Some weddings are beautiful. Some are fun. And every once in a while, there’s one that secretly becomes your favorite of the year. This Santucci Farm wedding for Brady and Kelsey landed squarely in that category.

Kelsey and I actually met before this wedding was even on the radar. She was a bridesmaid in another wedding I photographed, and we connected instantly through mutual friends. These two are a true WSU couple. If you know anything about Coug friendships, you know those people show up for each other. Their wedding party was packed with longtime friends who’ve been around for years. This felt like a reunion of people who genuinely love each other. Which, frankly, is the best possible wedding energy.

Brady and Kelsey had also been together for a long time before getting married. This wedding stuck with me because of the thoughtful, personal, and intentional choices that reflected exactly who Brady and Kelsey are.

A Meaningful Ceremony in Kelsey’s Childhood Church

If you’re going to pick a place to get married, your childhood church is about as meaningful as it gets. The tall ceilings, warm wood, and stained glass was incredible here. Brady was waiting at the front looking equal parts excited and trying-to-keep-it-together when Kelsey walked down the aisle with her dad. Classic moment, but still undefeated every single time.

This was a room full of people who have watched Brady and Kelsey grow together over the years, sitting in those pews and soaking in the moment. And then there was the exit. They went full celebration mode with a rice toss outside the church. Guests lined the steps, handfuls ready, and the second those doors opened it was chaos in the best way possible—rice flying, people cheering, Brady laughing, Kelsey absolutely glowing. It was joyful, slightly messy, and completely perfect, exactly how a wedding exit should be.

A Santucci Farm Celebration Filled with Thoughtful Details

Then everyone made their way to Santucci Farm, and if you’ve never been, it’s a photographers dream. Wide open fields, a beautiful white tent, and just enough countryside charm without tipping into “rustic overload.” It was August and hot, but summer weddings have a certain buzz to them, and this one definitely delivered.

Kelsey and her mom absolutely crushed the planning on this one. Fresh grapes were scattered through the centerpieces (which looked great and doubled as snacks—honestly, a very efficient design choice). One of my favorite layers of the day was the subtle nod to Kelsey’s childhood in Japan. Her family lived there for five years while her dad was stationed overseas, and they wove those memories into the celebration in really beautiful ways. Japanese lanterns hung under the tent, and the cake was topped with the sweetest little Japanese dolls that instantly became a guest favorite.

For dinner, instead of the typical plated situation, they had paella cooked on site, which immediately wins points in my book. Something about watching food being made right there turns dinner into an experience.

From the gorgeous guest book, to the brooches the guys wore, all pieces that told the story of Brady and Kelsey and the families who shaped them. By the time the sun started dropping and the dance floor kicked off, the whole place felt like one big summer dinner party that happened to include a wedding. Which, if we’re being honest, is precisely the kind of wedding everyone secretly hopes they get invited to.

A Love Letter From Kelsey

“We couldn’t have asked for a better wedding photographer than Amber at Wildfelt Photography. From the very beginning, she made us feel comfortable, understood our vision, and brought such a calm, positive energy to the day. Amber has an incredible ability to capture moments as they actually felt — natural, joyful, and completely unforced. Nothing felt staged or awkward, yet every photo turned out stunning and meaningful. Looking through our gallery feels like reliving the day, not just seeing posed snapshots. She blended in seamlessly with our guests while still catching all the important details, big emotions, and little in-between moments we didn’t even realize were happening. We’ll treasure these photos forever. If you want someone who is talented, professional, easy to work with, and truly cares about telling your story, I cannot recommend Amber enough.“

Vendors

Photographer | Wildfelt Photography

Venue | Santucci Farm

Florals | Olivia Rose Flower Co

Food | Paella Works

Makeup | KG Beauty