Matt + Clare | Backyard Wedding in Dillsburg, PA

Matt + Clare got married this past weekend on her mother's farm in Dillsburg, PA and boy was it special. One of my favorite parts of my job is seeing how all my couple's put their unique touch into the big day and these two crushed it in the personal touch department. Matt + Clare, with the help of their families of course, have spent the past year and a half - yes, a year and a half, working tirelessly to make the barn and property their dream venue. Even the wooden tables + benches were all made by hand specifically for their day. I love it! 

Jonathan and I arrived on the farm early afternoon and were immediately greeted by friendly faces and special people who were extremely excited to get Matt + Clare hitched. We were too! The girls got ready downstairs and spent the whole time giggling. They picked wildflowers growing on the farm to use as the finishing touches to their hair. The guys were upstairs relaxing and getting ready, perhaps sneaking in a pre-ceremony shot. 

They had a beautiful ceremony in the barn and then headed over to the tent for the party! Right before dinner the skies opened up to a torrential downpour. The winds were picking up and knocking things over and the rain was soaking tables inside the tent, but with a little sense of humor from their guests, the party continued. The DJ threw on It's Raining Men and Umbrella to lighten the mood. Everyone was having a blast out on the dance floor. We even ended up with a baby rainbow! 

The speeches were both hilarious and heart felt. We snuck away for some portraits with Clare's horses which was really special. They spent the rest of the night dancing, playing yard games + beer pong, and enjoying their first hours as husband + wife with their closest loved ones. It was such an honor to be a part of Matt + Clare's wedding day. They are both genuine, kind people and I feel blessed to have captured this day for them.  

Vendors: 

Dress - Tamzens Bridal
Hair/Makeup - Moxy Salon and Day Spa
Catering - Chef Exclusive
DJ - Tipton Entertainment

Matt + Morgan | Georgetown Engagement Session

Jonathan and I photographed Matt + Morgan's engagement session on Sunday evening in Georgetown and it was a whole lot of fun! Our cheeks genuinely hurt from laughing and smiling so much with these two. We lucked out with no rain after a day full of a 90% chance of rain forecast and I'm SO glad it worked out! We cannot wait to photograph their May wedding next year! Scroll for their adorableness! 

Best Washington, D.C, Maryland, Virginia + Pennsylvania Wedding Venues

I get asked all the time, "What is your favorite venue you've ever shot at?" Well, I simply cannot pick a favorite! My job takes me all over the country and there are so many amazing venues I've had the privilege of shooting at. Maybe one day I'll write a post about my favorite venues across the the country, but today I'm sharing with you my favorite "local" wedding venues! If you're still looking for that perfect spot to get married, this blog post is for you. 

Washington, D.C

Fathom Gallery, City Club of Washington, Ronald Regan Building

Fathom Gallery - The most gorgeous rooftop to get married on in the D.C area! Perfect for smaller sized weddings! 

The Ronald Regan Building - If you want a D.C style wedding, this venue is for you! The reception hall is filled with natural light and the outdoor courtyard makes the perfect backdrop for bridal portraits. 

City Club of Washington - I kicked off my 2018 wedding season here and I'm so glad that I did. There's so much natural light at this venue and a gorgeous staircase to walk down to meet your husband-to-be. 

Maryland

Elkridge Furnace Inn, Chesapeake Bay Beach Club, Cylburn Arboretum, Dulany's Overlook

The Cylburn Arboretum - gorgeous inside and out! Clyburn's grounds are well kept and make a wonderful location for outdoor ceremonies + receptions. The getting ready space is beautiful too!

The Cylburn Arboretum

The Chesapeake Bay Beach Club - what a stunning venue this is! It has beautiful views of the water, a private beach and a gorgeous reception hall. 

The Elkridge Furnace Inn - Perfect for smaller, more intimate weddings! 

Dulany's Overlook - Through and through this venue is beautiful! It stands out because it has gorgeous on-site getting ready rooms, great outdoor ceremony options and a super cool barn to party all night long! There are endless photo opportunities here too! 

Virginia

Breaux Vineyards, Rust Manor House, The Hermitage Museum and Gardens, The Inn at Vint Hill

The Inn at Vint Hill - One of the dreamiest venues in Northern, VA! 

The Hermitage Museum and Gardens - Oh my goodness, this venue is about as picturesque as it gets. Get married under a massive tree. Have your first dance on this beautiful patio under string lights. And enjoy the sunset over the water right next to your reception. Look no further for a wonderful Virginia venue! 

Breaux Vineyards - Get married among the vines in the Shenandoah Valley and dance the night away in their beautiful reception hall! This is a hidden gem in Purcellville, VA. 

Pennsylvania

The Barn at Silverstone, Terrain, The Morris Arboretum , Appleford Estate

The Morris Arboretum - This venue is the bohemian bride's dream! Do your portraits in their greenhouse or in the rose garden and enjoy cocktail hour in the treehouse! This is the best wedding venue in PA! 

Appleford Estate - An old greenhouse, beautiful gardens and an amazing outdoor patio! Appleford has it all and I highly recommend this venue! The historic building is way cute too.

The Barn at Silverstone - Dang, I love this place! Enjoy numerous backdrops such as weeping willows, corn fields and a silo. The barn is upscale and a gorgeous place to host your reception! 

Backyard weddings 

Also always a good option! Near or far, I'm always down to shoot a backyard wedding! 

I hope this was helpful! 

When planning your wedding it's important to remember that everything should be unique to you as a couple. Finding the perfect venue, photographer and vendor team to enhance the love you have for one another as naturally as possible is what you should look for. 

Natasha + Nate | In-Home Session | Washington, DC

Natasha + Nate were our hot models for our second styled session at The Meraki Workshop a few weekends ago. In-home sessions are super trendy right now and for good reason. They're fun, snuggly and require a lot of connection between the photographer + couple. They generate really intimate imagery which is some of my favorite. 

Sarah + I instructed for a couple of hours in this freaking beautiful Breather space in Georgetown. In case you don't know what Breather is, it's basically Airbnb for co-working spaces at an affordable rate, but they're also incredible for photo shoots. If you're interested in trying Breather out use my code to get $45 off your first booking! For some spaces that's MORE than it costs! (Code: 9CCXW8) 

After we instructed, we walked to the next room to photograph Natasha + Nate snuggling in front of a bunch of cameras. They were awesome and super willing to do anything (including the airplane which you'll see below.) We lucked out with perfect weather Saturday and rainy weather Sunday which was actually great to set the mood. 

Sarah + I are so grateful we were able to host a full weekend of fun, community + get tons of great photos in the process. We met last week and are already planning the next one! Whoop whoop! I can't say that this time last year I would have thought I'd be teaching + hosting a workshop, but I love being able to share what I've learned with others who are so driven to succeed in their craft. 

If you're interested in joining the party at the next edition of The Meraki Workshop, sign up for our email list so you'll be the first to know when the deets hit the interwebs. Click BE IN THE KNOW and let us know the best way to connect with you. 

ENOUGH RAMBLING! Scroll for in-home snuggles!