A lot of wedding days are a variation of a beautiful and joyous fairytale brought to life. In late May, however, at the jaw-dropping Fonthill Castle (Mercer Museum) in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Sarah and Sam were as close to a real-life fairytale as I’ve ever seen. 

Their wedding was influenced by favorite story Alice in Wonderland and featured scrolls of love and welcome read by their officiant, skeleton key place cards, oversized (and handmade by Sarah!) flowers for the ladies and bright colors everywhere you looked. 

Sarah and Sam have a love of colors, details, history and yes, love itself. Their day represented all of that and more. 

From Sarah’s amazing hair and makeup and beautiful lace dress to Sam’s dazzling smile and the way he wiped his eyes as he saw Sarah for the first time that day, it was just a series of moments filled with laughter, love and a lot of happy tears and hugs. 

The rain held off until just moments after the tent-covered reception began, which allowed for a beautiful castle backdrop for their outdoor ceremony under huge trees. Their personalized vows read aloud to each other caused a great many happy sniffles. 

Every wedding leaves some imprint in my mind and on my heart — sometimes it’s speeches or details or a venue. Sarah and Sam’s Fonthill Castle wedding had all of those, without a doubt. Yet the thing I’ll most remember is their joy. Holding hands and making funny faces at each other and twirling and singing on the dance floor. If ever there was love and pure radiating happiness, it was there that night. 

“No, no! The adventures first, explanations take such a dreadful time!” – Lewis Carroll

Second Shooter: Kris Micari
Venue: Mercer Museum and Fonthill Castle
DJ: DJ Nyahay