Ben and Kelly’s wedding will be in Kentucky, but they met and fell in love in Washington, DC. So it was only fitting that their engagement session, photographed by Megan W Photography, showcased some of DC’s magical landmarks! First stop, Adams Morgan.
This photo is on the steps of the home they once shared.
After Adams Morgan, they headed to the Mall to get the quintessential DC backdrop.
Megan, thank you so much for sharing your work with EAD!
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We were hoping against hope we’d seen the last of snowy weather this winter—that is, until we saw this engagement session from Vicki Grafton Photography and fell in love with the season all over again! Is there anything better on a cold day than snuggling up to your love? We think not, and that’s exactly how Washington, D.C. couple Megan and Zach took advantage of this chilly day at Dumbarton Oaks Park! We love Megan’s classic fashion sense and the pop of pastel teal peeking out from beneath her pea coat!
For this really sweet bridal session, not only were different shades of ribbon (I love ribbon!) used to create a super pretty backdrop, but they mixed in some beautifully delicate lace as well! I love the idea of using natural twigs and branches as ribbon wands. A very sweet bridal shoot by Ampersand Photography and a really fun DIY idea!
We have a tasty (pardon the pun) little engagement shoot to share with you today! Mindy and Mark love to cook together so they brought in Amanda from Swoon Over It to capture some of the sweetness. These two are adorable and their food looks delish, so fun!
Reasons why I love this Nashville engagement session: the way it tells a story (the couple chose locations of first and other meaningful dates), the gorgeous turquoise wall, a delicious milkshake that I can almost taste, and the adorable couple of Matt and Alison. Enjoy the bliss!
Kelly from Spindle Photography is an up and coming photographer who is no stranger to EAD (you can read her about her 2009 nuptials here). She sent over a sweet engagement session in Atlanta’s Piedmont Park. Cassi and Matt are planning a 2011 wedding ceremony.
Choosing the right photographer was very important to both of us. I’m an art director for a publication company, so I work with photographers on a regular basis. I knew the look I wanted our pictures to have, the challenge was just finding someone who matched that style. While the vintage  themed engagement sessions are very trendy right now, we wanted something that would be classic, timeless and fit the rest of our wedding. We wanted to look like ourselves and not use props or set up a fake scene. Our idea was to use locations that are special and meaningful to us. Since Mike trusted me on this, I met with a few photographers on my own. I found a few good ones that might have worked, but I still wasn’t sure. My last meeting was with our former next door neighbor, Merek Davis. He had done a few photoshoots for Mike’s bands and is more well-known for his work with bands (he photographed Frankie Muniz!) and his amazing editing skills, but I figured if he could do that, he could do amazing wedding photography too! When I met with him, he brought over a presentation on his iPad of weddings he has shot and the prints and albums that are included in his wedding packages. After seeing his wedding photography and talking to him about our wedding, I was sure he would do an amazing job! Him and his fiance work together on weddings and we love seeing how excited they get when we tell them details about our wedding and what we are looking for.
For a city lover, this is the perfect engagement session. Danielle’s pink dress pops against the backdrop of Lincoln Park in Chicago, and JT’s fedora is the perfect funky accessory. Photography is by Maloman Photographers.
Sam and Jessica are college sweethearts marrying in Atlanta next May. My favorite part? The shot of the couple holding signs up. I know it’s becoming standard, but I still love seeing the unique ways couples use this as part of their pre-wedding preparations. They chose Our Labor of Love as their photographer.
Christiana and Brad’s adorable Philadelphia engagement session has a dog, a bike, and some ice cream. What more could anyone want? Sofia Negron stopped down to Philadelphia from NYC for the day to capture the sweet “getting to know you” session, which incorporated the couple’s outdoorsy, sporty side and their love of sweets with a visit to The Little Candy Shoppe.
Jennifer and Justin were married in Birmingham, AL but both live and work in Nashville. They invited Brandon and Stacey from Gresham Photography up to Nashville to shoot these lovely engagement images around town!
There may be no more appropriate setting for engagement photos than Rome, “the Eternal City”. Zora and Fely wanted to capture the beauty of one of their city at a place that has always fascinated Zora, the Pantheon. Together with Teresa of In Love In Italy Photography, they spent an afternoon strolling from Ara Pacis Augustae across the river Tevere to sit for a cappuccino at Splendor Parthenopes. They then headed to the Pantheon, crossing Ponte Sant’Angelo and watching the sun set behind the castle. Although they arrived at the Pantheon at the most crowded hour of the day, Teresa captured a stunning image of them standing still with people milling all around—Zora says: “It is my absolute favorite, it captures us and our love profoundly.” We love the enchanting city of Rome and these stunning photos from In Love In Italy Photography!
Wes and Olivia’s engagement session is so terribly chic, it’s almost too much to handle! In my next life, I hope to be as stunning as Olivia, who effortlessly rocks a baby blue knit frock, a gold headband, and plum tights. And let’s not forget Wes, whose worn-in ankle boots and skinny striped tie are the perfect laid-back look. Add in absolutely dreamy photos from This Modern Romance at San Juan Capistrano’s Serra Plaza and you have an engagement session that’s pure autumn perfection!
Lisa and Ryan’s date night engagement session is all about their favorite things—first a picnic with their pup and then a dinner date in downtown Wausau, Wisconsin, wandering along the town’s charming cobbstone streets and then visiting one of their favorite patios, the Back When Cafe!
We are drooling over these heart-stoppingly beautiful Brooklyn Bridge engagement photos from Carmen Santorelli! Chris and Natalie chose a classic NYC theme for their upcoming Central Park wedding and decided that the iconic Brooklyn Bridge would be the perfect backdrop for their engagement session! They strolled the bridge and the Brooklyn Heights Promenade on a gorgeous late-summer day, hand in hand. I just adore how head-over-heels these two are for each other!
We love a casual, fun-loving engagement shoot, and Chris and Cassi’s Coney Island engagement photos by Jen Huang Photography are fabulous! The cute couple spent a day at the Brooklyn boardwalk playing games, trying out carnival rides, and just generally being in love. The result is adorable photos that show off Cassi and Chris’s personalities. We are completely smitten!
The heart of Ellen and Tom’s engagement session with Jordan Brittley—and their dog, Rocky—is a sweet and romantic picnic set in Forest Park in St. Louis. We love the pretty, low-key arrangement of tulips and hydrangeas, purchased at Trader Joe’s and hand-tied by Ellen’s mom. The gold leaf monogram topper by Crosswire Design adds an elegant touch to the Derby Day Pie Ellen made; the first taste of this dessert is what won Tom over in the beginning! We’re big fans of the vintage feel of these photos, aided in part by floral Ralph Lauren china—real plates on a picnic, swoon!—and linens from Cake Vintage Table & Home. Enjoy these lovely images!
We are completely in love with Debbie and Kevin’s fun Huntington Beach engagement session! The California light is simply lovely, and the love that Debbie and Kevin have for each other shines through in every image. We love Debbie’s beautiful cobalt dress paired with Kevin’s dapper navy suit, and their quick change into more relaxed beachy-toned wear, too! Sit back and enjoy all of the beautiful images from Christine Choi Photography!
Connie and Ted’s adorable engagement session is so unexpected for Los Angeles—there’s no trace of the city, just lots of hearty succulents, a little potting soil, and so much love! These two genuinely enjoy playing and hanging out together, and it’s so clear in these fab photos from Caroline Tran. We’re sure that the couple who gardens together, stays together!
Amber’s Prince Charming is literally riding a white horse—how lucky can a girl be? Amber dreamed up the theme of her engagement photos with fiance Josh and Aislinn Kate Photography, and we think these images are so dreamy! The two of them met up in a field, complete with wildflowers and a white Percheron horse, to make this fairytale come to life. We love Josh’s pale pink shirt paired with Amber’s gauzy white dress and pink floral hair wreath by Supposey Wedding Florals to round out the soft, romantic feel. Our favorite part is the image of the two of them riding off into the sunset—stunning!
How fun is this safari-style engagement session from Esther Sun Photography? Jenny and Andrew headed out to Safari Barn in Winchester, California, for a laid-back day with camels, zebras, horses, and goats! We love their chic look against the rustic barns and quiet pastures. Enjoy these unique and lovely pictures from their shoot!
We love this absolutely classic féte hailing from an illustrious museum in our nation’s capital today. This Washington DC wedding was photographed by one of our favorites, Lisa Blume, and it is elegant and so special and timeless. According to Kelly, she couldn’t take her mind off of the National Museum of Women in the Arts’s design and sweetly, how she could picture traipsing down the staircase to meet her dear dad at the bottom to walk her down the aisle to her beau Jamie (tears!). Speaking of tears, we had to mention this touching detail. Kelly needed to have her grandmothers there in some way, so to commemorate these wonderful women in her life, she shipped in two paintings from North Carolina of them and had her grandmother’s tea cup in her bridal suite. Endearingly, the teacup was a gift her grandmother gave to her sister for her wedding.
After Jessica and Zach got engaged, they sweetly joined Jessica’s parents on a trip to DC to celebrate their wedding anniversary. One of their excursions there was to take a walk on the grounds where her parents held their wedding ceremony, the National Cathedral. Naturally, they were so smitten with the gardens and the buildings that once they found out the Gothic-style cathedral was now hosting wedding receptions in addition to ceremonies, the New Yorkers jumped on the chance to get married there. Jessica wanted an “elegant and ethereal” day so with the help of Caroline Dutton Events and Kate & Lilly Floral Design, they drew inspiration from the Bishop’s Garden on the grounds. With Audra Wrisley capturing all the pretty pale pink roses, peonies, greenery, and everything in between, the duo said their I do’s and partied the night away in one of the most amazing venues we’ve seen.
Chloe and Troy’s spring wedding oozes classic Washington DC charm! The couple worked with Roberts & Co. Events to celebrate Chloe’s hometown with an elegant soiree at the Carnegie Institution for Science. A color palette of blush and gold for the reception paired with a heavy dose of candlelight, and fun details such as a southern-inspired biscuit bar with fried chicken, jam, and butter insured a fantastic guest experience. Chloe even kept the best secret ever from her guests: the Washington Nationals Presidents visited for a raucous dance party! From the stir sticks featuring their pups to the stationery accented with dogwoods to represent Virginia, this is one DC event we won’t soon forget, and it’s all captured wonderfully by Kristen Gardner!
A sensuous, feminine feel meets couture fashion in this spectacular fine art shoot inspired by Marie Antoinette from Lisa Blume Photography. Though you may think we’re transported to Paris, instead we’re in the heart of Washington DC at the Anderson House. This 50-room mansion is truly fit for a queen, and La Fleur du Jour used gold accents, lush florals, lavish desserts, and an abundance of accessories to enhance the setting’s European flair. Details such as an intricate antique ring box, vintage-inspired shoes, feathers, and lace transport you to another era, a time of decadent fashion and extravagant living. The stunning Cari Funkhouser dons couture gowns from Elie Saab, See by Chloe, and Modern Trousseau, and truly embodies the spirit of the ill-fated queen. And of course, there is cake. Fair warning: you may need to pick your jaw up off the floor after laying eyes on the exquisite images from Lisa Blume Photography!
We couldn’t think of a more fitting way to celebrate Independence Day than with Elizabeth and Jeff’s classic Americana wedding at the Daughters of the American Revolution National Headquarters! Not only is this wedding chock full of red, white, and blue details designed by Cheers Darling Events, but Elizabeth and Jeff are so incredibly fun, and their quirky. personal additions make this wedding one for the books. Elizabeth subtly incorporated her love for cats with kitty flats perfect for dancing the night away, and Jeff’s childhood of raising and showing goats as a 4H member gave way to the “Granby Goat” cocktail, a nod to his hometown and hobby. As if that weren’t cute enough, topping their Buttercream Bakeshop confection was a topper with a cat bride and goat groom. More importantly, Elizabeth and Jeff made sure to honor their family and guests too. Elizabeth’s grandmother handpainted the invitation envelope liners, and each place setting at the reception was customized with an individual note to that guest, sharing memories and thanks for their love and support. We’re celebrating the 4th with these spectacular images from Lisa Blume Photography!
Andrew and Julie’s DC wedding was quintessentially classic, reminiscent of its locale. The wedding party enjoyed a leisurely morning at the Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City as Julie slipped into her stunning Liancarlo gown, and then made their way to Arlington’s Restoration Anglican Church, a bright and airy chapel overflowing with sunlight. The couple worked with Dutch Floral Garden, who created beautiful one-of-a-kind window decor for the chapel, with no two windows being alike. Afterward, the stately Army Navy Country Club was home to an elegant reception. The combination of magnificent chandeliers and towering centerpieces brought intimacy and elegance to the grand ballroom. Guests captured a glimpse of the Washington Monument from the rooftop cocktail hour and then were treated to a miniature version inside at the escort card table—such a fun touch! The Lego monument was built entirely by hand by none other than the groom himself, and the bed of grass surrounding the monument was real, soft-to-the-touch lush green grass. Guests danced the night away to the sounds of DJ Evan Reitmeyer, and then Andrew and Julie escaped down the grand staircase among hundreds of fluttering bubbles. Each moment is beautifully captured by Stephanie Yonce Photography!
Inspired by summer romance, this gorgeous wedding editorial features a veritable dream team of Washington, DC wedding vendors! Cheers Darling Events selected a color palette of vibrant purple and green, perfect for the gardens of the gorgeous Dumbarton House! Organic florals in lavender, violet, and purple by Edge Flowers pair beautifully with taper candles and elegant calligraphy from Laura Hooper Calligraphy. A lovely updo created by Jewel Hair Design and soft makeup from Blend Make Up Artistry accent the classic lace strapless gown from Lovely Bride DC. We’re completely smitten with each beautiful image by K. Thompson Photography!
There’s something utterly magical about DC during the cherry blossoms. It is the most romantic time of the year, and Liddy and Mark took full advantage of the gorgeous scenery during their April wedding. The couple met and fell in love while attending Georgetown Law School, so it was only natural that they hold their ceremony at Georgetown University’s St William Chapel. They fell in love with Daughters of the American Revolution, which overlooks the Washington Monument, for their reception. The classic DC feel was perfect for their cherry blossom arrangements created by Succulents and Saffron. From designing their own invitations to creating a German “beer garden” in honor of Liddy’s parents’ home in Berlin, the couple infused many unique and personal touches into their day. Every detail is perfect, right down to the cake from Buttercream Bakeshop. We adore each timeless image from Virgil Bunao!
