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!

jeff + katie ; an outdoor wedding in northern virginia (www.lydiajane.com)

VENDORS:

Venue: Bride's childhood home
Dress: BHLDN (Penelope Gown)
Groom's Suit: Alton Lane (custom)
Groom's Shoes/Accessories: Alton Lane
Bridesmaid dresses: BHLDN, David's Bridal
Hair/Makeup: Heather Pelczar
Wedding Coordinator: Rachel Andrews
Wedding Invites: Jeff & Katie Martin
Ceremony decor: Katie Martin
Flowers/Decor: Sweet Root Village
Caterer: Chipotle
DJ: David Good
Reception decor/rentals: A Daily Something, Sammy's Rentals, Etsy

If you were to ask me to dream up my ideal wedding I would probably say something about a kind, fun-loving couple, a beautiful dress, gorgeous details, a sunny day, and an art museum for a venue. Well, today's wedding is every single one of those and in Puerto Rico no less! Nicole and Albert's wedding was such a dream come true. As people, Nicole and Albert are the friends you keep for life. It was of no surprise to me that so many of their friends and family were present for their destination wedding in Puerto Rico. The love for this couple was present in every aspect of the day. Including a last minute wedding dress made by the talented Gustavo Arango for the bride after a mishap with her original gown! And as for the wedding, well you'll see for yourself. It was magnificent. The couple got ready at the Condado Vanderbilt before heading to the ceremony which took place inside the incredible Capilla Mayor, Universidad Del Sagrado Corazón. Then, much to my art-loving pleasure, the reception took place at the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico. Seriously, what a wedding. Thank you Nicole and Albert for flying me all the way to San Juan! It was a joy to photograph your beautiful wedding day.