J&J Studios had the privilege of photographing Elias and Darina’s wedding. It took place on May 8, 2021 at the Celebrations Wedding Venue in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. We were blown away by the photos that we captured at this wedding and cannot wait to share with you below.

Meet the Newly Married Couple: Darina and Elias

Darina and Elias are the fantastic couple that we enjoyed photographing. While taking their photos, we learned a lot about this couple and how their love story came to be. Our team found this story to be intriguing, so we thought you might as well. These two met in Las Vegas about six years ago, in 2015, while on a birthday trip for a mutual friend. Neither one of them knew that their world was about to change when they boarded that flight to go across the country. Although their relationship did not begin around this time, they still communicated and kept in touch often. Two years after meeting, Darina and Elias took the leap and started their relationship, and it has led them to where they are today.

The Proposal

Of course, we wanted to know all about the proposal, and Darina did not disappoint with the details. She described it as a total surprise. Every year since she and Elias have been dating, she has spent her birthdays traveling with him. Last year, right before the pandemic, the couple decided to change things up and stay in DC and celebrate with friends. They went out to dinner, where Darina’s best friend and Elias gave a speech. While Elias was speaking, a waiter placed a plate of cheesecake in front of Darina that read, “Will You Marry Me?” Although she was a little confused, Darina looked up and saw Elias down on one knee. She did not hesitate to say, “YES,” and the rest is history. Darina and Elias began planning their wedding immediately despite the pandemic.

Celebrations Wedding Venue Choice

Elias and Darina did only a few tours of various venues when they came across Celebrations Wedding Venue. They knew immediately this venue was the perfect choice for their big day. Darina and Elias mentioned that they fell in love with Celebrations Wedding Venue at first sight. The couple had heard about this place from others, but seeing it in person sealed the deal. Our team at J&J Studios agrees that it is a very beautiful venue, and we were highly impressed by the staff. It offers an elegant and classy atmosphere, which is exactly what the soon-to-be bride and groom imagined for their important day.

Celebrations Wedding Venue handles all the details, while encouraging you to solely focus on creating memories with your family and loved ones. They take pride in being professional, personal, and award-winning. On your wedding day, they will ensure that your experience is phenomenal and that the presentation is exceptional. To see this Celebrations Wedding Venue for yourself, visit 2201 Galloway Road, Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020. It is less than 20 miles from Philadelphia, making it easily accessible to and from the city.

The Wedding Day at Celebrations Wedding Venue

Darina knew that she wanted a spring wedding, and you could easily tell the thought that she put into this while looking at her wedding photos. The flowers that she chose popped, while the dresses and decorations were intentionally subtle. The goal was to put all the emphasis on the bride and groom along with the flowers.

When we asked the happy couple what they felt was the best part of their wedding day, Elias mentioned that he enjoyed the reception and music. He had a good time dancing and celebrating the special day. Darina said her favorite part of the day was walking down the aisle toward Elias. She could see and feel the emotions that she and Elias share and enjoyed hearing his vows to her.

Surprises During Wedding Planning

This couple had several surprises happen during their wedding planning process, but the day still turned out wonderfully. Soon after the proposal, the Covid-19 pandemic hit and the couple had to quarantine. Everything started shutting down, and even their vendors stopped doing events. However, this was not the only surprise to happen to Darina and Elias. They found out they were expecting, which they were thrilled about! It truly changed the way they viewed the pandemic, and they began feeling like everything was perfect timing because they were both able to focus on and enjoy part of the pregnancy together.

As soon as everything started opening back up, Darina and Elias got back to planning their wedding and was able to get everything accomplished quickly. Overall, they describe the wedding planning process as fun other than doing the wedding invitations. Sitting down and deciding who to send an invitation was not enjoyable for them.

These two believe that the pandemic was an eye-opener, as they were able to slow down and focus on the brighter things in life, such as the new life that they are bringing into this world. They also were able to spend more time together, whether it be playing video games, watching movies, and catching up on television shows. However, they were ultimately glad when things started getting back to normal and they could prepare for the big day that they had waited so long for.

What Did Elias and Darina’s Wedding Day Consist of?

Darina and Elias planned a fun-filled, exciting day for their guests to enjoy. It started out at the Courtyard by Marriott in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. This is where the wedding party got ready and our wedding photography session began. Darina and Elias did excellent with planning, as they gave everyone plenty of time to get ready and take pictures.

Everyone began getting ready around 1:00. The bride and her bridesmaids were getting their makeup done, and the groom and his groomsmen were getting dressed. After everyone made their way to the Celebrations Wedding Venue, the ceremony began around 4:30. The wedding ceremony was absolutely beautiful! We enjoyed seeing the love that these two share and cannot wait to see what the future holds for them. We know whatever it may be, it will be great!

Once the ceremony ended, our team continued working their magic behind the cameras. We started taking photos of the newly married couple and their immediate family members, which we know were vital memories for them to have forever. J&J Studios could not have asked for a better group of people to spend our day with. We enjoyed seeing this family celebrate together for Darina and Elias.

The Reception at Celebrations Wedding Venue

After taking photos, everyone headed over to the reception. We all waited eagerly for Elias and Darina’s grand entrance, which was a true joy to watch. The after-party festivities began, and our team skimmed the room to see so many smiles, laughs, and tears of joy. Darina and Elias opened up the dance floor with their first dance. Shortly after, the father and daughter dance took place as well as the mother and son dance. Dinner was served, toasts were made, the cake was cut, and everyone danced the night away. This was one of our favorite weddings to photograph because we could feel the entire room radiating with so much happiness for the newly married couple.

Wedding Vendors Used And Other Important Details

Accommodations by: Courtyard Marriott Bensalem

Hair and Makeup by: @Independentk_22 for hair; @tiaamorgan for makeup; @shayladiazbeauty for makeup

Floral Designer: @infinitifloraldesign

Wedding Dress by: Maggie Sottero Della dress

Wedding Dress Store: Bride and Grooms Bridal Boutique

Specialty Foods: Chocolate Fountain

Cake Designer: H.F. Hornberger Bakery

Invitations by: Truly Engaging by Magnet Street

Favors and Gifts by: Etsy

Tuxedo by: Jos A Banks

Officiant: Duane Rawlins

Rings by: Jared and Zales

Band/DJ: J Prod Events Resources LLC

Photography by: J&J Studios LLC

Videography by: Monark Media

Bride’s Shoes and Jewelry by: Macy’s

Book J&J Studios for Your Upcoming Wedding

If you are newly engaged or planning your wedding, J&J Studios would be honored to document this important occasion for you. Getting married is one of the biggest commitments that individuals make in their lifetimes, and we want to ensure that you get it on camera for years to come. Not only is this big day important, but having the memories to hold close are just as important. We know that selecting the perfect photographer is one of the most critical parts of the wedding planning process. That is why we guarantee that you will receive many high-quality photos to look back on for the rest of your lives together.

Our team knows that you are excited to embark on this amazing journey with your partner, and we are thrilled to capture the moment that you say, “I do” to each other. The goal is to produce lovely photos of you and your spouse, so that you can share on social media for the world to see, hang up around your house to look at every day, or hand out to the loved ones who could not make it to your big day or who would just like to have the memory themselves. If this sounds like something that you would be interested in, please contact us today. Our photographers promise that you will not regret it!