Amanda and Adam's Westin Alexandria Wedding!

Happy Friday, everyone!  Today I'm blogging on two very awesome people, Amanda and Adam!  Amanda and Adam were married at the Westin Alexandria in Alexandria, Virginia on one of the hottest days of the summer, so you can imagine how excited I was when the entire celebration was indoors!  Of course, I'm sure they (and their guests) were equally as excited! Amanda and Adam wanted to start their day off with a first look, and since it's been quite a few weddings since I've actually had a first look, I was thrilled with theirs!  I've never done a first look with a couple perfectly back-to-back, and I thought their reactions were just so cute!  You could tell how happy their were to see each other and it definitely created a calm over them before their ceremony.  Also, can I just say that I love Amanda's wreath that she wore? I haven't seen a bride wear a wreath/veil combination before, and I thought she looked amazing with it!

Amanda and Adam's wedding ceremony was simple and beautiful.  They both were all smiles during the entire event which made for some super cute photos.  After their ceremony, we did make the brave decision to go outside for a few photographs in the courtyard in front of the Westin.  Even though it was incredibly hot, we were in the shade and were mayyyybe outside for 10 minutes max.  But I think it was worth it because Amanda and Adam just look so darn great in their photos!

Once we were back inside it was clear the party was on!  Everyone had an incredible time dancing and letting loose.  At the end of the night I decided to take a shot with one of the Westin windows that had a clear, beautiful view of the George Washington Masonic Memorial (a staple view in Alexandria) and I was really pleased with how the photo turned out!

Many thanks to Amanda and Adam, their family and friends for having me along for the ride!  Also, I have to give a huge shout out to Graceful Weddings who kept the day moving along smoothly and who were always willing to step in as my test subjects when I needed them.  Enjoy!

Thanks for looking!

Love,

Lisa

Amanda and Adam's Westin Alexandria Wedding - Sneak Peek!

This past Saturday was a scorcher!  Luckily, Amanda and Adam's wedding was all indoors at the Westin Alexandria in Old Town.  Although we did make it outside for five minutes (and no more...the heat index was 110!), I really loved some of the photos we were able to get inside with the two of them.  The first shot in these sneak peeks is from their first look, and I just adore it.  More to come from these two lovebirds!  Enjoy! Thanks for looking!

Love,

Lisa

Jessica and Seth's Old Town Alexandria Engagement Session!

I love Jessica and Seth.  We had a fantastic time strolling around Old Town for their engagement session, and you'll definitely see why! First off, these two are snazzy dressers!  I really loved their outfits and I thought they worked perfectly for their shoot!  Secondly, these guys are just too fun.  They laugh together, make quirky faces together, and are two genuinely great people.  We took our time working around Old Town, heading to some specific spots that Jessica and Seth had picked out.  Personally, I really loved this ivy corner we found while we were out.  I feel like I could have taken all of their photos there!  But I also loved their sassy spy-like photos we took with Jessica and Seth's trench coats and sunglasses (their idea...awesome, right?).  So cute!

Thanks Jessica and Seth for having me, and I cannot wait for your wedding next year!  Enjoy!

Thanks for looking!

Love,

Lisa

Katie and Brandon’s Mount Vernon Engagement Session!

I met up with Katie and Brandon recently to photograph their lovely engagement session at Mount Vernon! I had not been back to Mount Vernon since middle school (I know, for shame, I live near it now), so I jumped at the opportunity to photograph Katie and Brandon there! We met up in the morning right when it opened so we could get some great shots without huge crowds completely taking up all of the photos. It was an absolutely gorgeous day to take these, and Katie and Brandon knew exactly what to do for these shots! I just love when a couple can just laugh and be goofy with one another...which is exactly how they were! There's a sequence in these photos when Katie and Brandon are straddling a bench, and I mentioned how they should do "Miss Mary Mack" (cute video here for anyone who isn't familiar). Now, it wasn't a huge surprise that Brandon didn't know how to (as he's a dude), but Katie remembered and attempted to show him! What transpired was just really hilarious, and that's why I created the sequence.

I had so much fun on this shoot, and I really think we got some great shots walking around the grounds of Mount Vernon! Thanks so much, Katie and Brandon, for being such troopers and spending your morning with me! Enjoy the photos!

Click to view larger:

Thanks for looking!

Love,

Lisa

Nikki and Chris’ Alexandria, Virginia Wedding at The Lorien

It's time to revisit The Lorien Hotel and Spa again in gorgeous Alexandria, Virginia! Only this time I get to stay past the getting ready photos for Nikki and Chris' wedding! Yay! I met with Nikki back in the spring about her wedding that would take place at this gorgeous Kimpton Hotel on King Street, and instantly fell in love with her and the location! I was excited to see a complete wedding take place at the Lorien, and she and Chris did not disappoint! They had some of the most unique details I've seen to date, and I loved the bright colors that Nikki and Chris used throughout their entire wedding. It really dressed up the minimalist design that the Lorien goes for, which I thought was fabulous.

Nikki and Chris were such a fun and playful couple to work with, and I'm so glad I got to photograph their special day! As you'll see from the photos, they really have such a great sense of humor (read: the shot group shot where she's biting his finger and the bridesmaid shot where they're gnawing on some lamb bone). But they could also really turn on their inner model for me for some dramatic shots which I loved too. Perfect combination!

Nikki and Chris, thanks so much for letting me photograph your wedding! I hope you and everyone else enjoy the photos below!

Thanks for looking!

Love,

Lisa

Gillian and Dave’s Alexandria, Virginia Wedding - Part Two!

If you missed Gillian & Dave's first blog post, go check it out here, but if not, keep reading for some fun reception photos! Gillian and Dave had their ceremony and reception at River Farm, a venue I had not been to but would love to work at again! Nestled on the Potomac just past Old Town, Alexandria, this place is just so ideal for shots, and I loved all of the reception photos we got to take! Even with a tent in the back courtyard of the house, the photos were still very natural looking and beautiful. I loved the space where the dancing was as well, and not to mention Gillian and Dave appeasing Mike and I for some shots down by the Potomac that night! Their reception was full of love, laughter and dancing, and the crowd even cheered for one more song at the end of the night! Gillian and Dave, it was hard to tear away from your reception, as we could have stayed for many hours after, but we hope you love the photos we got while we were there! Enjoy everyone!

Thanks for looking!

Love,

Lisa

P.S. The catering was done by Occasions Caterers, and I loved meeting Megan, the head of the event! Very impressive staff and spread!

Allison and Tim's Westin Alexandria Wedding - Part Two!

As promised, here is part II from Tim and Allison's wedding! This is what I would deem the par-tay portion of the evening! Tim, Allison and guests danced it up all night long...and boy did they have a good time! Everyone was singing to the music, getting featured in dance circles, and even doing high-kicks! This wedding group knew how to break it down, and honestly it made for some great photos! Many thanks to Allison, Tim and the guests for some great shots, and also thank you to DJ Mike Blaufeld for some amazing song mixing! Enjoy!

Thanks for looking!

Love,

Lisa

Allison and Tim's Westin Alexandria Wedding - Part One!

Last weekend I photographed Tim and Allison's wedding, and boy did I have a great time! I met Allison through a bridal showcase and I was very excited when she chose me to photograph her big day! She and Tim are from Boston, MA, and they actually had 120+ friends and family fly in from out of town to attend their wedding. It was quite an event! Most of the day was spent at the Westin Hotel in Alexandria, VA, but we did see Tim and Allison tie the knot at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Arlington, VA! Below are some of the photos from the day that I hope you enjoy. Stay tuned for Part II of the wedding where I'll showcase the dance moves of Tim, Allison and their friends and family!

Thanks for looking!

Love,

Lisa