Jenna & Jim’s Birch Hill Wedding | A Bold, Personal Upstate NY Wedding
Some weddings feel unmistakably like the couple from beginning to end, and Jenna and Jim’s July wedding at Birch Hill Catering was exactly that.
From Jenna’s unforgettable black wedding dress and their private vows to a 18-person wedding party, custom reception details, and a dance floor filled with their favorite people, their day was personal, bold, and anything but cookie-cutter.
We had the privilege of being there not only to photograph and film it, but to watch months of planning finally come together.
A Black Dress, First Look & Private Vows
One of the first things you notice looking through Jenna and Jim’s wedding gallery is, of course, the dress.
Jenna skipped the traditional white gown for a dramatic black wedding dress that felt completely her—and made for some incredible photographs against the greenery at Birch Hill.
Before the ceremony, Jenna and Jim met for their first look. After that first reaction and a few portraits together, they took some time away from everyone else to exchange private vows at Birch Hill’s Bird Cage.
Their vows were intentionally kept just between the two of them. We photographed the moments surrounding them but gave Jenna and Jim the privacy to share those words without cameras recording every second.
Eightteen of Their Favorite People
With 18 people standing beside them, portraits came with plenty of personalities, laughter, and a little organized chaos—the best kind.
Having a first look also gave us the opportunity to front-load many of their portraits before the ceremony. That meant more time later for Jenna and Jim to actually enjoy the celebration they had spent so much time planning.
Surrounded by family and friends at Birch Hill, Jenna and Jim said “I do” before heading into cocktail hour and the reception.
Personal Details Throughout the Reception
The personal touches didn't stop with Jenna's dress.
Guests were welcomed into the reception with a custom welcome mirror and coordinating seating chart created through Stellar’s rental collection, personalized specifically for Jenna and Jim’s wedding.
From the florals and décor to the cake and signage, all of those individual decisions they had made throughout the planning process finally existed together in one space.
And that's one of our favorite parts of a wedding day—watching a couple walk into a room and see all of those little ideas finally become their wedding.
Preserving Their Day in Photo + Film
Jenna and Jim chose wedding photography along with hybrid photo + video coverage, allowing us to preserve their day in both still photographs and movement.
Their photographs capture the moments you want to freeze: Jim seeing Jenna in her black dress, portraits with the people closest to them, ceremony reactions, reception details, hugs, laughter, and all of those little interactions happening throughout the day.
Hybrid video gives those memories another dimension—the movement of Jenna's dress, reactions that happen in a split second, friends laughing together, and the energy of a reception once everyone hits the dance floor.
Together, they tell a much fuller story of what July 24th actually looked and felt like.
Then It Was Time to Celebrate
The evening was filled with the moments you can't really schedule: friends pulling each other onto the dance floor, hugs between family members, ridiculous expressions caught across the room, and the kind of laughter that happens when everyone you love is gathered in one place.
Those unscripted moments often become some of our favorite images in a wedding gallery.
Because while portraits and details are beautiful, the photographs that bring you right back to how the day felt are something special.
A Little Teamwork Behind the Scenes
Jenna and Jim’s wedding also happened right as Kayla was beginning maternity leave, making their day a special example of why having an established wedding team matters.Kayla had worked with Jenna and Jim throughout the coordination process before handing the final plans over internally. Christel stepped into the lead coordination role for rehearsal and wedding day alongside Cassandra, while Daniel and Gabbie handled photography and hybrid coverage.
The timeline, décor plans, vendor communication, rentals, and all of those little details had already been coordinated as a team.
There was plenty happening behind the scenes—but Jenna and Jim didn't need to be the ones managing it.
Jenna & Jim’s Wedding Vendor Team
Reception Venue & Catering: Birch Hill Catering
Wedding Coordination: Stellar Photography & Event Planning
Photography & Hybrid Video: Stellar Photography & Event Planning
DJ: Nick Russo
Cake & Desserts: Zachary’s Pastry Shoppe
Florals: Flower Blossom Design
Hair & Makeup: Brides & Brushes
Custom Welcome Mirror & Seating Chart: Stellar Photography & Event Planning
