Whimsical and Woodsy Backyard Wedding in Northern Pennsylvania | Sam and Dryden
When I think back to Sam and Dryden’s whimsical and woodsy backyard wedding in Northern Pennsylvania, I immediately think: sun-filtered trees, periwinkle blues, lush rolling hills, and deep emerald woods.
Their nontraditional microwedding was anchored around the things that mattered most to them— their home, their loved ones, and their vision to curate a day that was laidback, enjoyable, and true to who they are as a couple— so they opted to host their nature-inspired wedding on Sam’s childhood property. From relaxed getting ready photos, to scenic golden hour portraits, to an intimate backyard reception under twinkling string lights, everything about their day felt easygoing and effortless, and I’m so thankful I was able to tell such a heartfelt, homegrown love story.
Choosing a backyard wedding in rural Pennsylvania wasn’t about skipping tradition for Sam and Dryden— it was more about leaning into what felt like second nature to them.
Hosting their wedding at home meant stripping away expectation and building a day around familiarity, comfort, and intimacy. There were no venue rules to follow, no timelines to rush— just their own backyard, a handful of their closest friends and family, and a day that would unfold naturally. In a season where weddings can sometimes feel performative, their choice felt so special and intentional.
Hi, I’m Emilee!
If you’re looking for joyful, 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!
Having known Sam since kindergarten, I loved that she leaned into her family-first, ride-or-die, unwaveringly loyal way of being— so shaped by family and community.
Back then, we were just two of the “Pennsylvania kids” who endured the same long, grueling bus ride to our Christian school in New York. (And if you’re picturing an hour-long commute— half-asleep, punctuated by jolting potholes, then you’d be about right lol.) It was every bit as charming as it sounds, and yet, it was the kind of unpleasant experience that somehow forged a bond lol. It created a camaraderie amongst us Northern PA kids that was something special.
So when I was halfway through my third pregnancy and received Sam’s text, complete with the words: “big news,” “nontraditional backyard wedding,” and “we would love to have you as our photographer,” the answer felt like a given— 100% yes!
Even though their wedding was taking place the day before my due date(!), I knew there was nothing I wouldn’t do to make this happen for a dear, lifelong friend. I planned for the worst, but hoped for the best, and with a hired associate shooter (and the best sister-in-law-ever stepping in as content girlie, stand-in assistant, and general lifesaver during that homestretch of pregnancy!), we had more than enough coverage to make their wedding photography feel seamless.
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 more of Sam and Dryden’s wedding gallery! ↓
Taking place on the property where Sam grew up, she was able to get ready in the most literal, “at-home,” relaxed way possible.
With only a handful of immediate family and friends around, the house settled into an easy, quiet rhythm— conversations drifting between rooms, music playing in the background on Sam’s Echo Dots, and one of the flower girls literally full-on slumped on the couch. It felt less like a wedding morning and more like a slow family gathering, where no one had anywhere else to be or no agenda to rush toward.
With the help of her oldest childhood friend, Jessenia, Sam slipped into her white, off-the-shoulder, silk Meshki gown, laced her powder-blue strappy heels, and looked perfectly the part for her whimsical and woodsy backyard wedding. She wore simple gold pearl-drop earrings alongside her emerald-cut engagement ring, and with her fern tattoo peeking out from under the sleeve of her gown, her entire look echoed the intimate, nature-forward ambiance of the day. After Jessenia secured Sam’s chapel-length veil on the back steps of her house, Sam was ready for her first look.
We chose a tranquil, tucked-away corner of Sam’s backyard for her and Dryden’s first look, which honestly felt more like an oasis.
A wooded clearing where sunlight filtered through the leaves and pooled across the grass in warm, golden patches, the space was framed by deep emerald greens on all sides. It was secluded and hushed, sun-dappled and glowing, and it gave me all the outdoor whimsy vibes. It was perfectly suited for a moment like this that was meant to be intimate, peaceful, and private.
Sam tapped Dryden’s shoulder, and any trace of nerves faded away the moment he turned around. With the kind of shared history only a high school love can bring— friendship, love, loss, and an undeniable, enduring connection— their first look carried a tenderness that was impossible to miss. It held emotion and joy, meaning and memory, and also quickly gave way to unrestrained, contagious laughter. Born from a mix of first-look jitters and the we’re-really-doing-this realization, the moments that followed felt carefree and sweet— less like staged moments, and more like a glimpse into a lifetime of shared inside jokes and steady companionship.
That same sense of ease carried into their very wedding-day style. Sam and Dryden’s look felt fun and offbeat, with Dryden’s mullet and paisley-patterned tie offering a wink of vintage charm, while Sam’s look balanced refined romance and unfussy, laidback elegance.
Her pastel wildflower bouquet— put together by an amazing local cut-flower farm, Little Petal Co.— featured blushing pink roses, warm peach dahlias, butter-yellow marigolds, airy chamomile, and cornflower-blue delphinium. All in all, their vibe was cheery and vibrant, which echoed the natural beauty of the landscape around them.
Following their first look, Sam and Dryden moved indoors so their guests could make their way to the ceremony site, which was also a small clearing in the woods behind their house.
The ceremony space was intentionally simple and organically beautiful, surrounded by dense layers of woods. Rows of wooden benches lined the grassy aisle— their warm, deep brown tones complementing the rich, earthy setting— and a basket of white paper parasols sat nearby, ready for whatever the August weather might bring (read: HEAT lol). Soft, natural light wove through the canopy of trees, and the entire space just teemed with color and abundance.
With only 35 guests present (plus one of Sam’s beloved dogs, Dakota!) Sam and Dryden shared their vows in the space that mattered most to them— outdoors, on their land, in their happy place.
She was walked down the aisle by her brother, Billy, and they were intentional about weaving their loved ones into every part of the ceremony. Their wedding party was made up entirely of kiddos, with their niece and godchildren serving as the flower girls and ring bearer, while their longtime friend, Roddy, officiated. Together, they shared vows and reflections that honored their story, the road that brought them to this moment, and their deceased loved ones who were deeply felt and acutely missed.
Days like Sam and Dryden’s are exactly why I’m so drawn to intimate weddings like this.
There’s something uniquely powerful about celebrating with a small guest count— where every person present truly matters, and the day can unfold with intention and effortlessness. I’ve been lucky enough to document many celebrations rooted in that same spirit, from Kate and Brian’s intimate wedding in the Finger Lakes to Rachelle and Josh’s dark romance destination wedding at Taughannock Falls. While they all look different on the surface, they all share the same heartbeat— meaningful locations, thoughtfully chosen details, and a priority of intentionality over tradition.
That’s the sweet spot that Sam and Dryden found themselves in— a day balanced by lighthearted and sentimental moments, framed by a storybook summer setting that made the outdoors feel especially magical.
After sealing their vows with a kiss, they pranced back down the aisle and there was a noticeable exhale after the ceremony— the kind that settles in once the formalities fade and the joy really sinks in. Guests lingered beneath the trees, trading squeezes and stories, kids darted between benches, and Dakota padded around as if he knew this was a day worth soaking in. It was unhurried in the best way possible, and then we made our way to the wide, grassy field at the end of their driveway for golden hour portraits.
Bathed in soft evening light, and set on the very land where Sam and Dryden are real-time drawing up blueprints for their forever home, this portion of golden hour portraits felt like a defining moment of the day.
Set against the rolling landscape of Northern Pennsylvania, golden hour arrived gently. Soft, periwinkle blue skies stretched overhead, dotted with lazy clouds, while distant hills rose and fell along the horizon. Fields glowed in layered, sun-warmed greens, the trees stood tall and steady, and the light settled across the land with ease. Everything was still and serene— and here, drenched in the hazy summer heat and decadent, honeyed light, we created wedding imagery that felt especially artful.
Sam and Dryden danced and twirled through the field, and capturing their love story through my camera lens was equal parts joyful and effortless.
Between the laughing, joke-telling, and savoring of a warm summer evening, every prompt felt easy and every pose carefree. Dryden lifted Sam with a playfulness, swung her round-and-round, and the entire scene carried that familiar ache of wanting time to slow— to hold onto a feeling just a little longer. It was the kind of fleeting, golden hour magic that makes you wish you could tuck a moment away and return to it whenever you need it most.
As the light cooled and the moon emerged— a slight but sparkling waxing crescent— the bright blue skies of late summer afternoon softened into dusk’s gentler hues.
Lavender haze, muted mauve, and inky silhouettes painted the horizon, and Sam and Dryden’s backyard wedding transformed into a reception that was straight out of a summer-night movie scene. Twinkling reception lights flicked on, dotting the smoothie-toned sky with warm pinpricks of light, and a gentle breeze moved through the trees.
Their reception unfolded just as they’d hoped for— relaxed, laidback, and fully picnic-style.
Floral-patterned tablecloths and mismatched vintage china lined long farmhouse tables, where friends lingered late— plates half-full and White Claws cracked open. It felt less like a formal event and more like the kind of August evening you wish you could press pause on. A coffeehouse-inspired playlist hummed in the background, Noah Kahan and Novo Amor drifting through the air (very on-brand for Sam lol), and guests grazed over pizza and pasta from Sam and Dryden’s favorite local spot.
Sam and Dryden ended their day with sweet treats, gathering around a simple dessert spread of berry tarts and cream-filled pastries.
As the night slowed and conversations faded, the flower girls and ring bearer ended things by roasting marshmallows by the fire alongside Dryden— a small, cozy moment that perfectly captured the spirit of the evening. It was the kind of heartfelt, homegrown ending that fit their whimsical and woodsy backyard wedding just right.
Photographing Sam and Dryden’s wedding felt different— not just because of our shared history, but because of the weight and beauty of what they were honoring.
This wasn’t just a celebration of their love alone, but the continuation of a story rooted in family and legacy. To be invited into their space and entrusted with the memories of such a meaningful, sentimental day— well, it reminded me why I’m drawn to microweddings like this. Without fail, they are profoundly intentional and thoughtful.
Anchored in the rural land Sam’s dad purchased so many years ago— a place deeply tied to her personal story and upbringing, chosen specifically to honor his memory— every part of Sam and Dryden’s day carried extraordinary nostalgia and meaning.
Holding their wedding at her childhood home felt like a quiet tribute, honoring both her dad and other past loved ones whose presence were deeply felt, even if they couldn’t be there in person. I felt so incredibly honored to be part of her and Dryden’s celebration, and to be entrusted with storytelling on a day that was so honest, so personal, and so special to them.
Here’s to Sam and Dryden—to their garden, their land, their wildflowers, their future home, their dogs (and also the unphotographed cats lol), and the full, beautiful country life they’re building together.
May your future be filled with pastel-colored dreams, steady joy, watercolor sunsets, and storybook summer evenings that feel just like this one. I love you guys so much! 🥂