I meet with all of my clients before they even book their wedding coverage with me, and we discuss everything from how they met the love of their life to the wedding day they are in the process of planning! Ale had let me know that she was dreaming of a wedding day where nature meets DC. She wanted to prioritize portraiture that showed her and Ryan’s genuine love for each other, time together, and was really looking forward to seeing just how their florals would look to accent such a beautiful couple! Ale and Ryan wanted to spend the day celebrating with a few of their favorite people in one of their favorite places… without the pressure of coordinating the logistics for dozens of people. These two planned just that, and it was so incredibly special to see their vision become reality.

Ale and Ryan planned an intimate DC War Memorial Wedding Day with their immediate families and closest friends by their side to witness their I dos.

Their elopement-style wedding day on the National Mall allowed them so much flexibility to relax and explore, visiting the MLK Memorial, Lincoln, Constitution Gardens for portraits, and marrying at the DC War Memorial. Their gorgeous florals featuring fluffy blooms with hints of coral and pinks popped against the marble on the Mall, and don’t even get me started on Ale’s bridal cape. I mean… can this become a thing at every wedding?! Because, not only did Ale look absolutely incredible, but this unique accessory added the prettiest, sophisticated finishing touch to Ale’s bridal attire.

After a week with endless rain and cloudy days, Ale had placed a few emergency Amazon orders for clear umbrellas to have on hand as backup. When their Friday wedding day rolled around, they were greeted with gorgeous, clear skies that melted into the dreamiest cotton candy sunset. It was warm, but not too hot with no showers in sight. Fortunately, the umbrellas weren’t needed, and their elopement evening had the weather that all Washingtonians dream of in late summer and early fall!

I’ve got to hand it to these two! They are practical planners which made their day go off without a hitch, but their wedding planning didn’t come without its challenges. I found out the week-of that I would not be able to be present at their wedding day (Thanks, pandemic!), and thankfully, my dear friend and amazing associate photographer, Samantha Jean stepped in to save the day. Ale and Ryan could not have been more gracious about such a devastating last-minute change, and Samantha couldn’t have done a better job photographing such a monumental wedding day (Pun intended!).

I’ll share a little more about these two when I share their Kennedy Center engagement session in a few weeks, but I think it’s about time we start scrolling through just how beautiful their wedding day was! Samantha did such an incredible job capturing every moment and detail— I am so forever grateful for her and these two! Congratulations, Ale and Ryan! Your DC War Memorial Wedding Day was one of DREAMS!

Not over these colors! How stunning is Ale’s ring?!

More bridal capes, please! How gorgeous is Ale?!

The sweetest first look with Dad!

Then off to the Mall for first look! You do what you gotta do when everyone is riding on the same transportation!

Time to get these two married!

MARRIED!

These two strategically planned their timeline to prioritize sunset portraits, and DANG, was it worth it!

One of my faves!

Thank you to Ale and Ryan’s fabulous vendor team:

Associate Photographer: Samantha Jean Photography | Ceremony Location: DC War Memorial | Reception Venue + Catering: dLeña | Officiant: Officiantly Hawkins | Bridal Gown: BHLDN | Bride’s Shoes: Naturalizer | Groom’s Attire: IndoChino | Hair and Makeup: Makeup by Ana B | Floral Design: Whitewood Flowers | Dessert: Buttercream Bake Shop

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