While every bride and groom likes to think their wedding is unique, the wedding photographer sees the specialness of the day from a different vantage point. Photographers April and Mike Raymond found Bree and Hayden’s day unique in its challenges and memorable in the moments in between “posing and portraits,” they say.

“The wedding was planned in less than a week because of an unforeseen venue change due to Pennsylvania’s COVID restrictions,” April explains. “With that came a new ceremony, which meant a whole new timeline, finding a separate location for their first look, and so on.”

Luckily for couple Bree and Hayden, their wedding photographers like to approach all challenges within the weddings they photograph the same way: “Serve the couple—think about what is going to be most comfortable for the couple,” April says. “Bree was particularly more stressed and disappointed because the original venue was a stunning historic castle venue in a very raw forest atmosphere. The only place that was available on such short notice was a very polished country club, in Lititz, Pennsylvania—the complete opposite aesthetic from what she wanted for her wedding.”

April and Mike went to work making a plan on how to get images of bride and groom in a forest. “Thankfully, Overlook Park was only 10 minutes away from the venue, Bent Creek Country Club, and it has this stunning patch of tall trees that were just perfect,” April describes. “We spent all of their first look and bride-and-groom portraits at this park, and it was well worth the extra work put in last minute.”

One of April’s favorite photos, she says, is of the happy couple sitting on the bench after the first look. “We were taking a little break from posing, Mike said something funny, and suddenly we were all laughing so hard,” says April. “I was able to capture the perfect moment of Bree with her head slightly back and the breeze blowing her hair towards Hayden.”

April and Mike especially loved chatting with the couple, they say, “between posing and portraits and connecting with them on an even more personal level. The more we know about them and their story, the more inspiration we have for posing and documenting their day.”

For Mike, his favorite image from he and April’s coverage was, “hands down the groomsmen with the car, a 1983 El Camino 350 Small Block Engine,” he says with a laugh. “Groom Hayden bought it only three weeks before their wedding day, fixed it up and was working on it just hours leading up to when he had to be at the first look! He wanted something special to drive off in after the wedding. Taking photos of him and his groomsmen with the car was such a highlight, seeing how proud he was of getting this project done just in time.”

Adds April: “Bree and Hayden are one of those magical couples who are just perfect at anything you throw at them! We knew what poses worked well with them from their engagement session but we wanted to try some more editorial ones as well. We focused heavily on posing and styling the bride’s details—flat lay, shoes, ring. We dug deep into our business’s fashion side to bring this classic Vogue-esque approach, which Bree and Hayden were so excited about.”

Check out more Weddings of the Week, and email Jacqueline Tobin with submissions.