I met Jesse a few years ago when he recruited me to work at the new Medical Marijuana dispensary that had just opened in my hometown. It was a new industry in PA and at the time everyone working in it was very passionate about it. The years passed and eventually we both ended up leaving the PA MMJ industry. Jesse didn't stray far though. His passion for cannabis led him to open two hemp dispensaries, Black Bear Hemp Dispensary. With Carrie (another former MMJ industry worker) working by his side, this power couple is unstoppable!

Jesse and Carrie met during a wellness event at the Pittsburgh Convention Center. Carrie was carrying a bunch of promotional items when Jesse held the door open for her and offered to help. Carrie remembers thinking "wow, chivalry isn't dead! What a nice guy, and he's pretty darn cute too.” Seven months and a work dinner later, their first “date” happened when Jesse invited Carrie to meet up for lunch. She recalls thinking it was a work lunch but instead she met him at his house. They ended up ordering pizza, smoking joints and hanging on his back porch that overlooked the river. She knew she wanted to see him again, as soon as possible!

The proposal happened December 23rd 2021, Carrie was working at their dispensary and Jesse called her to ask if she could meet "a broken down FedEx Truck" that had a delivery for the store on it a few miles down the road. Carrie thought it was strange, but hopped in the car and headed out. When Carrie pulled up to the address for the truck she didn't see anything. She looked over her shoulder, saw Jesse with a horse drawn carriage and started wondering what was going on.

Carrie didn't admit that she was on to what was going to happen as they started a "Christmas adventure" as Jesse called it. She was just glad to be bundled under a blanket because it was so cold out. They rode for about fifteen minutes until they came up on a covered bridge (which are an affinity of Carrie's) and Jesse asked the carriage driver if they could stop and check out the bridge. Jesse didn't waste much time after they got down from the carriage and as Carrie was standing in the entry of the bridge he got down on one knee and asked Carrie to marry him. Carrie was so excited with joy she covered her face and tried to get down on her knees with him. They quickly wrapped each other in their arms as Carrie said yes through tears of joy.

They then loaded up in the carriage, finished off the rest of their Moonshine spiked Apple Cider, lit a joint and headed off into the holidays as a newly engaged couple!

When it came time to plan for their wedding day they both knew they wanted something that felt like them, laid back, and a good time! Their inspo was self described as “a mix of a cannabis cup and a backyard BBQ throwdown”! Staying true to themselves, the decisions they made when planning totally embraced that theme.

We started our day with Carrie at their home. She got ready with a few close friends, her mom and her OG kitty Shredder. Then we headed to Penn’s Choice Hemp Farm for the ceremony. Their ceremony took place at the top of a hill among a field of hemp plants. It was the perfect setting for these two cannabis lovers.

Carrie wore a two piece wedding dress with a lace top and satin skirt. This was paired with a flower crown and custom chuck taylor sneakers, complete with blue bottoms and “Worsk” embroidered on the back. Jesse rocked a sleeveless tuxedo t-shirt, cutoff blue jeans and his favorite work boots.

The ceremony included a beer boy, plus joints and sage for guests to light in celebration! Officiated by Jesse's good friend Beaver, after reading their own vows, the two kissed and lit their “just married” joint! The ceremony was short, sweet and totally them!

After the ceremony finished we had so much fun bouncing around the hemp fields for wedding party pictures. We made a quick stop back at their house for photos with their pup Hash, before heading down to the river to finish up taking portraits with just the two of them.

The reception was held in the local firehall, a last minute change due to the rainy outlook. But that didn't stop them from celebrating with everyone! Dancing, good hangs, homemade food (thanks to Jesse’s mom) and lots of whiskey made for the best time.

Weddings can be super formal affairs. They can also be the exact opposite. Either way you’re going to spend a lot of time planning it. So make sure it’s what you truly want. I loved seeing how happy Jesse and Carrie were all day and how supportive their friends and family were. It was truly such a perfect day and so refreshing to see a couple solely focused on having a good time+loving each other!

Wishing these two the biggest congrats! Cheers to many more big adventures yet to come!

Mid-Summer Wedding at Penn's Choice Hemp Farm | Carrie+Jesse