I had the privilege of photographing my second Pennsylvania wedding in two years on July 9 at the beautiful Jumonville camp and retreat center with the reception at the Country Hearts Barn. I have been excited about working with Ashley and Jon for so long now! Their engagement session was pretty incredible and the sparks between these two are undeniable.

Ashley and Jon certainly fit my tag words…classic, joyful and romantic…their style is a classic rustic glam and their joy simply pours forth in all their photos!! And their romance speaks for itself! They even decided to tie the knot at the summer camp where they first met as counsellors. The campus chapel is beyond charming and their care and love for each other filled the air. They greeted every single guest after the ceremony as they exited the pews and then left the chapel to a swirl of bubbles.

The time we had for group and couples photos was a warm and sweet time…full of laughter, hugs and even some tears. When Ashley and Jon slow danced in front of the camera on the outdoor stone ampitheater, Jon whispered words of his admiration and joy to Ashley that instantly brought tears to her eyes.

And then their reception was full of family and friends, the warmest of toasts and even a dollar dance that ended with Ashley and Jon donating money to their friends’ adoption fund. Ashley was a stunning bride with a heart of gold and Jon was the dapper gentleman the entire day. Personally, one of the highlights for me was getting in the back of a pickup truck at the Country Hearts Barn while gripping equipment and the side of the truck as we took a bumpy path up to the top. And then stepping out to further document their love story atop a hill overlooking western Pennsylvania. “Wow” just doesn’t even begin to describe it.

As the evening ended with everyone dancing their hearts out and a sparkler exit, Ashley and Jon had to be convinced to leave because they loved their guests so very much! This is a love story worth telling and between the photos and Ashley’s words below, I think we can all get a glimpse into what makes their relationship so very special!

When I asked Ashley how she and Jon met, she wrote the sweetest response and credited God with His perfect timing in their relationship…proof that waiting for the right person and the right time is always worth the wait!

“Jon and I first met back in the summer of 2010 when we both worked on summer staff at a camp in Southwestern Pennsylvania. We didn’t know at the time, but we each had expressed interest in the other in conversations with our friends. Unfortunately, after I found out that Jon was 18 and he found out that I was 22, the possibility of anything blooming was immediately ruled out. We continued to work on staff for three more summers before Jon gathered the courage to ask me to hang out with him after our Wednesday night worship service. Many walks, conversations, and adventures later, we realized that we had been admiring each other from afar and decided to officially become a couple. Since the start of our relationship, we’ve had to do the long distance thing, which brings it’s own set of ups and downs, but it has made us appreciate the time that we do get to spend together all the sweeter. We are looking forward to living in the same zip code come July! Our love story is a testament to God’s timing. I know that 18 and 22 year old Jonathon and Ashley would not have had the same relationship as 24 and 28 year old Jonathon and Ashley do now. His timing is perfect. We are very thankful for God’s grace and love as we walk together toward Him!”

And their proposal story:

“I had flown down to Alabama to spend a three day weekend with Jonathon in October 2014. At this point, Jon and I had been dating for about 14 months. The topic of getting engaged had come up over breakfast before a planned hiking adventure to Monte Sano State Park. We goofily argued about the when, where, and hows of it all, when Jon (I thought jokingly) said, ‘Well what if I just did it today?’. My only response was ‘that means you must have already talked to my dad!’ (which he had). The conversation continued a little, switched topics, and eventually ended as we started our trip to the mountains. We started hiking a three mile trail and not long into it, Jon started asking me questions like ‘where do you see yourself in 5 years?’ and ‘what are your 5 favorite things in life right now?’. I answered as we hiked along, eventually coming to a small shelter in the woods, set back off the edge of a large rock. Walking out to the edge, it offered a beautiful view out into the forest. Finishing my answer to his most recent question, Jon pulled me in for a hug and said ‘Ashley, I love going on adventures with you and I can’t wait to go on so many more adventures with you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you…’ at which point he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him! ‘Yes, Jon, of course I’ll marry you’ was my response. We finished the hike then got celebratory milkshakes from Jack’s on our way to his younger sister’s volleyball tournament.”

The wedding professionals who helped to make Ashley and Jon’s day as special as it was:

Ceremony Venue: Jumonville Camp and Retreat Center

Reception Venue: Country Hearts Barn

Florist: Barton’s Flowers

DJ: Bryan Staudt – Make it Count Entertainment

Videography: NuGen Media

Second Shooting: Kristen Vota Photography

Wedding Dress and Veil: David’s Bridal

Bridal Shoes: Modcloth

Menswear: J. Ferrar – JC Penney

Ties: Tie Bar

Hair and Make Up: Pompadour Salon

Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal

Bridesmaid’s Earrings: Charming Charlie

Officiant: Keith Kaufold

Caterer: The Stone House Restaurant and Inn

Cake: Ohiopyle Bakery & Sandwich Shoppe

Stationery: Marion Claire Stationery

Hand Lettering: The Bride

Michelle Lieb with Lieb Photographic is a Charlottesville Wedding Photographer, Culpeper Wedding Photographer, Fredericksburg Wedding Photographer, Alexandria Wedding Photographer and a wedding photographer in the surrounding areas. Michelle is also available for travel outside these areas on a limited basis. Please use the contact form for more informationa nd to chat about your big day!