It’s no secret I’m a sucker for a garden wedding, and Christy and Kyle’s wedding certainly delivered! Featuring all the pretty little details, Christy’s fabulous bridal look, an extra special ceremony, stunning golden hour portraits, and so many other special moments throughout the day, this is a wedding I am so excited to share!

I blogged about Christy and Kyle before, as I was their proposal photographer on the National Mall in DC and also photographed their romantic engagement session at Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria, VA. Christy is a sweet friend of mine from college, so having the opportunity to photograph these special moments in their relationship is such an honor!

Christy has always had a fabulous sense of style, so I knew her wedding day look would not disappoint! Her Sophia Tolli dress was timeless and elegant, and she made the bridal look entirely her own by customizing her own wedding sandals with pearls and bow accents on the ankles, and by wearing a stunning crown from Carbickova Crowns that perfectly paired with her family heirloom necklace and earrings.

As a Catholic wedding photographer in Northern Virginia, it’s always special to be able to celebrate alongside a couple whose wedding ceremony is Catholic and who share the same faith and values as me. This was extra special for Christy and Kyle’s wedding, however, as they had their ceremony at the same chapel where I was married 5 years prior. Christy and Kyle met and fell in love at George Mason University, so it was very fitting for them to have their ceremony at the Catholic Campus Ministry’s St. Robert Bellarmine Chapel on the edge of campus. Their officiant was Fr. Tom Yehl, who briefly served as the chaplain of GMU while Christy attended the school and then happened to transfer to Marymount University to serve as the chaplain there at the same time that Christy transferred as well (and where I met and befriended the both of them as a student at Marymount).

After the ceremony, the party moved to Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, VA, one of the prettiest wedding venues in Northern Virginia. I photographed a wedding there a couple of years ago in mid-December, so the grounds were covered in the park’s annual Christmas lights. It was beautiful and special, but quite different from the vibe this time around for an early summer wedding when the property’s gardens were lush and green! We grabbed beautiful midday portraits around the property before the start of the reception, including some absolute favorite bride and groom portraits taken inside the greenhouse. We also had a stunning golden hour that Christy and Kyle wanted to take advantage of, so we wandered even further across the property to soak up all that glowy golden light, and it was magical!

The reception itself took place inside the Atrium building, which is an incredible mix of modern minimalist architecture showcasing the beautiful view out the large glass windows and lush green interior bringing the outdoors in with permanent greenery installations inside the room. The couple chose to let the abundance of foliage shine with more minimal decor otherwise, and I loved the gentle touch of pink tablecloths and cherry wood chiavari chairs. Their cake table was a favorite spot for sure, featuring not just their modest yet beautifully decorated cutting cake, but also an abundance of sweet treats from the Alexandria Pastry Shop!

Once the party started, it didn’t stop. Christy and Kyle’s friends and family were all out on the dance floor. Kyle surprised his bride by requesting the DJ play a song from her former punk rock girl band, and Christy surprised everyone by requesting to karaoke Bring Me to Life by Evanescence. It was an absolute blast! They ended the night with a private last dance before doing a simple but sweet flashlight sendoff outside the front doors of Meadowlark, as a joyful ending to a joyful wedding day!

Invitation Designer: Zola

Custom Prayer Cards: Pieta Paperie

Makeup Artist: Diti Devi Makeup Artistry

Hair Stylist: Dorsey Beauty

Dress Store: Sage Bridal

Dress Designer: Sophia Tolli

Bridal Crown: Carbickova Crowns

Ring Designer: FYM Jewelry Design

Custom Perfume: DIY Scent Studio

Bridesmaid Dresses: Azazie

Groomsman Attire: Jos A. Bank

Floral Designer: Floriography

Ceremony Location: St. Robert Bellarmine Chapel at GMU

Transportation: Reston Limousine

Reception Venue: The Atrium at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens

DJ: Shiny Entertainment, LLC

Cake Designer: Alexandria Pastry Shop