhouse
Groomsmen’s Suits: Men’s Wearhouse | @menswearhouse
Charcuterie: Kelsas Sweet Box | @kelsassweetbox
Ice Cream: Penny’s Ice Cream Truck | @pennysicecream
Caterer: Common Good Pizza | @commongoodpizza
Bartending: I Do Crew Bartending | @idocrewbartending
DJ: Bring on the Bash | @bringonthebash
Photo Booth: Good Golly Co. | @goodgolly.co
Transportation: Premiere 1 Limousine | @premiere1limo
