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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 slide show

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Elizabeth and Ben’s wedding slide show

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Elizabeth + Ben’s slide show!

Capital Area Food Bank – 10th annual Blue Jean Ball – March 24, 2013

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Just catching up blog posts after a somewhat relaxing (and filling) family vacation in Austin, TX. First up, the Capital Area Food Bank’s 10th annual Blue Jean Ball at the Marriott Wardman Park. Such a great (and delicious) event and for an incredible and important cause. I did an Empty Bowls campaign event with them in the last couple years and I was honored to be asked to photograph this for them. It was wonderful to watch the live auction raise over $10,000 in just a few minutes and I’m sure the total take was much more factoring in the silent auction as well. Thirty two restaurants from the DC area participated, including some of my favs like Ris, Oyamel and Paul (the bakery…the macaroons are to die for). Joining me in covering the event were wonderful photographers Mark Gail and Preston Keres.

Maggie + Roy engagement session – Washington, DC

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I’m sure I’ve mentioned it before but I love when couples’ take me to new locations for engagement sessions! Maggie + Roy hit a trifecta and all in pretty close proximity. And best of all, these places were some of their favorites in DC. First stop the Phillips Collection where we spent time with their favorite paintings and found a really cool light exhibit that made for those awesome silhouettes.  Next stop was Teaism for a quick spot of tea and some cookies and finally to their home neighborhood near 14th & U and Ben’s Chili Bowl. I’m a little ashamed to admit that I’ve never spent time in any of these places until these photos…I may have to have my native Washingtonian card revoked. I’ll see Maggie + Roy again in less than a month when I photograph their elopement! Yup, just us and an officiant. Should be fun…

Patricia + Damon’s winter wedding – Washington, DC

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It takes a very chill bride to get married in late February in Washington, DC. That describes Patricia perfectly. What she and Damon got for their wedding day was a typical late winter day around here with a couple lucky breaks. It started as a rainy, misty chilly day but amazingly as soon we headed out from the JW Marriott to Freedom Plaza to attempt a first look between the raindrops–the sky cleared and the sun even popped out for a moment. It was still a little cold but not unbearable. That made the first look, bridal party photos and their couple portraits at both Freedom Plaza and around the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center much more fun and definitely preferable to doing everything inside. I particularly loved the pops of red from Damon’s cufflinks to the red socks for the groomsmen and rich red bouquets–they looked so great against the grayish day. After a lovely ceremony in the Horizon Ballroom guests headed upstairs to the Rotunda, a very interesting room with a wraparound exterior balcony overlooking DC. The room was highlighted by red roses and bamboo centerpieces as a tribute to Patricia’s heritage. And as a special treat for their guests, fortune cookies with trivia about themselves inside. They also made for a cute ring shot–and were delicious…I just had to eat the one we crumbled for the shot!

Happy New Year (baby)!

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After a wonderful time over the holidays with friends and family it’s time to get back to work…sort of. I had the pleasure of shooting these two adorable babies right around the holidays. I was so happy to see Anna again–I did her first photo shoot a year ago when she was just a couple weeks old. Stella was a new acquaintance. Really new–12 days old! She was such a good girl, posing solo and with her family including big sis Lauren. But I think the most notable thing about Stella was her hairdo. She had a perfectly coiffed head of hair. It was quite stylish for one so young. 🙂 And I’m particularly fond of the feet shot…

 

Katie + Jake’s DC wedding – The Fairmont Hotel Washington – Washington, DC

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One last post before Thanksgiving is officially upon us! Katie + Jake got married on one of the most popular wedding dates of the fall–November 3. Not sure why…no numerical reason a la 9.10.11…but there is something special about the first weekend in November in DC or maybe it’s because it’s the last weekend before the time change. The couple now lives in Richmond but they had such a fun and elegant and thoroughly DC day. Beginning and ending at The Fairmont Hotel Washington, we only had to make a quick trip to the church near GWU. The first thing that struck me about the church was the massive stained glass wall over the front door. I’m so glad we had a few minutes to make what has become one of my favorite photos of the year. The day was just a tad on the chilly side (OK, it was cold!) as we headed out to Upper Senate Park to make some iconic DC photos. The bridesmaids were troopers in their short strapless dresses as the wind whipped through them…one shot made by my fabulous 2nd shooter, Mark Gail, was the girls scrambling for their coats as soon as I told them they were done. The other shot from there that I love is how the groomsmen all gathered around the bride while I shot the groom + the bridesmaids. Just that natural protective instinct! Back to the hotel for a very fun party and my 2nd favorite photo of the day…the amazing courtyard at night and a spontaneous kiss that to me just summed up Katie + Jake’s happiness.

 

Ceremony  Saint Stephen Martyr Church, 2436 Pennsylvania Ave, NW

Reception + Catering Fairmont Hotel/Mark Medrick/202.429.2400

Florist Yellow Door Floral Designs/703.734.1137

Hair and makeup Bride – Alexandra Wear/240.463.4234 /Bridesmaids – http://www.bridalartistryDC.com/Barbara Hill 703.380.9961

Band 10 Spot /434.321.4779

Cake Fluffy Thoughts 703.942.5538

Debbie + Paul’s elegant Georgetown wedding – Four Seasons, Washington, DC – October 28, 2012

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Debbie + Paul were wedding number two for me on the last weekend in October. Which under normal circumstances is an incredibly lovely time to get married in Washington. But with Hurricane Sandy forecast to be making a beeline for the middle Atlantic things looked a little dicey. The very good news for us was that the skies looked threatening but nothing started until we were safely in the ballroom during the ceremony. We were able to roam the streets of Georgetown a bit and do all the portraits outside. Unfortunately it impacted the wedding a bit with some guests unable to attend but Debbie + Paul’s enthusiasm for their day wasn’t dimmed a bit. Both of them are huge sports fans…DC in particular but UNC for Debbie as well. Their photobooth was well stocked with Wizards and Caps gear—the Rock the Red towel made for  a fun ring shot. The band kept the dance floor crowded ..culminated with the couple on stage singing along.

 

Wedding and Reception Four Seasons Georgetown/202.944.2015

Florist Greenworks/202.265.3335

Hair and makeup Bridal Beauty Associates/703.334.6711

Band/DJ Rollex

Cake Four Seasons Georgetown

Natalie + Hank’s wedding – Washington, DC and Great Falls, Virginia

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Some brides plan their weddings for years and sweat all the little details. Natalie planned her wedding in four months. I think it’s fair to say she just wasn’t that into the planning process but thankfully, her mother Linda, more than took up the mantle they were able to plan an amazing affair. Natalie + Hank’s day was elegant and formal and tons of fun. One of my many day weddings this year, they started with their full Mass at St. Peter’s Catholic Church on Capitol Hill. Natalie is a Georgetown Visitation girl so it really wouldn’t have been any other way. Then we were off to the Capitol for group shots and finally on to Natalie’s parents house in Great Falls. To say they have an amazing spread there doesn’t do it justice. And the tent that was erected for the reception was easily one of the best I’ve ever seen. With the Bloody Mary Bar, the Oyster Bar, the Mason jars of salad (!!) cigar and Adirondack chairs outside and the exquisite flower throughout the tent—I was just bowled over. Of course, I was very happy to catch up with Natalie’s bridesmaid Maura (and her husband Pat) at the wedding…Maura was one of my favorite brides from last year and is particularly memorable for the photos we did of her and Pat and their adorable doggies. Sometimes day wedding receptions are sedate affairs with little dancing–something to do with not enough alcohol consumed so early in the day. But I wasn’t worried…those Visi girls know how to have fun. Some of my favorite photos of the day came when Natalie and her girls were the dancing stage. Maybe one reason Natalie wasn’t so wedding-obsessed is because days after the wedding, she and Hank headed to Paris for his next State Department posting. A honeymoon and a new adventure rolled into one.

Wedding venue: St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Capitol Hill

Caterer & cake: Windows/703-519-3500

Florist and tent decor: Amaryllis/202-529-2230


Tent: Capitol Party Rentals/ 703-661-8290

Hair: Melba de laTorre/703.486.8112

Makeup: Akemi Kanazaki/akemi@tastyandfreshness.com/240-423-2977

Band: Onyx/David Cohen/301-762-1800 x117