May 16, 2026
There are couples you book, and then there are couples that somehow become your friends before the wedding day even gets here. Meagan and Chad fall squarely into that second category.
We actually met them two years ago at a bridal show in Syracuse. Out of every conversation we had that weekend, theirs stuck with me. Why? Because Chad proudly informed me he was a die-hard Eagles fan. As a Steelers fan, I naturally took that as a personal invitation to give him a hard time. They laughed, we laughed, and apparently that was all it took. They later told us they knew right then that we were going to be their photographers.
Honestly? That's one of my favorite booking stories.
Over the next two years, we met on Zoom what felt like at least once a month. Wedding planning has a funny way of turning vendors into honorary friends, and somewhere between timeline meetings and planning calls, I found myself crying with Meagan when she finally said yes to the dress.
By the time May rolled around, I was just as invested in their day as they were.
Upstate New York Weather Keeps Everyone Humble
If you've ever planned a wedding in Upstate New York, you already know the weather has a personality disorder.
Leading up to May 16th, I refreshed the forecast more times than I'd like to admit. One minute it looked perfect. The next, the radar looked like we were about to film Twister 2.
The forecast promised no rain. The sky absolutely did not.
The original plan was an outdoor ceremony, but after staring at those dark, angry clouds all morning, everyone decided not to risk it and moved the ceremony indoors.
And because Mother Nature has a sense of humor...
Not. One. Drop.
Just dramatic, moody clouds hanging around all day looking intimidating for absolutely no reason.
No complaints here, though. Those clouds gave us some of my favorite portraits from the entire day.
The Way Chad Looked at Meagan
I've photographed a lot of weddings.
I've watched hundreds of couples say "I do."
But every once in a while, you photograph a groom whose face says everything before he even speaks.
That was Chad.
The way he looked at Meagan all day... someone bottle that up.
Every glance, every smile, every little "I can't believe I get to marry you" look—it was impossible to miss.
Everyone deserves someone who looks at them the way Chad looked at his bride.
The $8,000 Surprise
Okay...
This might be one of the wildest wedding stories I've ever witnessed.
The wedding the day before theirs had spent $8,000 on baby's breath and blush-pink roses.
Then...
They left them.
Just... left them.
Which meant Meagan and Chad walked into their wedding day with thousands of dollars worth of absolutely stunning floral arrangements that perfectly matched everything they'd already planned.
You couldn't have coordinated it better if you tried.
Sometimes wedding luck is real.
"You're Still The One"
There are songs that get people dancing.
Then there are songs that make an entire room stop what they're doing and remember why they're there.
As International Superstar Shania Twain blessed us with You're Still The One, Meagan and Chad shared one of those first dances that makes you forget anyone else is even in the room.
There wasn't a dry eye in sight.
(And if you're reading this pretending you don't know every single word to that song... you're lying.)
The Eagles Sweatshirt
Later in the evening, Meagan quietly came over to me and asked,
"Do you think it's okay if I change? My dress is so heavy."
Without missing a beat, I told her,
"Ma'am... this is your wedding. You could come back out in a nightgown if you wanted to. You paid for this party."
A few minutes later...
Out walked the bride.
Not in another fancy reception dress.
Not in sparkles.
Not in sequins.
In her brand-new husband's Philadelphia Eagles sweatshirt.
The look on everyone's face was priceless.
It was comfortable.
It was perfectly them.
And honestly? That's exactly what weddings should be.
Congratulations, Meagan & Chad
Your wedding wasn't perfect because everything went according to plan.
It was perfect because the two of you never lost sight of what the day was actually about.
You laughed through the weather.
You soaked in every moment.
You loved your people well.
And you loved each other even better.
Thank you for trusting us from that very first conversation at a bridal show two years ago, all the way to the last dance on your wedding night.
We'll never forget this one.
Let's Start Planning Your Next Chapter
Planning a Stoney Brook Castle Wedding?
If you're planning your own wedding at Stoney Brook Castle in Earlville, NY, we'd love to tell your story.
Whether the weather cooperates or decides to keep everyone guessing, we'll be right there—helping you stay present, capturing the moments you'll never want to forget, and probably making a few sarcastic comments along the way.
