Non Traditional Weddings Archives - Black White and Raw Photography

Strasburg Railroad Wedding with Red Caboose Motel Reception

Getting Ready at the Red Caboose Motel

Lerin and Brian’s sweet train wedding wasn’t exactly what they’d planned. Their original reception venue cancelled due to Covid and the two were left scrambling trying to come up with an alternative for their vintage inspired, Strasburg Railroad wedding. The ceremony was to take place on the train after a ride to Paradise, Pa. The Red Caboose Motel stepped up and was able to provide cars for everyone to get ready in, as well as providing an open air tent for the reception. The Strasburg Railroad, the Red Caboose Motel and the couple did a fabulous job at keeping everyone as safe as possible. Why a train wedding, you ask?

The Proposal

BWR: How did Brian Propose?

Lerin: Brian had planned to propose to me at his family’s vacation home in the Thousand Islands, right near the water. He had arranged for a time when no one else would be there. When we were about a half an hour away, his aunt texted him to say they were headed to the house too. Brian sped up to about 90 mph to get there in time for us to have privacy. I, of course, was oblivious. I was so confused why he rushed me down to the water the second we got there, but I went along with it. Then he got down on one knee and asked me, “Will you ride all the trains with me?” Being the lady that I am, I responded with, “Choo CHOO motherfucker.” (All just moment before his aunt showed up!)

Strasburg Railroad Train Ride and Ceremony

The Strasburg Railroad was a suprisingly great way to keep guests as socially distanced as possible. The entire train, which has open air cars, was reserved for wedding guests. There were plenty of individuals cars, so guests could stay in small groups of close family. The cars were large and spacious. After a ride to Paradise, Lerin’s walk down the “aisle” was from the back of the train through each car to the front. Then guests all got off the train to watch the ceremony.

Couples Portraits at Strasburg Railroad

It was such a treat to have a few minutes for portraits at the Strasburg Railroad. It is America’s oldest continuously operating railroad, and a really unique background for portraits.

Red Caboose Motel Reception

The Red Caboose did a FABULOUS job keeping everyone as Covid safe as possible. The most important factor in guests staying safe and responsible is the couple setting a great example. Brian made a speech asking guests to please wear masks if they left their family’s table and the couple really modeled that behavior. I’ve never seen so many guests masked on the dance floor. It was really wonderful. They also had seats set up outside the tent, for people who wanted to stay farther distanced, and as a vendor, I really appreciated a spot to go sit away from other guests for some fabulous BBQ.

Advice from the Bride

BWR: What tips would you give to other couples planning a wedding during covid?

Lerin: If I could give advice to couples planning their wedding during the pandemic, the biggest tip is to plan ahead for the safety of your guests. We went out of our way to make everything as safe as possible. This way, there were fewer last minute surprises. And FLEXIBILITY! My wedding was perfect, but definitely not what I had initially planned.

Vendor List

Ceremony: Strasburg Railroad

Reception: Red Caboose Motel

Cake: Simply Sherry

Food: Hess’s Barbecue Catering

Officiant: Sealed with a Kiss by Kait

Makeup: Makeup by Roxy

Dress: Agnes Edmunds

Bartender: Catered Cocktails

Tent/table rentals: Ace the Party Place

Flowers: Kelly’s Florist

All the decor was made or created by family or myself.

Socially distanced wedding

PANDEMIC WEDDING POSTPONEMENT

The pandemic wedding postponement will always define this time in my career. When Yvette and Aaron emailed me that their May wedding would have to be postponed due to the Covid 19 quarantine, I was devastated. Not because I was losing another wedding, but because I was RIDICULOUSLY excited about theirs.

HOW WE CONNECTED

We met the couple at the Love Sick Expo. We had a giveaway for free engagement shoots and I was thrilled when they won. They even found an engagement shoot location that I hadn’t been to before, The Glen Foerd. It’s a beautiful location that I continue to use. We discovered we had also photographed a good friend of Yvette’s wedding at the Penn Museum of Archeology and it was one of our favorites. I was thrilled with the engagement shoot, which you can check out here.

The next wedding expo we did was at one of our very favorite venues, the Historic Aldie Mansion. We’ve photographed some gorgeous weddings there, so I was thrilled when the two walked in to check it out for their wedding. They ended up booking the venue and us. Yvette and I got Facebook friendly and when she sent me photos of her dress, I was pretty sure I’d died and gone to wedding photographer heaven. It was EVERYTHING. And I’m not going to tell you anything about it because I WILL still photograph her in that dress, even if it’s a year away.

A GLOBAL PANDEMIC STRIKES

The Covid-19 virus struck globally and Philadelphia was quarantined. Pandemic wedding postponement affected approximately 45 of our clients, some up to two years away. It was dizzying and scary and awful. I felt like I was in free fall with no net or ground in sight. (Still looking for that net, btw)

THE BRILLIANT SOLUTION

Not a couple to let anything stop their love, the two had a brillant idea. Yvette made a facebook post that she and Aaron would be doing a Vow Exchange ceremony on Race Street Pier on FaceBook Live for all their friends to see. I’m pretty sure I BEGGED them to let me come take photos. We found a spot with the bridge in the background where Aaron could set up his phone for the live shot and we could stay socially distanced from others. We wore our masks, and they did too, except for the actual ceremony.

They shared vows and readings as a crowd gathered to watch. Strangers applauded and cheered during their kiss as if they were invited guests. It felt as though everyone was craving seeing genuine connection as much as I was. Their vow exchange was something extraordinary and beautiful in the midst of utter chaos and uncertainty. At the end of the day, the newlyweds invited all of their quarantined wedding guests to post their “reception meal” photos from the homes which was a wonderful way to end the day. I can’t wait for their big wedding with all their friends, but this was an afternoon I will truly never forget.