Lauren + Tadeu's New Year's Eve Wedding in Seattle
Once long ago (pre-COVID!) I was visiting Seattle and had a spare afternoon so I put out feelers to see if anyone who followed me on instagram would be interested in a free couple's session. Almost immediately I received an email from Tadeu that said he was about to propose to his partner, and he thought it would be fun to surprise her with a photo shoot as well. I was super stoked on the idea of the shoot being a surprise treat, and I asked him to share more about them. He replied: "I'm a second year law student. I'm active in racial justice and prison abolition work. I am Latino (Brazilian) and that is really important to me. Lauren is a fourth grade teacher. We actually met the first day of college because we were both in the same orientation group (I was originally going to be a teacher too, but found that I'm not nearly as patient as I need to be)."
The entire email was a huge green flag. Prison abolitionist lawyer and rad molder of young minds? YES PLEASE. When I met them in person, their energy was extremely warm and loving, and the way they interacted just perfectly embodied support and mutual respect. We had a lot of fun tromping through the rose gardens, fountains, and beautiful plazas of UW, and overall it was a beautifully low-key afternoon. I sent them their photos a few weeks later and crossed my fingers that they would hire me for their wedding.
I was absolutely thrilled when they asked me to document their New Year's Eve bash. Their planner, Kaleb, is a big fucking deal (and super nice too); the venue, Sodo Park, was a perfect blend of rustic and sophisticated. I knew it would be impeccable but the design was absolutely beyond. Glamorous without being stuffy, and just electric with emotion. Thank you, Lauren and Tadeu, for being our kind of people and for choosing us to document your celebration.
FAVE DETAILS
Lauren's hair accessories
The NYE Party Props Table they set up which included noisemakers, hats, and confetti
The photos they set up in the front row of the ceremony of family members who had passed away
The family bolo ties worn by Lauren's brothers and Tadeu
FAVE MOMENTS
Tadeu's mom giving a toast in Portuguese (with the help of a friend who translated), expressing so much pride in her son and reflecting on the journey she has taken as an immigrant and in raising him solo.
The first look we did just outside the Seattle Public Library - the architecture there is so fabulously geometric.
Stroke of midnight confetti explosion - made for excellent photos as well as lots of fun re-dos as people were goofily picking it back up off the floor and tossing it around.
Shaun + Sarah’s Unconventional Pittsburgh Opera Wedding + Dance Party
Meet the Couple
Sarah and Shaun are a couple who met through political organizing — aka our favorite kind of couple. Their self-described favorite things are “hiking, reading, music, laughing, and not taking ourselves too seriously!” and if that’s not #relationshipgoals, we don’t know what is. Living in San Francisco but with family on the east coast, they noted when they first reached out that “we live so far from most of our family and friends, so it's rare that we see any of them, let-alone have everyone together. I want to capture the love and energy in the room.”
We felt so lucky to be asked to photograph their wedding at the Pittsburgh Opera and to document the epic dance party reception they threw for all their closest friends. When describing their vision for the event, they said:
“We’re both feminists, and having a wedding that is fun, low-key, and feels good (i.e. not like we’re trying to fit into a mold that doesn’t work for us) is our priority for this wedding.”
With this in mind, they were able to create a celebration that felt true to their relationship: simple, beautiful, and heartfelt. Our favorite details include the adorable flower girl, their ceremony arbor that was DRIPPING with luscious florals, and the epic dance party (which involved, somehow, finger puppets??). We hope you enjoy their photos!
Their Wedding Photos
Preparation
Ceremony
Portraits
Reception
Vendors
Venue:
Catering:
Florist:
Band:
Dress Designer:
A + K’s Indian Wedding at Dover Hall in Richmond, VA
Meet the Couple
A + K are a couple of food- and nap-loving NYC physicians + badasses who were looking for a progressive wedding photography team who shared their anti-Trump politics and who would would “get” their inter-cultural wedding at Dover Hall in Richmond. AND OMG DID WE GET IT. This was one of the most colorful weddings we have ever had the joy of documenting, and their love for each other was radiating the entire time. They chose to incorporate many of the beautiful Indian wedding traditions, including Sehra Bandi (turban ceremony), Baraat (pre-wedding parade with dancing and the groom on a horse), a wedding ceremony under a flowery mandap, and amazing performances during the reception. The bride wore TWO different wedding saris (why do one first look when you can do two?), and the groom wore a traditional Indian outfit for the ceremony and changed into a dapper tux for the reception. It was also extra fun to see these traditional Indian elements taking place at a very Anglo space like Dover Hall — and there were countless little details that A+K brought in to make the event a truly immersive experience. When speaking to them before their wedding, A said of K “We get through everything together. She is true partner in crime and a best friend, I hate going any place without her.” He summed it up by saying he feels incredible about their partnership, and we tend to agree. We also feel so lucky to have been there to capture their love. Now prepare your eyes for MAGIC!!
Their Wedding Photos
Preparation
First Look & Couple Portraits
Sehra Bandi & Baraat
Ceremony
Reception
Vendors
Venue:
Planner:
Florist:
Catering:
Bakery:
DJ:
Tux Designer:
Kojo and Rhea’s Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Elopement in Richmond, VA on MLK Day
Meet the Couple
We have a soft spot in our hearts for tiny weddings, because they tend to pare things down to only the essential elements. Kojo, a multidisciplinary designer, and Rhea, the curator of film and photography at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, did exactly that with their MLK elopement last year. They chose to elope at the Virginia Museum of Fine Art because their dear friend (and officiant) is the curator of contemporary art at the museum. They invited only very near family (including Rhea’s daughter) and had a guest count of 5. They exchanged vows and rings in a tiny, light-filled corner of the museum (“guerrilla style” as Rhea put it), and their “reception” was a shared meal at Amuse, the VMFA’s lovely restaurant. And best of all, they did it on MLK Day as a gesture of radical love. This MLK Day, I asked their permission to share this small collection of images from their celebration (and Rhea getting ready with her mom at the Quirk Hotel) so that we can all feel a little bit of that love.
Preparation and Wedding Ceremony
The Newlyweds
VENDORS
David + Juana's Private Baltimore Clocktower Wedding Ceremony + Reception Party
Meet the Couple
Juana and David had their wedding ceremony in one of the most unique wedding “venues” I’ve ever been to: The Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower. Getting to the spot required an elevator ride, a ladder climb, and some careful stepping around actual giant clock machinery, but it was SO WORTH IT. The intimate vibe — just Juana, David, their officiant, and myself were present — made way for so much beautiful, real, raw emotion and one of the most genuine ceremonies I’ve ever witnessed.
Second-favorite thing about David and Juana’s celebration: THE STYLE, Y’ALL. These two radiate confidence in their quirky selves. Juana rocked the combination of ballgown, glam jewelry, tattoos, glasses (#brideswearingspecs, YES), and leather jacket. David was a dapper dad in a burnt orange wool blazer, jewel-toned bowtie, his own glasses and tattoos, and a rad boutonniere that tied the whole look together. To any other groom considering a non-suit, or a non-traditional-color suit, GO FOR IT. Look at David. Be like David.
After their micro ceremony, we took the limo to pick up their two kiddos and made a quick pit stop at their favorite bar for some pinball. Because couples that play together, STAY TOGETHER, friends. It’s real. After that, we popped over to the Corradetti Glassblowing Studio where their reception party was starting to roll! Moment of honestly: it is very rare for the Carly Romeo & Co team to shoot at the same venue more than once — not because we tend to trash the place, but because our couples hail from so many different locations and have such unique tastes that it just so happens that we’re usually checking out new places every time. However, this is the second wedding we’ve shot at Corradetti (HAY Paige and Roger!) and we 100% endorse it as a place to celebrate your love. The glasswork there is gorgeous and the whole place has a very “art is made here” vibe, which we are all about. So Baltimore-area folks: take note!
Anyway, back to Juana and David. Their reception at Corradetti was a candlelit, colorful, beer-lover’s paradise. Instead of cake, they had an ice cream bar. I brought a polaroid camera for their daughters to play with, so there were polaroids a-plenty. There was dancing, and hugging, and so much JOY. It was epic, and we feel so lucky that we were invited to document it.
Their Wedding Photos
Wedding Vendors
PLANNING - Aimee Miller
CATERING - Zeffert & Gold
VENUE - Corradetti
FLORALS - The Modest Florist
DESSERT - The Charmery
DRESS - Maggie Sottero
SUIT - Brooks Brothers
HAIR | MAKEUP - Elite Secrets Bridal Boutique
DJ - DJ Landis
Rory + Lane's Studio Two Three Dance Party Wedding
Meet the Couple
The first time I spoke to Rory and Lane, I knew they were Our People. They are adventurers, dirt-bikers, crafty smarty-pants types who were actually planning TWO wedding celebrations: one in the woods that involved quirky costumes and wigs, and one here in Richmond. When we talked, though, they told me that they were tentatively planning to have the Richmond wedding at Quirk (a venue I know and love), but I asked if they had considered Studio Two Three, the artist co-working/co-making space that Carly Romeo & Co calls home. S23 had just started doing weddings in our new event space, and I knew Rory and Lane would be PERFECT for the space. I was thrilled when they told me later that they had decided to book S23!
Things just got more and more exciting from there. They hired my favorite florist, Amanda Burnette, and asked her to create a meadow-ish look inside the space with an “elevated rainbow” pallette (and damn, did Amanda deliver)! Then Rory and Lane added all their own touches to the event: origami cranes, a cat as a guest, pizza + fried chicken, mixed-gender wedding parties (my fave), hilarious + profanity-laced toasts, and loads of enthusiastic dancing. DJ Ant Boogie had everyone shaking it late into the night, and soon after Lane and Rory embarked on a 3-month exploration of southeast Asia (that I’ve been following intrepidly on social media).
We are always so grateful when our couples love to celebrate but also bring a spirit of silliness and joy to the whole experience — because weddings aren’t meant to be stuffy and uncomfortably formal, they are meant to be bursts of happiness and community. Rory and Lane nailed that feeling, and we’re so grateful that we were there to document it!
The Wedding Photos
Preparation
Ceremony
Portraits
Reception
Vendors
WEDDING PLANNER - Christine Greenberg @ The Hive Wedding Co.
HAIR | MAKEUP - Elle Style Studio
FLORALS - Amanda Burnette
FOOD - Mean Bird, River City Wood Fired Pizza
BAKERY - Pearl’s Cupcake Shoppe
DJ - Ant Boogie
JEWELER - Young in the Mountains
STATIONERY - Minted
FURNITURE RENTALS - Paisley & Jade
Andrew + Ryan's New Year's Eve Soiree Wedding
Meet the Couple
In an attempt to stave off the crushing dread of The News and The State of Our Country, I've been going back and looking at photos taken over the past year that never made it on the blog. Because when you feel hopeless and defeated, one good option is to spread love, loudly and proudly. Special shout-out to all y'all who are planning a wedding but this political climate is seriously putting a damper on your vibe. Stay strong.
Andrew + Ryan married each other at a FREEZING private ceremony at one of the most beautiful monuments on the National Mall. They continued the celebration with a community ceremony and swanky soirée at a local restaurant, complete with rainbow-and-confetti dance party and traditional Latin American New Year's traditions (see if you can spot the photo of them, and Andrew's mom, with grapes stuffed in their mouths). It was sparkly and beautiful and perfect.
Their Wedding Pictures
Ceremony + Portraits
Indoor Ceremony
Reception
Louise + Ashton's Backyard Mountaintop Wedding
Their Wedding Photos
Preparation
Ceremony
Portraits
Reception
Patricia + Sammy's Egyptian + Dominican Backyard Wedding in LA
There were too many luscious details at Patricia and Sammy's wedding to mention them all! Because their home base is NYC and they have lots of family living abroad, the entire ceremony was live streamed for international/east coast friends and family who couldn't make the trek. Each element of the celebration was thoughtfully blended: it was a little bit glam (that gown!), a little bit pool party (that gown underwater!); a little bit Dominican (Patricia's side), a little bit Egyptian (Sammy's side); a little bit cozy and warm (hookah and s'mores station) and a little bit chic and funky (Patricia's blue hair)!
Sara + Nicko's Rose's Luxury Micro Wedding in DC
In the course of wedding planning, have you ever thought, “Fuck it, let’s just elope at our favorite restaurants with our nearest and dearest and call it a day?” WELP that’s exactly what Nicko + Sara did: invited their families and a couple friends, rented the private dining room/greenhouse on the roof of Rose’s Luxury in DC (swoon), and had the sweetest, most awesome micro wedding ever.
Nicko and Sara were actually guests at another wedding I shot (the bride from THAT wedding, Kathryn, was at their micro wedding!) and loved meeting us so much that they hired us for their celebration. Honestly, the vibes of the two weddings were as different as they can possibly be (giant barn wedding with dancing late into the night vs light and airy greenhouse dinner party) but I like to think that both couples hired us because we don’t put our couples into strict boxes about what they “should” do — we just support them while they do their thing!
So if you’re the kind of person wondering “omg is a micro wedding MY thing??”, here are some pros of having a tiny wedding in DC: no crowds of people trying to find parking; most people attending your wedding can also be IN your wedding (these two tried to involve everyone); actually remembering interacting with each guest; actually sitting down and eating your wedding food; minimal design decisions needed.
Please enjoy these favorite moments of ours from the afternoon — the heartfelt, everyone-participates ceremony, the impeccable dinner setup, and our little walk around the neighborhood to breathe, trespass (oops) and make some rad portraits.
VENDORS
CATERING - Rose’s Luxury
FLORALS - Allan Woods
SUIT - Indochino
DRESS - Kate Spade
HAIR/ MAKEUP - Michael Anthony Salon |