Katelyn & Adam’s fairytale Southern Maryland wedding truly was one for the books!
They got married at Our Lady’s Church at Medley’s Neck in Leonardtown, Maryland after reading their own vows to each other in front of Katelyn’s home.
Most Catholic churches do not allow for personal vow readings so it was their brilliant idea to read their own vows after their first look.
They have known each other forever and it was so beautiful to witness their heart felt vows to each other. They were able to completely tune into each other as if it was just them two on a deserted island.
After their ceremony, they had a grand and spectacular exit in their horse and carriage from Suttler’s Post Farm Clydesdales.
With the road blocked off for them from the church to their home (which was less than one mile), I was able to capture an aerial view of their entrance into their reception/barn (which is on their own property).
It was a truly magical entrance as the road into their property looked so beautiful on that nice autumn day.
After some portraits with the bridal party they had a final carriage ride into their barn for the grand entrance with some toasts, special dances, and dancing the night away.
To be honest, I didn’t know such private properties existed like this in Leonardtown! I wish my metropolitan friends can experience the charm and beauty of Southern Maryland. You just have to live here to truly appreciate the difference!
And I am so excited to share that we will be shooting Katelyn’s sister’s wedding around the same time this year!
Check out their full Feature-Length highlights above! Watch their love story unfold and move you into loving your spouses even more especially in such difficult times as now! Love wins because God is love!
To check out another Feature-Length Highlight, click here.
Kirsten & Zak got married at the beautiful Robin Hill Farm & Vineyard right here in Southern Maryland.
Local weddings are not only always good simply because of the distance, but because it’s still always so different from the Virginia vineyards, DC hotels, and other estates.
Something so simple about a farm, but this was no ordinary farm. The acreage spanned quite a lot of land! There was a vineyard, lots of animals, particularly, a horse and goat who appeared to be best friends!
Simply Hitched from Hitched by Heather was the event planner and it’s always great to work with their team.
I’m forever indebted to Heather who was the one who got my foot in the door. Then I officially became a Southern Maryland wedding videographer and moved on up to work in the Washington DC, Northern Virginia area primarily!
I was doing it part time when we lived in California, but in 2013-2014, we were looking to expand more and so she suggested I do a wedding for free.
I got three additional weddings from the free wedding we did throughout the years, and many referrals.
So to those starting out in any industry, I personally wouldn’t avoid doing things for free. Some things are worth the sacrifice if you have the right vision, grit, and PASSION!
Now back to Kirsten & Zak!
We love that they booked us like almost a year and half out for their wedding! That is always the best compliment for us as a business – that we are worth it in a couple’s eyes, especially that early in advance.
Both of them got ready nearby each other getting ready for their first look. Once Michelle Whitley, their wedding photographer got them ready, Kirsten approached Zak and he saw her for the first time in her dress followed by some bridal party and portraits.
Luckily, the weather was good before some nasty rain the next day, and that there were still some Fall foliage….scratch that, not still, because the foliage came pretty late this Fall compared to how I remember it to be.
Once the ceremony started, many tears and laughs continued, thanks to Kirsten’s upbeat and cheerful personality. Their full vows are not in their highlights video above. However, their vows are eerily very similar as Kirsten notes – in the video above. Destiny – like most of our couples!
They actually also work together! Like us, they are small business owners and own a Tropical Cafe Smoothie in a nearby plaza.
So much props to them! I instantly had an even greater connection with them on top of the 25-30 hours I spent with them, editing their clips!
Yes, that is the number of hours I spend with each couple, sometimes up to 40, on my computer! But it really isn’t a chore.
It’s a connection with two families embracing one another and a demonstration of a lifetime of love being poured out onto each other throughout the whole day! That is a really special thing that I am doing and something that I ENJOY!
After the ceremony, more portraits were taken, this time at the vineyard, and we were preparing for the reception as well as getting some cocktail hour shots.
Extra extra points for serving Neapolitan pizza for dinner from BricknFire Pizza Company after their beautiful first dance!
The rest of our coverage included some further dances, hilarious and heartfelt toasts, cake cutting, bouquet & garter toss, and some open dancefloor.
Enjoy it all from their highlight film above!
Watch and leave a comment and again, we are so thankful that Kirsten & Zak chose us to capture one of their most special days of their lives at the Robin Hill Farm & Vineyard!
To check out a previous Southern Maryland wedding, click here.
My most trusted second shooter, my wife, Susanna, was back in tow for this wedding at Bowles Farm Southern Maryland! For those of you who don’t know, she phased out of shooting because of back issues. She doesn’t shoot every wedding anymore with me, but whenever she does, it’s such a treat.
It’s amazing how little communication is needed on my end since she knows me like the back of her hand. We weren’t technically back in Southern Maryland during this time, June 1, 2019, but it was great nonetheless to shoot in such a familiar area as Bowles Farm. We’ve shot one other wedding here at the venue, but visited as a family often.
Taylor & Brent’s beautiful day started at Taylor’s grandmother’s house in Valley Lee. We’ve only been back living in Southern Maryland for a few months now, but have been amazed at how many scenic places there are here in this small peninsula of Southern MD.
Valley Lee was one of them and we loved the light entering Taylor’s grandmother’s house as Taylor was getting ready. It created some beautiful contrasts as she put on her dress from Today’s Bridal and as we got her details. Of course there were tears shed as mom was realizing her daughter was about to get married to Brent.
Ceremony & Reception
Once we arrived at Bowles Farm about 30 minutes north, we met Heather Miller who of course operates Hitched by Heather & Simply Hitched. A wedding planned by this team means complete trust, relief, and knowing we would be taken care of! After we covered a little bit of Brent getting ready at the farm, we were ready for the ceremony!
Guests arrived on a cool tractor/shuttle ride and sat under a beautiful large oak tree. As soon as the rest of the bridal party made their entrances, Taylor entered on a horse & carriage as horses are very dear to Taylor. These horses are the special Clydesdales horses from Suttler Post Farm Clydesdales. Majestic looking beauties!! Brent’s tears were heartfelt throughout her entrance and vows and their ceremony was so short and sweet.
The reception shortly followed with some great toasts as well as a special thank you speech from Brent as he thanked everyone for coming and missing his late father. I teared MULTIPLE times editing and felt very personal to me, despite my father still being alive.
I think everyone can appreciate a little country music, even if you are not a fan of it as the guests got down the rest of the night partying the night away. The day went without a hitch, and we were so happy to have partook in this awesome couple’s wedding day. Thanks again for having us and choosing us to capture your moments!
We are so lucky to experience so many beautiful weddings at so many different venues, hotels, destinations, etc. I feel like the Sagamore Pendry Baltimore Wedding took it up a notch in terms of hotels venues. To the ceremony site, the unique artwork displayed, and the elegance of the ballroom.
I was also lucky for Victoria Weddings of San Diego to have found me on Instagram. And even more lucky for Dimi choosing my work amongst a few other names that were sent to her.
This, along with the entire wedding was almost a last minute occasion because they were originally supposed to be married last year, but Mark the groom, being in the special forces, got injured and had to delay their San Diego wedding.
Needless to say, as the father of the bride states in his speech, the planning by the mother and also Victoria Weddings made everything happen so seamlessly and also made my job on the day go smoothly as well.
Ceremony & Reception
Dimi, in her beautiful flowing dress matched the elegance of the hotel. It also matched with the red long staircase, and views overlooking the Chesapeake Bay.
This classical wedding began with formal pictures with just close family along the staircase after them getting ready, followed by the ceremony under the long glass roof which leads into the outdoor pool area overlooking the water. Their personal vows to each other were so beautiful and you could see not just love between these two, but DEEP love.
Once the reception began, there were wonderful toasts made by the parents of the bride and all the siblings, but my favorite was hearing Dimi’s mom talk about having prayed for Dimi’s husband since she was a little girl.
This was so special because Susanna and I have been praying for Christian’s wife, even though Christian is only 3 years old. We believe in the power of prayer and believe prayer can protect even now his future wife and future union.
With some quick formal pictures before the sun set, the night came to an end with everyone dancing the night away. It was awesome to have been a part of this special God appointed day!
To check out another Baltimore wedding, click here.
