Weddings | Creative Image Associates

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)

A Hilton Christiana Wedding

December 14, 2018 by Katie Sica Leave a Comment

I’m telling you – we have the best couples. I knew from their engagement session that Phill and Sarah were going to be so much fun to work with. Saturday was a frigid but beautiful December day. We organized the schedule so that we did a little out in the cold (a first look and some couple formals), took a break indoors for family formals, went back outside for portraits of just the bride and groom, and then came back in to warm up once more and chill out a bit before the ceremony. (After which we managed to sneak away from the crowd for some gorgeous night shots in the Hilton’s courtyard – check them out below!) One of the sweetest parts of the day was working with Sarah’s grandparents. Her grandfather was kidding around with me during family formals (telling me I needed to make the same silly noises for him as I do to make the young kids smile!) and I just loved that. Later, during the reception, the DJ and MC from Wired up Entertainment started an anniversary dance. Have you seen these at receptions? All married couples go out onto the dance floor. Bit by bit couples are asked to leave if they have only been married for a year, 5 years, 25 years, etc until you are left with the couple who has been married the longest. In this case, Sarah’s grandparents were the winners! Afterwards they were asked to give some advice to the bride and groom. What a great memory for the newlyweds to hold on to. I’m excited to share this little sneak-peak of their wedding day! Congratulations, Phill and Sarah!

Ceremony and Reception Venue: Hilton Christiana

Flowers: Belak Flowers

Hair/Makeup: Fusion Salon Brides

DJ/MC: Wired Up Entertainment

An Archmere Academy Patio Wedding

December 4, 2018 by Katie Sica Leave a Comment

This November wedding at Archmere Academy’s Patio was full of love, laughter and wind! Literally enough wind to blow you away. You can’t tell from the images, though! John, Paige and their bridal party did an amazing job. The problem with this post was not deciding what to put it, it was deciding what I had to leave out! I had to delete at least 20 images, haha. Take the time to go through these – it is worth it. Even Griffy makes an appearance! CONGRATULATIONS, John and Paige! From engagement on it has been a joy working with you.

Ceremony: St. Rose of Lima Perish

Reception: The Patio at Archmere Academy

Flowers: Petal Pushers – Floral Designs by Alexis

DJ: Must Be the Music DJs

Venue Spotlight: A Worsell Manor Wedding

September 11, 2018 by Katie Sica Leave a Comment

Over the next year, we will be writing a series of special blog posts featuring some of our favorite wedding venues in Delaware and Maryland. We are really excited to share what makes these places so unique.

As we enter into Fall, I am reminded of a Fall wedding reception I photographed at Worsell Manor in Maryland, last year. The property is gorgeous. A bride’s dream. A beautiful old Manor (built around 1690!!!) lays on a beautifully landscaped lawn in Warwick, MD (only a few miles from the Delaware border). Amanda and Joshua’s wedding was in early November and by that point, the colors on the trees were just perfect. The Manor is surrounded by fields and trees and boasts a big, white historic barn for receptions.

Scott and Barbara Millar bought the property in 2012. At that point, Worsell Manor had been abandoned for 15 years. The property was so overgrown you could not see the house from the road. The Millar’s were able to see past what WAS there – to what could be. They began the hard work of restoring the Manor, restoring the barn, and cleaning up the grounds. By 2014, Worsell Manor was home to its first wedding under the Millar’s management.

Recently I had the opportunity to chat with Scott (former Software Engineer for Air Traffic Control) about what it is like to host weddings on his property.

KATIE: Tell me a few things that make Worsell Manor a unique venue for weddings.

SCOTT: It’s really a combination of the house, grounds and barn. We like to say the property has an upscale rustic feel to it.

(Let me interrupt – I’ve already told you how beautiful the grounds are. I also loved, LOVED shooting prep shots of the ladies in the Manor. Every room is different. You really have so many options. We used one room to shoot the dress and some other details. A couple other rooms were used for hair and makeup by the ladies. We used a sitting room so that the bridesmaids could have a ‘first look’ at Amanda once she was in her gown, and of course, the staircase for a ‘first look’ with dad.)

SCOTT (continuing): We also only book ONE wedding PER WEEKEND at Worsell Manor. That way, our clients have the whole property to themselves. We can house 23 people between the Manor and Cottage next door. The family and bridal party can stay in one place which makes things so much easier.

There’s also a unique historic presence to our venue. George Washington stayed at Worsell Manor on multiple occasions! George Washington documented his visits in his diary which is now kept in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC.

KATIE: What do you love most about hosting weddings on your property?

SCOTT: One weekend a childhood friend of mine was visiting. I toured him through Worsell Manor. He looked around while I made sure that everything was running smoothly during a wedding reception. He watched the faces of guests – smiling, laughing, having the time of their lives. He said to me, “you know, your wedding is one of the most important days of your life – you provide a magical space for this most important day!” Having that opportunity and privilege – that’s pretty cool.

If you haven’t been to Worsell Manor – check it out! Consider it as a spot for your wedding day or other big event – you won’t be sorry! This venue has so much to offer – and Scott and Barbara are there to serve! Contact our wedding photography studio to capture your day – see images below for the magic captured there last Fall! (Photos by Aaron Hamrick and Katie Sica – copyright Creative Image Weddings)