Caitlin & Trevor | Cathedral of St. Matthew wedding | Top of the Town | Washington, DC & Arlington, VA

If Caitlin and Trevor hinted to me how amazing their wedding ceremony venue was, I didn't remember. When I walked into the cathedral where they'd share their vows, my jaw pretty much hit the floor. Their wedding at the Cathedral of St. Matthew and reception at Top of the Town was, in a word, elegant, with a big old scoop of crazy dance party. Top-of-the-Town-wedding-47 We started the day at a pair of townhouses their families had rented in Washington, DC. Caitlin's family was staying in a former convent - it was such a cool place. Top-of-the-Town-wedding-1Top-of-the-Town-wedding-2Top-of-the-Town-wedding-3Top-of-the-Town-wedding-4 Toldja. Top-of-the-Town-wedding-5 Then we hopped over to St. Matthews. Top-of-the-Town-wedding-6Top-of-the-Town-wedding-7Top-of-the-Town-wedding-8Top-of-the-Town-wedding-9Top-of-the-Town-wedding-10Top-of-the-Town-wedding-11Top-of-the-Town-wedding-12Top-of-the-Town-wedding-14 I really didn't even know cathedrals like this existed in DC. This is the cathedral where Red Mass is celebrated each year. Top-of-the-Town-wedding-15Top-of-the-Town-wedding-16Top-of-the-Town-wedding-17Top-of-the-Town-wedding-19Top-of-the-Town-wedding-20Top-of-the-Town-wedding-21Top-of-the-Town-wedding-22 Caitlin and Trevor hired a tour-the-sites trolley to take the wedding party around to the various portrait locations. The lady driving was really funny, giving everybody the full historical breakdown of everywhere we went. Top-of-the-Town-wedding-23Top-of-the-Town-wedding-24 Wanting to add some spice to their portraits, we hit up the National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum to get in some funky modern art stuff. Top-of-the-Town-wedding-25Top-of-the-Town-wedding-26Top-of-the-Town-wedding-27Top-of-the-Town-wedding-28Top-of-the-Town-wedding-29Top-of-the-Town-wedding-30 Thankfully the government had reopened just a few days before, so the Lincoln was fully available for wedding pictures. Top-of-the-Town-wedding-32 Then we took the trolley across the river to Top of the Town for some amazing views, and a raucous party. Top-of-the-Town-wedding-33Top-of-the-Town-wedding-36Top-of-the-Town-wedding-38Top-of-the-Town-wedding-39 Honestly, the floor-to-ceiling windows are really tricky to work with, but they can be used to some pretty cool effect, too. Top-of-the-Town-wedding-40Top-of-the-Town-wedding-41Top-of-the-Town-wedding-42Top-of-the-Town-wedding-43Top-of-the-Town-wedding-44Top-of-the-Town-wedding-45Top-of-the-Town-wedding-49Top-of-the-Town-wedding-51Top-of-the-Town-wedding-52Top-of-the-Town-wedding-55-copyTop-of-the-Town-wedding-56Top-of-the-Town-wedding-58Top-of-the-Town-wedding-59 Their centerpieces included binoculars for spying on tourists at the monuments (or maybe just taking in the view closer...), so I played with that a bit. Here I'm focusing on the monuments through the binoculars. I think it mostly worked, but it's also something of a selfie. Top-of-the-Town-wedding-60Top-of-the-Town-wedding-63Top-of-the-Town-wedding-66Top-of-the-Town-wedding-67Top-of-the-Town-wedding-68Top-of-the-Town-wedding-69Top-of-the-Town-wedding-70Top-of-the-Town-wedding-71Top-of-the-Town-wedding-72Top-of-the-Town-wedding-73-copyTop-of-the-Town-wedding-74Top-of-the-Town-wedding-75Top-of-the-Town-wedding-76 Many thanks, as always, to my tireless assistant Julia, who shows no sign of annoyance when I give her "assignments" like "go stand outside and take landscape photos so I can stitch them into a panorama." Pretty sweet view, right? Top-of-the-Town-wedding-77 Congratulations, you guys! Caitlin and Trevor's vendor team: Ceremony venue: Cathedral of St. Matthew Reception venue: Top of the Town Caterer: The Chef's Table DJ: Brennan Sullivan, Bialek's Music Videographer: George Street Florist: Bloom Fresh Flowers Cake: Edibles Incredible Hair & Makeup: Bridal Artistry

Kaitlin & Andrew | Clarendon Ballroom wedding | Arlington, VA

Kaitlin and Andrew were married at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Clarendon, and then took a quick hop across the street to Clarendon Ballroom to party. It also happened to be Clarendon Day, which meant the street in front of their venue was filled with screaming children and drunk fratty guys and three enormous bounce houses. Our fearless couple, along with their tireless coordinator, handled this very well. For one day, they were the unofficial Mr. and Mrs. of Clarendon. Clarendon-Ballroom-wedding-34 We started the day at Marriott Residence Inn Courthouse. Clarendon-Ballroom-wedding-1Clarendon-Ballroom-wedding-3Clarendon-Ballroom-wedding-4 A quick bus ride across town and we arrived at St. Charles Borromeo to get these crazy kids married. Clarendon-Ballroom-wedding-5Clarendon-Ballroom-wedding-6Clarendon-Ballroom-wedding-7Clarendon-Ballroom-wedding-8Clarendon-Ballroom-wedding-9Clarendon-Ballroom-wedding-10Clarendon-Ballroom-wedding-11Clarendon-Ballroom-wedding-12 Clarendon Day had sucked up all the available portrait space in the city, so we took a few quick shots with the trees outside the church, then headed up to the roof. Just as I was getting out my lights to fake some rim light, the sun came out! Clarendon-Ballroom-wedding-14Clarendon-Ballroom-wedding-15Clarendon-Ballroom-wedding-16Clarendon-Ballroom-wedding-17Clarendon-Ballroom-wedding-18Clarendon-Ballroom-wedding-21Clarendon-Ballroom-wedding-22Clarendon-Ballroom-wedding-23 They made a puzzle guestbook! I'd never seen my photos used for a puzzle before - super neat. Clarendon-Ballroom-wedding-25Clarendon-Ballroom-wedding-26Clarendon-Ballroom-wedding-27Clarendon-Ballroom-wedding-28Clarendon-Ballroom-wedding-29Clarendon-Ballroom-wedding-30Clarendon-Ballroom-wedding-31Clarendon-Ballroom-wedding-32Clarendon-Ballroom-wedding-33Clarendon-Ballroom-wedding-35 Sometimes you have to make a gif. cake-smash-gifClarendon-Ballroom-wedding-42Clarendon-Ballroom-wedding-43Clarendon-Ballroom-wedding-44-copyClarendon-Ballroom-wedding-46Clarendon-Ballroom-wedding-49Clarendon-Ballroom-wedding-50 This is mimed jumprope. Clarendon-Ballroom-wedding-51Clarendon-Ballroom-wedding-53Clarendon-Ballroom-wedding-54Clarendon-Ballroom-wedding-55Clarendon-Ballroom-wedding-58-copyClarendon-Ballroom-wedding-56Clarendon-Ballroom-wedding-57 I'm just going to go ahead and declare glow stick exits an improvement over sparkler exits. They don't burn out and no one gets hurt. And they're pretty. Clarendon-Ballroom-wedding-59 Congratulations, you guys! Kaitlin and Andrew's vendor team: Coordinator: Vicky Choy, Event Accomplished Ceremony venue: St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church Reception venue: Clarendon Ballroom Getting-ready venue: Marriott Residence Inn Courthouse Caterer: Clarendon Ballroom Florist: Growing Wild DJ: Anthony Simpson, MyDeeJay Transportation: ING Limo Lighting: John Farr Lighting Hair & Makeup: Glam on the Go Kaitlin's dress: Hannelore's Andrew's suit: J. Crew

Grace & Shane | Arlington courthouse wedding

Grace and Shane were married at what serves as the Arlington courthouse last week, amongst their immediate families. We romped through the metro, rocked out some lovely greenery by the Netherlands Carillon and even stole into Artisphere for a minute, where all the galleries were closed (but we had one painting to work with). Don't miss Grace's bright red shoes. arlington, va wedding photography arriving for intimate wedding in arlington, va arlington, va courthouse wedding detail courthouse wedding ceremony in lawyer's office courthouse wedding in arlington, va arlington, va courthouse wedding photography arlington, va courthouse wedding wedding photography at arlington, va courthouse ceremony intimate wedding photography in arlington, va I love special-requests for pictures in the metro. wedding portraits on the metro escalators in courthouse washington dc metro escalator wedding photography intimate wedding photojournalism in arlington, va wedding photography in the metro elevator Cool, right? But check this out: baller kissing in the elevator gif arlington, va wedding photography near courthouse Having basically expended any cool places for photos near the courthouse, we hustled on over to the Netherlands Carillon and Iwo Jima for portraits with some green things in them and cool architecture. wedding photography at the netherlands carillon wedding portraits by the iwo jima memorial in arlington, va taking pictures with the washington monument in the background wedding photos with the washington monument in arlington Grace's niece has so. much. energy. little girl jumping at arlington, va courthouse wedding While Shane's nephews are a little more chill. At least for this image. little boys doing namaste in arlington, va One last frame at Artisphere. wedding portrait at artisphere in arlington, va Congratulations you guys!