At-Home Country Wedding in Upstate NY | Jenna + Brandon

There is something incredibly special about an at-home wedding.

Maybe it’s the familiarity of the property, the personal details, or simply being surrounded by the people and places that mean the most to you. Whatever it is, Jenna and Brandon’s beautiful country wedding had all of it.

I first met these two while photographing one of Jenna’s brothers’ weddings the year before. They were both so sweet and genuine, and I was thrilled when I found out they were planning their own wedding—and even more excited when I heard it would be an at-home country wedding at another one of Jenna’s brothers’ homes.

Add a gorgeous log cabin, a barn, beautiful horses, and plenty of rustic details, and I was completely in my element!

A Beautiful Upstate NY Backyard Wedding

I’ve always had a soft spot for country weddings.

I grew up on a farm, so there’s something about barns, horses, open spaces, and the relaxed atmosphere of an at-home wedding that immediately feels familiar to me.

Jenna and Brandon’s wedding brought all of those things together beautifully.

Jenna spent the morning getting ready inside the gorgeous log cabin with her bridesmaids and family. Every detail fit the setting perfectly and created such a warm, intimate beginning to their wedding day.

An Emotional First Look With Dad

Before Jenna saw Brandon, she planned another very special first look with her dad.

These are some of my favorite moments to photograph on a wedding day.

There is something about the moment a dad sees his daughter as a bride that gets me every single time, and Jenna’s dad was incredibly sweet. The love and pride he had for his daughter was written all over his face.

He actually reminded me a little of my own dad, which made photographing the moment even more emotional for me.

It was quiet, genuine, and exactly the kind of moment I love being able to preserve for a family.

Jenna + Brandon’s First Look

Next, it was time for Brandon to see his bride.

When I went to get him from his groomsmen, I could tell immediately that the nerves had kicked in. He was excited, anxious, and more than ready to finally see Jenna.

Their first look was already emotional, but Jenna had one more surprise waiting for him.

She gave Brandon beautiful pins featuring their dogs so they could still be a part of their wedding day.

His reaction said everything.

Brandon was completely caught off guard and became a little teary-eyed as he looked at them. It was such a thoughtful way for Jenna to include such an important part of their lives in the wedding.

And it’s exactly why I love the little details couples choose to incorporate into their day. They may seem small, but they’re often the things that carry the most meaning.

A Country Wedding Ceremony at Home

For their ceremony, the front of the barn had been transformed into the perfect setting.

Beautiful handmade wooden benches were arranged for their guests, adding another personal touch to an already meaningful location.

Then, surrounded by their closest family and friends, Jenna and Brandon became husband and wife.

Jenna’s oldest brother officiated the ceremony, making the moment even more personal for their family.

That’s one of the things I love most about an Upstate NY backyard wedding. When you’re getting married at a family home or on a property that means something to you, there are opportunities to make the day incredibly personal.

It isn’t simply a wedding venue.

It’s part of your story.

Why I Love At-Home Weddings

At-home weddings have such a different feeling from traditional wedding venues.

They’re relaxed, intimate, and completely personal. The property itself becomes part of the story, whether it’s the house where everyone gets ready, a barn transformed for the ceremony, horses wandering nearby, or handmade details created specifically for the wedding.

And Jenna and Brandon’s wedding was filled with exactly those kinds of moments.

From Jenna’s emotional first look with her dad to Brandon’s reaction to the pins of their dogs, their family-led ceremony, and all of the beautiful country details surrounding them, their wedding felt completely theirs.

Jenna and Brandon, congratulations!

Thank you for trusting me to photograph such an important day and for welcoming me into another beautiful celebration with your family. I absolutely loved being part of your wedding and hope our paths cross again!

Planning an at-home, backyard, farm, or country wedding in Upstate New York? I would love to hear what you’re planning. Whether you’re transforming a family property into your wedding venue or celebrating on the farm where you grew up, these personal locations can create some of the most meaningful wedding photographs.