Backyard Boho Wedding on the Eastern Shore
When I arrived at Duncan's parent's house for his and Phoebe's Woodstock, Maryland wedding, I knew it was going to be one of those creatively fulfilling, easy as pie afternoons. The earliest guests were just starting to arrive, so we snuck out the kitchen door for secret portraits by the woodshed. Phoebe's dress kept picking up tiny leaves and it looked so at home trailing behind her in the grass. She was like an extension of the nature that surrounded us.
When I arrived at Duncan's parent's house for his and Phoebe's Woodstock, Maryland wedding, I knew it was going to be one of those creatively fulfilling, easy as pie afternoons. The earliest guests were just starting to arrive, so we snuck out the kitchen door for secret portraits by the woodshed. Phoebe's dress kept picking up tiny leaves and it looked so at home trailing behind her in the grass. She was like an extension of the nature that surrounded us. When it came time for the ceremony, a few chairs from the dining room were set under two enormous trees for grandparents and everyone else crowded around. Phoebe gracefully walked out the front door and met Duncan to exchange vows. Time stood still and you could hear every bird, every whisper of wind, every sigh.
VENDORS
dress- Daughters of Simone
caterer- Ken's Creative Kitchen
cake- Honey Hive Bakery
flowers- Michael Designs Florist
Elopement at Rawlings Conservatory and La Cuchara
When Meredith and Jim found out they were expecting their second baby, they decided it was time to tie the knot. And what better place than Rawlings Conservatory in Druid Hill Park? Kid-friendly but romantic as can be. I love that even in winter, this space offers so many stunning photo backdrop opportunities, inside and out. The couple invited 17 of their closest family and friends for an intimate, emotional ceremony under the towering palm trees.
When Meredith and Jim found out they were expecting their second baby, they decided it was time to tie the knot. And what better place than Rawlings Conservatory in Druid Hill Park? Kid-friendly but romantic as can be. I love that even in winter, this space offers so many stunning photo backdrop opportunities, inside and out. The couple invited 17 of their closest family and friends for an intimate, emotional ceremony under the towering palm trees. Each of their parents read a poem that had everyone (including myself) tearing up.
Meredith's mom made her wedding bouquet at home and included in it a variety of pretty yellow and purple flowers. They gave away succulent wedding favors the conservatory offers for sale. After the ceremony, everyone carpooled over to La Cuchara in Woodberry for dinner. The restaurant reserved an entire room and one long table for the party and it was decorated with lovely winter squash, candles, and a custom menu at each place setting. Meredith's friend made a chocolate wedding cake and surprised them with- get this- a lounging pregnant bride and groom caketopper! The whole family had a good laugh over that! Adorable!
Frederick Engagement Session at Bend in the River Farm
Madison and Ben had no idea where they wanted to take their engagement photos aside from keeping it local to their hometown of Frederick, MD. I suggested we reach out to Bend in the River Farm about using their lovely land and they were more than welcoming to us. Luck would have it, Madison fell in love with their wildcrafted floral design and hired them for floral arrangements for their summer 2019 wedding at Dulany’s Overlook!
Madison and Ben had no idea where they wanted to take their engagement photos aside from keeping it local to their hometown of Frederick, MD. I suggested we reach out to Bend in the River Farm about using their lovely land and they were more than welcoming to us. Luck would have it, Madison fell in love with their wildcrafted floral design and hired them for floral arrangements for their summer 2019 wedding at Dulany’s Overlook!
Ann and Brian's Backyard Garden Tour
Ann and Brian’s portrait session at home in Baltimore was candid and laid back. We explored their garden and spent time in a beautiful room with blue painted trim and masks on the wall.
Whimsical Campground Wedding in Germantown
Everyone gathered at Elizabeth's family church, Wellspring Conference and Retreat Center, a series of intimate A-frame buildings lined with warm wood planks. Over the course of summer, she'd thrifted for mismatched tablecloths, vintage floral china, and carefully placed family wedding photos in vintage frames. She even made the flower bouquets herself!
He proposed to her "over grapefruit at breakfast and conversations about furniture," which I think set the tone for their relaxed, genuinely lovely wedding day. It was simply about bringing family and friends together for something that felt like a late summer potluck- and of course- an excuse to wear a wedding gown little girls dream of.
Everyone gathered at Elizabeth's family church in Germantown, Wellspring Conference and Retreat Center, a series of intimate A-frame buildings lined with warm wood planks. Over the course of summer, she'd thrifted for mismatched tablecloths, vintage floral china, and carefully placed family wedding photos in vintage frames. She even made the flower bouquets herself!
But probably the most meaningful element of their wedding was their ceremony. Under two enormous trees in the center of an empty field, Elizabeth and Lee exchanged vows. The clouds moved so quickly that day. They covered the entire sky one moment and the next it was radiantly sunny. If their ceremony was a play (these two have a background in theater) the lighting design impeccably added to the story.
Their parents read poetry, a close friend played the accordion, hymns were sung, and at one point, every person there held hands at the same time. Two friends choreographed a zen-like dance routine that represented marriage through movement- the ups, the downs, but most of all the centeredness that marriage provides and the special way it encourages two people to be their best selves, side by side.
Relaxed Mansion House Wedding at the Baltimore Zoo
Sophie and Greg had not one but TWO weddings. The first took place prior to their Baltimore ceremony with Greg’s family across the country. A week later, they few back for round two with Sophie’s family at The Mansion House at the Maryland Zoo. They were so relaxed and easygoing about the whole day, which put the focus on taking fun photos around the zoo (we took a tour via golf cart) and spending quality time with family. They even walked each other down the aisle while everyone cheered!
Sophie and Greg had not one but TWO weddings. The first took place prior to their Baltimore ceremony with Greg’s family across the country. A week later, they few back for round two with Sophie’s family at The Mansion House at the Maryland Zoo. They were so relaxed and easygoing about the whole day, which put the focus on taking fun photos around the zoo (we took a tour via golf cart) and spending quality time with family. They even walked each other down the aisle while everyone cheered!
Rustic Old Town Alexandria Wedding in the Fall
Their first look was at the Wilkes Street Tunnel, and much to our surprise, another wedding party was getting ready to do their own photos at the same spot when we arrived. Thankfully we squeezed in and got some amazing shots (and memories) in about five minutes!
Sarah and Ben's wedding is a perfect example of merging where you come from. Sarah grew up in a historic rowhouse on a quaint Old Town street so she always dreamed of having a classic Old Town wedding. Ben grew up on a farm in Iowa- the same place they were engaged- and wanted to bring some country charm to their big day.
Their first look was at the Wilkes Street Tunnel, and much to our surprise, another wedding party was getting ready to do their own photos at the same spot when we arrived. Thankfully we squeezed in and got some amazing shots (and memories) in about five minutes!
Because Sarah and Ben had a first look, we were able to knock out ALL family and wedding party formal photos before the ceremony even began! They had a classic church ceremony and mass, and then we walked down the street to Virtue Feed and Grain. There was a slight drizzle which made everything all the more romantic. I love umbrellas at weddings! The couple looked like they belonged on a vintage Old Town postcard with the cobblestone streets, historic buildings, and glowing street lamps.
By the time we arrived at the reception venue, it was pouring! Everyone felt so cozy in the candlelit loft with dark wooden walls and giant windows overlooking the city. Dinner was casual (and delicious) and everyone had a blast mingling with each other and dancing. I was totally impressed by the hip older ladies at this wedding! They had some serious moves!
VENDORS
ceremony venue- St. Paul's Episcopal Church
reception venue- Virtue Feed and Grain
dress- Lian Carlo
shoes- Jimmy Choo
suit- JoS. A. Bank
rings- Forrell C. Jewelry
flowers- The Enchanted Florist
hair and makeup- The London Bob Hair Design
cake- Pastries by Randolph
Fun Vintage Wedding at Lithuanian Dance Hall
Michelle and Danny were married in a classic family church and then we headed to their first Baltimore City rowhouse apartment rooftop to take 1950’s vintage inspired portraits. Their reception was held at Lithuanian Dance Hall, a gem of a venue in Pigtown. There were vintage sci-fi table settings and a lime green decorated donut cake!
Winter Engagement Photos at Loch Raven Reservoir
Aubrey and Jason chose to take their engagement photos at Loch Raven Reservoir in Baltimore County on a cold spring evening. There was still snow on the ground and the sunset warmed us to the core.
Fun Loving Engagement Session at Patterson Park
I met Katie and Zach at one of my favorite places in Baltimore, Patterson Park, for a casual and carefree engagement session. The grass was dotted with buttercups and they didn’t hesitate when I asked if they’d lay down in it!
Winter Wedding at the Historic Admiral Fell Inn
Laura and Patrick live in NYC but travelled to Baltimore to celebrate their wedding with family and friends at the Admiral Fell Inn in Fells Point. They gave out Old Bay wedding favors and even had a cigar bar! We had about 30 minutes before their ceremony (and before dark!) to take some quick waterfront and rooftop portraits. Instead of a typical first look, Laura asked if we could organize one with her grandma. It was definitely my favorite part of their whole day! Well, that and all the spontaneous portraits the guests asked me to take during cocktail hour! This crowd was SO. MUCH. FUN.
Laura and Patrick live in NYC but travelled to Baltimore to celebrate their wedding with family and friends at the Admiral Fell Inn in Fells Point. They gave out Old Bay wedding favors and even had a cigar bar! We had about 30 minutes before their ceremony (and before dark!) to take some quick waterfront and rooftop portraits. Instead of a typical first look, Laura asked if we could organize one with her grandma. It was definitely my favorite part of their whole day! Well, that and all the spontaneous portraits the guests asked me to take during cocktail hour! This crowd was SO. MUCH. FUN.
VENDORS
Invitations: Minted
Officiant: Rev. Samora Smith
Florist: Nutmeg Flowers
Caterer: Admiral Fell Inn
Bakery: Sugar Bakers
DJ: dstraxnmedia
Live Musicians: Bachelor Boys Band
Makeup: Beauty by Jacs
Bow Tie/Pocket Square: Seigo Neckwear
Cufflinks: Curated Basics
Linens/China/Cutlery: Select Event Group
Cigars: Casa De Montecristo (NYC)
Eagle's Nest Country Club Wedding in Phoenix, MD
This wedding at Eagle’s Nest Country Club was defined by Lindsay and Adam’s infectious and child-like giggles anytime they were near one another! I arrived in time for a few detail shots, but mostly, this couple wanted their day documented just as it unfurled with an emphasis on connections between family and friends. These dance floor photos are some of my favorites to date!!
This wedding at Eagle’s Nest Country Club was defined by Lindsay and Adam’s infectious and child-like giggles anytime they were near one another! I arrived in time for a few detail shots, but mostly, this couple wanted their day documented just as it unfurled with an emphasis on connections between family and friends. These dance floor photos are some of my favorites to date!!
VENDORS
Invitations, Placecards, and Signs: Minted
Officiant: Anna Marcus (friend)
Florist: Dundalk Florist
Venue and Caterer: Eagles Nest Country Club
Bakery: Graul’s Market
DJ: Music Masters
Bride's Dress: BHLDN
Bride's Shoes: Keds
Wedding Rings: Brilliant Earth
Hair + Makeup: Gaby Vinas (friend)
Groom and Groomsmen’s Suits: Generation Tux
Tie/Bow Tie/Pocket Square: Knotty Tie
Bridesmaids' Dresses: Brideside
Timeless Ceremony at Chase Court in Mount Vernon
A few weeks before Sherie and Duvall’s wedding I got a phone call from Chase Court, a wedding venue in Mount Vernon, asking if I was free to photograph a one-hour ceremony. David, the venue owner, was offering a new package for couples on a budget. The deal is this- invite your closest family and friends to a one hour, midday ceremony in their beautiful courtyard and get flowers, a photographer, and a musician to serenade you down the aisle for one flat rate. Pretty darn good if you ask me! I had the afternoon free, leapt at the opportunity, and have zero regrets. Sherie and Duvall were the absolute sweetest!
A few weeks before Sherie and Duvall’s wedding I got a phone call from Chase Court, a wedding venue in Mount Vernon, asking if I was free to photograph a one-hour ceremony. David, the venue owner, was offering a new package for couples on a budget. The deal is this- invite your closest family and friends to a one hour, midday ceremony in their beautiful courtyard and get flowers, a photographer, and a musician to serenade you down the aisle for one flat rate. Pretty darn good if you ask me! I had the afternoon free, leapt at the opportunity, and have zero regrets. Sherie and Duvall were the absolute sweetest!
Modern Waterfront Wedding in Canton
Chris and Hattie were married on a breezy summer's day in the heart of Canton, Baltimore's historical industrial district. Their ceremony was at St. Casimir Church and then everyone walked across the street to the waterfront. There was a mashed potatoes bar, an ice cream sundae station, and each guest signed a Jenga block instead of a guestbook.
Chris and Hattie were married on a breezy summer's day in the heart of Canton, Baltimore's historical industrial district. I don't often photograph traditional church weddings, so I'm always humbled by the slow and thoughtful pace of a Catholic ceremony. After the mass at St. Casimir Church, it was fun taking advantage of the beautiful exterior architecture for family portraits. The reception was an easy walk across the street to a public park for a bayside reception. Hattie's dad had carefully carved each wooden centerpiece and filled them with tiny monogrammed glasses for sampling craft beer. There was a mashed potatoes bar, an ice cream sundae station, and each guest signed a Jenga block instead of a guestbook. I love all the personal touches this wedding included, and that at the end of the day, it was all about relaxing and having fun with family and friends!
Offbeat Vintage Wedding at The Elm in Hampden
This bride wore a violet lace wedding dress, wore light-up sparkly heels, and used an assortment of caketoppers for their dessert table.
A few days before their wedding, I dreamed she was wearing a lavender dress. Imagine my shock when I showed up to the venue and found this beauty! I love that she paired it with sparkly shoes and a handmade paper flower bouquet- 100% her! The Elm in Hampden is similar in its unique charm. Sharon- owner and resident- has turned this industrial warehouse into a cozy and whimsical spot for weddings. It feels almost like getting married at home, probably because Sharon actually lives here with her artist husband!
This couple gathered an assortment of cake toppers for a variety of homemade cakes. The kokeshi dolls were the star of the show, especially considering their honeymoon to Japan! Even though it was rainy, I'm so happy these two were down to take portraits outdoors. It made everyone a little more giggly and the group shot of everyone in attendance was SUPER exhilarating to create. When most couples contact me, they say something along the lines of, "the most important thing to us is that our friends and family have fun." After months- sometimes years- of planning, it's always a pleasure to document that in action!
Rainy Engagement Photos in Old Ellicott City
Melissa and Nishant met me during the winter at their wedding venue, Overhills Mansion, for a tour of the grounds. It was so fun imagining how the space would transform with greenery by the time their summer wedding came.
Melissa and Nishant met me during the winter at their wedding venue, Overhills Mansion, for a tour of the grounds. It was so fun imagining how the space would transform with greenery by the time their summer wedding came. While we were there, we took some engagement photos. This couple was extremely camera shy (I feel ya!) so it took some goofy play to get them to relax and forget about me. We did some exaggerated model strutting, whispering dirty secrets, walking around bumping hips... basically anything ridiculous enough to make them think I was totally nuts. Getting that nervous energy out with phsyical movement always does the trick! When they were good and ready, I asked them to recount their first date while looking into each other's eyes. It was ADORABLE. I can't wait for their two day, Indian-American fusion wedding this July!
Spring Engagement Photos at Loch Raven Reservoir
Lindsay and Adam's engagement session at Loch Raven Reservoir in Phoenix, MD is everything a photo shoot can be. We started by meeting for a walkthrough of their wedding venue, Eagle's Nest Country Club, and then drove a mile down the road to one of my favorite spots along the water.
Lindsay and Adam's engagement session at Loch Raven Reservoir in Phoenix, MD is everything a photo shoot can be. We started by meeting for a walkthrough of their wedding venue, Eagle's Nest Country Club, and then drove a mile down the road to one of my favorite spots along the water. It was a cloudy evening, and dusk was falling fast. I love that this location has the best of both worlds- dark and moody pine forest, and well-lit, sandy shoreline. It's perfect almost any time of day, any weather. Lindsay's white calico dress provided such an understated and classic softness out in the open and a beautiful contrast against the rich green foliage of the woods.
It didn't take much to get these two giggling, and Adam was ALL for being affectionate in front of the camera. Sometimes guys are hesitant to loosen up, but I hope these photos prove how beautiful vulnerability can be and inspire someone else to just go for it. I think Lindsay was a little taken aback at how comfortable he was too, and her smile just glowed the entire time because of him!
Since it was overcast and quickly becoming dark, we started the session in the the woods to take advantage of what little light there was left. Adam and Lindsay danced, cried, and sang to each other through laughter. If you zoom in on one of these photographs, you can see a sweet little tear rolling down her face. She instinctively wiped it away, but I'm such a sucker for emotion and begged her not to. I'd asked them to reflect back on the first years of their relationship and that's certainly something to tear up over! I mean, you've been with this other human being for years, and now you're choosing to spend the rest of your lives together! It's kind of a big deal. I honestly get a little welled up just typing these words!
That's part of why engagement photos are so special. They represent this pause before the next chapter. It can feel like such a long wait, but 30 years from now, it'll feel like the blink of an eye. I want my couples to have photos from their wedding day in addition to a visual of the time before forever. That moment when you were just two friends, completely and madly in love with one another.
Fall Elopement at Parts & Labor
I met Kylie and Jason at The Wilson House in Baltimore, Maryland where they were leisurely spending the morning getting ready for their wedding ceremony. They said vows in a city median and then joined family for dinner at a farm to table restaurant.
I met Kylie and Jason at The Wilson House in Baltimore, Maryland where they were leisurely spending the morning getting ready for their ceremony. Kylie's best friend took care of hair and makeup and Jason simply pulled on his suit and ate delivery pizza downstairs with Kylie's dad.
The Wilson House doubles as the owners' residence, so it's filled with personal photos, collections, trinkets, and all the vintage textiles one could ask for. It really feels like home and made taking pictures even more fun!
When everyone was sufficiently dolled up, we took a walk down the street and found an empty city median where vows were exchanged, papers signed, and pictures taken. Family and friends headed back to the inn for a rest while Kylie, Jason, and I darted off on an adventure. They took me to their old block- the one they lived on when they first moved in together- and we visited their favorite neighborhood coffee shop. They admired the way their hands looked with gold wedding rings and how her silk skirt shimmered in the autumn light. And just before sunset, we headed to Parts & Labor for charcuterie and drinks with all the people they loved the most.
Elegant Chase Court Wedding in Mt. Vernon
Nick and Charlene said their vows at the beautiful Chase Court in Mount Vernon, Baltimore. Family and friends passed their rings along a piece of string, saying prayers until they reached the happy couple.
Traditional Jewish Wedding at Gramercy Mansion
Jen and Drew celebrated their wedding in the presence of family and friends in the height of autumn. She wore a succulent ring and her bridesmaids wore warm shades of purple.
