When I encourage couples to incorporate activities and interests they have into their engagement session, I mean it.

So when Nyca and Viet told me their proposal story that happened on top of a mountain on a ski trip out West, I half jokingly said we could recreate that scene locally.

I'm an okay snowboarder. Like, I'll get egged-on and pressured to go down black diamonds skid-stopping the entire way. Also (and I waited to tell them till the end of the night), I'd broken my clavicle and syncopized on two separate occasions in each of the preceding seasons. No pressure.

But I'm so glad we made it happen! This was at the absolute tail end of the season so we were fortunate to have at least one resort still operating a couple lifts. It was truly something I'd jump (not while strapped to my snowboard) at the chance to do again.

I mean it!

One of the truly beautiful things a wedding does is it allows you to see the bringing together, combining, adjoining of two different people, their families, and cultures.

Shannon and Shayan's was that and more. Their rainy October wedding day saw both a Persian rite as well as a Chinese tea ceremony in traditional attire. And these unique traditions were celebrated at the iconic Legg Mason Tower, one of the most modern buildings along downtown Baltimore's cobbled streets with the Inner Harbor skyline as its backdrop. To top it off, Shayan created a custom logo combining their initials which could be seen creatively incorporated from the invites (which featured a wet seal!), the reception decor, to the Sofreh. 

Don't even get me started on the different shades of the bridesmaid dresses.

Congratulations, Shayannon!

Of all the brides I've had the pleasure of working with, Alison is by far with whom I go back the furthest. Like, grade-school and her-grandmother-sold-us-our-childhood-home type of way back. Granted she was in kindergarten and only recently have I been able to tell her and her twin sister apart, but that's our history and I'm just disclosing it because I ended up marrying a relative of hers and I take claims of nepotism seriously. 

But really, it was such an honor to come out to Napa and celebrate with her and Matt's families. They truly couldn't have asked for a more perfect day. 

Congratulations again, Alison and Matt!

When you live just outside Washington DC, it's easy to take the nation's capital for granted. Once you've seen the monuments and checked out the Air and Space Museum, you leave the out-of-towners and middle school field trips to it. 

Thankfully, Christina and Carlo weren't as jaded.

Shooting couple's portraits and wedding party formals in front of the Lincoln Memorial was a much-anticipated first for me. And although I'd shot at Freedom Plaza before, I'd never actually been inside the Reagan Building—an amazing venue truly fitting for such an epic day.

Another first: Shooting on a day so hot, an excessive heat warning was issued. Good thing stopping at arguably the locale's best soft serve was part of the itinerary. 

Coordinator: Events by MCGP
Videographer: Ryan Geldermann
Makeup: Phenomenal Faces
Hair: Tress HairCo
Florist: Eight Tree Street