Category: **Weddings

Shubha & Chris | Garden Falls wedding | Jamesburg, NJ

Chris and Shubha are two of the nicest people I know.  They are also zany - and I believe zany is a great word for this.  The first time I met Shubha, she gave me a foot rub.  Chris and I share some kind of karmic energy because he lived in the tiny bedroom I was renting after I moved out.  That's a great bedroom for finding a spouse, by the way.  You are so miserable all cramped into that space that you end up finding a significant other and moving in right away.  Worked for Chris and me!  They made it official, Bengali style, with tons of laughter, color, food... and a dinosaur: bridal portraits with dinosaur at garden falls Shubha and Chris rocked it out at the incredibly neat Garden Falls in Jamesburg, NJ.  It's a former campground turned wedding venue, complete with mundap on a lake (oh yes, just wait!), huge facilities, Greek statues, the aforementioned dinosaurs and a rock museum.  It's a really cool place. groom and his mom at garden falls wedding henna at garden falls bridal getting ready room getting ready for indian wedding at garden falls getting ready at garden falls indian wedding bridal portraits with helicopter and tank Shubha wanted to make as many people bridesmaids as possible. giant colorful bridal party at indian wedding Shubha and Chris outfitted a badass kids' room complete with a bounce house. inside the bounce house at indian wedding groom coming to the mundap at garden falls indian wedding female relatives pointing at garden falls indian wedding receiving groom at garden falls indian wedding  bride arrives at garden falls indian wedding bride arrives at the mundap at garden falls indian wedding bride and groom meet each other at garden falls indian wedding See, mundap on a lake.  How cool is that? mundap on a lake at garden falls father of the bride during garden falls indian wedding garden falls indian wedding details bride and groom during garden falls indian wedding bride and groom circling the coals at garden falls indian wedding beautiful details at garden falls indian wedding bride and groom standing on leaves at garden falls indian wedding groom puts his hand on bride's head at garden falls indian wedding bride and groom during the bracelet ceremony bride and groom greeted by friends and family bride and groom exchange a glance during garden falls indian wedding putting grass on his head first kiss at garden falls indian wedding little girl at garden falls baby with personalized t-shirt for wedding little kids at indian wedding buddha holding a plate of food bride and groom entrance at garden falls indian wedding speeches at garden falls indian wedding touching moment between bride and groom Shubha and Chris have some of the most talented friends around.  They had an entire "entertainment program" including dancers, singers and musicians.  They were really good, too. friends playing instruments at garden falls indian wedding making speeches at garden falls indian wedding little kid singing with much excitement everyone laughing and having a good time first dance at garden falls indian wedding bollywood dancing at garden falls indian wedding big hugs at garden falls indian wedding bride and groom dance together for the first time first dance at garden falls indian wedding dance party at garden falls indian wedding dance party at garden falls indian wedding reception awesome dancing montage at garden falls indian wedding bride and groom dancing near the end of the set more dancing at garden falls indian wedding crazy party at garden falls indian wedding bridal portrait at garden falls indian wedding Congratulations, my friends! Shubha & Chris' vendor team: Ceremony and reception venue: Garden Falls Catering: Elite Catering DJ: KC Higgins Decor: Abhishek Decorators Rentals: Friendly Rental Center Hair & Makeup: Bridal ARTwork Miscellaneous, coordination, tons of work: Shubha & Chris' awesome friends and family
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by Amber Categories: **WeddingsTags: , , , ,

Rachel & Joe | Marriott Ranch wedding | Hume, VA

Rachel and Joe did it right.  They scouted out an amazing, remote venue and then rented the whole damn place and filled it with their friends and family, creating this awesome homey atmosphere throughout the ranch.  Also, there was skeet shooting.  Also also, I got to try and I totally hit the target on my first try.  In addition, there was a hand-made chuppah, tasty tasty foods and a warm, beautiful late-summer evening.  Wedding win for Rachel and Joe: bride and groom portraits at marriott ranch wedding Marriott Ranch is this awesome bed and breakfast out in the middle of nowhere (Hume, Va).  It is the summer home of the Marriott family (the hotel people, yes) and now turned into a rad getaway place. marriott ranch in hume, va So, this was great.  Joe invited everybody to come shoot skeet before the wedding things got underway.  I had such a great time playing with composition and lighting with the fence posts and the great blue sky.   I did, however, miss a big patch of skin on my back with the sunscreen and was in pain for days after. skeet shooting before the wedding at marriott ranch Yes, this is Joe's grandmother shooting skeet.  Awesome! grandma shooting skeet at marriott ranch marriott ranch skeet shooting And here's me!  None other than our groom took the photo - even with back-button focus!  I'm so proud of hitting the target on the first (and only) try. me shooting skeet! skeet shooting at marriott ranch I apologize for showing way too many skeet shooting photos.  I really like them.  It's my blog.  And now, onto specifically wedding-related images! marriott ranch in hume, va setting up the chuppah at marriott ranch getting ready at marriott ranch in hume, va getting ready images before the wedding at marriott ranch  getting ready at marriott ranch bed and breakfast Big thanks, as always, to Tim for coming out to shoot this one with me.  I don't know what Joe's doing here, but I dig it. groom making funny motions at marriott ranch first look at marriott ranch wedding I was flipping out over the green greens and blue blues.  Such a beautiful day, especially after so many unbearably hot ones. wedding pictures at marriott ranch bride and groom at marriott ranch wedding cows on the marriott ranch property wedding reception at marriott ranch walking down the aisle at marriott ranch bride walking down the aisle at marriott ranch wedding marriott ranch wedding ceremony marriott ranch wedding ceremony marriott ranch wedding ceremony moments The light at this wedding was soooooo good. married at marriott ranch laughing at the marriott ranch wedding bride and groom pictures at sunset at marriott ranch wedding marriott ranch wedding reception Look, a funfetti wedding cake! wedding reception details at marriott ranch bride and groom speech at marriott ranch wedding Rachel and Joe announced the buffet was open - and that hungry people should get up first.  She wasn't wasting any time. getting up for dinner at marriott ranch wedding first dance at marriott ranch wedding groom and his mother dancing at marriott ranch wedding There should be more roasting marshmallows at weddings. roasting marshmallows at marriott ranch dad eating cake at marriott ranch wedding dancing at marriott ranch wedding reception At the end of the night, I grabbed Rachel and Joe to do some long-exposure and light-painting stuff.  They were game. long exposure light painting photography at marriott ranch wedding Bam. epic reception shot at marriott ranch wedding Congratulations guys! Rachel and Joe's rockin' vendor team: Ceremony and reception venue: Marriott Ranch Catering: Marriott Ranch Musicians: Live keyboard and guitar duo, headlined by Steve Dorman (booked through Olivera Music Entertainment) Rachel's lovely dress:  Vera Wang from The Bridal Garden Bridesmaids' dresses: Ann Taylor Groom and groomsmen's suits: Jos. A Bank Florist: Fiftyflowers.com Hair: Blake & Co. salon
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by Amber Categories: **WeddingsTags: , , , , , , ,

Sara & Aleko | Saint Sophia Greek wedding | Washington, DC

I met Sara and Aleko at an APW book signing and we've been rocking ever since.  Sara was incredibly awesome in writing me a review before I even photographed her, so of course I had to pull out all the stops for her wedding.  But the stops, my friends, were pulled for me.  Because, seriously.  This was my first time photographing a Greek wedding and it was cuh-razy.  In fact, I'm a little upset because a) it's too late for me to have a Greek wedding and b) none of my relatives would have a prayer of pulling off these dances.  Yeah, and then they broke plates on the dance floor.  Y'all, Sara and Aleko: epic greek dancing in washington dc They got ready in their apartment near Eastern Market and Sara's best lady's apartment, directly downstairs. getting ready at home washington dc wedding getting ready at home in washington dc First look on the balcony! first look on washington dc rooftop first look in washington dc Your first glimpse at what these folks are really like.  Yes, they are fake slapping each other during their first look. bride and groom fake fighting Dayum lady! beautiful bride in washington dc groom outside the church in washington dc saint sophia greek orthodox church Many thanks to the always fabulous Ayesha Ahmad for coming out to shoot this one with me. bride with her dad before she walks down the aisle saint sophia greek orthodox church wedding They don't call it a cathedral for nothing. wedding at saint sophia greek orthodox church washington dc greek wedding photography  saint sophia greek orthodox church wedding photographer saint sophia greek orthodox church wedding photography greek orthodox wedding photography  walking around the table at saint sophia greek orthodox church leaving the altar at saint sophia greek orthodox church hugs at saint sophia greek orthodox church father of the groom greeting guests at saint sophia greek orthodox church taking shots outside kellari taverna We did bride and groom portraits half a block down from their reception at Kellari Greek Taverna on K Street.  Truth is, I love shooting in urban areas.  Sara and Aleko look like they're about to own Washington.  Cuz they are. washington dc wedding photography by amber wilkie wedding photography on k street crossing the street in bridal attire kellari greek taverna wedding photography wedding photography at kellari taverna reading vows at washington dc restaurant washington dc wedding in a restaurant first dance in washington dc greek restaurant first dance at kellari greek taverna First dance over, it was time for everybody to get their groove on, Greek-style.  This includes choreographed dancing in circles, holding napkins between hands, foot slapping and throwing money.  I learned it's traditional to throw money at the bride and groom or their family if you want to dance with them.  By the end of this, the ground was covered in bills.  It. was. awesome. throwing money during washington dc greek wedding greek dancing at wedding greek dancing at washington dc wedding And then they started breaking plates. breaking plates at washington dc wedding "drunken man dance" groom dancing at washington dc greek wedding crazy dance party at washington dc greek wedding bride and her mom dancing at greek wedding hugging after the drunken man dance at washington dc greek wedding dance party madness at greek wedding in dc kellari tavern closed for private event This guy is so so so great.  This is where my I-want-a-Greek wedding falls apart.  No one in my family can do this. crazy greek dancing in washington dc washington dc greek wedding dance party to end all dance parties in washington dc This happened as I was leaving. taking shots at a greek wedding Congratulations, Sara & Aleko! Sara & Aleko's sweet vendor team: Ceremony: Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Church Reception and catering: Kellari Taverna DJ: Tommy Gatz Florist: Surroundings Floral Sara's ridiculously stunning dress: Betsy Robinson, Baltimore Aleko's suit: Nordstrom Cupcakes: Hello Cupcake (also the site of part of their engagement session!)
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by Amber Categories: **WeddingsTags: , , , ,