Annapolis Wedding Photographer and Portrait Photographer

I am psyched to have been voted by my clients to be among the "best of the best" wedding vendors in the region  for the second year in a row! I am so lucky to have the opportunies I have had to work with so many great couples, and I can't think of anything I'd rather be doing as a career. Thanks to everyone who voted for and trusted me with their wedding day memories; let's do it again this year!

Kim and Phil’s wedding was a dream come true for the both of them. The two were high school sweethearts, and had been together for eight years before finally walking down the aisle at St. Mary’s Church in Annapolis. Kim, spending weekends as a kid on her grandfather’s sailboat, dreamed always of a wedding overlooking the bay at the Annapolis Yacht Club. After the emotional ceremony at St. Mary’s, performed by Phil’s uncle, a Deacon, the couple headed to the Annapolis Yacht Club, just a minute down the street. In-between we took a trolley photo tour of the city, via Discover Annapolis, capturing some awesome candids of the couple!

Tricia Johnson, from the Annapolis Yacht Club, kept the day progressing in an orderly and smooth fashion for the entire party. Virginia Florist, out of Alexandria, accented the club with simple and stunning floral arrangements. K Rose Cakes created a simple single tier cake, a beautiful cream white creation. The Elements performed throughout the entire evening, keeping everyone glued to the dance floor until the final sparkler farewell.

At the end of the night, the father of the bride surprised the couple with a white horse drawn carriage. Kim described this final addition as a truly fairytale ending to a perfect day!

 

Congrats to Kim and Phil!

 

Allison and Jason knew each other from the time they were little kids, running around Freestate Airport together. Both Allison and Jason’s parents kept planes at Freeway Airport in Bowie. The families became very close friends, and the two eventually fell in love. They were married many years later at Allison’s parents gorgeous private Davidsonville home, beautifully landscaped by her family’s landscaping and construction business, Grass Roots Landscaping and Construction. I love shooting weddings at private residences because of the emotional attachment the couple has to the location.

The coordinator for the day, Amy Willmarth of Wedding Savvy, Inc, was awesome to work with and kept everything and everybody on schedule, working great with the entire team of vendors from the hair stylist Lisa at Jeanie's Salon in Annapolis to the tent company, to make sure the day was flawless. The Main Ingredient team, lead by Kailey McMonigle, provided excellent food and top-notch service, and Annette’s Cakery’s Annette Drew created a beautiful three-tier cake. The beautiful gown that Allison wore was chosen from Mary's Bridal in Annapolis. Steve Hoffman, from Good Note DJ’s, provided awesome music for the evening, and Blooms Florist decorated the venue with gorgeous floral accents. Reverend Bill Teyssier served as officiant.

The couple, both pilots and aircraft mechanics, Jason for the Texas State Troopers, and Allison private pilot, graduate of St Louis University and an Aerospace Engineer, had a flyover from Freeway Airport during the ceremony. The weather was off and on throughout the day, so an alternate cermony location at the home was chosen and tented by Party Plus in Baltimore, but the storms held off until after the reception. Some wonderful shots of Allison’s dad after seeing his daughter for the first time in her dress turned out to be some of my favorites of the night. Jason and Allison snuck away from the party for a few minutes, and we got some cool reflection shots in the pool. We even got to play around with sparklers towards the end of the evening!

The next day, we got some awesome trash the dress shots on some historic cars, and a few cool photo's of the couple walking through a field.

Congrats to Allison and Jason!

 

 

So many times I am asked by my clients to recomend vendors, venues, and bands, etc......that I figured I would make it easier for you by putting them all in one place. Now these are not the only people I like to work with, just those I had a chance to post today, and I assure you the list will grow. I have worked with everyone listed here or have been the photographer at the venues listed. I really don't think you can go wrong with anyone or any business listed here. I tend to like people who are fun, thorough, and do the job right, and who I feel really love what they do. You would think that would always be the case, but I think there are too many people in the business just to make a $$$. So I like to help out those who truly enjoy wedding work and take pride in making your special day even better.

Attire:

To start with, every brides needs a gown and guys you will need formal wear, and in the Annapolis area, there is only one choice for the best in customer service and selection. That place is Annapolis Formal in West Annapolis. Stop in and see Dora or Flavia and tell them I sent you!

Venues:

For a spectacular setting on one of the last tree lined, unspoiled, beaches on this part of the bay you have to check out the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's Merrill Center. The buidling is unique in that it is a "green" building with all of the modern features you could ask for, and the location is spectacular with views for miles across the bay, north and south.

If you are looking for a venue with a wonderful outdoor setting and amazing amenities all the way around, you have to check out Turf Valley Resort just outside of Ellicott City. Incredible views abound over the lush greens and rolling hills of this first class golf resort, hotel,and conference center. They even have a fantastic spa on site for a little extra pampering before your big day!

For a classic grand hotel wedding in Baltimore, there is only one choice, The Belvedere on Chase Street. Elegant ballrooms that just cant be found anywhere in the city, and a guestbook that includes movie stars, many american presidents, foriengn leaders, and even British Royalty. If classic style and sophistication are on your radar screen, you need to see the Belvedere.

So you would like you to have your wedding in Italy, but find that a destination wedding is a little out of reach, then you have to head to Running Hare Vineyard in Prince Frederick. The vineyard offers a little bit of Tuscany right here in our backyard, and offers an exceptional outdoor location, a great selection of award winning wines, and a hilltop ceremony location with a beautiful pergola in the middle of the vinyard. Ask for Barb Scarborough for details.

If the city is your thing, and I mean DC, you have lots of options! If you want the ultimate DC luxury wedding experience, with an address beyond compare, there is only one choice, the Hay Adams Hotel, an amazing boutique hotel literally across the street from a rather famous White House! Everything is top notch at the Hay Adams and Catering Director Allison Okobi and her staff will take care of your every need. If you want a hotel wedding with a more modern feel, and are willing to be across the river in Arlington,  talk to Lindsay Saltzburg at the Hilton Arlington and check out her blog while you're at it. The Hilton offers easy access, a beautiful ballroom, and a convenient location with a city feel and can accomodate parties of up to 250 easily. Great food, exceptional service, and a friendly staff will make your day much more stress free!

Music:

DeeJays can be easy to find, but it can be very hard to find good ones! I have found some that I love to work with. I have never been a big fan of DJ's who try to be the "show" and I can recomend some that are very professional, have great musical tastes, an extensive libarary of music, and will be there to keep your reception lively without taking over. I would definitely recomend speaking with Jason Wallace, General Manager at Absolute Entertainment , Steve Hoffman, of Goodnote DJ's,  and Evan of www.mydeejay.com

if you are looking for a band, I would definitely check out The Doug Segree Band. I was lucky enough to be part of the first wedding held at Running Hare Vinyard with Doug and it was a huge success. Doug has an extensive repertoire and has played on the same stage with some of the biggest names in the business.

Catering:

I can recomend several caterers who will do an excellent job for you regardless of your weddings size or your preferences in food, simple to gourmet, so don't be afraid to check them all out.

I recently worked with the Saucy Salamander at a CBF wedding and they did a spectacular job with every detail.

I have worked with Ken's Creative Kitchens on events that ranged in size from 50 to 500 and they never even blinked! With a menu that covers anything you could ever want and more, Ken and his staff always impress.

When looking for the best of Baltimore, look no further than Truffles. Located in the lobby of the Belvedere, Truffles creates imaginative dishes sure to please any palette, and they have one of the hottest venues in the city too! Contact Annmarie for more info.

The Main Ingredient is an Annapolis mainstay that offers excellent service and superb cuisine every time. I have worked several events with them and I can say that everything has always been top notch. The staff is friendly, attentive, and their menu is sure to offer something that will please any palate. I recently worked with Kailey McMonigle at a beautiful wedding at a private residence in Davidsonville, and despite storms and general weather craziness, they adapted and made it look easy.

In the DC Region I would recomend none other than Occasions and Windows. Both offer extraordinary taste diversity, professional staff, exquisite food and top notch service.

Floral Designs:

if you are looking for a true floral designer, not just a florist, I have the perfect person for you. I recently had the pleasure of working with Sarah of Intrigue Design and Decor on a really fun collaborative project and she and her team knocked it out of the park! Her vision and creativity set her apart form the crowd in the Annapolis- Baltimore-Eastern Shore market. If you have a vision, she can make it come to life and if you need a vison, she can help design the event of your dreams!

Wedding Planning:

Wedding planners are something every bride should highly consider. A good planner will make your wedding day much less stressful and relieve you from any worries. They are there to be sure everything runs like clock work and will guide you through not only the big day, but the whole vendor selection process. Many brides find that the investment in a good planner to be one of the smartest investments they make on their wedding day. In the Annapolis area Historic Events is a trusted resource that you can count on to make your big day a pleasure from start to finish!