Before we get back to sharing the Memorial Day weekend festivities, I want to sneak some engagement photos in here that we took the week before on the University of Virginia’s campus in Charlottesville where Emily and Gabe met in grad school.  They are both finishing up their medical degrees and leaning towards pediatrics so Sam made me promise not to call their phones in the middle of the night with questions.

We took Emily’s amazing bridals at beautiful Virginia House in Richmond to kick off our shooting weekend.  Sadly we have to keep those under lock and key until after the wedding so you’ll have to stay tuned…

Here’s a slideshow from the e-session and click here to see their online gallery.  We’re excited for Emily and Gabe’s wedding at the newly renovated Virginia Museum of Fine Arts this coming August, congrats once again to you both!

Posted by Mel @ 2:19 am, in Engagement Portraits, Portraits | No comments | Permalink

As we pulled up to the beautiful Glen Roy Plantation in Gloucester, Virginia we were greeted by a magnificent peacock running across the lawn.  It was one of the rather unexpected but beautiful features of the property Logan’s family has been restoring for the past four years.  We learned that these impressive creatures conveyed with the house since, once a peacock has established a home, you can’t move him.  I can understand that sentiment, being rather anti-U-Haul myself.  Besides, who could blame them for wanting to stay at Glen Roy with its beautiful view of the water?  Sam and I have never really tried wildlife photography but hey, if this wedding thing ever falls through its good to know there are other possibilities!

A single, grand tree stands behind the house on the expansive land that reaches out to meet the bay.  This old tree was featured on the wedding programs and it became the backdrop for the ceremony.  While guests sang Ode to Joy I hustled up several flights of stairs and through a crawl space to reach a widow’s walk on the top of the house for this shot of the ceremony:

Usually the processional is all about the bride and groom but Sam caught this glance between Joey and his father:

A tent was set up on the back of the property in front of the dock where guests meandered to watch the water throughout the night.  Courtney Spencer of Merriment Events designed the event and coordinated the day.  As beautiful as everything was, it was Logan and Joey’s friends and family that made it memorable.  Her bridesmaids gave the most creative toast I have seen with a slideshow auction of items (and foodstuffs!) related to the couples’ history together.  And Logan’s father, Jay, surprised them with a light display with their initials on the far side of the field.  And talk about a party… the couple hired our personal favorite band, the Jangling Reinharts, whom we have loved since they played our best friends’ wedding in 2008 (we really need to get out and see you guys play outside the wedding circuit!).  There are too many crazy party pics to include here but I’m thinking this one sums it up pretty well:

Congrats to Logan and Joey, check out their slideshow with our favs from the day and to check out their online gallery, click here.

Posted by Mel @ 8:27 pm, in Weddings | No comments | Permalink

On Friday evening Sam headed out to Gloucester, Virginia to join the fun as the Ferguson family kicked off the weekend’s wedding events with a fabulous rehearsal dinner for Logan and Joseph at the Ware River Country Club.  The weather was beautiful, the toasts were hilarious and, as my husband was sure to notice, there was some really good beer on hand for guests to enjoy.  I was loving on the tartan ties and table linens.  Here are just a few shots from the evening with more from the wedding to come momentarily!

Posted by Mel @ 3:43 pm, in Weddings | No comments | Permalink

Sometimes, you gotta eat dessert first.

So I’ll share a few photos from our perfect day off before catching everyone up on this weekend’s events.  So many of you ask about Madison (aka Fiver) regularly and somehow I have resisted the temptation to bombard you with baby pictures.  But yesterday the lil’ man turned 9 months old so I’m feeling like its appropriate if not overdue to share just how much he has grown.   Nothing professional, just a few snaps with our waterproof point-and-shoot that we don’t play with nearly enough.   This was Fiver’s first real pool experience and our small fry is destined to become a big fish!

It was a busy weekend between a beautiful bridal portrait, a fun rehearsal dinner and two absolutely fantastic weddings.  We’ve got lots of good stuff to share so stay tuned…

Posted by Mel @ 2:17 pm, in Personal | 1 comment | Permalink