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Woodend Sanctuary wedding Chevy Chase, Maryland (Part Two)

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Welcome back to L+N’s gorgeous summer Woodend Sanctuary wedding! The couple included lots of fun details into their day and one of the biggest hits was champagne pong! I’d never seen it before and after almost 20 years of photographing weddings I am always on the lookout for something new. The monogramed balls made for a sweet ring photo and the farm table with the game kept guests busy throughout cocktails. The weather held for cocktail hour (see the downpour photos from part one) and by the time the party got started everyone was under the tent for dinner or tearing up the dance floor inside the historic house. After dinner the guests were led into the house for a video produced by the maid of honor that featured a slew of celebrities wishing the happy couple congratulations on their big day. It was impressive and hilarious and had the crowd roaring. Their first dance together was sweet and full of turns and dips which showed off L’s glorious dress (a two piece which was stunning) including the 6 inch hem of mud from earlier in the day. Some highlights for me from the reception were the family dancing together right after the first dances and the bouquet toss which totally put the winner’s significant other on notice. It was truly a fabulous day for a terrific couple. I couldn’t have been more pleased to be there to document the day for them!

Wedding + Reception site Woodend Sanctuary 8940 Jones Mill Rd, Chevy Chase, MD 20815

Event coordinator Chrishaun Jones for Elegance + Simplicity

Site coordinator Beatriz Engel 301-652-9188

Caterer + Cake Design Cuisine 703-979-9400

Florist Elegance and Simplicity Katie Martin 301-922-3375

Hair Giselle 240.997.5241 and  Makeup Carola Myers  571-214-5558

Band The Bachelor Boys Band – Adam Hopkins 517-775-2815

Woodend Sanctuary wedding – Chevy Chase, Maryland

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Over a year in the planning, I knew L+N’s Woodend Sanctuary wedding was going to be something special. With the help of Chrishaun at Elegance + Simplicity, there were no details left to chance. Except for one. The weather. Woodend is absolutely gorgeous anytime of year and in early June it is lush and green. The couple planned their day with lots of pink that completely popped against the stunning foliage. Unfortunately this year, June weekend were synonymous with rain. They day dawned hot and steamy and was sunny almost until game time. Then the skies opened up. It was a heavy downpour but short enough to still make it work for the outdoor ceremony they had their heart set on. The best part was that even though there was a little bump in their day, it didn’t stop them or their guests from having fun and celebrating this truly wonderful couple. Chairs were dried off, pathways were swept and the bride happily walked down the aisle on the arm of her brother to marry her guy. Stay tuned for part two of their wedding post with champagne pong (yay!), an epic entrance and beautiful first dance.

Wedding + Reception site Woodend Sanctuary 8940 Jones Mill Rd, Chevy Chase, MD 20815

Event coordinator Chrishaun Jones for Elegance + Simplicity

Site coordinator Beatriz Engel 301-652-9188

Caterer + Cake Design Cuisine 703-979-9400

Florist Elegance and Simplicity Katie Martin 301-922-3375

Hair Giselle 240.997.5241 and  Makeup Carola Myers  571-214-5558

Band The Bachelor Boys Band – Adam Hopkins 517-775-2815

Mariana + Dan’s wedding – Foundry Methodist Church + Carnegie Institution for Science

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When you get married in downtown DC and make the decision to step outside in your wedding dress, you’re going to draw some attention. People will honk, comment and congratulate you. When you get married on the day of the 38th Annual Capital Pride Parade, along the parade route and have to cross in the middle of the festivities to get to your reception site, it takes that attention to a whole different level. Dan and Mariana couldn’t have been more enthusiastic about being part of the parade. It’s a little shocking that as a native Washingtonian I’ve never seen the parade and let’s just say that there are some very interesting photos that Dan and Mariana have of their wedding day that not many others will! And the guests during cocktail got quite a show from the steps of Carnegie Institution. The couple actually ran back into the parade as the crowd cheered and gathered to have their picture taken with the newlyweds. Other highlights from their day were the ceremony that included the Dan and Mariana leading the congregation in singing “Stand by Me , Dan ringing the church bell (aka pushing a button to make the bell ring…)and their exuberant first dance at Carnegie.

Wedding site Foundry United Methodist Church, 1500 16th Street NW, Washington, DC

Reception site Carnegie Institution for Science, 1530 P Street NW, Washington, DC, Alexis Fleming, 202.939.1139

Caterer Eat & Smile Catering 202.270.1018

Florist Da Vinci’s Florist, 301.588.8900

Hair and makeup Bridal Beauty Associates, (Krystal) 443.413.6218

DJ My Deejay (Mike), 443.267.0166

Cupcakes Georgetown Cupcakes 202.333.8448

Madeleine + Eduardo’s wedding – St. Matthew’s Cathedral + Columbia Country Club

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It was a picture perfect spring day for Madeleine and Eduardo’s wedding day. Seriously, the sky couldn’t have been any bluer. When I arrived at the bride’s mom’s house the place was buzzing with activity—between the 8 bridesmaids and several adorable flower girls and even a few babies. There were a lot of logistics in the day as we went from the getting ready in NW to the first look at Georgetown Visitation where Madeleine is an alum, to St. Matthews Cathedral downtown then back to Columbia Country Club for the reception. Mostly it went off without a hitch but there was the minor detail of the marriage license being left behind.All was sorted out before the ceremony began. The Catholic mass was officiated by two priests in the bride’s family and that made for a lovely personalized service in the magnificent church. After the service we immediately headed to the country club for the reception. Sprinkled throughout the country club as table decorations and centerpieces were hot air balloon replicas. Eduardo asked Madeleine to marry him on a hot air balloon ride! Urban Guerilla Orchestra (love the name) from Philly kept the dance floor packed all night long. And as I’ve found out several times in the last few years—Visi girls like to have fun. And on a side note…I loved the flower girls dresses! That color was just popping. I remember Madeleine’s mom Christine asking me about bright colored dresses for the little girls when we first met and I was completely in  the yes column. And it produced one of my favorite photos of recent memory–the girls goofing around during the group shots. It’s those in between moments that often make the best shots.

 

Wedding ceremony Cathedral of St. Matthews the Apostle 202-347-3215

Reception venue Columbia Country Club Laura Gaige 301.951.5000

Florist Judy Johnson 301.951.5000

Hair and makeup Victoria Berkeley 804.909.1238

Band Urban Guerilla Orchestra 2 215-313-5073 15-313-5073 15-313-5073

Cake Cake Dreams 240.386.8584

Madeleine + Eduardo’s slide show

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Spring in DC

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Love springtime engagements! Just a couple recent ones…Madeleine + Eduardo and Mariana + Dan. Both couples have springtime weddings as well. Can’t wait for both!

Belated bat mitzvah (Part Two)

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I was so honored to be part of Lena’s Thanksgiving bat mitzvah weekend. It was a beautiful three part affair including a minyan service on Thanksgiving, family and close friends for Shabbat dinner and an adorable party on Saturday night at the Bethesda Hyatt. The celebration started with the service where Lena read from the Torah. Usually that’s not allowed to be photographed at a conservative temple but since it was a Thursday I was allowed in. It was just family there and yes, it was early on Thanksgiving morning but it made for some wonderful moments. It was a gorgeous sunny day and after the service we went outside to have do some portraits. It was such a blast to have a willing subject. Mitzvahs are tricky in that 13 can be a tough age for kids to be comfortable a) being the center of attention and b) being natural in front of the camera. Lena was a natural. She knew how to pose and how she wanted to look in the photos. And she loved the portrait process! We did sessions in each of the four dresses she wore over the long weekend–each one sweeter than the next. Friday night dinner was held at home–again just close friends a family. The highlight for me was the lighting of the Shabbat candles with Lena and her mom Aliza, a dear friend of mine. And finally, the party Saturday night. I love doing mitzvahs at the Bethesda Hyatt and not just because you can park right next to the ballroom (such a bonus for schlepping equipment in). It feels like you’ve got the whole place to yourself and Aliza and Lena did a fabulous job turning the ballroom in to a bright pink and orange chic yet girly space. The party was great fun and a particular shout out to NYX Events for their great DJs…and not just because I’m using them for my son’s bar mitzvah in November. OK, maybe I’ve got a bias but they really do a great job including both the kids and the parents in the fun!

 

Service: Ohr Kodesh Congregation 301.589.3880

Party: Bethesda Hyatt 301.657.1234

Flowers: Edge Flowers 301.330.5232

DJ: NYX Events 301.984.0500

Kathleen + Chris’ Chevy Chase wedding – October 27, 2012

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It’s hard not to admire a family that knows exactly what they want. By the time Kathleen and Chris got married on October 27, her family had been through this three previous times with Kathleen’s sisters. Each time the girls were married at Blessed Sacrament in Chevy Chase—just blocks from their house—with the reception at Chevy Chase Club. Special thanks to Kathleen’s dad who kept the trains running on time all day long. It may have been only blocks between home, church and reception but moving a large bridal party can be like herding cats. The day started at Kathleen’s family home with “Going to the Chapel” playing on a loop on the front porch of the house. One of my favorite little details from the house was the sign Kathleen had posted about all the things she was going to miss about living at home. After the ceremony it was a quick bus trip (with champagne) to the Club. We lucked into a gorgeous fall day with wonderful yellow leaves strewn across the back lawn. Needless to say, I took full advantage of the foliage. And in what I now know is Georgetown Visitation tradition (all the bride’s family when there!), the party was rocking. Particularly amusing was when the band handed out microphones so everyone could channel their inner rock star. The evening concluded with the last dance with paper flower petals thrown. In what I think was supposed to be a solo dance, the couple instead was mobbed on the floor for one last rollicking song.

Ceremony Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Chevy Chase, MD

Reception, Catering & Cake Chevy Chase Club, Site coordinator: Leanne Hartzell 301.652.8105

Flowers Lilac Lane Designs, Chevy Chase, MD, owner Sue Vita

Hair PR at Partners for Hair, Friendship Heights

Makeup Kathy Schultz at Blend

Band Amaretto Band– David Norris

Sarah + Mikey’s Buddhist and Woodend weddings – May 6+7, 2011

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My departure almost a year ago (!!) from the Post was the event that brought Sarah and I together. In my email to the newsroom saying goodbye, I happened to mention that if anyone needed a wedding photographer to be sure and give me a call. Sarah’s response was pretty quick for her wedding to Mikey the following year. We’d managed to work in the same newsroom and never had a chance to meet before. I was excited about Sarah + Mikey’s wedding since it was a two parter—Friday morning a Buddhist ceremony to honor Mikey’s heritage and on Saturday morning a Jewish ceremony for Sarah’s. This was my first experience with a Buddhist ceremony and it didn’t disappoint. The monks chanted and the couple and the guests sat on the floor. A lovely part of the ceremony was when the couple bowed to their parents and grandparents, to show their respect. After the monks were fed, there was a delicious Burmese lunch and that concluded the festivities for Friday. The weather totally cooperated for the Saturday morning Woodend ceremony. After Sarah made her way down the aisle to the Beatles “Here Comes the Sun,” their ceremony was emotional (both cried) and funny (Mikey took a couple tries to break the glass). As a send off, Sarah and Mikey left in Sarah’s red Mini that had been appropriately decorated. But first they had to run the gauntlet of their guests throwing sunflower seeds. Those suckers are pretty big and showed up nicely in photos—those are some of my favorites from the day! I was especially thrilled to have the help of Jonathan Newton at the last minute as my second shooter. He made some amazing photos.

 

Making Sarah + Mikey’s day fabulous were:

Janice Carnevale at Bellweather Events

Woodend Sanctuary in Chevy Chast

Caterer: Marco Polo

Cake: Cakes Plus

Ceremony musicians: Elan Artists

Officiant: Harold White

Reception entertainment: Jeff Furnas at MyDeejay

Flowers: Fiore Floral

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Uta + Will’s wedding – November 26, 2010

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While everyone was hitting the stores for Black Friday, Uta and Will decided to get married.  Their celebration is not my smallest wedding ever (that honor goes to Melissa and Craig’s wedding where I was the witness!) but it’s close. There were less than twenty people gathered at the little chapel on the campus of St. Alban’s, including Rev. Hundley, the organist and me, but the warm little sanctuary turned out to be the perfect spot for a family-only wedding. Uta beamed as she walked down the aisle on the arm of her dad while Will looked a teensy bit nervous before she made her appearance. I was originally told there would be no photos allowed but since it was such a small crowd I got permission to stay in the back and capture the joy. My favorite part of the short day was wandering around the grounds of the National Cathedral with the couple after the ceremony. It was getting colder and dark but the two of them didn’t seem to mind. As I was editing the photos it seemed like I had a lot of kissing shots. I think that captures the two of them perfectly. Will couldn’t stop kissing his bride. After the portraits, we headed to Columbia Country Club for a lovely family dinner and a Power Point slide show that was a joint effort between both sets of parents, documenting where Uta and Will came from, how they met and how their lives are now intertwined.