For once I was a guest at a wedding and not the official wedding photographer. Of course, I couldn’t help but take some pictures. I used both my professional camera and my iPhone. Here’s to Tim and Kaoru!

When you see Andrea and Cristina together, you wonder how the right to marry could be denied to two people who love each other and are so entirely committed to each other. Andrea and Cristina live in Maryland. Same sex marriage isn’t legal there. But earlier this year, it looked like it might become legal. On the day the Maryland House of Delegates was voting on a same sex marriage proposal, Andrea and Cristina visited a potential wedding site in Maryland. The went in giddy that marriage would soon be legal for them. They left the site disappointed that the same sex marriage proposal had been left to die.

This incredibly upbeat and funny couple regrouped and decided they would marry in Washington, D.C. Same sex marriage became legal here last year. But where to hold the ceremony? Andrea and Cristina’s friend Gillian lives in a beautiful home in Washington, D.C., so they asked if they could hold their wedding there. Gillian (who’s also my friend) was incredibly touched by their request. Of course she said, “Yes!” And that’s how I came to find myself at Gillian’s last night, photographing one of the most emotional weddings I’ve ever attended. Everyone cried. And I do mean everyone. Including me.

Congratulations, Andrea and Cristina!

Megan and Adam are married!

These two chose the gorgeous Carnegie Institute in downtown Washington DC as their wedding venue. I’d passed the building a thousand times before, never imagining that the structure hid a huge, light-filled atrium – a lovely setting for exchanging vows and beginning married life. In the hours before the ceremony, Megan kept saying, “I can’t wait to be married to Adam! I just love him. I’m so lucky!” I love it when brides and grooms talk about each other this way. When Adam and Megan are together, she smiles and laughs even more than  usual, which is saying a lot because Megan is hands-down the most laughter-filled bride I’ve ever met. Adam isn’t quite as outwardly expressive (as we all learned from Danny, the best man, during his hilarious toast speech) but you can see by the way he looks at her that he’s incredibly happy.

What a great privilege it was to photograph Megan and Adam’s wedding. I’m so happy for them!

A big thank you goes out to my colleague Amanda Lucidon, who worked with me as a second set of eyes. Scroll halfway down for some of her fantastic pictures.

Hair by Carina at Bang Salon Metropole

Photograph by Amanda Lucidon

Photograph by Amanda Lucidon

Photograph by Amanda Lucidon

Photograph by Amanda Lucidon

Photograph by Amanda Lucidon

Left: Before the wedding | Right: After the wedding | Both pictures: Happy as can be!

More to come….

Just over a week ago, Kelly and Mike pledged their love to each other during a gorgeous outdoor wedding at the Gramercy Mansion in Baltimore. They carried a little embroidered handkerchief during the ceremony – you know, just in case the tears flowed. While that didn’t happen, anyone can see how ridiculously happy these two are together. Congrats to Kelly and Mike!

One of the first things you notice about Samantha and John is how much they make each other smile and laugh. We’re talking constant smiles and laughter! This, of course, made it an extra-special joy to photograph their wedding at the gorgeous Tabard Inn in Washington DC yesterday.

Samantha and John are the kind of confident, laid-back people who don’t let much get them down, which is why the rain on their wedding day didn’t bother them. They’re also the kind of people who are up for anything, which is how we ended up riding the carousel on the National Mall on a rainy Saturday afternoon. John walked up to the ticket guy, who looked up and around and said, “Brides always ride free”–as if he’d seen this hundreds of times before. But it was the first time for us and apparently the first time for a couple dozen amused tourists who snapped pictures of Samantha and John. The ride was so much fun! I admit I got dizzy, but it was worth it.

Thanks, Samantha and John, for allowing me to document the start of your marriage! I hope you two have an awesome honeymoon. See you when you return to DC!

This past Saturday I had the pleasure of shooting Candace and Steve’s fantastic wedding in Newport News, Va. It was the first traditional, African-American wedding I’ve ever photographed, but I don’t have any pictures of the broom-jumping ceremony. Or the laughter after the groom’s father’s speech. Or the moment the groom broke down during the vows. It’s OK, though, because I was the designated video shooter. My friend Sean Holder (whom I met on the Project Bangladesh trip) and his second shooter Brandon Cordon did the heavy lifting for still photography. I did manage to squeeze in a few frames, however, so here they are. Enjoy!

While photographing Jen and Josh’s small wedding near the Jefferson Memorial yesterday, I have to admit I teared up a bit. From the moment these two chatted at a work happy hour last summer, they wanted to spend every moment together, listening to each other and learning more about each other. Jen’s independence, energy and athleticism appealed to Josh. Josh, meanwhile, came as a complete surprise to Jen; I think she might have described him as coming out of left field. Their love is palpable.

After the ceremony, Jen, Josh and I cruised around downtown DC in a 1963 Bentley – a sweet ride for sure – taking pictures in front of the Washington Monument and the Capitol. (The last picture in this blog post, the one of them leaning against the car, is one of my favorites from the day.) They just couldn’t stop laughing and smiling at each other! Every once in a while some tourist or passerby would start humming the Wedding March, which of course caused more laughter and smiling.

Jen and Josh held their reception dinner at the Tabard Inn, near Dupont Circle. Let me tell you this place is a photographer’s dream. It’s elegant with beautiful colors, interesting decorations and tons of natural light. The staff is friendly and accommodating. From now on I’ll be recommending the Tabard to brides and grooms looking for a cozy reception site.

Thanks for letting me be part of your day, Jen and Josh. Have fun in Italy and talk to you when you’re back!