Robert Holley Photography

In the week leading up to your wedding everyone feels its their duty to give you advice on what to expect.  How to deal with an earthquake and a hurricane is normally not included!  Kristen and Andrew were at the mercy of the Weather Gods when they got married at Historic Whitehall Manor in Bluemont, Virginia.  A rare east coast earthquake shook things up early in the week and then hurricane Irene hit on the day of the wedding.  A positive attitude is almost a requirement under the circumstances and Kristen and Drew had this in abundance.  Nothing was going to slow them down from making the most of their day and having a great time with friends and family.  The bride and groom are graduates of Ithaca College and the wedding was packed with fellow IC alum.  I felt a special connection to this enthusiastic group as I am one myself.  Go Bombers!

I wish Annapolis wasn’t so far away from Sterling!  It is my favorite spot for an engagement shoot (besides a National’s game!).  Leona, Adam, and I spent a gorgeous afternoon exploring the old streets and waterfront.  Any time spent with Leona is going to be a fun adventure and she kept Adam and I on our toes and laughing.  Leona and Adam have a great chemistry together and I very excited to shoot their wedding next spring.

Having a wedding in Washington, D.C. offers some unique venues not available anywhere in the country.  Lindsey and Michael held their ceremony and reception at the National Museum of Women in the Arts.  Wonderful sculptures and paintings filled the building which is a work of art itself.  It combines the size and elegance of an Italian villa with the modern touches of a hip nightclub.  A second floor balcony makes for a fantastic vantage point during the ceremony.  The museum is also located within walking distance of the White House for those bold enough to walk the streets in a wedding dress.  (Which Lindsay was!)

Chris and Laura were married at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, VA.  They had planned an outdoor wedding in front of the beautiful giant waterfall with a view of the Potomac river.  The weather had other plans however and we were forced indoors.  No problem.  The staff at Trump switched everything without a hitch.  The ballroom made for an elegant ceremony.

I have known Laura for a while and I can honestly say I have never seen her happier.  It was impossible to remove the smile from her face all day long.   She and Chris had dreamed of partying the night away with their friends.  This was accomplished by renting a bus back to the hotel where all the guests were staying.  No one had to drive.  Brilliant.  The party, oh my……..

Who knew there are wooded parks in the middle of Washington, D.C.?  Lori and Andrew told me they had a great little spot near their home.  I love it when my clients suggest an unusual location for an engagement shoot that they are familiar and comfortable with.  It was natural for Andrew to bring his guitar as they are both very much into music.  We got a lot of fun, casual, loving shots in a wonderful location.

Tammy and Ryan were married at The Engineers Club in Baltimore, a beautiful turn-of-the century mansion.  This facility has one of the most unusual architectural features I have ever seen.  There is an atrium in the middle which must of been an open air patio at one time.  If you are a bride and groom in search of a classy, elegant reception space in Baltimore, look no further.

We were lucky that the ceremony and reception were both held indoors as the temp outside was in the high 90′s.  After a wonderful and moving ceremony the reception followed highlighted by an uncle giving a speech in Russian which clearly had an emotional effect on everyone.  The evening ended with a spectacular sparkler line as the bride and groom walked to their honeymoon night hotel up the street.  Very sweet.

I am always excited to shoot a wedding at the US Naval Academy.  (For anyone living in the D.C. area it is required for your “must see” list.)  It is a magnificent facility dripping with tradition.  Laura and Kevin’s ceremony was at the beautiful Naval Chapel and was followed by a reception at the historic Governor Calvert House in Annapolis.  We were able to create some fun and dramatic shots of the couple with the Naval Cadets marching in the background.  There were a lot of nervous moments leading up to the reception as most of Annapolis did not have power for the entire day.  With candles already burning and daylight fading fast, the staff was scrambling to set up a generator when the power came back in a nick of time.  The party that followed was a response to almost never happening as the group seemed to revel in every moment.  (Very crazy!!)  I also must mention the speech of the Father of the Bride.  It simply was the best I have ever heard in my almost 20 years in the business.  “Tears forward” is what it was called and I will never forget it.