Ashley & Tim - Fall Norfolk Botanical Garden Wedding

Ashley & Tim are proof that sometimes dating your best friend is a good idea.

It was obvious to everyone. They had found true, lasting love. Built on the foundation of a three-year friendship. They wanted to get married, but they were in the middle of medical school and the last thing they had time to do was plan a wedding. So on July 16, 2015, a random Thursday that they both had off from the hospital, they got married at the Portsmouth Courthouse. A year later almost to the day, their son Henry was born.

But they still had dreams of a big wedding so they could truly celebrate their marriage with friends and family. And 1,177 days after they first said ‘I do’ in a simple courthouse on a random Thursday, they said ‘I do’ again, this time in a garden surrounded by everyone they loved most.

I hope you’re not on floral-perfection overload! Just wait until you see the gorgeous way Palette of Petals and Stage Right Lighting transformed the Rose Garden Hall! I loved how much the twinkle lights and uplighting added to the ambience, especially as the night went on! And how yummy does that pie bar from Chef by Design look?

What a night! Ashley & Tim, congratulations on 1177 days! Thank you for choosing us to be your wedding photographers! We LOVED working with you and can’t wait for our sweet babies to meet!

The Creative Team:
Coordination: Ashley, Soirees by Lauren
Venue: Norfolk Botanical Garden
Venue Coordination: Ashley Nardiello

Beauty: Eye Do Make-up & Hair | Catering: Chef by Design | DJ: Danny at Astro Entertainment | Florals: Palette of Petals | Lighting: Stage Right Lighting

Amber & Andrew - Formal Norfolk Botanical Gardens Engagement Session

They met their first week of freshman year at Christopher Newport University. They lived in the same dorm, on the same hall. They had an instant connection and almost immediately became inseparable. As time went by, they found their home in CNU and in each other. So many of their memories together took place on campus. The first time he laid eyes on her. Their introduction on a casual walk around campus. Their decision to officially date. So naturally, Andrew could think of no better place to propose.

But first, he sent her off on a scavenger hunt, with a beautiful love letter and her two best friends to guide her. Amber & Andrew are some of the most loving people you will ever meet, and it even shows in the way Andrew planned his proposal. His scavenger hunt not only led Amber to 8 of their favorite spots, but it led her to 14 of her favorite people in the world, who each read her a letter filled with their love and favorite memories together. He planned a day to show Amber how much she was loved and valued, not just by him, but by everyone else in her life.

Amber and I met in 2015 while working a wedding together. She was part of the amazing wedding planning team at Antonia Christianson Events, and I immediately saw how hard she worked to give the bride & groom the wedding day of their dreams. Later that year, Amber told her mom Keri that she should book us for her wedding day. At Keri & Ryan’s wedding in 2016 (one of our first as a husband and wife team), you could tell that Amber & Andrew wouldn’t be far behind them. And I was so honored when Amber asked us earlier this year to photograph her wedding day as well.

We are so excited for their wedding day with Antonia Christianson Events and Isha Foss Events at Three Oaks Estate and the Chrysler Museum of Art. Just a few more weeks!

Ashley & Tim - Summer Engagement Session at Norfolk Botanical Gardens

The first time he asked her on a date, she said no. The second time he asked, she said no. It was hard to deny the feelings that they had for each other, but at the same time, the deep friendship they had was so valuable. Was it worth risking? They’d been friends for 3 years, since their first week of medical school. And now that they were in a smaller group doing clinical rotations, their group felt like a family. Disrupting that with an unsuccessful dating relationship would break apart their entire world.

Finally, she caved in and agreed to go on a date with him. And each day that followed proved that Ashley & Tim were perfect together.

In 2015, Ashley & Tim knew they didn't have time to plan a big wedding, but they also didn't want to wait any longer to get married, so they said their vows at the courthouse. A year later, they had a son. And now that (most) of the craziness of their careers are behind them, they are excited to celebrate their marriage with friends and family at the Norfolk Botanical Garden.

We did their ‘engagement session’ exactly a month before their wedding day, so you won’t have to wait long to see their gorgeous faces here on the blog again! I know I'm counting down the days!