It’s Tess birthday.  As the George Washington Masonic Temple in Old Town Alexandria reverberates with chimes of “Happy Birthday to you,” a giant cupcake is brought out to a laughing Tess.  She smiles, looks at Marco, her new husband of less than 5 hours, and lets out a huge puff of air, extinguishing the candles in one blow.  The small and intimate group of 80 guests erupt with clapping as Marco walks over to join Tess to cut her birthday/their wedding cake.

I guess it seems odd from an outside perspective – why would a bride pick her birthday as her wedding date?  I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I initially wondered the same thing.

Tess delicately holds the microphone and looks around at her family and friends.  She starts to tear up as she recalls the memory of her grandmother and how the two of them  shared this day as their joint birthday for so long.  She explains how extra special the day was because she had her grandmother to share it with her.

She pauses and looks at Marco.  ”And now I have someone to share it with me again.”

Ceremony and Reception: George Washington Masonic Memorial 

Event Planner: Kelley Cannon Events

Lighting/Decor: Da Vinci’s Florist

Florist: Da Vinci’s Florist

Caterer: Main Event Caterers

Music: Bialek’s Music

Cupcakes: Buzz Bakery

The strong smell of freshly brewed coffee wafts through the door while brightly colored, sweet macaroons adorn the window case alongside pan au chocolats, croissants and pastries.  If I didn’t know better, I am right back in Paris.  In a teeny nook behind a half closed curtain, laughter emerges from Kelli and Bo as they jokingly feed one another the sticky macaroons.  PAUL cafe in Georgetown is the perfect location for this couple who are recently engaged.  ”I carried my own ring on the plane and through customs without knowing it,” Kelli tells me as she reiterates the story of how Bo proposed in Italy.

This stylish, chic couple blend perfectly into the cafe setting and seem right at home with one another, quietly holding hands across their latte and tea while the hustle and bustle of Georgetown goes on outside the the doors of this European escape.

It’s a brisk spring morning.  Below, the sounds of Copley Square filter up and into the suite at the Lenox Hotel in downtown Boston.  There’s a lot of laughter coming from the suite of girls, all getting dressed and ready for the wedding day.  Abbey is smiling and laughing too.  She’s excited, anxious and trying not to cry all at the same time.  As she slips into her lace gown, her mom gently hugs her and the two of them can’t hold it in anymore – a few tears slip out.  Another quick hug and it’s time for Abbey to go downstairs and see Ryan for the very first time on this day when they begin their new life together.

I first met Abbey just shy of a year ago.  She was the Maid of Honor at Becca and Tim’s beautiful spring wedding in Maryland and  I was immediately taken by her smile and laugh.  As luck would have it, Abbey and Ryan had just moved to the Boston area for her to finish up school – I was looking for any excuse for work to take me back to the Boston area where I had lived for 8 years.  Add in the fact that Abbey’s mother is the genius interior designer behind my beautiful new studio, and it made a perfect match.

The wedding was held in the stately Boston Public Library, a gorgeous combination and architecture, history and literature.  I couldn’t have thought of a more perfect location for these two book lovers to tie the knot.

Ceremony and Reception: Boston Public Library

Caterer: The Catered Affair

Florist: Robin Hollow Farm

DJ: MCO Productions

Stationary/Paper Products: Hawthorne House

Hair Stylist: Charlotte Phinney

*A huge THANK YOU to my associate photographer for the day, the amazingly talented Michael Duval of MKD Photography, who has been a mentor and inspiration to me from the very beginning and throughout my photographic career.  Mike, you are amazing.

It was a warm , yet windy spring day when I met Marguerite and Bill at Manassas Battlefield Park.  Their quiet ease with one another was the very first thing I noticed.  The way Bill gently pulls her close to him and the way she automatically sweetly smiles when she looks at him; the patience Bill so easily expresses and the way Marguerite is always so thoughtful in asking Bill what he thinks or would like…it’s an unspoken connection that I think only comes with being together for years and one that lasts a lifetime.

I am always amazed when a couple is long distance.  I can only imagine how hard it is to live two different lives in two different cities and still stay together.  It takes a lot of commitment, dedication, airplane trips and of course, love. But in the end, it’s a pretty incrediably thing and I’m always so happy when I hear that another couple has found a way to make it work and stay in love despite the distance.

Dave flew in from San Francisco on the perfect week – just in time for the start of our early spring here in DC.  While the cherry blossoms were not in full bloom quite yet , spring was definitely in the air all throughout Georgetown.  Even Dave and Eleanor’s Chow, Pookie, was excited and in good spirits.

Since Eleanor and Dave are movie buffs, we had to stop outside the AMC theater for one last shot of the evening.

As I pull up to Kari and Derek’s new townhouse, there’s a giant wooden stork on the grass welcoming the newest member of their family, Kylie.  It’s was just shy of a year ago when I stood there and watched Kari and Derek say their vows to one another and officially start their new family.  Now here I am, ready to meet their newest and tiniest addition!

Kylie  Wynn is one of the most beautiful babies I’ve ever seen.  She has soft, luxurious dark hair and these deep deep dark eyes.  When she sleeps, she purses her lips like she’s cooing.  It’s absolutely adorable.  She LOVES being held by her mom.  I guess she wants to always be close to someone.  Makes sense.  I think that’s what we all want.

A huge congratulations to new momma Kari and new daddy Derek!  Thank you so much for having me along for this next chapter in your family.  I’m completely honored.