Wedding | Engagement | Newborn Portraits in Delaware

A Hilton Christiana Wedding

June 13, 2019 by Katie Sica Leave a Comment

Guys – last Friday’s wedding at Hilton Christiana in Newark, Delaware was such a fun day! It has been such a privilege to work with Devin and Lindsay from the first time we sat down together, through their engagement session, and planning for their wedding photography.

We started the day with some fun preparation shots (check out Lindsay’s beautiful bridal robe!) and I had a blast doing some detail shots with the beautiful bouquets from Ramones Flowers (Wilmington, Delaware). After a first look in the Hilton’s beautiful club room, wedding jitters subsided some from just being able to be together. The courtyard looked beautiful for their ceremony, we finished family formals quickly afterwards, and had a blast trying to get the champagne to ‘pop’ and ‘spray’ for a bridal party photo (which we nailed!). AND THE FIRST DANCE. I kid you not, Devin and Lindsay MEMORIZED the dance from the end of ‘Silver Linings Playbook.’ They were so confident they played the movie scene in the background while simultaneously dancing. It was amazing. Best first dance ever! I probably need to do an entire blog post of just that dance.

We ended the night with some fun shots outside. You know you love your job when you jump around in excitement over a successful sparkler shot! Congratulations, Devin and Lindsay! Best wishes to you both, and thank you for the honor of capturing your wedding day memories!

Hilton Christiana Newark Delaware Wedding Photographer

A Landenberg Barn Wedding

June 6, 2019 by Katie Sica Leave a Comment

Last Saturday was a beautiful (though hot!) first day of June. Steve and Rosa got married at the Landenberg Barn in Pennsylvania. We grabbed any shade we could whenever we could! I think the ladies at the bar MAY have gotten tired of me asking for water (gotta stay hydrated), but despite the heat, things turned out beautifully. The Landenberg Barn has a grassy opening perfect for ceremonies, and on Saturday the archway at the ceremony site was decorated with gorgeous flowers (see below). The grounds surrounding the barn provide plenty of options for photos. The barn itself, the stone wall by the barn, the surrounding greens, etc. all make for great backdrops. This is just a liiiittle sample of what was captured – enjoy scrolling through!

Newark Delaware Wedding Photographer Landenberg Barn Wedding Photographer

Alapocas Run State Park Engagement Session

May 21, 2019 by Katie Sica Leave a Comment

Last week I had the opportunity to meet Clark and Stevi at Alapocas Run State Park in Delaware for their engagement session. It was a beautiful night. Clear, about 70, no humidity – just what you would hope for when planning a session in the Spring.

Clark used to work with Stevi’s sister. One evening after work her sister somehow convinced her to come to happy hour with their office. Even though Stevi was leaving for a trip the following day and didn’t really want to go, she went. That last minute decision paid off because she met Clark and they’ve been together ever since. I love hearing how God uses these seemingly small and un-important decisions for bigger, significant reasons. Pretty cool.

It was really fun for me to spend some time with them. Stevi exudes sweetness (I think you can see that in their photos!) and Clark does a pretty great job of making her smile (actually I think that goes both ways). They were willing to step right into that tall grass which made this photographer really happy. (and it was definitely worth it photo-wise, see below!) I can’t wait to capture their wedding at The Waterfall in Claymont, Delaware in the Fall. Join me in congratulating these two!

Alapocas State Park Delaware Engagement Session

After the Wedding

May 18, 2019 by Katie Sica Leave a Comment

Recently I had the opportunity to do family sessions for prior wedding clients. It was so much fun to see them again! One thing (and I’ll say this over and over again) I really love about my job is connecting with clients over the years. It’s wonderful to celebrate new homes, jobs, pets and the growth of their families! I’m always honored to be invited back into their lives.

Katie and Matt got married in October of 2016. Their ceremony was at St. Joseph’s on the Brandywine and Reception at the Carriage House at Rockwood Park. It was (as you will see in the photos below) a really lovely Fall wedding day.

Katie and Matt recently adopted a really sweet pup named Willow. She’s not even a year old yet and did a fabulous job in front of the camera! I am really grateful that though they now live over an hour away, they made the trip up for photos!

Heather & Nick have been married since 2011! I’ve had the prividledge of photographing their engagement, wedding and now 2 family sessions. Their ceremony was at the United Methodist Church of the Atonement in Claymont, Delaware and their reception at Harry’s Savoy. We stopped at Bellevue Park for couple and bridal party formals, the same park where I did their family session this time around.

Fast forward 8 years and Heather and Nick now have 3 sweet children. I got to meet the baby which was extra fun. I also learned that ‘Unicorn Toots’ is definitely a phrase I will be borrowing to make kids laugh!

Venue Spotlight: The Hilton Christiana

February 19, 2019 by Katie Sica Leave a Comment

This venue spotlight features one of our frequented and favorite venues. Throughout 2016-2017 their hotel rooms and banquet facilities were renovated and though beautiful before, now have a sleek, modern vibe that is just stunning. Besides great spaces inside AND outside (many of which you will see in this blog post), the Hilton Christiana also has sales manager Leah Markiewicz. Whenever clients come to me who are getting married at the Hilton I always, ALWAYS say “you are in great hands there with Leah.” Because its true! We have worked together for mutual couples for the past 10 years. I never doubt a day will run smoothly while she is in charge. I recently had the chance to interview Leah over lunch about her role and what the Hilton Christiana can offer. Here’s your chance to get to know her (and the Hilton!) a little better.

Katie: Leah, what makes your venue unique?

Leah: Definitely our food and beverage experience. We have developed a farm to table concept over the last few years. We have a herb and vegetable garden in our courtyard – Chef picks daily from what is in season there. We are also sourcing other menu items from local farms. There is often a common misconception that ‘hotel food’ is mediocre at best. NOT HERE! We hold ourselves to very high standards in order to leave guests with something to talk about!

K: What do you love most about your job?

L: I love going from the initial meeting (learning a couple’s vision for their day) and forming a relationship through the process. It’s so much fun to see everything come to fruition the day of. Things like seeing the bride in her dress excited for everything to begin, the ceremony and reception sites set up according to our plans, etc. My absolute favorite is when the relationship with my clients turns into a friendship and we stay in touch over the years. I love when clients return for baby showers, their kids’ first birthdays, christenings, and other celebrations.

K: I agree! That’s something that is really fun about our occupations – seeing things come together for our clients’ big day – but also seeing where life takes them next and how their families grow.

K: Last question. You’ve served a ton of couples over the years. What is the best advice you can offer to help their day go smoothly?

L: Don’t sweat the small stuff. You’ve hired professionals to make the day run smoothly. Enjoy yourself, and let them work their magic!

Scroll through the images below for more magic from the Hilton Christiana (all blog images by Katie Sica and Aaron Hamrick and copyrighted by Creative Image Weddings)