Ashley and Tom's Georgetown and Carnegie Institution for Science Wedding!

My first wedding of 2014 was with the most amazing couple ever, Ashley and Tom.  When I met first Ashley, I wanted to work with her instantly.  She is one of the sweetest individuals with the biggest, brightest smile I have ever seen.  We also figured out we have a ton of connections: she went to college with one of my high school soccer pals (who even recommended me!) and she lived and worked in my hometown of Nashville, Tennessee, which is where Tom proposed (more specifically in Noshville Delicatessen, a local fav)!  So when she officially hired me I was ecstatic and couldn't wait for their big day. Ashley and Tom's wedding was simple and classic.  They both got ready at the Loews Madison, a very clean and minimal hotel (perfect for details and portraits).  You'll note very quickly that I became a huge fan of their outdoor terrace that had giant green hedges!  One of my favorite shots of the day was what I call an unconventional family portrait.  When we were leaving the Madison, Ashley and her family walked out out together (the family all holding the veil) and they were all smiles and excited to leave for the ceremony.  I just love it because it's not your typical family photo!

Ashley and Tom's ceremony was at St. John's Episcopal Georgetown Parish.  My favorite photo of the day was taken literally just after Ashley and Tom had recessed down the aisle and passed through the blue church doors.  That excitement of being newlyweds was so palpable and I love that you can see it in the photo!  After we left Georgetown, we made our way to the reception space at Carnegie Institution for Science.  There are so many photos I love from the Carnegie, but the one that sticks out is of Tom's two groomsmen photobombing the bridesmaids photo.  That photo gives you a good indication of just how fun-loving and happy everyone was at Ashley and Tom's wedding!

Ashley and Tom, thank you so much for having me photograph you wedding!  You were an incredible couple to work with and I hope you enjoy your photos as much as I do.  And many thanks to my second shooter, Kristi Odom, and wedding planner extraordinaire, Tabitha Roberts, of Roberts and Co. Events!  Enjoy!

Gina and Dan's Bluemont Vineyard Wedding!

I recently had the honor of photographing an amazing couple, Gina and Dan, at one of my favorite places in Virginia, Bluemont Vineyard.  When I first met with Gina and Dan, I was immediately captivated with them.  First off, they're a beyond gorgeous couple!  And secondly, I was taken with how Gina began describing how their Persian wedding at Bluemont Vineyard was going to look.  Ordinarily, I've photographed Persian ceremonies (also known as Sofreh Aghd's) indoors, as the ceremony itself consists of a large spread of food and decorations that the couple sits down in front of.  However, Gina explained to me that their Sofreh was going to be outdoors with the Virginia countryside  in the background, and I hoped beyond hope they would book me after I heard that.  And they did...yay! Sure enough, their wedding day was absolutely perfect.  The Sofreh Aghd looked just as breathtaking as I had pictured it in my head for months and months.  Gina's colors of blush pinks and champagnes with hints of shimmery metallics looked simply stunning in the bright, glistening sun.  Gina and Dan looked incredible in their wedding attire and I absolutely adored seeing them get married.  I think what I liked most about their wedding is that everyone who attended was just one big family.  You could tell that Gina's family and Dan's family were already very close and they all had such a good time together, even when we were taking photos!  It was just so cool to see such a large group of people without any drama, just totally there for this couple and their new life together.  I don't know that I have a favorite photo from Gina and Dan's big day, as they're all pretty fabulous, but I will say that I love the photo of Dan and his honorary groomsmen posing as they came down the hill from the tasting room at the vineyard.  Those guys really knew how to work the camera!  I also really loved the last photo of the night that I took.  It was a concept that Dan and I had thought about at our very first meeting, which was trying to do a nighttime photo with the moon and stars behind them.  I was so pleased that we were actually able to create it for them!

Gina and Dan, thank you so much for having me photograph your special day!  I had such a fun time with you, your family and friends.  And many thanks to my incredible second shooter, Cicely!  I hope you all enjoy the photos!

Thanks for looking!

Love,

Lisa

Lauren and Javier's Army Navy Country Club Wedding!

I recently had the privilege of photographing the stunningly gorgeous wedding of Lauren and Javier at the Army Navy Country Club!  Lauren and Javier are two beautiful people who met while working in law enforcement.  I loved their energy when I first met with them about their wedding and I just knew it was going to be a fabulous event! Lauren and Javier's wedding day was sunny and bright, even though there was a bit of a chill in the air.  What I loved learning at the wedding was that even though Lauren is so put together and organized, she's a little bit of a softy!  She got a little teary among her bridesmaids for photos and then of course shed a few tears with her father before the ceremony.  One of my favorite memories of the big day was Lauren and Javier exchanging vows as the sun was setting.  Everything and everyone during the ceremony was glowing from the sun going down, which was so special.  Every aspect of their wedding day was colorful and fun, and I could not be more happy for this newly married couple!

Lauren and Javier, thank you so much for having me photograph your wedding!  I had such a blast with you, your family and friends!  And many thanks to the fabulous planner involved, Amanda McCabe of Engaging Affairs and my awesome second shooter, Kristi Odom, for all of your hard work and keeping me in line!

Thanks for looking!

Love,

Lisa

Lane and Adam's Martinsburg, West Virginia Wedding!

I recently had the pleasure of photographing the sweetest couple ever, Lane and Adam!  Lane and Adam were married in Martinsburg, West Virginia on a beautiful fall day.  Lucky for them, the gorgeous autumn weather fit in perfectly with their autumn-inspired wedding decor at The Purple Iris at Hartwood Mansion! Lane and Adam were beaming the entire wedding day.  There were a few happy tears shed, but overall, it was nothing but a celebration of how meant-to-be Lane and Adam really are.  One of my favorite moments of the wedding day was when Lane and Adam played The Shoe Game, which I was unfamiliar with!  Basically, Lane and Adam took off their shoes, gave one of their shoes to the other to hold (so each had a his and her shoe in their hands) and then sat back-to-back in chairs.  Then, their fabulous DJ, Rick Rohn, asked them both questions like "Who said I love you first?" or "Who is better looking?" and Lane and Adam would hold up the shoe of the person they thought fit the answer the best.  Some of these questions were incredibly tough, but I'm not kidding when I say they only answered one question differently.  That's how in-sync Lane and Adam are and I'm so happy they get to spend the rest of their lives together!

Lane and Adam, thank you so much for having me photograph your wedding day!  I had such an amazing time and I hope you enjoy the photos!

Thanks for looking!

Love,

Lisa

Mary and Patrick's St. Louis Catholic Church and George Washington Masonic Memorial Wedding!

I recently had the pleasure of photographing two of the nicest people ever, Mary and Patrick!  Mary and Patrick were married at St. Louis Catholic Church with a gorgeous wedding reception at the George Washington Masonic Memorial.  Their wedding day was as bright and sunny as they were about tying the knot.  As you'll see below, I had a blast photographing Mary, Patrick and their family and friends.  Their bridal party had so much personality and fun posing in photos, and their guests were out on the dance floor until the very end of the night creating some amazing images.  One of my favorites from the wedding though was taken outside at the Masonic Memorial, where I had to light up the memorial and Mary and Patrick to get a nice dramatic photo.  It was a challenging photo, but it paid off!  Mary and Patrick, you looked amazing! Many thanks to Mary and Patrick and their family and friends for having me photograph this special occasion.  Also, many thanks to my second photographer for the day, Lelia!  I hope you enjoy the photos!

Thanks for looking!

Love,

Lisa

Jessica and Thomas' McLean Presbyterian Church and Westfields Marriott Wedding!

I am a lucky gal when I get to photograph people I already know.  A few years ago, I had the honor of photographing a fabulous couple, Ryan and Rachel.  They were fun and goofy, and I really fell in love with their families.  Plus they are a hoot on the dance floor!  Well, a few years later, I get an email from Jessica, Rachel's sister, who had gotten engaged and wanted to hire me as her and Thomas' wedding photographer.  I was beyond thrilled for her and Thomas and very, very excited to see and photograph some of my very favorite people again! On Jessica and Thomas' wedding day there was a huge threat of rain.  I knew many other planners and photographers on this day were only a few miles away and battling major downpours and having to initiate their backup plans.  However, for whatever reason, it never rained on Jessica and Thomas' wedding!  It was actually a really beautiful overcast at McLean Presbyterian Church, and Jessica and myself were beyond thrilled we got to work outdoors for their portraits!  Jessica and Thomas were absolute naturals in front of the camera.  And it was abundantly clear that Thomas was brimming with excitement to be married to Jessica!  We'd be photographing and all of a sudden he'd pull her in, dip her and kiss her.  It was just so cute!

Jessica and Thomas' wedding reception was held at the Westfields Marriott in Chantilly, one of my favorite places to photograph!  One of my favorite details of the reception was Jessica and Thomas' caricature they had made and printed on the place cards, wedding menus, etc.  It was a really personal touch and honestly, it looked just like them!  I, of course, loved hearing all of the speeches from Jessica's dad and her sisters, and then really loved it when the party started and everyone let loose on the dance floor!  I have two favorite shots from the dance floor: one of Ryan dancing and pointing his toes while his family laughs in the background and then the shot of one of Thomas' family members stuffing a $20 down Jessica's second dress.  It was an amazing night full of fun and laughter and I'm so thrilled I got to be a part of it!

Jessica and Thomas, thank you so much for having me photograph your special day!  I really hope you, your family and friends all enjoy the photos!

Ginly and Rob's Dentist Themed Springfield Country Club Wedding!

Colorful, animated, energetic and bright.  These are just a few words that come to mind when I think of my adorable couple, Ginly and Rob!  When I first met with them, I knew I would love working with them.  First of all, they have the biggest, most amazing smiles.  It does have a little something to do with the fact that they're both dentists (and fell in love in dental school), but it mostly has to do with the fact they're always laughing and goofing around!  Plus, I just loved that Ginly is so organized and has the most fantastic ideas.  When she told me about their bold colors of pink and orange and the fact they were going to incorporate a dentist theme throughout their wedding, I was hooked! Ginly and Rob were married at the Springfield Country Club in Springfield, Virginia.  Their wedding day was a gorgeous, sunny day, which completely mimicked the excitement everyone was feeling about Ginly and Rob tying the knot.  I don't think you'll see a single photo of Ginly and Rob being completely serious, because they're just a fun, happy couple.  Also, I learned so much about these two besides the fact they are dentists!  For instance, during their reception slideshow I learned Ginly went on the game show, "The Power of 10," to try and win a million bucks, and even got to rap for Drew Carrey (the host).  She didn't win a million dollars, but I thought that was fan-freaking-tastic!  Also pretty fantastic was the fun fact that Rob is obsessed with wearing a Centreville t-shirt that he's worn for several years as they've been dating.  They had way too many pictures of him in that shirt!  Ha ha ha!

I don't know what else to say about this amazing couple except that you will love their photos.  Ginly and Rob will, without a doubt, make you smile.  Whether it's the photo of them goofing around at their first look, or the one where they have their rings in their teeth, or even the one where Rob is spinning Ginly around in her Chinese wedding dress, they all will make you grin.  And hey, isn't that what any good dentist would want anyway?  ;)

Ginly and Rob, thank you so much for allowing me to photograph your special day!  I had the absolute best time with you, your family and friends.  Thank you so, so much!  Enjoy!

And many thanks to my fabulous second shooter, Hannah!  Thanks for looking!

Love,

Lisa

Christine and John's St. Andrew the Apostle and Westfields Marriott Wedding!

Where do I begin with Christine and John?  These two are the prettiest, nicest, funnest and downright most hilarious people ever!  The first time I met with them they showed me a postcard of their save the date, which was a photo of them jumping into a pool in a tutu and a tuxedo t-shirt.  I knew right then and there that they would absolutely not disappoint in their wedding photos! Christine and John were married at Saint Andrew the Apostle Church in Clifton, VA with a reception to follow at the Westfields Marriott in Chantilly, VA.  It's hard to describe how amazing the entire day was, because it was so full of fun and laughter and just general awesomeness.  Christine and John told me before the wedding that they were going to incorporate Ray Ban's by having the entire wedding party wear them for a lot of the photos, and it honestly made the photos so much fun.  I had so much sass to work with the entire day, so of course there were far too many favorites from me to choose from!  One of my favorite group photos from the day has to be the one of John with his groomsmen all lined up and sitting like they're a sports team (John, of course, standing like he's the coach).  All the groomsmen looked just like little kids, which I loved!

I could tell throughout the day just how much Christine and John's family and friends meant to them.  When Christine's sister finished with her toast that evening, she (and the entire room) surprised Christine and John with a serenade of "All You Need is Love" à la Love Actually.  And although they didn't have trumpets, flutes or guitars, the guests were all given kazoo's to help carry the song.  It was just adorable!  Everyone at the wedding had an incredible time, and I loved photographing every second of it.  The energy of Christine and John's wedding was just wonderful, and I'm so sad it's over!

Christine and John, thank you so much for having me photograph your wedding day!  I had such a fabulous time with you, your family and friends.  I look forward to following you both in your new chapter in life!  ;)  And many thanks to my fabulous second shooter, Hannah!  I hope you all enjoy the photos!

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

Jessica and Seth's Cabell's Mill, Virginia Wedding!

I've known Jessica and Seth for quite a while now, and it's hard for me to believe their wedding is actually over!  You may recall them from their recent pseudo-celebrity win on Junebug Weddings from their engagement session we did back in Old Town, Alexandria.  This couple has so much personality and they definitely brought their A-game for their wedding too! The day of their wedding was a cool, but sunny summer day, the kind of days I love.  Jessica and Seth were married at Cabell's Mill in Centerville, Virginia, a historic mill located in Ellanor C. Lawrence Park just of of 66 West.  I had never been until I met with Jessica about their wedding, and I have to say this place is such a gem that more people should know about!  Complete with large grassy meadows, gorgeous wooded areas,  a pond and the old historic mill itself, this was the perfect setting for Jessica and Seth's wedding day.

Before Jessica and Seth's ceremony, we did their first look down a quiet path in a meadow not too far from their ceremony site.  What I love about Jessica and Seth is that they have no shortage of reaction or emotion...you feel exactly how they do in real time.  They have such an excitement about being together which is contagious.  After a few photos in the meadow, Jessica and Seth were married below one of the biggest oak trees on the Cabell's Mill property.  The tree itself had a beautiful stringed backdrop attached to it that the couple had made, complete with pink, grey and white dots to match the colors of their wedding.  I loved watching Jessica and Seth get married, because it's as if they were the only two people who existed as they said their vows.  One of my favorite photos from the day was of them just after they recessed down the aisle.  It is the black and white of the two of them admiring each other as husband and wife, while the sun is lightly kissing them in the background.  Just love it.

After the ceremony, I took Jessica and Seth down to the pond area close by for some more couples portraits.  Boy did I  have a squee-fest down there!  The sunlight was just perfect for photos in a field of tall grass, and then on the zig-zag bridge that crossed over the pond.  My favorite (and I realize, slightly strange) photo of the day came from the two of them standing hand-in-hand facing the wooden bridge, and all you  really see is them from the neck down with their shadows below.  I thought it was such a cool photo!  Once we were finished with portraits, Jessica and Seth joined their family and friends for dinner made by the fabulous Main Event Caterers, and then partied down with one of my favorite DJ's, Derek Romanoff.  Also, Nicole and Sarena of Sweetface Events did such an amazing job keeping everyone on track for the evening, including me!  After some partying, I managed to take Jessica and Seth out for one last nighttime photo, which I created by shooting some off-camera light through some wooden lattice.  I really loved how it turned out, and  it was the perfect ending to such an amazing day.  :)

Jessica and Seth, words can't express how happy I was to photograph your wedding and how excited I am for the two of you.  Thank you so much for having me along for the day, and I hope you enjoy the photos!

Dyanne and Steven's Meadowlark Botanical Gardens Wedding!

Where do I begin with Dyanne and Steven?  I've known these two for a little over a year, and I'm so sad their wedding is actually over!  They are two of the nicest, prettiest people I've ever met.  They are also one of the most photogenic couples I've ever photographed, and what's funny is that their both actually a little quiet and shy.  However, that only makes me adore them more!  You may remember them from their stunning Mad Men engagement session at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner, and just like their engagement session...their wedding did not disappoint! Dyanne and Steven's wedding day was held at the beautiful Atrium at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens.  Even though it was May, for whatever reason, their wedding day was really grey, cold and windy, so their ceremony that was meant to be outdoors had to be brought inside!  It didn't dampen the mood of the day at all though, because Dyanne and Steven were beaming throughout everything.  My favorite part of the ceremony was that Steven would be focused on what the officiant was saying, but then turn and sneak these glances with Dyanne that would make her smile, and of course then make him smile.  The biggest surprise was Steven's German side of the family  integrating a German heart cutting at the end of the ceremony.  Traditionally, a banner with the heart is held alongside the couple after they are pronounced newlyweds and must cut the heart out in order to pass. In order to enhance the challenge, they are typically given the smallest pair of scissors such as nail scissors in order to symbolize overcoming the first challenge in their new union.  It was a really cool aspect to the ceremony that I loved!

After the ceremony, we all went outside for some group photos.  Even though it was cold and windy, all of the photos looked amazing!  I particularly loved the photos of Dyanne and Steven down by the peonies, which are Dyanne's favorite flower.  They had booked Meadowlark that day because they were told the peonies would be in full bloom, and it was true!  Plus, the white and pink of the peonies fit right in with Dyanne and Steven's color pallette for the wedding.  All of Dyanne and Steven's details looked amazing in the atrium, and I loved all of the little pops of gold glitter on the tables and table numbers.  Dyanne and Steven were all smiles when they were announced into their reception and it didn't seem like the smiling ever really stopped!  One of my favorite parts of their reception was the Filipino money dance that Dyanne and Steven participated in (initiated by Dyanne's family).  This is when guests come up and pin money on the couple's garments. Traditionally, male guests take turns dancing with the bride and the ladies with the groom. The custom is meant to wish good fortune and a prosperous start to the newlyweds!

Dyanne and Steven, words can't express how happy I am for the two of you and how thrilled I was to be your wedding photographer.  I had such a blast with you, your family and friends.  I hope you enjoy the photos!  And many thanks to my wonderful second shooter, Heather, for being such a great help throughout the day!  Enjoy!

 

Monika and Adam's Old Town Winchester, Virginia Wedding!

I recently had the honor of photographing Monika and Adam's wedding in Old Town Winchester, Virginia!  Old Town Winchester is a gorgeous, historic city full of brick walkways, stunning gardens and old mansion houses.  Monika and Adam live close by and love spending time in Old Town, so it only made sense for their wedding to take place there! Monika and Adam are the kind of couple that just radiate around one another.  Especially Adam...he was one of the happiest grooms I've ever encountered on a wedding day.  He was just so excited to be marrying Monika!

My day started off taking photos of Monika and the bridesmaids in the gardens of the Museum of Shenandoah Valley.  Monika and her bridesmaids looked amazing as we trotted around the garden area laughing and having a good time.  Afterward, we hopped the Candy Hill Campground Trolley to meet up with Adam and his groomsmen at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church.  I completely forgot Monika and Adam had hired bagpipers to welcome the guests into the church, so of course I had to stop and listen and snag a few photos.  I love bagpipers!  Once the guests were seated we began the ceremony and I just had a feeling Adam's delirious joy would transfer into tears as Monika came down the aisle.  I was right!  I think we all turned to piles of mush when we saw Adam's face!   However, those tears soon changed to big smiles as Monika and Adam tied the knot.  I just loved their big, smiling faces coming down the aisle as husband and wife!

After the ceremony we all hopped in the trolley to our next spot for photos, historic Abram's Delight.  This was the perfect backdrop for some wedding party photos, of which were some of my favorite ever.  Monika and Adam's wedding party were just so amazing, I can't even tell you!  Between the flower girls being the cutest ever, the groomsmen giving me perfect sass and the bridesmaids holding their beer and posing with Adam, they just did such a fantastic job.  Because it was so beautiful there I kept Monika and Adam around for some couples photos.  I swear, they absolutely cannot take a bad photo!  Like I said before, they just glow around one another and it's more apparent as ever in their photos together.  Once we were finished, we headed to our final destination of the day, The Barton House!  The Barton House was the quintessential reception site for Monika and Adam, as it really encompassed all the Old Town Winchester charm that they were going for.  Of course, one of my favorite parts of their reception was their incredible bluegrass band, Dry Mill Road!  If you like bluegrass and are considering hiring one for any event, hire this band.  They really added a wonderful southern charm to the reception!  Once formal dances were over, everyone got to eat, drink, dance some more and have an incredible time.  My last photo of the evening was of Monika and Adam on the staircase of The Barton House with the chandelier in the foreground, which I thought was a charming, dramatic photo.  I hope you like it!

Monika and Adam, thank you so, so much for allowing me to photograph your wedding day!  I could go on and on about how much fun I had and how wonderful your family and friends are, but I have to stop somewhere!  Also, I have to give a big shout out to Roberts and Co. Event Planning for all of their hard work on this gorgeous event!  Enjoy!

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

Molly and Dave's Northern Virginia Wedding!

My last wedding of 2012 was with the adorable Molly and Dave!  I know Molly through mutual friends and she was even a bridesmaid at Karleigh and Jack's wedding that I photographed earlier in the year.   So I felt like I was photographing a friend I'd known for ages by the time her wedding rolled around! Molly and Dave are seriously the cutest couple ever.  I don't even have to talk about it because you can see how adorable they are in their first look photos and many more after that.  There's such an excitement to their relationship that is infectious.  Their ceremony took place at Vienna Presbyterian Church, the church Molly grew up in.  Molly was actually married by her pastor, Pete, who had baptized her on the exact same date, 27 years earlier, in the same church.  Isn't that incredible?  I just love stuff like that!   Of course, Molly looked stunning processing down the aisle and a few happy tears were definitely shed by the couple during the ceremony!  However it wasn't long before we were off to party at the reception!

The reception took place at Maggiano's Little Italy in Tysons Corner and it was the perfect spot for Molly, Dave and their family and friends to party in!  As I'm sure you'll be able to tell by the dancing photos, fun times were had by all!  One of my favorite photo series of the night was in the Maggiano's elevator though, where I took Molly and Dave for some final photos of the evening.  I basically posed them in the elevator and clicked away while the elevator doors closed.  It was such a cool series that I made an animated gif out of it (I'm sure you'll remember my obsession with these here and here).  It's at the end of the post, so scroll through all the way to the end (after looking at everything else, obvs!).

Molly and Dave, thanks so much for having me photograph your special day!  I could not be more excited for you both in your new marriage and I hope you enjoy the 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

Shari and Evan's Key Bridge Marriott Wedding!

You may remember Shari and Evan from their DC nighttime engagement session, and they're back with their wedding that took place at Key Bridge Marriott! What I loved most about working with Shari and Evan is how deliriously happy they both were to become husband and wife...especially Shari!  Shari was the perfect vision of a bride just thrilled to be getting married and you can certainly tell from the photos.  Her spirit was totally infectious and I loved every minute of photographing their wedding!  It's hard to narrow down my favorite photos from their big day, but I mostly loved any interaction Shari and Evan had, and also a few party photos.  The whole event was one big joyous celebration and I was so lucky to be a part of everything.

Shari and Evan, thanks so much to you and your family for letting me be a part of your big day!  Enjoy!

Thanks for looking!

Love,

Lisa

Karleigh and Jack's Northern Virginia Wedding!

Today I'm blogging about two incredibly awesome people: Karleigh and Jack!  You may remember Karleigh and Jack from their Middleburg engagement session this past summer, and guess what?!  They got hitched recently here in Virginia and here are the photos to prove it! Karleigh and Jack are two of the most fun-loving people I've ever met.  I knew from the get-go that they were super excited to get married, but most of all just have a huge celebration with their family and friends.  On the day of the wedding, I started out with the ladies at Karleigh's aunts house in Clifton, while Mike was photographing the guys at Westfields Marriott.  Karleigh wanted a dramatic entrance in her dress for her family and bridesmaids, so she changed upstairs and came down the stairs to surprise everyone.  Some tears were shed by Karleigh's dad and all of the other bridesmaids were in awe of how amazing she looked.  I just loved those photos!

After we were ready, we headed to St. Clare of Assisi in Clifton where Karleigh and Jack were hitched!  My favorite photo from the ceremony was probably of Jack and the look on his face as Karleigh came down the aisle.  So cute!  Once we were finished at the church, we headed to an amazing park near Westfields Marriott to take some photos of the wedding party and Karleigh and Jack.  I loved the sun-kissed look of those photos as they really mirrored the look and feel that Karleigh and Jack's engagement session had!  Karleigh and Jack took a few more photos afterward in front of Westfields Marriott, and I really love the one of the two of them acting really excited.  You'll totally know it when you see it!

Karleigh and Jack's wedding reception may be one of my favorites to date in terms of the amount of energy in that room!  The entire night was just one huge party, made particularly awesome by the band, Burnt Sienna.  Rumor has it that they played at Karleigh's sisters wedding, and I completely understand why they picked them for Karleigh and Jack's big day!  Whenever Burnt Sienna was playing, it felt like an incredible rock concert.  They even had this stunning light display set up behind them that really set the mood of the room.  They were awesome!  My favorite shots of the reception are of Karleigh singing with one of the band members on stage.  But honestly, all of the dancing photos are pretty cool!

I want to thank Karleigh and Jack for having me photograph their gorgeous wedding day.  I had such an amazing time with you and your family and friends.  I really hope you guys enjoy the photos!

Thanks for looking!

Love,

Lisa