How lucky am I to be part of joyful once-in-a-lifetime days like this one? Sam and Dave’s fall District Winery wedding day was THE most incredible way to wrap up CKP’s 2023 wedding season. I’m not even sure where to begin recapping such an amazing day!
I met Sam and Dave for their iconic cherry blossom engagement session, not this past spring, but the one before! So when I say I’ve been looking forward to this day for not months but YEARS, that is no exaggeration! It was worth every second of the wait though! From stunning, hand-selected details, to so many sweet happy tears, stollen kisses, big dance moves, and Taylor Swift as our soundtrack, Sam and Dave’s wedding day was as joyful as it was well planned, as gorgeous as it was meaningful, and as fun as it was relaxed. These two are the real deal… some of the sweetest people I know, and surround themselves with people that are as loving, kind, and supportive as they are!
I can’t wait to show you just how stunning their District Winery wedding day was, but before we get to the pretty, why don’t we recap Sam and Dave’s day?
I’ll be dreaming about Sam and Dave’s fall District Winery wedding day for a long time!
When I arrived at The Thompson Hotel, hair and makeup was already wrapping up! Sam and her crew were jamming to Taylor Swift while laughing and munching on lunch. It was the perfect, relaxed vibe! Right away, I got started with details (which were perfectly organized before my arrival, a dream!), and I knew it was going to be the best day when I found myself singing along to All Too Well (TV, 10-minute version, of course) as I styled and photographed Sam and Dave’s details.
If you know anything about wedding days, you know that time is typically fleeting, moves fast, and is hard to come by! But somehow? On Sam and Dave’s wedding day, we had SO much time for everything. For most of the morning, we ran ahead of schedule which was such a gift! We had so much time for portraits, sure, but best of all, these two had so much time to relax and enjoy their wedding day which is always my goal.
The ladies popped some bubbly on the balcony as the guys arrived to finish their getting ready process in the lobby downstairs. As Sam stepped into her bridal gown, a few happy tears were shed, and everyone started to get SO excited for all of the fun that was sure to come our way during the happy couple’s District Winery wedding day!
Once everyone was ready, we made our way to the rooftop at the Thompson Hotel for Sam and Dave’s first look and a few portraits. Happy tears, hugs, and twirls made their first look so sweet, and once the moment had passed, we started our walk over to District Winery, stopping for portraits amongst the fall foliage and Navy Yard landmarks along the way. I love when wedding days give us the flexibility to relax and enjoy the location we are in, and Sam and Dave’s wedding day did just that! These two are local to Navy Yard, so it was really special to incorporate some of the spots that are part of their daily routine… and a few that were special just for their wedding day!
We arrived at District Winery with their wedding party close behind us.
We cranked our way through wedding party portraits, family portraits, and soon, it was time for everyone to relax before guests arrived for these cuties to get MARRIED!
Sam and Dave’s wedding ceremony kicked off with the sweetest flower girls, who were FOCUSED on perfectly spreading flower petals down the aisle. It was the sweetest (and also most hilarious) way to start such a beautiful ceremony. Sam and Dave were married outside, surrounded by their family and friends, on the shores of the Potomac River. The views were gorgeous, sure, but there was so much more that made their ceremony so incredibly special. Personal vows, a dear friend as their celebrant, and many happy tears were so wonderful, but I think everyone’s favorite moment (You know, other than these two becoming husband and wife!) was when their sweet pup, Sadie, surprised them mid-vows!
While Sam and Dave’s fur baby was safely with a Rover for their wedding day, the folks taking care of their pup must have looked up their ceremony time and location, because, as these two said their vows, suddenly, they stopped, Sam burst into tears (The happy kind, of course!), and they started waving over the balcony towards the Potomac River! Their Rover team brought their baby to witness their ceremony from afar on their evening walk! It made an already sweet ceremony that much more special, and as a bonus, we were able to get a few full family photos with Miss Sadie after the I Dos.
After the ceremony, Sam and Dave’s fall District Winery wedding day continued into so many sweet celebrations with their favorite people!
Their reception was set for an evening of good food, meaningful toasts and full-out dancing with greenery and red roses helping to make a warm and inviting space that much more gorgeous! Sam and Dave spent the evening laughing with their favorite people, toasting to future adventures, and had one of THE most fun dance floors I’ve ever had the pleasure of photographing! It is evident that these two surround themselves with the best kind of people and are so loved by the people closest to them. Their crew was READY to celebrate their union which made for so many iconic moments. It was a joy to learn more about their relationship through the celebrations and was a BLAST to photograph their epic dance floor.
In summary, Sam and Dave’s day couldn’t have been more perfect! I can’t wait for you to scroll through each and every memory that made their day one for the books.
Thank you for trusting me as your wedding photographer, Sam and Dave! I’m wishing you a lifetime as joyful as your wedding day!
Married!
Obsessed with a wedding dress that has POCKETS!
This may be THE most open dancing photos I’ve EVER shared in a blog post, but can you blame me?! With a dance floor this fun, there were so many moments that needed a second in the spotlight!
Thank you, Sam and Dave! (and Congratulations!!!) It was a joy to spend your wedding day with you and your families!
A special thank you to Sam and Dave’s vendor day that made Sam and Dave’s day so magical:
Venue & Catering: District Winery | Getting Ready, and First Look Location: The Thompson Hotel Washington, DC | Wedding Planner: WedWithSteph | Bridal Gown Boutique: BHLDN | Bridal Gown Designer: Sachin & Babi | Bride’s Shoes: Lulu’s | Bridesmaid’s Attire: Reverly | Hair: McKendry Fiorentino | Makeup: Julia Benicka | Floral Design: Wander + Whimsy | Dessert: Nothing Bundt Cakes | Videography: Shutter & Sound | Stationery: Chandler’s Flower House | Reception Entertainment: Dan Goldman
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