Sylvan Cellars Wedding | Mr. + Mrs. Knafel | Stacey Harting Photography

Walking into Brooke and Nick’s Sylvan Cellars wedding day was so exciting! As I entered Brooke’s getting ready room, I couldn’t help but give her a huge hug because the day was finally here! Nick and Brooke are so special to me because they are family. I’ve known Nick my entire life (he is my cousin’s son). I still remember the days when he was really little running around at family gatherings. Time has flown by so quickly, and I literally had to pinch myself that I was getting to capture his wedding day. Nick simply couldn’t have found a more perfect girl. Brooke is the sweetest person, and to top it all off, she is completely gorgeous. She was welcomed into the family with wide-open arms. These two couldn’t be more perfect.

This wedding held many firsts for me. This wedding was filled with so many emotions. Brooke + Nick lost very close friends and family recently, and their absence was felt in so many ways. They paid an amazing tribute to two of their close friends who had passed away. Shawna and Ethan would have been part of the bridal party, so the commemorated them by placing framed photos of them at the altar during the ceremony. Brooke wore a couple of pieces of jewelry in remembrance to the people who couldn’t be there (her friend, Shawna and Nick’s Aunt Misty). She wore Shawna’s earrings (given to her as a surprise that morning from Shawna’s mom), and Misty’s bracelet (also given to her as a surprise from Misty’s daughter). When she received those special pieces of jewelry there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.

Another first for me was the surprise first look. About a month before the wedding day, Brooke asked me if it would be possible to pull off a prank first look with Nick. She wanted Nick to think that he would be doing a first look with her, but instead of him turning around to Brooke, he would turn around to one of his groomsmen dressed up as a bride. We worked out the timeline to make it all fit, and it turned out hilarious! Nick had no idea and it will for sure be something he will never forget. Scroll down to see images from the “first look.”

Needless to say, this wedding was just an absolute dream! There were so many special moments! I couldn’t be more happy for the new Mr + Mrs. Knafel!!