Megan & Dylan's Romantic Outdoor Wedding | Bryn Awel Manor & Ren & Co. Planning

Shannon Ritter
Aug 18
3 min read

Megan and Dylan, married at Bryn Awel Manor, spent almost two years in the making. I met them at the Delaware Bridal Expo, on the Wilmington waterfront, where we immediately connected. On their wedding day, Megan shared with me that Dylan had looked into having me photograph their marriage proposal. They ultimately got engaged in Chicago, but this meant so much to me that our paths had crossed before they chose me, Shannon Ritter, to photograph their wedding day.

During the planning process Megan reached out to ask for recommendations for a wedding planner. I easily suggested Alexis from Ren & Co. I worked with Alexis on a campground wedding a year back. When I say a campground wedding, I mean a couple rented a campground for all of their guests to stay for a weekend of wedding festivities. I saw Alexis handle all the details, decorations, rain plans, lighting, event and game execution and even a toilet crisis of the day. While CJ was at the campground wedding, I never saw him. He was always in another location moving, delivering, or making things come together. Thankfully, Ren & Co. was available and made Megan and Dylan's dream day happen.

Megan and Dylan’s planned a first look to enjoy time together on their day. In the lush gardens of Bryn Awel Manor, Megan was escorted by her best friend, who carefully carried her train as she walked toward Dylan. There, tucked away among blooming flowers and greenery, the couple shared private vows. It was quiet, intimate, and filled with emotion—just the two of them soaking in a moment they’ll remember forever. My second photographer and I stayed outside the garden, at their request, so that they could exchange private vows.

Megan's mom watches her daughter walk down the aisle while Megan's niece stands on a chair to see as over the wedding guests.

The pictures below, show what ANTICIPATION of a photographer truly is. I quickly moved around the wedding party once Megan had walked down the aisle. My second photographer was at the end of the aisle to photograph from that direction. I knew that this location/position would give me the opportunity to include Megan's mom in the photo as well as dad, groom and bride all together in one photo.

Megan and Dylan took dance lessons to they would have a memorable first dance with their guests.

Dylan's brother did something that solved a problem that I see at a majority of weddings. While he did have approximately seven pages typed out for his speech, he did not have a glass to raise. I love how he used the microphone to clink glasses with the couple. More than half of the weddings that I photograph, the person toasting the couple does not have a glass. Love this solution and I wish more people used this solution.

This is the text I recieved from Megan when she recieved her final wedding gallery.

"The photos were amazing!! Thank you fo much! I can't believe how fantastic the reception photos were. They were our favorite. It seems like everyone had such a fun time. You captured so much emotion!" She later sent me a text with the picture below with this "I've never seen my parents dance and I tear up (happy tears) seeing how much fun they had. Thanks for capturing it.