Winery Wedding WOW

The weather forecast for the weekend was gray, and grey it was. When we assembled for photographs at the Sunset Hills Winery in Purcellville, the light was so Blah that Brandon, the groom asked me to photograph a sun sliver, an opening in the clouds where a few rays were desperately trying to break out of the heavens and kiss the ground. When it came time for the Ceremony, “Someone Up There said “Let there be light: and glorious golden rays flooded the knoll and bathed all in gold. Robert Hanson, played beautiful music as Diane Stanley, the officiant got down to business and reminded all why we were there. And so, two became one

Felice and Brandon chose an ideal location for their wedding. The Winery has a grassy knoll for the ceremony at the side of a lake, a fabulously restored barn with a handcrafted tasting bar, and hundreds of details of Amish barn building.

Felice did all of the programs, menus and details her self. Her wedding coordinator, Vickie Grafton of My Simple Details, handled the rest and acted as the MC, a chore often relegated to or assumed by the photographer in the absence of a DJ or MC. A very small detail of the Village Flowers arrangements impressed me. The boquets were splendid but the fact that the boutineer pins were strong and did not bend, really showed me their know how.

The food like everything else was elegant, with Basikneads Catering at the helm. Food appeared in large bowls, like Grand Ma had in her kitchen and kneaded bread or mixed the stuffing in, rather than the food industry specials, stainless steel with Bunsen burners. The menu may have looked simple, it was anything but. The buffet had a Latin flavor to it, Chipotle Marinated Angus Flank Steak with Sherry Mushroom Sauce (Pre-Sliced on Platter with Sauce on the Side), Gambas al Ajillo (serve in earthenware bowls), Grilled Catalan Pork Sausages with Caramelized Baby Onions (Skewered), seasoned shrimp served individually on Tapas sized plates, Roasted Potato Salad with Caramelized Onion Dressing (Served room temperature), Roasted Fennel and Green Bean Medley, and crisp Garlic Points. I was one of the many going back for seconds and others tried thirds

Felice and Brandon decided to take a different approach to a wedding cake. Neither had liked the cakes at the last three wedding they attended. So, what to do? Go to Harris Teeter, buy one each of their six variety cakes and WALA, a cake buffet. They ate the coconut cream cake and both were licking their fingers like a pair of kids.

Time was marching across the clock and it was speeches, dancing, and hugs and kisses. Then it was time for Brandon to take Felice off into the cool evening to a new life

Blog from the Back Yard

Years ago, when I was a kid, many people were married in a home, their parents, a relative, or friends. Home marriages sort of fell out of favor in the 80s and 90s when we raced to find ways to spend our money in new and lavish ways.

Haylei and Craig had a lavish home wedding last week in sunny Herndon, Virginia. What made it special, unique, and lavish was the warmth, the love, the friendship that was evident and radiated from the bride and groom to each other and all of the guests.

It was warm, that Saturday, no it was HOT, darn Hot. Julie and Spike Williams of Williams Realty opened their home, with its cool pool, and booked the neighborhood Gazebo which overlooked a wonderful lake to host the Festivities. Reverend Daniel Kane tied the knot in front of family and friends and a horse and buggy. More on that later.

The guests assembled in the sun on hot white chairs and waited and waited for the bride. The groom was waiting, and then we HEARD the bride appear, clip, clop, clippty clop, she appeared in the distance in a white dress, sitting on red velvet, in horse drawn carriage. Haylei’s coach drove down the hill and made a wide turn, stopping at a long white runner which was straining to come loose and blow away in the wind. Dad went to work and escorted a beautiful daughter down the isle to Craig. Reverend Kane did his thing and the two became one.

Then it was party time. The bride and groom luxuriated in the carriage and started on a planned jaunt around the neighborhood. Up the hill they went and stopped. Guess what, it is hard for the horse to traverse a hill with a steel coach a driver, a bride and groom and a broken bridle. To make a long story short, 3 more attempts failed. Then the riders dismounted and the handler rolled the carriage back. The carriage driver and the horse handler got a running start and all barely made it over the crest of the hill with the driver and handler pulling. Once they made it, all the guests went straight for the cool ones. The musicians were old friends of the couple, knew their favorites, and just went to town. Splash, splash, splash, and three kids were in the pool, cool ones were disappearing, and the Sal-n-Don’s caterers were smoking up two barbeques with a great feast.

OBTW, the cupcake weddingcake was perfect for a poolside celebration and survived the heat.

Emdog333 Gets Bit by the Love Bug

Her email name is EMDOG333. Her real name is Emily. Emily lives in Barryville, VA and wanted to get married in Winchester, in a brand new wedding and banquet hall that specialized in steamship round of beef.

She had a secret plan, one that is very common in Asia and at Asian weddings. She was going to change dresses in the middle of the party. The plan worked and surprised everyone. She had a beautiful silk gown with a big train that was so heavy that two of the bridesmaids had to help her get it over her head. It worked for the ceremony, entrance, first dance "walking the walk"with her new hubby and dinner. Her "plan" was to wear a light weight gown for the "heavy dancing." When she casually came in wearing what can be described as a ball gown out of a movie set, heads tuned. It was a "stunner" as the Brits say.

Each gown was exquisite in it own way and both were perfect for EMDOG333.

P.S. The beef was really yummy!!!!

Where oh Where is The Road to Gramercy Mansion?

When Jordan’s dad, a long time associate, hired me to photograph his youngest daughter’s wedding, I knew the wedding would be in Maryland. BUT, I had no idea WHERE it would be. They said Baltimore. Well, Baltimore is where Baltimore always was, and that is 50 minutes from my house. Gramercy Mansion is a beautiful, restored, private home, circa 1902. It is a wonderful place for a wedding, as a matter of a fact, Jordan’s was the third of the day. The ceremony was in a secluded clearing in a forest, an unbelievable place to tie the knot. The reception’s dinner was in an indoor/outdoor room with an unusual charm.

Gramercy Mansion was built in 1902 by Alexander J. Cassatt, owner of the Pennsylvania Railroad and brother of the American Impressionist painter, Mary Cassatt. Dad presented the house and grounds to his daughter Eliza as a wedding gift and the estate is now a quiet bed and breakfast with eleven guest rooms.

All that said, Gramercy Mansion AINT in Baltimore, no matter what Google says. It is in the small town of Lutherville, so small it is not on Google’s map.

Being so far away did not detract from the fun family, friends, and guests had. The DJ was nonstop, spinning the platters and exhorting all to rise, get on the dance floor and PARTY, and they did! It took two hours to get home.

Plagiarism is the Sincerest Form of Flattery

Photographers never know how a shoot will turn out until it is over. There are too many variables. When Donald Keith Photography photographed Jami and Jeff, , 7 years ago no one had any idea Jami would seek me out and ask me to photograph a renewal ceremony, 2 days shy of their 7 th anniversary.

They had a brush with poor health, were fortunate to have it in the past, and decided to renew their vows. The bride scanned the images from the original wedding and provided them to all the guests as a souvenir on a DVD. The photographer, minister, and maid of honor were the same. The colors were the similar, as were many of the guests. When I viewed the CD, I saw them and the wedding 7 years ago. The taste of her dad's back yard bar-b-que returned to my mouth. This time the ceremony was in West Virginia's beautiful Cacapon State Park. Fantastic location for a wedding.

Renewals for the same couple, generational events (Parents-children) for a family, and multiple family events (2 or more wedding of siblings) only come with years in the business and the gray hair that goes with it.

Generational Photographer

When you have been a photographer for as many years as I have, you have some family business from previous clients you have worked with. I photographed the wedding of sisters, the Bar or Bat Mitzvahs of the children in a family but this weekend's circumstances were different .

My wife and I know Brenda and Murry from our children’s grammar school. We became family friends. Then one of the sons became a husband and my photographs now hang on their wall, admired by their children. Funny thing, a second son found a bride and his wife says the kids love to pour over the album, seeing mom and dad on their special day. But there was one son, whose wedding I missed. I was lucky enough to be at that son’s son's Bar Mitzvah.
As I was photographing, it struck me. Our two families have been intertwined for 40+ years and I have been fortunate enough to record some of our friend's children's life events. It is a happy feeling to hear kids of kids tell you they like your photographs from the time they were gleams in their parent’s eyes

TIME to Kill

Brides view timelines planning differently. Here at Donald Keith Photography, we have seen both ends of the spectrum; from a completely scripted event with steps and turns for the ceremony to "let it happen.” Most brides find a middle ground, suiting their personality and one that mom or hubby to be, can live with. The pit fall is that Murphy is alive and well at loves to attack a wedding. This is the guy who wrinkles the brides dress, causing a panic attack looking for a steam iron and resulting in a $3,000 overtime bill at the church; Or the buss that breaks down on the American Legion Bridge in the middle of a torrential rain storm, causing several thousand of dollars in vendor overtime charges and winding up on TV and in court. Or the bride who arrives at the church from the hair dresser, takes her hair down and resets it, causing a 45 minute delay in the church ceremony. I could go on and on. My point is none of these real life examples could be prevented with a minute by minute plan of the day. My suggestion is to make a loose plan for the day, in blocks of time such 3-4 PM, Photographs-- not 3:00-310, groom photos, 3:11-3:30 bride photos. Time block allow wiggle room and lifts stress from the brides shoulders.

Plan realistically. It is almost impossible to make 50 photographs of family groups in 30 minutes, and assemble the groups to boot! Plan judiciously. Start with the bride, build on the groom, add on the best man and maid of honor, then finish with the whole wedding party.

Number the family groups and hand each person a 3 x 5 card with the group number he or she is in. Build these groups logically also. Aunt Betty and Uncles Joe, then add their kids, and then finish with the kids and grand kids. YOU get it !!!!