Kyli and Omar tied the knot in a beautiful celebration at Tuckahoe Plantation in Richmond, Va. Their wedding was a gathering of friends and family from across the world, all there to toast to Kyli and Omar and their big step. Although the setting was decisively Southern with the little flower gardens, rolling fences under ancient trees and countryside views that make Tuckahoe Plantation so beautiful paired with late afternoon light sifting through those ancient trees and coating everything around us, this celebration had a few extra touches meant to honor Omar’s roots and his family. Prayer beads in the groom’s pocket, a professional belly dancer to dazzle the guests and a hookah lounge set up under bistro lighting all contributed to tell the story of Kyli and Omar and their wedding day. A particularly rowdy wedding party got the fun started right from the portraits and the rest of the guests continued the party on the dance floor. And, you know it’s been a good time for all when the happy couple runs through the sparklers with a cigar and drink in hand! All the best to Kyli and Omar as they continue their journey together. Following are my favorites from the day: enjoy!

Venue: Tuckahoe Plantation | Planner: McBride Events | Caterer: Mosaic Events | Florist: FloraCulture | Tent Rental: Commonwealth Event Company

Rentals: Classic Party Rental | DJ: Choice Entertainment  | Cake: Confections Couture | Photo: Photoladylove | Video: Ginger Topham

Officiant: Two Become One Ministry |  Hair/Makeup: Lou Stephens Glam Squad | Belly Dancer: Kalaa | Bridesmaid Jewelry: Christy Evans

Lighting: Mosaic Events | Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse | Dress: Jingles

I had the great pleasure of documenting Erin and Bobby’s wedding just a few years ago and I was thrilled to hear about the next big adventure they have embarked on. This beautiful couple is expecting a baby girl, who is set to arrive this June and has so much love and cuteness awaiting her that I bet she can hardly wait! We lucked out with blue skies and spring temperatures as we played in Richmond’s own Maymont Park and then made our way to Carytown. Many many girly points to Erin for doing the entire session in heels…my hero. Following are my favorites from the day: enjoy!

“One woman, my one woman
One woman, my one woman
And I’m yours
What can I say, what can I do
I love you”

(Ted Nugent – “One Woman”)

It was such a huge honor and such a blast to document Lindsay and Phil’s Richmond, Va., wedding. Their outdoor winter ceremony at The Carillon was breathtaking. The cool weather was made barely noticeable by cozy blankets, grilled cheese and tomato soup snacks, hot chocolate…oh, and all those warm and fuzzy feelings everyone had to get once they saw Lindsay and Phil lock eyes, as Lindsay made her way down the aisle, and both let the emotion of the moment visibly wash over them. With Lindsay being Lindsay of LK Events & Design, I knew every detail of the day would be beautiful and perfect. However, their day was really beyond that. It was a perfect representation of their sweet and fun-loving spirits, the awesome people they are surrounded and supported by, and their connection. MP (my husband and trusted second photographer here) and I love love love these two and we quickly realized at this wedding that we are not alone in the sentiment. And, as far as their connection goes, it’s a beautiful thing to see how Lindsay and Phil look at each other, how they exist together, natural and intertwined, and how good they seem to be at keeping smiles on each other’s faces and laughter in the air. Following are my favorite images from the day. And the quote above is for you Phil! Anyone who knows Phil, also knows how big of a Ted Nugent fan he is (see his impressive air guitar to “Stranglehold” in the photos below) and how hard I had to look to find an appropriate and publishable Ted Nugent quote for this blog post. So much love to you both and I wish you a lifetime of love, laughter and air guitar!

Venue: The Carillon at Byrd Park | Catering: Champagne Taste Catering | Band: The Janitors | Rentals: Classic Party Rentals | Cake: Megan Becker

Eclectic rentals: Paisley and Jade | Dress redesign from bride’s mother’s vintage wedding dress: Pleiades Bridal Design Studio | Shoes: Kate Spade

Hair and makeup: Emily Hudspeth | Flowers: Mary Henry with M Henry Design | Heaters: Rental Works | String Quartet: Ninja Strings

Suit: Altamoda from Men’s Wearhouse | Bridesmaids dresses and coats: Francesca’s | Stationery: Brittany Averette | Planning: LK Events & Design

Day-of planning assistants: Shelley Smith, Courtney Elliot, Nikki Hanger | Second photographer: Mika’il Petin

Christina and Shereef were married this winter in a beautiful Coptic Christian ceremony at Saints Peter & Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church, in Potomac, Maryland. Their ceremony completely nurtured my documentarian’s soul with its rich cultural and religious traditions. I have been blessed the past year to have the opportunity to witness many different types of wedding celebrations, from a mountain ceremony in Colorado to a backyard Indian wedding, and Christina and Shereef gave me the wonderful gift of a wedding ceremony that I had not yet seen. Between the church interior, which is rich with elaborately painted iconography, and symbolic aspects of the ceremony like the crowning of the bride and groom and the use of incense, everything had a very majestic and regal feel. (My husband in particular is a big fan of the crowning and has expressed his regret at our not being crowned during our wedding ceremony…) However, Christina and Shereef’s families and their palpable love also helped to make the ceremony extremely intimate, spiritual and emotional. The reception at the Waterford at Springfield offered an equally majestic setting thanks to the hard work of Heba Al-Tamimi at Gardenya. Luscious fabrics, pink undertones, tables of mouth-watering desserts and a mix of Middle Eastern music and American hip hop welcomed guests from as far as Egypt, and Christina and Shereef danced the night away surrounded by their friends and families. Many congratulations to the two of you and thank you for bringing me into your celebration. Following is a selection of my favorite photographs to tell the story of Christina and Shereef’s day. Enjoy!

Venue: Waterford at Springfield | Planner: Heba Al-Tamimi, Gardenya | Flowers: L’Artisan Lilly | Dress: TLC Bridal Boutique | Shoes: Nina Shoes

Cake and Cupcakes: Fluffy Thoughts | DJ: DJ Tamer Yehya | Transportation: Majestic Limousine Service | Tuxedos: Men’s Warehouse | Wedding favors: Wilton

Invitations: Invitations By Dawn | Bride & Groom Back-Drop: Da Vinci Florist

2012 was an awesome year, full of life changes and exciting new adventures. The absolute best thing that happened was that I got to marry my love, Mika’il, or as some of you know him, MP. We had a perfect D.C. wedding, complete with courthouse ceremony, lunch at Ben’s Chili Bowl and bowling. It was us, matched our personalities perfectly and, although we weren’t able to have all of our family and friends there to witness this huge moment, we were blessed with the presence of parents, siblings, mentors and some of our closest friends. MP and I tied the knot on June 29th, 2012, in about 108 degrees, and we made it to our honeymoon weekend getaway bed and breakfast in Hume, Va., right as the derecho storm was getting ready to pummel the region. On our first night as a married couple we lost power and water, but, of course we didn’t care, we were married! We ate the cheese and drank the wine left for us by our gracious hosts by the light of our iPhones and enjoyed our newly married status. The next day, when we learned that our bed and breakfast was closing for the weekend because of the loss of electricity, we still didn’t have a care in the world. We ate a fabulous picnic, explored the area, toured caves, drove along skyline drive in Shenandoah National Park for hours and watched the sun set on the valley below us. Only later that evening, as we went from calling bed and breakfasts in the area in search of a vacant room, to calling nice hotels, less nice hotels, motels…you catch my drift…did we realize exactly how the derecho had affected the region and that our honeymoon getaway was going to be cut a little short. Well, as much as I love our wedding weekend story and don’t wish a single part of it was different, we were blessed again this past December when our family decided to send us on a second honeymoon to Puerto Rico. This blog post is a collection of travel photography from our amazing trip there and I am thrilled to share it. We spent time both in San Juan and on the Eastern side of the island in Ceiba. I was absolutely blown away by the natural beauty of Puerto Rico. We went from exploring old San Juan and the Castillo San Felipe del Morro, a 16th-century citadel designed to defend the Spanish colonial port city of San Juan, to hiking in the rainforest in El Yunque National Forest. We spent a day driving up terrifyingly narrow mountain roads to reach the Pomarrosa coffee hacienda in Ponce, and had the distinct pleasure of getting lost in its owner Kurt’s stories about the history of coffee in Puerto Rico as we drank cappuccino after cappuccino. We spent a few days at the Ceiba Country Inn, where the sounds of the Coqui`, the official frog of Puerto Rico, kept us company at all times, as well as the resident dogs and cats. We tried pastelillos everywhere we went, ate more dishes made from yucca than I ever thought existed, and wound up at a local bar somewhere near Ceiba celebrating the owner’s brother’s birthday with incredible music and birthday cake. Our great friend Alberto made our vacation perfect by welcoming us on our first day there and then later in the trip taking us to a few of his favorite places, where we discovered even more incredible landscapes just outside of San Juan, including the Cueva Ventana, or Window Cave. This trip was a wonderful coronation of an even more wonderful year. MP and I loved getting away, but we especially loved exploring a new place, spending time with quality people and continuing to add more memories to our tapestry as we enjoy married life together. Following are some favorites from the trip. Enjoy!

At the end of each wedding, as I unpack my gear and absorb the day, I try to make a mental note of my favorite parts of the whole experience, what I think made it just that much more unique. Caroline and Reid’s day was filled with love and sweet gestures, moments with family and friends, gorgeous flower girls and a baby nephew, late night dance moves that I’m glad I had my camera ready for, and an exit complete with noisemakers and smiles. Their day also had a few other elements: Caroline’s infectious excitement, lack of nervousness and joy; a breathtakingly elegant, wintry, warm dining room created by LK Events & Design at Williamsburg Winery; and Gangnam style, the dance that started early (as the boys were getting ready) and kept its momentum throughout the post-ceremony portraits and right into the reception. Since Reid proposed as they were decorating their Christmas tree together, it was perfect that he and Caroline tie the knot in December. And we most definitely lucked out with our December weather! Best wishes to Caroline and Reid as they continue their journey together and thank you for making me a part of your wedding. Following are my favorites from the day. Enjoy! Also, check out Caroline and Reid’s Williamsburg engagement session here.

Planner: LK Events & Design | Venue: Williamsburg Winery | Church: Williamsburg United Methodist Church

Caterer: White House Catering | Hair and Makeup: Ave 42 | Flowers: The Flower Cupboard of Williamsburg | Rental: Classic Party Rentals

Rings: Kingsmill Jewelers | Lighting: Lighting Professors | Dress:  Paloma Blanco, Bella Rosa Bridal | Shoes: Bridal Elegance

Bridesmaid dresses: Bella Rosa Bridal  | Tuxedos : Jos A. Bank | Transportation: Groome Transportation

I have so much love for Meshayla and Cherod. I’ve been lucky enough to get to know these two a little bit over the course of the last year and a half, and I know that they had to roll with a lot of changes in their wedding plans and lives, mainly due to Cherod’s military deployment on an overseas hardship tour. After having to postpone their wedding, Meshayla and Cherod finally tied the knot this past December in Richmond, Va. Thanks to Nica Lewis and her team at Once in A Lifetime Events, the day was a perfect mix of family, laughter and just the right details. When asked recently what Meshayla and Cherod loved about each other, this is what they answered: “Most of all, I love her because she loves me. I am a Soldier in the US Army, which instantly made her a military spouse. This life I know has it’s challenges; however, she embraced the military life, because it is a part of me.  She makes me a better husband, father, and a man.” And this is what Meshayla had to say about her Cherod: “From the day we became a couple, he has poured out so much love. So much that you wouldn’t think that just one person could do that. Even though he is halfway across the world, he never lets a day go by without calling, texting, or skyping to let me know that he loves me. I never have to question it.  Not to mention the fact, that he cares for, loves and is soooo attentive to my son. That’s just who he is, a GREAT man with a GREAT heart. Who could choose one thing with a man like this.” Meshayla and Cherod, thank you for making me a part of your wedding experience!

Planner: Once in A Lifetime Events | Dress: Vera Wang | Catering: Hatcher’s Catering | DJ: B-Sounds the ADHD Bandit from 92.1

Makeup: Sonya Jones of Nu Images of You |Bridesmaid dresses: Davids Bridal | Church: The Church of God, Richmond, Va. | Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse

Reception: Smoke Tree Community Center | Flowers: Strange’s | Cake: Pearl’s Cupcake Shoppe | Rentals: Classic Party Rentals

“I Love You This Day”

Whenever I meet with a new couple I make a point to ask how they met and fell in love. You see, the beauty of the job is all in the love, and the best way for me to get a glimpse of that love during a first meeting is when people lean back, crack a little smile and let the emotion peak through as they tell me their story. Brad and Frazier’s story had me captivated in a Nora-Ephron-romantic-comedy kind of way. They had known each other through Richmond circles for years and reconnected over a business lunch. Brad invited Frazier to a Super Bowl party, Frazier invited Brad to the ballet…the ballet won. The two met up for their first date and, as they were crossing the street to head into Richmond CenterStage theater, Frazier hooked her arm through Brad’s arm, and they both knew. Just like that. They both felt it. They both just knew. You’re thinking, how can it get more romantic than that? I’ll tell you how: the proposal. Brad didn’t choose just any old place to pop the question, he chose Paris. He chose the city of love and he proposed to Frazier at sunset, on the lovers’ bridge. The tradition is that couples lock love padlocks, called ‘cadenas d’amour’, onto a chain link fence on the bridge over the Seine and then throw the key into the river as a symbol of their eternal love. Well, Brad had their padlock and an iPod, he proposed, she said yes and they danced, on the lovers’ bridge in Paris. “I Love You This Day” is what Brad and Frazier say to each other and it is what they had engraved into their rings. And, their candlelight ceremony at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and their reception at the VMFA were full of romance, love and family. Thank you both for making me a part of your wedding day and I hope you continue to look at each other like you did on this day for many years to come!

Let the wedding bells ring, again! As you saw in the previous post, this awesome couple celebrated a full Indian wedding on Friday and then transitioned into an incredibly elegant second wedding on Saturday. With henna still decorating her hands and arms, Emily was radiant in white as she exchanged rings with Gaurav at Greystone Hall, in West Chester, Pa. A rainy day did not stop Emily and Gaurav from closing out their wedding weekend with a bang and the rain actually gave Greystone Hall and the surrounding landscape a breathtaking, atmospheric, English-countryside quality. And, Emily and Gaurav’s willingness to venture out into the rain and explore the grounds led to romantic photos among the columns of an old pergola as the party got under way in the distance. Once back at the reception, Emily serenaded her new husband with “Way I Am” by Ingrid Michaelson and the Sunday James Band took it from there. Stolen moments, lots of celebrating and dancing, the mixing of cultures and traditions and a whole lot of love for Emily and Gaurav were the perfect ending to their wedding adventure. Following are my favorites from the day. Enjoy!

Venue: Greystone Hall   |  Dress: Watters, purchased (along with the veil) at Van Cleve Wedding Pavilion, Paoli, Pa.  |  Flowers: Offshoots!

Officiant: Reverend Addae Ama-Krabba, First Unitarian Church, Philadelphia PA  |  Hair and Makeup: Antoinette’s Day Spa

Rings: Lasting Indulgence, New Orleans, LA  |  Second photographer: Adena Stevens, Studio A Images

Band: Sunday James Band  |  Catering: Feastivities   |  Cake: Sweet Talk Cakes

Emily and Gaurav wanted to honor both of their cultural traditions in their wedding experience. So what did they do? They had two weddings! Two full, back-to-back weddings that meant a weekend packed with family, emotion and fun. The collection of photographs that follows are from the Indian wedding, which kicked off the weekend in style with lots of shimmer, a dancing parade lead by a white horse and hands in the air from all ages and nationalities. The day was a succession of beautiful imagery, such as the Indian aunts helping the many bridesmaids don their saris, and beautiful moments allowed for by the mixing of two cultures and two families. I loved all of the symbolism attached to the wedding ceremony traditions, from the rock Emily and Gaurav placed their feet on, meant to inspire them to be strong together in the face of life’s challenges, to both sets of parents placing the bride and groom’s hands in each other to facilitate their union as equal partners. The ceremony peaked when Emily and Gaurav took their first seven steps together, beginning their journey through life as a married couple. Each step carried with it a vow, for example to create a home full of joy and laughter, to embrace each other’s families as well as their own yet to come, and to forever be best friends and partners. My favorite part of telling wedding stories is witnessing real love and Emily and Gaurav have exactly that. It is evident in how they look at each other, dance together, the energy that passes between them when they are close and the way their families have embraced each other so completely. Many thanks to Emily and Gaurav for asking me to document their gorgeous wedding and to Adena Stevens from Studio A Images for being my second for the weekend. Also, kudos to Parker Knight who handcrafted the beautiful mandap that Emily and Gaurav were married under. Enjoy!