When I asked Michelle to describe the wedding she wanted, she gave me three words: romantic, soft, warm. I hear a lot of three-word answers on that questionnaire. Not many of them land as cleanly as hers did. Her King Cole Farm wedding in Dover, Delaware was all three, from a spring afternoon at the gazebo by the pond to a reception that started out elegant and ended with every single person on the dance floor.
As a Delaware wedding photographer, I’ll tell you King Cole Farm is one of those venues where every corner gives you something to work with. Michelle and Chase made the most of all of it.
Michelle got ready in the bridal suite of the brick manor house, the one with the wraparound porch looking out over the grounds. Her details were the kind I love to shoot because they don’t try too hard. Soft blush florals, white heels, and a little photo charm wrapped around the stems of her bouquet. She told me early on that she wanted the day to feel clean and elegant, not country, and her florist clearly got the same memo.
They did a first look, and I’m always glad when a couple chooses that. It gave them a few minutes to just be together before the day picked up speed. Afterward we wandered out to a field of yellow wildflowers at the edge of the property. Chase spun her around out there, the wind grabbed her veil, and we got this windy, romantic kiss that might be my favorite frame of the whole day.
The wedding party wore navy, the guys in honey colored ties, and they looked sharp against the manor house and all that green lawn. They were also a lot of fun, which matters more than people think. And then their black lab showed up in a navy bow tie. Best dressed guest, no contest.
The ceremony was unplugged, so when Michelle walked down the path to the white gazebo by the pond, every face was looking at her and not at a screen. They started with short personal vows before the traditional ones. Right as they kissed, the wind caught her veil again, like it had been waiting for its cue. Then Chase dipped her on the way back up the aisle and the whole crowd cheered. I’ve seen plenty of recessionals. That dip was a good one.
The reception hall at King Cole Farm is bright and elegant, with chandeliers, wood beams, and big windows. Michelle and Chase made a big entrance, shared their first dance to Me and You by Kenny Chesney, and laughed their way through toasts at the sweetheart table. After cake, Michelle came back in a short white dress and the dance floor never slowed down. Later that night we snuck the two of them outside under the string lights for a few last photos, and then sent them right back to the party.
Michelle’s advice for anyone still planning: Don’t stress over the small stuff, and most of it is small stuff! I couldn’t agree more.
What Made King Cole Farm Work for Michelle + Chase
Michelle got ready in the manor house, where the porch and the bright bedrooms had great natural light and views of the grounds. Their first look opened up the afternoon to explore the property, from the lawns to the wildflower field, and they finished family and wedding party photos early so they could actually enjoy cocktail hour.
Their unplugged ceremony meant a room full of faces instead of phones, and the string lights on the lawn gave us a great excuse to steal them away for a night photo. Every couple plans their day differently, and there are lots of great ways to use King Cole Farm. This is how Michelle and Chase did theirs.
Planning a wedding at King Cole Farm or anywhere in Delaware? We photograph and film weddings with a documentary approach, which is a fancy way of saying your gallery and film will feel like your day, not a photo shoot. Reach out and tell us what you’re dreaming up.
Vendor Credits
Venue: King Cole Farm, Dover, DE
Photography + Film: Christopher Ginn Studios
Planner: Shaina Biddle
Florals: Forget Me Not Florist, Wendy Taylor
Cake: Cakerybake Bakery, Melanie Rash
Catering: MISSION BBQ Catering DelMarVa
DJ: D&J DJ Service, Don Timlin
Officiant: 2hearts 2gether 4ever, David Zavala
Wedding Dress: Mia Rose Bridal
Alterations: Christina Tennar
Groom + Groomsmen Attire: Men’s Wearhouse
Hair: Haven Hair Collective, Tara Folke
Makeup: Kasey Bonk Artistry
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