Mel & Chris

FREE-SPIRITED, VINTAGE-INSPIRED, AND ENTIRELY THEIR OWN

A couple playfully runs and poses across a grassy hillside on their wedding day.

When Melissa described her wedding vision as “funky and folksy (in a 70s kind of way, not a Mumford and Sons kind of way),” I was excited to see how their personal style would unfold. She and Chris wanted the day to feel relaxed, dreamy, and slightly whimsical — never formal, classic, or minimalist.


It was all in the details. Chris wore a custom embroidered medieval Gemini emblem stitched into his attire, a quiet and romantic nod to Melissa’s sign. Melissa embraced texture through lace and long braids woven with wildflowers. Their dachshund, Oscar, moved through the celebration as both muse and honorary member of the wedding party.


When rain arrived, they welcomed it. When the rings were briefly forgotten at the altar, they laughed. That sense of ease carried through the entire day. We photographed them across the woodland grounds of Fernstone Retreat, a setting that felt immersive rather than rustic, with the reception centered around an architectural treehouse.


Captured on film and digital, the atmosphere felt organic and expressive without cliché — a celebration rooted in personality and executed with lovely intention.


Vendors:

Planning: Hurry Up & Have Fun @hurryupandhavefun

Photography & Super 8: Sonya Le Photography @sonyalephoto

Venue: Fernstone Retreat @fernstoneretreat

Florals: Bramble & Blossom @bramble_blossom_pgh

Hair & Makeup: @jennalovesyourhair

Videography: @carnationfilms

DJ: @kelulu.music

Decor: @themmustardcouch

Rentals: @windswept_promotions

A couple in wedding attire shares a joyful moment while holding a brown cat in a wooded outdoor setting.
Rustic wooden headboard with decorative moose decor and table lamps in a cozy bedroom setting.
A series of white dress shirts hanging on clothing racks with price tags and labels attached.
A bride in a white lace dress and veil poses in a garden filled with blooming hydrangea flowers on a summer day.
Wedding reception tables set with green checkered tablecloths and white chairs in a rustic indoor venue.
A person in a tan suit poses with a chocolate Labrador retriever dog by a stone wall near a pond.
Wedding guests seated in white chairs under a tent with string lights and decorative lighting at an outdoor ceremony.
Back view of a white shirt with embroidered mermaid design and brown hair in a bun.
Colorful autumn floral arrangement featuring white daisies, burgundy dahlias, yellow sunflowers, and orange marigolds.
A couple shares a clear umbrella while standing outside a rustic building with stone walls and dark windows.
Vintage black and white photo of a child in lederhosen, suspenders and a helmet holding an old camera.
A white tiered wedding cake decorated with fresh white daisies and green ivy on a silver platter outdoors.
Vintage polaroid style photos showing blurred moments from a celebration.
Candid sequence of outdoor wedding ceremony moments under a rustic wooden pavilion in a natural setting.
A couple shares their first dance in a rustic wooden barn venue surrounded by guests seated on white folding chairs.
Place settings on a green and white checkered tablecloth with illustrated animal drawings and small floral centerpieces.
A person in a white dress poses gracefully by a serene pond with lily pads and flowers in a garden setting.
A white and yellow bridal bouquet featuring dahlias and wildflowers with green ribbon wrapped stems.
A couple stands together in a scenic autumn park setting with fallen red leaves scattered across the grassy slope.
A brown dachshund puppy wearing a delicate floral crown made of pink and white flowers is being gently held.
Traditional embroidered textiles with folk patterns and decorative designs displayed in a repeating arrangement.
A couple in vintage-style wedding attire stands together on an autumn lawn surrounded by trees and fallen leaves.
A couple shares their first kiss as newlyweds by a pond in an autumn garden setting with trees in the background.
A couple in green and white dresses dances together in a garden filled with yellow roses.
A romantic couple shares a dance and kiss under twinkling string lights in a rustic wooden gazebo at dusk.
A sequence of close-up shots showing embroidered details on a light gray shirt sleeve cuff resting on a wooden surface.
Wedding seating chart display boards with orange fall leaf accents arranged at an outdoor venue.
A couple shares a joyful moment during their outdoor forest wedding ceremony, wearing white dress and tan suit.
People dancing in a dimly lit venue with orange neon lights creating zigzag patterns on the ceiling.
Close-up details of an elegant white wedding cake decorated with delicate piping, fresh daisies and greenery accents.
White wedding tents set up in a grassy field surrounded by lush green trees and foliage on a summer day.
Black and white photo of a dance celebration at a rustic barn venue with string lights overhead.
A couple shares a joyful moment under clear umbrellas during their rainy day wedding celebration in a green field.
Place settings on a green and white checkered tablecloth with menus and wine glasses at an Italian restaurant.
A green blazer jacket hangs in front of a window with a deer head silhouette mounted on the wall.
A person in a flowing white lace dress poses gracefully on a wooden deck surrounded by lush green forest scenery.
A group of people laughing and dancing together at a dimly lit indoor gathering.
A couple in wedding attire share a tender moment on a grassy lawn surrounded by autumn trees and fallen leaves.
A young photographer in black overalls and white shirt takes pictures with a camera in an outdoor garden setting.
Rustic wooden beams and string lights create an atmospheric ceiling in a barn-style interior space.
Small brown dachshund dog wearing floral decorations walks across wooden deck in series of photos.
Legs of people in white and brown formal attire standing on a wooden deck or boardwalk.
A romantic wedding moment captured in a lush forest setting with a bride in white lace and groom in tan suit.
Black and white wedding detail shots showing illuminated name signs and decorative elements at a reception table.
A guest book table at a wedding reception features coloring book pages, flowers, and decorative signs.
Man in beige suit and white shirt poses with clear umbrella in sequence of artistic portrait shots.
A couple shares a tender moment during their outdoor wedding ceremony in a wooded setting.
A figure in a flowing white dress dances in a field at dusk with string lights and white tents in the background.
Rustic barn wedding ceremony setup with wooden beams, string lights, and white folding chairs arranged in rows.
Wooden bar counter decorated with orange floral signs and mason jar centerpieces for a cocktail service setup.
Group of people sitting together in a casual outdoor setting on grassy field with trees in background.
A series of black and white surveillance photos showing a person in a coat and scarf moving in the dark.
A couple shares a romantic moment on a grassy field with white event tents in the background.
White two-tier wedding cake decorated with fresh daisies and delicate piping details, topped with miniature figures outdoors.
A couple sits together on a rustic wooden bench wearing white and olive green attire in a romantic outdoor setting.
A person stands in a white tent with string lights overhead and colorful flowers arranged at their feet.
Wedding accessories including a bowtie, champagne flutes, rings, and a white lace clutch arranged on a wooden table.
Black and white wine bottles chilling in ice at an event bar service setup.
A flowing white dress twirls through an autumn garden with scattered red and orange leaves on the ground.
String lights illuminate a rustic wooden pavilion structure nestled among trees at dusk.
A person in a beige suit sits on a wooden bench in a sequence of four similar poses against a dark background.
Three people having a casual conversation at a nighttime outdoor gathering, with two wearing long dresses and one in a blazer.
A row of white lace wedding dresses displayed on hangers against a dark background in a bridal boutique window.
A flowing white lace dress hangs suspended in a garden with blooming hydrangea bushes in the background.
A couple shares romantic moments in a scenic garden setting with fallen autumn leaves and a pond in the background.
Close-up view of hands doing embroidery work on white fabric with green and brown thread details.
Brown leather loafers rest on a red and black patterned rug in a dimly lit room.
A group of wedding attendees in colorful dresses share laughter and joy while posing together outdoors.
Two men share a joyful moment at an outdoor wedding celebration with green trees and white decor in the background.
People dancing and celebrating at a wedding reception in a dimly lit venue with festive decorations.
Wedding guests gather in a rustic wooden barn venue decorated with string lights during a ceremony.
A rustic dessert table display features an assortment of cookies, pastries, and floral arrangements in warm autumn colors.
A colorful floral garland with orange, pink, and white flowers arranged against a light yellow background.
A group in formal attire poses joyfully together outdoors in a series of black and white celebration photos.
A romantic outdoor wedding moment captured on a grassy lawn with trees in the background and a small floral bouquet nearby.
A sequence of photos shows a person in a white dress twirling gracefully in a lush green meadow with wildflowers.
Wedding rings in black boxes sit in a row on a rustic wooden surface with blurred floral garden backdrop.
An outdoor wedding ceremony under a white tent with string lights, featuring a couple and officiant with a white dog present.
Two people share a clear umbrella while laughing together at an outdoor wedding ceremony in a grassy field.
A sequence of candid party photos showing people dancing and interacting in a dimly lit setting with animated expressions.
A romantic couple shares an intimate moment on a rustic wooden deck surrounded by greenery.
A couple in wedding attire shares a joyful moment with their brown dog during an outdoor photo session.
Wedding guests dance and celebrate on a rustic wooden barn floor illuminated by string lights overhead.
A group celebrates at a wedding reception with dancing and joyful interactions on the dance floor.
A cozy living room interior with brown leather furniture and natural light streaming through windows.
A black and white photo sequence shows someone in a suit taking a drink from a glass in low lighting.
A person in a white vintage-style dress with puff sleeves stands by blooming hydrangea bushes on a garden path.
A rustic wooden bar counter with a 'Fernstone Retreat' sign mounted on the side panel displays wine bottles and decor.
A couple sits together on a grassy hillside surrounded by lush green trees in a romantic outdoor setting.
A couple dances their first dance under a rustic wooden pavilion while guests watch from white folding chairs.
White carnation flowers with delicate petals against a dark background create a dramatic botanical composition.
A wedding ceremony takes place on a wooded path decorated with glowing string lights at dusk.