Amanda and I met what feels like a lifetime ago when we worked together at the Pulmonary Hypertension Association in the Washington, DC area. She was smart, driven, but most importantly, she was the definition of grace — always available to lend an empathetic ear, thoughtfully help solve a problem, offer up a kind word and a smile, and she wasn’t afraid to roll up her sleeves and get her hands dirty, as the saying goes. As a colleague, she was top notch, and we quickly became work buds. At the time, Amanda and Andrew were in the process of falling in love, and every once in awhile she’d regale us with stories of her handsome sports writer with the crazy work schedule. Being with him made her undeniably happy, and several months after we’d both moved on from PHA and I had moved away from DC, I was thrilled to learn that Andrew had finally popped the question.
When Amanda and Andrew reached out to ask me to photograph their wedding, I was both honored and humbled — and crazy excited!!! On this chilly December day, I’m so excited to warm things up by sharing with you part one of their gorgeous summer wedding. (Check back tomorrow for part two.) Everything about their summer picnic-inspired day was perfection, from the thoughtfully planned details to the picture-perfect Lake Lodge setting. But the absolute best part of the day had to be all the joy and warmth in which the entire day was steeped…way more refreshing than even the tallest glass of iced tea!
We kicked off the wedding day with morning hair appointments at Salon 96 for all the lovely ladies.
Amanda’s mom Bev played the part of proud mama to perfection, and it was clear that mother-in-law Dinah had embraced Amanda as her own. Look at the lovely hand-stitched veil she made!
After the hair appointments, we headed over to Amanda’s aunt’s home — which incidentally was the home where her father, aunt, and their siblings had grown up. Their rich family history could be felt in every room. I ducked out on the beautiful wrap-around porch to photograph Amanda’s dress and stunning details while Amanda, Dinah and the others finished up some last-minute flower arrangements.
I should note that Amanda made her own bouquet…STUNNING!
Once the details were photographed and the final flowers had been arranged, it was time for Amanda to get dressed.
Paying tribute to Andrew’s family’s rich history, Amanda wore the Lavalier, a family heirloom that had been worn by generations of women in Andrew’s family on their wedding day.
Meanwhile…
Andrew and the guys spent the morning at Amanda’s family home helping with final preparations for brunch the following day, and it was finally time for them to get ready.
Before Andrew and Amanda’s first look, we set aside a few minutes for the bride’s dad Den to hug his beautiful daughter. The way he embraced her and then stepped back to admire his little girl was beyond beautiful, and I’ve decided that a father/daughter first look is a must whenever possible.
Andrew and Amanda’s first look was tender and emotional and incredibly touching.
I loved that Andrew and Amanda were fully committed to being “in the moment” and soaking in all the emotion of the day. And their commitment to “being present” was contagious — the family photos were filled with emotion, too.
Let me just say…Amanda and Andrew sure do know how to pick awesome friends. Best bridal party EVER!
And I’ll leave you with this little sweetie pie ring bearer…adorbs!
Be sure and come back tomorrow for part two of Amanda and Andrew’s beautiful wedding, including the gorgeous, emotional ceremony and super-fun reception.
