the blog

All I can say is wow. Val and Garrett trusted us without even having to meet us in person. An hour before their session, the skies literally DUMPED rain… non-stop. We weren’t sure if the session was going to happen or not, but in looking at the radar, we wanted to go for it. Once we told them that we wanted to go for it, they did too… (of course knowing we would reschedule if the rian didn’t subside). Upon arrival at the location where Garrett proposed, the sun started to come out. We knew we had 2 hours before the next storm, so we did our best to CRUISE around Havre de Grace and get these lovebirds variety. They did great! We ended our time together at one of my favs… Abbey Burger. And we talked all things life and wedding. Val and Garrett, we are so excited for whats to come and your wedding day! xo

Oh gosh, this wedding I’m so excited to share, and I think it’s because I got to check off a bucket list wedding item: Photograph a Rainy Ceremony OUTDOOR, and our couple was the dream couple to do this with!

Sara and Joey had an incredible wedding day, wet, yes, but honestly, it was some of the prettiest lighting we’ve had all year with overcast skies but then moments of soft light. They get an award for trusting us with difficult weather and allowing us to call needed audibles day of!

There were so many cool details of this wedding that I have to mention. From an intimate first look, to a really special gift from Sara to Joey. He has a favorite actor and Sara got a recording from the actor to Joey on his wedding day. It was so cool, so special and Joey was definitely moved by it. I’ll never forget that Sara said that she wanted to get married outside. There was a 50% chance of rain, so we took all 30 of our umbrellas out to ceremony, set a bunch, gave some to family, and went full mode into what we were pretty sure would become a rainy ceremony. Sure enough, as soon as Sara walked down the aisle, the skies clouded over and the rain started to come. I’ve never interrupted a ceremony before but I was not about to allow my bride to be drenched, covered, soaked. The ceremony continued with umbrellas in hand by all and smiles too. I do’s were said and all cheered as our couple recessed out as husband and wife!

Laura and Kurt are some of the most patient people ever, and I’m so grateful! All day we were praying for sunny skies and we almost made it… until it was time for their first look! Laura braved the winds to go outside and have a sweet, quiet moment with Kurt before the skies opened up on us! Luckily, the storm passed, and we were even able to get a few pictures in the rain. It ended up being the best of both worlds! 

We’ve never had a bride love her rainy day wedding as much as Tiffany did. And when we say rain, we Lena like down pour. At our final meeting with Tiffany, like most our brides, she said “I totally want rain picture.” Some don’t know what that actually entails until it actually happens. Rain in unavoidable but beautiful rain pictures are for the brave and free.

Let’s just say, William and Tiffany dominated their rain pictures. Like I mean danced in the rain at the end of the night, rung out her dress mid photos, and loved that her bouquet had rain drops all over it.

This wedding was so sweet and unique. William is Jewish and Tiffany is Chinese. Together they created a beautiful wedding woven with Chinese culture including a tea ceremony with their elders and gold flaked red gift envelopes, to a Chuppah and Ketubah signing honoring Jewish law. These guys even had an outfit change to honor both.

It downpoured under the tent during ceremony while friends read readings and the challah bread was broken. It kept raining while folks danced under the rain covered white tent. Sweet toasts were shared and tears resulted as parents and wedding party shared memories and secret admiration of the bride and groom.

They held hands laughing as they walking through the gardens under umbrellas in between sun and rainfall. Their bridesmaids were prepared with rain boots and smiles. Kevin and Ashley are sentimental and intentional. Kevin’s gift to his bride: a time capsule full of letters for the present and future. Ashley’s gift to Kevin: a love letter, a toast for he and his groomsmen, and a star map of their love story. One of our favorite details was a surprise gift Ashley gave to her mom, an illustration of the two of them on her wedding day. These are just a few of those details that were woven into the day.