Rustic, Family-Oriented Wedding in Corning, NY | Britt and Will
Britt and Will planned the most lovely, rustic, family-oriented wedding in Corning, NY for the last weekend in October, and their love story, family, and steadfast faith left a forever imprint on my heart.
It was quite possibly the quickest turnaround wedding I’ve ever had the privilege of participating in, and that was primarily for one reason — Britt’s brother, Brody, was terminally ill, and they wanted him to be there with them that day more than anything. Heartbreakingly, they lost Brody one month prior to their wedding. And yet in spite of the heartache they carried, his presence was felt and savored every moment of the day.
Britt and Will carried themselves with such grace and quiet strength the entire day, and from start to finish, their wedding day dripped with heartfelt emotion and rich, unshakeable trust in Jesus Christ.
Countless tears were shed, tissues passed, and shoulders lended, and I was literally shook by Britt and Will’s testimony of faith, their rock-solid community, and most of all, by their fierce, beautiful love for one another.
Hi, I’m Emilee!
If you’re looking for joyful, artful, emotion-rich imagery, then I maaaay be your gal!
I’m an Upstate NY Wedding Photographer who specializes in a laid-back photography approach, and I’d love to help tell your love story!
When Britt relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina, she was eventually introduced to Will through mutual friends. After their first phone call (which lasted 5+ hours!) it became pretty clear that their connection was instantaneous – but it still took time for their relationship to fully click into place. I love how blogger Kirsten Franze gives words to this phenomenon in the Gospel Coalition’s recent article, Finding the Perfect Spouse: “In his wisdom and kindness, God gave me a husband who’s different from the man I imagined I’d marry, but overwhelmingly better for me in every way. Our strengths and weaknesses differ, helping us become better as one than we were as individuals.”
Note: Kirsten also points to the influence of Timothy Keller’s book, The Meaning of Marriage, and the role it played in helping her understand relationships, dating, and marriage – and SAME, girlfriend! Keller’s book was so vital in shaping my own perspective and heart posture toward marriage – read more thoughts and reflections on my own marriage journey here! I highly recommend this book for anyone – whether single, dating, honeymooning, or long-time lovers. It gave such a helpful, insightful, and Biblical framework for understanding marriage in context of the gospel!
Psst… in case you haven’t noticed, awkward photos aren’t really my vibe.
My goal is to get you feeling comfortable and yourself, so you can enjoy personality-driven imagery for years to come!
If you’re looking at this gallery, thinking, “YASSSSS!”, then we need to talk… like yesterday!
Keep scrolling to see Britt and Will’s full gallery! ↓
I loved that Britt and Will’s faith was a priority to them at their wedding.
Marriage, by design, was created and instituted by God as a gift for all of humanity, so it’s always so beautiful to me when couples choose to highlight this on their wedding day. Such was the desire of Britt and Will, who chose to be married by Britt’s childhood pastor. They incorporated the richest and sweetest bedrock of faith into their ceremony and wove in beautiful religious elements.
Wanting to glorify God, celebrate the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and do so in a way that included their guests and loved ones, Britt and Will opted for the following two religious rituals that have been long-standing favorites of mine:
Communion: They chose to take communion together, which has traditionally been regarded as “an ordinance started by Jesus during the Last Supper with His disciples.” It is a way for believers to remember Jesus's sacrifice for their sins and practice thankfulness for God’s love and grace that was exhibited through Jesus on the cross. “As Christians take communion together, they demonstrate their union with each other and with Jesus. Christians are reminded of Jesus’s sacrifice and remind each other that He is coming again.” (What Does The Bible Say About Communion by GotQuestions.Org)
Joint parental prayer: After communion, Britt and Will’s pastor invited both of their parents to surround them, lay hands on them, and pray for them as they entered into a marriage covenant. This, in my opinion, is such a beautiful way of including and inviting parents into wedding ceremonies in a simple and straightforward way, but also a very personal, meaningful, and sacred way. There wasn’t a dry away amongst any of them, pointing to the beautiful depth and breadth of their relationships, and it was truly a holy experience to capture with my lens.
“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.” Ephesians 5:31-33
For more inspiration on hosting a God-centered, gospel-oriented wedding, check out Gigi and Alex’s Formal Wedding Meets Biblical Marriage in North Carolina or Nicole and Truett’s Modern, Elegant Wedding in Nashville, Tennessee. These couples made such beautiful efforts to craft biblically rooted ceremonies that were faithful to Scripture, honorable to Jesus, and true celebrations of the real meaning of marriage – the Gospel!
Aspiring not only for a sentimental wedding, but an aesthetically beautiful one, Britt leaned into all her creative juices (which are plentiful, might I add!) and she orchestrated the rustic wedding of any vintage-loving gal’s dreams. Her initial vision was all-things antique, earthy, and fall boho – but landing The Pines at Corning, NY as her venue, she was able to tap into all of its contemporary elegance and pull off a rustic charm that was off the charts.
The Pines is a newer wedding venue located in Corning, NY which boasts a white, barn-inspired design with a massive all-glass garage door, lofted wood ceilings, exposed white beams, board and batten walls, and elegant chandeliers. It is impeccably designed by owner and creative genius, Angi Boor, and it offers both indoor and outdoor wedding spaces – both of which Britt and Will were able to leverage on their brisk October wedding day.
Britt and Will hosted an outdoor ceremony on the Pines’ back patio – a space that combines both industrial and natural elements like its concrete aisle, sliding barn doors, and wooded-landscaped backdrop – and then they relocated indoors for an inviting, elegantly styled reception.
Complete with bistro-style lighting, the interior space of the Pines is all custom farmhouse tables, meets wooden cross-back chairs, meets reclaimed vintage pieces. For Britt and Will, the result was decadent warmth, rich texture, and a coziness that felt like hot chocolate on a crisp autumn day. It was absolutely lovely.
Note: If you can’t decide between an indoor or outdoor wedding ⬇️
Check out Here Comes the Guide’s amazing article on Choosing Between An Indoor and Outdoor Wedding. It gives a great pro/con list (practically decision-making-matrix HEAVEN!) that will prove to be extremely helpful in navigating your wedding priorities vs. non-priorities, need-to-haves vs. want-to-haves, non-negotiables vs. open-to-ideas, etc.
Beyond the general wedding vibe, Britt worked particularly hard to ensure her wedding flowers matched the overarching style and aesthetic of the day.
She did this partially DIY / partially with the help of Poppysea Floristry. Collaborating with Kelsea, the owner of Poppysea, on her bridal bouquet, they were able to design an arrangement that was earthy, whimsical, and bohemian (honestly, a match made in heaven). Then Britt solo-bootstrapped the floral installation for her ceremony arbor. She selected floral plumes and pampas grass, weaving together the most feathered, textured, beige-toned arrangement, and it was like whispering poetry as the backdrop for their ceremony site.
Peep Britt and Will’s amazing team of wedding vendors, who brought to life their vision for a rustic, family-oriented wedding in Corning, NY:
Venue: The Pines at Corning, NY
Floral Bouquet: Poppysea Floristry
Wedding Gown Boutique: NY Bride and Groom
Wedding Gown Designer: Maggie Sottero
Beauty: Golden Honey Salon
Dressed in a Maggie Sottero gown, Britt personified this very level of rustic whimsy and absolutely owned her shimmering, lace-covered Hattie Lane gown.
(Low key, Maggie Sottero gowns are becoming a favorite of mine! Check out two other recent brides who also wore and rocked Maggie Sottero: my sister, Beth, in the Bethany gown, and also Maggie in the Baxley gown!) Paired with Will’s beige suite and the neutral, earth-toned attire of their bridesmaids and groomsmen, Britt and Will’s wedding party was a real-life vision of rustic elegance.
While their wedding day came right at the tail-end of peak foliage season in Upstate NY, they still landed some gorgeous fall scenery, and I was so happy we were able to score a few bridal portraits with the autumn leaves. Just steps from the Pines’ venue, we located a little pathway through the woods with a canopy of fall colors, including red, burnt orange, and light amber colors. It was a tapestry of soft, muted hues that played perfectly into their rustic wedding and vintage color scheme.
Note: If you’re trying to land a brilliant fall wedding color palette like Britt and Will…
My best hack is to actively monitor I LOVE NY’s Fall Foliage Report! This is an interactive map that highlights the progress of changing leaves across Upstate NY, and it is insanely accurate. For more fall wedding inspiration, check out this Inn at Taughannock wedding!
Britt and Will’s day culminated in a reception that was rich with laughter, tears, Brody-filled memories and tributes, scripture verses, and more tears – plus, a handful of special portraits with their adorable black Labrador Retriever puppy, Betty!
The love, support, and faith-founded fortitude found within the walls of their reception was truly a palpable sensation, and when channeled to the dance floor, it turned electric. 😆 Britt and Will’s community was so supportive and so connective, and I loved being able to witness their marriage, celebrate their love story, and participate in their wedding in such an impactful way! There couldn’t have been a better, more appropriate way to end their day than with a sparkler send-off, and it concluded the most heartwarming, soul-filling day with a true bang!
Full stop— Britt and Will were one of the loveliest, most down-to-earth couples of all-time.
Here’s to their earth-shattering connection, THEIR unshakeable faith, and THE unconditional love they give to their family and friends. I am so thankful for them and the opportunity to have told and celebrated their love story. I will forever be reliving their gorgeous, fall, drool-worthy wedding, not to mention championing them in their new journey as husband and wife! 🥂