Zack & Raena | A Gospel-Centered Wedding at Whittier Apple Farm | Ashville, NY

Weddings

There are weddings you photograph, and then there are weddings that change you a little. Zack and Raena’s wedding day at Whittier Apple Farm in Bemus Point, NY was the second kind. I will be honest with you — this is the wedding I have cried the most at, out of every single wedding I have photographed. Not because it was sad. Because it was so full of truth, so full of joy, and so full of Jesus that it was impossible not to feel every bit of it from behind my camera.

If you’re planning a wedding at Whittier Apple Farm, searching for a Bemus Point wedding photographer, or you just want to see what happens when two young people build their marriage on the gospel from day one — grab a tissue and keep scrolling.

Young, Free, and So Ready

Zack and Raena are fresh out of school, and there is something so special about photographing a couple this young and this sure of what they’re doing. There was zero hesitation in this wedding day. No nerves about “are we ready for this.” Just two people who love Jesus, love each other, and were beyond thrilled to become husband and wife. Their joy was contagious from the very first click of the shutter.

The Sweetest First Looks

We started the morning with not one, not two, but THREE first looks that had everyone (including me) wiping tears before the ceremony even began.

Raena’s first look with her brothers was pure sweetness — the kind of unguarded, joyful tears that happen when the people who’ve known you your whole life see you as a bride for the first time.

And then there was Zack’s first look with his mom. Her words of wisdom with both Zack and his brother in that moment were especially impactful. It set the tone for the whole day: this wasn’t just a wedding about a couple, it was a wedding about family, faith, and legacy.

A Ceremony Built Entirely Around the Gospel

This is what made Zack and Raena’s wedding day so different from any other wedding I’ve photographed — the gospel was preached not once, but at least four separate times throughout the day. Every element of the ceremony pointed back to Christ and His church.

One of the most powerful moments was when Zack and Raena washed each other’s feet before their vows, a living picture of Christ’s love for the church and a servant-hearted picture of what their marriage would be built on. I have never photographed anything quite like it, and I don’t think I ever will forget it.

Zack’s handkerchief, embroidered with “Happy Tears”, was such a small but perfect detail — because happy tears is exactly what this entire day was.

A Whittier Apple Farm Wedding Day

Whittier Apple Farm gave this couple everything a wedding day needs — rolling green fields, a quiet pond, and a beautiful barn wood. Whether the sky was bright blue or heavy with clouds, this venue delivered soft, romantic light all day long, and it made for some of my favorite bridal portraits of the year.

The reception was warm and full of laughter, with heartfelt toasts and Zack and Raena serving cake to their guests themselves.

And of course, the night ended the way every great wedding should — surrounded by family and friends holding sparklers high as Zack and Raena shared one more kiss as husband and wife.

Final Thoughts

Some weddings are beautiful. Some weddings are meaningful. Zack and Raena’s wedding was both, and then some. It was a day that reminded me exactly why I love what I do — capturing not just pretty pictures, but real love, real family, and real faith, all in one unforgettable day at Whittier Apple Farm.

If you’re looking for a Bemus Point, NY wedding photographer who will treasure the meaning behind your day as much as you do, I’d be honored to talk with you about your own wedding.