sarah + dan | a classic spring engagement in mt. vernon baltimore

While planning their engagement photos, I knew there were 3 things that were important to Sarah and Dan:

1. catching the magnolia trees in bloom in Baltimore (they’re Sarah’s favorite!)

2. including Maple, their adorable poodle and #urbanrowpup, for a few photos

3. having fun and being themselves (scroll down to see how they celebrated at the end of the shoot with some bubbly to ensure fun was had! ;))

You two have been such a pleasure to get to know, your genuine love for each other shines through every moment! Your sense of style and attention to detail has been SO MUCH FUN to see come together during the wedding planning throughout all of our conversations…

I can’t wait for your gorgeously chic, industrial Fall wedding at the Mt. Washington Mill Dye House but in the meantime, am so excited to share some of these favorites from your spring engagement session in Mt. Vernon! Every urban engagement session should end with riding downhill on a scooter… :)

Read their proposal story:

Some of Dan's friends were planning a trip to a beach house in Massachusetts and Dan decided that would be where he pulled the trigger (he had already had the ring for a few months and he was getting dangerously close to spilling the beans). Sarah almost figured it out when Dan suggested they buy new outfits for the trip and insisted on getting up for sunrise at a nearby lighthouse. One of Sarah's friends, Katherine, was key in shaking Sarah off the trail; "Dan likes clothes and hasn't bought any since he started working from home, and you like cheesy pictures."

They drove up to Mass on Saturday, when Sarah realized that she chipped her new nail polish, Dan deadpan looked at her and said, "Well its not like anybody is going to be looking at your hands," and the conversation ended.

The next morning, they woke up at 4:30 to get ready for pictures - the sun rose about 30 minutes sooner in Mass than it did in Baltimore. After taking a bunch of snaps, Dan went to get the ring from his back pocket, but the ring box got stuck. Sarah looked on like he was a crazy person as he jumped up and down trying to find an angle where his pants would allow the box to escape. "My wallet is twisted in my pocket and it feels super annoying!" and she bought the excuse! He freed the ring, got down on one knee, where she quickly joined him and said, "yes."

Sarah + Dan, your wedding is finally only DAYS away!!! You’re going to be married and it’s only going to get better from here! I can’t wait to celebrate alongside you both, you make such a great team and parents to Maple… here’s to lots more love, laughter, beautiful blooms and dancing at the Dye House!

xoxo,
Naomi

whitney + ryan | a maryland zoo + rawlings conservatory elopement

The only thing that could have made Whitney + Ryan’s elopement better would have been if their 4 cats could have joined in the fun… yes, 4 (all named for mushrooms: Shiitake, Porcini, Enoki and Crimini)!

So, naturally the next best thing was to include a penguin and get married in an intimate elopement ceremony at the Maryland Zoo. Taylor of Taylored Vows, officiated and inspired not only smiles and loving glances, but memorable laughter throughout their vows on the steps of the Mansion House.

I couldn’t be more excited to share what their day looked like… CONGRATULATIONS, W+R!!

WHITNEY + RYAN’S MARYLAND ZOO + RAWLINGS CONSERVATORY ELOPEMENT WAS FULL OF FUN, CANDID JOY AND A PENGUIN!

It was just the 2 of them, myself, their officiant, and their own personal chauffeur (from the zoo) to take us around for photos, after getting close and cozy with Lilly, the penguin! A true elopement that was so much fun and exactly what Whitney and Ryan wanted for their wedding…

It didn’t rain at all, despite the threatening skies (but I wore boots and had umbrellas just in case! The sun showed up during their vows and then went back to hiding behind clouds for their portraits… this was actually a great thing since it meant less squinty eyes!

We ended outside among the lush gardens at Rawlings Conservatory and took some of my FAVE PHOTOS EVER because they’re so stinkin’ cute together and we had the place to ourselves (another reason Tuesday weddings are worth it!!)

Whitney and Ryan, you two compliment each other so perfectly and share such a special connection, I can’t thank you enough for the opportunity to document your elopement! I hope this day was full of more happiness and love than you could have imagined… and it only gets better from here!

xo,
Naomi

brandyce + tanesha | a colorful + fun rainbow baltimore elopement

Their wedding day was colorful, but their love story is vibrant!!

Full of excitement, Brandyce and Tanesha were married at the Towson Courthouse on a bright and sunny Friday in September. After the elopement ceremony, we went down to the water in South Baltimore for a fun celebration with tons of color and lots of love present among all of their guests!

Just because you’re getting married at a courthouse building, doesn’t mean your elopement can’t be full of color… Brandyce and Tanesha incorporated color in all of these ways:

• Wearing rainbow converse shoes

• Carrying rainbow floral bouquets

• All of their 11 guests wore rainbow colored attire and posed with rainbow umbrellas

• Ending with a rainbow colored smoke bomb send-off

But my favorite part of their love story is how they connected through a mutual friend and initially felt something about the other, but didn’t act on it right away and even managed to continue to get to know each other while living across the country.

“I love her smile and the way she grabs my hand to hold. I love the person I am when I am with her. She challenges me and makes me better. She is my happy place.”

Congratulations, ladies!! It has been such a pleasure getting to know you and having the honor of photographing your wedding; thank you for the opportunity to be a part of these memories. Your love story is an inspiration and I hope you never forget all the joy that was experienced on this day!

xoxo,
Naomi

brianna + bryant | an elopement at rawlings conservatory

Brianna and Bryant were planning to get married at the courthouse in downtown Baltimore with photos nearby in Mt. Vernon… but when rain threatened to ruin their plan for beautiful elopement portraits, Brianna had the best idea: to reserve time at the Rawlings Conservatory and embrace the fact that after 7 years, they were still going to be married at the end of the day!

Their families arrived at the Conservatory with them and Brianna + Bryant not only had a memorable first look with all the happy tears, but they took advantage of soft light for all of their portraits. They were both beaming and full of excitement, kindness and joy; couples with an attitude and approach like this truly make my heart so happy! This is what it’s about!

Fun fact: cloudy, rainy days are even better for photos when you’re in a space like this since the light is diffused and even, as it pours through the glass windows of this lush, beautiful, indoor greenhouse (side note: it will be humid though! ;)).

Congratulations again, newlyweds!! I’m absolutely honored that you had me there to document such a special and memorable day… you both looked incredible! To have the support of so many loved ones by your side as you became husband and wife, what a forever moment I hope you continue to remember and enjoy for years to come!!

xo,
Naomi

lianna + brian | an intimate baltimore rooftop elopement in federal hill

The amount of joy and laughter Lianna and Brian exude is nothing short of contagious… I honestly can’t stop smiling and am so happy you two were able to celebrate it in the intimate, meaningful way you wanted!

L + B planned an intimate weekday rooftop elopement at their home, but first they celebrated in their own adorable way by making stops for photos in Fells Point, Federal Hill park and ending at Little Havana for a fun and cozy dinner reception with 🌶 sauce as their favors, yummy margs🍹, a cigar bar and my fave: a candy s’mores bar with 5 different flavor combos (genius, really)!!

When I asked Lianna if there were any important or significant details they were incorporating into their elopement, she replied with this… “Nothing inherently special or significant besides being surrounded by our families, in our home and favorite places to spend time in together…” Pretty sure that’s all you need in life.

Enjoy these favorites from their intimate Baltimore rooftop elopement!!!

I love their ‘how we met’ story…

“Every year, my college sorority would host a duck hunting-themed date party where everyone dressed in camo and jorts - classy! In 2013, I took one of my friends (who happens to be a great friend and former roommate of Brian's) and he went with one of my "sisters". We spent the night in the same circle of people but not really chatting too much with each other one-on-one. For the next year, Brian referred to me as "Naime's date" because he couldn't remember my name (and to be honest, I had no clue what his name was either... I just thought he was the cute guy in the crew!) Finally, we called each other out on it and haven’t stopped talking since (unless of course, he is on the golf course)!”

And since their proposal took place on their roof deck, that’s also where they got married…

“On October 3, 2020, Brian and I spent the whole day just the two of us (and our pup, Abby, of course!) This is pretty rare for a nice Saturday in golf season so I was excited to just have a nice day together! We started out by taking a walk around Lake Roland and eating brunch in Hampden. The rest of the day we watched our college team actually win a football game (also pretty rare these days) and being lazy at the house. When night rolled around, Brian suggested we go have a drink on our roof deck. He had strung lights and lit our firetable so it was a beautiful scene to walk up to. That is where he got down on his knee and asked me to be his wife, just the two of us!”

Congratulations, sweethearts! Your excitement, joy and laughter is contagious… hope you never stop enjoying each other’s company like this! You’re absolutely onto something with beginning your married life together by celebrating in all of your favorite Baltimore spots.

We were honored to be a part of this day with you and your families! Cheers to more rooftop sunsets and keeping things spicy… just remember to always keep laughing and “be cool, be cool, be cool”.

xo,
Naomi (+ Liz, associate photographer)

vendor love:

bouquet and rooftop florals: Thurman & Fig
restaurant florals: Fleur de Lis Baltimore
beauty: Brushed Beauty
dinner reception: Little Havana
cake: Codetta Bake Shop

meghan + justin | a lush, greenery filled engagement at rawlings conservatory

On a bright and beautiful sunny Fall day, I explored the lush Rawlings Conservatory with Meghan and Justin — they are absolutely radiant and perfect together.

Their love story started simply with a friendship and being in the right time and place. A mutual friend’s wedding was involved in taking it to the next level and the rest you can read below… ;)

What are their favorite things about each other…? Their answers left me speechless.

“Justin is incredibly thoughtful. Not just in the ways that selfishly I benefit, but in the way he loves his family and treats others, the way he is so intentional in making decisions to support the life he wants to live. He makes things happen, but is never reckless. Did I mention he still opens car doors for me and is the best chef/baker?”

“Meghan is a third-level thinker, something beyond intelligent. I can spend hours considering a dilemma and come up with a course of action.. but it wasn't long before I learned that running it by her will almost always lead to a more complete solution. She knows which subtle details are the critical points, and she explains them in an ego-less way that helps and encourages. I know it, her peers and colleagues know it, and it's why people (and I) place unparalleled value in her friendship (and future wife-ship).”

How they met in Justin’s words:

“We originally met through friends just being in the same place at the same time. We saw each other infrequently for many years and didn't really share much time together. Some would say we barely tolerated each other. Five or so years later, some of those mutual friends had a wedding. I (Justin) was an usher and spotted Meghan walking towards the seating. I had two thoughts -- 1. we should be cooler with each other and 2. damn she looks good in that dress and with that hair (it was in this order, I swear). I skipped the line of ushers to be the guy to walk her to seat, said "hi" etc., and returned to my usher duties for about 5 minutes before coming back to sit with Meghan and talk. We slow danced once at the wedding. We talked a little more, walked to her car when she left, and that capped off what I felt was a good potential start. That start led to texting, a couple movies ... moving in together, and choosing 9/30/21 as a very important date.”

And the proposal (that brought tears to my eyes!) in Meghan’s words:

“It was a Tuesday and I had just gotten home from work. Justin let me know there was something in the mail for me and went upstairs to change into his gym clothes, totally normal. The envelope was so strange, addressed to me and my mother with a CT return address. Inside the mailing envelope, another blue envelope. Inside the blue envelope, a letter in Justin's handwriting to my mom. I froze. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to read this, or it had somehow gotten lost and mailed back to me instead of Justin? I finally went half-way upstairs and asked Justin if I was supposed to read this letter. I sure was, and it was the sweetest letter to my mom asking for her blessing to propose. I stood in the kitchen re-reading the letter, so surprised and in awe that it took me a good ten minutes to finally come upstairs where Justin was waiting. He got on one knee, said all the sweet things again, and I said yes.”

Cheers, cuties! Your gentle, sweet and genuine love is an inspiration… I can’t wait to celebrate alongside you at the Mt. Washington Mill Dye House SO SOON!!

xo,
Naomi

rachael + guido | a lake roland dog engagement session

It was warm enough to wear short sleeves while also being cool enough to wear a blazer during Rachael + Guido’s Fall engagement photos at Lake Roland. These 3 (hi Ode!) were laughing from the second we started, showcasing their playful, “natural weirdness” and I couldn’t get enough of them!

4 REASONS THIS LAKE ROLAND ENGAGEMENT SESSION WAS SO PICTURESQUE:

1. Because it included Ode, of course. ;) But in all seriousness, R+G’s mini Aussie was so adorable and well-behaved; he stole the show! Rachael’s mom came to help as the dog-wrangler and it was perfect.

2. We waited until late October (the 29th) to be sure the leaves had color and man, did we get lucky!!

3. Rachael wore a black floral dress that had just the right amount of pattern to really pop against the trees and golden light.

4. They didn’t take themselves too seriously and are completely head over heels in love together! Knowing how to completely relax and show your genuine emotion will pay off in beautiful candids…

I can’t wait to FINALLY celebrate your wedding day with you (and Ode)! It’s been such a long time coming and you’ve gone through so many changes from your original plan… but you know what that means, right? This one will be perfect for you!

xo,
Naomi

alli + jay | a modern + intimate wedding at Silo Point's Sky Lounge

When asked their favorite thing about each other, they both responded the exact same way. The notes they wrote to each other (scroll down to see their hilarious cards) both also mentioned the cat. That’s how you know it’s true love. ;)

“My favorite thing about Alli is how much she loves our cat Midnight! My favorite thing about Jay is how much he loves our cat Midnight as well!”

THE 4 WAYS ALLI + JAY’S INTIMATE MICRO WEDDING WAS UNIQUE AND UNFORGETTABLE:

1. They love their cat Midnight so much that he had to be a part of their first look.

2. Alli also had a first look with her dad and because it was Father’s Day, gave him a card as well, that had them both emotional as he read it.

3. They incorporated the tallis from Jay's grandfather, and the tallis from both of their bar and bat mitzvahs.

4. They rented the Sky Lounge at Silo Point which gave them access to panoramic views of the Baltimore skyline, harbor waterfront and a gorgeous fluffy cloud sky that was the perfect backdrop for the 35 guests and intimate ceremony.

5. Brunch was catered by Classic Catering and included french toast and pancake passed appetizers, omelettes, hash browns, bagels and lox and monkey bread... SO. GOOD!

Congratulations, Alli + Jay (+ Midnight)!! I was incredibly honored to be there to celebrate alongside you and both of your families and close friends… the day was perfect in so many ways, from the way you casually started together in your condo to the ceremony on the rooftop overlooking Baltimore on a beautiful, breezy and warm June day, ending with a delicious brunch feast. You guys did it right!

I can’t wait to do it all again next June at the big party with a different yet equally beautiful waterfront view.

xo,
Naomi

planning: Celebrations, LLC
venue: Silo Point
catering: Classic Catering
flowers: bride’s sister-in-law
dress: BHLDN / Anthropologie
hair: Megan Glover of Victoria Brett Creative
makeup: Elina Baron of Emmey Makeup Artistry
dessert: Fresh Bakery

holly + josh | a fancy, formal + fun Bromo Seltzer Clock Tower engagement

The sky was bright and blue when we met up at the Bromo Seltzer Clock Tower for Holly + Josh’s formal engagement portraits on a sunny December morning.

I had been looking forward to our time together in this space since we first started talking about their vision for photos… it was my first time being inside this epic industrial, historic and charm-filled Baltimore venue! Seeing how happy they make each other and how perfectly quirky, silly and sweet their love story is, it was so easy to document them in a natural, candid and relaxed way.

5 FUN FACTS ABOUT…

HOLLY + JOSH’S PORTRAITS AT THE BROMO SELTZER CLOCK TOWER + CEREMONY COFFEE IN MT VERNON

1. We brainstormed a few different locations before landing on the Bromo Seltzer Clock Tower and it was THE perfect spot: full of natural light, private, intimate, one of a kind, historic and fun...

2. Holly + Josh made clear to me that they had a vision for what they wanted and it wasn’t the typical engagement session feel. They wanted artsy and different. The art and creativity of the portrait itself was important to them; quality over quantity.

3. The Clock Tower is one of the most unique and photogenic structures in Baltimore (seriously, have you ever seen a location that even comes close to being as memorable as this?!) so I love that they juxtaposed how raw and textured it is with their fancy, formal attire.

4. Sharing a love of coffee, one of their first shared cups together was at IKEA… (browsing there is my idea of a perfect date too!)

5. Since the Clock Tower is not far from Mt. Vernon, we had to end at Ceremony Coffee which provided the perfect contrast with it’s modern design aesthetic.

I love how the story of how they met…

“A mutual friend of ours, Alex, started a monthly dinner party where a group of friends pick a theme and meet at someone's house to cook and eat together. We met at one of those, talked some more at one a few months later, and then had our first ‘I'm not sure if this is a date’ date at Ikea. That date lasted 13 hours and included our first coffee together of much more to come.”

But love even more, their idea of a perfect Friday night:

Holly: “Fancy, delicious, photo-worthy food and wine along with a scenic walk through an unknown city.”

Josh: “What she said, with a side of witty-banter.”

Our #urpcouples are the best.

I can’t wait to have you both back in front of my camera for your wedding next month at Wyndridge Farm in PA!! Your joy and love is contagious - you both light up a room and I can’t wait to document your wedding day; I know it will be full of laughter, emotion and gorgeous style!

xo,
Naomi

afryea + shaquille | a spring elopement in downtown baltimore and druid hill park

Afryea and Shaquille are the definition of soulmates that compliment each other in every way!

Their intimate Baltimore elopement took place on one of the coldest days we’ve had this spring so far (it was 36 degrees and flurried earlier that morning!), but you’d never know while looking at the photos… they exude joy, happiness and respect for each other, while being the perfect amount of quiet and thoughtfully contemplative (Shaquille) combined with energetic excitement and bubbly radiance (Afryea).

The sun was shining bright and I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to document a love story like theirs! The world needs more of their kind of love.

Afryea and Shaquille got ready and had an intimate, heartfelt ceremony at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront downtown with their families witnessing the love, excitement and memorable vows they shared.

I was OBSESSED with both the minimal yet gorgeous pearl jewelry Afryea incorporated into her bridal look, complimenting the low back, soft lace dress she wore as well as Shaquille’s powder blue suit and floral tie.

Shaquille’s close friend Jim officiated and there was no shortage of laughs, happy tears, warm blessings by each family member and excitement for their future together. All of their words brought me to tears behind the camera!

Their expressions in the photo above (one of my favorites!) was brought to you by the best comment by Afryea’s dad: “you all could be a toothpaste commercial!” He’s not wrong!!

After the ceremony we took portraits in Druid Hill Park which had so many beautiful spring buds and blossoms opening up and matching blue skies to Shaq’s suit… it was almost like they planned it that way! ;)

I wish you both a lifetime of happiness and never-ending joy together as you continue to grow as a couple and start your life as newlyweds in New Orleans; you already have an incredible foundation with all the love from your families and your roots in Baltimore and NY!

Thank you for trusting me to document your wedding day - it was an absolute honor!!

xo,
Naomi

megan + anthony | a snowy winter wedding on valentine's day

On a cold, snowy Valentine’s Day in Maryland, Megan + Anthony became husband and wife in an intimate church ceremony after getting ready at home alongside their pups and closest friends and family. Their property looked exceptionally beautiful covered in a blanket of snow!

Megan’s lace gown was simply perfect accessorized with pearl earrings, a pearl hair clip and a cathedral veil with lace edging. Her bridesmaids wore various shades of blush and burgundy that looked so elegant against the bright white backdrop of snow and their light blue garage doors! Anthony’s touch of warmth and a fun pattern came from a bit of plaid in his scarf, that complimented his vibrant navy blue suit.

These next few images might be my favorites of their wedding day… the kind of candid laughter you can’t make up and getting ready moments that came together so beautifully!

As I clicked the shutter, I remember thinking Megan’s expression was 100% worth whatever random weird thing I said to make her crack up. :)

Working with Jacs of Beauty by Jacs was so effortless; she is immensely talented at her craft (just look at Megan’s makeup!) and one of the sweetest vendors and humans I’ve ever worked with!!

After they officially became newlyweds, we went back to their house for a few pics with the pups (they had TWO #urbanrowpup sweeties!) and Megan changed into a beautiful floor length red gown for their intimate dinner reception… they did get married on Valentine’s Day, after all!

Congratulations to you both, Mr. + Mrs. Walker!! I absolutely loved being a part of your special day and meeting Percy and Savannah, who absolutely stole the show… ;)

Makeup: Beauty by Jacs
Shoes: Kate Spade Keds
Florals: Forever Floral
Wedding Gown: David’s Bridal
Cake: Dulce Cakes
Church: Piney Grove Methodist Church
Dinner: Michael’s Cafe in White Marsh

8 questions to ask potential wedding venues (the ones beyond the basics!)

As soon as you’re engaged and ready to start narrowing down your wedding venue, you might quickly find it overwhelming - there are SO many unique and different wedding venues in the Baltimore, Maryland area!

No matter which aesthetic or vibe you’re after, your venue will have specific policies in place to ensure your best day ever is fun, efficient, safe and beautiful for not only you, but for your guests and the vendor team as well.

Knowing the answer to these as far in advance as possible, will allow you to:

1. Save money by knowing the elements of your day you’ll need to possibly budget for differently.

2. Share this information with your vendors in advance, so the entire team is on the same page.

3. Be more creative with your decor and layout since you know the parameters you’re working with!

HERE ARE 8 QUESTIONS TO ASK POTENTIAL WEDDING VENUES:

• How long do we have access to the property? When can we / vendors arrive on site?

• Are we required to hire a wedding planner? NOTE: A venue manager and wedding planner are not the same thing! But that’s a topic for a future blog post… ;)

• Are tables and chairs included in our rental?

• Are pets allowed? For a few epic photos with your #urbanrowpup of course. ;)

• Any restrictions or limitations on decor / exits? Candles? Sparklers?

• If we want to get ready at the venue, what types of spaces do you offer?

• Are there any noise restrictions? Is there a time that the music needs to stop?

• What is the rain plan and how far in advance do we need to make the call to move inside / under cover?

Let me know if you have specific questions about any of these venues or if you’ve found one that you absolutely love and want to work together at… if there’s one thing that gets my creative juices flowing, it’s finding new places to photograph genuine love stories! ;) Oh and if you find a venue I haven’t been to before, visiting and touring it in advance of your wedding day (either with you or on my own), is one of my favorite things to do!

Until then, happy venue hunting!!

xo,
Naomi

nakeia + chris | a micro wedding with an old world feel in dickeyville, baltimore

Nakeia + Chris are still planning a larger party in the future but for now, they embraced the idea of a small and memorable intimate wedding at a historic home with their closest family and friends and it was absolutely PERFECT! The Dickeyville neighborhood where they celebrated, felt like it was MADE for them: it was relaxed, quiet, beautiful, full of charm and tons of character!

These lovebirds designed and planned their wedding to take place in one of the larger homes in the neighborhood on one of the 2 main historic streets; the upstairs bedroom served as Nakeia’s getting ready space, while the large gathering space on the first floor held the ceremony and was later transformed into a dinner reception.

We took advantage of the backyard full of greenery for family portraits and then explored the neighborhood together for their adorable just married, golden hour portraits (my favorite time of day)!

SIX UNIQUE AND MEANINGFUL DETAILS NAKEIA + CHRIS INCORPORATED INTO THEIR CANDID AND INTIMATE WEDDING:

1. Nakeia’s off the shoulder crepe dress had buttons running the entire way down her back as well as on her sleeves. So classic and modern all at once.

2. The baby’s breath in her updo added a romantic, whimsical and soft, textured look - the perfect way to tie in garden elements!

3. Nakeia’s Uncle Terry walked her down the aisle and was beaming the entire way; it was absolutely heartwarming.

4. They jumped the broom to symbolize starting their lives together!

5. The wedding party wore burgundy colors with orange ribbons tying the hydrangea bouquets together to represent Virginia Tech, the groom’s alma mater… Go Hokies!

6. Nakeia and Chris loved the Dickeyville aesthetic, so they prioritized portraits during golden hour… (more on what unfolded, below)!

Nakeia met her Uncle Terry at the bottom of the stairs and this moment of him beaming at her, makes me so happy. So much pride and joy!

We walked along the tree-lined streets, stopped in front of stone knee walls from the 1800s and ivy covered garden residences marveling at how quaint and cozy this hidden gem felt - it was like we were in a tiny European village (definitely reminded me of Cinque Terre in Italy!) as neighbors shouted down from open windows and came out of their homes to share in the excitement of their newlywed status!

Congratulations, Mr. + Mrs. Gardner! Your easygoing, relaxed and fun personalities were a joy to document - I can’t wait to see how you continue to celebrate your love next year and make memories together for decades to come!!!

xo,
Naomi

katie + zach | an intimate outdoor micro wedding in maryland

When Zach mentioned one of the many things he loves about Katie, I’ll never forget his response being: “When Katie smiles, she smiles so much that her eyes close shut.”

You can see exactly what Zach’s talking about, in the moment when they were officially announced as husband and wife at their intimate elopement and micro wedding ceremony (on their original Memorial Day weekend wedding date!). Katie’s entire face lights up and fills with so much joy, it’s absolutely contagious to everyone in her presence…

Let’s back up a minute though because their love story and journey to this May wedding day is one to celebrate in and of itself! If you haven’t already seen their Bmore Licks + Fells Point engagement photos, check them out HERE - make sure you read the story of how they met and how Zach proposed; it involves a scavenger hunt through Baltimore that ended with the sweetest handmade wooden ring box made by Zach + Katie’s dad together!

Here are 6 moments from Katie + Zach’s heartfelt mini wedding ceremony in Maryland, that will give you all the feels (you’ve been warned!):

1. Zach’s emotional reaction as Katie walked down the aisle brought me to tears - as recent graduates from medical school while dating long distance, they found out a few weeks ago that they matched for residency at Johns Hopkins and will be able to work and live together in the same city for the first time in 3.5 years!

2. Their brief ceremony was officiated by their pastor, Ian of St. Moses Church in Baltimore, and was the perfect compliment to their personalities and relationship; weaving elements of religion, humor, love and kindness.

3. The wood arbor they got married under overlooked the waterfront in Cecil County and reminded them of where they got engaged, on a bench in Fells Point, overlooking the Baltimore harbor.

4. Both Katie and Zach’s moms contributed heirloom elements from their own weddings to incorporate in the celebration, including a vintage cake topper, the lace flowers incorporated on Katie’s veil, sapphire earrings made from her grandmother’s ring, a wood card box Katie’s dad made for the occasion and cupcakes for the small gathering of family and friends, since cupcakes have been a part of their relationship since the beginning.

5. Katie surprised Zach with a meaningful engraving inside his ring and a beautiful new wooden watch.

6. Right after they were married, both moms and dads got the biggest hug from both Katie and Zach and I just love how much heartfelt and warm energy the entire elopement had among it! The photo below of both moms walking up to congratulate them is my absolute favorite.

After the ceremony, they walked down the mini aisle and were greeted by a small group of friends and family there to help them celebrate (safely distanced and with masks on) their newlywed status!

Congratulations again, lovebirds, I was honored to be a part of your mini wedding and elopement!! I love that you were able to get married on your original wedding date and will now have this as your official anniversary in addition to the future party planned at Rosewood Farms!

xo,
Naomi

an emotional + joyful courthouse elopement

This is the week that should have been Laura + Garrison’s wedding week (it’s been rescheduled for July thanks to COVID-19), and they’re on my mind so often that I thought it was a perfect time to finally share these photos with you! In fact, it’s couples like them that remind me how many layers there are to what’s happening in the world right now. They make me so grateful for all of the support, kindness, warmth and grace that I’ve been lucky to experience in our industry along with so many other small business owners.

Laura + Garrison’s wedding was the first of many that will be rescheduled and postponed to occur later this year. It was (like all of the weddings we’re a part of) one that I had been looking forward to for so long for so many reasons, not the least of which was that it was going to be at the Accelerator Space with an incredible vendor team!

Throughout all of the ups and downs they’ve experienced in recent months, this single photo from their elopement says it all. They are a constant ray of sunshine, a perfect team and a couple that bring joy to so many friends and family!

Despite growing up in the same zip code, and having a ton of mutual friends, Laura + Garrison had never met before matching on Tinder in May 2016. Their first date was during happy hour in Federal Hill. They have such a natural chemistry together that was so much fun to document in and around the Baltimore Country Courthouse as they eloped on a mid-November day - which happened to also be the same date as Laura’s dad’s birthday!

Garrison planned such an incredibly sweet proposal, I’ll let Laura tell you how that all happened:

“Garrison said he would plan something nice for our 3 year anniversary a few months back. He never gave any details except that he had booked an overnight getaway at an undisclosed location. On our way to the surprise spot, Garrison drove north, south, east, and west to throw me off so I couldn't guess where we were going. 20 minutes later, we arrive at the most BEAUTIFUL house surrounded by gardens, which turns out to be about 7 minutes from our apartment in Austin. Inside, there were framed pictures of us, candles, and a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Gare also got a nice bottle of champagne and a fancy charcuterie board (our favorite). He told me we had dinner reservations, so I made sure to dress up. He suggested we walk through the gardens, and as we were walking, Garrison tells me how amazing the last 3 years have been and says all of the sweetest things. As we walk down from the balcony and turn the corner, he gets down on one knee and asks me to marry him. I said Yes! (obviously) and a photographer comes out from behind a bush, and we proceed to do a 1 hour engagement photoshoot that Garrison planned!! It was absolutely perfect! After the pictures, Garrison made me dinner, played a love song playlist he had prepared, and we had the most perfect night celebrating together.”

Not only are they both so at ease when together, but when asked what they love about each other, it brought tears to my eyes…

“I love the way she makes me feel, I love how driven she is, and I love the way she laughs…”

“My favorite thing about Garrison is his thoughtfulness and how genuinely good of a person he is; not just to me, but to everyone…”

In Laura’s words, the reason behind the elopement…

“Shortly after we got engaged last Fall, we received some serious news about my dad’s health. To ensure he’d be able to be there to see us get married, we decided to have a small ceremony at the courthouse with our families. We got married on November 18, 2019- my dad’s birthday. Not only did I get to marry the love of my life on an already celebratory day, but I was able to have the experience of my dad walking me down the ‘aisle’ on a day when he was feeling healthy, which is a true blessing.”

This was my first Baltimore County courthouse elopement and I loved how intimate and special it was to stand alongside Laura + Garrison’s immediate family and witness their vows. Beaming smiles and radiant joy were a theme throughout their courthouse elopement from the moment they arrived to the moment they were married and twirling in front of the historic courthouse in those vibrant blue heels and elegant tulle skirt…

I hope more couples embrace this idea, especially in light of COVID-19. Why not elope now with a really short and sweet civil ceremony and then plan a meaningful party for more friends and family later? HINT: if you do go this route, I’m happy to swap your ‘engagement session’ for photos of your elopement!

Cheers, lovebirds! We CAN NOT WAIT for July - it’s going to be better than you can imagine!

xo,
Naomi

planning: The Otherside Creatives
florals: Thurman & Fig