Erin and Cisco's Dumbarton House Wedding!

I love Erin and Cisco.  They're two people who just wanted to be married and have a giant celebration on their wedding day, which is my kind of couple! Erin and Cisco's wedding was full of so much personality.  Even though they're one of the most laid-back couples I've ever worked with and were never once uptight or nervous about anything, they managed to have fun with the entire day and portray every emotion imaginable.  There were happy laughs and happy tears, and any wedding that can combine those two elements is such a joy to photograph.

Erin and Cisco's big day started out at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC.  We all goofed around and got some great getting ready photos before we headed off to the Dumbarton House for the first look.  Erin and Cisco's first look was a very memorable one, mostly because I noticed Cisco was so happy to see Erin...but I didn't realize he was actually crying too!  So cute!  There were more tears and laughter during the ceremony, and one of my favorite parts was when Erin's mom was asked (by Erin's dad, the officiant) who gave Erin away, she accidentally said, "Her mother and I do!"  It was a wonderfully perfect moment for their ceremony!

After the ceremony, guests enjoyed amazing popsicles by Pleasant Pops, and golly was I glad they had those!  It was such a hot day and it really hit the spot, not to mention made some amazing photos (I love the one of Erin and Cisco eating their pops, doing everything they can to not spill on their wedding attire!).  Soon after cocktail hour began, Erin and Cisco joined for toasts from their amazing family and friends. Than we launched into dances, and I cried my eyes out when Cisco and his mother danced to "I'll Be There" by the Jackson 5.  It was so touching and I don't know why that's not danced to more!  Once dances were finished there was a beautiful dinner by Main Event Caterers, followed by so much dancing and music by DJ D-Mac that everyone was boogying to all night long.  Let me be clear in stating that Erin, Cisco and their family and friends are some of the best dancers I have EVER seen .  Cisco was out there rockin' it in his shades, we had a guy do the worm, and honestly I think every single guest was out there at some point.  I was so impressed!  And, of course, later in the night I took Erin and Cisco out for a romantic night photo on the Dumbarton grounds which turned out lovely.

Erin and Cisco, I can't say enough great things about you guys and your wedding!  I loved every single minute of it and I hope you, your family and friends enjoy the photos!  And a big shout out to my second photographer, Hannah, for all of her hard work on this one too!

Thanks for looking!

Love,

Lisa

Jen and Chris' Intimate W Washington DC Hotel Wedding!

When I met with Jen and Chris about their wedding at the W Washington DC Hotel, I felt like we were old friends.  We hit it off immediately and told jokes like we had known each other for years, so I felt very comfortable with the two of them when their wedding rolled around.  Jen and Chris chose the W Hotel because they love going their to eat, drink, relax, take in the amazing views from the POV Lounge and so on.  So it made perfect sense to have their wedding there! I loved Jen and Chris' wedding because there was so much emotion.  It was clear Jen and Chris were just so excited to have found one another and were tying the knot at last among their close friends.  There were happy tears shed by all (myself included) and it was such a joy to witness.  Even though Jen and Chris had a smaller wedding, I still loved their attention to detail and the fact they wanted to take some dramatic photos around the W Hotel to commemorate the occasion.  We had such a fun time walking around and talking about the day, while I took photos here and there.  Whether these two were posing, laughing, crying, being sassy...they were just such a pleasure to work with.  I'd photograph them again in a heartbeat!

Jen and Chris, thank you so much for having me photograph your wedding!  You guys were amazing to work with and I hope you enjoy your photos!  :)

Thanks for looking!

Love,

Lisa

Megan and Kevin's Georgetown Wedding!

I recently had the honor of photographing the wedding of Megan and Kevin in Georgetown, Washington, DC!  Megan attended Georgetown University and Kevin attended GMU, but this pair fell in love around the Georgetown campus and area, so it was only natural that their engagement and wedding would be there! We started the day off at Key Bridge Marriott, but moseyed on over to the Georgetown campus for the first look before the ceremony.  We went to a spot on campus where you can make out the Key Bridge in the background, which is one of Kevin's favorite views.  Megan and Kevin's first look was adorable, as they were clearly giddy with excitement to get married!  After the first look we walked through the campus of Georgetown, making a pit stop at the campus housing where Megan lived while Megan and Kevin were dating.  It's a unique area full of lots of shapes and lines and the black and white photo of Megan and Kevin walking up the stairs among the housing was definitely one of my favorites from the day!

The ceremony at Dahlgren Chapel was stunning, and the light was hitting the back window in such a way that everything just glowed inside. After Megan and Kevin were pronounced husband and wife, we took some group photos out in the courtyard of Dahlgren Chapel and then headed down to the Georgetown waterfront for some couples photos!  I loved the way the light was hitting them down by the water...again, this glowy light that really fits the emotion of a wedding day!  After a few photos, Megan, Kevin and I walked down the waterfront to their reception area at the gorgeous Sequoia!  Everything inside was a beautiful white palette with pops of blue, orange and pink everywhere.  A Sweet Soiree Events did an amazing job with the setup...it was totally Megan and Kevin!  Once Megan and Kevin were announced, the night of partying began with good food, heartfelt toasts and lots of dancing!  And after a while I took Megan and Kevin outside at night for some nighttime photos down by the water that turned out just fabulous.

Megan and Kevin, I can't thank you enough for letting me photograph your special day.  You two are one of the sweetest couples I've had the pleasure to work with!  I hope you enjoy your photos!  :)

Kattrina and Matt's St. Matthew's Cathedral and Mayflower Hotel Wedding!

Today on the blog is an amazingly energetic and fabulous couple, Kattrina and Matt!  What I loved about Kattrina and Matt's wedding day is that there was so much emotion and joy.  A lot of that might have to do with the fact that Kattrina and Matt are 17 years in the making (they met in high school!).  So for these two to officially tie the knot is pretty dang special.  :) Kattrina and Matt's wedding day was absolutely stunning.  It's one of those days that has perfect blue skies, is just warm enough and comes with a nice breeze to boot.  Our day began at the Mayflower Hotel, and after everyone finished getting ready we walked over to St. Matthew's Cathedral, which was only a few blocks away.  The cathedral is gorgeous, and when you stick someone as beautiful as Kattrina in it, it just lights up!  After the wedding we hopped around the national mall for some wedding party portraits, which was one of the highlights of my day (Kattrina, Matt and their wedding party were hilarious!).  One of my favorite photos during that process was of Kattrina's hands in the limo as she told a really funny story.  It just sort of set the mood for the whole trip!  After parading around the national mall, we headed back to the Mayflower State room for the reception!  One of the most amazing and emotional photos during the reception was when Kattrina and her father had their father/daughter dance.  Both of them were crying and laughing and it was just such a pleasure to watch.  You could only dream of that emotion between a father and daughter!

Kattrina and Matt, thank you so much for letting me be a part of your wedding day.  I had so much fun with you, your family and friends!  And many thanks to my second shooter, Hannah Colclazier for being such an amazing help throughout the day!  Enjoy!

Thanks for looking!

Love,

Lisa

Megan and Kevin's Georgetown Wedding - Sneak Peeks!

This past weekend I was honored to photograph Megan and Kevin's wedding in the heart of Georgetown!  Megan and Kevin were married at Dahlgren Chapel on Georgetown University's campus and then held their reception at Sequoia on the Georgetown waterfront.  We had so many great photographic opportunities along the way, but here are two of my favorites from the big day so far!  The first was taken among the apartments that Megan lived in when she attended Georgetown (loved all the shapes and lines!), and the second was taken by the waterfront overlooking the Potomac and Kennedy Center.  I hope you love them as much as I do!  Enjoy!

Thanks for looking!

Love,

Lisa

Jessica, Brian and Saniya's Family Engagement Session at the National Zoo and Cathedral!

When I first met with Jessica, I was incredibly excited about the idea of working with she and her fiancé, Brian.  They're a very sweet, laid-back couple, who dress crazy well and have a ton of personality!  Jessica mentioned in our meeting that if we were going to do an engagement session, it would most definitely include Saniya, Brian's daughter.  For me, I thought this was an awesome direction to take an engagement session.  Sure, I'd snap a few of Jessica and Brian by themselves, but I absolutely loved the idea of including Saniya and having that family dynamic in their engagement photos.  I promise you, it made these photos even better! We started our session out at the National Zoo, because Jessica and Brian had indicated the three of them went their at Christmastime and had a blast.  I thought it was a fabulous idea and off we went traipsing about the zoo!  I have to admit, it was hard for me to focus on taking some family photos at times because I am a huge animal lover and wanted to "ooh" and "aah" at the animals along with Jessica, Brian and Saniya.  But I had to make sure to interact and pose with these three cuties as much as possible to get some stellar photos!  My favorites at the zoo are definitely the laughing photos where Jessica, Brian and Saniya are being total goofballs.

The latter part of our session took place at the Bishops Garden at the National Cathedral, and Jessica, Brian and Saniya made sure to change into some really gorgeous outfits for a more formal look (I admittedly was a little obsessed with Jessica's orange vintage fascinator)!  I was really excited that the garden was pretty lush and green, and even had a few tree blossoms to work with (our session was before the summer weather had set in!).  My favorite photo from the garden was of Brian and Jessica in the stone doorway about to kiss, but runners up of course are going to be the photos with the three of them acting sassy and hilarious.  These three really know how to turn out some gorgeous photos, and I'm sure you understand how hard it was for me to narrow them down!

Jessica, Brian and Saniya, thank you so much for joining me in such a fun family engagement session!  I can't wait for the wedding later this year so I can photograph your smiling faces again!  Enjoy!

Thanks for looking!

Love,

Lisa

Lauren and Ryan's Capitol Hill Engagement Session!

Happy Monday, everyone!  Today I'm here to show off Lauren and Ryan's recent engagement shoot at Capitol Hill in Washington, DC!  Last fall Ryan proposed to Lauren at the Capitol, so it only seemed fitting for us to do their engagement photos there.  We met there the Saturday before inauguration, and although it took us quite a while to find parking and meet up with each other, we somehow managed to work around the huge crowd.  Although we really wanted to get some photos on the back side of the Capitol (facing the mall), everything was fenced off so we had to get really crafty!  We utilized the front side of the Capitol instead, where there was less foot traffic and we could make Lauren and Ryan look like they were the only two people there.  My personal favorites are the silhouettes of Lauren and Ryan and any of the nighttime photos where the Capitol was all lit up.  There's something about the Capitol lit up at night that is just so romantic (and props to Ryan for utilizing that!).  :) Lauren and Ryan, you two are such a fantastic couple to work with and I seriously cannot wait for your wedding later this year!  Enjoy these photos!

Thanks for looking!

Love,

Lisa

Thank You to My 2012 Wedding Couples

Looking back on 2012, I am the luckiest lady alive to have been a part of 24 amazing weddings.  That's 48 individuals who got hitched, not to mention their families and friends that I had the pleasure of meeting as well!  So crazy! So, couples...are you reading?  :)  I want each and every one of you to know how honored I am to have been able to share your special day with you. The fact that you trusted me with photographing your wedding means the world to me!  And so I'm going to thank you, each couple at a time, with what what I remember most about your wedding.  And of course I'm going to include a couple of my favorite photos from your wedding day underneath my little notes!  So without further ado, here are my incredible couples...

Katie and Jeff, thank you for having one of the warmest weddings on record in February.  And thank you for letting me drag you around a country club looking for the perfect (non-golf course) shots.  Also, I will be opening my Nebbiolo soon, and I seriously can't wait.  Thank you for that!

Maggie and Lucas, thank you for allowing me to take those window photos of you guys.  I know each time we were really pressed for time, but the fact that you let me do my thing was so great.  Also, thanks for breaking some rules in Old Town and sneaking on to the dock where you got engaged for a photo!

Crystal and Stephen, thank you for your patience on a day when it rained all day long.  I'm so happy you brought umbrellas so we could at least go out in it.  And thank you to Stephen for having a security clearance so we could go take my favorite night time shot from your wedding.  Also, many congrats on your new addition to the family, little Lillian!

Suzannah and Keith, thank you for having one of the most relaxed weddings I've ever photographed.  Suzannah, than you for jumping up and down like a school girl right before you and Keith kissed (so cute!).   And thank you, Keith, for letting me wear your crazy warm coat during our freezing cold night time shot!

Maria and Wayne, thank you for your infectious optimism on the day of your wedding, even when we didn't have your ceremony outside.  I really loved the mariachi band, and, well, I can't thank you enough for having that margarita machine.  That was a first for me at a wedding and I hope to see more of them!

Helena and Dan, thank you for writing some of the most emotional vows I've ever heard.  I was crying like a baby while photographing you, but only out of happiness!   I loved spending the day with you, Marco and Gigi.  I can't wait to see your family expand with a new little girl in a few months!

Lauren and Kunal, thank you for being incredibly calm for one of the busiest weddings I've ever photographed!  Your cool demeanor kept me cool as well!  Also, thank you for that amazing Indian food and southern comfort food fusion.  I didn't know it could be done, but you guys knocked it outta the park!

Alexis and Andrew, thank you for having the most hilarious wedding party and guests ever.  Between the adorable ring bearer (I still get comments on him!) the bridesmaids dance and Kate Middleton and Prince William making an appearance...I seriously had a blast.  And that staircase shot will always be one of my fav's!

Mariah and Evan, thank you for your overwhelming positivity on your wedding day.  Your excitement to marry each other made me seriously giddy!  And thank you for indulging me and asking the firemen if we could take some photos with the firetruck!  I will never forget that!

Sarah and Justin, thank you for having such an emotion-filled wedding.  I think everyone felt a full range of emotion from tears to complete laugh-out-loud excitement!  And of course nothing was more exciting then Sarah doing the worm during the reception!  It was incredible!

Jess and Matt, thank you for having fun with each other on your wedding day.  You two were constantly looking at each other, making faces and smiling, which I just loved.  Matt, I'll always love that you shot hoops before your ceremony.  And I can't thank you both enough for having gluten-free Georgetown Cupcakes at the reception!  Made my night!

Amanda and Adam, thank you for one of the cutest first looks I've ever photographed!  Thank you for trusting me to take you outside in the shade for five minutes in the 110 degree heat, as I'm sure you were skeptical.  But hey, you both didn't sweat at all and you looked great!

Deanna and Joe, thank you for remaining the calmest of calm on a day where storms kept creeping in!  Even though a storm came through right before the ceremony, and even though it rained during some of the portraits, you guys were total champs and let me photograph you wherever I wanted.  Also, I'll never forget your sparkler exit which consisted of more smoke then sparkle due to the high wind!

Dayna and Ryan, thank you for being that couple that just wanted to get married real fast so you could celebrate!  What I remember most is your reception and what a blast you and your guests had dancing until the party was forced to shut down.  It was awesome!

Tracy and Adam, thank you for doing hilarious poses for me, like sticking your tongue out (which is an Adam thing) and wearing your sunglasses like badasses.  Also, thank you for being the first couple to introduce me to Gangnam Style at their reception!  And you guys totally knew the dance and everything!

Mia and Rob, thank you for being all smiles from start to finish, even when we had the threat of rain all day.  Thank you for indulging me with my obsession with the rooftop of the DAR Museum (loved those photos) and I thought Mia surprising Rob with donuts at the reception was exceptionally awesome!

Jen and Joel, thank you for being so excited to marry each other.  It was as if no other people were in the room but you all during your vows!  And thank you for inviting me to spend time with you family and friends prior to the wedding...just to get to know them.  I absolutely loved that!

Anne and Sam, thank you for persevering on your wedding day when a lot of stuff went wrong!  Sure the wedding started late, but it didn't matter at all.  It was incredible!  Also, thank you for hopping in my little car and riding with me up the hill to take some stellar portraits of you two!  It was totally worth it and I'd do it again!

Liz and Tim, thank you for letting me take a zillion photos of you guys, even though I know you're not photo people!  And thank you for walking up that staircase back and forth at the Hotel Monaco.  I was a little obsessed, but only because you guys looked amazing on it!

Natalie and Nathan, I think you officially win silliest couple of 2012!  Thank you for your energy and for always making everyone around you laugh.  Aside from the cigar photo, I think I'll always remember your epic bobble heads that you had at your wedding!  So cool!

Ashley and Will, thank you for being so low-key on your wedding day.  Thank you for never panicking even when so much was going on, and thank you (a million thank you's) for bringing your amazing Ducati motorcycle!  That is something I will never forget!

Karleigh and Jack, thank you for having the party of 2012!  I knew you guys were high-energy and so much fun, but when your reception rolled around, I had no idea it would be like a rock concert!  It was seriously one of the best times I've ever had at a reception!

Evan and Shari, thank you for trying to take outdoor photos when it was frigidly cold!  You guys really made an effort, which was amazing.  I still loved our indoor photos, and I really loved our nighttime shot of you guys in front of the key bridge!

Molly and Dave, thank you for your excitement about each other leading up to your first look.  I just love the portraits of you two together!  And thank you for having a fun, upbeat reception where even I got to let loose and hang out with you guys and some friends.  Your wedding was the perfect ending to my 2012 year!

Thank you again to all of my incredible couples!  I couldn't have done it all without you!  I hope you are well and I'm sending you so much love from the bottom of my heart.

Best wishes,

Lisa

Liz and Tim's Hotel Monaco Washington, DC Wedding!

I recently had the pleasure of photographing a Liz and Tim's beautiful wedding at the Hotel Monaco in DC!  I had been to the Hotel Monaco before (and have always loved it for it's history and unique decor), so was really excited to be photographing a wedding in this unique space!  Liz and Tim decided to do a first look before their ceremony, and I was really excited about it because I had Liz go up this amazing stairwell to meet up with Tim!  Of course Liz and Tim looked so gorgeous and classic, and I just loved their first look reactions to each other. Liz and Tim's ceremony was in the Paris Ballroom, and boy did it look amazing.  I can't tell you how much gorgeous decor and lighting can transform a space!  I loved the intimacy of Liz and Tim's ceremony, as family was completely surrounding them as they exchanged vows.  Both Liz and Tim were beaming and looked absolutely giddy about getting married!  After the ceremony, everyone took an awesome break at the cocktail hour, and Liz and Tim even got to come in and enjoy it with their guests!  Meanwhile, A Sweet Soiree Events and her team flipped the Paris Ballroom into an absolutely stunning and dramatic reception space!  I think everyone who re-entered the room lit up with excitement at how cool it looked!  After Liz and Tim were announced we all enjoyed some dancing, amazing food, toasts and more dancing!  Oh, and don't forget the silly string (which I hadn't seen in YEARS!).  ;)

I want to thank Liz and Tim and their entire group of friends and family for having me photograph on their special day!  And many thanks to all of the incredible vendors that helped make it happen, especially A Sweet Soiree Events.  Enjoy!

Photographer: Lisa Boggs Photography Planner: A Sweet Soiree Events Venue: Hotel Monaco Florist: L'Artisan Lily Makeup: Gina Robinson Ceremony Music: Sage String Quartet Officiant: Julie Price of Creative Ceremony Cake: Fluffy Thoughts Reception Band: Doctor's Orders Ceremony and Reception Lighting: John Farr Lighting Design

Liz and Tim's Hotel Monaco DC Wedding - Sneak Peeks!

This past weekend I was fortunate to photograph the lovely wedding of Liz and Tim at Hotel Monaco!  I'll be posting their full wedding a few days, but until then, here are two sneak peeks!  Enjoy!

Thanks for looking!

Love,

Lisa

Mia and Rob's Daughters of the American Revolution Museum Wedding!

There is so much to love about Mia and Rob's wedding that took place at the Daughters of American Revolution Museum!  First off, their color palette was amazing.  You'll know straight away with the photos what I mean.  I love that they used a paint splatter of yellow, pink and purple on their invites, and they carried those colors through their flowers, table decorations, and even their uplighting at their reception.  Secondly, they used their rottweiler, Paige, as an inspiration for their reception decor.  They even had people sign a portrait of her!  Anyone who is willing to use their dog as part of their wedding has my seal of approval! Mia and Rob's big day began at The Willard in Washington, D.C.  We were able to get some great getting ready photos, followed by Mia and Rob's super cute first look!  Afterward, even though it started raining slightly, Mia, Rob and their fearless gang (the wedding party) began the journey on foot over to the DAR!  By the time we arrived the rain stopped and we were able to capture some really awesome photos just outside the DAR and then on the roof!  Personally, I'm obsessed with that rooftop view.  I love that I can see the Washington Monument and then turn and get a really crazy picture of the green copper facade of the DAR.  So cool!

Due to the threat of rain, the ceremony was inside under the DAR's portico.  It was still really beautiful, and both Mia and Rob looked like they were having the time of their lives tying the knot!  Afterward I took a few more photos of Mia and Rob on the roof and then it was time for the reception!  I still can't get over all of the amazing bright colors they used and how it all tied in perfectly. After dinner, Mia switched into her second dress of the evening before their first dance.  I particularly loved the uplighting outside which was rotating all of their signature colors.  Another awesome detail Mia and Rob had was...a donut stand!  It was torture for a gluten-free eater such as myself, but man, those cake donuts looked amazing!  To end the night, I took Mia and Rob back upstairs on the roof and lit them up with the green facade of the DAR and the very beautiful Washington Monument.  I told you I couldn't get enough of that view!  :)

Many thanks to Mia, Rob and their families and friends for letting me be a part of their big day.  And also, many thanks to all of the incredible vendors they used.  This wedding was a WIN!

Photographer: Lisa Boggs Photography

Planner: My Simple Details

Catering: Susan Gage 

Venue: DAR Museum

Videographer:  Thomas Bowen Films

Makeup: Jan Scott

Hair: Hair by Jewels

Musicians: Chris Dunn

Officiant: Jesus  Rivera

Donuts: Carpe Donut

Cake: Fluffy Thoughts

Furniture Rentals: AFR Event Furnishings

Flowers: Petals and Hedges

Lighting: A2Z Music Factory

DJ: Mike Ramos of DJ Glyde and Washington Talent

Thanks for looking!

Love,

Lisa

Mia and Rob's Daughters of the American Revolution Museum Wedding - Sneak Peek!

This past weekend I had the honor of photographing Mia and Rob's wedding in downtown DC at the Daughters of the American Revolution Museum!  This is one of my favorite shots of the whole day, taken on the roof of the DAR at night.  I hope you enjoy it!

Thanks for looking!

Love,

Lisa

Jess and Matt's Georgetown and Carnegie Institute Wedding!

You may remember Jess and Matt from their Capitol Hill engagement session back in the fall.  Welp, they're back on the blog this time because their wedding was last month and it is stunning! Jess and Matt both attend Holy Catholic Trinity Church in Georgetown, so it was only natural that they held the wedding there.  Honestly, the grounds were a photographers dream, with the historic church and chapel and some beautiful gardens in the back part of the property.  There were pink hydrangeas in bloom that matched Jess and Matt's color scheme perfectly!  Also, there's a basketball court on one side of the church, so naturally Matt decided to bring his basketball and shoot some hoops before the ceremony.  I put him to the test and had him take a few shots backwards, just to see if he had any wedding day luck on his side!  Of course, he did, so he made a couple of shots which you'll see below!

The ceremony was just gorgeous and I loved how excited Jess and Matt were to be married.  They kept looking at each other over and over during the ceremony and just grinning from ear to ear.  They even cheered once they were finally pronounced husband and wife, which was too stinkin' cute!

After the ceremony we took a few photos of the amazing wedding party at a nearby park, and then headed to the gorgeous reception site of Carnegie Institute of Science!  Talk about another place with some amazing photographic opportunities!  From the sun-kissed dancing photos, to the sun-kissed outdoor photos and then back inside for some dramatic night-time shots, I could not complain with how these turned out!  Jess and Matt learned how to dance before their big day, and you can tell in the photos.  I am a huge fan of Jess' long blonde hair moving (she did that in her engagement session), so I was really happy when her hair got some movement during the dance and then again later in a portrait!

I can't thank Jess and Matt enough for having me photograph their wedding day!  I had such an amazing time with you, Jess and Matt, and I hope you love these photos!  Also, many thanks to the vendors below for making this wedding day so magical!

Ceremony: Holy Trinity Catholic Church Reception: Carnegie Institute for Science Caterer: Main Event Caterers Planner: A Sweet Soiree Events Photographer: Lisa Boggs Photography Videographer: Buerhaus Design DJ: Bialek's Music - Brennan Sullivan Florist: Karin's Florist Cupcakes: Georgetown Cupcake Hair/Makeup: Aveda Georgetown

Jess and Matt's Washington, DC Wedding - Sneak Peeks!

This past weekend I had the pleasure of photographing the wedding of the Jess and Matt!  They were married at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Georgetown and then held their reception at the Carnegie Institution of Science.  These are three of my favorite photos from the day.  Enjoy!  :D

Thanks for looking!

Love,

Lisa

Helena and Dan's WWI Memorial Wedding!

It's pretty rare that I cry at weddings.  I'm usually so in the photography zone that even the sappiest of ceremonies don't really affect me...until now.  Helena and Dan's wedding had me crying, and here's why... Helena and Dan were married at the WWI Memorial a few weeks ago, and I have to say, they had one of the most beautiful, intimate ceremonies I've been to in a while.  Married among a small group family and friends, Helen and Dan shared the most moving sentiments toward one another in their vow exchange...particularly because they were creating a new family for themselves.  Dan has two children from a previous marriage, Marco and Gigi, and I knew before their wedding just how much Marco and Gigi meant to Helena.  Helena said the sweetest things about Dan and her new step-children during her vows.  She said she never would have imagined this life for herself, but said meeting Dan, Marco and Gigi was the best thing that's ever happened to her.  Aaaaaaaand that's when the tears started flowing from Helena, me, and plenty of others who were there!  But they were such happy tears, because knowing Helena and Dan found each other was just so wonderful.  They're truly an incredible couple, and their children, Marco and Gigi, are some of the sweetest, well-behaved kids I've ever met.

We weren't at the WWI Memorial for too long after the ceremony, so it allowed us to travel to lots of places in DC for photos!  Our first stop was Constitution Gardens, where we had to brave some baby geese (who hissed at us!) to get to the spot we wanted.  Afterward we headed to Meridian Hill Park for some beautiful shots (and yes, where I waded in some water), followed by some photographs near the National Gallery of Art.  We had such a fun time getting to travel around for a couple of hours and managed to get tons of different photos from the experience (this is where I plug to all brides to make room for portraits!  It pays off!  :D).  Marco and Gigi were along for the ride along with Helena's mom, and boy were they all great sports posing with us in all of these different spots!

Many thanks to Helena, Dan, Marco, Gigi, and the rest of their family and friends for allowing me to be a part of their special day!  You were all an absolute joy to work with!  I hope you love these photos!

P.S.  Notice some pretty stellar cuff links that Marco was sporting?  They were his lightsaber cuff links!  And it couldn't have been more appropriate, as Helena and Dan's wedding day was May 4th (May the Fourth be with you!).  ;)

Thanks for looking!

Love,

Lisa

Shari and Evan's DC Nighttime Engagement Session!

This past weekend I was able to photograph Shari and Evan in downtown DC, and boy did we have a great time!  When I initially met with Shari and Evan, Evan told me straight away that they wanted to do an engagement session and it had to be at nighttime.  To me, this was a dream come true, as most couples don't specifically request photos at night!  I was completely up for the challenge, so we decided to start things off in Dupont Circle for our shoot! Dupont Circle is special for Shari and Evan, as Shari used to live right near there and they both have spent several date nights there!  Evan wanted to make sure we highlighted exactly where we were, so you'll definitely notice some street signs indicating that we were, in fact, right in the heart of Dupont!  We also stopped by Cafe Dupont, one of their favorite places to go, located in The Dupont Circle Hotel.  Shari and Evan got the opportunity to sit back and relax and have a couple of drinks while I photographed them candidly at the cafe.  I absolutely loved that, and I'm so glad the staff and patrons at Cafe Dupont were okay with us hanging out there!

After our Dupont Circle escapade, we decided to head down toward the back of the Lincoln Memorial to see what kind of shots we could get.  I have to agree with Evan on this one: the Lincoln one of my favorite memorials to view at night!  It's just so gorgeous, even driving passed it from a distance, so I'm really glad we got some photos with it!  As a super bonus, while I was setting up the Lincoln shots, Shari happened to notice the super moon that peeked out to the right of the Lincoln!  We were all crazy excited about it, so naturally we got some shots with the super moon as well.  :D

Thanks so much Shari and Evan for an incredible nighttime session!  I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I do!

Thanks for looking!

Love,

Lisa

Helena and Dan's WWI Memorial Wedding - Sneak Peeks!

On Friday I was thrilled to be able to photograph Helena and Dan's wedding at the WWI Memorial in Washington, DC.  Their intimate wedding was absolutely beautiful (I cried, a lot!), and then we traveled around DC taking some more photos of the happy couple and family.  Here are two sneak peeks I really loved, one in front of a WWI Memorial column, and the next at the fountains at the National Gallery of Art.  I hope you enjoy them!

Thanks for looking!

Love,

Lisa

Lauren and Kunal's Spring Engagement Session!

I recently had the opportunity to photograph a pretty amazing couple, Lauren and Kunal!  Their wedding is next month, but we took advantage of the beautiful spring weather we've been having (well, when it was warm anyway!) and did an engagement session down at the WWI Memorial and Gravelly Point Park in DC! These two locations were completely ideal for Lauren and Kunal.  In terms of the memorial, Lauren and Kunal had their very first date among the monuments and Kunal had the prescience to ask someone to photograph them that night in front of the tidal basin.  They now take long walks among the monuments whenever the get the chance!  And regarding the Gravelly Point location (among airplanes), Lauren and Kunal's relationship has been defined by tons of travel.  Their first trip together was only after two months of dating, Lauren traveled overseas constantly for her old job, and more recently Kunal flies out of DC every four days for work.

I seriously had the best time ever hanging out with Lauren and Kunal.  They're very easy going and clearly just love being in the presence of one another.  Kunal is the goofball in the relationship and always knows how to make Lauren laugh.  He totally had me laughing behind the camera too!

I'm so excited to share these photos and cannot wait for Lauren and Kunal's wedding next month!  Enjoy!

Thanks for looking!

Love,

Lisa

Lauren and Kunal's Spring Engagement Session - Sneak Peeks!

This past weekend I had the opportunity to photograph two very awesome people: Lauren and Kunal!  We photographed at the WWI Memorial and Gravelly Point Park and had an awesome time.  These are two sneak peeks from their adorable session!  Enjoy!

Thanks for looking!

Love,

Lisa

Crystal and Stephen's Dumbarton House and China Garden Wedding!

I'm so excited to share Crystal and Stephen's full wedding with you today!  I don't even know where to begin with this couple.  When I met with them the first time they told me all about their history, and it was pretty incredible to hear.  Both Crystal and Stephen's parents knew each other before Crystal and Stephen were even born, and Stephen's parents even guessed that Crystal would be a girl.  Needless to say, Crystal and Stephen ending up together is a real-life fairy tale, and I'm so honored I was there to photograph their big day! We started the day at the Hyatt Arlington where the gals and guys got ready, and boy did I love some of the getting ready photos we took!  I got a little carried away with Crystal, but she just looked so gorgeous and she kept doing all of these amazing poses...I couldn't help myself!  After we left the Hyatt we headed straight for The Dumbarton House for the wedding ceremony.  Due to the rain everything was indoors, but it still looked so lovely!  Crystal and Stephen tied the knot and included a red Chinese rope in their ceremony, which I had never seen before.  Red is a color you'll see a lot in their photos, because signifies love, joy and prosperity in the Chinese wedding tradition.  After their ceremony we stayed for a bit a Dumbarton and got some great group photos, and yes, you guessed it, went out in the rain for a bit!  Crystal coordinated everything so well with some umbrella's and I was really pleased with those shots!

Before we went to the reception, I asked if we could go back to the Hyatt's lobby and utilize this giant bench and cool background for some photos.  The best part about that was the giant bench I wanted to utilize was...bright red!  So, keeping in line with the prosperity of the Chinese tradition, we got some great photos of the wedding party and the happy couple before we hit up China Garden.

Once we got to China Garden, a party was unleashed!  Crystal and Stephen had their first dance, then changed into their Chinese attire, and then launched into some awesome Chinese traditions.  First, Crystal and Stephen had a tea ceremony where they offered tea to their parents and elders in their family, and in return received lucky red envelopes full of jewelry and money.  Second, they had an incredible Chinese Lion Dance with drummers come in and perform for the bride and groom!  The lions went all over the room collecting gifts for Crystal and Stephen while doing some really crazy dancing!  My favorite part of the dance was when Crystal and Stephen offered the lions lettuce, which is representational of their payment for the dance.  Then the lions chewed the lettuce and spit it out to spread prosperity in all directions.  The lions then offered Crystal and Stephen their gifts and it was all over!  The last tradition I experienced with Crystal and Stephen was the table toasting, where the bride and groom walk around to each table to thank their family and friends for the gifts they've offered.  It was really sweet to watch them walk around and acknowledge everyone there!

Once the traditions were finished, Crystal and Stephen changed back into their original attire and they got to relax and dance the night away.  Before I left, I did get some pretty great shots of them just outside of China Garden in an elevator lobby, which I just loved.  Stephen is solely responsible for making that happen, as we had some security issues with being able to use the space, but of course he worked his magic.  Did I mention how great Crystal and Stephen are?  ;)

Many thanks to Crystal, Stephen and their friends and family for letting me be part of their special day.  And also many thanks to Roberts Event Planning for keeping the day super awesome and organized.  More vendors at the bottom of this post!  Enjoy!

Photographer: Lisa Boggs Photography Planner: Roberts and Co. Events Hair: Valerie Bogley Makeup: Allison Leigh Makeup Artistry Brides Dress: P. Lawrence Bridals and Formals Hotel: Hyatt Rosslyn Ceremony: Dumbarton House String Trio: Bay Strings Officiant: Amber King (A King Celebration) Florals: Twinbrook Floral Design Cake: Fancy Cakes by Leslie Limo: KV Limo Reception: China Garden DJ:  Marc Augenbraum DJ Services Chinese Lion Dancers: CYC Lion Dance Program Chairs: DC Rentals

Thanks for looking!

Love,

Lisa