Rebecca Devano

over the course of my adult life i have realized that i often approach things in a backwards manner. a lot of things. for example, i mostly read magazines from back to front instead of front to back. i catch myself doing this all the time. and it is not intentional, i don’t sit down and think about it, i just do it. also, i have a really bad habit of jumping into something and then figuring it out. this is something i have always done. since i was a kid. i’m guessing in a normal person’s mind decisions are carefully analyzed prior to the project being started (i have a vision of normal, in a dress with neat hair sitting at a desk with computer, pen, and calculator – carefully evaluating each decision and the impact that said decision could make) . seems logical. perhaps if i were more logical i would have not embarked on many of the crazy journeys in my life. my attitude is more of a i can and will figure it out, so who cares if it is now or later???…….

so, all that said, i am ending my blog hiatus. i didn’t really announce that i was going on one, i just did. i had to. i had so much to do that i had to let some things wait for a while. during my hiatus, i photographed some incredible weddings, events, births, and everyday life which i hopefully will be able to share eventually.

so, for my first, welcome back to your blog Rebecca, I will share one of my most favorite images of all time, which is also one of a series of images that made it to the brand new 2011 WV WEDDINGS Magazine Cover!

Here is the cover image:

A great way to start the new year! If you haven’t seen the magazine yet, go out and get a copy! There are tons of beautiful weddings featured and many resources for wedding vendors in our beautiful state!!!

 

I have so many sneak peeks (and full wedding posts) to share, so time to get busy posting!!!

There are so many incredible details that I just love from this wedding, I can’t wait to share the entire thing. But, for now, a few select favorites of the two of them….

The rest are coming soon!!!

On the day after our big move to the new house, I loaded up and headed to the mountains for this incredible wedding at the Soaring Eagle Lodge in Snowshoe WV. Up until my arrival I had only spoke with Bev on the phone but she was so sweet and pleasant I knew that I would love her immediately, and, I did. She is an incredible woman, and she and John fit into each others family perfectly. The entire day was filled with smiles, laughing, and an overall pleasant-ness….. In my experience of shooting weddings, this one was one of the most fun and enjoyable days I have had.  It seems that they both just love each other so much and are so happy that there would be no other way to celebrate such a significant day in their lives.

When I arrived the girls were in their room getting ready and on the table was a card from John to Beverly and quite simply inside was a message, something blue………….. His gift to her…..there were actually a few and they were all thoughtful and beautiful…….like her…….  (I generally associate a thoughtful man with a caring and thoughtful mother……. Bev, you are so lucky!!!)

It is hard to summarize all of my favorites, so I have been liking these collages…….

We did mostly all of the photos prior to the wedding, so this was their special first look. This is pure bliss:

And, shooting in the full sun on a sunny summer afternoon is not a personal preference, but sometimes you have no choice, so we found some places that would work and it was worth our little “hike” through the woods since we were able to capture a lot of great shots of these two…….. Beverly was truly stunning:

 

And, then, I asked them if they would mind just a few more shots at sunset, how could I resist doing this on top of that mountain???

I love this photo, it is just a candid, but they were like this the entire day…. just so happy!!!

A personal favorite actually set up by the DJ, who did a great job, how awesome is this?????

And, a sweet photo to finish up the post, but WATCH THE SLIDESHOW, CLICK HERE!!! I love all the photos. I loved the entire day. Thank you thank you thank you for having me, I loved every minute of the day.  I hope you celebrate many more days just as sweet together!!!

I always love a summer Lakeview Wedding. The resort is so pretty and it is easy to find nice places to take photos. This particular weekend was so hot, but the heat did not interfere with letting everyone have a good time.

Alex and Roy dated FOREVER. Almost, at least. They started dating in high school, then through college, then through pharmacy school, and into adult life……. I think that they are pretty sure about their decision to be together. Watching their exchange of looks as Alex was coming down the aisle was very moving. I can only imagine how many times the thought of that moment came to their minds prior to that day. It was beautiful, and one of my favorite parts of the day.

Alex is one of those incredibly thoughtful, detail oriented, well organized, and well planned people. She thought of every detail that I have ever seen together at one wedding. I had to condense my blog post photos into mini collages to feature all of my favorite photos!!! I’ll try to explain them individually though…….

 

The water bottles at the reception site were a big hit in the heat, plus they looked just darling!!! I thought that the baskets on the aisles were just too perfect and added a special touch to the ceremony site. The tables inside, incredible!

I love all of the photos in the next collage, but one of my very favorites is the one in the middle with the logs, very different type of photo to stumble onto at the resort! Lucky for us they were doing some maintenance on the grounds! I think it looks more like a forest than a parking lot……..

Alex and I met up for some pre-bridals at the Alumni Center the week before, and although we were worried we would get rained out, we didn’t! I just had to share the photo of Alex kicking her leg, wow! I wondered if she was doing ok walking in those 4 inch stiletto’s and she assured me she was, then further demonstrated the kick. I would have probably broke both of my legs by attempting something like that……..Just for size comparison, I added the photo of all of her wedding shoes. Heals from small medium to large.

The three of us are going on a super fun after wedding shoot soon…….I am so excited I can barely stand it!!! There is an airplane involved…………

Watch the highlights of the day, they are wonderful!!!CLICK HERE TO SEE THEM…….

Alex and Roy, thank you so much for having me, I have loved every minute and can’t wait to see you guys again soon!!!!Congratulations and I hope you have even more happy years together than you already have!!!

 

It was a beautiful summer day at the end of May. The perfect kind of day for an outside wedding. Details were all taken care of well in advance, and Sarah was calm, beautiful, and so excited to become Andrew’s wife. Since I went to school with Sarah’s brother, I was especially happy to be here with their families. It is always a little different to photograph couples that you know, or have some type of history with. I have had a good many weddings like that this year, either people that I have known well, or families I have worked with in the past. It is something I look forward to a lot!

Sarah had the cutest details, another custom hanger, but this time with her new last name, so sweet!

I generally encourage brides to get ready early, so that we can take more photos of them while we have a little more time and good light to work with. It was a little sunnier than I would have liked it to be, but we made it work. Sarah, you are BEAUTIFUL!!!!  I have always thought Sarah was beautiful, ever since she was a young girl, but she was stunning on her wedding day. She had the talented girls from LKHA out of Morgantown come down to Pete Dye Golf Club to pretty them up for the wedding, and all the girls really looked incredible.

 

I asked Sarah to climb this big hill so that I could take this photo of her. I loved how it came out and I had to post the photo beneath it just so you can see how big it was. Especially when you are wearing a heavy (and hot) wedding gown with 4 inch high heels. Oh yeah. Wasn’t she a trooper? (as was her very dear bridesmaid who made the climb with her…. )

 

I saw this and couldn’t not help but stop her for one more photo:

And, because the post can not all be just about the bride, we must include the handsome groom and the also very handsome ring bearer, Sarah’s son Maddie. Also note the groomsmen’s socks, just fabulous!!!

Then, some reception details, the cake by Bake N Memories, plus the tables and flowers by Blooms:

The ceremony site:

Here comes the bride. I love this photo of Sarah looking at Andrew, I would love to be a mind reader to know for sure, however, I think I have an idea of the thought she is having at this moment:

And, now, enter to the crying part. Sarah and Andrew both exchanged vows to Maddie, and I was crying so much I could barely see. I could hear so many sobs that I’m pretty sure mostly everyone was crying. It was one of the most tender and heart felt moments I have ever witnessed in a wedding ceremony.

 

And, then, we were off to take some photos of the happy couple after we did the formal family photos! I could have spent the rest of the afternoon and evening with them, but they had to go to their reception to complete the celebration, so we had to get as many as possible in!!!

Sarah’s brother made these signs, this makes my heart happy!!!

And, one of my most very very favorites from the entire day:

Congratulations to you both, and thank you so much for having me. I am beyond thrilled to have shared in such an important day in your life. I wish you the most happiness and a long and prosperous marriage!

To watch the slideshow, CLICK HERE!!! ENJOY!!!