From the sunny sunflower bridal details to the raucous laughter and dancing of the reception, Sarah and Max had one of the most joyful wedding days I’ve ever had the pleasure of photographing. The trip down to Fredericksburg was well worth it to spend the day with this couple so clearly in love, with friends and family so over the moon ready to celebrate this bride and groom!

I started my day with Sarah and her bridesmaids at a family home, where I found the perfect little “getting ready” corner for Sarah to put on her dress and shoes. We did a little furniture rearranging to make it perfect, haha – but I just loved the little Marian painting hanging on the wall in this spot, as a little twist to “getting ready with mom.” This room also had beautiful natural light that was perfect for some quick flat lay details (including a gorgeous rosary dish I got from House of Joppa that I’ve been dying to use as a ring dish in styled details!) before Sarah got into her dress. Once she was ready to go, Sarah descended the stairs to looks of awe and squeals of joy from her sisters waiting to see her below – such a sweet moment!

St. Patrick Catholic Church is definitely one of the prettiest Catholic churches in Virginia. The main church was built in 2021 to replace the old church (now parish hall) on the property to better support the needs of the parish. It’s remarkable to see how they were able to build a church that does feel fresh and new, yet incorporates so many traditional elements that you wouldn’t classify it as a “modern” church at all.

After their sweet and simple wedding mass, the party moved over to Stevenson Ridge. I photographed a wedding there just a couple of months prior, so it was fun to return for an entirely different wedding day having learned a bit more about what really works well at this venue (and being able to photograph portraits here when it isn’t miserably hot and humid!). Stevenson Ridge is one of the best wedding venues in Fredericksburg for a reason – the location is great if you’re having a wedding at any of the nearby churches, or if you’re having the ceremony on-site they even the perfect indoor ceremony space in front of a fireplace in addition to the beautiful outdoor grounds. The reception space is a timeless blank canvas with a slight rustic feel but plenty of room to make it your own. It honestly reminds me of a smaller version of the stunning new barn at Fleetwood Farm Winery in Leesburg!

Once the first dance and parent dances were danced, dinner completed and toasts were toasted, I snuck out with Sarah and Max for a little bit of one-on-one time to capture portraits of the two of them during golden hour. The pond just behind the venue is a magical little spot, with gorgeous lighting even once the sun has rested behind the tree line! I knew from Sarah and Max’s engagement session that they were going to be easy photography subjects, and they did not disappoint – it was clearly necessary for them to take a breather away from the hustle of their wedding day activity to enjoy some romantic time together, even if just for 15 minutes. But of course they were also eager to get back inside to join the party and they spent the rest of the night on the dance floor with their family and friends!

After plenty of dancing and cake, the two ended their night with a private last dance and sparkler sendoff. A private last dance is one of my absolute favorite trends in wedding receptions, and I hope it’s here to stay! It’s so sweet to give the bride and groom one last chance to enjoy their wedding day together, soaking in the atmosphere of their reception without distractions. Then they were off, through a tunnel of sparklers and cheering guests as the bride’s mom greeted them in front of their decorated car with leis to send them off to their Hawaiian honeymoon!

Ring Dish: House of Joppa

Bridal Boutique: Ava Laurenne

Bridesmaids Dresses: Azazie

Ceremony Venue: St. Patrick Catholic Church

Reception Venue: Stevenson Ridge

Bakery: Nothing Bundt Cakes