Heather Z Photography » Modern Wedding and Portrait Photography

It started almost two weeks prior to the big day, like little flapping wings in the bottom of my stomach. The butterflies of excitement and nervousness were *almost* as much mine, as they were Meghan’s in anticipation of her wedding day. Though I’ve been excited for their wedding since the day we met, the slightest bit of apprehension didn’t begin to sink in until two weeks prior, on the perfect fall evening where we walked through their venue, the stunningly picturesque and vintage Merriweather Manor in Leesburg, VA. From the moment we turned onto the gravel road leading up to the sun-drenched hill where the manor sits primly perched, I knew I was in love. This venue is nothing short of spectacular! I can only imagine that Meghan and David were won over as immediately as I was when they saw the slate patio with the golden mountain backdrop where they said their vows and the beautiful light streaming through the large paned glass windows in the bridal suite. And when I woke up on the morning of their wedding, I simply prayed that I would be able to do justice to what I knew would be a fabulous day.

On the afternoon of their wedding day, Merriweather was even more dazzling. As the song goes, the birds sang as if it knew and there wasn’t a cloud to be seen in the perfect blue sky. People buzzed like bees making sure that every last detail was attended to and flawless. And Meghan couldn’t have looked more stunning, or thrilled, as she slipped into her fitted lace gown. There’s little wonder why David fought back the tears as his beautiful bride walked down the patio toward him, where he stood beside his father who would officiate the ceremony that would join them forever. It was such a pleasure for me to be there to witness and capture such a range of emotions, on that perfectly sunlit patio, surrounded by their closest family and friends. And my enjoyment only increased as we began their portraits during the amazing sunset. There were soo many little spots for us to use and I don’t even feel like we had time to take advantage of half of them before we ventured back up the hill to get the party started. And started it did, from the moment the bridal party was announced, dancing and laughing began. The evening was so characteristic of these two, and I’m not sure there is a single image of them from the rest of the night where they weren’t soaking in every moment of happiness with a smile or laugh on their lips. As a photographer, I couldn’t have asked for more.

Florist: Holly Heider Chapple Flowers LLC
DJ: Ryan “DJ Mosel” Mosel
Caterer: Culinary Delights
Wedding Coordinator: Laura Whalen
Gown designer/retailer: Pronovias
Bridesmaids dress designer/retailer: Watters and Watters
Invitations: Dandelion Patch
Wedding Cake: Groom’s Mother
Hair and Make-up: Hair and Faces by Lisa

I cannot help be feel incredibly lucky to have been blessed by so many endearing couples and beautiful weddings days this year. As I walked into Erika’s hotel suite, I was immediately swept up by her sweet nervousness. And it was endearing to watch as her mother and closest friends tried to calm and distract her as she primped and prepped in her final moments as a single woman. Meanwhile, upstairs on the top floor of the Key Bridge Marriott, Ivan and his family did the same, as they greeted guests who had traveled in from all over the world, to participate in their multi-cultural ceremony. I loved hearing Ivan’s mother, a Peruvian resident, read in her native language, followed by the minister’s lovely tale of a groom who felt peace and completeness from the moment he first met the woman who held his hands in front of us all. Our fortune continued outside as we wandered to the park across the street for portraits, where I couldn’t have asked for more beautiful light. Once we returned to the ball room, DJ Mike kept the floor hopping, while including a few spanish songs to encourage the salsa dancers on the floor to show off their moves. We finished the evening with a number of family photos that definitely demonstrate how much fun the relaxed crowd was having.

Florist: Buckingham Florist
DJ: DJ Mike
Caterer: Key Bridge Marriott
Gown designer/retailer: Katherine’s Bridal Boutique
Bridesmaids dress designer/retailer: J Crew
Invitations: Mary Anne Lloyd
Rehearsal dinner: Sequoia

Florist: Buckingham Florist
DJ: DJ Mike
Caterer: Key Bridge Marriott
Gown designer/retailer: Katherine’s Bridal Boutique
Bridesmaids dress designer/retailer: J Crew
Invitations: Mary Anne Lloyd
Rehearsal dinner: Sequoia

Little suggested that a party girl was buried inside Ashley, the quiet southern belle I first met many months ago about her September wedding. As we swapped stories and shared a mutual love of New Orleans, I contemplated how I could possibly manage to fit an entire king cake in my carry-on luggage to bring her a taste of home during one of my winter trips to the Big Easy. When I finally met Josiah at their engagement session, I found myself completely enamoured with their cheerful dispositions, playful interactions with each other and infectious smiles. Their wedding day was no different as the sun beamed in rays through the sides of their tented ceremony and butterflies flitted amongst the lillies they had placed in fleur-de-lis embellished urns along the tiered garden. The celebration continued over a spectacular dinner (Ashley and Josiah ensured that I treated like royalty and was served filet mignon! I can’t say enough about how wonderful it tasted! Thank you sooo much!) and cupcakes from Georgetown Cupcake. When the dancing started, few eyes remained dry as Ashley’s father began their dance with a recording he had made for her as a little girl while he was stationed away from home serving in the military so she would not forget the sound of his voice. But those tears quickly returned to smiles and laughter as their friends and family tore up the dance floor until it was time for their get-away through a sparkler send off to the most adorable little car waiting to take them off to happily ever after.