When I planned my own Pennsylvania wedding, finding a vendor who was talented was the easy part. Couples have access to hundreds of amazing wedding vendors in Central PA, there is no shortage of talent here.
The key was finding vendors who felt like the right fit. Our wedding was an intimate elopement, with my husband and our two girls, so we knew our vendors weren’t going to just be working our wedding, they were going to be an integral part of it. We searched for people who we trusted to show up, guide us and make the day feel easy.
I wanted to share the vendors I chose for my own wedding as I felt they deserved their own spot on the blog. These are the people who showed up for us and honestly made the entire experience what it was.
Alterations
Stitching It Up With Marla
Although Marla wasn’t directly part of the vendor team on the day of the wedding, she was crucial in making sure I felt comfortable and confident in my wedding dress.
Why I Chose Them: I had used Marla for alterations in the past, so I knew she could be trusted with my dress.
What Stood Out: We planned our elopement in 2 months, giving us very little wiggle room. Marla was able to give me a feasible, realistic timeline to get alterations done quickly.
What Surprised Me: Marla was able to complete both alterations for myself and my stepdaughter fast, which really helped reduce the wedding planning stress.
Best for: Brides who want their dress (or their bridesmaids’ dresses) to fit flawlessly for a fair price.
Venue
The Willows at Ashcombe
We had our eyes on a few venues, but it was really the Crystal Dining Room at the Willows at Ashcombe that drew us in. That room was exactly the vibe we envisioned for our elopement ceremony.
Why I Chose Them: The Willows at Ashcombe was perfect as is. We didn't need to add any decorations or rentals to our elopement, the venue itself brought the beauty.
What Stood Out: We had the entire mansion to ourself, along with some of the Willows at Ashcombe staff, and they were extremely accommodating, going above and beyond for our family.
What Surprised Me: The tiny details in EVERYTHING that they do. The provided us with a thought out lunch in the mansion dining room, that was delicious and beautiful and the perfect way to end our time there.
Best for: Couples looking for a venue that provides elegance and beauty, even when planning something small and simple.
Photographer
Krista Lae Collective
I first reached out to one of the first photographers I featured in Firefly Brides, Téa Ceresini Photography, but she wasn't available our March wedding date. She recommended Krista and I am so, so glad I listened.
Why I Chose Them: When I looked at Krista’s work, I saw rich, true-to-life colors, a style I prefer. When I saw the genuine emotion in her photographs, I knew she’d be perfect to not only capture how our wedding looked, but how it felt as well.
What Stood Out: Krista was SO good with our girls, especially our toddler. They were a big part of our day and Krista captured them and family perfectly.
What Surprised Me: How much of a hype woman she is. She truly made me feel (and my husband too!) so empowered and confident and just plain amazing when we were getting photographed on our wedding day.
Best for: Brides who want to spend your wedding day with a talented, genuine person who produces pure magic.
Officiant
TheBROfficiant
Leeroy also came highly recommended by another wedding vendor (don't sleep on those vendor referrals). He was one of the best decisions we made.
Why I Chose Them: We loved Leeroy's energy from the beginning. We wanted someone who could cater the ceremony to our family, because that was the focus of our wedding, and we knew Leeroy would be the one to do that.
What Stood Out: Leeroy had a way of keeping things thoughtful and emotional, while keeping us all at ease and managing to keep things light. It was the perfect combination.
What Surprised Me: When we finally met him in person, he felt more like family than someone we hired to perform our wedding. And we wouldn't have it any other way.
Best for: Couples who want a ceremony led by someone who is authentic, thoughtful and delivers an unforgettable experience.
Ready to Start Building Your Wedding Team?
These are only a few of the incredible wedding vendors who helped bring our Pennsylvania elopement to life, and I'll be adding more of our wedding team to this post soon.
If you're currently planning a wedding, I encourage you to spend time finding vendors who not only do beautiful work, but who feel like the right fit for you and your vision. The people you choose will play a big role in your experience, and the right team can make all the difference.
Looking for more Pennsylvania wedding vendors? Browse the Firefly Brides Vendor Directory to discover talented local professionals serving couples across Central Pennsylvania.
