Carlene & Andrew | Married - Erin Marie Photography

A Romantic Barn Wedding | Castleton-on-Hudson

For their engagement session, they drove to me. It was a very overcast and rainy day, the trees were still naked without a leaf in sight, and I was VERY pregnant and in a lot of pain…I seemed to have everything working against me. I was nervous because I knew they were traveling close to 3 hours to meet up with me and they deserved beautiful images…but where was the sun? Where were the leaves? Why did it look like it was about to pour on us? Why couldn’t I take a single step without wanting to cry because of the amount of pain I was in?? Yep, it all seemed doom and gloom until Carlene and Andrew got out of their car to walk over and say hi to me. As soon as I saw Carlene’s glowing face I relaxed immediately. I knew from that moment on it didn’t matter what mother nature was doing around us, this session was going to be amazing because these two are an amazing couple. And I was right 🙂 I am so incredibly proud of what I was able to capture given the circumstances, but honestly, I owe it all to them.

Why am I starting their wedding blog post off with this story?? Well, because their wedding was the first wedding I shot that I had to travel for after having baby Grace. Remember when I said they traveled close to 3 hours up to my neck of the woods? Well come their wedding day, I was 2.5 months postpartum and it was now my turn to travel to them. I was nervous, again. I felt extremely uneasy leaving my baby girl. Luckily my angel of a mother didn’t want me traveling alone so she decided she would come with me and she would just do some shopping while I was at the wedding. I’m so thankful she did this for me because after I photograph weddings, I have a tendency to crash…hard. All of my fellow wedding photogs will agree with me on that one. You put 110% into the day for a straight 8-10 hours then after it’s over, the adrenaline decreases and your body just kind of gives out…at least mine does! Anyway…I was nervous being so far away from my baby…until I walked into Carlene’s dad’s house where she and her girls were getting ready. I walked in while she was getting the final touches of makeup done and when she turned around and saw me, she gave me the same big, warm smile and hug she gave me when we first met at her engagement session, and not just me, she gave my mom one too! From that moment on, I felt comfortable and ready to give my 110% for the rest of the day. Carlene and Andrew deserved nothing less from me!

This time, it was sunny. The trees and flowers were in full bloom, and I was fully healed post labor and delivery, no more hip pain! The stars were aligned and I couldn’t have asked for a better day. I’m so thankful that Carlene and Andrew stumbled across my business and clicked with me enough to reach out and inquire about wedding photography. I don’t know what it is but I’m so lucky to work with the couples that I do. Carlene and Andrew, you two are some of my favorites. I loved spending the day with you, I’m just sad it’s over!! I hope you enjoy re-living your special day through some of my favorite moments! 🙂