Sara + Joey
8 | 10 | 2024
Photography by Brianna Wilbur Photography
A wedding is far more than just one day. It’s the days, months and years of envisioning, planning and creating together that lead up to it. Triumphs and setbacks are abundant, emotions run high and low, and stress often feels center stage during the wedding planning process.
For Sara and Joey Bowser, the days leading up to their wedding were just as important as their ceremony, and treating them as such allowed them to focus purely on celebrating “love, authenticity and togetherness” on their special day.
“From the very beginning, Joey and I knew that our wedding had to reflect who we are, and the focus was on cherishing every moment together,” Sara says. “Any couple planning a major event knows it can be stressful, so it was essential for me to prioritize relaxation and be fully present as the big day approached.”
Though Sara and Joey officially tied the knot on August 10, 2024 at Lauxmont Farms Weddings in York, their wedding festivities began a few days prior at The Roundtop Castle, an Airbnb nestled atop a hill overlooking the Susquehanna River.
Sara, Joey, their three children, their parents and the bridal party spent the days leading up to the wedding unpacking, settling in, preparing for the rehearsal dinner and spending time together “relaxing” and “soaking in the experience” at the castle.
“What truly mattered the most to us was how we spent the days surrounding our wedding,” Sara says. “On the wedding day, having a home base before and after was perfect for our guests. It created a space for togetherness while still giving everyone room to breathe.”
The theme of cherishing every moment together was evident throughout the entire wedding day, too, starting in the morning with Sara and Joey getting ready side-by-side.
“We chose to get ready side-by-side on the top floor of the castle, and honestly, it was the best choice for us,” Sara says. “The sweeping views of the river and our favorite record spinning in the background framed the intimacy of the moment as we exchanged our private vows.”
She adds it was a “deeply personal and unforgettable experience that made the day feel even more ours.”
Another significant and personal touch to their day, Sara says, was Joey’s father officiating the ceremony—as he got certified specifically for the occasion.
“The ceremony was nothing short of magical. His words brought warmth and familiarity … and hearing his heartfelt emotion touched everyone there,” she says.
She adds it was also important that the guests felt included and like they were a part of Sara and Joey’s journey, so they had a guest blessing circle around the Lauxmont ceremony fountain to create a sense of connection between everyone.
Connection, after all, is the foundation of Sara and Joey’s relationship—along with a vibrant dash of youthfulness and playfulness. Their love and personalities glistened in details like yard games, oversized lounge chairs, fun cocktail napkins—and, most notably, bubbles.
“For the cocktail hour, the setting was whimsical, around the sparkling pool, where floating balloons mimicked giant, shimmering bubbles,” she says. “The ‘bubble’ theme … our wedding, now fondly known as ‘The Bubble Wedding,’ added a playful and elegant touch, making it feel like we were celebrating inside a dream.”
Sara says other characteristics of the wedding that were meaningful included supporting the local community (done so through cupcakes with ingredients from their garden and their friends’ farms) and following a neutral, organic color palette and simple, clean aesthetic.
“It was a balance of chic and casual—whites and creams adorned the space, exuding sophistication. … It felt like the perfect blend of our personalities,” she says. And she adds that Joey, of course, was “involved in every decision made, even the wild Pinterest D-I-Y's I would come to him with. … Grooms are often forgotten in the planning.”
Currently, Sara and Joey reside in Joey’s hometown of York with their children, and she says “on a kid-free night,” they enjoy eating sushi together on the couch or getting a good cocktail (if they’re feeling wild). She says they’re looking forward to a future full of traveling, hiking and paddleboarding together as a family.
“Being newlyweds feels exciting, but we’re both just as excited to see what every chapter to come has in store,” Sara says. “Joey and I couldn’t have imagined a day that felt more true to us. We embraced who we are, created memories with our favorite people and lived in every beautiful moment of our bubble wedding.”
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Photography by Brianna Wilbur Photography
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Photography by Brianna Wilbur Photography
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Photography by Brianna Wilbur Photography
Details
Dress: Martina Liana (The Wedding Factor)
Cake: Farmacy Cafe
Caterer: Farmacy Cafe and Catering
Florist: Wild Indigo
Hair: MKUP The Beauty Studio
Invitations: Minted
Makeup: MKUP The Beauty Studio
Musical Entertainment: 3 West Productions
Officiant: Tom Bowser (Groom’s father)
Photography: Brianna Wilbur Photography
Videography: David & Sarah Films
Planner: AKG Events
Rings: Handmade (Bride); The Ridge (Groom)
Tux/Suits: Stitch & Tie
Venue: Lauxmont Farms Sunken Gardens (Wedding); The Roundtop Castle (Wedding weekend festivities)
Other Vendors: A to Z Rentals (Rentals)
