Marla & Eric | Mountain Lakes House destination wedding | Princeton, NJ

Marla and Eric were married at the outrageously beautiful Mountain Lakes House in Princeton, NJ last weekend.  Their wedding was serene and charming and very, very sweet.  Brunch weddings have a calmness to them that is missing sometimes in more bustling, late-night weddings.  And the light was really beautiful.  See? princeton, nj destination wedding photographer Mountain Lakes House is set in this incredible natural area just a long driveway down from a residential area.  It looks like we're way back in the woods - but downtown Princeton is just five minutes away.  I really dug the place.  Marla had a few of her girls along to help her into the dress. mountain lakes house wedding photography mountain lakes house wedding in princeton, nj getting ready at mountain lakes house Then we had time for a few portraits before things got underway. wedding photography at mountain lakes house, princeton, nj mountain lakes house wedding photography Their rabbi was so great.  She even told everybody to put the cameras away during the ceremony and be present.  I love that, not just for the photography - but so that Marla and Eric's friends and family could really participate and enjoy the ceremony. ketubah signing at mountain lakes house bride and groom at mountain lakes house mountain lakes house ketubah signing ceremony Ketubah signed, it was time to rock. walking down the aisle at mountain lakes house wedding  wedding ceremony at mountain lakes house  jewish wedding ceremony at mountain lakes house If you tell me you've seen a prettier setting for a ceremony, you're probably lying. beautiful wedding overlooking a lake in princeton, nj Did I mention they were sweet?  There's very little that can make me go "awwww" at a wedding at this point, but this did. wedding ceremony in princeton, nj princeton, nj wedding photography Ceremony done, yechud had, it was time to party. first dance at mountain lakes house wedding And do the hora.  I love the hora. hora at mountain lakes house wedding  hora during mountain lakes house wedding reception parents dancing during the hora dancing the hora at mountain lakes house wedding parents laughing at mountain lakes house wedding I was chatting with the mother of these two when they started throwing the leaves on their heads.  "Why?" I asked her.  She just shook her head. little boys playing at princeton, nj wedding speeches at mountain lakes house wedding reception speeches during princeton, nj wedding laughing at princeton, nj brunch wedding dancing with the baby at princeton, nj wedding Okay this is amazing.  I know it's hard to tell in a photo this size, but that spot to the right of this guy's neck is a bee.  That bee is in FOCUS.  My amazing second shooter Jeremy caught the run-from-the-bees action and this image is so neat. running away from bees at mountain lakes house wedding This one is Jeremy's too.  I'm basically tripping over it, but I don't know why. beautiful weird wedding photography eating the cake at mountain lakes house wedding reception mountain lakes house wedding reception Finally, the light was getting much lower, casting an incredible orange glow over the lake.  So of course we had to do a few last portraits at the end of the party. bride and groom at mountain lakes house  wedding photography at mountain lakes house Tee hee. princeton, nj wedding photography princeton, nj wedding photographers beautiful sunset at a lakeside wedding And finally, dancing like no one's watching. bride and groom having a last dance at mountain lakes house Congratulations you guys! Marla & Eric's vendor team: Ceremony and reception venue: Mountain Lakes House Catering: Chez Alice Catering String quartet: Liebesfreud String Quartet Officiant: Rabbi Vicki Tuckman Florist: Viburnum Designs Hair & Makeup: Radiant Spa & Salon Marla's gorgeous dress: Nicole Miller

K & B | Woodlawn Manor wedding | Sandy Spring, MD

K and B weathered the wedding storm - both literal and symbolic.  The rain held out perfectly, waiting til everyone was safely under a tent to drop out of the heavens.  And they sailed through any wedding obstacles (and there always are some).  Their friends and family made them cry, and laugh, and dance like crazy people.  Yes, when the lights went out everyone got their mad, freaky boogie on, and it was awesome.  And did I mention there was an entire roast pig?  Because there was an entire roast pig.  My peeps really throw incredibly great weddings. wedding photography at woodlawn manor K and B got hitched at Woodlawn Manor, up in Sandy Spring, Maryland.  It's a beautiful old home with a permanent tent and lots of lovely places for portraits, including this bamboo growth, which I hadn't seen before, and which K directed us to through lots of bushes and such.  Earlier in the day, it was like this: bride getting ready at woodlawn manor wedding bride and bridesmaids at woodlawn manor wedding mother of the bride at woodlawn manor stairs woodlawn manor wedding getting ready details bridesmaid getting ready at woodlawn manor wedding bridesmaids get ready at woodlawn manor bride and bridesmaid laughing at woodlawn manor wedding bridal suite at woodlawn manor  bride getting ready at woodlawn manor wedding Mad props, as always, to the lovely Marcella who came out to help photograph the wedding with me. putting on her dress at woodlawn manor wedding bride walking down the aisle at woodlawn manor wedding wedding ceremony at woodlawn manor wedding ceremony photos at woodlawn manor maryland wedding photographer amber wilkie   woodlawn manor wedding ceremony wedding photographer amber wilkie bride and groom during wedding ceremony at woodlawn manor first kiss at woodlawn manor wedding ceremony walking down the aisle at woodlawn manor wedding I love the dual "yesss!" motions. quirky wedding photography at woodlawn manor wedding portraits with a horse bride and groom portraits by amber wilkie woodlawn manor wedding portraits wedding reception at woodlawn manor Did I mention the pig?  I did, didn't I? whole roast pig at woodlawn manor wedding reception woodlawn manor wedding reception photos speeches at woodlawn manor wedding bride crying during wedding speeches at woodlawn manor dual hugs at woodlawn manor wedding reception first dance at woodlawn manor wedding reception dad and bride dancing at woodlawn manor wedding ceremony picking up the mother of the bride at woodlawn wedding reception woodlawn wedding reception dancing I am such a sucker for mom interaction. mothers hug each other at woodlawn wedding reception eating the cake at woodlawn wedding reception dancing during the woodlawn manor wedding reception dancing at woodlawn manor wedding reception dance party at woodlawn manor wedding reception Then the lights went off and everyone went nuts. shoes by the dance floor at wedding reception dance party at woodlawn manor wedding woodlawn manor wedding dance party brothers dancing at wedding reception getting down on the dance floor at the wedding woodlawn manor wedding reception mega dance party dance party at woodlawn manor dancing like crazy at the wedding reception bride and groom at the end of the night sweaty and happy everybody clapping and laughing for bride and groom Last image in my camera at the end of the night.  I love when that happens. hugging at the end of the night Congratulations you guys! K and B's vendor team: Ceremony and reception venue: Woodlawn Manor Caterer: Vignola Gourmet Desserts: Whisked DC Florist: Local Color Flowers Ceremony musicians: Janel and Anthony 

Anastasia & Nick | Longview Gallery wedding | Washington, DC

Ah, Anastasia and Nick.  Teachers (up until recently), NYC dwellers (up until recently), Harvard attendees, book lovers, foodies.  They threw a pretty kick-ass wedding - at a rad gallery/event space, with beautiful decor and a bar custom-built for their wedding, tasty tasty foods and more love and happiness than you can shake a stick at, if you were one for shaking a stick at love and happiness.  Plus, joy of joys, they arranged for us to do formal pictures inside the Smithsonian American Art Museum.  (How do I keep having clients that are into portraits at museums?  Because I really, really love doing them at modern art museums.)  You love this couple too, right?  How could you not. smithsonian art museum photographer amber wilkie Anastasia and her girls got ready at the Hotel Monaco.  I really dig how the Monaco plays with fabrics and patterns.  So did this stuffed pig. wedding dress with childhood stuffed animal mother of the bride looks on as daughter gets her hair done getting ready at the washington dc hotel monaco Anastasia carried simple white roses and her bridesmaids had these fantastic green things from Amaryllis. pink manolo blahniks and green bridesmaid bouquet bride gets her makeup done bride reflected in a mirror while she has her makeup done Rockin' to some old-school jams. bride and her cousin dancing before the wedding And bein' gorgeous.  A girl can do both. hotel monaco wedding washington dc Then we scooted across the street to rock out the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum. bride and groom portraits in washington dc wedding portraits at the national portrait gallery portraits at the american art museum bridal portraits at the smithsonian american art museum This is like like 50% more portraits than I ever show.  Suck it up - this was awesome. artistic, creative bride and groom portraits  washington dc wedding photographer amber wilkie funky modern art wedding portraits wedding portraits in the washington dc smithsonian museum bride and groom portraits at the national portrait gallery Then it was go time. wedding processional at longview gallery wedding at longview gallery in washington, dc wedding ceremony at longview gallery wedding ceremony moment at longview gallery beautiful moment during wedding ceremony at longview gallery recessional at longview gallery wedding hugging after wedding ceremony at longview gallery hugging after wedding ceremony in washington, dc congratulations after wedding ceremony at longview gallery Longview Gallery was such an awesome place to shoot.  I loved playing with the art and how clean the space was otherwise. longview gallery wedding venue in washington, dc Amaryllis and the team at Ritzy Bee Events did a beautiful job with the decor.  Anastasia and Nick are big foodies, so they had farm tables with edible plants and rustic touches. decorations by amarylis at longview gallery wedding decor by amarylis and ritzy bee Wedding photographers.  They are always trying to make your life harder!  But you can get them back by posting their photo-bombing on the internet for all to see.  Nice work, Sarah. sarah photobombing me at longview wedding wedding toasts at longview gallery in washington, dc maid of honor gives a speech at longview gallery wedding washington, dc wedding photojournalism at longview gallery I would never have used this word before Spencer's workshop, but this wedding had more than one beautiful palette. wedding as art at longview gallery, washington dc macro shot of rings on tomato plant A couple after my own heart.  No cake, just lots of pie. pie cutting during wedding reception dancing at the longview gallery wedding reception The real purpose for mason jars, amiright? pouring campagne into mason jars at the longview gallery wedding bride dancing at the longview gallery wedding father of the bride dance in washington, dc wedding reception dancing with her stepfather at the longview gallery wedding mother of the groom dance at longview gallery wedding dance party at longview gallery wedding hugging during the wedding reception at longview gallery Rockin' out with DJ Atticus. bride and maid of honor rockin' with the dj at longview gallery wedding longview gallery wedding dance party dancing at the wedding reception Woo!  Congratulations you two!  It was a great pleasure to document your wedding. Anastasia & Nick's fabulous vendor team: Ceremony and reception venue: Longview Gallery Getting ready venue: Hotel Monaco DC Wedding planning: Kelly and Maria of Ritzy Bee Events Caterer: Well Dunn and 2Amys Florist: Amaryllis DJ: DJ Atticus Hair and makeup: Andre Chreky Salon Anastasia's gorgeous dress: Puccini by Peter Langner Atelier: Mark Ingram (highly recommended by the bride - she says to take the drive up to NYC!) Veil: Erica Koesler Bridesmaid dresses: Jenny Yoo Nick's dashing suit: Isaia at Saks Groomsmen's suits: J. Crew