Kara and I went to high school together and had a few mutual friends but we went to a really big school which kept you from connecting with a lot of your classmates. A couple of years back we crossed paths on Thanksgiving while volunteering at a local church, putting together meals for those in need. We chatted about life and her then boyfriend Dean. When she contacted me in 2020 about photographing their wedding I was so excited. And when it came to their photos Kara and Dean put full trust in us! Which as an artist is truly one of the biggest compliments. Their elegant winter wedding was nothing short of amazing, even ending in fireworks while the first snow of the year fell. Talk about magical!

Kara and Dean met at Slippery Rock University, during their junior year. Dean was already a student there and Kara had just transferred. Kara was pledging the co-ed business fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi which Dean was a member of. At the time, Dean was seeing someone at the time but Kara couldn’t help but find him attractive and very magnetic! Fast forward a year and they shared a random kiss at a party one night. She really liked him but somehow Dean didn't think she was interested. Fast forward AGAIN to the end of February 2015 (still their senior year), where Kara decided to be a bit more forward about her feelings…it worked and they started dating! Their first date is straight out of a romcom, where they danced in Dean’s kitchen, made dinner together, and watched Across the Universe. I mean come on! Admittedly their relationship moved quickly, by April just two months into dating they shared "I love you’s". At this same time Kara was interviewing for a job in Ohio and asked Dean to come with her. She remembers that she was “very very certain that my intentions were to spend forever with him.”

In October of 2020 Dean was ready to propose. He shared candidly that he had wanted to propose to Kara for years but his drinking had gotten in the way. Per Kara’s request, she wanted him to have enough sobriety time under his belt before starting this next chapter. Kara remembers having a feeling that it would be happening soon but wasn’t expecting it to happen the day before Dean’s cousin was to get married. Everyone was meeting up at Dean’s parent’s house for pizza. They had brought over a few tiki torches that were to go outside. Dean got them from the car and when he came back, he asked Kara to help him. She came out onto the patio, doing a in her words “weird walk” and said "Where are we stickin' these bad boys?!" Dean said her name and when she turned around her entire family and two best friends came from around the corner and into view. Kara said she “put it all together very quickly and started crying and didn't stop until well after saying yes!” It was simple, short and perfect.

Their winter wedding at The Atrium had all of the classic yet stylish touches. From the elegant place settings to the rich green hues seen in their wedding party attire, the attention to detail did not go unnoticed. Kara wore a gorgeous mermaid style dress with a fur wrap, while Dean wore black suit with champagne details. They shared a first look together, putting them both at ease before their ceremony in the naturally lit atrium space. Once at their reception they were surprised by Dean’s parents with an Opera trio during dinner and fireworks to finish out the evening. Throughout the night the dance floor was packed and you could tell everyone was so happy to be celebrating with them! It was truly a beautiful day, start to finish!

Elegant Winter Wedding at The Atrium | Kara+Dean