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ever since attending school in baltimore and living downtown, we welcome any chance to head to charm city for a shoot, trip to the aquarium, or wedding! as washington dc wedding photographers and videographers, we’re just a quick drive away from baltimore, and we love the history and, well, charm that it offers! so we were naturally so excited to hear from michelle and tim when they reached out about their four seasons baltimore wedding.
michelle and tim met while attending law school in baltimore, so the four seasons baltimore was such a fitting backdrop for their beautiful summer wedding. to be honest, this is one of our all-time favorite places to shoot in baltimore, so that made the day even more spectactular! with gorgeous, bright bridal suites, stunning harbor views from the rooftop, and sophisticated ballrooms, you just can’t beat it!
the day started with bridal prep and sweet moments shared with family, and then the couple had an intimate first look on the rooftop. a heartfelt ceremony was followed by sunset portraits by the water, a delicious dinner, and a band that brought the crowd to their feet to dance! michelle and her mom had been dreaming up this event–in one sense– for years, and it was amazing to see it come to fruition! every detail was elegant: a romantic design with modern touches. betty lou events executed the day beautifully, and the white and green florals by victoria clausen were an incredible finishing touch!
we loved the grey and white color palette– perfect for a summer, city affair! michelle looked so stunning in her modern gown, and her pearl-detailed cathedral-length veil added perfectly to her look. the asymmetrical, garden-style bouquet finished off her look perfectly. and can we talk about those modern, sleek manolos?! tim was her perfect complement in his classic black tux.
michelle and tim are two of the kindest people and such an amazing pair! it was a joy to get to know them while shooting their springtime engagement session, and we loved carrying that relationship through to a gorgeous, happy wedding day! it was an honor to celebrate with them.
if you’re in the mood, check out another four seasons baltimore wedding photo gallery here! besos.
xo,
anna + mateo
2020 is proving to be a year full of surprises; i think this is something everyone can agree upon! with the worldwide pandemic and corresponding restrictions, many couples are having to change up their wedding plans. and even more are considering nixing the big bash all together and having a smaller soiree, or holding a small ceremony on their original wedding date, while postponing their original plans for a later date. the beauty of modern-day weddings is that there’s really no right way to do it. in a time of uncertainty, you can be certain about one thing: do what feels right to you, and it will work out.
as d.c. and destination wedding photographers and filmmakers, we’ve done our fair share of elopements and intimate weddings– both locally and across the globe. and to be quite honest, they’ve often been some of our favorite events! of course we love large and exciting weddings, but there really is something unmatched about a small group of people gathering to celebrate the ones that they love, pledging their lives to one another. couples don’t have to stress about remembering the steps to their perfect first dances or worry about small talk with their dads’ bosses at cocktail hour. elopements bring the surreal emotions of just a couple sharing the most momentous day of life, and micro weddings are comprised of simply the most important people… and this brings nothing but immense joy.
we have had a lot of couples approach us with a lot of questions about where to even begin planning their elopements or micro weddings, so we’ve come up with a few tips of how to plan your elopement or micro wedding in the time of COVID:
- follow a “normal wedding” schedule
even if your wedding day isn’t quite looking like what you had imagined initially, following a “normal” wedding schedule will allow you to still feel all of those wedding emotions that you dreamed of! brides, go get your nails done, prep with your close girlfriend or mom while drinking mimosas. have your photographer capture the moments of you getting your dress done up, do an intimate first look with your groom, share a first dance under bistro lights after your ceremony. and who said you can’t have a confetti exit with a ten-person wedding?! - incorporate details and interesting design elements wherever possible
just because you’re having a smaller wedding, it doesn’t mean that you have to skimp on the pretty details. from custom (or semi-custom) stationary suites to splurge-y, designer shoes to a beautiful floral arch for your ceremony, there are so many places to show off stunning design and elevate even the simplest backdrops or backyard affairs. because you won’t have a large number of tables to decorate, micro weddings allow you to invest more into gorgeous design elements without worrying about the cost of filling a large venue or many place settings. custom vow books are another meaningful detail to invest in for a micro wedding or elopement! - hire a videographer + live stream your ceremony if possible
you may or may not be having a symbolic ceremony and larger celebration in 2021, when the world will likely look more normal. but regardless, the purpose of videography coverage of your elopement or micro wedding is two fold: you’ll be able to share the excitement of your actual union and vow-exchanging with close friends and family who cannot be there, and you’ll have these memories preserved for you and your future families to remember. - toasts! toasts! toasts!
when you have a very small number of guests at your wedding, it’ll feel like the most heartfelt and romantic dinner party you’ve ever attended! seriously. take advantage of this almost rehearsal dinner-like atmosphere, and encourage toasts from many (or all) of your guests! soak in their stories, words, and advice without having to worry about losing the interest of a large number of guests, like you might at a full wedding. this is also a great excuse to hire a quartet or musical soloist or ask your talented sister to woo your crowd with a musical number. the beauty of this type of event is there really are no rules, so do what feels natural and enjoyable to you! - go scenic
elopements and micro weddings offer more flexibility both in venue and in schedule, so there’s no reason to not take advantage of beautiful backdrops for either your ceremony, your couple portraits, or both! there are many local venues that are the perfect setting for baltimore or washington, d.c. micro weddings, and elopements can happen in any beautiful spot around the globe, truly! think about a location you find to be utterly charming, typical of your relationship, or meaningful to you, and go for it. maybe it’s a ice-capped mountain overlook or a city rooftop with views of the restaurant where you had your first date! the options really are endless.if you’ve found yourself stressed out about wedding planning in the time of COVID or unsure what your next steps are, we’re here for you. we can help you pull together an amazing vendor team who will make the process straightforward and enjoyable, design your dream affair, and of course, photograph + film the incredible memories that occur. the pandemic might shift your wedding plans or date, but you might end up with something more personal and memorable than you ever could’ve hoped for!to all of the couples choosing to get married in 2020 despite (what might feel like) all odds: you are amazing. it says a lot about your relationship and true desires to plan a wedding right now, and we admire your strength + dedication to one another!if you have any questions about navigating the elopement and micro wedding world, please feel free to reach out! we’re happy to lend a hand in any way we can.
we really feel so lucky to work with some of the greatest couples. obviously, working with happy people on their happiest days is the paramount for a washington dc wedding photographer and videographer. but fortunately for us, the fun generally extends a bit more, as we get to know them throughout their planning process and during their engagement sessions!
besides getting gorgeous photos of yourselves (not in wedding attire), we always recommend engagement sessions because it’s a perfect opportunity to build rapport and get comfortable with our terrible jokes (ha!) and in front of the camera.
michelle + tim took advantage of this opportunity, and we met up during the height of cherry blossom season in dc (but skipped the crowds at the tidal basin!) for their downtown annapolis engagement session. we were lucky enough to have the perfect weather and lovely lighting, not to mention lots and lots of cherry blossoms throughout downtown annapolis to work with! plus a darling little pup! Really, what more could you need?
the pair met while studying law at the university of baltimore, so it’s only natural that they’ll be holding their wedding there too! we’ve been looking forward to their four seasons baltimore wedding for months now! and we can’t believe that it’s almost here. these two are so kind and laid-back, and their wedding is bound to be gorgeous!
we’ll be sure to update you with sneak peeks from their wedding, but until then, enjoy these!
this engagement session features the absolute best blooms, right?! to get you excited for their baltimore wedding coming up, be sure to check out this four seasons baltimore wedding from a couple of years back!
can’t wait for saturday, you guys!
XO,
anna + mateo
as seen on wedding chicks.
when a wedding planner gets married, it’s bound to be a lovely event. but when the kindest wedding planner gets married in mexico on cinco de mayo, it’s bound to be the loveliest of events!
nicole and ryan tied the knot at the luxurious finest playa mujeres in cancun, mexico, surrounded by their closest friends and family. i was lucky enough to head south of the border for this joyful mexico wedding, and it was no surprise that wedding chicks decided to pick it up for a feature! you can see the wedding chicks feature here.
nicole is a colorado girl, and ryan is from the midwest, but they’re currently stationed with the military in italy. they share a love for travel, so it only made sense to bring their families and friends from across the world together in mexico to enjoy the beach, each other, and maybe some tequila, too!
after a morning at the pool, the couple prepped with their bridesmaids and groomsmen and met up for a sweet and personal first look along a pathway blooming with bougainvillea… and if you know me at all, you know that bougainvillea is the way to my heart! so i was just a little bit in heaven. their beachfront ceremony was simple, sincere, and joyous, and then they shared cocktails to the sound of mariachi and danced the night away under finest’s beautiful beachside palapa.
their wedding radiated relaxed elegance and was coordinated to perfection by celeste from wedding in riviera maya. nicole looked stunning in her two-piece wtoo watters dress; the lace bodice was the perfect compliment to her ethereal and flowy skirt. ryan looked dapper in his suit and floral tie, and he couldn’t wipe the smile off of his face all day when looking at his bride. i loved all of the nods to nature and greenery in their wedding– from their modern invitations to the bouquet to the ceremony arch.
i also loved watching the way that both nicole and ryan were careful to make sure each other and every one of their guests (and even vendors!) felt loved and appreciated. ryan bought nicole the sweetest oval earrings to match her engagement band. nicole and her mother wore matching bracelets, and ryan gave his father and groomsmen personal gifts. they also celebrated their family heritage by drinking from the copper glasses from their parents’ wedding.
these two became fast friends to us, and it’s been so fun following their adventures across the globe (even if it’s given us some serious FOMO!). they were laid-back and really soaked in the emotions of the day, and we are so grateful to have been able to photograph their big day!
nicole + ryan, felicidades! can’t believe it’s been a year already.
xo,
anna + mateo
|| VENDOR LOVE||
photography: anna + mateo
venue: finest playa mujeres
planning: wedding in riviera maya
hmua: sara tamargo beauty
dress: wtoo
dress boutique: the bridal collection
paperie: minted
i’ve said it before, and i’ll say it again: we have the greatest clients in the world. it’s such a funny thing, to be introduced to a couple over the phone or e-mail, have a few excited conversations regarding style and logistics, and then show up in person and photograph one of the most intimate and exciting times in their lives. despite potential for uncomfortable moments, we somehow show up for a washington d.c. engagement session and have so much fun. every single time. as a washington, d.c. wedding photographer and videographer, there’s really nothing better than that!
and brooke and jeff were no exception to this. after chatting with brooke on the phone about her fall city winery wedding in d.c., i instantly knew that they’d be a great part of the anna + mateo family. brooke spoke with such genuine excitement about the prospect of getting married and sharing the day with those she cared about.
so when i met up with them on a chilly fall morning, i wasn’t surprised to find that she and jeff are just as lovely in person (and at 7 a.m., to boot!). they chose the lincoln memorial as the backdrop for their d.c. engagement session, which is a d.c. classic and one of my favorite backdrops to play around with. since we were there so early, we beat most of the crowds and were able to enjoy sunrise behind the washington monument.
we had a great time wandering around the monument, and i loved hearing about their backgrounds, relationship, and wedding plans. they picked the perfect combination of outfits: a more formal combination and then casual attire. brooke looked amazing, and her bright red dress popped against the marble so well! her mauve jacket is also a stunner.
we’re over here already counting down the days until october fifth to get to work with these two again! but until then, enjoy these classic washington, d.c. engagement photos…
thanks for letting us tell some of your love story!
XO,
anna + mateo
