Rachael & Rob are Married!

This day was the definition of a perfect fall wedding. With the weather staying unusually warm the past month, the leaves decided to stick around a little longer and left us with the most beautiful golden hues in downtown Annapolis. Rachael and Rob also chose the perfect fall color palette for their big day and against the backdrop of town, I couldn't have asked for much more. Combine these two things with a super fun wedding party and a tiny drizzle in the morning (so I could finally use my umbrellas!) and you had me in photo heaven that day. Not to mention, Rob and his men wore sweaters underneath their jackets.. which was kind of awesome.

The day began at the cutest bed and breakfast which was conveniently located just down the street from the Saint Mary's Catholic Church where Rachael and Rob would say "I do". I could have spent the entire day at either of these locations. The bed and breakfast had so many nooks and crannies and the church literally took my breath away when I walked in for the first time. Once Rachael was dressed and ready, we headed to the church by foot. I love a bride who isn't worried about a little rain on her wedding day or even better, afraid to go out in it! These ladies headed to the church in their heels, in the rain, and I couldn't have been more thankful. With umbrellas in hand, it was picture perfect! I had just enough time before the ceremony started to sneak Rob and the guys out for a few photos. Thankfully Rob had his trusty pocket watch, that was given to him by Rachael, to make sure he wasn't late for his own wedding! : ) 

There were so many things I loved about this church but one of my favorite features was the extra long aisle. Too often I see ceremony aisles that are so short! I wonder sometimes how the bride even has time to soak in such a special moment. This is a moment you have been envisioning for so long and before you know it, that walk is over in a blink of an eye! When Rachael walked down this aisle it was so incredibly moving. While all eyes were on the bride, I loved that she looked straight ahead towards Rob. The church ceiling towered over her as she made her way to the front with her father and Rob waited patiently for her to take his hand. It was definitely one of my favorite moments from this year. 

A bit of truth here... I have never been SO nervous after a ceremony in my life! I am always on a time crunch between the ceremony and reception to get photos but never like this! This wasn't a race for running out of actual time but instead a race to have enough daylight for photos! We knew we would be cutting it close with a 20 minute commute to the reception but with rush hour in the city, this drive quickly turned into 40 minutes of stop and go traffic. As a wedding photographer, watching the golden hour come and go before your very eyes as you sit in traffic is agonizing!! My anxiety was through the roof! Well I had no need to worry because we arrived with just enough daylight left...and despite taking some of our last portraits in almost complete darkness, I absolutely loved these photos! Like so many other times, it felt like it was meant to be. It was moody and went right along with this wintery wedding. 

Rachael and Rob, thank you so much for allowing me to document such an amazing day. Your laid back nature made it so much fun and I can't wait to see what the future holds for you both. And one of these days we will get Chewy and Griffin together for a play date! 

Sara & Ryan are Married!

I don't generally like using the word fairytale to describe my weddings. It just feels a little cliche and sometimes silly... but from the moment I met Sara and Ryan I knew this day was going to be grand affair. Sara and Ryan live in California but decided to have their wedding back in Sara's hometown of Salisbury, MD. It truly was something right out of a storybook. Sara has a timeless beauty about her and with her vintage style, this gal could be fashionable in any decade! So with Ryan's passion for motion pictures and Sara's vintage touch throughout the day, this wedding was the perfect definition of a fairytale. 

My day began with the boys at the Lighthouse Suites in Ocean City. This was by far one of the most unique places Ive photographed the groom and his groomsmen getting ready. Too often, the groom gets the short end of the stick and ends up getting ready in a small dark hotel room or somewhere that isn't the most picturesque setting. Ladies, I can't stress enough how important the "getting ready" location is, not only for the bride but for the groom too! I can't imagine a better spot for Ryan and his groomsmen to spend the morning. It went right along with what Sara and Ryan were envisioning for their day and I had so much fun with this group of guys! They had me laughing all morning and I must say, as much as I love all the different types of attire my grooms have been wearing these days, you just can't go wrong with the classic black tuxedo! Again, the timeless details of this day had me swooning!

Tucked away in the trees, Sara's childhood home sits atop a hill right on the river in Salisbury. Not only was this where Sara and her girls got ready but it was also the location of their wedding reception. The Rossi family calls their home The Treehouse, and I couldn't have picked a better way to describe it. As I turned the corner of their driveway that lead up to their home, I felt as if I had just arrived for a mini vacation. The coastal cedar shake home, the dock out on the river, the tall pines canopying over me... I was already buzzing with ideas for the day. 

Sara and Ryan said their vows in the same church that Sara's parents were married in years ago. There were so many emotions during this ceremony and the tears were flowing... I was thankful to have had my camera to hide behind as I attempted not to cry myself! I loved how Sara and Ryan both dried each others tears more then once during the ceremony and the way that Ryan looked at Sara during their vows was proof enough that these two were meant for each other.  

After they were officially husband and wife, Sara and Ryan drove away in the coolest vintage car and we headed down the most beautiful road I have ever seen! Tall trees towered over each side of the road and we stopped right in the middle for photos. Again, something right out of a fairytale or movie! Just as the sun was setting, we took our last photos on Sara's dock and then headed down to where the reception was being held. This reception was one of my favorites this year. Not only was everything beautiful top to bottom, but their were a few personal touches that made this celebration different then most. Instead of a DJ, Sara and Ryan had two family friends MC and an amazing band that had everyone on the dance floor the entire night. Sara and Ryan also decided to surprise Ryan's family with a traditional Filipino bamboo stick dance. Although this can be a very complex dance, everyone joined in and had so much fun with it. Not only did the band play, but Ryan's father, grandmother, and a groomsman took a turn on the stage to sing...and this was not karaoke folks, they all had amazing voices!  (And you really know you threw a good party when the cops get called!) : )

Sara and Ryan, it was truly an honor to be a part of your day and capture what you both have been waiting for all year. You both have such creative minds and I had so much fun documenting all the amazing details you put into your wedding. Cherish these photos for years to come! I wish you all the love and happiness!