Corey & Jennifer's Angelic Wedding in Belmont, NY | Destiny Burke Wedding Photography

Corey & Jennifer’s Angelic Wedding in Belmont, NY

Jennifer first contacted me in 2016 while trying to find a photographer that would accommodate her wedding plans for 2018.

She told me that many details were still up in the air but that the most important part of the date would be that her late infant son and parents would be remembered appropriately as their chose his birthday as their Wedding Date. I thought this was such a unique idea but I knew that I could help.

I explained to Jennifer that I had lost a daughter at 10 months old back in 2012 and I understood what it meant to have some wedding portraits taken at the cemetery of your loved one to include them into the wedding details. I was humbled by this request and knew we had connected for a reason.

The time has finally come

The Wedding date was fast approaching and as she began to tell me all the updates to their plans, her beautiful vision began to take a emotionally beautiful shape.

I arrived at an abandoned church located directly next to the cemetery where both Jennifer’s parents were laid to rest. Corey and Jennifer’s son also memorialized with them. The ceremony was set up directly to the side of the church just beyond the cemetery fence. Most brides’ run to hide from sight is from a Limo to a bridal room; this was uniquely heart warming as she staid on her parents side of the fencing and almost immediately, she expressed that she felt better having them all nearby.

After a short and sweet ceremony, I watched one by one, guests making their way through the gate and down the rows of headstones to get to the corner in the back where their family lay. Today was their son’s birthday. The significance of this date will forever be changed. Adding a little more sweet to the already, bitter sweet date for them.

Once Corey and Jennifer had time to talk with friends and family directly following the ceremony, they too, made their way across the green grass to their family’s’ corner.

Jennifer bent down and whispered to the large headstone with all three of their names on it and placed three flowers at the base. I had a deeper understanding of why she had hired me. Not only did I understand the loss of a child and parent, this was the moment she didn’t want to me judged for. She wanted to have her time with her parents, her wedding next to a cemetery and needed a photographer that wouldn’t look at it any differently than if it had been the Ritz. This was a comfortable place for them, this was where their beloved family lay and it was the only place they could have had their ceremony so that the dearest of family could attend. I felt so honored to share in this moment. I captured it respectfully and gave them their time.

After some mingling, the bridal party, myself and some close relatives, headed down to Angelic Bridge located nearby and the name spoke so loudly to me. It was perfect for them.

We took some stunning portraits of the two of them and then had some family join in for some fun! After family portraits were complete, we let family head off to the reception site while the bridal party and I staid behind just a little bit longer. I walked up to the overpass of the bridge and wanted to capture it from many angles. It was massive and beautiful to say the least. The last set of poses, we got a little more daring and decided to take a few from the middle of the roadway. We had lookouts on guard from either angle (because, safety first). Sometimes the fastest portrait sessions are the most fun, a little daring and angles not many are able to get (or crazy enough, depending on how you look at it) are sometimes the most unforgettable.

The Reception

We all headed off to Corey & Jennifer’s beautiful home where they had a large white canopy tent waiting. There was pastel decor with flowers all around. – It was stunning. A mixture between pink, whites and corals filled the room with handmade lanterns, pastel paper flowers, wooden signs and many other stunning decorations.

When it came time for the speeches, I was blown away at the strong words of the Maid of Honor. Her love for her friend was unlike any I’ve seen. You could tell she had been there when the thick was thick and now today, she was standing there for the best of the best. I will admit that I have cried with couples on their wedding day but this day touched my soul.

Corey spun Jennifer around on the dance floor and after a making sure I captured details, dances and candid shots of guests, the day that had waited so long to arrive now felt so short!

I could not thank these two enough for the amazing experience of being their Wedding Photographer.

Check out some of these awesome images from their gallery!