“Remember. Don’t lock your knees.”

Seems that Colin has a history of hitting the deck when the stakes are high. A couple of big concerts in high school and BOOM, he was out. I’m happy to report that the only lightheaded behavior on this day was fully functioning.

We met in my studio last spring. April and Colin were so excited to be marrying at Historic Savage Mill, an former cotton mill that boasts an truss bridge known as The Bollman (c. 1869). April, Colin and her parents sat in my studio and excitedly showed me lots of great photos that they had taken of the venue.  I could tell that photography was of real value to all of them.

Can I tell you, it is so much fun to shoot a wedding when bridal is couple is down for just about anything. April and Colin were that couple. So much fun. So in love.

Reason #1 that everybody wins when Tim comes to shoot a wedding with me.  He goes to the inner chambers in guy-ville.

April had some pretty hot kicks. We were shooting those shoes all day long.

A little pre-ceremony run through for Mr. I Got the Ring.

Reason #2 I’m grateful for Tim. Hidin’ the bride, pre-ceremony. Fifteen minutes to ceremony and wait till you see the cool shots he got of the groomsmen.

April was ultra fun during a pre-ceremony session. So relaxed, so full of of laughter and anticipation. So chill. It’s the Pre-K teacher in her.

Meanwhile.

And the guests arrived. Right through the shops at Savage Mill. So while your wedding is happening there are voyeur shoppers vicariously joining in the celebration. Pretty cool.

Reason #3 for a second shooter.  This is Tim’ shot of Colin and April.

Same moment, my shot. It’s so much fun to look back through the day and see two different perspectives. It’s a win-win-win.

Okay, so I’m getting to reason #4. Watch the bottom right corner of the frame. Do you see him???

BAM! There it is. Reason #5. Father of three. Multi- tasker extraordinaire. the gear, the flowers, Mr. I Got the Ring . . . and he smiles.

I’ll just say it. You can’t go back an capture more images of your wedding day. Go for the second shooter. It matters.

Okay. Back to the party.

I’m not the only one that loved the shoes.

You know that look.

And the clean up.

April and Colin, your love for one another is tender, intimate and a blessing to witness. I am so grateful that you allowed me to share in your day and opened your lives to me.  You are on the beach in Hawaii right now, but when you see these images, I hope all the joy, laughter and tears of the day flood back. You guys ROCK and so did your wedding day.

Here’s a wet your whistle, sneak peak.

Reception:  Ceresville Mansion Ballroom

Floral Decor:  The Cutting Garden

Videography:  Blue Sky Films

It’s the way they play video games together, laughing and jeering.

It’s the way they snuggle on the couch kissing each other with their pooch right beside them.

It’s the way he is her protector and champion every day in every way.

I saw it so clearly at their  ”get-to-know-you” shoot in BelAir.

And I saw it all day long at their Ceresville Mansion wedding.

Courtney is a gal who knows what she wants. And she wanted Craig all the way back in high school.

She got her man.

They are so crazy in love that each is free to be . . . well, exactly who they want to be.

Now, that’s a gift.

hel-lo, Cinderella.

I loved the way Court let herself feel every ounce of the anticipation. She didn’t want to see Craig before the ceremony and he was right across the hall getting ready!!

It was exciting and emotional and all good things in between.

Oval office, anyone?

real life.

Courtney just spotted her mom.

Classic Ceresville style. They know how to do weddings right . . .

. . .  yet all the party C+C could have ever hoped for!

Courtney. Craig. The Slideshow.

Courtney and Craig. The Gallery.

Ceremony:  Gramercy Mansion Overlook

Reception:  Gramercy Mansion Ballroom

Floral:  Blue Sage Floral

Hair: Mindy Whalen Happily Ever After

Meghan and Jeremy’s early autumn wedding at Baltimore’s Gramercy Mansion was an evening of firsts for me.

It was the first time that I had observed a Native American Wedding Ceremony. Very rich in tradition. There was even a portion of the ceremony that we could not shoot.

It was the first time that I’ve been privy to a wedding ring rolling off the pillow on the way down the aisle into the garden . . . and miraculously found by some eagle-eyed ushers!

{yes, we got pics . . . they’re in the slideshow}

It was the first time that I’ve seen Irish dancers perform at a reception. Heart-pounding loud and incredibly powerful.

See for yourself. It was a gorgeous wedding, full of tradition and significance.

{deb edge shot this wedding with me. when she delivers her images to me, it’s like Christmas time . . . full of wonderful surprises.

I am so blessed to have the BEST partners, deb edge and Tim Hinsche.}

Meghan and Jeremy are gentle souls that are really good together. They have a rich love.

Meghan’s Dad, Kevin, came with a pizza in hand at just the right moment.

Meghan and her neice, Dulaney, are real Irish lasses.

Meghan. Jeremy. The Slideshow.

Megan and Liam have a sweet story. I’ve known Megan since she was eight years old and acted in a play that I directed one summer way back when I was a high school English teacher. At the time I was dating our school’s baseball coach. I was completely in love.

Fast forward a couple several years, and Megan and her lovely mom, Sharon, show up in my studio.  Megan is now a high school English teacher, and she’s in love with her very own baseball coach. They fell in love over lunch duty, indie music and poetry. Passionately in love. And it shows each time they look at one another.

If you love details (and I do!) you’ll LOVE this wedding.  It was full of surprises at every turn, like a romantic treasure hunt. Fabulous deb edge came along for the ride and we had an absolute blast capturing all the love.

The lace on Megan’s bouquet was from her mom’s wedding dress.

Megan’s Mom was the Queen of Everything meaningful, including handmade pennants, dangling keys, perfect bows, and every sweet detail. It was truly amazing.

Megan and Liam chose to see one another before their ceremony. I’ll never forget it. I don’t think I ever seen such total bliss.

Deb shooting from the back . . . my camera is off to the right!

deb captured this shot of Megan’s Dad taking her to Liam.

Megan attendant’s were her closest friends, most from Penn State.

Liam’s posse.

Did you ever see better air guitar?

Romancing in the vineyard.

Miss Beaver will now return to Leonardtown High School as Mrs. Bowen. Wife of Coach Bowen. Sweet.

View Megan. Liam. The Slideshow.

Nothin’ but blue skies for the wedding of Megan and Liam at Linganore Berrywine Plantation on Sunday afternoon.

Megan and Liam have that storybook kind of passion. It’s a great love story that includes a Wilco concert, Vonnegut, baseball and cafeteria duty.

She’s a high school English teacher. He’s a baseball coach at St. Mary’s College.

I’ve known Megan since she was eight . . . she and Liam and  life are getting along quite nicely.

Can’t wait to show you the rest of the wedding. Amazing details. Amazing families. Amazing Love.

Baltimore’s Gramercy Mansion was the gorgeous location for Meghan and Jeremy’s outdoor Native American wedding ceremony.

It was a balmy autumn day, with dramatic skies, serving as  a beautiful backdrop to this gorgeous couple.

Meghan (nee McNamara) is an Irish beauty, with cascading red hair and fair skin. Just gorgeous.

Meghan and Jeremy were married in an authentic native American ceremony, full of rich tradition.

The Teelin Irish Dance Company provided a post-ceremony performance. They were fabulous. So tight. Heart pounding loud. They were amazing.

Delaney, Meghan’s niece is carrying on the Irish princess role in full style.

sweet bouquet by blue sage

Just a sneak peak. Way more to come . . . Meghan and Jeremy are an amazing couple. Her dad, Kevin, said it perfectly. “Not only do they love each other . . . they really like each other, as well.”

It shows in the way they look at one another. the way they laugh together. and the way they talk about one another.

sweet. love.

p.s. Frederick’s very own deb edge shot this one with me. Can’t wait to see what her amazing eye found.

]]> http://kathyfreundel.com/blog/weddings/ceresville-mansion/feed/ 1 http://kathyfreundel.com/blog/weddings/tremont-grand/ http://kathyfreundel.com/blog/weddings/tremont-grand/#comments Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:17:10 +0000 Baltimore | DC Wedding Photographer Kathy Freundel http://kathyfreundel.com/blog/?p=2064

the slideshow. right here. right now.

I’ve been so excited about this wedding all week for lots of reasons.

First of all, Lisa and Steve are so in love with each other and their daughter, Ellie . . .

it was pure joy to share in their wedding day.

I’ve gotten to know Lisa and Steve over the last six months, beginning with our first meeting in my studio in Reisterstown.

Several weeks later we shared a morning together (our “get-to-know-you” session) at Olive Garden, where Lisa and Steve met and fell head over heels.

Lisa and Steve are building a home together just over the hill from me. They’ll be building next to Steve’s boyhood home . . . also the location of their elegant backyard reception.

One of the other things I LOVED about their wedding was that they kept it local.

Starry Night Bakery, Dutterer’s Florist, The Spa at Roop’s Mill, Harry’s Main Street Grille, and  Frank Young, DJ

All from Westminster. ALL really fine pros.

Tim Hinsche shot this wedding with me, and we both agreed . . . great wedding, great couple.

Shannon Kraus at The Spa at Roop’s Mill did such a beautiful job on hair and makeup and kept those girls smiling.

Lisa and Steve’s daughter Ellie was a little tentative at first, but then really warmed to the thought of “princess for a day.”

Mary Couture. Need I say more?

The ceremony was at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Taneytown . . . the one with all the bulldozers in front.

Everyone had a great attitude though, and it was really no big deal.

A photographic trick? A “mirror” application? Naw. That’s Michael, Steve’s twin . . . these guys were super fun together.

This was Steve’s childhood play fort.

Confectionery bliss compliments of Starry Night Bakery.

One of Steve’s family traditions includes wearing “Groucho Marx’s” to special events.

It’s been happening for decades. How much fun is that?