Kate + Matt's Simple + Dreamy Sandbridge Virginia Beach Wedding
Kate and I met through a mutual friend a few years ago when I was between studio managers and KINDA panicking about it. She whisked into my life with a calmness and confidence that I really admire, helping me organize my office and get things back on track. After a few weeks, though, she told me that she and her (then) boyfriend were planning a move to Korea. Of course, I was thrilled for her (though I fell slightly back to panicking) and watched their adventures via social media. Then, last summer, she emailed me to say that they were coming back stateside to do a small wedding in early October — and asked if I could shoot it.
I’m going to be very honest here — usually, October is THE MOST HECTIC MONTH for weddings. Everyone’s gotta get a piece of that foliage, you know. But because my birthday is in October and I am a major birthday diva, I try to take one weekend off to celebrate. Kate and Matt were getting married on that weekend that I had set aside for birthday stuff (fun fact: my partner and I have the same birthday so it’s double the fun). I told Kate I would think on it, and after a few days realized that Kate and Matt are TOTALLY “our people": adventurers, laid-back, doing things their own way. So I said YES and I’m so glad I did.
Kate and Matt got married on the beach in Sandbridge, VA (many Virginians will tell you it’s the quieter southern sister to VA Beach and they are very, very right). They had a great group of family and friends with them, and decorated their giant beach house with photos from all their travels. We spent some time after the ceremony walking down the beach and talking about their post-wedding plans, which were basically: drive west until we find a place that suits us. I loved that so much. And we just learned that they did choose a place (for now): Salt Lake City!
Kate and Matt’s wedding was more than a celebration of their love, but it was a cozy resting place where they could spend time with their nearest and dearest before flinging themselves to the wind and exploring the world together. Oh and of course it was a dance party, because duh.
Patty + Mike's Vintage Hollywood + Lush Autumn Wedding
Sometimes a wedding is so full of personality and beautiful details that writing a description seems like overkill. Patty + Mike’s wedding is like that.
Their Upper Shirley Vineyards wedding was a perfect blend of vintage Hollywood glam, retro rock and roll, modern twists on classic decor, and 100s of feet of lush garland. The entire party felt extremely luxe but also comfortable and funky: aka our dream vibe.
The following images will delight you if you love sparkly wedding gowns, autumnal floral color palettes, weddings that feature dogs, hot-dog-shaped cakes, and loads of happiness and warmth.
Special shout-out to their planner, Heather from The Hive Wedding Collective, who executed this day FLAWLESSLY, despite the officiant getting into a car accident en route!
VENUE - Upper Shirley Vineyard
EVENT COORDINATION - Heather Kemman | The Hive Wedding Collective
TRANSPORTATION - James River Transportation
CAKES - Sweet Fix RVA
FLORALS - Amanda Burnette
MUSIC - DJ Mikey Post | DJ Ian Svenonious | Paint Fumes
JEWELER - Catbird NYC
STATIONERY - Minted
FURNITURE RENTAL | CUSTOM SIGNAGE - Paisley & Jade
DRESS - Jenny Packham
Sara + Kelsey's Interfaith, Queer, Autumn-in-upstate-New-York Wedding
Today we’re sharing an upstate New York wedding that was plucked directly from our dreams. Kelsey and Sara live in DC, but decided on a Foxfire Mountain House wedding after falling in love with it during their travels. Considering it’s one of the most beautiful venues we have ever seen, we don’t blame them. This place is legit MAGICAL. The foliage, the lake, the interior design, and the house made of windows had us drooling. BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE.
Sara and Kelsey have one of the strongest and most vibrant communities we have ever seen. Their friends even banded together (literally) to create an engagement scavenger hunt for Kelsey, the finale of which involved Sara surprising Kelsey at their home with dozens of friends and a live performance (i.e. singing AND instruments) of “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran. There’s a video; we still cry watching it.
Thanks to their incredible community of friends and family (plus one of our favorite wedding planners, Dawn Mauberret), their wedding celebration was unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. They wove so many beautiful elements together: a ketubah signing, a flower-covered chuppah, a prayer led by Kelsey’s dad (who she did a beautiful “first look” with), live ceremony music, seven friends giving the seven blessings, incredible food including family-style dinner and an entire dessert table, handmade signage and other crafts, a bonfire, unicorn-themed party hats, and of course a raucous hora.
Some people may feel overwhelmed or intimidated by having a "destination” wedding, but having your wedding somewhere that you feel comfortable and at ease is of utmost importance. On average, couples spend the biggest chunk of their budget on their venue (according to this super-fascinating WeddingWire Report) and the environment you get married in sets the tone for the day. So CHOOSE carefully, friends! And if anyone is planning their Foxfire Mountain House wedding, we would love to go back. Hit us up.
PLANNING - Dawn Mauberret Events
VENUE | CATERING - Foxfire Mountain House
FLORALS - Aurora Botanica
DRESS - Sarah Seven | The Dress Theory
SUIT - Bindle & Keep
HAIR - Le Shag
Caroline + Logan's Dreamy Pastels + Poetry Prospect House Wedding
WHERE TO EVEN BEGIN WITH THIS WEDDING??? Picture it: a glamorous, light-pink-haired bride with a glittering back necklace, ultra-modern gown, dramatic cathedral-legnth veil and periwinkle-to-pastel-pink pumps. Her towering husband-to-be in a tailored suit, perfect-for-the-poet-that-he-is spectacles, the BEST head of curls, raspberry-colored tie, and all the steamy affection in the world for his bride.
Place these two dreamy people in front of a rad geometric backdrop, under the big bad state of Texas sky. Give them a ceremony filled with poetry they wrote for each other, meaningful readings from friends and family, copious tears, and the juiciest foraged bridal bouquet you’ve ever seen. Surround them with the greatest feminist friend-crew, hardstyling fellas and fuck-you-I-don’t-need-to-shave ladies (damn right). Set their dinner tables with bones, tropical flowers, and other curios; pile their dessert table almost to the ceiling with Dr-Suess-meets-Wed-Anderson delicacies.
The soundtrack runs from the bride walking down the aisle to “Baby’s On Fire” all the way to bumping party jams. The guests slay at the DIY photobooth, complete with furs and plants. The rosé flows generously all night. The newlyweds have crafted the most perfect celebration of their very Them love, and everyone basks in their joy.
Thank you, Caroline + Logan, for asking me to document this very special occasion.
PLANNER | FLORALS - The Moonlight Manor
DESSERTS - Jessica Dowdy Lopez
CATERING - Royal Fig
HAIR - Vibe Collective
SUIT - SuitSupply
Catie + Erin's Low-key, Queer, State Park Wedding
Erin and Catie have a special place in my heart, because they met at a summer camp, just like my partner and I! I’ll admit, their camp was the outdoorsy kind and ours was the nerdy kind (any CTYers out there?), but still, camp vibes are camp vibes. You camp people understand. Erin also has a Mountain Goats tattoo, so they are clearly one of the coolest people alive. Only the best people have Mountain Goats tattoos. Just saying.
But really: Erin and Catie are awesome people who are clearly immensely in love with one another. Their wedding day started with an awesome surprise: Erin surprised Catie during their first look by playing a song on the guitar. You can see Catie’s reaction below, but spoiler alert: everyone was crying.
For their ceremony, Catie and Erin opted for another surprise: rather than walking into their ceremony, they started the ceremony under an beautiful arbor and their community came to them. I am deeply in support of this twist, which felt unique and special (and helped quell any debate about whether or not someone’s parent/father would “walk them down the aisle.”) It was beautiful to see each person’s reaction to their friends standing there looking all fancy and fabulous. Erin wore a stunner of a gown that had a surprisingly poofy overlayer hiding a glam silhouette underneath; Catie wore slacks, a vest, and a fucking mohawk braid. Mohawk + braid.
Part of their ceremony also included planting a small tree together — be still my tree-hugger heart!! They fortified the soil with ashes from bonfires had at the summer camp where they met. I dare you to come up with a more poetic and nature-loving ceremony element.
The ensuing celebration was catered by one of our favorites, Everyday Gourmet, and the dance party was epic (derby skaters are notoriously wild on the dance floor FYI). Of course, we found some time to sneak away and explore the park during golden hour, which was a combination of photography time and “discussing-the-problem-of-being-misgendered-when-wearing-a-wedding-dress” time (PSA: people who wear dresses aren’t always ladies/don’t always use she/her.) We closed the day with everyone blowing bubbles and hugging and feeling so grateful to know these two and be part of their story.
VENUE: Pocahontas State Park
OFFICIANT: Casey Doukopil, EQ Events
CATERING: Everyday Gourmet
JEWELER: Diamonds Direct
Milan + Susan's Kaleidoscopic Indian + Jewish Wedding
You may have seen a glimpse of this wedding in our article about wedding party outfits (hint: it’s the photo of the bridesmaids wearing saris), but Susan and Milan’s colorful Indian wedding deserves a post all its own. Prepare your eyes for a magical ride of color and joy.
With an Indian groom and a Jewish bride, there were many traditions that Susan and Milan could choose from for their celebration. Milan opted to wear a traditional sherwani in a beautiful gold color over ruby red pants, with jutti shoes in gold and ivory (complete with those awesome curls on the toes). He also had a ton of groom swag/jewels/accessories, which we are Here. For. Susan picked a white gown and a chapel-length veil, plus bridal mehendi on her hands, arms, and feet (also omg can we talk about how great her eye makeup is?? Well done, Miriam!) plus a couple gold bangles.
These two had one of the most colorful (and biggest!) wedding parties we’ve ever worked with. Susan’s bridesmaids wore a combo of American-style dresses and saris, ranging in color from apricot to fuchsia; Milan’s groomsmen also wore sherwanis, but with American shoes.
After their first look, there was a raucous Baraat (sorry, no horse though) with drums and singing and shouting through the streets. Matt totally captured the joy and energy of that procession! After they made it over to the venue, the two families signed a ketubah (a traditional Jewish wedding document) and the ceremony began!
They got married under a dreamy, jewel-toned mandap that looked like it was straight out of a royal palace. We were also particularly fond of the candles along the sides of the aisles, which gave the whole room a warm, golden feel. The ceremony incorporated both Indian and Jewish traditions, and culminated with Milan stomping on a glass (Mavel Tov!) and the new couple leaving the ceremony draped in flowers.
Susan entered the reception with her own surprise: she had changed out of her white gown and into a crimson-and-gold sari. She and Milan shared a first dance. Toasts happened. Everyone cried. Dancing started. Everyone cheered. A few bridesmaids surprised Milan with a traditional Indian dance, and then there was the traditional Jewish wedding dance: the Hora!
Weddings are about community. Susan and Milan come from different backgrounds, so their community is a blend of those backgrounds, and so was their wedding. It was a joy to witness the ways they incorporated each of their backgrounds into one giant, opulent, whirlwind of love and celebration. Do you have plans to weave different traditions together? We’d love to hear your ideas!!
PLANNING: Jeannette Tavares, Evoke DC
FLORALS | DESIGN: Sarah Khan Event Styling
VENUE | CATERING: The Westin Annapolis
WHITE DRESS: Francesca’s Bridal
HAIR: Sara Elizabeth, Infinity Artistry
MAKEUP: Miriam Ault
DJ: DJ Ramzy
CEREMONY MUSIC: Iain Forrest, Eyeglasses String Music
LIGHTING | DRAPING | SOUND: Brian Wasser, Electric Entertainment
Kim + Bryan's Tropical Richmond Wedding
Question: How do two PhD students with a deep love for anthropological research and Spanish-speaking countries (her: Ecuador, him: Mexico) have a lush, tropical, fiesta-esque wedding in Richmond VA?
Answer: They celebrate at Havana 59 surrounded by juicy, colorful floral designs by Amanda Burnette and listening to salsa music late into the night!
This was our first Havana 59 wedding and WOW are we spoiled now. When I first met Bryan and Kim, I was blown away by their dedication to education, educational access, immigration reform, and cultural understanding. If you’re curious about the definition of “intersectional” feminism, this is it: sexism and gender discrimination never occur in a vacuum, and all oppressions are interconnected. They both are earning Ph.D.’s in intersectional issues. They both are badasses.
We started the day with a small, family-only vow exchange at the Linden Row Inn. It was raining, so afterward we popped over to the Richmond Public library for some portraits under those big, beautiful, rain-protecting arches! (Photographers take note, this is a great spot for photos when the weather is less than ideal) Then we headed downtown for zesty mojitos, extremely tasty Cuban food, another (quick) ceremony, and some side-splitting toasts and EPIC dancing.
The entire vibe of the day was deliciously colorful and vibrant, from the aesthetic (again, omg, those flowers) to the interactions: it was awesome to watch as Kim and Bryan’s friends from childhood met friends from college, Richmond friends met friends from Puerto Rico, great aunts met high school friends, and everyone bonded over the rich and profound love that Kim and Bryan have for everyone in their orbit. They are clearly steadfast, thoughtful friends and we were honored to get to document the beauty that they bring to the world!
VENUE | CATERING - Havana 59
HAIR | MAKEUP - Carly Moenich, Luminary Hair Co.
FLORALS - Amanda Burnette
TRANSPORTATION - Richmond Trolley Co.
JEWELER - Jerome Golfman, Schwarzchild Jewelers
INVITATIONS | STATIONERY - Cayce Matteoli, Earthereal Design
DJ - DJ Ricky Halo, OLA Lighting and DJs
What our feminist marriage looks like: Lili + Alexis
This fall, we’re pushing the conversation beyond “feminist wedding” and talking about feminist marriages. We asked some of our past clients to share their insights this: What do feminist marriages look like? How do they work? Do things even really change after your wedding?
First up are Lili and Alexis, who were married three years ago today at Bluemont Vineyard. I still remember first meeting them and noticing how strong their partnership was, and how unflinchingly positive Lili was balanced perfectly by thoughtful, easy-to-laugh Alexis. They have some great thoughts on their wedding planning process, intentionality (then and now), and self-reflection.
Looking back, what was/were the most important element(s) of your wedding?
Alexis: Honestly, it was hiring the “right” people that set the tone. Between our wedding coordinator, photographer (nudge nudge!) and our DJ, I felt like we assembled a crew who really embodied the spirit we wanted to have in our wedding – relaxed and authentic.
Lili: We didn’t want a “traditional” wedding – we wanted to have an awesome party where our family and friends could have a great time. It might sound silly, but I’m obsessed with dessert, so having an awesome and unique dessert array was important to me! (We didn’t have a traditional wedding cake – we served warm pie and ice cream, and Smith Island Cake, Maryland’s official dessert! It was AWESOME!) Decide as a couple what the important things are, and do it!
In what ways, if any, did your relationship change after your wedding?
Alexis: After we got married, there was this wonderful feeling of “that’s my person.” Not having to question if your partner would be there by your side in all of life’s future chapters. We were engaged for almost two years, and bought a house before we got married, so we had countless conversations about what marriage meant to us and what the components of a lifelong, healthy relationship would look like – it helped us to be fully intentional when we made that commitment to each other.
Lili: I just feel like I love Alexis more with each passing month and year. I know that sounds super corny, but when you have your “person” to go through life with, the highs seem even higher and the lows don’t seem quite so low. Marriage definitely isn’t all sunshine and roses, but I’ve never doubted for a second that Alexis is the most awesome person I could ever wish for to wade through those murky waters with!
Bluemont Vineyard Wedding, Same-sex wedding, queer wedding in virginia
How do your feminist beliefs/politics play out in your relationship?
We joke sometimes about the power dynamics (“male” and “female”) in our relationship. Certainly there are roles that I more naturally fit into and roles that she more naturally fits into, but we don’t ascribe those characteristics to gender, because there is no “male” in the relationship! We ascribe them to one of us having a particular strength and owning that role (For example, one of just so happens to be super handy with a chainsaw, and the other has a true gift for loading the dishwasher perfectly!) Above all else, we always try to give the other person what they need in that moment, and be our truest selves.
What are the tools in your relationship toolkit that help you when times are tough?
Alexis: I try to remember that there will be many moments in our lives when things will be out of balance and one spouse may need more support than the other. The scale is always tipping one way or another – through work or education or family.
Lili: For me, I think self-reflection is a critically important tool for life, especially in the context of a relationship. If I am going through a stressful time, I have the tendency to direct my anxiety and stress to the person closest to me – that’s almost always my wife, and that’s not fair to her at all. In those moments, it’s so important for me to look inside myself and recognize that she’s on my team. On a lighter note, laughter is so important in our relationship, and I think it really helps in challenging times!
How do you intentionally grow alongside your partner over the years?
I think it’s so important to constantly assess three things:
1. Am I growing as an independent person?
2. Am I helping my partner grow as an independent person?
3. Are we making sure that while we’re supporting each other in #1 and #2, we’re also growing together?
So many couples struggle with #3. Our lives get so stressful and busy, we forget to nurture the person that’s always along for the ride with us. Make sure to take time to keep building your story – by learning new things or doing new activities that continue to strengthen and grow your relationship. For us, making sure we’ve covered all three bases (and always checking in about it) is so important to an ever-changing partnership over the years.
What are your top three ingredients for a successful feminist marriage/partnership?
1. Respect
2. Patience
3. Laughter/Fun
If you could give fellow feminists who are planning a wedding some advice, what would it be?
Make your own rules based on what is important to the both of you. Forget about what a “traditional” wedding should look or feel like. Do what feels right – it’s nobody’s day but yours!
If you could give fellow feminists who are planning a marriage some advice, what would it be?
Honestly, same as above – make your own rules. It’s so easy to let society tell you what you should be doing, and that even applies to same-sex relationships and their dynamics. Remember that you are a team – play off each other’s strengths and communicate constantly to make sure your game plans are aligned!
K & L's Posh Private Wedding Ceremony and Dance Party in Washington, D.C.
K & L's wedding had so many of the elements that make shooting weddings fun: unique format (private, super-small ceremony on Friday night and a big reception party on Saturday), relaxed vibe (they were firmly in the we-just-wanna-marry-each-other-so-bad camp), style out the wazoo (BRIDAL JUMPSUIT Y'ALL), delicious chocolate desserts (even the photographer's gotta eat, y'all) and plenty of enthusiastic dancing. I almost died of excitement when I first chatted with these two, who are badass law-types. You know how sometimes you meet someone and you just know that you want to hang out with them more? It was that feeling. I arrived at the wedding and felt immediately like I belonged, and there were endless genuine moments of joy and delight to capture. Here are some of those moments from their Saturday celebration.
