Robert Holley Photography

Sometimes walking into a wedding is the same as walking into a 10 year High School reunion.  (In the best way.)  Arriving at Musket Ridge for Jane and Nic’s wedding I was greeted by familiar friendly faces.  I had shot Jane’s brother’s wedding the year before and sometimes a family leaves a lasting impression.  The Bartley’s are one of the most loving, caring, genuine, and accommodating familes I have come across in a long long time.  I briefly had met Nic at that same event and then spent an afternoon with he and Jane on the golf course.  I had a suspicion that he was of the same cloth if he was marrying Jane, and our time together confirmed this.   I had been looking forward to shooting the Flickinger wedding for a while and the event did not disappoint.  Jane looked amazing, Nic very GQ.  We got lucky with the weather as the rain held off and provided a wonderful thin cloud layer.  (Perfect for photography!)  The Bartleys and the Flickingers are not afraid to show their emotions and we had lots of tears, laughter, joy, and love during an exceptional wedding!

Wedding Musket Ridge Golf Club Myersville Maryland

When a wedding ceremony is held at the Mormon Temple in Kensington, MD there is no photography allowed inside.  However the grounds are so well taken care of and beautiful that there is ample opportunity for photography afterward.  My team and I (Erin 2nd shooting and Emily assisting) started with Adrianna and Oliver just as they emerged from the Temple.  After shooting there for a while we met up with them again at The Country Club of Fairfax for a public ceremony and reception.  A simple yet elegant service was followed by a reception punctuated by rousing enthusiasm for the Oregon Ducks.  Oliver is a graduate and so where many of the guest.   A “Ducks” send-off ended the evening on a high note.

Emily and Nathan were married at Glenview Mansion in Rockville, Maryland.  Glenview is an elegant, tasteful, and beautiful facility that matched perfectly with the style of the couple.  After a ceremony on the grounds in which the weather just held warm enough, the guests headed into the main house to enjoy the wonderful sounds of a string quartet.  It was a quiet, relaxing and exquisite event (until the kids realized how much fun it is to slide on a marble floor).

Amanda and David began their wedding day with a fun bus ride through the streets of historic Leesburg. With all of their bridal party in tow, and a cool 30 degree day to offset the blue winter sky, we started off at the courthouse to take a few group shots. Everyone was a little bit chilly, especially the two flower princess girls but they were all good sports and smiled for the camera. The stark white columns provided an interesting chance to get some private moments of Amanda and David practicing their vows or talking about the weather.
The next stop was a welcome respite from the cold at the Tuscarora Mill, a quaint restaurant and bar in the heart of Leesburg. The wedding party all imbibed with drinks and the fearless bride had a Flying Dog Pale Ale to kick off the party to come.
The final stop ended at Dodona Manor, the final home of General George C. Marshall who is recognized as the organizer of the Allied Victory in World War Two. The bride, Amanda and I conspired for something “fun” for the boys to do which ended up being a quick snowball fight on the grounds of the manor. The groom, David seemed to have a force field around him because none of the groomsmen or his son could get a decent shot!
The fun spirit of the day continued through the ceremony held in a room at the Sterling Doubletree Hotel. The officiate for the ceremony was a family relative and kept the mood light. The brief ceremony ended with a sweet kiss and then on to the reception…..
The wedding party walked into the ballroom with the background music, the Rocky Theme. If that couldn’t be topped, Amanda and David walked or waltzed into the room with Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” blaring! This really set the tone for the party and eventually everyone hit the dance floor especially the little kids who really loved being in their party gear. There was one little guy wearing a stylish silver vest who couldn’t stop moving the whole night!
David and Amanda provided special cigars as favors for the guests and I’m sitting on my back deck right now enjoying one. All my best to David and Amanda, a beautiful couple with an exciting future ahead!

Wedding Sterling Virginia

Wedding leesburg bride black and white turcarora mill

After spending just an afternoon with Paolla and Masoud I knew that their wedding was going to be a spectacular event; and I was not disappointed! The wedding was held at the Piedmont Club which is a very classy location further accentuated by Paolla and Masoud’s impeccable style. Upon arrival I sought out the bride and her host of bridesmaids, friends and family who were helping her prepare in the ladies room. I’m not going to lie; there were a few momentarily disoriented club members when a group of woman walked into the women’s locker room to find me, with a camera no less!

The ceremony was simple and sincere, overlooking the rolling expanse of the pristine golf course.  Following the service we found a great place for family portraits which turned into quite the spectacle as everyone found creative ways to combat the high gusts of wind. I was very impressed with Paolla’s model head toss that more than effectively did the trick. While not ideal for family shots, the wind added a dramatic touch to the portraits of Paolla and Masoud. We took full advantage of this and captured some great images of the bride and her wind swept vale.

An exotic belly dance performance set the party in motion and from that point on the dancing did not stop. This energized group celebrated straight through the night and if I’m not mistaken there was some talk of an after party!! This was a truly fantastic event. I wish Paolla and Masoud all the best; I have no doubt that they are in for a good time together.

Corena and Destin were married at George Washington‘s River Farm Estate in Alexandria, Virginia. The historic site is a beautiful location for a wedding. As it turns out the River Farm Estate is the headquarters for the National Horticultural Society and it was more than apparent from the spectacular gardens that surrounded the house. The detail and thought that was put into this event became immediately apparent upon arrival. I am often in search of the perfect hanger when photographing the bridal dress but in this case the bride’s mother had hand painted a hanger for her daughter as well as each of the bridesmaids and flower girl. It was a beautiful touch and something greatly appreciated from a photographic standpoint; it is often the smallest detail that makes the shot. The late afternoon light and rustic brick backdrop of the garden wall created some incredible opportunities for the bridal portraits; I was very pleased with the results. Corena and Destin were married under the arched entry of the formal gardens; it was a beautiful setting. I can’t imagine anything but the best for this couple; they were wonderful to work with and have a fantastic dynamic.

Elizabeth and Andy had a perfect day for their beautiful outdoor wedding at the International Country Club in Fairfax Virginia. I met the bride at her parent’s home where she was preparing for the big day along with family and many excited bride’s maids.  I was able to get some fun images of the readying group along with a few classic portraits of the bride before we headed over to the country club. Elizabeth and Andy where married under the sweeping canopy of an old tree, overlooking the pristine golf course; it was truly an incredible scene!  At the close of the service everyone headed in to enjoy a beautifully arranged happy hour (Compliments to the country club coordinator’s Laura) and the magnificent dinner that followed.  One of the evening’s highlights was a staged photo area outfitted with fantastic props!!! As is evident from the photographs, I had a great time capturing bride, groom and just about everyone else decked out in hats, masks, feathers and other such festivities. What a great idea! After spending only a short time with Elizabeth and Andy it is clear that they have a unique bond and wonderfully tender relationship. I was very happy with the photographs which captured this loving connection so well.

Theresa and Andrew were married at Floris United Methodist Church. It is an entirely new facility just completed this past year. I was very impressed with the worship space which had a vast and richly detailed interior and at the same time managed to balance an extensive range of modern technologies. The reception took place at the International Country Club in Fairfax Virginia. The grounds had a classic feel with stoic old trees and white benches that set the stage for some great photographs. We took our time walking the site and were able to capture a range of wonderful images; we even managed to find a little fall color hidden amidst the still green of the season. I had a fantastic evening shooting this event and working with Theresa and Andrew; they have a great dynamic and were a lot of fun from start to finish.

Angela and Marvin were married at the Carnegie Institution in an event that clearly reflected both their personalities.  This was easily one of my most easy-going and fun-loving couples of the year.  The Carnegie is a gorgeous building but also a tricky one for a wedding ceremony.  About half the guests watched from a 2nd floor balcony.  Once the reception got under way I do not think the bride ever left the dance floor.  She was having a great time and here energy was unlimited.  The highlight of the evening had to be the appearance of “Teddy Roosevelt”.  For those who have been to a Nationals baseball game, there is a break during the 7th inning when four “presidents” have a running race.  Despite being the crowd favorite, “Teddy” never wins the race.  He was certainly a favorite this night as he and the bride danced a few songs together.  It was very difficult to photograph as I was laughing so hard.  A very fun evening.

Rachel and Jarett were married at the Woodend sanctuary in Chevy Chase, Maryland. They couldn’t have asked for better weather; the sky was clear and there was a refreshing breeze which conveniently took care of any potential mosquitoes. (When you are the photographer and have both hands around a camera, trust me, this is a very important detail).  The ceremony took place down a long path in a flattened grove surrounded by beautiful tall trees; it was quite the impressive backdrop. A cocktail hour followed and of course we had to slip in a few photos of Rachel and her long time friends before we lost the light. The evening’s dinner was exceptional and for that I have Alexandra (the fantastic coordinator) to thank. There was beautiful sincerity in each speech that followed; each was unique thoughtful and touching and all of them carried enough humor to keep everyone laughing. It was clear through what their friends had to say as well as what they had to say to one another that Rachel and Jarett are truly wonderful together and have nothing but a positive impact on those around them.

Groom at Woodend in Chevy Chase MD