Shannon and Lawrence had a lot of changes to their wedding schedule this year because of Covid-19. I first did bridal portraits for Shannon at Pine Lakes Country Club, back in February, before we had any idea how difficult things would get. You can check them out on my blog here. Their wedding at Pine Lakes was supposed to take place back in April. Of course, this is when all the Covid social distancing restrictions were at their strictest. They decided to go ahead and get married with a very private beach house ceremony. I actually photographed this small ceremony for them and the pictures turned out beautiful.
Intimate Beach House wedding
Making plans for the wedding at Pine Lakes Country Club
Even though the private beach house wedding turned out great, Shannon and Lawrence still wanted to have their big ceremony at Pine Lakes Country Club, with a large wedding party and all their friends and family. They decided to move the wedding to the fall of this year and hope that everything would work out. After a couple of date changes, they finally settled on October 24th for the wedding.
They were worried because many venues, like Pine Lakes, have restrictions on dancing inside. They do allow for an outdoor tent with a dance floor underneath. I told them I’ve shot many weddings with dancing under a tent and they always turn out great. I just recommended hanging as many lights around the tent as possible. I also have plenty of off camera lighting so I can make a dance floor look great under any situation.
When I arrived at Pine Lakes I started with some pictures of the bride and bridesmaids getting ready. The bride also wanted to do a first look with her father. He had not been present at the previous beach house wedding. We did this in the little garden area behind the clubhouse and it turned out beautiful.
They planned to have the wedding ceremony about 30 minutes before sunset. This is a beautiful time to do the ceremony, it just doesn’t leave any time for pictures before dark! I started to get very worried because I realized we were going to be so short on time. I suggested that Shannon and Lawrence go ahead and do a first look, so we could get most of their pictures done before the ceremony. I was really glad we did. I had time to get some beautiful portraits of them and the wedding party in the little garden, while the sun was still bright enough to filter through the trees and give some lovely background bokeh.
Sunset ceremony facing the clubhouse
Most ceremonies at Pine Lakes Country Club face the little garden area behind the clubhouse. This is what I would normally recommend to a bride and groom. The trees can give some shade from the harsh sunlight earlier in the day. Shannon and Lawrence decided to have the ceremony on the steps, with all of their wedding guests facing the back of the clubhouse. Because of the early October sunset time, the sun was actually setting below the trees as the ceremony went on. This gave me an opportunity for some beautiful and unique ceremony pictures with the soft light from sunset.
After the ceremony we only had about 10 minutes before the sun would completely set. As quickly as I could get them together, I took the bride, groom and wedding party out for pictures in front of the fountain. It was actually after sunset by the time we took some of the pictures, but there was still enough light, I just had to raise my ISO a good bit. I actually like the background glow from the warm lights inside the clubhouse, it being so late in the evening.
After introductions and dinner everyone went out to the tent for dancing. The weather was great and everyone had a great time dancing outside. At the end of the evening, they left with a beautiful sparkler exit. I always try to get a bride and groom to stop about halfway through the sparklers for a dip back for a kiss. I hope you enjoy the pictures below, if you are planning a wedding at Pine Lakes Country Club please let me know. I would be glad to help you out.
Bride’s hair and makeup – Pine Lakes Country ClubDress hanging in the window – Pine Lakes Country ClubTable seating sign – Pine Lakes Country ClubFountain in front of the clubhouse – Pine Lakes Country ClubPictures from first wedding on table – Pine Lakes Country ClubCeremony lawn – Pine Lakes Country ClubGuestbook table – Pine Lakes Country ClubCeremony details – Pine Lakes Country ClubCeremony setup behind the clubhouse – Pine Lakes Country ClubWedding ring on the flowers – Pine Lakes Country ClubBridesmaids in robes – Pine Lakes Country ClubGroom helping with the boutonniere – Pine Lakes Country ClubMom helping bride with her dress – Pine Lakes Country ClubMom pulling bride’s veil over her shoulders – Pine Lakes Country ClubBridesmaids helping with the dress and veil – Pine Lakes Country ClubBridesmaids with bride before the ceremony – Pine Lakes Country ClubBride with her sisters in the garden – Pine Lakes Country ClubBridesmaids in the garden – Pine Lakes Country ClubFirst look with the bride and her father – Pine Lakes Country ClubFather’s reaction to the first look – Pine Lakes Country ClubHug after the first look – Pine Lakes Country ClubBride kissing her father on the cheek – Pine Lakes Country ClubBridesmaids holding the flowers in the air – Pine Lakes Country ClubBride and bridesmaids walking in the garden – Pine Lakes Country ClubBride running under the bouquets – Pine Lakes Country ClubBridesmaids peeking out behind the bride – Pine Lakes Country ClubFun poses with the bride and bridesmaids in the garden – Pine Lakes Country ClubBride and bridesmaids in the garden – Pine Lakes Country ClubFirst look with bride and groom – Pine Lakes Country ClubGroom turning to see the bride – Pine Lakes Country ClubKiss after the first look – Pine Lakes Country ClubPicture with the groom’s family – Pine Lakes Country ClubBride and groom standing in front of the garden trees – Pine Lakes Country ClubLooking into each other’s eyes in front of the garden trees – Pine Lakes Country ClubKiss in front of the garden trees – Pine Lakes Country ClubGlare from the sun by the garden flowers – Pine Lakes Country ClubPortraits of the bride and groom on the garden path – Pine Lakes Country ClubRomantic moment on the garden path – Pine Lakes Country ClubWedding party on the garden path – Pine Lakes Country ClubWedding party cheering for bride and groom – Pine Lakes Country ClubGroomsmen on the brick path – Pine Lakes Country ClubBest man helping groom with tie – Pine Lakes Country ClubGroomsmen showing off the rings – Pine Lakes Country ClubTable details – Pine Lakes Country ClubBallroom tables – Pine Lakes Country ClubA cord of three strands is not easily broken – Pine Lakes Country ClubFather walking bride down the aisle – Pine Lakes Country ClubWalking down the aisle – Pine Lakes Country ClubGroom looking at bride walking down the aisle – Pine Lakes Country ClubSunset ceremony on the lawn facing the clubhouse – Pine Lakes Country ClubCeremony on the clubhouse steps – Pine Lakes Country ClubSunset ceremony – Pine Lakes Country ClubBride and groom listening to ceremony – Pine Lakes Country ClubGroom listening to vows – Pine Lakes Country ClubBride giving vows to the groom – Pine Lakes Country ClubBride and groom tying rope together – Pine Lakes Country ClubFirst kiss – Pine Lakes Country ClubCheering after ceremony – Pine Lakes Country ClubSunset in the garden – Pine Lakes Country ClubKiss on the lawn – Pine Lakes Country ClubVeil blowing in the wind – Pine Lakes Country ClubPortraits with bride and groom in front of the fountain – Pine Lakes Country ClubBride and groom by the fountain – Pine Lakes Country ClubKiss in front of the fountain – Pine Lakes Country ClubWedding party in front of the fountain – Pine Lakes Country ClubGroomsmen lifting up the bride – Pine Lakes Country ClubFun pose with the wedding party – Pine Lakes Country ClubCake surrounded by bouquets – Pine Lakes Country ClubIntroductions – Pine Lakes Country ClubBride and groom at the sweetheart table – Pine Lakes Country ClubPictures with the guests at their tables – Pine Lakes Country ClubCute baby liked the camera – Pine Lakes Country ClubFeeding each other cake – Pine Lakes Country ClubSmashing the cake – Pine Lakes Country ClubFirst dance – Pine Lakes Country ClubFirst dance under the tent – Pine Lakes Country ClubDip during the first dance – Pine Lakes Country ClubDancing in the crowd – Pine Lakes Country ClubDancing under the tent – Pine Lakes Country ClubCatching the bouquet – Pine Lakes Country ClubSuccessfully getting off the garter – Pine Lakes Country ClubSlow dancing under the tent – Pine Lakes Country ClubBeautiful sparkler exit – Pine Lakes Country Club
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