WOW, 2019 was beyond anything I could have imagined when I started the year, I thought that taking my business full time was years away, but 6 months ago the universe had different plans! I am forever grateful to the incredible couples who trusted me to photograph some of their biggest life moments. In 2019 I photographed a total of 27 wedding, and I can’t even begin to count the engagement and family sessions. I  had the honor of becoming lifelong friends with so many of these couples, and I can’t wait to reconnect with them as they celebrate new fur babies, building their family’s, and anniversary milestones!

I wanted to share an inside look at each of these incredible wedding days, but I thought as a fun twist I would give out “superlatives” to my favorite, most touching, hilarious, and gorgeous moments of 2019!

 

BEST FIRST KISS: Leslie & Andy

Leslie and Andy had such an intimate wedding day planned for The Clifton Inn! After their calm and peaceful ceremony in the croquet lawn, just as the officiant was pronouncing them husband and wife, a HUGE gust of wind swept through the lawn just in time for their first kiss… It filled the whole crowd with laughter to see the divine exclamation mark on the start of their marriage!

Checkout their full wedding day HERE: 

MOST LIKELY TO DANCE IN THE RAIN: Brett & Krystle 

The whole week leading up to Brett & Krystle’s King Family Wedding, the radar was calling for 97% chance of rain… As the girls started getting ready, the skies opened and it began to downpour… you could see the anxiety on Krystles face. But by the time we made it to the venue and all of the festivities began, the radar was clear… her dad kept showing me the map where the storm just parted right over Charlottesville and the rain percentage kept going down! 

When it came time for Krystle and Brett wedding ceremony the stormy skies made the most epic backdrop and the wind gusts almost took away her veil a few times, but there were very few dry eyes as they read their vows and a HUGE sigh of relief for a rain free outdoor ceremony!

See their full wedding story HERE: 

MOST EPIC VEIL: Lauren & Tom 

Lauren and Tom’s Keswick Vineyard wedding still remains one of my favorites from the year. Their elegant details and easy going attitudes made for such a joyful wedding day! Lauren’s seamless wedding dress was complimented with the most epic and windblown veil that made portrait time among the vines a photographers dream! 

Checkout their full wedding story HERE: 

BEST FLOWER DOG: Dakota & Jonathan

Dakota and Jonathan were the first couple who found me directly from Instagram, which meant we shared a love of all things adventure, beautiful photos and snuggling with our fur babies! Their wedding day at Devils Backbone Brewery had ALL OF THESE THINGS, and their ceremony at the base of the mountain combined their love of hiking, beer tasting, and even included their dog Remi in the ceremony!

Checkout their wedding day HERE: 

MOST UNIQUE STYLE: Ari & Akhil

I wrapped up my spring wedding season with Ari and Akhil at King Family Vineyard for their elegant wedding at King Family Vineyard. Their classic decor and whimsical white color pallet was stunning. This was one of the largest bridal parties I’ve ever had, but seeing all of the gals in white was such a fun touch! 

See their full wedding day HERE: 

MOST VERSITILE VENUE: Jess & Seth 

I absolutely love exploring new venues and Montfair Resort Farm did not disappoint! Jess and Seth’s wedding venue featured, a stunning panoramic view of the mountains during their ceremony, followed by an intimate reception tucked in the woods and sunset portraits on the water! What more could we ask for!

Checkout their full wedding day HERE: 

MOST EMOTIONAL CEREMONY: Hannah & Connor 

Hannah & Connors had a relaxing wedding morning at King Family Vineyard, but their emotions were building as ceremony time started to approach. Seeing Connors reaction to Hannah walking down the aisle was incredible, the pure joy and overwhelming feelings surfaces, it was one of my favorite shots from the whole day!  If this moment didn’t get you, Connors grandmother gave the most touching speech welcoming Hannah to the family and had everyone in the audience in tears!  

Checkout their wedding story HERE: 

BEST FIRST DANCE: Rachel & Dylan

Rachel & Dylan’s Delfosse Vineyard wedding featured NOT ONE, BUT TWO choreographed dances, and I still can’t decide which one was more epic. They surprised everyone at the reception with a Dave Mathews classic, full of lifts, twirls, and dips, which kicked off the party!  The live band kept the dance floor packed all night long and even after the music stopped, a circle of UVA grads serenaded the newlyweds with the “Good Old Song”! 

See more from their Wedding Day HERE:

BEST GROOM REACTION : Lauren & Grant 

I absolutely adore this couple, from the first time we talked on the phone, I instantly knew they would be the perfect match. The way that Grant loves Lauren is so infectious! He will tell anyone who will listen he scored a home run getting to marry her! It was so clear the morning of their King Family wedding how excited and emotional he was to finally get to spend forever with her. Their first look is every brides dream reaction! Grant couldn’t contain his excitement and surprise seeing his future wife for the first time!

Checkout their full wedding story HERE: 

MOST LIKELY TO NAME A SIGNATURE COCKTAIL AFTER THEIR DOG: Chris & Chiara

Chiara & Chris kicked off my 2019 wedding season at King Family Vineyard. Their incredible relationship is rooted in a love for their adorable pug pasha, who was honored in so many hilarious elements throughout their wedding day, including signature cocktails, cake decor, and a duel bouquet toss where the winners received a stuffed version of Pasha!

Checkout their full wedding day HERE: 

FAVORITE GROOMSMEN STYLE: Ann & Pat 

Ann & Pat’s wedding day at Septenary Winery was filled with elegant floral details and the groomsmen style took this to the next level! I loved seeing this trend of classy but flashy elements in so many of my wedding this year. Pat and his groomsmen spiced up their wedding day outfits with a pop of color and style by adding in a floral tie. I love the variety and color compliments you can tie into the bridal bouquet to give a cohesive look! ⁠

See more from their wedding day HERE: ⠀

MOST UNIQUE WEDDING VENDOR: Darcey & Chris

After all of these touching moments of Darcey & Chri’s wedding morning, everyone was ready to celebrate at the after party! They treated their friends and family to some delicious Fall themed signature cocktails, an elegant whisky bar, and Darcey even surprised Chris with a hand rolled cigar station, this might be one of the coolest wedding vendors I’ve ever watched in action!

See their full Wedding Day HERE

MOST CREATIVE PORTRAIT LOCATION: Rachel & Jason

Most wedding’s days I am surrounded by rolling hills, mountain views, and fields of green… but there is something so exciting about a downtown wedding and scoping out a new location where you can find hidden gems, among the seemingly ordinary!⁠ Rachel & Jason’s wedding day at the American Hotel in Downtown Staunton was such a fun challenge, finding ways to incorporate the charming downtown scenery without capturing the parked cars and swarms of high school prom-goers trying to photobomb our backgrounds! 

Checkout their full wedding day HERE: 

BEST WEDDING TRADITION: Kelsey & Chris 

Kelsey and Chris’s gorgeous wedding day at Castle Hill Cidery was filed with so many incredible traditions. It started during the ceremony with their Navy friends giving them a traditional sword arch sendoff, to a terrible towel reception entrance. There were also a few wedding firsts for me, included a hilarious and exhausting polish dance that included a shot for every participant, the groom passing around pigs feet, and the coolest family moment, simultaneously chugging wine from Spanish Porron’s.

Checkout their full wedding story HERE:

MOST CREATIVE MID-WEDDING PITSTOP Kevin/ Kristen 

Kevin & Kristins wedding day begin at the UVA chapel for a classic Catholic ceremony with a twist, it might be the first wedding I’ve ever heard the officiant start a ceremony with “GO HOO’S”. With the football game starting over at Scott stadium. After their I DO’s we snuck the bridal party into the Football stadium to say hi to a few of Kevin & Kristins coworker and enjoy a slice of cake thanks to the media department! They must have been good luck, because 30 seconds after walking into the press box, UVA scored its first touchdown of the day! WAHOOWA! After our football excursion, we raced back to the bus and headed down the road to their final destination at the gorgeous Early Mountain Vineyard!

Checkout their full wedding HERE:

MOST UNIQUE BRIDAL BOUQUET: Faith & Sam 

Faith was absolutely stunning in a classically elegant wedding gown and a cathedral length veil! The fall florals paired with the colorful leaves on the mountains surrounding King Family Vineyard, were the perfect compliment. Faith’s bouquet had the perfect mix of rustic tones, and bright pops of color for this dreamy Fall wedding day. 

Check out their wedding story HERE: 

MOST COLORFUL FOLIAGE: Callie &  JB 

Callie & JB’s wedding day was beyond perfect, despite the cold front that creeped in a little too early in November, these two didn’t even hesitate to take as many portraits outside as possible! The fall colors peeking through their glass chapel ceremony at the Semper Fidelis Memorial Chapel was followed by golden hour portraits at Potomac Point Winery! 

Check Out their full wedding day HERE

BIGGEST BRIDAL PARTY Mark & Lindsay 

Lindsay & Mark were my final wedding of the year, and my 8th time shooting at King Family Vineyard in 2019! Despite the frigid November temperatures, their bridal party of 20+ didn’t even hesitate to celebrate outside all day long! Their wedding day might has well have been sponsored by Truly Spiked Seltzer and Hot Hands, but they powered through for some of my favorite portraits! 

See their full gallery HERE: 

I am so honored to have worked with all of these incredible couples this year! I am now booking 2020 and 2021 weddings, with the most popular dates in the Fall and Spring filling up fast! I would love to help you create a stress free wedding day that feels like you. Let’s chat soon to secure your date and customize your signature package! INQUIRE HERE!