kylie + nate | a classic mt vernon wedding at the belvedere in may

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Classic and chic like their wedding, Kylie + Nate are so happy and in love!! They were a joy to photograph during their engagement session and their wedding was no different! Just one look and they make the other burst into happy laughter. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever attended a wedding that had more loving glances and laughter than this one! 

Having met at Johns Hopkins University and spent the past few years renovating their home in Mt. Washington, every chapter of this couple’s love story has been touched by the city of Baltimore. It only made sense that their wedding portraits featured their tight-knit group of friends and family, gorgeous city brownstones, the Washington Monument, and one of the most popular festivals in Mount Vernon: Flower Mart.

Kylie + Nate tied the knot at The Belvedere in early May. We were blessed with a gorgeous, sunny day with a high of 65 degrees and absolutely no threat of rain. We took some of my favorite portraits in and around Mt. Vernon, capturing their love for each other, their families and friends, and the urban feel to where they fell in love.

11 Memorable Moments and Details from Kylie + Nate’s Belvedere Wedding in Mt. Vernon:

  1. Kylie got ready at one of my favorite hotels: the Revival. This boutique hotel is just so unique, full of personality, a super comfy place to relax AND right across the street from Mt. Vernon square, making a first look and portraits with the park as your backdrop, super easy!

  2. Nate got ready at their home in Mount Washington, which was really special considering how much time they’ve spent renovating it and making it their own. I loved that they included their private home in their wedding portraits AND at-home engagement photos!

  3. Kylie got ready in the Miss Mary Suite with her bridesmaids and family. Her dress transformed multiple times, giving her a few different looks throughout the day and her Mavette shoes in shades of pink and burgundy matched her bouquet perfectly! Paired with all of the heirloom jewelry she wore and the special wedding band that Nate gave her, she looked like the quintessential Baltimore bride, straight out of the gilded age (just like their venue!).

  4. After Kylie’s mom helped her put on her dress, she did a bridesmaids reveal in the spacious suite, where her friends saw her for the first time. She also did a groomsmen reveal, where all of her groomsmen and both her and Nate’s dads saw her for the first time. It was a really fun way to include the entire bridal party in a first look!

5. Speaking of first looks, Kylie + Nate had their first look in the east quadrant of the square, with the Washington Monument behind them. Their faces lit up at the sight of each other! Finding a quiet spot in the park was a bit of a challenge with Flower Mart going on at the same time, but thanks to the help of LynnAaron of Nouvelle Weddings scouting it out in advance with me, we were able to find a perfect private and shaded spot away from crowds and vendors.

6. We also took full advantage of Flower Mart for cute candids of Kylie + Nate walking around and enjoying those iconic Baltimore lemon peppermint sticks in front of the monument and some wine! It was the best way to capture their love of Charm City during one of the most beloved and historic spring festivals.

7. When it was time to head to the Belvedere for the ceremony and reception, we made sure to carve out time to take wedding party and couple’s portraits under the marquee sign. It’s a must, if you’re having your wedding at the Belvedere, if you ask me!

8. Walking down the aisle in the Grand Ballroom created such a dramatic and memorable processional with their parents by their side; both Nate and Kylie as well as their friends and family were full of happy tears!

9. As guests walked into cocktail hour, they were handed glasses of champagne with a floating edible monogram, a K & N. I’ve never seen something like that! It was such an unexpected, delightful touch to their classic and elegant wedding!

10. We also made some time during cocktail hour to sneak out for urban golden hour portraits along the street with the Washington Monument in the distance as they crossed the street. But first, photos in the Owl Bar and gold-trimmed elevators: textured, gilded and full of sneaky smooches! It was so fun with Kylie & Nate being so relaxed, enjoying the start of married life in a carefree and effortless way! We had to also get a night shot out of the second floor window, of course!

11. Since the ceremony and reception were both held in the Grand Ballroom at the Belvedere, all of the ceremony flowers and greenery were repurposed to frame the stage where the band, Spectrum from Washington Talent, performed and kept the dance floor rocking all night. The white drape and twinkle lights behind the band created a soft and romantic atmosphere… I loved this idea as a way to make the band backdrop purposeful, well-designed and integrated into the overall vibe of their day!

Kylie + Nate, you two are going to take on the world together and I can’t wait to see all of the incredible things you accomplish! Thank you for letting me be the one to document the beginning of your married lives together. It was truly the biggest honor!!

xo,
Naomi

Huge thanks to this incredible vendor team:

planning + design: LynnAaron of Nouvelle Weddings
photography: Urban Row Photography
venue: Belvedere & Co. Events
florals: Stacy Bowen Floral Design
getting ready: Revival Baltimore
beauty: Behind the Veil Beauty
cake: Cake by Jason
band: Washington Talent’s Spectrum Band
dress: Enzoani
shoes: Mavette
boutique: Betsy Robinson’s Bridal
groom’s + groomsmen attire: The Black Tux
officiant: Ceremony Officiants
invitation + paper goods: mlc designs
welcome bags: The Tradition Begins
calligraphy: Lynn Cipollone
lighting / drape for band backdrop: Event Dynamics
rentals: Select Event Group

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

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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!