Choosing the right style of wedding for you and your partner is tough! Weddings are not one-size-fits-all, and I know that Gianna & Tommy struggled to try and figure out what would work best for them. Ultimately though, an adventurous elopement was what won their hearts, and I'm so glad it did because they really did have the best day ever!
They had both gotten ready either at home or at mom's house prior to us meeting at the Tharp Knob picnic area. Their ceremony had an absolutely beautiful view overlooking the ridge and the town of Ohiopyle below. It was an occasion just for their closest family members, and of course, their daughter was their best girl! She even got a ring placed on her hand by dad and was so excited that they all matched. Gianna's father officiated the ceremony and did an absolutely wonderful job. Once they sealed the deal with their first kiss, the whole crew celebrated with a toast and a meat & cheese tray! Anyone who brings a charcuterie to their elopement is a friend of mine. They took some time to celebrate with their families and take photos with them before the group departed, and then the three of us were off for their adventure...
(side note: if you're looking for a ceremony spot that's got a great view but is also accessible for family members with mobility issues, you can drive a 4x4 to this spot from the parking lot if needed!)
Our next spot was the beautiful Cucumber Falls! The bottom of Gia's dress was covered in leaves, and it was kinda funny to see people clutching their pearls as we walked past, saying "oh hunny, your dress!" but that's all part of the adventure, and as she put it "that's why I paid $100 for a dress from Lulu's!". And because we weren't going on any long or strenuous hikes, her sneakers were absolutely perfect for the trails and were very "on brand" for her personality. Tommy was looking dapper in his suit of course, and when he hiked his pants up to show me his socks later, he revealed that he was wearing Gia's Jack Skellington socks lol. Something borrowed, right?
After the falls, we made it down towards the river for photos on the flat rocks with the surrounding mountains. It was perfect timing too because the sun was setting and peeking perfectly right over the hill. My favorite part was when I was taking photos of them individually and told them to look at their husband/wife to make them smile, and they had the absolute biggest and most happy faces in those moments. They were so excited to finally be married and shouted out "O'Learyyy!" for the world to hear on multiple occasions, because even though they were already family, it was "official" now.
So happy that they chose me to document this amazing day for them! Such an amazing group of people and the most fun and loving couple❤️
Planning your Ohiopyle Wedding Adventure? Visit the Pennsylvania Weddings page to find out more about my all-inclusive elopement photography & guide packages! And fill out the contact form at the bottom of any page to inquire about availability.
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Hey there! I'm Carly D'Angelo-Hall - a photographer specializing in documenting weddings and elopements across the U.S. If you love adventure, experiencing new things, and if you like to live "outside of the box", let's talk about how I can help you create and capture the wedding day of your dreams! Visit wildnorthweddings.com to view all-inclusive wedding day and adventure session packages.
Wild North Weddings is an elopement and adventure wedding photographer documenting weddings in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, the Laurel Highlands, Ohiopyle, Cook Forest State Park, The Alleghany National Forest, Kinzua Recreational Area, The Poconos, Jim Thorpe, Hickory Run State Park, Delaware Water Gap, The Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, Worlds End State Park, Erie, Presque Isle, and many more locations in PA!
