Julia & Alex | The Oaks Waterfront Inn wedding | Easton, MD

Julia and Alex were married at The Oaks Waterfront Inn near Easton, MD with an absolutely spectacular outdoor ceremony overlooking the lake. Julia and I go all the way back to college, where we shared an apartment, and her wedding rounded up tons of folks I hadn't seen in years. I was photographing their escort cards going "Oh hey! Wow, she's coming!" Also, shooting a friend's wedding is different than shooting a near-stranger's wedding. While editing this set of images, I was struck frequently with a compulsion to email Julia yet another preview going "LOOK HOW BEAUTIFUL YOU ARE!!" I managed to hold back until right now. Julia and Alex: The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-63 We started the day at Serendipity Salon and Spa in St. Michaels, Maryland. It's the most adorable hair salon possible, but then again, everything in St. Michaels is adorable. The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-1The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-2 Julia wore the same veil her mother did on her wedding day. The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-4The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-5The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-6The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-8 First look on the verandah. The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-9The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-10 A trio of spies. The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-12The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-13The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-15The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-16 Alex is, to dramatically understate the situation, a golf enthusiast. Photos with golf-related things were mandatory. The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-17The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-18The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-19The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-21 Portraits taken, ketubah signed, we all headed out to the lake to see these two get official. The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-24 Julia's mom and dad came in on the golf cart, which, needless to say, is pretty awesome. The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-25The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-27The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-28The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-29The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-30The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-31The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-32The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-34The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-33The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-35The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-37The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-38The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-39The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-40The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-41 It's my blog, so I can put my friends on it and embarrass them. Years ago and many posing and photography skill levels ago, these two (who also happen to be some of my best friends) were super gracious and posed for me in their wedding attire. For that matter, so did Julia and Alex - there's a vague reference to a "domestic arrangement" in that blog post - probably they had just moved in together. "Awwwww," right? The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-42 Cocktailed up, everybody headed into the main room for more food and dancing and good times. The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-43The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-44The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-45The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-46The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-48The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-50The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-51 Julia and Alex had mardi gras beads made for their wedding. Julia and lots of the rest of us went to school at Tulane and most of us have managed to sneak some of New Orleans into our weddings. The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-52The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-53The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-54The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-55The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-58The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-59The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-60The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-61The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-62The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-64The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-68-copyThe-Oaks-wedding-Easton-69The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-71The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-73 That guy in the upper right would be my husband (and that's me with my back turned). Special thanks to my loyal, hardworking assistant, also named Julia, for doing extra duty at this wedding so I could shake it a bit with the crew. The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-76-copyThe-Oaks-wedding-Easton-77The-Oaks-wedding-Easton-78 Congratulations you guys!!

Julia and Alex's vendor team: Ceremony and reception venue: The Oaks Waterfront Inn Catering: same Band: Sly 45 Florist: Amy Wilkins, Monteray Farms Cake: Bay Country Bakery Hair and makeup: Serendipity Salon and Spa Julia's stunning dress: Betsy Robinson Bridal Alex's dashing suit: Nordstrom Videography: friends and family with wedit.com

The Oaks Waterfront Inn wedding

It was a rainy day, a surprise nor'easter when it should have been sunny and bright.  During the ceremony rehearsal, you could see the venue staff cleaning up the previous day's wedding - which clearly took place on the gorgeous lawn, overlooking the water.  I know my bride was anxious to take photos in all the wonderful picturesque (outdoor) locations at The Oaks Waterfront Inn.  But as the rain kept coming and coming and the temperature dropped while everyone was getting ready, it became clear that wasn't going to happen. bride and groom at the oaks waterfront inn She walked down the aisle with her mother and when she arrived, there was a puddle where she was supposed to stand.  So she shrugged and took a step back and laughed it off.  I was so impressed with the grace and ease with which this couple handled the day.  So rainy we can't do photos practically anywhere?  No big deal.  We have to move from Plan A not to even B, but right on down to Plan C?  Okay, that's cool.  These guys were so chill and it was clear they put every one of their guests at ease and as far as I can tell, everybody had a rockin' good time. details diptych from the oaks waterfront inn Her mom and aunt did hair and makeup for all the girls.  A seriously talented duo. bride and her mom getting ready before the wedding ceremony getting ready at the oaks waterfront inn bride putting on her dress at the oaks maryland wedding photographer We managed to skip on down to the dock which was, thankfully, covered! bride and groom on a rainy day bride and groom portraits in the rain at the oaks rainy day portraits at the oaks waterfront inn walking into the wedding ceremony bride laughing during wedding ceremony bride and groom at the oaks wedding ceremony macro ring shot with origami stars bride and groom enter the oaks wedding reception grandmother tearing up at the oaks waterfront inn mother of the bride Love this one of their families dancing together. families dancing during the wedding reception Their little nephew pretty much stole the show. holding a tiny nephew at the oaks waterfront inn boy sleeping during the wedding reception little boy at the wedding ceremony bride and groom dancing at the oaks waterfront inn the oaks waterfront inn wedding reception guests dancing at the oaks waterfront inn dancing at the wedding reception bride and groom share a last dance at the wedding reception Congratulations you guys! Vendors: Photography: me Ceremony and Reception Venue: The Oaks Waterfront Inn Hair & makeup: Bride's mother and aunt DJ: Mark Savage Catering: The Oaks