Margaret & Ian — The Hotel Monaco Baltimore & The Evergreen — Baltimore wedding photography

Margaret described herself as the anti-bride. A horse veterinarian, she spends most of her days in scrubs or kakis. She initially contemplated getting married at City Hall in Ohio, where she and Ian, an ER nurse, live. And when they were first engaged and Ian asked what her wedding colors would be, “I said, ‘Oh, I guess I’ll wear white,'” Margaret told me the first time we talked. Instead, with the help of her parents, Margaret and Ian threw a gorgeous spring wedding at the Evergreen Museum and Library full of personal touches, many of which traced back to her family’s long involvement with thoroughbred racing. “My father turned out to be the master wedding planner,” Margaret said. “And Mum took over when he had finished the things that he cared about.” There was a bugler to play Call to Post before the bride walked down the aisle. There were caterers from Pimlico and Laurel racetracks, where Margaret’s father works with the Maryland Jockey Club. And there was wedding wine that he began buying 27 years ago — when, as Margaret put it, “I wasn’t dating anyone and had no intention of getting married. But Dad was ready, just in case. Actually, this is probably the third batch of wedding wine as friends and family drank the bottles as they aged. This is a running joke with my family.” We were graced with a gorgeous, if a bit chilly, spring day. A breeze occasionally played with Margaret’s veil. And despite a stated aversion to having her photograph taken, Margaret and Ian appeared comfortable and oh so happy in front of the camera. Here are some of my favorites from their beautiful day:

We started at the Hotel Monaco, where Margaret and Ian got ready together before we arrived and then took some quick portraits with us.

The bride, looking lovely.

We found spectacular light downtown before heading out to the Evergreen. Margaret has a magnificent laughing smile. I was thrilled that Ian kept her laughing all day long.

I love this next image of them as the wind was whipping around her veil.

In addition to photos of the wine, Margaret asked for images of a couple of specific things — the bugle player trilling out Call to Post to start the processional, her dad and his cigars, her parents dancing, her cousin playing the sax during cocktail hour and the Motown band that her father had hired many months before the wedding. In addition to being important to her, these ended up being some of the most fun parts of the wedding to photograph!

After a brief transportation snafu, it was time to get married!

I love this next photo, shot by my assistant Lucas, from the patio overlooking the formal gardens where the ceremony was held.

After a lovely and brief ceremony — just seven minutes elapsed between the bugler announcing the start of the bride’s long walk across the Evergreen’s lawn and the end of the ceremony — the newlyweds and their guests headed to the magnificent patio for cocktails.

Margaret’s cousin, Daniel Weidlein, is an accomplished saxophonist and composer. It was a pleasure to hear him play.

The reception was held in the lovely Carriage House — especially appropriate for a horse-owning family. Here are a few reception details.

The famous wedding wine.

The band Midnight Movers thrilled the dancing enthusiasts in the crowd all night long. (I am a huge fan of a good brass section, so I was pretty happy, too!)

Margaret’s cousin Daniel joined the band for a couple of songs during the evening.

A first dance.

A parent dance.

The rings on the old, weathered floors of the stables in the Carriage House.

A cake cutting.

And one last perfect cigar shot.

Congratulations, Margaret & Ian. It was an absolute pleasure to work with you both and your families for your wedding!

Credits:

Photography: Jennifer McMenamin Photography

Ceremony: The Evergreen Museum & Library

Officiant: Michael Neighbor, a newly ordained-for-this-occasion friend of the groom

Reception: The Evergreen Carriage House

Catering: Maryland Turf Caterers

Bridal attire: eBay

Band: Midnight Movers

Cake: Carrot cake

Invitations: Crane & Co. 

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Marietta & Steve — Baltimore engagement photos — Maryland wedding photography

 

As I print schedules, clean gear and pack my bag for Marietta & Steve’s wedding tomorrow on the Eastern Shore, I wanted to take a quick peek back at the fun fall afternoon that I spent with them for their engagement session in Baltimore. Whenever I have a choice in the matter of when to shoot, I like to try for the best light. That’s not always possible on a wedding day. But it almost always is for engagement photos. For me, that means just after sunrise or about 90 minutes before sunset. The forecast for Marietta & Steve’s engagement session was good. Although it was overcast as I drove to meet them, the weather forecaster on the radio even indicated that the clouds were expected to break up just as we were scheduled to start. Wouldn’t you know, those pesky clouds persisted! Nonetheless, we had a great time together and we made some gorgeous photos. The one on top here always makes me think of what Monet might have painted if he had dug out his watercolors during the fall rather than just the spring. I had a great appointment with Marietta and Steve — fun and full of laughter and more like a friendly conversation than a formal prospective client meeting — when we met for the first time back in August. But working with them that fall afternoon — watching their initial nervousness melt away to reveal the sweet way they show affection for each other and a slight goofiness (not to mention Marietta’s killer ability to arch a single eyebrow, a skill of which I will forever be envious!) — made me even more excited to work with them. Tomorrow! Here are a few of my favorites:

 

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Jenn & Aaron — Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Hotel, Christ Lutheran Church & The Belvedere — Baltimore wedding photography

Aaron is an Army ranger. He’s very serious and very intense when you first meet him. And yet, he is a tremendous softie when it comes to Jenn. On more than one occasion on their wedding day, he was moved to tears. It is a thrill to photograph love like that. That is what I adore most about my job — capturing and freezing in a beautifully composed photograph emotional little moments like that. A groom collecting himself before his soon-to-be-wife walks down the aisle. A trio of ring bearers, one more nervous than the others, haltingly entering the church. A sweet flower girl twirling in her own little world with her mother’s purse before the start of the ceremony. The joy of a beaming bride as she catches a glimpse of her reflection for the first time with her hair and make-up done. The excitement of a mother helping her daughter into her wedding gown. A tough-guy groom blinking back tears during his brother’s toast. A bride gazing at her new husband with unabashed love and admiration as he addresses their wedding guests. These are the photos that I love most from Jenn and Aaron’s wedding. It’s what makes my job different — and tons of fun! — every single week. Without further ado, here are some of my favorite images from Jenn & Aaron’s wonderful wedding day.

I love this next image — the hands of Jenn’s mother and stepmother, together, helping her into her gown.

The bride, looking gorgeous.

Since we were short on daylight for their winter wedding, Jenn and Aaron chose to see each other before their ceremony for photos. They could not have been more excited together.

This next photo is one of my favorites from the day. We were about to head upstairs for family photos when I caught a glimpse of Jenn and Aaron in a mirror way across the staircase. It was a beautiful moment — and resulted in an image that I love.

The ultra darling littlest members of the wedding party.

I love how wintry these next photos feel — Jenn’s sweet little sweater, the bare trees, the gray chill of February.

Then, it was time to get married.

Jenn and Aaron love the blue stained glass windows in the church where they were married, Christ Lutheran Church, and they love the view from the balcony at the back of the church. So I asked my wonderful assistant, Lucas, to spend most of the ceremony up in the balcony. We had no idea that Jenn and her father would be hanging out in the balcony before the processional. I love this next image that Lucas shot of the bride and her dad looking on as the ceremony starts. The rest of the photos from this same balcony vantage point were also shot by Lucas, including the darling shot of the flower girls entering and Jenn’s magnificent entrance during the processional.

A great trio of images from Lucas.

The pastor, Gary Roth, is from the Pennsylvania church that Jenn’s family attends in her hometown. His connection with them was obvious and wonderful.

Celebratory fist bumps.

And twirls.

The companion photo to the pre-ceremony ‘Almost Married’ image.

A few reception details. Jenn did an extraordinary job setting the tone for her red, white and black winter wedding. Christine from Fleur de Lis florist and the staff at Truffles Catering at the Belvedere did a magnificent job executing her vision. Everything was so elegant and beautiful.

A first dance.

A few emotional toasts.

A pair of parent dances.

A tribute from the groom.

A little cake.

And lots of dancing and fun.

Congratulations, Jenn & Aaron. It was an absolute pleasure to work with you and your families for your wedding!

Credits:

Photography: Jennifer McMenamin Photography

Ceremony: Christ Lutheran Church

Officiant: Pastor Gary Roth

Reception: The Belvedere

Catering: Truffles Catering at The Belvedere

Bridal attire: Casablanca from The Bridal Boutique

Hair and Make-up: Amie Decker Beauty

Groom’s attire: Military uniform

Florist: Fleur de Lis florist

Cake: The Baltimore Cakery

Band/DJ: My Deejay

Transportation: 1962 Rolls Royce from Baltimore’s Best Limos

Invitations & papergoods: DIY by the bride

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Lynn & Adam — Hotel Monaco Baltimore & The Belvedere — Baltimore wedding photography

Lynn & Adam have one of the most lovely love stories I’ve ever heard. She is a nurse. He was her patient. Their vows included promises that they will take good enough care of *themselves* to ensure long happy lives together. There is almost nothing I love more about my job than capturing all the emotion and joy of a good set of vows or personal, touching and funny toasts. Lynn and Adam had both in spades — including a toast from the groom himself. They planned a beautiful wintery wedding with tiny pine cones scattered across the tables and hilarious photos of their dog Auggie in lieu of traditional table numbers. (They photographed Auggie around town with different “found numbers” — on mailboxes and dog toys, for example — but then also with a chalkboard that they toted around for the photo shoots!) Lynn told me that instead of choosing a ‘wedding theme,’ per se, she simply picked things that she loved and that made her happy. And so it was that she ended up with a glamorous gold jacket for her outdoor photos with Adam, a stunning pair of turquoise and gold shoes, many shades of purple in her bouquet and big bunches of baby’s breath and purple flowers for her attendants. I also loved that Lynn and Adam chose their attendants based on who they wanted standing up there with them — their sisters and their best friends — rather than gender. So Lynn had a matron of honor and a ‘bridesman’ while Adam had a best man and a ‘groomslady.’ It was a marvelous day! Here are some of my favorites:

We started at the gorgeous Hotel Monaco, where Auggie — as well as Lynn’s parents, sister and friends — helped her get ready.

Since the sun sets early in the winter, Lynn and Adam chose to see each other before the ceremony so we would have time for some fun outdoor photos. They could not have been more thrilled to see each other. It was nothing but joy to photograph!

I love expressive eyebrows. Adam had these. Yay Adam!

I love the style of this wedding party. Especially groomslady Ashley’s fabulous shoes.

One of my favorites ever.

Lovely winter light.

And then it was time to get married!

Married!

We ducked outside in the dark for a few nighttime photos with The Belvedere’s iconic marquee. 

A few reception details.

I loved everything about these tablecards and their holders — photos of Auggie, backed by glittery gold paper (that bore a striking resemblance to Lynn’s awesome shoes!) and propped up in little stands with an Andy Warhol-esque image of their pup. So wonderful!

Another creative touch that I have never seen before. In lieu of a guest book, Lynn and Adam created a Jenga tower and asked their guests to sign a block. They presumably will see and enjoy the messages every time they play Jenga together!

A first dance.

A quad of magnificent toasts.

A pair of parent dances.

A hilarious cake cutting.

And lots of fun and merriment to follow.

It’s always so much fun to see past clients and their families at the weddings of new clients to whom they recommend me. It was wonderful to catch up with Anne (pictured below) and Adrian, whose daughter’s wedding I photographed a couple of years ago. As was the case at his own daughter’s wedding, Adrian did not disappoint on the dance floor!

Congratulations, Lynn & Adam. It was an absolute joy to work with you two for your wonderful wedding!

Credits:

Photography: Jennifer McMenamin Photography

Ceremony & Reception: The Belvedere

Officiant: The Rev. Laura C. Cannon

Catering:  Truffles Catering at The Belvedere

Bridal attire: Casablanca Couture from Castle Couture

Make-up: Arika Casebolt from Chop Shop

Hair: Lisa Hawks from Chop Shop

Groom’s attire: Tommy Hilfiger

Florist: Wicked Willow

DJ: John Paul Berry with Absolute Entertainment

Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas

Papergoods: Made by the bride

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Carolyn & Tom — The Castle at Maryvale — Baltimore wedding photography

Carolyn sent me one of my most favorite photography inquiries ever. “I’m having my wedding at the Castle at Maryvale,” she wrote in her very first e-mail. “Every time I share photos of the venue with friends, I always end up forwarding along your link with the wedding you shot there — so I thought that’s as good a sign as any that I should contact you!” (For the record, that would be Casey & Jeremy‘s gorgeous wedding, which ended up in The Knot magazine!) She went on to write, “I’m more interested in capturing the energy and feel of the wedding and guests, as opposed to focusing on posed photos. I also think that there is something stately and magical about Maryvale, and I’d like to capture that feel.” Magical, indeed. Carolyn and Tom planned one of the most stylish weddings that I have ever had the pleasure of photographing. The menu cards, depicting drippy black and cream chandeliers, echoed the actual chandeliers brought in to add a little glittery elegance to the terrace where dinner was served. A photo from their engagement session in Paris — yes, that Paris! — graced the cover of their wedding program. A custom logo was used in not only their invitations, placecards and programs but also on pillows that were tossed on the lawn furniture during cocktail hour. A gorgeous mix of tall and short floral arrangements as well as luxe cream linens, terrariums and mercury glass candles bedecked dinner tables that were round, square and rectangular, making for a simply stunning dining area. There were lawn games. Signature French cocktails. Homemade apple pies and French macarons. And a ceremonial torching of crème brulee by the newlyweds — rather than a cake cutting — as guests raised small ceramic spoons filled with crème brulee in a sweet, non-traditional toast.

Lest I focus only on the things at their wedding, I should also mention that Carolyn and Tom have just as sweet of a love story. They have known each other for more than 15 years — the groom is the older brother of the bride’s best friend. They met during Carolyn’s freshman year in high school, just after Tom’s family had returned to the US after spending four years in Paris. “He was always just the older brother,” Carolyn told me during our initial consultation. “He was just Tommy.” Years later, after college, she was working at the Corcoran Gallery in DC and he at the White House — close enough to have lunch together — when they really hit it off. They dated for five years before planning their wedding, which they contemplated holding at a chateau in France before deciding to turn the grand European-style Castle at Maryvale into their French chateau for the day. Tom’s sister Katie, of course, served as Carolyn’s maid of honor. I positively love the images of her getting all emotional during the ceremony and Carolyn reaching back to comfort her. Without further ado, here are some of my favorites from Carolyn & Tom’s gorgeous wedding.

A few getting ready details.

The bride, looking gorgeous.

Carolyn & Tom chose to see each other before the ceremony and we made the most of some spectacular light for their photos.

A few groom details.

After a little lemonade, it was time to get married.

This next photo was shot by my assistant, Lucas.

Lucas shot this great photo of their program during the ceremony, too.

Married!

Carolyn & Katie!

After family photos, we were off to cocktail hour, where guests were invited to write a note to the newlyweds on tiny little historical maps of Paris!

The signature drinks. Leaving no detail unfinished, Carolyn found a font based on Cezanne’s actual handwriting and used it in creating the bar signs.

A few reception details. And more gorgeous food by Linwoods Catering.

As a nod to an inside joke with the groom, one of Tom’s friends arranged for the caterers to serve him a HotPocket alongside his fancy dinner.

The castle at dusk.

A few toasts.

I absolutely love this next photo: the emotion on Carolyn’s face, the way Tom is looking at his wife. Just a wonderful moment.

The creme brulee!

A first dance.

In this next photo, I love the expression not only on Tom’s face but also on his mother’s face in the background as she looks on. So wonderful!

And lots of merriment.

Capping the gorgeous affair, Carolyn and Tom left amidst a shower of bubbles and hopped into a waiting 1962 Silver Cloud Rolls-Royce. What a night! 

Congratulations, Carolyn & Tom. It was an absolute joy to work with you and your families!

Credits:

Photography: Jennifer McMenamin Photography

Ceremony & reception location: The Castle at Maryvale

Event planner: Kerrine “Kay” Fraser of Prestigious Occasions

Officiant: The Rev. Susan LaMer

Ceremony musicians: St. Charles String Quartet

 Florist: Spot Floral Design

Caterer: Linwoods

Bridal attire: BHLDN

Hair & makeup: Behind the Veil

Groom attire: Men’s Wearhouse

Wedding programs: Betsy White

Invitations and menus: Minted

Ceremonial creme brulee for torching: Linwoods

Lighting and decor: Event Dynamics

Wedding transportation: A 1962 Rolls Royce from Her Majesty’s Service

Miniature apple pies: Made by a friend of the bride from his grandmother’s closely guarded recipe

Macarons: Tout de Sweet bakery

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Stephanie & Chris — The Cathedral of Mary Our Queen & Valley Country Club — Baltimore wedding photography

This is how much fun I had working with Steph and Chris: They added overtime coverage onto the end of their wedding and I didn’t even remember. She had to e-mail *me* about an invoice for the extra time. They were such wonderful clients that it didn’t even seem like work! Steph and Chris, on the other hand, put *so* much work into their wedding. Every little detail, it seemed, had special meaning for them, from the cathedral where they exchanged vows (the site of her father’s ordination as a deacon) and the prayer they said to the Virgin Mary (the same one his parents prayed at their own wedding) to the veil she borrowed from a friend and the craft beer brewed by the groom’s brother just for their wedding. I was thrilled to be shooting in the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen for the first time, a gorgeous imposing church full of dark stone and stained glass windows that cast a lovely blue glow upon the place. And I was delighted to have so much time with Steph and Chris and their marvelously fun wedding party for photos between the ceremony and reception. We hit some wonderful spots and were graced with some terrific light — and an uber-gracious host in the staff at Woodberry Kitchen, who brought Steph & Chris’s entire crew pots of French press coffee while we were shooting outside in the chilly November evening. The Mansion at Valley Country Club looked as lovely as ever, especially with the trail of luminary bags that lined the sidewalks. Without further ado, here are some of my favorites from Steph & Chris’s wonderful day.

We started with the bride and her bridesmaids at the hotel where they were getting ready — and mapping out the plan for the day.

I love that you can tell that she’s smiling in the photo on the left, even though her mouth is not visible.

The bride, looking gorgeous.

Soon, it was time to get married.

What an entrance!

I knew Steph’s dad, a prosecutor, from my previous career as a newspaper reporter covering crime and the courts. It was a complete joy to see him so happy and emotional on his daughter’s wedding day.

The next photo was shot by my assistant, Lucas.

I was enamored with the reflections of Steph and Chris on the long, shiny marble aisle of the Cathedral.

Married!

A few quick portraits of the newlyweds on our way outside to shoot a few with the wedding party on the steps.

This actually happened: As I was wishing out loud for a bit of breeze to come lift Steph’s veil, my assistant responded, ‘Well, here it comes.’ And it did. It was just that kind of day!

A toast on the party bus.

The staff at Woodberry Kitchen — one of Chris and Steph’s favorite spots in Baltimore (and mine as well!) — graciously allowed us to pop in to shoot a little after the ceremony. It was just a few minutes before their dinner service began and they could not have been kinder to us!

And then we were off to the Valley Country Club for the reception! (Have I mentioned how crazy I was for these luminaries?)

A few reception details.

A first dance.

Some of the most wonderful wedding toasts I’ve ever heard accompanied by one of the most entertaining props I’ve ever seen — a giant poster-sized print of an amusing childhood photo of the groom.

The next image is one of my most favorite toast photos of all time.

And there was lots of fun and merriment! Mike Bell from MyDeejay kept the dance floor packed with lots of happy revelers.

Late in the evening, we ducked outside to shoot a few quick nighttime portraits with Steph & Chris and their luminaries. If you look very closely, you can even see stars in the dark night sky.

Congratulations, Steph & Chris. It was an absolute pleasure to work with you and your families for your wedding!

Credits:

Photography: Jennifer McMenamin Photography

Ceremony: The Cathedral of Mary Our Queen

Officiants: Friar Matthew Foley and Deacon Steve Roscher, the father of the bride

Reception & Catering: The Mansion at Valley Country Club

Bridal attire: Jon’s Bridal by Suzanne

Hair & Make-up: Soiree Salon

Groom’s attire: Joseph Abboud

Florist: Fleur de Lis

Cake: SugarBakers

DJ: MyDeejay

Transportation: American Limousine

Invitations: Minted

Papergoods:DIY by the bride, her mother & her aunt

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Jill & Nick — The American Visionary Art Museum — Baltimore wedding photography

Jill & Nick are among the nicest people I’ve ever worked with. I first met them last October at the wedding of Jill’s sister Jenny to Ernie. On that occasion, Jill was an incredibly attentive maid of honor to her sister, getting choked up during her toast and dancing the night away with her then-boyfriend Nick. I shot a photo of the two of them that I loved the moment I saw it through my viewfinder. Nick had graciously offered Jill his coat since it was a chilly and blustery October evening. Neither of them was looking at the camera — they seemed to be in their own little world together — and they were both smiling broad, happy smiles. We got together a short while — and one engagement ring! — later as they planned their own wedding for this fall. And I saw them again, nine months after Jenny and Ernie’s wedding, at the wedding of Jill’s brother Josh to Savannah. I had the distinct pleasure of photographing the weddings of all three siblings within the last 13 months. (And no, I can’t even imagine how their mom Kathy managed to serve as the de facto wedding coordinator for all three!) Here’s a little fact that tells me a lot about Jill and Nick: They invited to their own wedding the parents of their siblings’ spouses. That’s right. The mothers and fathers and stepmothers of their brother and sisters’ wives and husbands. Maybe this happens more than I know but I don’t notice because I haven’t photographed the weddings of those siblings and met those parents. But I doubt it. I think Jill and Nick are just extraordinary. We had a wonderful — if somewhat windy — day for their wedding at the American Visionary Art Museum, one of the most unusual and fun spots for a wedding in Baltimore. After some quick photos with the bride and groom separately and a simple, lovely ceremony, we were off to a party that just about knocked everyone’s socks off. That more than half of this blog post’s photos are devoted to the reception speaks to how much fun it was! Without further ado, here are some of my favorites from Jill and Nick’s marvelous day.

The American Visionary Art Museum is such a great spot for a wedding!

After a few photos with the guys, we were off to the hotel, where Jill was getting dressed with her sister and about to make a grand entrance to reveal her beautiful gown to her bridesmaids.

The bride, looking gorgeous!

Then, it was back to the museum to get married. I love these next four photos shot by my wonderful assistant, Lucas, from the balcony overlooking the ceremony site. He caught some great moments just before the processional started and as Jill started her walk down the aisle.

Married!

This next photo was also shot by Lucas.

This is the third time I’ve shot a Fannon family photo, including parents, all three kids with their spouses and wonderful grandparents Jack and Lilly.

A few fun photos of the newlyweds!

And then it was time to get to the party!

A few reception details, including the magnificent array of pies, doughnuts and other desserts assembled by the bride’s mother, Kathy Fannon. She has a knack for making the most gorgeous displays of candy and other treats at weddings! I also love that tucked into the display is a framed print of that image I shot of Jill & Nick at the very first Fannon wedding I photographed!

The custom letterpress invitations were designed by the groom and then printed by Whitney Cecil of Almanac Industries. They were gorgeous!

Introductions.

Toasts. (And for those of you reading this who were at the wedding, I have just one word for this next photo: Woooooo!)

These were really some fantastic toasts.

A first dance.

A pair of parent dances.

Jill and Nick had these fun little chalk boards that served as placecards for their guests. Those guests ended up having a lot of fun with them at the reception! Also, check out the celebrity guest sighting!

A wonderful band called the Egg Babies Orchestra shared the stage with a dj. Together, they kept the dance floor packed All. Night. Long.

Congratulations, Jill and Nick. It was an absolute pleasure to work with you both and your families. I think you and your siblings, Jill, should renew your vows every few years so I have more fun family events of yours to photograph!

Credits:

Photography: Jennifer McMenamin Photography

Ceremony: The American Visionary Art Museum

Officiant: Hillary Mazer Stishan

Reception: The American Visionary Art Museum

Catering: Sascha’s Catering

Bridal attire: Reem Acra from the Betsy Robinson Bridal Collection

Make-up: Nicole Palermo

Hair: The bride’s sister, Jennifer Beck

Groom’s attire: Vera Wang from Men’s Wearhouse

Florist: The Flower Cart

Cake: Mary the  Cake Lady

Band: The Egg Babies Orchestra

DJ: DJ Doug

Invitations: Designed by the groom, Nick Prevas, and printed by Whitney Cecil of Almanac Industries

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Rachel & Kevin — ThorpeWood — DC Wedding Photography

Rachel & Kevin were married in the woods of ThorpeWood the weekend that Hurricane Sandy blew through. Fortunately, their wedding was that Friday — in other words, two days before the winds and rain picked up. As I was editing their photos — resplendent with fall foliage in beautiful shades of red and orange and yellow — I couldn’t imagine how different that scene might have been just 48 hours later. They had a beautiful ceremony in the Pine Cathedral of ThorpeWood, a green lodge and events venue set on 100 acres nestled 1,500 feet high in the Catoctin Mountains just outside of Thurmont, Md. Jars of yellow and orange flowers, strung up on shepherd’s hooks along the aisle, and a wooden arch covered with the same fall blooms popped against the forest backdrop. Rachel had also asked for a photo of her dress hanging from a tree outside the lodge. (I was lucky to be working with my friend Jen Cody, a fabulously talented photographer herself, as my assistant that day as she was tall enough to hoist Rachel’s gown onto the branch! Her photos are sprinkled throughout the blog post alongside mine.) Rachel & Kevin incorporated a Persian honey ritual into their ceremony to honor Kevin’s Iranian heritage as well as a ring warming, in which the couple’s wedding bands are passed around from one guest to another to “warm” them with good wishes and prayers for a wonderful marriage. It was really lovely! Without further ado, here are some of my favorites from their big day:

Rachel brilliantly knew better than to try to teeter around on traditional heels on the woodsy and rocky grounds of her wedding venue.

The bride, looking beautiful.

I am in love with this next photo of Rachel with her mom, grandmother, aunt and cousin. What a wonderful group of women!

Meanwhile, Jen was with Kevin and his groomsmen as they readied for the wedding.

Rachel and Kevin chose to see each other before the ceremony. I love this little series of images of the two of them.

Despite the overcast skies, we were able to make some beautiful images with the gorgeous backdrops in the woods.

A few ceremony details. And then it was time to get married!

Ring warming.

I just love the next image on the right, shot by Jen, of Rachel’s cousin’s little boy as seen through the harp. So wonderful!

Married!

After some fun, efficient family photos at the ceremony site, Jen and I had a little bit of time with the newlyweds in the woods before returning to ThorpeWood’s lodge for the reception.

 A few reception details.

I loved the placecard ‘tree’ that Rachel and Kevin made. Such a beautiful idea for a fall wedding!

A few toasts.

A first dance.

A pair of parent dances.

And lots of fun dancing and merriment!

Congratulations, Rachel & Kevin. It was such a joy to work with you both and your families!

Credits:

Photography: Jennifer McMenamin Photography

Ceremony: The Pine Cathedral at ThorpeWood

Officiant: The Rev. Bill Cochran

Ceremony musicians: James Dronenburg

Reception: The Lodge at ThorpeWood

Catering: Canapes Catering

Bridal attire: Oleg Cassini

Groom’s attire: Kenneth Cole

Florist: Fresh flowers by florist Monica McCracken and dried floral centerpieces designed and created by Tendercrop Farms

Cake: Canapes Catering

DJ: Matt Shew of Shew-sical Entertainment

Invitations: Earthly Affair

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Jenny & Joe — Sacred Heart of Jesus Church & The Belvedere — Baltimore wedding photography

Jenny & Joe have one of the sweetest, least-traditional love stories I’ve heard. They met in a Flip Cup league at Kisling’s Tavern in Canton. As a big flip cup fan myself — my husband’s family usually plays at least once during their annual reunion in a tiny town in the Canadian Rocky Mountains — I was tickled to learn that flip cup leagues even exist, let alone that one could meet her future husband there! They were super fun to work with, both during the planning before their wedding and on the big day itself. Since their wedding fell on the day of the Baltimore Marathon, they thoughtfully wrote out directions for me to get to the various spots we’d be shooting to minimize the marathon delays. (Still paranoid about traffic snarls, I gave myself an hour and a half to get to our first stop — the hotel where Joe and his groomsmen would be getting ready. I was happy to listen to NPR in the car and then do a little scouting after my assistant, Lucas, and I arrived in just 20 minutes!) Jenny & Joe also planned a marvelous Tour De Photos for themselves and their wedding party, stopping after the ceremony at various locations around town that meant something to them — including, yes, the tavern where they met. We were graced with gorgeous weather and wonderful light to play with during their portraits. And just when I didn’t think that they and their bridesmaids and groomsmen could have been any more enjoyable, we shot some fun photos late in the evening with the black and white Solo cups that Jenny & Joe had ordered and personalized for the occasion. Here are some of my favorites from their wonderful day!

We started at the hotel where Joe, his father and his groomsmen got ready.

Then, it was off to the rowhouse that Jenny & Joe share, where the bride and her girlfriends were getting ready!

The bride, looking gorgeous.

Then, we were off to the church. I love a good shadow!

Finally, it was time to get married. The bride’s niece and nephew made for a positively darling flower girl and ring bearer.

Such a dramatic entrance for Jenny!

And I loved Joe’s reaction — reaching for his handkerchief.

This next image was shot by my wonderful assistant, Lucas.

Married!

This next photo was also shot by Lucas.

And we were off on the Tour De Photo!

I love this next image of Jenny in the limo. So lovely!

As big fans of Natty Boh, Jenny & Joe wanted to include the one-eyed mascot who towers over Canton in their photos. So fun!

A wee bit of wind caught Jenny’s veil. That’s pretty much the best thing about a breezy wedding day!

Our final stop: The always-wonderful Belvedere, where Jenny & Joe celebrated their reception with their family and friends! A few lovely details of all the projects made by the bride and groom — I can’t even imagine how much cork slicing was required for this wine-themed affair! — including a darling cake topper.

A first dance.

A pair of parent dances.

A couple of toasts.

And lots of fun, thanks in no small part to DJ Gavin O’Leary from Absolute Entertainment, who kept the dance floor packed all night!

Flip Cup time!

Congratulations, Jenny & Joe. It was an absolute pleasure to work with you both and your families!

Credits:

Photography: Jennifer McMenamin Photography

Ceremony: Sacred Heart of Jesus Church

Officiant: Father Jerry Knapp

Ceremony musicians: Organist Carole Truitt

Reception: The Belvedere

Catering: Truffles Catering at The Belvedere

Bridal attire: James Clifford from Betsy Robinson’s Bridal Collection

Hair: Geometrics Hair Salon

Groom’s attire: Jos. A. Banks

Florist: Violets Florist

Cake: Touche Touchet Bakery

DJ: Gavin O’Leary from Absolute Entertainment

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Sara & Mike — Old Otterbein United Methodist Church & The Belvedere — Baltimore wedding photography

Sara sent me one of the absolute sweetest e-mails I’ve received when she wrote to me in July of 2011 about plans for her wedding this past September. “I am so glad that you are available on my date!” she wrote. “As much as I loved your gallery photographs, it was your blog and the series of photographs and stories that they told that won me over right away. … I took a psychology and photography class in college and my professor used to plead with us to go out and make the ordinary extraordinary.  I realize that I will want the traditional photographs showcasing my centerpieces, etc. But more so, I love photographic freedom, that takes different approaches, that can be abstract at times. And I love that you capture live action and raw emotion — that is what I am looking for most.” People sometimes ask me whether I get bored of photographing weddings every weekend. I think they imagine that I shoot the exact same thing every week. My answer is always an exuberant no, in part, because of that raw emotion that Sara mentions. That is by far my most favorite thing about my job — freezing time for my clients through photography and preserving for forever the little glances and little looks and tiny smiles and tears that make their wedding day so special to them and their families. I knew I was going to have a great day working with Sara and Mike. Afterall, we had a wonderful time running around Fells Point together one cool, crisp morning for their engagement session. Their wedding day was equally fun — not one but two gorgeous gowns for Sara, beautiful fall flowers that I still feel sort of obsessed with, a simple lovely ceremony, an amazing moment between the bride and groom with their rings (more on that later!), a pair of toasts that had the newlyweds and their guests in stitches and a phenomenally fun wedding party that could bring it on the dance floor! Without further ado, here are some of my favorites from Sara & Mike’s big day:

We started at The Belvedere, where Sara slipped into the first of two dresses for the day.

Sara’s maid of honor, Kelsey, was quite overwhelmed at the site of her longtime friend all dolled up as a bride. It was so sweet.

Sara’s mother gave her a handkerchief with a ring and tiny gold heart from her grandparents sewn in.

The bride, looking lovely.

Sara and Mike decided to see each other before their ceremony for photos. While some couples say a quick hello and then turn to us to start their ‘official photos,’ Sara and Mike spent several minutes hugging, kissing, chatting and admiring each other’s wedding attire before turning to me to ask what was next. It made for some beautiful images.

Did I mention how much I loved Sara’s bouquet and other wedding flowers?

It’s always so enjoyable to work with a fun wedding party. We sure lucked out with Sara & Mike’s friends!

Then, it was off to the church to get married!

I love this next image of the church ladies directing the junior bridesmaids as they prepared to walk down the aisle.

My wonderful assistant, Lucas, shot this next image from the back of the aisle.

Lucas shot this next image on the left and the remaining image from this same overhead perspective.

Now, for that story I mentioned about their rings. Sara had told me ahead of time that she and Mike were having their rings engraved for each other and wouldn’t find out until after the ceremony what the other had written. As they were inspecting their rings after their I do’s, Sara’s face lit up and they both started laughing. I found out later from her that they had both engraved the same thing to each other.

I was nearly as enamored of Sara’s letterpress stationary from The Pleasure of Your Company as I was of her flowers from Crimson & Clover. Imagine my delight at photographing both elements together!

A few more reception details.

A lovely first dance.

A pair of parent dances.

Changing into the second dress!

Those previously mentioned fantastic toasts!

And a fabulous dance party!

Sara and Mike did something really lovely after cutting their cake. They asked her grandparents, who are just darling, to slice a piece for themselves. It was such a sweet moment!

They also played what is apparently widely known as The Shoe Game — the bride and groom sit back to back holding one of each of their shoes. Someone asks them questions — Who has better hair? Who said I love you first? And so on — and they raise the corresponding shoe to answer. It was very entertaining to their guests and a lot of fun to photograph!

After the sun went down, we ducked outside for a few fun portraits that highlighted The Belvedere’s iconic architecture and this marvelous couple!

Congratulations, Sara & Mike. It was an absolute joy working with you both and your families!

Credits:

Photography: Jennifer McMenamin Photography

Ceremony: The Old Otterbein United Methodist Church

Officiant: Pastor Don Burgard and the Rev. Patrick Carrion

Ceremony musicians: Organist Kathie Metz

Reception: The Belvedere

Catering: Truffles Catering at The Belvedere

Bridal attire: Modeca by Enzoani from the Venus Bridal Collection and Sue Wong from Saks Fifth Avenue

Hair & Make-up: About Faces Day Spa & Salon in Canton

Groom’s attire: JoS. A. Bank Colthiers

Florist: Crimson & Clover Floral Designs

Cake: The Baltimore Cakery

DJ: Chris Hart at Bay Deejays

Transportation: American Limousines

Invitations: The Pleasure of Your Company

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