Weddings Archives - Page 3 of 19 - Deb Lindsey Photography

Glen Echo Park elopement

August 6, 2017/in Weddings /by lindseydeb

When Pamela called me from her home in New Orlean this winter to talk about her Glen Echo Park elopement in June, I was very excited. It’s surprising to me that I’ve never photographed a wedding (big or small) at the site. I grew up nearby in Bethesda and spent hours riding my bike there and hopping on and off the carousel with friends. I’ve done several wedding engagement sessions and portrait there over the years but never a wedding! It’s such a unique and instantly recognizable spot in the metropolitan DC area and really a photographer’s playground. Of course getting married in DC at the end of June can be a little sweltering and it was definitely a hot, hot day. But the joy of Pamela + David was evident despite the heat and it was so fun to play with the Dentzel carousel for their portraits and to use the painted animals as a backdrop for their sweet and personal vows. Once the ceremony was done we wandered around the park making photographs and looking for whatever stray breeze we could find. Congrats to P+D on their destination elopement. It’s always such a treat for me to be the witness to such a wonderfully intimate day.

Top of the Town wedding – Arlington, Virginia part two

July 27, 2017/in Weddings /by lindseydeb

Welcome back to E+Z’s Top of the Town wedding in Arlington, Virginia!

Today we highlight some of the details of their big day and the incredibly fun reception. I loved the clean lines of their centerpieces and the classic navy and white accents throughout the room. When the view is this spectacular, you go with it! We also lucked into an amazing sunset for some patio portraits after cocktails.

They entered the room through a tunnel of the arms of their friends and family. As the daylight waned it was easier to show the amazing view from their dance floor. Their sweet and funny first dance was followed by such emotional speeches from the best men, maid and matron of honor and both dads. The dance floor opened and they danced the night away in full view of a strawberry moon. One of my favorite shots from the reception is the reflection of the dancers in the window with the Lincoln Memorial seen through the window. For their grand exit, their guests lined the corridor to clap and cheer as they made their way to the elevator and out into the night!

Another photo that I just love from this wedding is the sweet shot of just E+Z waiting for the crowd to line the hallway for their grand exit. They were sitting on a bench on the patio with the twinkling lights behind them and the skyline of Arlington in the distance. It reminded me of a photo of my husband and I from our wedding where we were just sitting on a couch taking a moment to appreciate what we’d just celebrated. It’s those little moments that truly made a wedding special for me.

Event coordinator Laura Crouch (Day of Planner)/ 516-658-7443

Site coordinator Kate or Laura/ 703-387-8696 Top of the Town

Caterer + Cake Heather Ellis/ 240-801-4896/ Spilled Milk Catering

Florist Susan Wenger/ 703-395-0688

Hair + makeup Nicole/ 571-230-9598/ Hair & Makeup Unveiled

DJ Adrienne Hays or DJ as one/ 646-448-6839/ Scratch DJs

Top of the Town wedding – Arlington, Virginia Part One

July 17, 2017/in Weddings /by lindseydeb

Top of the Town in Arlington, Virginia has one of the most spectacular views of Washington, DC. E+Z’s wedding day from beginning to end took full advantage of that scenery.

A perfect cloudless (and hot) day meant we were able to take a large percentage of the formal photos (including their first look) on the grounds of the nearby Netherlands Carillon. It’s the same view as Top of the Town, just a bit lower in elevation As much as I love the shots with the monuments, I was a little obsessed with the blue/grey metallic background of the Carillon itself. It matched really well with the bridesmaids’ dresses and groomsmen’s suits for a monochromatic look in pretty shaded light.

It’s not often that I photograph high school sweethearts so recently out of college. In a nod to their dating history we stopped to take some photos in front of the bride’s Jeep. They went to prom in a similar truck! Both are also Penn State grads and I have a hunch that the blue and white color scheme for the reception was not accidental.

For the ceremony we headed up the glass exterior elevator (full disclosure, heights are not my favorite thing) and the couple and their bridal party came down the aisle and gathered in front of the windows overlooking the city. Their ceremony was sweet and a little tearful as were the vows the couple wrote for each other.

What struck me the most about E+Z as a couple is how well they fit together and how mature they are. They have a great group of close friends and doting family. One of my favorite photos of the day was a shot not on their original shoot list, of the bride and groom surrounded by both sets of parents and all three couples sharing a kiss. If that doesn’t say relationship goals I don’t know what does!

Check back soon for part two of their day—it’s all about the details and the reception!!

Event coordinator Laura Crouch, Events with Laura 516-658-7443

Site coordinator Top of the Town Kate or Laura 703-387-8696

Caterer + Cake Spilled Milk Catering 240-801-4896

Florist Susan Wenger, SW Floral Design 703-395-0688

Hair + makeup Nicole 571-230-9598/ Hair & Makeup Unveiled

DJ Scratch DJs/DJ As-One 646-448-6839

Washington DC wedding photography – DC War Memorial small wedding

June 28, 2017/2 Comments/in Weddings /by lindseydeb

L+J planned a very small and simple ceremony at the the DC War Memorial also known as the World War I Memorial. This little gem on the National Mall is one of my favorites for weddings and wedding engagement sessions. It’s off the path a bit and has all of the grandeur of the white-columned monuments around town without the crowds. Of course they also planned their ceremony in the middle of Memorial Day weekend and Rolling Thunder‘s annual arrival in the city. We started at the Lincoln Memorial for some portraits of the couple (and yes, the bride was a little bit pregnant 😉 and we braved the tourists and the bikers and a little bit of rain as we made our way to the ceremony site. Surrounded by just their closest friends and family the sweet and short ceremony was filled with laughter. Sometimes it’s just special to boil the wedding down to it’s essence and get the job done before even bigger things present themselves. Congrats to the happy couple and they’re less than a month away from being a new mom and dad!!

Deb Lindsey Photography DC small wedding

Wedding party and Food Photography – Relish Catering

June 21, 2017/in Parties, Weddings /by lindseydeb

My wedding and food photography experience got a work out this spring at this lovely private party catered by Relish Catering. G+J had eloped a couple months ago and wanted to throw a big bash to celebrate with their friends and family. The tent was beautiful with pops of blue stripes and lavender flowers as the details. The food from lunch catering san francisco, of course, was fabulous. Food stations reflected the couple’s favorite cuisines including seafood and chicken from Maryland, Polish sausages and pierogies and antipasti. There were bubbles, smores and a pinata to keep the kids occupied while the adults enjoyed a gorgeous summer evening dancing the night away.

Deb Lindsey Food Photography

Vendors

Food, Beverage, Flowers & Decor Relish Catering 301-366-0823

Tables, Chairs and Linens Table Manners 301-277-0582

Chafers and Plates Party Rentals 1-844-464-4776

Tent Sperry Tents 202-484-1811

Band Meredith Seidel – Bialek’s Music 301-340-6206

Press – Fairmont Washington wedding on District Weddings blog

March 11, 2017/in Press, Weddings /by lindseydeb

It’s always exciting to see one of my favorite weddings on a great local blog like District Weddings!

Becky + Harry’s gorgeous and elegant spring wedding at the Fairmont Washington was featured this week. Check it out here and you can also peek back at my full blog post. Happy almost one year anniversary to this wonderful couple.

Fairmont DC Wedding Deb Lindsey

Wedding rehearsal dinner ideas – Fun new restaurants in DC

March 6, 2017/in Food, Rehearsal Dinner, Wedding Advice, Weddings /by lindseydeb

Finding a restaurant to have your wedding rehearsal dinner in Washington, DC can a tough decision. So many factors weigh in: how many people are you hosting, what type of food, casual or formal, easily accessible and close to where wedding guests are staying. In my other career as a food photographer, primarily for the Washington Post, I get around town quite a bit to photograph the food and atmosphere at many of the new and interesting restaurants opening around the city. And some I’ve been to recently are fun and funky locations to have your wedding rehearsal dinner!

Sfoglina

The newest restaurant from Fabio and Maria Trabocchi is a fine dining pasta restaurant in the Van Ness neighborhood. It’s homey atmosphere and extraordinary beautiful dishes make it a perfect spot for hosting a party. The newly enclosed outdoor patio could easily accommodate a rehearsal crowd. In the main restaurant there are elegant touches of red and padded booths keep the decibel levels way down. I’ve had the pleasure of photographing there twice for the Washington Post and have been back for dinner so it’s a new DC restaurant I highly recommend!

Ruta del Vino

This is another restaurant near and dear to my heart for a couple reasons. I’ve been spending a lot of time in Petworth recently for the Washington Post reviews I’ve done and Ruta del Vino was my first time in the neighborhood. Justin and Jessica, the owners of the restaurant are new to the DC dining scene and their comfortable neighborhood venue feels like a great place to hang out. The centerpiece of the restaurant is the large bar and there is a more secluded back room that would give a party group some privacy. The food is fabulous, there’s a great wine selection and I am completely addicted to the churros dipped in chocolate!! Their website is a work in progress that (I hope) will be live soon with lots of my photos.

Himitsu

The other fabulous Petworth restaurant that could be a perfect foodie rehearsal dinner spot is Himitsu. The Washington Post review is out this weekend and the food is adventurous and delicious. The chef Kevin Tien and the co-owner and beverage director Carlie Steiner are totally focused on providing an amazing dining experience for each patron at their tiny restaurant. You’d have to take over the entire restaurant for a rehearsal dinner but boy, would it be memorable if you did!! And get the duck platter with buttermilk biscuits. You can thank me later.

The Tavern at Ivy City Smokehouse

For the more adventurous and edgy couple, the Tavern at Ivy City Smokehouse could be a perfect wedding rehearsal restaurant. They’re located a part of DC that is rapidly changing with the renovation of the old Hecht’s Warehouse building and the influx of new restaurants. A couple things stand out at the Tavern. First is a large open performance space attached to the restaurant that would even be perfect for a wedding. Second is the fish. As a Maryland girl I am a total crab cake snob and these are some of the best I’ve had. The smoked fish platter is another must get–if not for dinner than definitely for brunch!

Johnny’s Half Shell

Keeping with the seafood theme, Johnny’s Half Shell in Adam’s Morgan has some of the best in town. The 80-seat restaurant in the heart of the city, has just the right mix of casual and homey touches–an aquarium on display and an abundance of blue in the color scheme. And the original Johnny’s Half Shell sign from the first restaurant hangs high overheard. And most importantly, chef Ann Cashion’s cooking would definitely delight your guests!

Mezcalero Cocina Mexicana

One last place on my list is a restaurant I was at just last week for the Post’s $20 Diner column. The new restaurant is run by the owners of El Sol Restaurante & Tequileria, has colorful murals painted on the exposed brick and a rustic charm. Located on 14th St. in Columbia Heights it’s big enough for a good size crowd even if you didn’t take over the whole restaurant. The food from the carne asada (my favorite) to the tacos is exceptional. And with more than 65 Mezcals, it might just be the perfect spot in DC for a party.

There are so many options for wedding rehearsal spots in the DC area. These are just a few of my favorites and I expect as I continue to photograph food around town that I’ll have more to add to this list. Maybe even some in the suburbs!!

Press – M+T on Stone Fox Bride blog!

March 2, 2017/in Press, Same Sex weddings, Weddings /by lindseydeb

Monica + Talisha’s small waterfront wedding in Crownsville, Maryland near Annapolis was published today on Stone Fox Bride. It’s exciting for me as a wedding photographer when one of my favorite weddings of all time gets a random request to be published on a national wedding blog. They were stunning brides which didn’t hurt the photos one bit!

You can check out my original blog post and see all the fabulous photos from their wedding day! But I just couldn’t resist posting here a few of my favorites that I think capture the spirit of their wedding celebration.

Should we do a first look for our wedding?

January 27, 2017/in Wedding Advice, Weddings /by lindseydeb

Wedding Day First Look In recent years the first look (or reveal) has become almost as traditional as not seeing each other before walking down the aisle! At least half of our couples opt to see each other before the wedding for several reasons:

Flow The day often will flow better if you see each other before the wedding ceremony. Once you see each other you can take all the family and wedding party photos earlier in the day then everyone is free for cocktails as soon as the ceremony is over.

Logistics If you’re getting ready in one place, getting married in another and having your reception at a third, it can work to your advantage to see each other first than travel together for the rest of the day. It saves on transportation costs and you get to spend more time with your soon to be spouse and what’s better than that?!

A moment alone The first look is arranged so that it’s just the two of you. No family or others allowed! OK occasionally we spy bridal party members or family peeking around a corner or from a higher vantage point, but really we want it to be a genuine moment between the two of you. We’ll put you in pretty light, a nice location and let you have a moment. Sometimes getting ready on the wedding day can be a little stressful and seeing each other is a wonderful relief.

Pretty pictures Even though the first look is not something that would happen organically on your wedding day, we do our best to make it feel like it is. There is no much better than the pure emotion of seeing each other for the first time and it can make for some very sweet photos and some lovely moments! Sometimes they’re among the best emotional photos of the day.

And here are a couple of reasons not to:

Timing Sometimes there just isn’t time in the day. Early ceremonies or church services often don’t allow for the time for a first look.

Tradition You may just not want to see each other before the walk down the aisle! That’s great too. We never try to talk anyone who feels strongly about keeping with tradition into a first look. Just remember to factor in time for your portraits, family photos and wedding party after the ceremony and into the cocktail hour.

Wedding Day First Look

Watergate Hotel reception in DC – Bob + Dan’s wedding part two

January 19, 2017/in Gay Weddings, Same Sex weddings, Weddings /by lindseydeb

After Bob + Dan’s Washington National Cathedral wedding ceremony (detailed in part one) we took advantage of some of the very interesting light and windows inside the Cathedral before heading down Rock Creek Parkway to the new and fabulous Watergate Hotel for their wedding reception.

A quick trip to their top floor suite and a sweet gift exchange was followed by a windy photo session on the balcony of their room. How amazing is the view of the Potomac River, Georgetown and Virginia? The original plan was to do these photos at the Top of the Gate, but wind prevented that. Honestly, I was so happy with the portraits on the balcony that I’m not sure we would have done better at the very top!

The vibe at the hotel fit the couple so well. It is a sleek and elegant space with a retro feel that is really fresh. I admit to being a little obsessed with the reflective textured columns in the lobby of the hotel which I thought made a lovely B&W late night portrait of the couple.

The party was on as soon as the grooms hit the dance floor. Considering that the couple met two-stepping at a country and western bar, let’s just say they have some moves. Especially Bob! I loved the decor of the room with it’s nod to the history of the hotel including tables or Bob Woodward and Richard Nixon. And I would be very remiss if I didn’t give a shout out to Michael Deltette, Director of Catering and Events at the Watergate. He referred me to the grooms and he kept everything at the reception running so smoothly (as he always does!!).

Watergate Hotel wedding Deb Lindsey Wedding ceremony Washington National Cathedral 3101 Wisconsin Ave., NW Washington DC