Congratulations!

wedding present

there is just something so amazing about what the human voice can do…

and the joy in the music that children share with us.

prep talk

I think this is my favorite image from this wedding – it might even be added to the gallery website!

they obviously have a special relationship…

I’m really excited about this picture – not so much because of the picture itself (although I Do like the neat fish eye rounded effect) It’s more about what it represents. This church has very very restrictive rules for photographers – ordinarily, they allow ONE shot from the narthex and then the doors are closed. After working in this church for over 7 years, with ever increasing freedoms, at this wedding, I was given permission to shoot what I wanted from the back! It shows that trust can be earned with mutual respect and time.

a VERY special relationship…

the pretty club after the fire…!!

I’ve had a string of rocking bands this month! These guys are also going on my referral list! Casper

credits

ceremony: First Presbyterian

reception: Boonsboro Country Club

reception band: Casper

cake: Magnolia Foods

flowers:

dress: Marisa

How can September weather get more perfect than it was today in Virginia? How about have the honor of photographing a fabulous wedding!?

this is the kind of day it was.

check out those eyelashes!

I like the way the multiple framing works in this image…

the first look…

great homily by the good Father!

a fun sort of picture with a funky color treatment

a moment with Dad

did I mention what a beautiful day it was?

obligatory bling shot!! (bling from Andrew Minton in Cville)

yummy looking and tasting cake

and, pretty flowers. except for the little purple issue.

can I just tell you how rocking the band was?? They are definitely going on my referral list! I think this picture gives you a feel for the energy in the room that night!

my able second, Tom Sanderson got this shot – I love the focused look on the face of the Farmington staff guy as he lights everybody’s sparkler!

and, the final get away! Congratulations and have a blast in South Africa!

coordinator: Hayley Bannister from Barb-Wired
ceremony: Holy Comforter Church
reception: Farmington Country Club
videographer: Blue Sky Films
ceremony music: Sugar Ridge Quartet (thanks for sharing your balcony!)
reception band: Gazze
cake: Cakes Unlimited
flowers: Patterson’s
dress: Ulla Maija
jewels: Andrew Minton (434) 979-7672

Not just any cake but wedding cake.  One of the perks of my job is the opportunity to taste wedding cakes (most times – I do let the guests get a piece first!!)  And while a so so cake is unfortunately common,  a really good wedding cake is a rare and wonderful thing!  My shout out for the best wedding cake I’ve ever had goes to Loretta of Cakes by Loretta!

I first had her cake at Debbie and Timi’s wedding in 2004.

Not only were the cakes beautifully decorated,

they were the best cakes I had ever tasted!!  Did I mention cakes, plural?  Debbie was so impressed with her cakes she got two since she couldn’t make up her mind!  (Debbie, right there with you!)   I was lucky enough to have a huge piece of the most amazingly moist key lime cake and a little nibble of the chocolate cake remains (there were not many remains!)  If you’re in the DC metro area, I urge you to put Loretta on your list of cake people to try.  You’ll be glad you did!

Aundrea and Rashaun were married on a gorgeous sunny August day in Boston at Saint Katherine-Drexel Church with their reception at the Copely Marriott.

How can you not love a wedding that starts with the groom singing and dancing down the aisle?

what a glorious service!

although admitedly a little long at almost two hours…

one of my favorite times of the day – the first dance.

and a custom that I don’t run into very often – the money dance – (or a variation thereof!)

another favorite dance – father daughter… (when/if my little girl gets married, I’m going to be one big puddle of tears during this)

end of the night group hug

can I just say what troopers these guys were? It was at least 98 degrees with the lovely Virginia August humidity that slaps you like a wet sticky blanket the minute you walk outside! But as we were planning a sign in book for their September 15th wedding, we needed to do the pictures immediately if not sooner! (BTW, for those who are wondering, we normally need at least six weeks to create a custom sign in book for your wedding so if you want one, please be sure to plan accordingly!) In any case, here are a few immediate favorites!

thanks for being such good sports!

so sweetly in love…

and yet another “BIG GROUP”!  Gotta love those church balconys!

the end! (more later!)

thank you for letting me be a part of your special day!

I love this image! And I always enjoy doing engagement sessions if at all possible! It allows us the opportunity to work together before the wedding – a little bit of a dress rehearsal as it were.

The romance…

the bride – have you ever seen such an amazing heart shaped face?

prayer circle

ready to go!

not EVERYONE is as enthusiastic about the day’s events!

it’s always such a pleasure to hear a service from a pastor who really knows his flock.

how cool was this cake? The entire surface was covered with the verse for Corinthians 13.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres…. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

one of the advantages of seating your photographers near the main table is that we’ll be there when moments like this happen:

(we’ll also be more likely to be fed on time so that when you’re ready to get up and go, we’ll be right there with you!)

End of the night

credits

venue:  Camp Bethel 

dress: Mori Lee

Laughter and love in the afternoon!

sometimes it’s just easy ya know?

I love the vintage feel of this image!

Carrie and Casey saw each other before their ceremony – this is such a special moment, I’m glad that we could share it from far Far FAR away! 😉

just loving the light here!

These group photographs are becoming quite popular! It’s a very “traditional” type of image that I take at almost every European wedding I’ve done and I’m glad to be able to bring this little bit of the old country to the new world.

I admit, I cry at weddings… do you?

a good sparkler exit is a SAFE sparkler exit!! I do NOT mind stepping in and helping set this up for everyone’s safety including my own!

credits

venue: Ceresville Mansion, Frederick Maryland

dress: Rivini

What excitement! What energy! What a fun couple!

Maridor is the perfect location for a medium sized wedding – they have an outdoor garden are (with pond and gorgeous trees) and then a very nicely done interior ballroom for the reception portion of the day.

and they said it couldn’t be done!!

credits

venue: Maridor Bed and Breakfast

cake: Casey Cakes