Mimi + Jason - Whitehall Manor, Bluemont VA

When I first met Mimi and Jason I knew I had to photograph their wedding.  I felt like my heart was going to burst when Mimi explained the importance of wedding photography to her.  She told me that wedding pictures were the only thing, aside from the marriage, that she could keep from her wedding day.  She wanted a gorgeous, thick, luscious album that she could show her posterity proudly.  With pictures that told their love story.  Pictures that would grant her grandchildren a peak into her personality years from now and get a sense of what rockin' Grandma Mimi was about.  These pictures were to become her and Jason's legacy.  Forever.  


As she spoke, Mimi's words ignited a fire in me.  Mimi was able to express something I had felt for so long, so articulately and brilliantly that I wish I had brought a stenographer with me to get it all down on paper.  That and the hilarious story that Jason divulged about the time his passionate hobby, brewing, led to an explosion in their closet that left their apartment wreaking of yeast for weeks!  I really could have used that stenographer.


Knowing that these images I created meant so much to Mimi (and Jason, but mainly Mimi) I was particularly thrilled and humbled to receive this lovely compliment from Mimi, "We are SO incredibly happy with the way the photos turned out. Honestly I was grinning from ear to ear looking through them. You captured so many precious moments and it was wonderful reliving that day, especially since it all went by so fast.  We will let you know when we have selected the photos for the albums and individual prints - its going to be hard to do, we love them all!  Thank you!"

Mimi sauntered about, cool as a cucumber, in creamy Mia heels and a beautifully detailed gown from Georgetown's Hitched.  She tried it on and knew at once she had found the one. 

Just look at all the components of this bouquet by Holly Chapple.  And this isn't even the bridal bouquet!  This is a bridesmaid's bouquet.  It's like an intricate recipe that you look at and wonder, "How the devil will these ingredients work together!?"  Sort of like the Momofuku Milk Bar cookbook (where do I order gelatin sheets and citric acid from again?)  Then it's love at first bite.  Aren't those feathers ethereal?

It's what's underneath that counts...

The handle to Mimi's bouquet was a legacy of its own.  The stems were wrapped with satin ribbon used in Mimi's Mother's wedding. 

Mimi you are absolutely gorgeous!  Do you see Mimi's gorgeous eye shape?  If I were Dr. 90210 I would hang this picture in my office as a point of reference for eye perfection.  When women would come in pulling at their eyes with despair I would raise one finger and point to this image.  I would say, "You need The Mimi." 

Mimi jubilantly greets her Father for the first time as "The Bride."  It must be so tender for a Father to see his little girl taking on the very adult role that marriage brings.  

I love this toned down violet palette for the bridesmaids' dresses.  This is such a lovely example of using one color but letting the lucky ladies choose their favorite fit and style.  

A peek of the Bride and her Father exiting Whitehall Manor.

I love shooting with black and white film.  There is such rich texture.  I find this hauntingly beautiful.

Jason is the type of person that I think gets along with everyone.  He reminds me of that guy that we all went to high school with that was nice to everybody, never had a mean word to say, and eventually became the highschool president even though he didn't run.