katie + chris | a cozy holiday engagement in historic downtown sykesville

I can’t get enough of how adorable Katie and Chris are together! You’d never know it was basically 40 degrees outside during their engagement photos…! We started in Patapsco State Park with their pups and ended in downtown Sykesville.

They were completely up for having fun — being playful, cuddly and sweet is definitely a recipe for success during engagement photos in a state park (especially when it’s chilly out); it made all the difference! :) Here’s to more wintry snuggles with your favorite person forever and ever…

After Patapsco, we headed over to Main Street in Sykesville to take advantage of the cozy and festive time of year with all the lights, holiday decorations and quaint, historic architecture… basically, my favorite combination!

I thoroughly enjoyed my time exploring Sykesville with you and can’t wait for your wedding at Main Street Ballroom!! It’s going to be the best day with everything you have planned, but especially, including because your pups Peppa and Lucy will be there as your flower dogs!!!

See you soon, cuties!

xo,
Naomi

rachael + guido | a modern wedding at Anthem House, Blue Pit BBQ + Clipper Mill

It was a bright and beautiful sunny day when Rachael and Guido were finally married! You could absolutely feel the love and excitement in the air — and how long they’d been waiting for this day to come!!

One of the first things Rachael ever mentioned to me about their wedding was that Ode, their pup, was going to be with them the entire day. I was beyond giddy and Ode proved to be on his bestest behavior from the minute I walked in.

We took portraits at Under Armour’s promenade on the water and then traveled up to Clipper Mill to include weathered stone + metal industrial walls. I could have photographed these two (well, 3 with #urbanrowpup Ode!) all day long — they are just the perfect combination of sweet and silly souls who happen to be the most loving pup parents!

6 ways this fun Baltimore couple made their wedding day their own…

1. Including Ode every step of the way from getting ready together with the groom and groomsmen to including him as one of the wedding party’s VIPs (very important pup! ;))

2. Embracing their love of delicious food and drink and having Blue Pit BBQ as their caterer and venue in the Woodberry neighborhood.

3. Rachael did her own hair and makeup…! I loved her simple braid with tucked wildflowers.

4. She and her bridesmaids carried single monstera leaves and greenery with one calla lily. Rachael’s bridal bouquet included a single king protea.

5. They got ready in Locust Point’s Anthem House then took portraits at Under Armour’s promenade and Clipper Mill in Woodberry… so much variety in their photo backdrops!!

6. Rachael walked down the aisle to the Circle of Life from the Lion King.

Congratulations again, newlyweds!!! Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness and lots of love to Ode - it was such an honor to be a part of your big day, thank you for trusting me to capture all of these memories for you!

xo,
Naomi

planning: The Wedding Ninja
getting ready location: Anthem House
ceremony, reception venue + catering: Blue Pit BBQ
florals, hair, makeup: the bride, DIY
DJ: Dapper DJs

christina + tony | a historic fells point engagement session

Spending time together in Fells Point with a stylish and fun, beautiful, dog-loving couple on a crisp Fall evening by the water is what I dream about… honestly! There’s nowhere else I’d rather be, than documenting an incredibly inspiring love story with soulmates that are passionate about their relationship, excited for the start of their marriage and choose to live and love in Baltimore.

THE TOP 5 REASONS CHRISTINA + TONY’S FELLS POINT ENGAGEMENT SESSION WILL MAKE YOU SMILE:

1. Christina wore a flowing and full-length black floral Anthropologie dress for a moody, modern and romantic look at their waterfront session

2. Tony wore a solid burgundy sport coat paired with dark jeans for a crisp Fall look that was the perfect compliment to Christina’s dress and all the industrial character of Fells Point

3. They brought their shih tzu pup Marcel along for photos and he was spoiled with snuggles (just look at his face! how could you not squeeze him!? He’s the most adorable little ‘fluffball’ as my son called him when he saw these photos!)

4. Christina had a vision for the look to their engagement photos that I absolutely love: romantic and industrial chic with a touch of urban grit and texture, just like their wedding venue, The Winslow Room

5. These two simply exude love in every sense of the word! From a gentle touch to a loving glance, there is a comfort and confidence between them that is such a joy to document. Christina is simply one of the sweetest people you’ll ever meet and Tony compliments her in every way.

Here’s to celebrating this October AND next, at The Winslow Room… you both deserve all the love and happiness in the world and clearly celebrating over the course of one year isn’t enough! ;)

xo,
Naomi

guienen + ed | a romantic summer mini wedding on the bay

Guienen and Ed were married at Herrington on the Bay during one of the hottest days of the year, but you’d never know it! They were such an incredibly patient couple with all of my ideas for portraits at this beautiful garden venue on the Chesapeake Bay… July weddings aren’t for the faint at heart when it comes to the humidity and heat!

I loved this spot for their first look - Ed was such a calm and cool groom waiting for his beautiful bride!!

Sadie, was the best flower pup in all the land! She set the bar high for all future #urbanrowpup wedding party members; we couldn’t have done it without the help of the Furever & Fur Always dog care team!!

Guienen’s bridesmaids wore stunning summer sage green Jenny Yoo Inesse dresses in a watercolor floral print paired with bouquets of a single flower variety: ranunculus, lisianthus and roses to complete the modern, elegant and romantic bayside look.

The beaded detail on Guienen’s Enaura gown was absolutely stunning while shimmering and sparkling in the sun; the pattern added a soft, subtle, whimsical touch to her bridal look!

I loved Guienen’s color palette and vision for the intimate dinner tablescape; farmhouse tables paired with white chiavari chairs, white vases, white flowers and white hand-lettered (all by the bride!) hosta leaf escort cards, brought the modern bayside look together in an understated and elegant way! The focaccia provided just the right pop of mustard yellow to coordinate and compliment the vases.

Cheers, newlyweds!! Can’t wait to celebrate together even bigger next July!

xo,
Naomi

gown: Enaura Bridal Style #Beau from Garnish Boutique
bridesmaid dresses: Jenny Yoo Inesse dress in Morning Mist Multi from BHLDN
flowers: Love & Luster Floral
groom and groomsmen attire: Tuxedo House
hair and makeup: Up Dos for I Dos
wedding day dog care: Furever & Fur Always
Sadie’s flower collar + ceremony scrapbook: bride’s mom, Colleen Barrett
venue + caterer: Herrington on the Bay
personalized family name sign: mrc wood products

steve + joe | a bolton hill + brewer's art sailboat engagement in baltimore

Steve + Joe are such a perfect compliment to each other. This thoughtful, fun-loving couple incorporates a sense of spontaneous adventure and a love of art, architecture and culture into their busy lives. Knowing that, it was no surprise that they chose Bolton Hill, one of Baltimore’s most beautiful and historic neighborhoods, for the start of our engagement session together with their #urbanrowpup, Luther (always include your furry friends, please)!

Between the park they live near and the collection of magnificently restored 19th-century brick rowhouses on tree-lined streets among pocket parks and garden residences, Bolton Hill set the bar pretty high when we started out! We stumbled on my favorite urban backdrop: an ivy-covered brick wall that perfectly framed these two and set the tone for a relaxed, urban oasis feel to their Baltimore engagement session…

In Joe’s words, the story of how they met…

“We got together for our first date at Max's in Fell's Point. Steve had been running around for work the entire day and I had been planning to meet some of my friends from my masters program at Bad Decisions around the corner for drinks after my date was over. And then the date didn't end. We went for a walk along the waterfront (Early November so I'm sure it was chilly but I don't remember being cold) and had our first kiss on a secluded stretch between Fell's and Canton. Then we saw each other the next day and the next…”

With Brewer’s Art being one of their favorite local bars with Baltimore brews, we had to stop there on the way from Bolton Hill to Fells, where Steve’s boat was docked and waiting for us. I’m so glad we did - what an incredible place to enjoy a beer!

TIME OUT. Why are sunsets from a sailboat that much more amazing!? The breeze, the colors, the smells… life is so much fun while enjoyed by the water. I’m so glad Steve suggested incorporating his boat during our time together; it was the absolute perfect way to end a gorgeous summer night on the harbor!!

As if that all wasn’t enough, they were featured on Equally Wed, and I couldn’t be happier to have their love story and engagement photos shared with the world. Their vision of celebrating their life and love in Baltimore both during their engagement session and at their upcoming wedding at Mt. Vernon Park and The Assembly Room is simply perfect.

We are incredibly honored to be a part of your wedding day and can’t wait to capture all the urban art and industrial love you share with so many friends and family!!

xo,
Naomi

GROOMS: 3 things to know before your wedding

Let’s be honest… as a groom, you have a lot less on your to-do list than the bride. That doesn’t mean you can’t master the things you do need to know and show up ready to go, ahead of schedule and with time to relax!

Here are 3 things we know you usually don’t think about on the daily, so you may want to practice and wrap your head around them in advance, with plenty of time before your actual wedding day:

1. How to tie your bow tie (watch THIS video and practice in advance!)... or buy a pre-tied one. We won’t tell. Pro Tip: PLEASE don't just start watching YouTube videos the minute we show up!

2. Similarly, how to pin your boutonniere on. Ask your florist for tips on attaching it and/or make sure someone who will be with you while you’re getting ready (either another groomsmen or your mom) has done it before and feels comfortable with that responsibility! The last thing we’d want is to spend time waiting for 10 guys to figure this out and have to help each other get theirs on before we can start taking photos. Your mom is always welcome to pin yours on if she is dressed and can be in the pictures, but help for all the other groomsmen is what we see often lacking and very much needed.  

3. When the photographer is ready to take your getting ready photos, you should be 90% of the way dressed! No one wants photos of you in a t-shirt and boxers on your wedding day. ;)

If you are getting ready in a hotel room and we are starting photos there, all the groomsmen should be fully dressed. As the groom, you should have your shirt and pants on with your tie, shoes, socks (the more fun, the better: colorful stripes? fave sports team? ode to MD?), cuff links, watch and any other meaningful items, in one spot for us to capture right before you put them on. Getting ready photos actually means photographing you as you get your jacket and shoes on, putting the final touches on your tie / cuff links and buttoning your jacket.

If you are meeting us at another location to have your portraits taken (for example, at the spot where you’ll have your first look or even outside the church or venue), then we’ll just capture portraits of you 100% ready to go - adjusting your tie / cuff links and buttoning your jacket make for beautiful and classic getting ready shots.

What NOT to have nearby…

Piles of clothes / bags / food / beverages strewn about. A little tidying up in the room (or corner of the room) that gets the most natural light will go a long way and make your photos that much better!

If you’re able to quickly do all of these things, just think of what it really means: you can pour another glass of bourbon, scotch or grab a can of Natty Boh and relax with the guys. ;)

marissa + brooks | historic fells point baltimore engagement

What’s the only thing better than new Urban Row couples that are best friends with past Urban Row couples (heyyyy Kathryn + Casey!) and dog lovers too?

When they meet simply because the groom’s family bought a house across the street from the bride’s family (literally across the street) and when their parents start talking, they discover that they were both going to be seniors at Stevenson University that upcoming fall. Marissa told me it's still up for debate who was peeking at who through the windows across the street. ;)

Everything about Marissa + Brooks’ Fells Point engagement session left me wanting more… their bright and colorful outfits, their adorable golden retriever (#urbanrowpup), the way they look at each other completely head over heels in love and the way Marissa twirled as the water glistened outside the Pendry hotel and Main Street in Fells Point was glowing…

And how sweet is their first date tradition?

”When we moved back to school for the fall of our senior year, we decided that one evening after my lacrosse practice and Brooks' baseball practice, that we would go to Five Guys for dinner. I guess that was our first date because Brooks generously paid for me. Every year on September 27th, we go to Five Guys to relive our first date. This September will be our 5th year together!”

I LOVE how much of a surprise Brooks’ proposal truly was! In Marissa’s words, here’s how it unfolded:

“I was always confident that I would know when Brooks was going to propose, he’s terrible at keeping secrets and I'm pretty good at finding things out! I was planning my mom a surprise birthday party but little did I know that Brooks and a select few that were also going to be at the party were planning the proposal. As the party was coming to an end, so I thought, my mom, step dad, and I were told that there was one more gift and that we had to leave the room for a minute. When we came back, Brooks had a huge sign made that read "Marissa will you marry me?" Not many people knew this was happening so everyone was just as shocked as I was. Brooks even arranged for my dad and brother and sisters to be there and snuck them in the back door. I was truly shocked and had no idea this was coming. To have my whole family along with close friends there to celebrate really made the moment even more special.”

As the sun was setting, they changed into a classic and dressier outfit to end our time together; I love when couples incorporate an outfit change since it allows you to have more diversity in your photos and treat it as a really fun and fancy date night with your love!

Marissa and Brooks are getting married at Musket Ridge Country Club in June and we can’t wait for the gorgeous Catoctin Mountain views, clean lines of the reception space at Catoctin Hall (think vaulted ceilings, light walls and walls of windows with views of the golf course) and seeing them finally getting to celebrate after so many years of being together!

Let’s do this, cuties!!!

xo,
Naomi