Hello and happy summer to all! I am so excited to share photos from Neil and Rosie’s day on this blog! I left their engagement session last October with a full heart and a lot of anticipation for their wedding. In case you don’t already know this about me: I love multi-cultural weddings. Seeing two families come together to celebrate their love and traditions is very special for me on many levels. Neil and Rosie’s day combined Hindu and Christian traditions into a celebration that warmed my heart and made me feel so honored to be a photographer!
From the moment I arrived at the Sangeet on Friday, I could tell how wonderful the weekend would be. Rosie and Neil’s guests flew in from all over the country (15 of them even made the trip from India)! Everyone was so excited to be there for this couple…and quite a few of their loved ones put on incredible live performances during the weekend. What a joyous and generous way to shower them with love!
The ceremonies took place at the always-gorgeous The Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill. The day began with a traditional Hindu ceremony, and both Rosie and Neil were absolutely glowing! Rosie wore heirloom jewelry from Neil’s family, and her parents stepped out in traditional Hindu dress, beaming proudly at their daughter’s side. Very sweet and very moving. But the celebration was nowhere near finished, because a beautiful Christian ceremony began in the afternoon! Rosie changed out of her red and gold garments into an elegant white gown made by her aunt. The veil was a true family treasure, worn by both her mother and her aunt on their wedding days. The rest of the day was filled with dancing and laughter and, above all, love. I can’t overstate what a pleasure it was to work with this big-hearted couple and their kind families. Thank you Tia with McLean Events, it is always so wonderful to work with you!

Rosie and Neil: I wish you all the best!

And to everyone else out there: I hope you enjoy these photos from their joyous multi-cultural wedding!

A few photos from their amazing Sangeet!

Thanks Jamie Vinson for shooting their wedding with me!

Coordinator: McLean Events / Florist: Tre Bella / Stationary: Invitations by Ajalon / Cake Artist: Ashley Cakes / Venue and Catering: Carolina Inn / Sangeet and Baraat DJ: DJ Rang (Hindu ceremony) / Reception music: We Got The Beat (East Coast Entertainment) / Make-up: Wedding Hair by Liz / Hair: Wedding Hair by Liz / Wedding Dress: Yager Road / Bridesmaids dress: Azazie / Groom and Groomsmen’s attire: The Black Tux / Sangeet and Hindu ceremony design- Katen Shah Designs / Sangeet food- Raaga / Sangeet venue- Sheraton Chapel Hill

Occasionally I’ll wait to post about a wedding, for one reason or another. But the time has finally come to tell you about Lindsay and Robert’s beautiful day! I’d also like to use this post to talk about Southern wedding ideas. As a wedding photographer working in the Southeast, I’m lucky to be a part of so many gorgeous Southern-styled ceremonies and celebrations. To me, two things that make a Southern wedding truly stand out are a focus on location, and attention to detail. It can be easy to generalize, to get lost in the ‘genre’ of Southern weddings. The key, of course, is to be specific to who you are as a couple. To incorporate special touches that are significant to the two of you, and to generously consider your guests’ experience. Lindsay and Robert did just that.
After initially planning to marry in the town where Robert proposed, Lindsay experienced a change of heart. All of a sudden, she knew deep down that it was important to marry Robert in the town where they’d both grown up: Waycross, Georgia. Changing the location meant that the ceremony could take place in the First Presbyterian Church where Lindsay’s family had always been parishioners and which features woodwork her grandpa built by hand in his millwork shop at Satilla Sash and Door. The guests who lived in Waycross knew and deeply felt this history; those from out of town reveled in learning it. The welcome bags incorporated Robert’s favorite childhood snack, and water from the local community museum, a unique invitation for guests to experience the town Lindsay and Robert both love so well.
Lindsay was absolutely radiant coming down the aisle. In her bouquet she tucked lockets from both grandmothers, and she held her dad’s handkerchief. Her jewelry was a stunning mix of pieces borrowed from her bridesmaid and her mom…pieces that had been handed down through generations. Her veil was hand-made by her mom…with her dad’s help! So very sweet! The groom wore cufflinks that had belonged to his maternal grandfather and a watch borrowed from his father. Magnolias (which are all over Waycross, and even in Lindsay’s childhood backyard!) were a big part of the floral arrangements. Such a perfect Southern touch…with real meaning to this bride and groom.
And the reception! It took place in Waycross City Auditorium, and it was so much fun! Lindsay and her dad absolutely lit up the floor with their first dance! I was able to capture the bride’s mother and aunt watching, and Lindsay very graciously expressed how much she liked that photo. The whole experience was such a pleasure and a treat. It was like Lindsay and Robert opened a door into a magical room that held all of the things they love most about their town and each other…and invited all of their guests in. Truly a Southern wedding to remember.

Thanks Angelita Esparar for shooting this wedding with me and for being wonderful to work with

Ceremony Venue: First Presbyterian Church of Waycross / Reception Venue: Historic Waycross City Auditorium / Bride’s Wedding Dress: Pronovias / Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Hair & Makeup: Emma Collins Beauty / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Dessy / Groom’s Attire: Sebastian Grey / Groomsmen’s Attire: The Black Tux / Engagement Ring & Wedding Bands: James & Co. / Ceremony & Bridal Party Flowers: Natalie’s Florist / Reception Flowers & Catering: Straton Hall Events / Invitations: Grammarcy Fine Papers / Music: Surrell Zeigler; Jessica Adams Moore; The Buzzcatz / Cake: Anne Deal / Rentals: Kirby Rentals

A wedding is an opportunity to share the story of your love with family and friends. The locations of your ceremony and reception are a big part of that story…they are the backdrops against which one of the biggest days of your lives will unfold! I think it’s extra special when a bride and groom choose locations that have deep meaning for them. And that’s exactly what Lane and Parker did, when they became husband and wife at Lane’s parents’ beautiful home in Hog Island, Maryland! It was where Lane grew up.
This was an incredibly stylish wedding on an absolutely beautiful property! Initially we were a tad concerned about rain, but things stayed dry, and in the end we had perfect weather for photos! The ceremony took place outside, and for the reception things moved into a tent with beautiful lighting as night fell. Lane and Parker’s decor included greenery from the property. I thought this was so elegant, as it reflected the location perfectly and really tied everything together. For the reception there was a stunning chandelier of fresh magnolia leaves and greeneries suspended above the dance floor. Lane’s parents’ adorable golden retriever was included in the wedding, wearing a garland of greenery too! And Lane is so very sweet. She was such a stylish bride! Her dress was made by Elizabeth Fillmore, and for part of the festivities she wore a beautiful white cape. What incredible taste! Parker was looking great too, he looked very dapper in his custom made navy blue tux.
During the toasts, loved ones mentioned multiple times how loyal Lane and Parker are to their family and friends. That loyalty is clearly a huge part of this couple’s story… and in that moment it felt especially right and fitting that everyone was sharing the day at Lane’s childhood home. From the bride’s impeccable dress, to the sweeping emotion of the toasts, to the excitement of the awesome first dance, this was a picture-perfect day! And I hope you enjoy this selection of photos from it. A huge thanks to Katie Parks with White Oak Weddings and Events for being so wonderful to work with!

Maryland Wedding Photographer

Thanks Jennifer Smutek for shooting this wedding with me and for being so great to work with!

Coordinator: Katie Parks, White Oak Weddings and Events, LLC / Florist: Avec Fleurish / Stationary: Laser Letters / Cake Artist: Bay Country Bakery / Catering: Gourmet by the Bay / Ceremony music: Shrewsbury String Quartet / Reception music: Nigel Holland Entertainment. Right on Band / Bridesmaids’ Hair and Make-up: Prim Salon / Bride’s Hair and Make-up: H&Co salon / Wedding Dress and veil: Elizabeth Fillmore custom gown / Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Bridesmaids dress: Joanna August / Groom and Groomsmen’s attire: My.suit / Rentals: Eastern Shore Tents & Events / Chandelier: On Your Mark Lighting / Bag Piper: Annapolis Piper

Washington, DC has meant a lot to Amy and Harrison. It’s where they met three years ago, on a beautiful and warm Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Set up by mutual friends, these two instantly hit it off against the backdrop of the nation’s capital! They quickly discovered how much they both love to travel and uncover the history of a city by wandering through it and discovering its museums and local flavor. In the spring of 2016, while on a long-awaited trip to Macchu Picchu, they found themselves overlooking the ocean at El Parque del Amor…and all of a sudden Harrison was down on one knee! So incredibly romantic!
Their recent wedding in DC was such a joyous day! Amy and Harrison had glowing smiles on their faces the whole time. Amy is an incredibly strong woman, decisive yet extremely sweet (my kinda of girl!), so it was perfect that the wedding took place at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. Throughout the day, the bride and groom’s love for Washington was a beautiful focal point. They did their First Look at the War Memorial, and later we moved to the Jefferson Memorial for another round of photos. DC definitely offers up some stunning backdrops for portraits! And I loved it when Amy got off the shuttle for the First Look; the tourists visiting the monument all stopped to see her, their breath clearly catching in their throats! She was absolutely stunning, with a real air of old Hollywood glamour. So pretty!
As visually beautiful as everything about this wedding was, the thing that really touched me was how Amy and Harrison’s families and traditions were celebrated. Theirs was a Jewish wedding, and one my favorite things to see is the Signing of the Ketubah. It’s a beautiful ritual, and I truly believe that traditions like this keep us grounded and give us a bigger picture of who we are. As for family, three of Amy’s bridesmaids were her sisters, which made the time spent getting ready very special indeed. Watching Amy and her sisters reminded me of my own sister, whom I love dearly. This wedding truly warmed my heart. I wish Amy and Harrison all the best as they start their new chapter…and I hope you enjoy these photos from their day! A huge thanks to Erin with Proud to Plan, the day went so smoothly and you were a joy to work with!

The speeches were a delight to listen! Governor Terry McAuliffe did a surprise toast…so truly wonderful!

National Museum of Women in the Arts Wedding DC

Thanks Daniel Guinn for shooting this wedding with me and being wonderful to work with!

Coordinator: Proud to Plan / Venue: National Museum of Women in the Arts / Videographer: ​BG Video ​/ Florist: Toulies en Flerur / Catering: Occasions Caterers / Reception music and lighting: DJ KC / Wedding Dress: Anne Barge / Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Bridesmaids dress: Jenny Yoo / Hair and Makeup: Alison Harper Company