Washington DC wedding photography Archives - Holland Photo Arts

Megan & Misha’s Wedding at the Mellon Auditorium, Part 1: The Moments

Weddings

All right, as promised we FINALLY have more to share from Megan & Misha’s wedding! By now you’ve probably already seen Megan’s bridal portraits and their Georgetown engagement session, not to mention the Washingtonian Bride and Groom feature, so you may be eager to see more highlights from their Mellon Auditorium wedding. We’ve certainly been eager to share.

The word “gorgeous” is, in our humble opinion, slightly overused and certainly sometimes by us, but this wedding was, without a doubt, truly one of the most gorgeous we’ve ever seen let alone get to photograph it. Combine that with such a beautiful couple inside and out, and we had the makings of a wedding we’ll remember fondly for many years to come.

No doubt, we loved working with this amazing team, too. There’s something about working with the same people for various weddings–you get to really know each other and you work together so seamlessly at a wedding, not to mention it’s always fun to work with old friends. Everyone involved seriously brought their A game and we think the results speak for themselves and bet you’ll agree.

PS – Settle in. This is a BIG one!

Venues: St. Matthews Cathedral & Andrew Mellon Auditorium
Event Planner: Simply Chic Events
Floral Designer: Amaryllis
Make-up: Carl Ray
Hair styling: Remona Soleimani
Catering: Occasions
Cake Artist: Fancy Cakes by Leslie
Furniture rental: DC Rentals
Jewelers: Dominion Jewelers
Videographer: Monachetti Weddings
Lighting: Frost Lighting
Live Painter: Wed on Canvas
Rentals: DC Rental
Paper Goods: Haute Papier
Calligraphy: Curlicue Designs
Transportation: MJ Valet
Bridal Gowns: Liancarlo and Vera Wang (afterparty)
Bridal Boutiques: Carines Bridal & Saks Jandel
Grooms Attire: Baroni (Geoffrey Lewis)
Reception band: La Femme Classique (Violins), The Source, The Nation (Reception) and The Elements (after party) via Elan Artists
After-party food trucks: DC Slices and Dolci Gelati
Assistant Extraordinaire and Third Photographer: Karen Papadales

Anne’s faves of Bill’s:

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Bill’s faves of Anne’s

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And, last but definitely not least and, because we could not have done it (especially this wedding!) without her…

Our favorites of Karen’s:

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And of course some whoa, incredible details, captured by all three of us, coming up in the next post. Stay tuned!

Kaitlyn & Mark’s Mellon Auditorium Wedding Featured on ModWedding!

Buzz

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Kaitlyn and Mark married two Autumns ago in Washington, DC and it’s still one of our favorite weddings to date. We aren’t alone – Mod Weddings is currently featuring their big day on their blog! The Mellon is one of the quintessential landmarks in DC and we love getting to shoot there. Evoke pulled out absolutely all the stops for this one once again and we had a fantastic time getting some fun portraits of K&M in and around The Park Hyatt and of course, the stunning Mellon and it’s hidden gem of a courtyard.

Congratulations, K&M and thanks so much for the love Mod Wedding!

Best of 2014: Black and White Wedding Photography

Featured, Weddings

At the end of each wedding season, we enjoy going back through our clients’ images throughout the year. It serves two purposes: Primarily, we get to reinforce some great memories we’ve had of particular moments within each wedding we photographed. Secondarily, it helps us learn so we can continually improve, becoming better photographers.

We were lucky enough to have a wide variety of weddings we photographed all around the country in 2014, so it was incredibly difficult narrowing literally thousands of photos to just a few. So we decided to divide and conquer. This first post holds our favorite moments in B&W wedding photography. We wanted each image to tell its own story, earning its place here with its emotional impact and of course its composition and light.

So settle in with your favorite hot beverage of choice (we’re already there, with tea for Anne and coffee for Bill), and stay nice and warm inside if you’re in a chilly part of the country, which is pretty much everywhere today! Click the link to see more from each wedding, and of course, enjoy! Hope your week is off to a great start and be sure to come back later this week when we’ll be sharing our favorite color photos!

Bill’s favorites of Anne’s:

From Annie & Adam’s Devil’s Thumb Ranch wedding:

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From Alison & Jasper’s Farmington Country Club wedding:

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From Joe & Rick’s Lake Geneva wedding:

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From Lisa & Elaine’s Umstead Resort wedding:

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From Laura & Gavin’s Lionscrest Manor wedding:

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From Lindsey & Rob’s Steamboat Springs wedding:

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From Ingrid & Oscar’s Salamander Resort wedding:

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From Tori & Skyler’s Fat Cat Farm wedding:

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From Sarah & Max’s Newseum wedding:

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From Sara & Marc’s St. Regis Hotel wedding:

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Anne’s favorites of Bill’s:

From Annie & Adam’s Devil’s Thumb Ranch wedding:

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From Kate & Andrew’s Clifton Inn wedding:

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From Lisa & Elaine’s Umstead Resort wedding:

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From Laura & Gavin’s Lionscrest Manor wedding:

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From Lindsey & Rob’s Steamboat Springs wedding:

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From Ingrid & Oscar’s Salamander Resort wedding:

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From Julie & Michael’s Congressional Cemetery wedding:

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From Sarah & Max’s Newseum wedding:

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From Sara & Marc’s St. Regis Hotel wedding:

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From Sarah & Max’s Vail Resorts engagement session:

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From Tori & Skyler’s Fat Cat Farm wedding:

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Thanks so much to all our fun and fabulous 2014 couples for giving us so many great moments to capture! We couldn’t have done i without you. 🙂

xoxo,
…a&b

Happy Anniversary: Kaitlyn & Mark’s Wedding at Mellon Auditorium in Washington, DC

Anniversaries

Fall is a popular time for weddings and 2013 was no different so we have another fun anniversary to share with you today! We’re thrilled to help celebrate Kaitlyn & Mark’s first anniversary with them and were thrilled to see some of their favorite moments that we captured from their truly stunning DC wedding. HUGE thank you again to the fabulous and extremely talented ladies at Evoke who helped make this such a fantastic and wonderfully memorable day for all involved!

Here are a few of our favorites from the wedding. It’s hard to believe it has been a year. Thank you again for taking the great pictures. It has been a great year and very busy. We are keeping it simple for our first anniversary and going to a nice dinner in DC. We just bought a house in Raleigh, NC and are in the process of packing and moving so we thought this weekend would be a good break.

Congratulations on your first wedding anniversary, K&M!!

xoxo,
…a&b

Max & Sarah’s Wedding at Washington DC’s Newseum

Featured, Weddings

In a funny travel irony, one of our recent Fall weddings involved a bi-coastal couple of sorts. Lucky for us, Max & Sarah are based both in Denver and Washington, DC so when they chose to marry, they knew it would be in the town where they met (DC), but chose to have their engagement photos in a town they love (Vail). They selected one of DC’s coolest and well renowned museums – the Newseum in which to say their I Do’s as the Capitol was beautifully framed, quite literally behind them. Theme: Black, White and Re(a)d all over. Their guests were also treated to a rousing thunderstorm that thankfully waited until cocktail hour to truly manifest and merely threatened their outdoor, rooftop ceremony.

This jet-setting duo’s likeableness and charisma was on full display at their roast, er…rehearsal dinner (theme: Wisconsin meets Great Britain) at the Hay Adams Hotel the night prior. Several friends offered some valuable intel on their individual personalities followed by key advice (complete with an intensive Power Point presentation!) on how to have a happy marriage with said quirky, yet highly accomplished and ambitious backgrounds. We’ve seen a trend towards roast type rehearsal dinner/celebrations and we have to say, we love it. Judging from the gathered crowd’s reactions, they did as well.

Here is a selection of our favorite moments and details from their celebration, and of course you can see everything in their gallery. The password is Sarah’s last name and is case-sensitive.Read on at the bottom for a recap of our favorite moments from the weekend’s celebration. Enjoy!

The wedding team:
Venue & Lighting: Newseum
Event Planner: Sara Muchnick for Engaging Affairs
Catering & Cake: Wolfgang Puck
Flowers: Amaryllis
Officiant: Family Friend
Make-up: Erwin Gomez and Nikki Fraser
Hairstylist: Thania Trieu
Reception Music: Celebrity All Stars through East Coast Entertainment
Stationer: smock. and Luscious Verde
Calligraphy: Sprites Ink
Videographer: Suburban Video

A’s faves of B’s:

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B’s faves of A’s:

A few of our favorites from our longtime assistant, Karen who was able to join us for part of the day:

And, of course, we had to leave you with some simply luminous eye candy…

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(Bill’s note: This shot below’s so damn cool. Not to brag, but my wife’s pretty incredibly talented.)

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Dear m&s,

Some of our favorite moments from your wedding weekend include…
Your sisters’ toast (or should we call it training?), Sarah, complete with a 2″ binder full of the “Care and Feeding of Sarah” for Max, ostensibly to read while traveling to your honeymoon. The end of the toast, showing a picture of you at 60 holding a certain prestigious office, was priceless! Your officiant becoming the envy of music directors everywhere by getting all the guests to actually sing at a service. The story told at your rehearsal dinner, Max, exemplifying your competitiveness, at least in tennis, and probably in finance too. Holding your flower girl in your lap during toasts, precariously perched due to all the laughter (your sisters, Sarah, did an amazing job, but it was especially cool to have two upstanding British gents deliver a rousing one for Max). Your first dance kept your guests guessing and was so much fun to watch. That so-tender moment between you and your dad as you began to proceed down the aisle, Sarah, and when you got there, the emotion on your mom’s face, Max, really showed how happy these two families will now be one. Your entire weekend celebration was a wonderful reminder of the incredible meaning of our relationships with our family and those we choose as our family to surround us. Congratulations again to you both and we can’t wait to raise a beer again with you soon!

xoxo…
…a&b

Julie & Michael’s Wedding at Congressional Cemetery

Weddings

It’s the start of the wedding season, and it was so cool beginning things with a long-time former co-worker of Bill’s. Julie reached out to us this winter with the wonderful news of hers and Michael’s engagement, so we were doubly happy to return to the DC area to capture their laid-back wedding day. One of the things they did which we love is they both met and welcomed their guests as they arrived at the Congressional Cemetery chapel prior to the ceremony. (She also walked down the aisle with her sister!) It gave the whole affair an easy-going start to the day and really set the mood for the evening’s festivities, held at Firefly Restaurant. And, it could not have been a more gorgeous Spring day.

Take a gander at some of our favorite moments from the day, then see their complete gallery. The password is Julie’s maiden name. Enjoy!

Anne’s faves of Bill’s:

This photo below was something of an accident, as we were shooting quick portraits of Michael and Julie was just “staying out of the way”, haha.

Bill’s faves of Anne’s:

Some lovely details:

Dear j&m,

Some of the favorite moments we had from your wedding day include:
You could feel the moment blocks away of you two seeing each other for the first time that day on your front stoop. Your high-five with your sister just before getting dressed, Julie. The huge grins on your faces as you greeted your arriving guests prior to your ceremony. That look, Michael, you had on your face just as Julie appeared in the chapel’s doorway, ready to walk down the aisle. Holding on to Michael’s arm so tightly as you recessed following the ceremony, Julie, as if to say, “Never apart.” While not technically a moment, the perfect weather–loved it! And finally, the toasters. Wow. The toasters. We had no idea, Michael.

Congratulations, you two!

xoxo…
…a&b

Misty & Roby’s Wedding at Mellon Auditorium

Weddings

What do you get when you cross two Ivy League-educated attorneys with a love for pranks, and irreverent sense of humor? Why, Misty & Roby of course. You know them, don’t you? Faithful readers of this journal will remember them from their early springtime Love Session, and now they’ve tied the knot in an amazingly unique ceremony (not only in the round, but officiated by their wedding party and parents!) at the always stunning Mellon Auditorium in DC and expertly planned and executed by the fantastic Sara Muchnick. We simply adore these two and are so delighted to share a few of our fave moments and of course, some gorgeous decor from their wedding day with you. Have fun, enjoy your week, and of course, check out the full gallery. The password is Misty’s last name and is case-sensitive.

The fabulous team:
Venue: Mellon Auditorium
Planner: Sara Muchnick with Engaging Affairs
Florist: Amaryllis
Caterer: Design Cuisine
Band: Big Ray & The Kool Kats
DJ: Jared Rosen
Furniture rentals: Party Rental, AFR, Taylor Creative
Video: Blue Sky Films
Lighting: Digital Lighting

Bill’s faves of Anne’s:

We’re not typically a fan of our subjects being camera-aware, but this glance from Roby’s dad just before escorting his son down the aisle really did it for us.

Just Married!

Anne’s faves of Bill’s:

So how cool is this? Misty, part of a dance troupe in college, was completely surprised by a production her friends put on for the couple. The even bigger surprise? Roby, who otherwise would not necessarily be classified as a dancer, partook in the last number of the set to the cheers of everyone and as a surprise to Misty. Totally blew her mind. Loved it!

Roby shakes his booty at his new wife at the end of the dance.

Of course some from our awesome assistant Karen:

As promised, some of the incredible details:

Dear m&r,

Some of our favorite memories from your wedding weekend include:

The molecular mixologists at your rehearsal dinner (what a way to start the weekend!). Your first sight, when Roby shook his money maker (and then shook it again later that night…). That you created a unique ceremony officiated by your dearest friends, all participating in their own way. That amazing dance routine performed for you, including a surprise appearance by Roby. Yup, shaking his money maker once again. Wow, it was hard not just putting down our cameras and watching in amazement. The coordinated superhero boxers (not shown). Your laughter, especially immediately after your ceremony. Having your talented singing friends entertain the rest of your guests during cocktail hour. Misty, that you managed to get down on the dance floor despite recently injuring your feet–that was serious perseverance.

Congratulations, you two!

xoxo…
…a&b

Kaitlyn & Mark’s Wedding at the Mellon Auditorium

Weddings

It’s not often we have two big events at the cavernous Mellon Auditorium within a couple of months of each other, but every time we do we’re so impressed with the space’s transformation. Is it just us or does that place just say historic DC glamour? It’s such a stunning venue and the glittering decor really set the mood for Kaitlyn & Mark’s festive Fall celebration. They, along with their families and friends, had us grinning from ear to ear at so many of the touching moments throughout their day. Take a look at some of our favorite images from the day and then check out their complete gallery. The password is Kaitlyn’s maiden name and is case-sensitive.

The fabulous team:
Venue: Mellon Auditorium
Planner: Thy Parra of Evoke
Catering: Occasions
Band: Source
Stationery: Haute Papier
Calligraphy: Meant to Be Calligraphy
Florist: Edge Floral Event Designers
Hair & make-up: Carola Myers
Baker: Maggie Austin Cake

Anne’s faves of Bill’s:

Bill’s faves of Anne’s:

Some great scene setters from Karen:

And of course some incredibly beautiful (& sparkly!) details:

Dear k&m,

Some of our favorite moments from your wedding weekend’s celebration include: Your mischievous grin, Kaitlyn, as you approached Mark for your first sight that day. The patient waiting and then a quick joke between you and your dad as you prepared to walk down the aisle to lighten the mood. The tender whispering in each other’s ears later that night when you thought no one was watching. Your grace and laughter during poignant toasts from your closest friends and family. Capturing a packed and energetic dance floor. (We might want to look into more insurance!) That your smiles, especially yours Kaitlyn, shined even brighter than the dazzling decor.

Congratulations, you two and we wish you many years of joy!

xoxo…
…a&b

Alicia & Gio’s Wedding at the Hay Adams Hotel

Weddings

It’s always a uniquely designed, gorgeous and well-executed wedding when we get to work with Pam Barefoot of ATrendy Wedding. Combine that with one of the sweetest, most tender couples we’ve ever met in Alicia & Gio, and we have one incredibly emotionally rewarding wedding. We’d describe it more, but we don’t think mere words will suffice…

When you’re finished looking at some of our own favorites from the day’s festivities, check out their complete gallery. The password is Alicia’s maiden name and is case-sensitive. Enjoy!

The talented team:
Planner: Pam Barefoot of ATrendy Wedding
Ceremony venue: St. Peter’s Church on Capitol Hill
Reception venue: Hay Adams Hotel
Florist: Amaryllis
Baker: Kendall’s Cakes
Gown: Lela Rose
Band: Jump Street
Make-up: Kim Giammaria of Beauty Mark
Hair: Alison Harper & Co.
Videography: Stan Pe Films
Stationery: The Dandelion Patch
Calligraphy: Just Write Studios

Anne’s faves of Bill’s:

Bill’s faves of Anne’s:

And we just had to pick a few from our fantastic assistant who totally rocked it out at this wedding. Anne & Bill’s faves of Karen’s:

And last but not least, some lovely details:

Dear a&g,

A few of our favorite moments from your wedding day include:

Your first sight! The strong emotional bond you have with one another was so incredibly clear to us. Alicia, when your family stood up in recognition and memory of your father, and toasted you. The never-ending conga line! Grateful that watermelons were still in season, even if they were a bit grubby-looking. That quiet moment you shared just before your announcement into your reception, and then your guest’s uproar of love and affection once you walked into the room. Your theatrical expression of “yes!” upon successfully cutting your cake. Gio, that look over your shoulder you gave just after dipping Alicia at the end of your first dance together. Words can’t describe the emotion in that look.

Congratulations, you two! It’s been such a pleasure getting to know you both and we’re so excited for you & your new adventures as Mr. & Mrs.!

xoxo…
…a&b

Brooke & Phill’s Wedding at the National Museum for Women in the Arts

Weddings

We’re happy to share with you today the big wedding celebration of Brooke & Phill, who enjoyed a personalized ceremony at the historic New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in downtown Washington, DC. It was so nice seeing them and celebrating with them again after getting together for food & drink a couple of months prior at Pippin Hill Farm. It was so nice too working with our friend Jessica Brown (we adore the entire Simply Chic Events team) who pulled off this beautiful and fun wedding seemingly effortlessly (although we definitely know better). It was hard narrowing down our absolute favorites from the day there were so many great moments, but somehow we managed. 😉 Enjoy! And when you’re ready, check out Brooke and Phill’s complete gallery of images. The password is Brooke’s maiden name and is case-sensitive.

The fabulous team:
Ceremony venue: New York Avenue Presbyterian Church
Reception venue: National Museum for Women in the Arts
Planner: Jessica Brown of Simply Chic Events
Officiant: Bill Cochran of Say I Do Your Way
Catering: Design Cuisine
Florist: Amaryllis
Hair styling: Bridal Hair by Remona
Make-up: Carl Ray
Bagpiper: Bialek’s Music
Band: Source
Baker: Kendall’s Cakes
Lighting: Frost Lighting
Photo booth: Booth-o-Rama
Food truck: Takorean Food Truck
Gown: Oscar de la Renta
Shoes: Badgley Mischka

Anne’s faves of Bill’s:

Long-time (really long time) visitors to our blog might recognize Michelle & Al, whose wedding we shot back in 2004. So great seeing them both again!

Bill’s faves of Anne’s:

There are some really fun ones, which we love, taken by our assistant Karen too:

This almost captions itself: “This cake. I would like some. Now.”

Some lovely details:

Dear b&p,

Some of our favorite moments from your day include:

When your parents got so excited for you they couldn’t wait to rush down the aisle after you to celebrate with you, leaving the wedding party at the altar in paused bemusement. Your nephews holding it together the best they could, and really performing admirably when it counted. That you called each other on the phone as you opened each others’ wedding gifts. Almost. Your bagpiper who led your guests across busy New York Avenue and H St., as if he were a mama duck followed by dozens of ducklings eager for cocktail hour. That way you paused and looked at each other as you recessed down the aisle. We don’t know what you were thinking, but we’re pretty sure it was something along the lines of, “We did it!”

Congratulations!

xoxo…
…a&b

Lindsay & Kyle’s Wedding at St. Aloysius and the National Museum for Women in the Arts

Weddings

Well. Another Friday already? Ah, the weekend, and of course we have another wedding ready and waiting just for you. Lindsay and Kyle had some serious fun with their friends and family for their raucous celebration. We’re happy sharing all these great moments with you and have included, as usual, a few of our favorites from the day’s festivities. Want more? Take a look at their complete gallery here. The password is Lindsay’s maiden name (just the first half of the hyphenation) and is case-sensitive. Enjoy!

The fab team:
Ceremony venue: St. Aloysius at Gonzaga College High School
Reception venue: National Museum for Women in the Arts
Planning: Elizabeth Duncan Events
Florist: Enchanted Florist
Catering: Occasions
Cake: Fancy Cakes by Leslie
Reception music: Free Spirit

Bill’s faves of Anne’s:

Anne’s faves of Bill’s:

Some lovely eye candy:

Dear l&k,

Some of our favorite moments from your wedding include…

Kyle, the way you looked and grinned at Lindsay as she walked down the aisle as if it were the first time seeing her. Lindsay, the way you hugged your dad tight and held on after his warm and touching toast to you both. James running, almost toward you, Lindsay, but instead right to his mom, and yet you still held out your arms…and your hope. Your bridesmaids doing a little spontaneous jig during portraits at the park. Your giddiness at the altar, when you thought no one was looking. And yes, even one of your guests attempting to light a sparkler held in his mouth.

Congratulations, you two!

xoxo…
…a&b

Lindsay & Charles Wedding at Sixth & I Synagogue and Hotel Monaco

Weddings

One of the best things about documenting a wedding is bearing witness to one of the most celebrated family celebrations a couple will experience. That experience we’re given is something special that we truly cherish and to be honest, we’re sometimes a little surprised that it still gets us even ten years in. While yes, we’ve photographed hundreds of weddings since our humble beginnings in 2002, the memories of our clients and their families are as unique as the couples themselves. There may be traditions common to many weddings, but the way each couple embraces them makes them unique and will stay in our memory that way. Like each couple, we’ll look at a photo from a wedding and remember the feeling in the room that day (as well as what we were thinking at that particular moment). Every once in a while we may tear up looking at a particular image from years ago. Such is the wonderful emotions we get to capture on behalf of our clients. Clients like the delightful Lindsay and Charles, who celebrated their nuptials with their tight-knit families in Washington DC at the gorgeous Sixth & I Synagogue followed by a total dancefest at Hotel Monaco just a few blocks away. Check out some of our favorite images from the day, and then you can view their complete gallery here. The password is Lindsay’s maiden name and is case-sensitive.

The fab team:
Ceremony venue: Sixth & I Synagogue
Reception venue and catering: Hotel Monaco DC
Planner: Sara of Bella Notte
Cake artist: Fluffy Thoughts Cakes
Ceremony musicians: Cherry Blossom String Quartet
Band: Ground Control
Lighting: John Farr Lighting
Video: Dolce Studio Films
Make-up: Leah McKay
Hair: Rudy Rodriguez
Gown: Paloma Blanca

Bill’s fave images of Anne’s:

For their first sight, Lindsay walked up behind Charles and put his bow tie over his shoulder before he ever saw her. She had learned just for him!

Anne’s fave images of Bill’s:

Love the woman doing a double-take as she crossed the street!

Loving this beautiful scene-setter from our assistant Karen:

More eye candy!

L&C, here are a few of our favorite moments from your wedding:

Your dad’s fluency in Portugese, Lindsay, as he welcomed your family and friends to your reception. The way your cake topper clutched that MacBook Pro as if that was your life (good thing you don’t use a Dell). The fist pump in the air as your rabbi announced you married! The wide variety of crowd reactions as you walked hand-in-hand through the throngs in Chinatown from the synagogue to Monaco. The uproarious laughter, especially during your brothers’ toasts. Your dedication in getting that bow tie tied, Lindsay, even if you couldn’t see what you were doing! The way your parents stood together, with your dad’s arm around your mom’s shoulders, listening to the string quartet when the synagogue was still otherwise empty. The gentle way you held your heads together, as if you were momentarily one person. And yes, the dancing.

Thank you for your trust in us, l&c and Mazel Tov!

xoxo…
…a&b

Liz & Paul’s Wedding at Washington DC’s Meridian House

Weddings

Happy Friday and welcome back! You’re probably all set for the weekend, so let us send you off to celebrate in style, with our friends Liz and Paul’s fantastically emotional and touching wedding. Do you remember the great time we had with them at their Love Session? Of course you do. We absolutely adore this sweet, joyful couple and are so excited to share their stunning DC wedding with you.

Have fun looking through everything and when you’re ready, click on through to visit their complete wedding gallery. The password is Liz’s maiden name. Enjoy!

The fab team:
Venue: Meridian House
Planner: Jamie Sears of Simply Chic Events
Caterer and baker: Design Cuisine
Florist: Beehive Events
Stationer: Simple Song Design
DJ: DJ D-Mac
Ceremony musicians: String Poets
Make-up: Laura Bateman
Hair: Remona Soleimani
Officiant: Bill Cochran
Gown: Monique Lluhier
Calligraphy: Lee Ann Clark
Lighting: eventEQ

Anne’s faves of Bill’s:

Bill’s faves of Anne’s:

Eye-candy that just might make you full!

Dear l&p,

Somehow we knew, when we saw your complementary MacBook covers, that not only were the two of you incredibly perfect for each, but that we were all going to get along just fine. It gave us goosebumps watching the two of you as you saw each other for the first time on your wedding day, and Paul, your unbridled giggles at seeing your wife-to-be was the icing on the cake. You just know in that moment that this is a true partnership, amazingly strong and truly meant to be.

There’s something very special about having kids comprise your wedding party. They’re full of wonder and eagerness and yes, sometimes shyness. It was so cute seeing your nieces, Paul, walk down the aisle with huge grins on their faces holding up a banner with, “Uncle Paul, here comes your girl!” During your ceremony, even though we had already heard a couple of the stories from your courtship that Rev. Bill related to your guests, we loved experiencing them again and watching your reactions to them. Speaking of reactions, Liz, that series of the two of you while you’re trying to squeeze Paul’s ring onto his finger made us and everyone else laugh.

Paul–a Belgian beer bar for your guests? Nice! It was all we could do not to put our cameras down for a spell during cocktail hour to pour a tall Chimay Blue. What a fantastic idea! Everything you had for your guests’ experience, from the beer to the charcuterie to the cupcake favors had purpose and meaning, which was certainly not lost on anyone there.

Sometimes we just can’t believe our luck. We so loved spending time with you and your families over your wedding weekend and are so grateful for your continued trust and friendship. Congratulations and we can’t wait to see you both again soon!

xoxo…
…a&b

Mary Pat & Jon’s Wedding at the McDonough School and Carr Center

Weddings

Today we’re so happy to share with you photos from Mary Pat and Jon’s wedding. While it was pretty warm that day for their wedding as well, at least there were cupcakes and champagne for all after the ceremony, so all was most definitely well in the world. While we wish we could say that there are cupcakes & champagne waiting for you at the end of this post, hopefully you’ll be enjoying the photos so much you won’t hear that stomach of yours growling. 😉 So enjoy, and when you’re ready for more, you can view their complete wedding (the password is Mary Pat’s maiden name).

Have a great weekend, everyone! We hope you’re enjoying whatever cool weather you can muster and in lieu of that, at least some chilled adult beverages to carry you along. We know we’ll be doing just that!

The fab team:
Ceremony venue: McDonough School chapel
Reception venue: Carr Event Center at The Willard Hotel
Planner: Peggy Marilley with Team Precision
Florist: Helen Olivia
Catering: Occasions
Cake: Fancy Cakes by Leslie
Cupcakes: IcedGems
Gown: Vera Wang
Video: Ernest with Dolce Studio Films

Anne’s favorites:

LOVE this series she captured of their little boy playing with MP’s veil just following the ceremony.

Bill’s favorites:

Jon braves the heat while awaiting the start of the ceremony.

Who’s going to turn down getting a sign with “yay!” on it when married? Nope, us neither.

Last, but not least, a few lovely details from the day:

Dear mp&j+d,

We had to laugh when we saw Jon’s ring after you said your I Do’s last month. More specifically, what was written inside of it, “Put Me Back On”. As if he’d need a reminder. The two of you were so natural and relaxed with one another. Jon, we don’t think we ever saw you without a huge grin on your face that day and why wouldn’t you–your bride was absolutely glowing and your sweet little boy made everyone smile everywhere he went that day. Especially when he joined his parents up at the alter after your first kiss as husband and wife with a flag exclaiming “yay!” Yay, indeed!

It was nice to see you select a spot for your vows with such personal significance, since you attended school and practically grew up at McDonough, Mary Pat. And the fact that your officiant was a dear friend who got ordained for this very special occasion was one of those sweet and personal touches we just love. We overheard several guests exclaiming, “Awwww…” after reading the note that Dixon “wrote” for your wedding favor of the Old Glory & Union Jack pin that your sister and event planner(!) had made for you as a surprise, too. What fun having him & Peggy handing those to guests as they entered the chapel. Little did they know they’d be the recipients of another sweet (literally!) surprise when the chapel doors opened after the ceremony to reveal a cute cupcake truck and servers waiting with chilled champagne. Champagne + cupcakes + shaded lawn on a warm day = heaven. Well, maybe that would be our heaven since we’re suckers for both of those things, but such whimsical touches really set the mood that day. Especially for what was to come that evening!

With you selection of the Carr Center at the Willard for your reception, you gave your guests some killer views of the Washington Monument and downtown DC. No one wanted to leave the glorious, shaded balcony surrounded by so much historical beauty, and we certainly don’t blame them. But with cocktails in hand, headed inside to witness your dear friend in Ireland live Skyping her toast when circumstances prevented her from joining the party in person. A gorgeous and delicious dinner from one of our faves, Occasions Catering, gave guests just the right amount of energy to hit the dance floor later that evening. How cool was it to have your mom’s boyfriend, Jon, perform several songs for you and your guests! He was a hoot to talk with and incredibly talented to boot.

All in all, it was a wonderful day filled with many very unique and personalized touches. We got to experience so many fun firsts that day and that likely says a lot in itself given how many different weddings we’ve photographed! It’s been such a joy getting to know you both over the past couple of months. We are always honored when we get to document such an important day for our clients and their families, but especially when they’re as kind, warm and trusting as you both were from the moment we first chatted on the phone. It means more than you know. Thank you so much, and congratulations!

“May your wedding day be the worst day of your lives.”

Love,
…a&b

Megan and Jack’s Wedding at Washington DC’s APhA

Weddings

Ah, sweet, ya’ll, it’s Friday and we’ve got another fantastic wedding to share with you before you head off to the beach this weekend! Megan & Jack recently married at the American Pharmacists Association, an incredible historic stone mansion right off Constitution Avenue. We didn’t even know that they held weddings there! Now that we do, you can bet we’ll be singing their praises. They held their ceremony out on the expansive front steps that afternoon (& thoughtfully provided free sunglasses and lime-aid to their lucky guests), cocktails were on the sweet shaded side terrace and dinner up on the APhA’s roof top deck that boasts stunning expansive views of the Lincoln memorial, the Washington memorial, the Potomac and oh, man, we could go on and on so instead why don’t we just show you. 🙂 Afterward, check out their complete gallery, including some fun SnapHappy photobooth shots. The password is Megan’s maiden name and is case-sensitive.

The fab team:
Venue: American Pharmacists Association
Planner: Kate Harlan of Simply Chic Events
DJ: DJ D-Mac
Florist: Philippa Tarrant
Make-up: Nour Kazoun
Gown: Monique Lhuillier
Hair stylist: Subairi
Lighting: Frost Lighting

Bill’s faves:

Anne’s faves:

While we were outside capturing their First Look, our talented assistant Karen rocked it from a different angle with Megan’s bridesmaids watching.

Some favorite fab details:

Dear m&j,

You know you’ve set the tone for end-of-evening comments like, “Best wedding ever” when, following cocktail hour, your guests bypass their seats altogether in favor of the incredible views of the Capitol, Washington Monument, and Lincoln Memorial! But we get ahead of ourselves…

You were the second in line of our high-school sweetheart wedding blitz this Summer, but you were the first to have your first have your First Look at the front door of your childhood home where Jack would come and pick you up for dates, Megan! So sweet. And sexy, we have to admit. Especially with those killer Jimmy Choo’s and your gorgeous side slit dress. Doing your portraits at Constitution Gardens caused quit the stir we’re sure!

Your ring bearer Graydon nearly stole the show during your ceremony being about as cute as a little boy just hanging out in the middle of a wedding could be. It was so neat watching him alternately watch you intently and completely ignore the scene around him as he huddled closely to his mom’s legs, just a feet from where you were standing. You probably realized there was a chance of drive-by “encouragement” from those traveling along Constitution with a full view of your ceremony, but we doubt you thought you’d hear, “Don’t do it!” Yet you laughed while continuing with your vows.

What touching toasts you enjoyed, before with your parents Megan, and after dinner with your “best sisters” (a choice we personally applaud) offering joyfully tearful recollections of you both to help get your marriage off to the perfect start. We’re pretty sure DJ D-Mac had his hands full keeping the dance floor moving afterward given such incredibly mild weather that evening and that lounge you set up for your guests with views of downtown (not to mention the SnapHappy photo booth – more pics to come of that in another post!). Your wedding was sweet, joyous, crazy, sexy and sultry all rolled together. All in all, a wonderful evening, and we couldn’t be happier for you both. Congratulations!

xoxo…
…a&b