Ruth Ann & Stacy - The Pines & Mandana Barn Wedding
Ruth Ann and Stacy's wedding weekend began on June 26, 2015 the same day the Supreme Court declared that same sex marriage is legal in all 50 states (amazing timing, right!!!). They started the festivities at The Pines, a sprawling camp on Skaneateles Lake that has been in Ruth Ann's family for over 100 years. It's a delightful place where childhood summers were spent and Ruth Ann made wonderful memories so it was a natural choice to gather their loved ones here to celebrate their union on the eve of their wedding day! The casual gathering felt much like a loving family reunion and it was filled with kids swimming and fishing, mayflies hatching, lakeside campfires, craft brews, laughter, ice-cream, Dinosaur BBQ, and potato guns! Check out the later part of this post to see some of the rehearsal dinner festivities. Their wedding day started out uneventful but as the day went on heavy rains arrived and they departed only for a few brief moments during the rest of the day. As hard as the rain fell it did not dampen Stacy or Ruth Ann's spirits, they were nothing but joy through it all (even when fierce winds knocked down their beautiful arbor during their ceremony). It was a complete pleasure documenting Stacy and Ruth Ann's Mandana Barn wedding celebration because they were so darn happy and because they put some much thought into everything. I especially love that they dined on their grandmother's and mother's china and the lip whistles they surprised their guests with at the ceremony so they could blow kisses at them during their first kiss as a married couple!
A few days after their wedding the skies finally cleared and I suggested that they take the literal plunge in Skaneateles Lake, I figured if their wedding day had to be wrapped in a veil of rain then then we should embrace the idea of water and make it work for us on a completely different level! You'll find those tender images at the bottom of the post. Enjoy!
Same sex couple pose by the lake at Mandana Barn Wedding
Entrance to the wedding venue and one of the tables at Mandana Barn Wedding
Bride gets a makeover at Mandana Barn Wedding
Bride prepares for her turn at the makeup chair at Mandana Barn Wedding
Makeup artist applies mascara to the bride's eyelashes at Mandana Barn Wedding
Bride chooses the right mascara at Mandana Barn Wedding
A friend fixes one of the bride's earings at Mandana Barn Wedding
Bride shows photos of her parents at Mandana Barn Wedding
A friend attaches the bride's bracelet at Mandana Barn Wedding
Four different shots of the same sex couple at Mandana Barn Wedding
Same sex couple carrying umbrellas stroll in the woods at Mandana Barn Wedding
Same sex couple hold hands on a wooden bridge in the woods at Mandana Barn Wedding
Same sex couple share a happy moment in the woods at Mandana Barn Wedding
Close up of leaves in the woods at Mandana Barn Wedding
Same sex couple laugh in the woods while holding hands at Mandana Barn Wedding
Same sex couple kiss in the rain at Mandana Barn Wedding
Same sex couple take a walk in the woods at Mandana Barn Wedding
An empty swing is found near the entrance to the wedding venue at Mandana Barn Wedding
Funny sign greets guests at the wedding venue at Mandana Barn Wedding
Couple share a quiet moment in the garden at Mandana Barn Wedding
A basket holds the wedding program at Mandana Barn Wedding
Bride and a relative walk down the aisle at Mandana Barn Wedding
Same sex couple face the marriage officiant at Mandana Barn Wedding
Same sex couple face each other at Mandana Barn Wedding
Couple kiss as guests blow lip whistles at Mandana Barn Wedding
Same sex couple with flowers leave the wedding tent at Mandana Barn Wedding
Same sex couple pose for posterity in front of the wedding venue at Mandana Barn Wedding
The wedding venue and close up shot of flowers on the table at Mandana Barn Wedding
Signs showing the same sex couple's seats at Mandana Barn Wedding
Chinese lanterns hang from the ceiling at Mandana Barn Wedding
Tables await guests at the wedding venue at Mandana Barn Wedding
Beautiful silverware adorn the table at Mandana Barn Wedding
Same sex couple's wedding cake at Mandana Barn Wedding
Close up shot of the beautiful centerpiece at the same sex couple's wedding at Mandana Barn Wedding
A yellow lip whistle awaits one of the guests at the wedding venue at Mandana Barn Wedding
Couple embrace in the garden at Mandana Barn Wedding
Close up shot of the lovely bouquet at Mandana Barn Wedding
Same sex couple dance in the field at Mandana Barn Wedding
Same sex couple with matching boots and jackets at Mandana Barn Wedding
Same sex couple hold hands while strolling in the field at Mandana Barn Wedding
Same sex couple in a romantic dance at Mandana Barn Wedding
Guests of same sex couple dance the night away at the wedding venue at Mandana Barn Wedding
Pictures of the same sex couple decorate the wedding venue and close up shot of flowers at Mandana Barn Wedding
Bride talks to a guest at Mandana Barn Wedding
Old photos of the couple and giveaways at the wedding venue at Mandana Barn Wedding
Same sex couple's unique giveaways for guests at Mandana Barn Wedding
Guests show their dance moves at Mandana Barn Wedding
Guest dances while blowing a lip whistle at Mandana Barn Wedding
Couple kiss in the moonlight in the field at Mandana Barn Wedding
The rehearsal dinner was held at the Pines and here are a few of my favorite moments...
Scenes from the rehearsal dinner at same sex couple wedding at Mandana Barn Wedding
Kids lie in the hammock at Mandana Barn Wedding
Scenes from the same sex couple wedding rehearsal at Mandana Barn Wedding
Guests relax in rocking chairs at the same sex couple's wedding rehearsal at Mandana Barn Wedding
Different shots from the same sex couple rehearsal wedding at Mandana Barn Wedding
Same sex couple dive in the lake at Mandana Barn Wedding
More scenes from the same sex couple wedding rehearsal at Mandana Barn Wedding
Same sex couple rub noses in the moonlight at Mandana Barn Wedding
Ruth Ann and Stacy agreed to take the literal "plunge" one more time for me a few days after their wedding, this is what came from that adventure...
Same sex couple with bouquets pose by the lake at Mandana Barn Wedding
Same sex couple take a dip in the lake at Mandana Barn Wedding
Same sex couple kiss in the lake at Mandana Barn Wedding
Same sex couple get cozy in the lake at Mandana Barn Wedding
Same sex couple embrace in the lake at Mandana Barn Wedding
Same sex couple share a tender moment in the lake at Mandana Barn Wedding
Same sex couple emerge from the lake at Mandana Barn Wedding
Same sex couple rub noses near the lake at Mandana Barn Wedding
Same sex couple celebrate their union in the lake at Mandana Barn Wedding