So many weddings, so little time. ;-D So we’re taking a break from Friday’s FAB Finds to bring you another fabulous wedding!
As if this vibrant couple needed another excuse to get people excited for their wedding, Ashleigh and Adam tied the knot on our nation’s Independence Day with a memorable celebration all weekend long. They started out at their home, inviting all comers and out-of-towners out for a leisurely and informal BBQ dinner. They cared so much for each of their guests and their well-being, it was easy to see how everyone was having a great time the entire weekend. Deciding upon Lansdowne Resort, they made it convenient for their friends and family to stay and relax for a while poolside, to get in a few rounds of golf, or perhaps a spa treatment earlier in the day before their wedding ceremony held on the terrace overlooking the resort’s spacious golf course.
Their ceremony, complete with personalized readings and two solos, was intimate in its encompassing by two tree groves on either side, offering the proceedings a sense of privacy. Ashleigh’s suite, luckily enough, overlooked part of the terrace so she and her bridesmaids were excited to see the goings-on and watch the guests arrive for the mid-afternoon ceremony. Meanwhile, Adam and his groomsmen, plus one “honorary groomsman” who was unable to to come, decided to relax for a spell in the resort’s tavern, playing pool and generally enjoying themselves. The honorary groomsman was present in more than just spirit, however, as a life-size cutout of him wearing a tux was carried by one of the groomsmen virtually everywhere that evening.
Despite it being July in Virginia, the weather was fairly mild so we took the opportunity to shoot some portraits outdoors, but of course the interior architecture and decor of the resort lent itself well to some one-on-one time with just the two of them during cocktail hour while their guests lounged on the club house deck. As the sun set that evening, Ashleigh’s dad welcomed all their guests and offered up amusing anecdotes from her childhood as well as a congratulatory toast to the couple to kick off the evening. The talented DJ Chris Laich helped get the party started that evening and kept it going throughout the far-off fireworks displays in neighboring cities and counties visible from the terrace, and kept people on the dance floor until the evening’s end to chants of, “One more song! One more song!…” But alas, they were to send off the couple into the night (in their decorated golf cart, no less) with sparklers long enough that Ashleigh and Adam decided to run through not just once or even twice, but three times as everyone cheered and wished them well.
The next day we met the couple out again, this time at the Jefferson Memorial, for a leisurely day-after portrait session before they headed home to pack for their honeymoon. We took it easy, doing some fun portraits with them and early on actually ran into a couple we both knew well–Sara and Nadim! You may remember them from their Springtime wedding last year, and Ashleigh also happens to be a teacher at the same school where Sara teaches and had found us because Sara shared the images from her wedding with Ashleigh. Talk about a wild coincidence! After briefly catching up, we continued to shoot a bit more around the memorial before heading to a spot just north of National Airport’s runway 19. While there, there was one portrait in particular we were thinking of doing, and although it took a couple of tries to get the alignment and timing just right, we were pleased with the results which you can see below. All in all, it was such a fun wedding with everyone being so easy-going and fun-loving. We had a blast and were absolutely thrilled to be a part of the celebration. Congratulations, Ashleigh and Adam – you guys are the best. Thank you for having us document your wedding!
Love the simplicity of flowers in mason jars, even if it is just pre-ceremony.
One of Bill’s favorite shots that Anne took. Ashleigh looked absolutely beautiful. Glowing, in fact.
Ashleigh’s favorite drink.
Adam’s little brother, Ben had some very important jobs that day and did them all spectacularly. So cute!
One of Anne’s favorite moments that Bill captured.
Yup, that’s the honorary groomsman offering his congratulations during the toasts. Good eye! 
Love that Ashleigh wore her hair down for their day-after and love her look in this one!
And of course Bill’s awesome shot for which we’re eternally grateful to Ashleigh and Adam for their patience. As much as we tried snapping our fingers and wiggling our noses, the jets appeared only on their own schedule and were not always exactly over the runway approach centerline.
