The first time I sat down with Susan & Geoff to chat about professional wedding photography for their Alexandria, Virginia wedding at the classy Lorien Hotel & Spa, it was still more than a year before their wedding date, and they said:
“We want a wedding photographer we can rely on to have fun… someone who is creative and can create unique wedding photos. We like photos that look DIFFERENT. Your photos have a ‘movie star quality look,’ and we like that!”
A few months later during their amusing, merry, & sweetly romantic engagement photography session, I saw firsthand how much Geoff likes to ham it up for the camera, and that was FUN! Lots of thought went into planning their wedding, which took on a 1920s Great Gatsby theme. Susan was just stunning in a classically elegant lace wedding gown… and OH the lace shoes!!! Just so completely gorgeous!!! Their dog, Tara, served as ringbearer and flower girl. That was her rightful place after all, given her role in the wedding proposal. (Tara had carried both the proposal note and engagement ring.) Because of Geoff’s Irish ancestry, they were searching for ways to incorporate that into their wedding, and their first dance led into an AMAZING Irish jig. I had suggested a Celtic handfasting ceremony, which then became a part of their wedding ceremony. In lieu of a traditional guestbook, they set out three records containing the first dances of each of their parents and themselves, which guests then wrote messages on and signed. A few months after the wedding, Susan & Geoff then came over to our photography studio in Germantown/Clarksburg, Maryland to look at different wall portrait options. They picked out three favorite wedding portraits for me to print as large wall portrait canvas gallery wraps to hang in their home. All in all, it was an amazing, wonderful day. Congratulations to the happy couple!
Searching for a professional wedding photographer with a movie star quality style?
We started out with bride & groom portraits in the outdoor courtyard of the Lorien Hotel & Spa in Alexandria, Virginia, then headed down the street to a pretty little park with winding iron columns and hanging vines.
I love these fun wedding photos with the bridesmaids & groomsmen.
A string quartet played at the wedding ceremony. Most ceremonies at the Lorien Hotel & Spa are outdoors in either their ground level or Presidential Suite terrace, but this is the second wedding ceremony that I’ve photographed indoors at the Lorien. And here’s Tara the dog, flower girl & ringbearer, walking Geoff’s brother, the best man, down the aisle.
Susan & Geoff’s hands are bound together during the Celtic handfasting ceremony. And in the right side wedding photo below, I love the look of glee on Susan’s face as their officiant declares them husband and wife.
I love the silver and white sequined table runners that really spoke Great Gatsby. Each table setting was also adorned with a silver favor box embossed with the bride & groom’s names and wedding date. Below, floral centerpieces by Petal’s Edge were set on each round table at the wedding reception.
Above are the records and album covers containing the first dance songs of Susan & Geoff and each set of parents. Guests signed them in lieu of a traditional guestbook. And below, we discover that each of the silver favor boxes contains black walnut peanut butter fudge from “the farm.” (Susan did grow up on a farm with llamas and other animals after all!)
After an already amazing first dance, Susan & Geoff went right into an incredible Irish Jig!
And below are Susan’s grandmother & grandfather dancing the evening away!
Wedding Professionals:
Here are some of the DC wedding professionals that came together to make Susan & Geoff’s wedding day so amazing.
Washington DC-Area Professional Wedding Photography: Irene Abdou Photography
Wedding Venue: Lorien Hotel & Spa, Alexandria, Virginia
Ceremony Music: Gina Stonikas
DJ: Absolute Entertainment, Hanover, Maryland
Florist: Petal’s Edge, Alexandria, Virginia
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