What a wild year and beautiful year of wedding throughout Virginia. A year filled with new favorite venues like Pippin Hill Vineyard and Potters Cider, as well as classic comforts like Upper Shirley and Keswick Vineyard.  I had the joy of documenting wedding days with 13 couples, squeezing in my OWN wedding during in the craziness of May and delivering a total of 67 galleries for engaged couples, families and brand sessions.

Some of the popular trends going strong all year, included smaller wedding parties, overflowing floral statements, and textured reception decor. Iconic signature cocktails and late night snacks continue to be even more popular. Plus the growing popularity of multi-day celebrations to help ease the wedding day pressure. Allowing for more time to mingle with friends and family who’ve traveled from out of town without the rush.

Looking back on these incredible wedding days always brings a flood of joy getting these moments through my lens. These days are rarely about the photos. They are about being present in the memories and the feelings that live behind these images is where the true magic lives!

Windswept Warriors | Emily & Matt

Venue: King Family Vineyard | Planning: Nadie, Mary Elizabeth Events | Florist: Blue Ridge Floral | H&MU: Judy Hayward | Catering: Exchange Events | Dessert: Carpe Donut

This sweet and down to earth couple was the perfect way to start my 2024 season, the early April breeze was blowing WILD, truly I have never been so thankful for the bride choosing an updo. Watching the incredible vendor team troubleshoot decorations, floral arrangements and shuffling guests from inside to outside in perfect harmony was incredible. Both Emily and Matt, have lost parents over the years and this heartbreaking common thread is one of the beautiful ties that made their union so special.

 

Fur Baby First look | Andrea & Alex

Venue: Williamsburg Inn | Coordination: Jess Aiken (Wedding Co. of Williamsburg) | Catering: Williamsburg Inn | Band: The After Party Experience | Florals: Lindsay Codekas | Video: Chris Years

This is one of those couples that instantly aligned with the essence of what a wedding should be about! The slow morning relaxing with your besties, cutting out some of the formalizes and opting for heartfelt private vows, plus a first look with their dog Walter, that made my heart melt. The day was filled with incredible details, thoughtful friendships, but it never felt rushed or chaotic, just the ease of a beautiful celebration, a jamming band, an outfit change perfect for a salsa break. The sweetest couple making it official after a decade long relationship!

Rosé Soiree | Piper & Nick

Venue: King Family Vineyard | Coordination/catering: The Local | H&MU: Posh Bride | Florist: Blue Ridge Floral | Dress: The One Bridal Salon

Every detail from the blush tones in the wedding party outfits, floral color pops and the bubbly flowing at King Family Vineyard were on theme for this Rosé loving couple! Packed with personality, Piper and Nick had the most joyful spring wedding celebration. One of the highlights was kicking off the reception with a champagne tower, and a packed dance floor all night.

    

Epic Anniversary Surprise | Kate & Connor

Venue: Stone Tower | Coordination: Farrever after Events | Catering: Purple Onion Catering | Florist: Shelleys floral | DJ: Summit Events Co | Video: Joe Hutzler Media

Everything about this day was uniquely tailored for this incredible couple. Their genuine nature was evident but the decade long friendships from every phase of life, with thoughtful handwritten letter to every guest in attendance. They originally got married exactly ONE YEAR EARLIER… pulled together after Kate’s unexpected cancer diagnosis, but we kept the secret all year long to reveal that their wedding day was ACTUALLY an epic 1 year anniversary party. The unexpected rain showers couldn’t dampen this personality filled crew, with a dance floor I’ll never forget, guest appearances by the Hokies bird, sweatsuit outfit changes, cardboard cut outs, a t-shirt toss and scream singing to some T-swift (what a vibe!)

  

An eye for details | Breanna & Glenn

Venue: King Family Vineyard | Coordination/Catering: The Local | Florist: Blue Ridge Florals | H&MU: Kourtney Morgan + Captivating Complexion.

This one was extra special getting to share my wedding week with B&G. Since I got married on Memorial Day Monday and only 5 days later celebrating the joy with Breanna and Glenn at their Friday wedding. This day was filled with gorgeous detailed textures. The elegant mountain side vows, were layered with florals, pops of blush, frozen boozy popsicles to beat the heat and custom linens for one of my favorite reception decor set ups of the year! Plus their sweet reaction seeing the venue set up for the first time, just as they had dreamed it.

   

Ain’t no Stopping the Summer Heat | Jackie & Jacob

Venue: The Clifton Inn | Coordinator: Shelby Lynn Events | Florist: Foxtail Cottage | H&MU Captivating Complexion + Mariah McKenny | Cakes by Rachel | Dress: The One Bridal Salon

J&J thought of everything to help keep their guests comfortable for an all outdoor summer wedding day at the Clifton Inn. With thoughtful umbrellas place throughout the ceremony, fans and refreshments, an open air tent with one of the most spectacular floor to ceiling florals. These two were troopers all day, breaking a sweat but never a shortage of smiles. Ending the night in perfect summer pool party fashion, jumping straight into the water following their sparker exit! EPIC!

Horse Fields and Happy Tears| Kara & Peter

Venue: King Family | Planner: Details & Lace | Florist: Willow Branch | H&MU: Post Bride | Catering: The Local

With the summer heat, we clung to a tiny patch of shade at the front side of King Family for the majority of the afternoon. Luckily with the most stunning panoramic mountain views there was no shortage of gorgeous backdrops for their pre-ceremony photos. The way that Kara and Peter admire each other was such a joy to witness, in so many intimate moments they flooded the other with compliments and inside jokes it was clear that they couldn’t wait to make their vows official. Of all the year’s I’ve photographed at this venue, with acres of farm land, this was the FIRST where the horses eagerly waited at the fence to greet the newlyweds. Some of my favorite all time images!

 

Garden Party Goddess | Emily & Chris

Venue: Birkby House | Coordinator: Lily Weddings | H&MU: Mab Artistry | Florist: The Pink Poppy | Dress: Zoyas Ateilier

Emily is a girls girl, with the most timeless simple style, glowing in her white gown, surrounded by her color popped bridesmaids! This garden party wedding took place in the perfect secluded courtyard just along the downtown strip of Leesburg. E&C’s day featured a new favorite tradition surprising each other with the wedding band they had picked out for each other during their first look. I was in awe of every hidden gem, the romantic overflowing florals and easygoing vibe with their unseasonably hot September day.

 

Aperol Skies | Caroline & Mike

Venue: King Family Vineyard | Planning: Champagne Wishes | H&MU Haley Rose Beauty/Morgan Olivia Events | Florist: Weddings by Vogue | Video: Andrew Busbee

I felt a little too clever coming up with that headline, but when the signature drinks perfectly match the sunset, you just have to follow the vibe! This bubbly duo packed the day full of laughs with their friends, cuddles with their doodle, and the most epic vineyard portraits. These two were overflowing with personality, and Carolines late night outfit change was no exception, a party dress you just have to see!

 

Dreaming of Wildflowers | John & Cassidy

Venue/Catering: Pippin Hill Vineyard | Coordinator: Amore Events Co | Florist: Gossamer Floral Design | H&MU: FBJ | Bachelor Boys Band

Every time I look back on images from this couple, I’m still blown away at all that we packed into 48 hours. Starting with an elegant rehearsal dinner and welcome party at the Forum hotel, followed by their stunning wedding day at Pippin Hill vineyard. Private vows in the wildflower field were certainly the highlight. Cassidy didn’t even hesitate to trek hundreds of yards through the property for this backdrop, and we all held our breath waiting to see when the evening storms would hit, giving us just enough time to squeeze in the pre-ceremony portraits. With the bistro light ceremony on the patio and tiny break in the weather for sunset portraits in the hydrangeas. What a dream!

     

Pearls never go out of style | Kortnie & Kavanaugh

Venue: Keswick Vineyard | Planning: Lexie Erin Cleveland Events | Colonial Florist | H&MU: Radient Reflection | Harvest Moon Catering | Dress: The One Bridal Salon | Whiteflair Productions

This outdoor loving couple got all dressed up for an epic fall weather. We had the most stunning greens, and just a hint of changing leaves throughout Keswick Vineyard. The pearl accents were weaved through every piece of the bridal style and reception decor. You would never expect this down to earth and reserved couple to be the star of the dance floor but seeing them come alive late night with their friends and family was a treat!

Art Deco Details | Kelsey & Tyler

Venue: Potter Cider | Planning: Caroline Ashby | Gregory Britt Florist | Mosaic Catering | Dress: Brocade | H&MU: Post Bride

Everything about this day was perfectly curated to fit K&T’s style. From the outdoor al-fresco dinner, historic chapel in the woods, to the geometric bridal style dress, rings, and most unique floral arrangement I’ve ever seen. The day was about the people who mattered most and eliminating the formalities that felt overdone. I loved exploring Potters Cider and the best weather for an unstuffy day in the cool Fall breeze.

Duck Calls and Dance Parties | Anna & Grady

Upper Shirley Vineyards | Coordinator: Kate Phillips | Florist: Cathy Lee | H&MU: Kat Randazzo/ Haley Rose Beauty | Annalise Bridal Dress | Band Heads up Penny

The final wedding of the year featured another almost decade long relationship. The waterfront at Upper Shirley was breathtaking with the colors of Fall and eagles flying overhead. When Grady had to miss the opening day of hunting season, Anna surprised him with a duck themed cake as a tribute. Seeing these two and their close nit families was a true honor, with special dances, a spontaneous Karaoke battle, and ceremony performed by the Brides father. There were no shortage of tears, laughs, and shenanigans.. Just how we like it!

What an incredible year, making it impossible to choose favorite moments to highlight. With the winter break before weddings pick back up, I can’t wait to have a bit of extra time in the office to share even more full blog posts from these adorable couples. Ready to dive into even more wedding vibes…check out the superlatives from 2023 and 2022.