Ruscitti Wedding | Married at The Mill at Fine Creek
Ryan and Emma’s December evening wedding was my favorite wildcard of the year. It’s not often that I get to photograph an outdoor ceremony that takes place after sunset, so when I heard those were Ryan and Emma’s plans, I was beyond intrigued, to say the least.
Coming from someone who photographs a lot of weddings, it’s really invigorating when a client asks you to step outside of the “norm”. Locked and loaded with all of my best gear, your girl was definitely up for a challenge. Although I must admit, due to the kind and easy-going nature of the people I was working with, it really wasn’t a challenge at all. As a result, the Ruscitti Wedding gallery is one of my most unique weddings of 2021 and one of my most FUN to shoot!
Follow along as I share some of my favorite photos and memories from their big day!
Right off the bat, you’ll notice that Emma’s style is both classic and eccentric. I loved the way she utilized rich jewel tones, like emerald green, to subtly wink at the holiday season, but kept her bouquet simple with babies’ breath and lavender. Her vintage ring case and other-worldly custom-jeweled shoes were easily my favorite details to photograph- so unique, yet totally HER.
It’s my favorite thing ever when a bride goes against the grain and chooses details that aren’t necessarily expected. This is YOUR DAY. Make it unique to YOU.
I MUST give a huge shout-out to Emma’s incredible wedding coordinator, Kim, of the Mill at Fine Creek.
As a vendor, it’s important to have solid support on our side. Not only did Kim handle everything for the bride and groom, but she also managed us vendors like a total rockstar.
At each turn of the day, Kim was strapped with a plan and stayed 10 steps ahead of the rest of us. With the timeline we were working with, her promptness was key in the execution. From wrangling the groomsmen to pin their boutonnieres, to making sure that us vendors had plenty of time to eat- Kim was the backbone of this entire event. I can’t express my gratitude enough for people like her who make such an important day run smooth, like butter for everyone involved.
Here’s the down-low on this breathtaking venue, The Mill at Fine Creek:
I’ve been dying to finally book a wedding at this venue, and it absolutely did not disappoint. The Mill family stretches across the property, from the Mill to the Cottages to the Brewery. A team of professionals, they are motivated by excellence and a passion for doing what they love. It’s obvious that their many years of experience have well-prepared them to anticipate their client’s needs and make sure you are taken care of on your special day.
The Mill offers three unique outdoor ceremony sites, all nestled within their gorgeous gardens. Whether you choose the original millstone ruins, the rustic handcrafted pergola, or the bucolic creekside spot, each offers the ideal place for your exchange of vows. In case of inclement weather, there is no need to worry. A change of plans can be made up to two hours before your ceremony, allowing staff to easily convert their venue’s main room into an indoor ceremony site.
Oh, and the FOOOOOOOD, you guys! Holy moly, the food. Between the presentation, the taste, and the freshness- I would 10/10 Recommend.
One of my favorite details of the day was watching Ryan absolutely swoon over his new bride. The way he looked at her made even ME feel the butterflies that he so-clearly felt in his stomach as I photographed them together. Within minutes of seeing Ryan on his wedding day, he was already asking me, “Have you seen her yet today? How is she?”. After the ceremony, walking to the tressals- there was Ryan, helping Emma with her train. When it was time to photograph Emma’s bridal portraits, there was Ryan, glowing from ear to ear as he watched her pose. So many people on the guest list, but for Ryan, it was evident there was always only one person ever in the room. Emma. Ryan’s Emma.
And to me, that’s the essence of this day in a nutshell. A woman who is fiercely and beautifully loved by a man who so-clearly chooses her as his bride every single day, every single hour, and every single minute. A love so sweet and simple, yet something so complex, it’s what most people search their whole lives to find. Spending time with these two brought me back to the basics of why I do what I do. Love is simply inspiring to witness.
A quick Exit Interview with the Bride, Emma:
Tell us about your experience with Ashley Dorton Photography leading up to your wedding day!
Prior to the wedding, Ashley was extremely communicative and responsive. We had to postpone and reschedule due to Covid, and she was beyond flexible. She made the planning easy and seamless.
Tell us about your experience with Ashley Dorton Photography on your wedding day!
On the wedding day, I was a very nervous bride. I was concerned this would show in our photos, but I have been blown away by the elegance and beauty that Ashley is able to capture. My husband and I had never had professional photographs taken, and we were a bit nervous and worried we would be awkward. Ashley gave us direction and suggestions for poses that we never would have thought of, but that perfectly captured our happiness and excitement. She made sure we got every picture we had hoped for, and she had amazing ideas for shots we never could have imagined.
Tell us about your experience with Ashley Dorton Photography after your wedding day!
Ashley was just as communicative and responsive after the wedding as she was prior to it. We got married around the holidays, and she was still sending us sneak peaks and messages, even though she had a number of other holiday shoots going on.
Favorite memory or favorite highlight of your experience with Ashley Dorton Photography?
Ashley worked with us to make sure we were able to incorporate elements to include loved ones who could not be at the wedding with us. We are so grateful that she was able to capture photographs with our family members that we do not get to see very often, but who are so important to us. We had a couple of younger children in the ceremony and she was able to capture the sweetest and funniest moments with them.
Advice for future brides considering booking their wedding with Ashley Dorton Photography?
I could not have picked a better photographer to capture a day that my husband and I had been planning and waiting over two years for. She is always available for any and all questions – big and small. If you are a bride that has any anxiety, Ashely will put you at ease and make you feel beautiful.
To Emma and Ryan,
Thank you for inviting me into your lives to document this special day. I so enjoyed laughing and creating with you both, and I can’t thank you enough for the kind words you wrote in your exit interview. It means so much to me when my clients are happy, but it means even more to me when my clients become friends by the end of our contract. I look forward to catching up with you both again soon and hope to document many more of life’s most precious moments for you.
And finally, a huge ‘thank you’ to all of the amazing vendors below, who played a special part in making this wedding such a success! I’m looking forward to rocking out more weddings with you all in the future.
Here’s to ending the 2021 Wedding Season with a BANG!
Xo,
Ashley
Photographer: https://ashleydortonphotography.com/
Assistant Photographer: https://chloe-elaine-photography.showit.site/
Venue & Catering: https://themillatfinecreek.com/
Coordinator: Kim https://themillatfinecreek.com/
DJ/Entertainment: https://www.instagram.com/jasonpaigeontheradio/?hl=en
Cake: https://www.instagram.com/pierremichelscakes/?hl=en
Flowers: https://www.mhenrydesign.com/
Hair/MUA: https://www.kourtmorganstylist.com/
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