5 charming, modern and elegant hotels to get ready in for a baltimore wedding

Are you looking for a hotel in Baltimore that will lend a polished look to your getting ready photos on the morning of your wedding and has a boutique, luxe feel?

Here are my top 5, in no particular order:

1. Four Seasons

2. Sagamore Pendry

3. Canopy Harbor Point

4. Hotel Revival

5. The Ivy Hotel

…annnnd a BONUS! Hotel Ulysses, a boutique hotel in Mt. Vernon that I haven’t been to yet but I’ve seen tons of people checking - their space looks sooooo unique and memorable.

All of these hotels have modern finishes, furniture and design (with a touch of whimsy, art + retro vibes at Revival and an eclectic, old-world feel at The Ivy) with tons of natural light in their rooms!

WONDERING Which spots would work well for A first look and portraits BEFORE ceremony?

  • Since the Four Seasons is along the promenade that overlooks the harbor, you’ll have the Baltimore city skyline in the background of your photos AND Domino sugar if you turn the other way. The Four Seasons terrace also works well as long it’s not too windy!

  • The Sagamore Pendry has endless opportunities for portraits in the courtyard, on the pool deck, on the balcony overlooking Broadway Pier (if you book a suite with a balcony!) or in the heart of Fells as you step outside… so many options!

  • Canopy at Harbor Point is also right on the promenade; near Frederick Douglass Maritime Park, it has a terraced green space on one side and floor-to-ceiling glass walls next door at the Morgan Stanley building that provide a beautiful modern backdrop for photos.

Hotel Revival is in the heart of Mt. Vernon, at the end of Mt. Vernon park, a short walk from the Washington Monument. This charming, boutique hotel has a lobby staircase full of colorful and whimsical wallpaper and a mid-century modern vibe to the lobby furniture that both provide very photogenic spaces to use for photos inside. Outdoors, Mt. Vernon Park is right there with tons of historic brownstones, shady tree-lined sidewalks and cobblestoned streets that all make for beautiful portraits of the two of you and your wedding party and families!

The Ivy Hotel is an absolute hidden gem in Baltimore’s Mt. Vernon neighborhood. With world-class hospitality, sophisticated charm, playful elegance and chic metropolitan vibes, it is hands down, my favorite historic mansion in Baltimore. The Conservatory and private courtyard garden are both incredibly lush, romantic and relaxing all at once — you can’t go wrong with seeing your partner for your first look in either of these spaces!

Pro tip: make sure you have enough room for all of your VIPs to fit comfortably with you (a suite can help!) AND that you feel at ease in the place you’re getting ready — it sets the tone for the rest of the day!

Let me know any questions you have about the getting ready portion of a wedding day below in the comments! It’s one of my favorite parts of the day — so many great candids and fun memories!

alli + jay | a fun and formal jewish wedding at the four seasons baltimore

Alli + Jay had the most beautiful sunny and warm June day for their fun and formal wedding at the Four Seasons in Baltimore; they were actually lucky enough to have TWO gorgeous wedding days in the last year (the first was an intimate brunch wedding in the sky lounge at Silo Point, thanks to Covid!) that were warm, full of happy tears and lots of mentions and moments with Midnight, their adorable cat…!

Enjoy these early favorites; I can’t stop smiling when I look at their first look sequence. Jay’s expression was everything!!

Oh and ps: you need to consider bringing in Coal Fire Pizza for a late night snack at your wedding. It was THE BEST and made for such fun photos… go see for yourself, below!

THE FIVE MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS + DETAILS FROM A+J’S WEDDING AT THE FOUR SEASONS BALTIMORE

  1. Midnight the cat, was present as their cake topper, in their vows and as their signature cocktail, the Midnight Mojito!

  2. Alli’s adorable niece and nephew wore the best wedding attire (little boys in mini tuxes make me melt!), and the sweetest flower girls wore flower crowns to round out their wedding party

  3. Speaking of their wedding party, everyone wore black while the groomsmen wore fuchsia pink socks and the bridesmaids had vibrant pink, lavender and blush roses in their bouquets - so summery and romantic!

  4. Alli had a reveal with her bridesmaids after she got in her dress before sharing a special first look with her dad and then one with Jay; there were laughs, smiles and happy tears on repeat.

  5. When Alli and Jay entered their reception to Jay wearing a Nature Boy robe over his tux!

Mazel tov, Alli + Jay!!!

I’m so glad we got to celebrate your love story twice… want to do it again next June? ;) You both deserve all the happiness in the world. Your day was so much fun and you both continue to inspire me with your generosity, down to earth humor and love of all things Disney!

planning: Celebrations
photography: Urban Row Photography
videography: Shutter and Sound
venue + catering: Four Seasons Baltimore
florist: Ann’s Garden
band: Washington Talent’s Rhythm 6
dress boutique: Betsy Robinson’s Bridal
beauty: Elina Baron, Victoria Brett Creative
cake: Cake by Jason
invitation: Paper’s Plus
officiant: friend Jason Yonowitz
late night snack: Coal Fire Pizza
live painter: Patricia Bennett Studio

kristen + leo | a multicultural wedding at mt. washington mill dye house

On a bright, sunny Thursday in early June, Kristen + Leo became husband and wife! Their wedding was one full of romance, fun and a celebration that brought both of their families together in a way that honored Leo’s hispanic heritage and cultural traditions.

K+L got ready at the Four Seasons Baltimore with their first look on a private part of the promenade before heading up to Mt. Washington Mill Dye House for their ceremony and reception… here are some early favorites to enjoy!

7 UNFORGETTABLE DETAILS AND MOMENTS FROM K+L’S DYE HOUSE WEDDING:

  1. Leo wore a custom Christopher Schafer suit and had his ring inscribed with “Love of My Life” which eludes to Kristen often saying to Leo "love of my life, father of my cat"… :)

  2. Kristen wore 2 gorgeous dresses; the first being this Hayley Paige Fleur de Lis floral embroidered ballgown with a deep sweetheart neckline and my favorite detail being the open keyhole back. The second was the modern, chic and minimalist Giovanna gown by Sarah Seven. Both looked like they were made for her!!

  3. They celebrated Leo’s family’s hispanic heritage with numerous thoughtful details and elements — their wedding ceremony was bilingual as was their DJ, so that every guest and family member felt welcomed. They also had agua fresca ready for guests at the courtyard ceremony!

  4. La Hora Loca began about an hour before the end of the reception and it was one of the most energetic, fun and celebratory ways to party together — neon glow sticks, streamers, loud music and inflatable decor came out to add to the festive feel!

Congratulations again, lovebirds! There were so many incredible moments, it’s so hard to narrow down a favorite; your wedding day was unforgettable in every way and we were so grateful to be a part of it! Cheers to lots of love, tasty meals and the perfect blend of quiet, relaxed moments and loud, fun family celebrations together in the future!

xo,
Naomi