Donna & Shaun :: Historic Oakland

I was so lucky to witness the wedding of Donna and Shaun a few weeks ago. They are two of the nicest people in the world, and so clearly in love with one another. You can tell just from the way they look at each other. It made my job easy! They were married at Resurrection of our Lord Catholic Church in Laurel, with a reception following at Historic Oakland, in Columbia, MD.

We're still in the depths of October wedding editing, so I'll keep the talk down and let the images do the talking (with a few exceptions below).

Arriving at Historic Oakland...

Just before they were announced, I caught them practicing their first dance through the door.

Love these expressions!

Shaun surprised Donna with a song...

Performing a song from their favorite musical...

After Donna danced with her father, each of her four brothers cut in for a quick dance with their only sister. It was very sweet.

In lieu of the traditional bouquet toss, Donna brilliantly decided to do a teddy bear toss for the kids in attendance. I love it!

Not sure what this is all about, but it made me laugh.

Congrats Donna and Shaun!

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A Wedding at Swan Harbor Farm :: Mandy & Brian

Fall has been full of great weddings so far this year. Unfortunately, that means lots of post-production work and tardy blog posts. Stay tuned though, because I've got lots more to share as I work my way through the pile.

Mandy and Brian chose a beautiful venue, Swan Harbor Farm in Havre de Grace, Maryland, for their wedding and were rewarded with perfect weather. They were married under a giant tree overlooking a lush lawn and the Chesapeake Bay off in the distance. It was really stunning. It was such a pleasure witnessing these two and their close-knit families come together. I won't soon forget this one!

Congrats Mandy and Brian!

More fun with mirrors...

Brian's nephew let everyone know who was coming...

Isn't this beautiful?

Of course we had to use the pier for some pictures...

I really love when couples use creative table names that say something about them and their personalities. Phish's New Year's Eve concert at Madison Square Garden was a big milestone in Mandy and Brian's relationship. 

You can't go wrong with the hora...

There were so many great toasts.

The parent dances were sweet too...

It's a tradition in Mandy's family to serenade the bride and groom with a song. This time it was Grease's "You're The One That I Want," with lyrics rewritten just for Mandy and Brian.

Innovative Gourmet provided the catering and delicious cake.

The band Radiant was awesome.

The reception was nearing its end, and I'm so glad Mandy and Brian were willing to step aside for five minutes of portraits in yummy light.

Surgeon General's Warning: Tequila shots can lead to...

...The Worm on a brick patio.

Swan Harbor Farm...

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Natalie & Brendan :: Walters Art Museum, Baltimore

Being a wedding photographer makes me obsess about the weather. I want all my couples to have picture perfect days with lots of sunshine (but no humidity!). So I was a little bummed when the forecast for Natalie and Brendan's wedding was rain, rain and more rain. Then I showed up to find I was the only one who cared, and they were just thrilled to be getting married... rain or shine.  

As you'll see the rain let up enough for us to do some cool things, including a bagpiper-led walk from the ceremony to the reception. In the end it was a beautiful day, and I got some of my favorite shots of the year to date.

I always love shooting at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore. It's a perfect place for an elegant wedding and/or reception, and it's fun for guests to wander the rooms looking at the eclectic collection of world art. 

On to the pictures...

How cool are these rings?

Natalie and Brendan got ready at the Peabody Court Hotel, just a few blocks from their ceremony and reception sites.

Yep, still raining...

Who cares about rain, it's time to get married...

My second shooter Elisha grabbed this shot just before Natalie walked down the aisle.

Another awesome shot by Elisha!

At one point in the ceremony, the church doors opened and a bagpiper played to honor family members who had passed.

I was so excited when they told me that the bagpiper was going to walk them from the church to the reception. Thankfully, the rain let up enough to still do it.

I love this shot by Elisha.

Descending the grand staircase to their reception.

Brendan gave one of the sweetest groom's toasts I've ever heard...

First dance...

The various rooms in the Museum make great locations for portraits.

Where else would you take a bride and groom on a rainy night but outside? I liked how the lights reflected off the wet pavement.

The Walters is so elegant. Every detail looks great there!

You know it's a party when the glow sticks come out...

This is a big no-no at the museum, but I found this and had to grab a picture. 

Natalie might kill me for posting these, but I love them...

"Even the ones who never saw me like the way that I rhyme at a show. The reason why, man, I don't know."

Congrats Natalie and Brendan!

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A Wedding at the Baltimore Museum of Industry :: Lee Ann & Tom

Lee Ann and Tom enjoyed a beautiful September day for their wedding at the Baltimore Museum of Industry. This was my first time at the BMI, but I had been wanting to shoot there. It is totally funky and retro cool, with lots of old neon signs and industrial exhibits. And with a pier overlooking the Baltimore Harbor, it is a great place for a wedding ceremony and reception. 

One of the things I love about being a wedding photographer is that each wedding is completely different and you never know what's going to happen. This wedding featured one of the more memorable, and humorous, ceremonies I've seen, most notably because the processional started before Tom came out and took his spot. Lee Ann and her dad made it down the aisle, only to find the groom missing. No, Tom was not hightailing it down I-95, it turns out he was waiting inside for his cue that never came. For the record, this little mixup did not dampen anyone's spirits in the least, and I'm certain Lee Ann and Tom will enjoy laughing about it for many, many years to come.  

Enjoy the photos!

Lee Ann's mom walks the dress down the hall...

I love that I was able to capture the expressions of Lee Ann's mom and sister. Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good.

Most modern brides and grooms still wait for the ceremony to see each other for the first time. Apparently, texting is okay though.

I loved their blue and orange color scheme.

The Baltimore Museum of Industry reception setup. Very cool.

This is how guys "get ready".

Tom's mom came prepared...

Uh-oh. Someone is missing.  

Tom?

Here he comes... the first groom to walk down the aisle to his waiting bride.

Nice to see you. Thanks for showing up.

With that out of the way, they enjoyed a lovely ceremony overlooking the harbor.

I love this first dance moment...

The Baltimore Museum of Industry at night...

Lee Ann and Tom opted for a small cake to cut and then a table of delicious mini pastries. They were a big hit.

Playing with reflections...

Baltimore band Old Man Brown rocked the house with superb musicianship and their soulful blues rock sound.

Finally, a few more portraits of the happy couple. First, making use of the BMI's cool spaces...

Then outside in front of the Baltimore landmark Domino Sugars sign. Congrats Lee Ann and Tom!

Stephen Bobb :: Baltimore wedding photographer

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