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succop nature park wedding photos
What an absolutely STUNNING day this was to be a part of! Kayla and Colin tied the knot at Succop Nature Park on a glorious September afternoon. There were so many beautiful DIY elements that made this wedding come to life, and so many different family members that contributed to the day in so many ways. Kayla and Colin, it was such an honor to be a part of your day! Praying all the best for you two as you head into this next adventure together! 💛
Soo I'm not sure why I never thought of using Succop Nature Park for an engagement session location, but it was literally THE perfect spot for Tamra and Chad's engagement session! These two decided on Succop as their location because they were originally thinking about getting married there, but decided to go with a different venue. Talk about the perfect way to get the best of both worlds!
Tamra and Chad met while working at Costco and have been together for about three and a half years! Tamra is studying to become a nutritionist, and Chad works as a graphic & web designer at Sparq Designs (who I used to work for!), which is how I've had the privilege of getting to know these two!
When Chad proposed, he proposed with a freakin' puppy. Possibly every girl's dream, right?! (Unless you're a cat lover, maybe). But regardless, because Tamra was proposed to with a puppy, of course we had to incorporate him into their engagement session!
Even though it was a little chilly for their session, we were blessed with some of the most beautiful light towards the end of the session and a sunset of oranges, pinks, and yellows! I am so excited to share this one with you, friends!
My mom used to always say "if our house was burning down, the one thing I would make sure to grab (of course, after the kids!) would be my wedding album."
Lucky for those of us who tied the knot in the digital age, most of the time our photos are backed up on a cloud, or even to social media pages, allowing memories to live on even after disaster strikes. But I think there's something to be said about my mom's sentiment, and the importance of printed photos. Those photos in her wedding album tell the story of the beginning of her life with my dad, and of our lives as a family. They're precious, and priceless. They are the family legacy - an heirloom that, God willing, will be handed down generation after generation so everyone can see where, and how, it all started.
So, as a bride, what's the best way to go about making sure YOUR wedding images are safe? Below are a few tips for backing up your precious memories that will ensure - no matter what happens - that you will have them for years to come!
I know what you're thinking: but they're so expensive! Trust me, I was a bride not too long ago and I can completely understand hesitancy based on price when it comes to professional wedding albums! Wedding albums are not only expensive for brides to invest in, but are also pricey for photographers to order, due to the high-quality materials used. A professional album will have thick, professional archival photo paper with the highest quality leather or linen, built to last for years to come. Some even go the extra mile to include a high quality storage box to keep it even safer! A wedding album is not only another great way to "back up" your wedding photos, but is a physical heirloom to pass down from generation to generation. That CD or USB drive you have might be great for making prints, but are you sure you'll be able to show your kids and grandkids your photos in 10, 20, or even 50 years? Technology will be much further then - you never know if those storage devices will even be around!
With so many options for cloud storage nowadays, it's easier than ever to make sure your photos are somewhere safe outside of your home, in the case of fire, flood, or damage. A few of my favorites for online storage are: Dropbox, Google Drive, and Carbonite.
What do I mean by this? Well, in addition to investing in an album for yourself, consider investing in an album for your parents, your spouse's parents, and even your grandparents! Not only do albums (or coffee table books!) make nice gifts, but in the case of a fire or flood (God forbid!) your wedding photos are safe somewhere else. Plus - albums and coffee table books make great (and easy!) Christmas and birthday gifts after your wedding day!
Some photographers keep all of the photos from your wedding day long after the event (I fall into this camp!) and some toss them after the event is over. Check with your wedding photographer to see how long they hold onto your digital files, and even ask how they back them up. Personally, I back up every wedding to two external hard drives, an online gallery system, and a cloud storage backup - mainly because I would want someone to do the same for me!
If you are interested in creating a wedding album, shoot me a message or send me an email at jhidingerphotography@gmail.com to learn more about the albums we offer!
I have a confession: I disliked planning my own wedding. Granted, the year we got married I was finishing my last year of undergrad with a double major, working part-time, building a business, and holding down an internship (while I slowly drove myself insane). I thought planning would be all cookies and taste testings, but for someone who isn't the best decision-maker on the planet (raise your hand if you can relate 🙋) , wedding planning turned into a constant wearing down of my patience. One decision after another - flowers, seating charts, tuxes, bridesmaid dresses, shoes, hair, makeup - the list went on and on, and sometimes it felt completely endless. Maybe you're in the same boat.
I remember complaining about all of the decisions I had to someone, and then it struck me: the only decision that REALLY matters at all is the decision I've already made: to marry Nick. The toughest, most important one was already done. And somehow, that one realization brought so much peace into my life, not because it made any of the other decisions go away, but because it shrunk down the importance of any other decision I WOULD make from then on out when it came to anything wedding related.
So if you're a bride and you're in a similar season, remember: your choice of venue, direction of details, and even your appearance on the day of your wedding all pales in comparison to the man you've chosen to spend the rest of your life loving, serving, and respecting.
Jackie and Mike's Succop Conservancy wedding was all kinds of gorgeous! Succop Nature Park is home to a 19th century mansion, originally home to an Irish immigrant back in the 1800's. Though the mansion has been through renovations, the beauty and charm of the 19th century design remains and continues to be (in my opinion) one of the best wedding venues around the area! With so many beautiful little nooks and crannies for photos, it was so hard to choose just a few favorites from Jackie and Mike's wedding day.
Jackie and Mike's wedding day started off inside the mansion for getting ready and detail photos, then outside the greenhouse for a first look! We made our way around the property, hitting all of the best scenic spots on the way. One big reason I love Succop is for all of its location variety - there are endless amounts of spots to choose from! After bridal party and family photos, the ceremony was held right outside of the mansion, with the surrounding park serving as a backdrop. The cocktail hour happened throughout the house and grounds, which led straight into a reception full of cookies, candy, and dancing! We absolutely LOVED being a part of your day, Jackie and Mike! Congratulations on your marriage!
Vendors:
Wedding Photographer: Jenna Hidinger Photography
Ceremony & Reception Venue: Succop Nature Park
Makeup: Valarie Panei
