Event Planner, designer or both? Catersource has featured our photo in this Event Solutions article

One of our photos was featured in Catersource’s Event Solution article, “Managing Two Jobs in One: Event Planner & Designer”. Click here to view the full article.

Hear from the pros, tips for a destination wedding and a couple of our photos featured by Travel Channel!

Winter is right around the corner. If you are thinking about doing a destination wedding to get away to a warmer location, check out these two Travel Channel articles, “Expert Tips for Destination Weddings” and “What to Pack for Your Destination Wedding”, where two of our photos are featured. The articles include some ideas that you might not have had the chance to think about. 

A “Cross between San Diego and Nantucket”, see why everyone, including me, thinks Annapolis is the ultimate wedding destination!

Breathtaking venues, picturesque scenery, and an all around fun time, this is why Annapolis is a top location for a wedding. The Baltimore Sun quotes Mike B. in the article, "Annapolis named best 'under-the-radar' destination wedding location". See full article here. 

Winter is for weddings in the New Year!

Our photos of Sarah and Ryan’s winter wedding at The National Harbor were featured on the United With Love blog. Check out the photos here and see how this couple kept cozy with detail at their winter wonderland wedding.

Summer Wedding Themes, Which is Your Favorite? See what the professionals have to say in All Seated where one of our photos was featured!

AllSeated has featured one of our photos in their blog post, “Wedding Pros Spill on Their Favorite Summer Wedding Themes”. AllSeated asks wedding professionals what stands out most to them at weddings. These professionals might spark some ideas for your summer 2018 weddings. See the full article here. 

Holiday Flare for this Cozy Winter Wedding Affair!

Planning a winter wedding? Borrowed & Blue has featured our photos from Sarah and Stephens winter wedding to inspire you for this year’s winter weddings. Check out the photos here.

Elegance, Tradition and Maritime Decoration, see Our Featured Photos from this Seafaring Wedding!

One of our favorite summer weddings was featured on the United with Love blog. Newlyweds Sarah and Matt had a traditional naval wedding at the Maritime Museum. Unique décor included Annapolitian themed invitations, illustrated wedding signs, custom menus and more. Take a look at what inspired this beautiful wedding and how the lovely couple made this dream a reality here. 

Our Photos featured in Mountainside Bride. Read Q&A from one of our favorite Fall Brides!

Fall is here, check out what one of our favorite fall brides had to say about her “Romantic Golden Barn Wedding in the Allegheny Mountains” last fall. She might have even answered some questions you have about planning a fall wedding. See Rob and Brits wedding here. 

First Look Tips

When your big day arrives, we know that despite all of the planning you’ve done in the past year, some things get left out of the timeline. But the one thing that shouldn’t be neglected is the first look. Here are some wedding day tips on how to incorporate a first look into your day.

One of the most memorable moments of any wedding is the moment a bride and groom see each other for the first time. For some more traditional weddings, that doesn’t happen until the bride is walking down the aisle. For the less traditional weddings, there is time ahead of the ceremony where the bride and groom take a moment just for themselves. We tend to favor these “first looks” before the wedding, because we feel that this intimate moment is something that should never be rushed. This beautiful moment should be shared between just the two of you.

First looks allow you to share a private moment before facing hundreds of people and exchanging vows. We have seen it help tremendously with the nerves ahead of the big “I do”s. This moment is exclusive between the couple and allows for an exchange of emotions, hopes for the future, and sometimes even cards or gifts. The first look allows for you two to take a breath before the excitement of the ceremony, just the two of you.

An intimate moment like this should never be rushed. So, if you choose to do a first look, we advise you to plan at least an extra 10 minutes for it. You can plan more if you would like to take your time, but those 10 minutes can make all the difference in seeing each other and settling nerves. It allows you to have a special moment outside of prying eyes. 

We also suggest that you schedule another 45 minutes for bridal party formals ahead of the ceremony. This extra time before the wedding can alleviate a lot of the stress of the transition from the ceremony to the reception. You don’t have to worry about those formal photos after you’re riding high from having just been married. That way, you have the opportunity to enjoy more of the wedding day that you otherwise might have missed—like attending your cocktail hour.

Your wedding day is incredibly important, and every moment should be preserved and cherished. We highly recommend scheduling a first look so that your reactions are perfectly captured and so that you are allowed to truly enjoy yourselves together. 

Our top 5 favorite places to shoot your engagement session in the DMV

When you’re planning your engagement session, location is key. The two of you are going to look stunning no matter what, especially with how in love you are. But it’s important to find that perfect place to provide a background for your romance and show off your individual style. Engagement pictures are often used in wedding invitations, wedding websites and announcements, so you want your engagement session to reflect who you are as a couple. To help you, we’ve compiled a list of our top five favorite places around Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia to shoot engagement sessions.

Location 1: Downtown Annapolis, Maryland

Not many people know this, but Annapolis was recently voted the top “under the radar” destination wedding location in the United States—and for good reason. Downtown Annapolis is an ideal location not only for local Navy couples, but for eclectic couples who are drawn to its vibrant hues of green, blue, and pink lining the streets. With quaint coffee shops and boutiques on every corner, the downtown area is simply perfect for couples who want a little personality.

One of our favorite images from our many engagement sessions was taken right in downtown Annapolis. The couple, Tess and Brady, didn’t shy away from standing in the middle of the street, illuminated by cars and street lights, to get that unique shot with the beautiful St. Anne’s Church sitting at the top of the hill in the background. Their love radiated through every image and was only enhanced by the gorgeous background

Location 2: Our Farm

This farm is perfect for the more rustic engagements, especially if you want a beautiful fall location. You can find backdrops for any style around the farm; from the barns to the flower fields to the steps outside of the mansion. That variety is one of the many reasons we’ve included the farm on our list.

Location 3: The Washington Monuments

The Washington Monuments are the perfect locations for a metropolitan couple looking for chic engagement photos. That hint of American history in the background adds not only personality but a sense of importance to any session. The reflecting pool and the Potomac also provide a stunning backdrop to photographs, especially when the cherry blossoms are in bloom.

Location 4: Baltimore: Fells Point, National Harbor
This historic district, with its beautiful brick homes, complete with vibrant shutters, provides some of our favorite backdrops for a variety of couples. Every corner of this city has something to offer, from the homes to the Inner Harbor. There are so many unique places that can show off your individual style.

Location 5: Alexandria, Virginia

Old town Alexandria is another one of our favorites for its alleyways and street character. This is especially good for autumn sessions, as the fall leaves look beautiful with the cobblestone streets and historic brick buildings.

These locations have made it to this list because of their ability to fit any couple, whether you’re a fast-paced metropolitan couple or a small-town country couple. From Baltimore to Alexandria and the spots in between, these are all beautiful locations to shoot your engagement session in any season.