Magical doesn't even begin to describe Christine and Jon's wedding day. From the perfect weather to the gorgeous scenery, it was like being in a dream. Their style was amplified by their stunning location at Riverside on the Potomac in Leesburg, Virginia. When Shawn and I pulled up we were immediately in awe. Since the venue was a bit away from the road, there are some spectacular views everywhere. Clear skies and perfect weather were ideal for the ceremony on the edge of a lovely pond. Wide open fields, a large rustic barn, and a mountain off in the distance spoiled us. The dress by Anjolique Bridal and flowers from Affordable Arrangements captured the grace of the venue. Even smaller features the location has like an antique car, flower bed, and horses next door gave us plenty of spots for pictures. Later in the evening, everyone was treated to vibrant colors that lit up the clouds in the sky. It was all definitely a sight to behold that left Shawn and me a little breathless at times. Christine and Jon are amazing, and not just for their skill in picking the gorgeous Riverside venue. As expected, both of them were nervous but excited. But that didn't keep them from having fun with their friends while getting ready. Their bridal party did their job by keeping the couple (and us) laughing while they prepared for the day. Their officiant, Randy Miller, led a very beautiful ceremony and knot tying. The vows...

This weekend, Shawn and I took a quick trip down to Great Falls Park and did some intense location scouting. We've heard of this amazing spot for years, but haven't been able to check it out. It wasn't until one of our couple's mentioned it that we decided to make the drive down to Virginia. There was no better time to visit, since it was the Centennial for The National Park Service. Not only was there free entry to the park, but they were also showing Wall*E in the evening. I don't think Shawn and I could have planned our impromptu date hike any better, haha! Walking around the park, I honestly could not believe how beautiful it was. Sure, the temperature in August isn't ideal for a hike, but as we reached the edge of the cliffs the view took our breath away. There was a slight breeze from the falls below that filled the air with a wonderful crispness that cooled the scorching heat. As a result, near the edge of the rocks, it was as if fall had already arrived. Shawn and I found this amazing secluded spot to hangout and dream about the e-sessions that we hope take place here. As the sun was setting we strolled around a little bit more. We found the Matildaville Ruins, which were incredibly interesting to see and learn about. Back in 1790, there was a town constructed whose economy relied on the Patowmack Canal. When the canal closed, the...

When we meet with a couple, one of the questions we ask them is if they are doing a first look. Most of the time, our couples do go for the first look, which we enjoy. It's a great way to get intimate portraits and a sentimental memory. However, not all couple are fans of being that non-traditional. They will often mention how they don't want to see each other, but they still want to do something. That's when Shawn and I suggest what we like to call the "first touch". This option is amazing for the couples that want to have a moment together, but also want to save the big reveal for the aisle. Shawn and I totally understand this option because it's what we did. For those who don't know Shawn, his personality during stressful situations is incredibly calm. It's something I knew I needed when planning our big day. The only problem was that we both did not want to do a first look. So I scoured Pinterest and found a sweet alternative. It allowed us to share a beautiful moment, while still seeing each other for the first time right before our vows. On our chilly, rainy wedding day when everything was going crazy, all I wanted was Shawn. Our first touch was exactly what I needed in order to calm my brain (which was working overtime). I know I've talked about our experience a few times. It's important, though, because it made us...

The trips that Shawn and I have been able to have this month have been amazing. This past weekend, we took a weekend adventure with friends up to Confluence, Pennsylvania. We were able to camp and white water raft in the cool Yough River. It was a great time to get away to relax. With weddings about to pick up again, having a chance to get outdoors and hangout with friends is exactly what we needed. The Trip We left on Friday afternoon, spent most of Saturday white water rafting with Laurel Highlands on the Lower Yough River, and came home Sunday. Of course, the weather did a good job at scaring us. With the forecast calling for thunderstorms on Saturday, we weren't sure if our white water adventure was going to happen. Lucky for us, the storms stayed far away, and we were able to show the river who's boss. In fact, the sun gave us a very hot and sunny trip on the water. Our sweat drenched us before even touching the water. Thankfully, the water was a refreshing chill we got to enjoy during the calmer parts of the river. The immense humidity, though, gave our two Eagle Scouts a surprisingly difficult time trying to light our campfires. With some perseverance, we managed to get the damp wood lit and a nice fire going. All of our meals were done over the camp fire. We had ground beef foil packs with vegetables for dinner the first...

Oh, what a weekend it has been! On Saturday, we went to Berlin, Maryland with Brad and Eddie to make wine at Brews Up. And no, we did not stomp on grapes like in I Love Lucy. Instead, the wine making class at Brews Up guided us on the steps we needed to follow when using a wine kit at home. It was incredibly informative, and we all got to participate in the mixing, bottling, and corking process. The owners, Tony and Molly, are super kind. We were able to ask them any and all questions. It was awesome, since we had a lot, haha. While making wine was great, my favorite part was the tasting we got to do. The flavors at Brews Up range from full bodied reds to basically Jolly Ranchers in liquid form. I'm a sweet wine kind of person, so when the owner mentioned their Black Cherry tasted like candy, I was totally on board. Mine and Brad's favorite, though, was the Cucumber Melon, which was described as "a day at the spa." It's a super light and fresh tasting wine, and the perfect drink to melt away stress after a long day. The total experience lasted about two hours. By the end of it we were all extremely happy along with slightly tipsy :P. Our day finished up in the adorable town of Berlin. We went to lunch at a diner that was in the movie Runaway Bride, Rayne's Reef. As you...