2nd shooting

Westover Plantation Garden Party Wedding

Westover Plantation Garden Party Wedding

Every year I take on a few weddings as a second shooter for other photographers, and this colorful garden party wedding day in Charles City, VA with Chelsea of Bit of Ivory Photography was gorgeous from start to finish!

Pots of lavender sat on each table under the shade of the tent, filling the air with its soft sweet smell. At each seat, a hand-lettered place mat marked each guest's name. Just one of the thoughtful touches the bride worked into the wedding day. Coral and white striped ribbon and mint green menu cards balanced the purple tones for a colorful garden party palette. The menu cards promised a delicious southern affair with fried chicken, mac and cheese, and buttermilk biscuits, while miniature pies stacked in small brown boxes waited on antique white tables in a corner of the tented space.

Next to the large white tent was a collection of vintage furniture and a variety of handcrafted lawn games, sure to be a big hit during cocktail hour.

Chalkboard signs greeted guests at the entrance and marked the path to the front of the historic plantation house where the ceremony would take place. And clear glass dispensers of lemonade offered guests a refreshing drink before the vows would be exchanged. From the guests' first arrival to the end of the night, every detail had been thoughtfully planned. This day was more than the joining of two people in marriage. It was truly a joyous celebration for all their loved ones.

Nathalie & Steven: Norfolk Botanical Gardens Wedding

He gripped the mic in his right hand, two folded sheets of paper in his left, and paused a moment after greeting everyone. He glanced at his sister, tears already forming in her eyes, her new husband's arm wrapped protectively around her.

They all knew this was not his speech to give.

And yet, here he was, giving it. 

He had spent hours piecing together what he should say. How he could express what that day meant to all of them. He tried his best to keep his tone lighthearted, but his words were weighty. He wanted to express, in that moment, just how much their father loved Nathalie, loved them all. How proud he was of her and her teacher's heart. How much he would have wanted to be there, on that day. He wanted to say all these things and more, but he could not.

And when he reached his conclusion, he sucked in a deep breath before reading the words that their father had written to Nathalie on her 21st birthday. Words she had treasured so much that day, but even more in the months and years that followed. 

And although the note was not long, it contained his love, his pride in her, his wish for her happiness, all written in the scrawling hand she loved so much. And as she rested in the crook of her husband's arm, tears slipping down her cheeks, she knew all of those things and more. The silver band she wore on her arm summed it all up the way he always had. He was her biggest fan.

It’s always fun to watch the wedding day unfold when I second shoot, because I go in with almost no information about the couple or their day (the exact opposite of my own weddings!). So imagine my surprise when the first person I saw when I arrived at the girls' hotel room was one of my 2015 CGP brides!  And when the day also included the wedding planning team of Antonia Christianson Events, the lovely rose garden at Norfolk Botanical Garden, and an amazing 8 piece band Strictly Bizzness, I knew it would be an amazing day!

Thank you, Daniel Min Photography for asking me to shoot Natalie & Steve's wedding with you!

Diana and Cade: Founder's Inn Military Wedding

Diana stood behind the glass paned doors, peaking out into the bright sunny afternoon. The brightness of the sun and the distance to the altar obscured from view the one person she was longing to see. Having arrived home from deployment only 7 days ago, the distance down the aisle was nothing compared to the ocean that had been separating them for the past few months. Each day that ticked by, each diagonal scratch through the calendar of her life had brought her closer and closer to this moment.

Cade stood at the end of the aisle, the gold buttons of his dress whites catching the sun. He looked straight ahead, at the pair of glass paned doors that separated him from her. So much time and thought and planning had gone into this day, and while he had enjoyed every minute, none of that mattered now. All that mattered was her.

And just when neither of them could take the wait any longer, the glass paned doors were opened and Diana and her father crossed the porch and stepped out into the October sunlight. Their eyes locked. Diana clutched her bouquet a little tighter and smiled through the tears forming in her eyes. Her heartbeat quickened with excitement, as if beating out the words. "I choose you. This day and forever."

And with each step she took toward him, Cade's heart resonated the unspoken words, "I choose you. This day and forever."

 

Founder's Inn is such a beautiful Virginia Beach wedding venue, and it's practically in my backyard, so I was thrilled when Karyn of Karyn Johnson Photography asked me to 2nd shoot for her. Thank you, Karyn! It was wonderful to work with you!

The rosary placed around both of them is such a beautiful symbol of their unity. And I especially loved how the tradition of 13 silver coins, representing love, harmony, cooperation, commitment, peace, happiness, trust, respect, caring, wisdom, joy, wholeness, and nurturing.

Diana and Cade had such a beautiful first dance. It was choreographed by a close friend who is a dance instructor, but they are so comfortable and natural together that it looked spontaneous. 

Lead Photographer: Karyn Johnson (all pictures in this post are my own)
Venue: Founder's Inn
Invitations: Paper Source

Credits to the rest of the wedding team coming soon!

Erin & Jeff: Manteo Outer Banks Wedding at 108 Budleigh

Erin & Jeff: Manteo Outer Banks Wedding at 108 Budleigh

On weekends when I don't have a CGP wedding, I usually try to schedule a date day with Ryan, but when a photographer friend asks you to 2nd shoot a romantic beach wedding in the Outer Banks with her on a Sunday, it's hard to say no!

I had such a great time working with Dani White Photography on this wedding! Find her wedding blog post and all the amazing wedding vendors here.

We started the day at The Tranquil House Inn. This beautiful bed and breakfast is situated right on the water and was the perfect getting ready location for Erin and her bridesmaids. And Erin's timeline was laid out perfectly. There was plenty of time for the first look and bridal party portraits while still leaving time for everyone to take cover from the humidity and rest for a few minutes before leaving for the ceremony.

Signature West Neck Wedding Photographer

Signature West Neck Wedding Photographer

The Signature at West Neck is quickly becoming one of my favorite wedding venues! The grounds are gorgeous and there are so many great places for portraits! Add to that an amazing staff, delicious food, and a perfectly lit spot for an evening ceremony and you have a winning wedding venue! And they have golf carts for portrait time!

When Daissy Torres asked me to photograph this wedding at the Signature West Neck with her, I couldn't say yes fast enough!

Water Table Wedding: Virginia Beach Wedding Venue

Water Table Wedding: Virginia Beach Wedding Venue

A few months ago I was able to second shoot for Hollie Dyson Photography. Hollie and I met at Justin and Mary's Richmond Lighting Intensive. Hollie is located in Richmond, so I wasn't expecting that we would be able to work together. But I'm so glad we were, because our shooting styles are actually very similar!

And today I'm very excited to share my favorites from this Virginia Beach wedding day. We started at the Oceanfront Marriot Springhill Suites and we managed to get the bridal party portraits done on the boardwalk before it started to rain.

And then it poured, clearing up just at the start of the ceremony so we didn't have to watch the rain come down through the windows of the Water Table. And it stayed clear long enough for us to take some beautiful portraits of Amanda and Allan on the dock. I loved having all the boats in the background! I wouldn't have used the word nautical to describe my style, but I loved this marina wedding venue!