When I pulled up to Bedford Springs Resort in Bedford, PA, my mouth literally dropped open. The resort facilities are grand and gorgeous, and I couldn’t help but get giddy about the photo opportunities that awaited. But the gorgeousness didn’t stop on the outside. The inside of the resort is elegant, luxurious and charming, and I think it’s a perfect place for a wedding. Kaitlyn and Brad were blessed with both a beautiful venue and a beautiful day (after some morning rain showers), and I was so happy and thankful to be a part of it all.

Warning: this may be the biggest wedding blog post EVER! Enjoy.

Kaitlyn was so calm throughout the whole day, which definitely helped slow me down a bit once I got off the high of venue-gorgeousness overload! Ha!

I’m going to call this a “wedding collection photo bomb.”

Kaitlyn’s pharmacy friends sent her the gift on the left…very cute and very appropriate!

Love this getting ready moment!

The stunning Kaitlyn!!!

One of my favorites from the day!

There was a lot of “hand shaking” going on at the ceremony…

Total paparazzi status right here.

And little Maden’s hair piece was definitely Kate Middleton status!

Oh the picture on the right…so beautiful!

Grandma gave me soooo many photo ops during the wedding day…and you know me, I love a good grandma shot!

More “hand shaking!”

Back to the resort for more fun and formals. I could have taken pictures at that place ALL DAY!

Couldn’t pass up the striking red tulips…

And now for the reception!

I snuck outside the room during dinner to grab some ring shots…

Kaitlyn and Brad’s cookie display was impressive and unique. They took this southwest PA tradition and kicked it up a notch by sharing wedding pictures of friends and family members who have meant something to each of them. Definitely a highlight of the celebration.

Aaahhh new favorite first dance picture!!! Kaitlyn, you look so beautiful here!!!

Oh Kaitlyn, your face.

Another southwest PA tradition is the money/bridal dance. Everyone gets a chance to dance with the bride to a special, super long polka song…but only after they pay with some cold, hard cash. After their dance, they can take a shot, sometimes a sweet treat or a hanky to wave in the air. Kaitlyn and Brad had custom hankies!

What a great picture! My favorite twins, also cousins of the bride and bridesmaids in my wedding almost five years ago, and their great aunt waving those hankies high!

Oh Kaitlyn and Brad, you guys are so sweet. Thanks a million for making me a part of your wedding day and for being so relaxed through it all. Good luck in Arizona and enjoy these pictures forever!

But recently, my visions have been kicking it up a notch. I have ideas for portraits that don’t exist as easily as the farms in the country or the old homes in downtown. I have ideas that involve a little bit more planning, a little bit more exploring…and I need your help!

I really, really, REALLY want to shoot in the following locations: a carnival (full of lights, rides and a fair environment), on a boat on a body of water (speed, paddle or canoe), at a lavender farm (when the lavender is in bloom), a hot air balloon festival (or even just one hot air balloon would do) and the “famous” Candyland of Garrett County, MD. I’d like to have an engaged couple or a couple looking to update their portraits as my subjects. Some of these may need to happen sooner than later (I believe lavender blooms in June?), but others can wait until later in the summer or even early fall. I think they’d all make amazing, unique portrait session locations and I cannot wait to make it all happen!

So who can help me? Who would like to be photographed with their love in one of these totally unique, totally rad locations? If you’re up for it, email me at jessica@jessicafikephotography.com so we can start talking about the possibilities! And as a bonus, there’s a nice little discount involved since you’d be helping me achieve my portrait possibilities.

And just in case you can’t quite vision what I’m envisioning, here’s a Pinterest board to help explain and inspire…

Thanks to all the photographers who have photographed in such locations and shared their awesome work. You truly help to inspire.

See the entire Pinterest board here.

I had been waiting for that news for a while. We originally thought construction might begin in March, so the thought of being two months behind before we even started was a little frustrating…and it made me anxious. But I have to remind myself to trust Brian and his home-building management skills and remember that the home-building process doesn’t always go as planned. There will be delays, there will be frustrations. But what matters most is that we’ll have a beautiful home to raise our family in when it’s all over. Ah! I’m just so excited!

So on Tuesday evening, we visited the property to check on the home-building progress and this is what we found…

DIRT and a HOLE!!! Definitely surreal to see more than just flat land and grass.

It’s a darn good lookin’ hole.

Picking wildflowers! Looking forward to do this more in the future.

Did you see the model strut (and face!) going on here!?!

Oh Ally. She hardly ever wants to take a picture with me…

Ally had a ball running around the property…

She did not want to leave when it was time to go. I can’t wait to visit again soon so we can do more exploring and checking in on the progress.

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