Elegant Winery Wedding
When Alex and Justin approached me about photographing their wedding at City Winery in Washington, DC, I couldn’t have been more excited! These two are all class, joy, and fun and they carefully picked each detail to reflect their love of good food, great wine, and even better company. When Tropical Storm Ophelia made landfall on the east coast, we adjusted all of our location plans and executed a picture perfect wedding day for this perfect match.
A Winery Wedding
A winery provides the perfect setting for a chic, classic, and timeless wedding. Alex + Justin have built their life in Washington D.C., and their local favorite, District Winery in the heart of Navy Yard, is home to beautiful views, an incredible kitchen, and of course, delicious wine and cocktails. District Winery was the perfect backdrop for this elegant, chic affair.
As I often say, it’s all in the details! From stunning stationary to cheeky custom napkins, Alex and Justin paired their elegant color palette and timeless accessories with their own personalities to make for beautiful and chic images. With plenty of time built into the schedule to capture all the goodies they picked out for their wedding photos, their gallery showed off their great taste and sense of style perfectly!
Alex’s sisters helped her get ready, and it was such a special moment for a family as close as theirs! The bridesmaid’s reveal was so joyful as Alex’s closest group of friends, stunning in navy, saw her as a bride for the very first time. Down the hall, Justin’s groomsmen, brother (whose wedding I’ll photograph in 2025!), and father helped him get camera ready in his classic tailored tuxedo.
a drastic change of plans
As their wedding day approached, it became clear to Alex, Justin and I that there may be some rain on their wedding day. What we didn’t plan for was Tropical Storm Ophelia hitting the east coast on the morning of their wedding! Nobody plans for rain on their wedding day, but Alex + Justin went with the flow beautifully as our plan changed from outdoor photo locations to slightly covered photo locations to the only viable options being the venue and their hotel! As the streets flooded outside, we made the absolute most of the hotel’s lobby for their first look and portraits.
Alex’s pearl-studded veil was the perfect accessory to bring modern and elegant vibes to her classic look. Pearls are timeless detail with any bridal look, and they paired beautifully with her gown’s classic silhouette.
These hotel bar wedding party photos are some of my absolute favorites, and their friends (and the hotel staff) were absolute troopers as we used every available inch of space in the crowded hotel lobby!
District Winery
District Winery is a boutique winery set in the heart of The Yards along the Anacostia River, Producing premium small batch wines, combining the quality of tradition with the freedom of innovation, and hosting beautiful private events. With a seasonal menu, twinkling market lights, and indoor and outdoor spaces, it was the perfect backdrop for Alex + Justin’s chic urban wedding day.
Photos in the barrel room of the winery were a highlight of the day for us!
Readings and personal vows during Alex + Justin’s covered rooftop ceremony made the day so intimate and special, a lovely way to pay tribute to lost loved ones and to their relationship with one another.
a cozy reception
The true show-stopper of Alex + Justin’s wedding decor was the stunning dinner settings. With twinkling lights strung across the light wood beams above, adorned with fresh greenery, the light sparkled across the candle-lit wooden tables. With crisp white linens and lush floral centerpieces in blush and maroon, the tables created the loveliest chic, elegant, and cozy affair. The couple entered their reception first to share a few private moments in the space before their intimate reception began, rife with thoughtful speeches and an intimate feeling for all amidst the dark, modern walls and lightened wood beams.
Is any chic urban wedding complete without a killer dance floor? For their first dance and beyond, Alex + Justin never left the dance floor…except for Alex’s quick change into her amazing reception dress!
photos to end the night
Before my team and I wrapped for the night, the storm gave us a quick break and for a few brief moments we stepped outside onto District Winery’s rooftop for some photos of Alex + Justin! It was the perfect way to celebrate a stunning day, their beautiful love story, and all the fun nights ahead of them!
Would you like me to photograph your wedding day? I’d love to hear more about your plans. Reach out, and let’s chat!
Thank you to the fabulous vendor team who made Alex and Justin’s wedding day possible:
Venue: District Winery
Hotel: Thompson Hotel Washington DC
Floral: Helen Olivia Flowers
Hair and Makeup: MAB Artistry
Paper Goods: Zola
DJ: Stereo Faith
On Alex: Sarah Seven, Lovely Bride DC; Rebecca Vallance
On Justin and Groomsmen: Brooks Brothers
On Bridesmaids: BHLDN
Video: Paper Boys Films