Sycamore Hills Golf Club: Gina & Garrett’s Romantic Late-Summer Wedding

“And the award for most endearingly sweet couple goes to… the new Mr and Mrs Garrett Naschak!!!” Ok, that award may not actually exist but if it did it would absolutely be presented to Gina and Garrett! Photographing this couple’s wedding was such a dream for so many reasons-let’s dive in so I can tell you why.

Gina and Garrett tapped me to photograph their August wedding at Sycamore Hills Golf Course back in late 2021. They had gotten engaged just shortly before that when Garrett proposed in a most thoughtful fashion, making sure Gina’s family was present (to her surprise) and on her parent’s wedding anniversary, taking care to record it all. My first impression of these two was: lovebirds, they absolutely adore one another and I am all about it! We met at Panera for their consultation and I could not get over the way they looked at each other, the way they spoke about one another and about their plans for their future together. You would never know they had not been friends for a lifetime to meet them and have a quick chat. The familiarity they have towards each other, in-sync in countless ways is the stuff movies are made of but this one is 100% real life love.

On the morning of August 27, 2022 (my son’s 7th birthday too!), I arrived at the home of Gina’s parents where the the gals were getting primped. Always one to arrive early to a wedding day, I like to take a few moments to chat with the bride, her entourage and family and just take in the joy that is in the getting-ready space. The entirety of a wedding day is magical but the prep times are such important moments to document because they are buzzing with excitement and anticipation of the life changing events ahead. Candid images captured during these times, when a bride and groom are soaking up the special exchanges with the ones they hold closest to their hearts are some of my absolute favorite images from a wedding day. My couples tend to favor these un-posed, unprompted moments as well as a key component in their gallery which make us a perfect fit for one another.

The videographer, Adam Ewbank from Ewbank Films, arrived while I was prepping the bridal details to be photographed and we got to work capturing these elements. What a delight Adam is to work with as a professional, a generally fun dude and his work is simply <chef’s kiss> incredible! Check out a quick clip from this beautiful day created by Adam here!

With hair by The Polished Bride and make-up by Suzanne Skorich completed , it was time for Gina to step into her incredible dress from The Wedding Shoppe. No one but her mum had seen the dress so doing a reveal with her bridesmaids and family was such a fun moment! Bouquets were delivered by Bride and Bloom and oooohhh my goodness were they stunners! We got right to work photographing Gina and her girls following a tear jerker of a first look with her dad, Matt.

The bridesmaids all looked stunning in their eucalyptus bridesmaid dresses- a slightly darker shade of green than the very popular sage color of the last few years. Going with ‘on trend’ items but tweaking them just slightly makes for a fun but unique-to-you event, I highly recommend it!

Garrett and his groomsmen arrived to Sycamore Hills Golf Course looking dapper and ready for the day! This was a great bunch of guys, (the bridesmaids were too for that matter!) every groom (and photographer!) should be so lucky.

Gina and Garrett’s first look was done rather far out on the golf course and it was so incredibly special. Their reactions to seeing each other were so sweet, they each got teary-eyed and could not stop complimenting each other on how great the other looked. Gina presented one last gift to Garrett, a handkerchief she had customized with an exact replica of a loving message from Garrett’s grandfather who had passed the year prior. I admittedly had to choke back a few tears myself during these moments, but I do not mind! Being witness to acts of love and kindness such as these it what makes this work we do as photographers the BEST JOB EVER!

The ceremony kicked off and things got emotional pretty quickly as the bridal party entered and Gina began a lengthy walk to the aisle from the clubhouse. This longer than normal walk was kind of perfect as it made for some fantastic images and allowed the anticipation to grow as a most beautiful song ‘I Always Knew’ by Willie Shaw played in the background. (you need to listen to that song!)

When discussing whether or not to have a ‘first look’ with one another because they worry having already seen one another will take away from the magic of the ceremony, I refer them to the images from Garrett and Gina’s wedding. There is no sweeter reaction from a groom than Garrett’s and Gina was equally impassioned. I dont think either of them noticed the presence of anyone else within 1,000 yards of them besides one another. Certainly no sentiment was lost following a first look here and I have never seen it be the case anywhere else. The tender-hearted response to seeing his brother choked up had best man Geddy emotional too and these remain some of my absolute favorite images from the day.

The ceremony was performed by Gina’s cousin, Polo, and the vows could not have been more adorable. Without knowing what the other had written, there were so many similar references and phrases they had each put in their pledge to the other, you could see smiles spread across the faces of the guests as they too in that moment realized just how perfect Garrett and Gina were for one another. With a couple ‘I Do’s’ and a dramatic dip kiss as they walked back down the aisle they were married!

The giddy moments immediately following their ceremony hugging their bridal party and parents, signing the marriage license are a highlight of images to capture for me personally. It’s official, let’s sign some paperwork!

Immediately after the grand entrance, the newlyweds cut the stunning confection created by Christine’s Cakes and Pastries. Toasts, speeches and prayers were given to the happy couple before dinner was served. As dinner ended the couple took to the dance floor for their first dance as husband and wife. As the dance floor opened up with the incredible live music of Mainstream Drive everyone flocked to the dance floor because how could you not? I know a band or DJ is good when I end up staying longer than planned because even though I am dead tired by this point in the day, I want to hear the jams and photographing a packed dance floor full of fun loving family and friends is too good to pass up. I have a big grin on my face behind the camera most of the day but it is especially true when the music is this good and the crowd is rockin’!

I am not sure it is possible to hear ‘I love you’ between a bride and groom as much as I did with Gina and Garrett on their wedding day. From the consultation I knew there was something incredibly special about this couple’s relationship. Seeing them rarely leaving each other’s sight or side after saying ‘I Do’ and the constant flow of loving words between them solidified it. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for this delightful couple.

-Pamela xoxox

Photography: Pamela Abdelnour, Photographer

Venue: Sycamore Hills Golf Club

Videographer: Ewbank Films

Dress: The Wedding Shoppe

Florist: Bride and Bloom

Hair: The Polished Bride

Makeup: Suzanne Skorich

Cake: Christine’s Cakes and Pastries

Entertainment: Mainstream Drive