Monique Lhuillier Wedding Gown

Oak Hill Country Club Wedding with Rochester Royalty

top rochester wedding photographer Heather McKay blog

This wedding ceremony at Nazareth’s Linehan Chapel and reception at Oak Hill Country Club was one of my favorite weddings to photograph this year. Amazingly open and friendly families, gorgeous people, top notch details and a great backstory!

top rochester wedding photographer Heather McKay blog

Julie and I had been waiting for her wedding day for quite some time. She has been a big fan of my work since I photographed her brother’s wedding in 2009, then again her best friend’s wedding in 2010 (thanks to her)…. and all the while, Justin was right under her nose…

top rochester wedding photographer Heather McKay blog

You see, Justin has been golfing with her brothers and Dad for years and years…. and never knew that there was a sister! That is until they met and put the puzzle together.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Justin is such a warm and open man and it has been a treat to get to know him and his hilarious family. Vibrant and full of life, they have now joined the ranks as one of my favorite families ever. I hope to see more of them.

top rochester wedding photographer Heather McKay blog

And so here we are. Two wonderful Oak Hill families joining together as one.

Monique Lhuillier Wedding Gown

The wedding would have been notable just with this alone, however, the Ryan family has had quite the run this month. Aside from Julie’s wedding, her brother Joe (and Katie) brought their second daughter into the world a week before the wedding, and her other brother, John was on national television singing with Pitbull on “Fireball”! Congratulations ALL around!

This made for one heck of a fun party and again, the Ryan brothers performed together with the band, Orient Express, during the reception. It was off the hook.

top rochester wedding photographer Heather McKay blogOak Hill Country Club wedding reception with Julie and Justin

Not to be outdone, though, Julie and her dad surprised everyone with choreographed dance and busted out to Pharrell’s “Happy” after their father/daughter dance. Everyone joined them on the dance floor and it didn’t stop all night.

top rochester wedding photographer Heather McKay blog

top rochester wedding photographer Heather McKay blog

The running joke at this Oak Hill Country Club wedding was “I’m kind of a big deal” and that was because everyone there really was kind of a big deal. Everyone seemed to be a minor celebrity in one way or another.

Oddly, I even sort of felt that way because I ended up knowing a lot of random guests that were there too. Not only were two of my past couples there (duh), but also the owner of Abilene, my favorite local bar, and a husband of one bridesmaid is someone I see each year at the University of Rochester Sports Hall of Fame awards dinner.

Ah, Rochester, such a small town. I love you so much.

From a stunning Bride to a handsome Groom, it was a treat to be the wedding photographer for Julie and Justin’s Oak Hill wedding day. {did anyone get a photo of me hanging off the back of the golf cart??}

Top Rochester Wedding Vendors:

wedding photography by Heather McKay  //  second photographer: Alan Presutti  //  videographer: Tibor Torok  //  ceremony location: Nazareth College’s Linehan Chapel  //  reception at Oak Hill Country Club  //  band: Orient Express  //  wedding gown by Monique Lhuillier  //  tux by Jos Bank  //  bridesmaid dresses by Susan Deborah Bridal  // hair and makeup: Scott Miller Salon & Sonja George