For the past few years as a Washington, DC wedding photographer, I have taken the month of February to share some “best ofs” from my previous season. I included everything from first looks and couples portraits to bridal details and receptions, but I always felt like it didn’t give my clients the individual recognition they deserved! After all, each couple and wedding day is so unique that I wanted to highlight the best part of each day from the past year! Without further ado…

 

Most Stylish Couple
One look at Taylor and Jake during their Washington National Cathedral wedding, and you’ll know exactly why I selected them for the most stylish couple! From Taylor’s neutral Louboutin heels and Pnina Tournai gown to Jake’s perfectly tailed tux and polished shoes, their looks will simply never go out of style. 

Best Vision
Stephanie is the talented planner behind SRS Events, so it should come as no surprise that her and Marcus’ Oxon Hill Manor Wedding was one of the most cohesive and stunning events from beginning to end! Everything from her invitation suite and shoes matched down to her ceremony and reception. There were so many fun surprises along the way including a greeter horse, multiple signature drinks, and a whiskey bar that guests were delighted at every turn!

Best View
It was hard to pick just one superlative for Megan and Anthony’s Pippin Hill wedding this summer, but the views around the property simply cannot be beat! These two had an overcast ceremony which really made the mountains pop and then the sun peeked out just as it was beginning to set for the most stunning golden hour in all of Charlottesville. 
 

Best Dressed Wedding Party 
Black tie weddings always go straight to the top of my favorites, as I love the elegant and classic nature it exudes. Colleen and Ted’s Chevy Chase Club wedding in April was no exception and their wedding party simply stunned from head to toe. Rather than a traditional black dress for her bridesmaids, I love that Colleen took a unique approach in dark green and softened it with neutral flowers. And those groomsmen in tuxes is nothing short of dapper! 

Most Portraits 
KC and Andrew’s National Museum of Women in the Arts wedding was one for the books! With their ceremony at St. Matthews, portraits at the National Portrait Gallery and the DC War Memorial, and their reception at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, it should come as no surprise that their gallery contained more portraits than I’ve EVER delivered! It doesn’t hurt that they are the sweetest couple imaginable and were up for anything! 

Biggest Wedding Party
I’ve photographed a lot of large wedding parties over the years, and even some bigger than Kristina & Alden’s from their District Winery wedding this November. But, I don’t think I’ve ever taken them to our Nation’s monuments in the middle of tourist season, which was quite a (surprisingly fun!) feat! They were such an amazing group and despite the freezing temperatures, didn’t complain once as we moved from spot to spot to find a bit of space to ourselves — I’m really happy with our their photos turned out, so I think it was a success! 

Most Carefree Couple
I absolutely never, ever want it to rain on a client’s wedding day! From a professional standpoint, I know I can handle it and still get some amazing portraits, but I truly like all my couples and want them to have the most perfect day possible! But rain is inevitable and this year we seemed to get quite a bit of it… and if it is going to rain, you want to be working with an awesome pair like Sarah and Kevin during their Rixey Manor wedding! These two opted for a first look, so we had plenty of time in the early part of the day to get all of their couples, wedding party, and family portraits before the skies opened up… literally the MOMENT Sarah began to walk down the aisle! These two just laughed it off and didn’t worry about anything they couldn’t control! The best part? Their guests had a blast too! 

Best Gifts
There is something special about watching my brides and grooms open their gifts from one another, as it’s a tiny peek into what makes their relationship so special. For Meredith & Sean’s wedding day at Airlie Center, they both went above and beyond anything I had seen before! Meredith chose cufflinks for Sean to wear as they said, “I do”.  But these were not just any cufflinks, they were made from the seat cushions at the stadium of his favorite NHL team, the Sabres. And Sean selected an elegant necklace for his bride that he even wrapped himself. 

Most Well Executed Wedding Day
If you want your day to be carried out without a single hitch (and have a stunning reception to boot!), then you absolutely must hire Caroline of Caroline Dutton Events! Lindsay and John selected her amazing team for their Stone Tower Winery wedding this summer and it was carried out with military precision! The couple and their families didn’t have to worry about a thing except relaxing and enjoying the wedding day — exactly what they should do! The reception itself was flawless and I loved seeing the MOB tear up as she saw it for the first time! 

Most Intimate Ceremony
With just three others in attendance, Fadi and Sara’s DC War Memorial wedding takes the cake for the most intimate affair of the season! 

Best Vows
It’s a pretty even split between couples that I see choose to stick with traditional vows and those that share ones they wrote themselves. Jenny and Kyle opted for the latter during their garden wedding at Airlie Center and I loved hearing about the moment that they knew they were meant for one another. Months later, those words still stick with me as I reflect on their big day. 

Best Party
It’s no surprise that Sarah and Jack’s John Marshall Ballroom wedding was the best part of the year! After all, these two, and many of their guests are trained swing dancers, so the floor was packed and everyone was in wonderful spirits until the last sparkler faded at the end of the night! 

Best Design
When you combine the design genius of Elizabeth from East Made Event Co with the flower artistry of Courtney from Loblolly Farm, you can’t help but have a stunning day like Sarah and Amal’s Antrim 1844 wedding last spring. I had so much fun watching their design details comes to life and it’s clear that this bride and groom took the time to hire an incredible team that I was so lucky to be a small part of! 

Most Unique Venue
If you’re new around here, you know I love, love, love being a photographer in Washington, DC; nothing speaks to me like the classic white marble of our architecture and historic filled sites. But every now and then, it’s fun to do something different and Kim and Myle’s Mill at Fine Creek wedding in Richmond, VA perfectly fit the bill! These old ruins make for such a unique spot to exchange “I dos” and I loved getting out of my element to be part of their big day!

Most Photographed ALP Couple
I count myself pretty darn lucky that I’ve been able to have so many repeat clients over the years throughout the journey of their relationship, but Nina and Yousef definitely take the cake! From styled shoots to proposals, engagements, and finally the big day, I’ve been honored to capture it all for these two that I can now call friends.

Best Exit
Natalia and Seth were married in the historic St. Matthews Cathedral, so it’s definitely not a shocker that their timeless bubble exit was nothing short of a stunner! 

Best DIY Elements
I don’t know about you but when I hear DIY, I think of all the Pinterest gone wrong projects I’ve tried over the years. Well, Lauren and Robert’s Rust Manor House wedding was the complete opposite; in fact, they should be the ones who should be creating the blogs sharing DIY projects! From the black and white dance floor to the monogrammed bar and the outdoor escort card table to the hand painted glass signs, each and every element looked more professional than the last. They even created a mural of their love story to share with guests! 

Most Cheerful Couple
If I had to wrap Emily and Brian’s Chesapeake Bay Beach Club wedding in one word, it would definitely be JOY! As I reflect on their wedding day, the happiness that surrounded these two sticks out above everything else and I truly don’t think I saw them without a smile on their face for even a moment. Their cheerful nature was infectious and we got the MOST stunning photos through their happiness! 

Most Fairy Tale Affair 
I remember the first time I met with Lizzy to discuss her and Andrew’s Whitby Castle Wedding in Rye, NY, we bonded immediately over our love of high tea and all things British, including Princess Kate. I knew their wedding day, at a castle, would be nothing short of a fairy tale and it certainly didn’t disappoint! I loved their romantic indoor portraits and night photos in front of their stunning venue! 

Most Historic Venues
Kelsie and Josh opted to spend their wedding day at not one, but TWO incredibly historic venues, something there isn’t a shortage of here in the District of Columbia! They shared their romantic first look and portraits at the Anderson House at the Society of the Cincinnati before tying the knot during their Whittemore House wedding just down the road!
 

Luckiest Couple
Tori and Robbie’s Airlie Center wedding last May was SUPPOSED to be after April showers, but unfortunately those lingered quite a bit longer last year. The most beautiful part of this venue in Warrenton, VA are their formal gardens where the ceremony often takes place. With an impending storm planned to hit right in the middle of the nuptials, these two had to make a call of whether or not to move forward as planned or take the ceremony inside. Tori went with her gut and the rains held off until just SECONDS after their ceremony ended! It was absolutely beautiful and so worth the risk!

Favorite Couple 
Did you really think I could pick just one?!