Frieden Farms located near Harrisonburg Virginia is an event and wedding venue that hosted Jesse and Lou’s wedding in May. I had the privilege of working at Frieden Farms because Ashley of Ashley Paige Photography brought me as her second shooter. I am always nervous the morning of a wedding day but especially when I work at a new venue. The type A personality in me wants to know where everything is so I can be as informed as possible.
As soon as we arrived at Frieden Farms we received a welcome by the owner who gave us a quick tour. I knew from then on the day was going to be great. A welcoming friendly venue owner truly makes a wedding day so much better. They are there just like you to serve the couple and we all make a great team. One of the many things I loved is that the ceremony, reception, and getting ready locations are all on sight in one place. This makes it easier as a photographer to bounce between the bride and groom getting ready to capture photos, but also detail photos of the venue.
I will always remember Jesse and Lou and their wedding. Within minutes of meeting Lou, he informed me that he forgot his pants. His suit was tailored and he assumed his pants were in the bag that he grabbed, only to find out the pants were not in the bag. To avoid delaying photos, one of his groomsman gave him his pants while locating another pair for the wedding.
Jesse and Lou had a first prayer instead of a first look which was so sweet. They were back to back as they shared in prayer together and read their vows in private. They choose to not see one another but truly wanted that moment for themselves. I love this twist on a first look and how they made it their own.
Lastly, as Jesse and Lou were getting ready I noticed a multitude of security, officer and k-9s on the grounds. I couldn’t figure out what was going on or why. One of the k-9s even did an inspection of my camera bag. I later discovered that Jesse and Lou had a special guest coming but who was top secret. Their special guest was the former Vice President Mike Pence.
If you are looking for a quiet, secluded but easy to get to wedding venue near Harrisonburg then I strongly suggest you check out Frieden Farms. The views from the valleys and mountain is a perfect backdrop to your ceremony. There is a great indoor/outdoor space for your guests to enjoy. The venue is set up perfectly for a nice flow for the events of the day and is GORGEOUS!
Venue | Frieden Farms
Main Photographer | Ashley Paige Photography
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