Some weddings are so joyful I can't help but smile thinking back on them even a year later! This wedding at The Elkridge Furnace Inn is one of those. Julie is the sort of bride to jump up and hug you before you even get the words "hi!" out of your mouth. Michael is a complete gentleman who can also kick it on the dance floor with the best of them. I loved every second of being around these two on their wedding day. The day was full of meaningful DIY details by Julie's family and friends and all of their favorite people (including Mike and Julie's sweet puppy Cuylie).

julianne + michael ; a wedding at the elkridge furnace inn, maryland ; photos by lydia jane (www.lydiajane.com)

VENDORS:

Venue: The Elkridge Furnace Inn
Dress: Stella York
Veil: HoneyPieBridal
Sash: Pronovias
Earrings: Swarovski
Headpiece: Love Couture
Bride’s Shoes: Angela Nuran
Hair stylist: Jen Davis
Makeup Artist: Makeup by Priscilla
Bridesmaid Dresses: David's Bridal
Bridesmaid Earrings: Bombshell Boutique
Groom’s Tuxedo: Alfani
Groom’s Shoes: Calvin Klein
Groomsmen Tuxedos: Men's Warehouse
Wedding Program: Jessica Porter
Flowers: Willow Oak Flower & Herb Farm
Cake & Cupcakes: Anne Roesner
Caterer: The Elkridge Furnace Inn
Ceremony Musicians: Hill Chamber Music
DJ: Absolute Entertainment
Assistant Photographer: Caitlin Gore

There's nothing quite like photographing a friend's wedding. In this case, two friends! Jeff and Katie were married last October at Katie's childhood home in Manassas, Virginia. This was truly the perfect setting for the day because both of their families played a huge role in their wedding. Both Katie and Jeff have an uncommonly close friendship with their parents and siblings. Instead of closing the door and hanging out exclusively with her girlfriends, Katie requested photos of her sitting on the front porch with her dad and made a point to have her mom help her into her wedding dress. Jeff's sisters grabbed him on multiple occasions to get photos taken, their love and excitement beaming from their wide smiles. At the reception, Jeff and Katie sat at their bridal party and family's table, frequently seen holding a niece or nephew on their laps and taking selfies with their cousins. Nestled between the house and the tall tree line, their guests dined at long bulb-lit banquet tables, feasting on what is pretty much my dream meal after shooting a wedding, Chipotle! Something I loved about Jeff and Katie's wedding was that, while attention to detail and design were evident (they are both graphic designers!), all of the elements of the day were to encourage their guests to relax and have a good conversation. There weren't any interruptions for awkward dances or cake-cuttings. Instead, ample time was given for the guests to sit and linger, catch up, grab a few beers from the canoe, and get seconds and thirds of the guacamole (that didn't cost any extra!) before any of the dancing portion of the night began. It was a beautiful day and one I wish I could photograph every weekend!