Aimee & Richard: Married! | Monkton, MD

Aimee and Richard got married in the woods.  Basically everyone they know contributed something to the wedding - from the cake to the officiant, their wedding was about as personalized as it is possible to be.  I found out that Aimee made (almost?) every decoration at the lodge and crafted *three* pieces of jewelery for each of her bridesmaids.  Her craftiness is the stuff of legend. Their DIY wedding was humble and warm and lovely.  It was an honor to photograph it. wedding and portrait photographer Amber Wilkie bride getting ready in monkton, maryland bride putting on dress with brown sash bridesmaids helping put on wedding sash Aimee's mom is so unbelievably cute.  She teared up a bit when she saw Aimee in her dress.  *sigh*  This is the kind of moment that makes wedding photography sing for me. mom tearing up at seeing bride in wedding dress mom hugs daughter on wedding day bride getting hairsprayed I was fortunate to have the awesome Doug Pettway along for the ride.  Doug caught some of the guy action and there's a few other photos of his sprinkled in here and there.  Thanks again Doug! groom laughing in cabin groom getting ready at camp puh'tok groomsmen in a circle I love Aimee's glance into the circle right before it was time for everybody to start walking. bride right before she walks down the aisle father of the bride walks bride down aisle grooms sees bride for the first time Aimee and Richard did their thing at Camp Puh'Tok up in Monkton, MD.  I was soooo digging the giant eagle over their ceremony site in the council ring.  Not too many people can say their wedding was presided over by a massive eagle. wedding at the council circle at camp puh'tok bride and groom during wedding ceremony in monkton, md bride and groom and bridesmaids with blue dresses round wedding ceremony bride and groom during wedding ceremony in monkton, md wedding ceremony in northern maryland walking away after wedding ceremony bridal party with totem pole bride and groom kissing under giant eagle bride and groom witih totem pole bride and groom portraits at camp puh'tok wedding photographer Amber Wilkie Pretty sure this is the point where I told them to look happy, but not "short bus" happy. bride and groom laughing during portraits bride and groom on camp puh'tok stairs I had to fight the bees for this tree.  I won. wedding ring shot in black and white bride and groom being announced hacienda at camp puh'tok guests at the pool at hacienda lounging in the pool at a wedding reception Turns out Aimee sings in a band! This girl does everything. bride singing with hollertown camp puh'tok details and scenery diy centerpieces at wedding wedding decorations at thunderbird lodge bride and groom dancing during first dance everyone joins in the dancing at thunderbird lodge bride and groom cutting cake epic wedding dancing shot mother and father of the groom dancing guest dancing crazy at wedding dancing at the wedding reception light painting with bride and groom at camp puh-tok

LDS Temple Festival of Lights | Kensington, MD

George and my little holiday tradition is to drive around and see the light shows our crazy neighbors (and then some) put on for the holidays.  We stretched the "tradition" a bit to hit up the Mormon Temple in Kensington, Maryland for their annual Festival of Lights. mormon temple in washington, dc The free to all event included a performance by the Rockville Swing Band and sixteen giant Christmas trees decorated in various styles.  I couldn't quite figure out the theme - some of them seemed to be representing many different countries, others were just pretty - but they were all very nice.  They also had nativity scenes from around the world.  On the whole, a very pleasant outing. jesus at the washington mormon temple music performance at lds temple peace on a christmas tree washington dc christmas tree stars on the washington dc christmas tree annapolis tree at lds temple nativity scene at lds temple nativity scene at the mormon temple in washington dc felt nativity scene jesus and mormon temple dc