Ary and James' Wedding

Bel Air, MD

I met Ary and James late last Summer through a mutual friend. They had scoured the DC/Maryland Wedding Photographer scene through and through and couldn't find anyone that fit both their taste and their budget.

Ary and I exchanged email correspondences for a couple of weeks before deciding to meet in Arlington. They were a very cute couple, and I could tell Ary had done her homework. I showed them examples of my work and examples of the products I offer. We exchanged pleasantries and parted ways with an agreement to talk in about a week. I got an email from Ary exactly a week later saying she wanted to sign a contract, so we booked their date.

Ary was awesome about keeping me informed about the details of their wedding. I felt fully prepared when I showed up.

The day of the wedding I drove from Arlington to Bel Air, MD. I met Ary and her bridesmaids at Jordan Thomas Salon and Spa (jordanthomassalonandspa.com). The girls were busy getting pampered, and they all looked amazing upon departing the salon. Unfortunately, the rain tried to mess up their freshly done do's.

We all headed off to the La Quinta Inn & Suites in Edgewood, MD where both the guys and the girls were getting ready. Both Ary and James were super relaxed. The guys sipped on Scotch and Burbon and joked around while the girls traded stories.

The next stop was St. Mary’s Episcopal Church (www.saint-marys-emmorton.org) for the ceremony. St. Mary's is a small church, but easily one of the most beautiful churches I've ever photographed. The overcast skies limited the amount of light that came through the gorgeous stain glass windows, but we managed to capture some very nice photos during the ceremony.

The reception took place at the Maryland Golf and Country Club. I learned that James' family had been members of the Country Club for years. The reception hall was very nice with a great deck overlooking the golf course. The guests danced the night away and had a great time partying with the band.

The highlight of the night by far was when James and a couple of his buddies took over the mics and serenaded Ary with their best attempt at "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" of Maverick and Goose fame.

Dawn and Victor

Dawn and Victor came to me quite a while before their wedding date. Let me tell you, Dawn had done her homework. She was one of the most organized and knowledgeable brides I had encountered. We talked for a bit about what they were looking for. As every good husband-to-be should do, Victor outlined what he was looking for but ultimately conceded to Dawn's wishes. Haha.

Dawn didn't want to make a decision that day because they were meeting more photographers after me. A week later I got a call from Dawn and Victor. They agreed that I was the best photographer they had met, and also the most affordable. They eagerly asked when we could meet to sign a contract and lock in the date.

As the wedding date approached, Dawn was very good about keeping me updated. We talked about the details of her beach wedding, and I helped her set her itinerary so we could fit in all the photos she wanted. Dawn scheduled a meeting a couple weeks before the wedding date where I got to meet the DJ (Patrick Byrd - http://www.prodjpatrickbyrd.com/ - Virginia Beach) and the officiant (Launa Hulse - http://www.ablessingfromabove.vpweb.com/ - Virginia Beach).

On the day of the wedding I arranged to meet Dawn at her hair appointment (http://www.ambiance-dayspa.com/ - Virginia Beach). On the way to the salon, the sky darkened, and I had a bad feeling that this beach wedding was about to get very wet! I arrived at the salon to find a very relaxed Dawn smiling and enjoying her last day as a single woman with her mom and her friend who was styling her hair. I asked if she was concerned about the weather. She replied, "No, today is just another day. I'm just excited to be married."

As I clicked away, taking pictures of her salon visit, Dawn received a phone call from the Wyndham Hotel (http://www.wyndham.com/ - Virginia Beach) informing her that torrential downpours had forced her wedding inside. Dawn reacted as if the news didn't phase her, replied with an "Oh well, I guess we'll be getting married inside," and continued with her stylist.

For such short notice, the Wyndham did a great job setting up. Patrick set up his DJ equipment as I prepared all of my studio equipment for the family portraits after the ceremony. The wedding promptly started. Launa delivered a beautiful ceremony until God blessed the wedding with a lightning bolt to the roof of the Wyndham that sent feedback screeching through the speakers. A brief moment of giggles followed. Launa finished the ceremony without a hitch.

The family portraits were quick and painless, and everyone quickly headed to the reception hall for drinks and dancing! Patrick really got the crowd up on their feet and kept the reception flowing very well. Everyone had a great time. Patrick really brought a lot of life and a lot of laughs to the reception with some very funny pranks.

Dawn and Victor had a great time at their wedding, and headed off to Vegas afterwards to start their lives together. They are truly a great couple and I wish them a lifetime of happiness.