Andy and Jill : The Westfields Marriott

Washington DC Wedding Photographer: Terra Dawn Photography

Ooooooo…..this is so one of my favs!!! I loved the lighting, the Westfield’s Marriott, the bride and groom…..the couch. Everything was perfect!!

Andy is a firefighter and good friend of Mike‘s (who is also a firefighter), so Mike headed over to chill with the guys most of the morning. I had the absolute pleasure of hanging out with the ladies!! It was like they knew what I needed!!! The make-up was being done next to a window, the champagne glasses were all lined up with strawberries on top…….

AND THE COUCH WAS ORANGE!!!!!

*Ahem*

I apologize. The yelling was uncalled for…….

But the couch was still really cool.

And talk about lots of color!! I know I have said it before….but I will totally say it again. Fuschia pink IS MY FAVORITE COLOR TO PHOTOGRAPH!!!

Ok….so you know that whole, “something borrowed, something blue” thing? This bride got totally cute with it!! (It was actually a bridesmaid’s idea.) I was photographing the flowers when I heard that the girls were looking for a blue pen. Well…I had one, but it was in my camera bag in the guys room down the hall. Luckily, in addition to the blue pen, the bridesmaid also needed the groom! So, we walked down the guys room (from which was issuing the melodic sounds of the Redskins scoring a touchdown), grabbed my blue pen……and had the groom write a bit of blue love for his future wife.

In a side note, You might be wondering about the penny tradition! Well….here is my two cents on the matter.

*snort*

“Two cents.” Oh, don’t roll your eyes. It was funny.

The wedding tradition of placing a penny in the bride’s shoe had to do with the Victorian rhyme –

“Something old,
Something new,
Something borrowed,
Something blue and a sixpence in your shoe.”

Over the years, the term sixpence has been replaced with the more modern term penny and is supposed to symbolize good fortune and wealth for the couple.

Voila! Let there be fact and learning.

The finishing touches were put on the ensemble, including the ring bearer (who happened to be the future step son to Jill) who’s tuxedo vest did not quite fit correctly and had to be adjusted. He didn’t seem to excited to be wearing it anyways….and seemed even less thrilled when he learned it could be fixed.

Pretty quick, it was time to get the bride dressed and out the door….

But NOT before her photographers bullied her into taking some portraits. (She looks pretty distressed, huh? Poor thing….)

And FINALLY the big moment!!! We all headed downstairs for the ceremony. It was an absolutely BEAUTIFUL outdoor ceremony on a patio at the Westfields Marriott in Chantilly, VA. The sun was shining…..everything was perfect. The inclusion of the groom’s son into the ceremony was perfect. Not only had they prepared vows for each other, but they had prepared vows for him as well.

Ok…..let me just SHOW you how amazing these clients are!! In between the ceremony and the reception, we had alloted the usual 1 hour for portraits. Yeah…..you know where the couple chose to do portraits? AT THE STONE HOUSE IN MANASSAS!!!

DURING SUNSET!!!!

I KNOW!!!! SERIOUSLY!!!

Sorry. Yelling again.

After the fabulousness at the Stonehouse, we headed back to Westfields for the reception.

Jill’s new son entered to “I’m to Sexy”. It was only really awesome.

The couple was sat at the “Table of Love” (which I thought was super creative), and toasted the night away.

Between the first dance the father/daughter dance…I was a bit weapy for a good portion of the night. (Yeah….that’s her mother and brother in the background. Awwwwww!!!)

All in all, the day was probably one of my favorites of all time. The colors, the people, the dancing…….

….you know it’s coming…….

THE COUCH!!!!!!

*sigh*

I was a happy, happy photographer.

Till next time my friends,

Terra Dawn

Ceremony and Reception Venue: Westfields Marriott in Chantilly, VA