Kelly and Tyler’s wedding brought us back to the beautiful University of Virginia campus in the mountain town of Charlottesville, Virginia.  It was a memorable Saturday for lots of reasons: the USA was playing Ghana in the World Cup and a massive storm with hurricane winds had blown through town just a couple days before, wiping out trees and power lines in its wake.  It’s as if storms like to follow the Walk boys to their weddings only to jump ship after the rehearsal, we remember the storm that hit Williamburg the day before Tyler’s brother Mitch’s wedding to Beth a few years back.  We heard that the power had not returned in time for Kelly and Tyler’s rehearsal dinner on Friday night but that the chef figured out a way to grill the entire meal… and nailed it!   How’s that for Dinner Impossible?  Sam and I didn’t have any such weather related professional challenges, the sunshine was happy to help us out.  And if the prospect of power outages had either Kelly or Tyler worried the day of the wedding no one would be the wiser… they were all smiles from day into night, as you can see.  Our job is a piece of cake in any weather when we work with a couple as easy going as Kelly and Tyler.

The wedding colors were a cheery combination of peach and pink, summery and bright.  I asked Beth to order one of the house martinis for me to photograph, a yummy looking ice tea martini with fresh peach.  It doesn’t get much more summery sweet than that!

A big congrats to Kelly and Tyler on such a fantastic wedding… we’re so thankful that we got to be a part of it.  Here’s a slideshow of our favorite shots from the day and click here if you would like to be notified by email when the online gallery is available for viewing.  Congrats again!

Posted by Mel @ 9:07 pm, in Weddings | No comments | Permalink

Jennifer and Tim’s wedding last spring was beautiful in so many ways: Jennifer and Tim are among the warmest folks we have had the good fortune to shoot for.  Just the other day I was saying to Sam that its the brides who think of others on the day of their wedding who truly impress me.  I’ll never forget arriving at the Mill the day of Jenn and Tim’s wedding because Jenn ran up to greet a very pregnant version of me with a hug and a gift bag containing a beautiful silver spoon for the baby.  I was floored, I couldn’t believe that in all the hullabaloo of wedding planning, of all the things she had to remember to bring with her that day, she had taken the time out to think of our family much less bring us a gift.  Predictably, I started crying and blamed it on the hormones.

We are so fortunate to shoot for so many brides and grooms who are beautiful people like that.

When Sestra Bridal got in touch to ask if we would share photos for their blog, that Jennifer had wanted to share her story I thought: how Jenn is that?  Of course she would take time out of her super busy day to offer a recommendation for a vendor she had a great experience with, she’s just that kind of gal.   So check out Jennifer’s story on the Sestra Bridal blog.  Congrats to Sestra for a job well done and congrats to  Jenn and Tim on this first, beautiful year of marriage they have enjoyed together.

Posted by Mel @ 12:51 pm, in News, Weddings | No comments | Permalink

I feel like this post needs a drum roll!  We know that many of you out there have been patiently, patiently waiting for this one and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts, we really do.  We’re hoping these photos come just in time to greet the happy couple back from their honeymoon.

Jenn and Kyle are, in a word, awesome.  We’ve really enjoyed getting to know them over the course of the past year: crazy fun, super sweet… not to mention we always have a soft spot for couples who love their dogs (aka children with fur) as much as we do.  We were so happy to see Ellie again, sporting her wedding garland and awaiting her newly “official” parents to exit the church.  Sam nestled dog treats into the lens hood of his super wide to get her attention!

I meant to ask when I saw this… Did Ellie help Kyle pop the question?

The ceremony took place at the Chapel at the University of Richmond.  It was as if God cued up the lights just as the ceremony began, how amazing is the sun coming through the stained glass?  I wish we could make this kind of light happen at every wedding but all we can do is exploit it when it does…

The reception took place at the Jefferson Hotel, the icing on the cake of a classic Richmond wedding and Lariza of Detail by Detail did an amazing job making sure the event ran without a hitch.  The Empire Room was dressed in blue uplights and spotlighting to create a wonderland for dinner and dancing.   We’re always amazed at what a difference professional lighting makes when it comes to creating atmosphere for a reception.   Not that the Empire Room looks shabby in any light, of course!

We admit that we felt a little self conscious, between ourselves and the videographers it looked more like a movie set than a wedding at times.  So we want to thank Jenn, Kyle and their amazing wedding party for making us feel so welcome throughout the day.  Actually, y’all made us feel like rock stars.  We’re not worthy… but we had a really great time and enjoyed meeting all of you.  (And getting to use the word “gachi”!)  Check out this slideshow with our favs from the day or share the album on Facebook.  Oh, And click here to access the online gallery when it becomes available.  Congrats again, J&K!!!

Posted by Mel @ 10:51 pm, in Weddings | 2 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