Periodically we’ll be lucky enough to not only be a part of someone’s celebration by documenting it for them, but it will also be someone we know well, as is the case with Elizabeth and Nick and those celebrations couldn’t be sweeter for us. Elizabeth runs the customer service department at Richmond Camera, our wonderful photo lab, and at this point it’s like we’re old friends. The couple had planned a low-key affair for their family and friends on a recent, shall we say moist, Friday afternoon. The rain had been on and off all day so we might have been able to swing a planned outdoor ceremony on the water, but the possibility of precipitation combined with the unusually cold and breezy October afternoon directed us all indoors at Celebrations at the Reservoir.
This worked out well anyway, as their guests were able to come, sit where they would be for the reception, and witness the ceremony to be held in the center of the space with good views for all. Before the ceremony Elizabeth waited patiently outside with her dad while Nick and his groomsmen (who also happened to be his bandmates) greeted arriving guests. They also generally handled their two dachshund-chihuahua mix dogs, Ducky and Bean (love those names!) who served as co-flower dogs and who were escorted by Elizabeth’s junior bridesmaids during the ceremony. Nick was nearly overwhelmed at the start of the ceremony when he saw Elizabeth for the first time, in her gorgeous gown and bird cage veil (the veil later made the rounds among a couple of guests during the reception who posed at various times with it (it has a distinctive look on men as well, as you can imagine)). During their vows, each one of Elizabeth’s bridesmaids were dabbing away tears as Elizabeth was overcome with emotion while holding hands with Nick. I doubt her bridesmaids were the only ones with watery eyes. After the brief ceremony, we quickly did family photos and by this time it was fully raining outside so we didn’t have too many opportunities, but we worked through it well. The two were real troopers and couldn’t have been better subjects.
Once cocktail hour ended everyone was treated to a fun first dance by the couple followed immediately by more emotional dances with Elizabeth and her dad along with Nick and his mom. Dinner that night was catered by Mary Angela’s (Mary A’s for those in the know) and it was so cool! How often do you get your favorite hometown pizzeria to cater your wedding for you? It was a big hit with the guests as they settled in to listen to some wonderful stories and advice from a select few of their attendings plus each of their fathers. Nick’s dad even offered up some helpful tips in the form of, “If Elizabeth says X, she means Y”. Everyone got some good chuckles out of those. Afterwards they turned their attention to the other corner of the room for their cake cutting (and a little bit of off-target debris) before dancing started in earnest that night. Some guests were content to sit and chat with their cohorts, but others were immediately on the dance floor and stayed there for the duration, having an absolute blast. There was a brief break later in the evening for a video slideshow presentation of fun and poignant images of the two of them growing among their families and of the two of them hanging out with friends. There were lots of laughter and many “aaaahhhs”.
One of our all-time favorite first dance shots. What a beautiful wall print this will be!
All in all, despite the weather it was a perfect evening, and such a fun celebration. Thank you so much, Elizabeth and Nick, for having us document your wedding celebration for you!
