Camp Friendship Wedding | Palmyra, VA | MacKenzie + Hank

October 18, 2019 Emma Willich

Camp Friendship Wedding | Palmyra, VA

Hidden maybe 30 minutes from downtown Richmond is the loveliest, coolest, most chill summer camp that you can actually get married at complete with the best name for marrying your best friend - Camp Friendship.

You might remember MacKenzie and Hank from their rainy day engagement session at their home in South Richmond. If you don’t - check it out here.

Their wedding guests were the luckiest of folks since they got to come early and take part in hay rides, practice archery, play soccer, experience a rope course, and have a before-wedding party beside the lake.

I always ask my couples how they envision this day and this is what MacKenzie and Hank had to say:

From Hank:
“Neither of us fanaticized about this day growing up. We knew it’d happen, but I think our sights were set on what comes after—growing a family and building a life together. So, while our expectations for the big day are high, they’re not set on any one particular thing. We’re just honored to be surrounded by friends and family.”

From MacKenzie:
”I was woefully unprepared to plan a wedding, as Hank mentioned, we had not thought much about it before getting engaged. I’ve always thought they were too much hype, and that people often forgot the real purpose of the day. For us, it’s about the marriage, not the wedding—so the details had never materialized in my head. But when we found Camp Friendship, I finally saw it. The idea of bringing our friends and families together, out in the woods—away from the pretentiousness of typical weddings, sharing activities that Hank and I love to do together. I don’t need fancy floral arrangements, or all the trappings that come with traditional weddings. Give me Hank, in the woods, with Penny (our rescue pup) and everyone we love and I’m a happy girl.”

Surrounded by the whispers of the wind blowing through the trees and their closest friends and family wiping away their tears of joy and hope, they vowed and promised to walk into the future together (and with Penny).

I also made a Super8 inspired film for this wedding - which you can check out - here.

And lastly, so many thanks to Andrea, my wonderful intern from last year who I miss so much.