Anna & Zach {Westminster Chapel Wedding in Rochester, NY}

I feel as though I’ve known Anna and Zach forever. I thought I was pretty special, but, in reality, I’ve come to find out that if you’ve even only known them for a minute, you feel like it’s been a lifetime. You feel lucky to have known them, learned of their story, watched their family and laugh with the greatest joy.

Their entire wedding day (and the wedding planning process) was one of joy and love, too. They always just wanted the day to be a celebration of the two of them and their story starting a new chapter. They had amazing details and so many supportive loved ones, but they — the two of them and their son, Peter — were at the forefront of this October 1st celebration.

While getting ready, there was music, laughter, some Dunkin Donuts (of course) and the excited cheers and help of friends so happy to see this day finally arrive.

Zach and Anna first met as teenagers in high school and the journey of life took them apart and together and apart and back together. Many of the people at their Westminster Chapel wedding watched their lives join together, watched Zach take in Anna’s son Peter as his own and watched their love and friendship mature and grow.

Peter was at the center of a lot of their wedding day. Zach even made vows to Peter and the three of them filled beautiful antique glass bottles with sand together.

Anna put together lovely detail after lovely detail to surround their ceremony and reception spaces — Fall decor and pumpkins, handcrafted signs, cute magnet favors and incredible non-floral bouquets.

Anna and Zach shared a First Look at nearby Mendon Ponds Park, with Anna walking down a wooded path towards an excited Zach. It was just the two of them and the entire moment was so beautiful.

The chapel at Westminster created this powerful, quiet, serene space. Colors and lights streaming through the stained-glass windows danced across the wooden floors. Zach and Anna stood on a stage overlooking the space and Peter stood nearby, holding the legs of a groomsman and smiling widely. Perhaps my favorite moments were of the bride and groom twirling, kissing and embracing in front of those windows — especially when we snuck photos from around a corner.