Washington DC Engagement Session |District of Columbia Wedding Photos | Virginia Wedding Photographer

My engagement and wedding season officially began in April and I’m excited about the couples I have the honor to work with in 2019! This Spring I captured the engagement session for the sweetest couple, Fernanda and German. It was fun getting to know them as we walked the paths in the Smithsonian Institute Gardens in Washington, D.C.

They met Thanksgiving day and have been together for 10 years and recently got engaged! German proposed after an Italian dinner at the MGM near National Harbor. The couple was walking around the lobby area, when German told Fernanda to close her eyes as there was, “someone who wanted to see me” When she opened her eyes, he had managed to get both families there and they were holding posters asking her to marry him!! She said YES!

Fernanda wore a blue & yellow sundress while he wore white and denim which were perfect as their wedding colors will be Navy Blue and Gold which were his Soceer team colors! They were naturals in front of my camera and slayed the e-session. When I showed her the back of the camera during the session, as I often do with couples…. She said, Oh I love them all!!!

Michael & Susan | Hilton Garden Inn Fairfax, Virginia Wedding Photographer

I absolutely adore these two! Their laughter and joy is contagious! I got to know Mike and Susy photographing their Middleburg engagement session and knew right away their wedding would be amazing! This wedding may be one of the most relaxed and joyful weddings ever. Their ceremony was held at the Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church, a little white church in Chantilly, Virginia. The church lawn was a perfect setting for bridal party portraits after a beautiful ceremony.

The couple held their cocktail hour at the Hilton accompanied by the guitar soloist Steve Ferguson. Their reception was rockin’ at the Hilton full of so much love and laughter of friends and family from near and far! The brilliant red bridal bouquets and red heart accent with black formal attire made for a gorgeous wedding day!

Congratulations! Thank you for the honor of photographing your amazing Wedding Day! xoxo

Vendors
Venue | Hilton Garden Inn Fairfax
Photographer | Donna Gilroy of Gilroy Photography
Ceremony | Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church
Pastor Officiant | Rev. Sean Devolites
Rings | Jared the Galleria of Jewelry
Florals | Brooch Bouquets
Cake | Becky Fairchild
Hair and Make Up | Suissa Salon
Wedding Dress | Macy’s Bridal Salon by Demetrius
Bride’s Shoes | Ninas
Groom Attire | Macy’s Calvin Klein Suits
DJ Music | DJ Romie Rome, Jerome White
Honeymoon | Charleston SC

First Look Wedding Advice

The First Look is becoming more and more popular. Seeing your fiance for the first time before you walk down the aisle gives you both a quiet moment to yourselves, and from a photographer’s point of view, it helps with the overall wedding day timeline while allowing for beautiful intimate moments. But it also breaks the traditional rule of the groom not seeing the bride before the wedding, and takes away the initial surprise of the bride coming down the aisle. Take some time and talk to your fiance about what you are comfortable with to decide if a first look is right for you and review our advice.

Having a private first look is a great way to ease some of those wedding day jitters and remind you both of your love for each other and why you are getting married. A wedding day is long and can go by in a blur, so taking a few moments alone with your fiance will allow you to be in the moment and enjoy being together before the rest of the day begins and you are surrounded by family and friends.

A first look gives your photographer the opportunity to capture the love between the bride and groom. A first look is more intimate than the traditional route of seeing each other coming down the aisle for the first time surrounded by your guests. A first look is often a more emotional moment when done in private and allows your photographer a unique chance to capture real emotion and we’ve seen it all, from tears to laughter, dips and passionate kisses!

A first look will allow you to get bridal portraits and maybe even some bridal party photos or family photos done before the ceremony. This could give you more time to travel to another location you may want to have bridal portraits done, either after the ceremony or plan to do your first look at a separate location that may have special meaning to you as a couple. Having photos done before the ceremony might also allow you to get to your cocktail hour earlier, allowing you to have more time with your guests and more time to enjoy everything you spent months planning.