Sabrina + David | Fathom Gallery Wedding | DC Wedding Photographer

From the very moment I met her & her bridesmaids in the gorgeous lobby of the Loews Madison, to the rainy dash inside Fathom Gallery for her first look, she was glowing. And not a wet-with-rain-drops kind of glow, but Sabrina radiated a peaceful, steady glow that remained unruffled throughout the day.

As I've had the privilege to get to know Sabrina through church & David via phone internationally, that same steady calm is seeded deeply in their relationship with other & with the Lord. After a loooong distance relationship & engagement (Virginia -> Ethiopia), our church community, their family & friends jumped for JOY the day we found that David's visa to come to the States had been approved. Onward with finalizing spring wedding plans!!

Their exquisite wedding day celebration began the last Saturday in March with bridesmaids brunch & preparation at Loews Madison followed by a zippy Fiat ride (courtesy of the hotel - major kudos for their handy-dandy rain day provisions!!) over to Fathom Gallery.

Y'all, this venue is incredible - the former-auto- garage-turned-multi-use-event-venue offers stylish white brick walls, chic ghost chairs, expansive windows that flood the upstairs with natural light, a caterer's kitchen with whiteboard cabinet fronts (so neat!) & a beautiful rooftop terrace. And Emily Magee was a joy to work with! If you're looking for a modern/trendy venue in the city for an intimate wedding, check them out!

Sabrina did an AMAZING job of designing & bringing her wedding decor together - from elegant baby's breath, touches of burlap and twinkly lights to gorgeous wall art, mercury votives & beautiful framed quotes, this girl left no details undone. It's only fitting that the actual theme of the wedding matched Sabrina & David's stylish elegance, poise & grace.

Their twinkle-lit ceremony was surrounded by an intimate gathering of closest friends & family members. After a powerful charge about living out the meaning of marriage from our Pastor Nate, David tenderly washed Sabrina's feet as his first act of service to his bride. The night continued on with delicious food & rounds of toasts to the happy couple. Such a wonderful tribute to the love of the Lord shining through them both!

Vendors:

Wedding dress: Muse Clothing
Wedding shoes: Dessy Group
Earrings: Carved ivory roses from great-grandma
Necklace: From mom at college graduation
Florist: Grandma
Ceremony venue: Fathom Gallery
Reception venue: Fathom Gallery
Hair & Makeup: Lindsay Phillips
DJ and/or Band: DIY Spotify playlist
Cake: made by father
Cake pops: Kylie’s Pop Shop
Catering: Indulge Catering
Bridesmaid dresses: Mix & match
Groomsmen attire: Joseph Abboud
David’s ring: The Sly Fox
Invitations: The Poppi Studio (formerly The Grey House)
Honeymoon: Mexico!

Advice for Brides: Seeing your groom

To see him on the morning of our wedding or not to see him?

That was the question rolling around in my head as Dean & I prepared for our wedding day. At some point, a blog post I'd read awhile back written by the lovely Caroline Joy came flooding back into my mind. How she & her soon-to-be hubby got away from all the hustle & bustle of getting ready to enjoy a few sweet moments together.

                                                                          by The Pinwheel Collective

That's what we wanted - a few minutes alone to pray & ground ourselves before the day's events swept us off our feet. So we planned to wake up around 6 am (ceremony = noon!) & secretly meet up for coffee & time in the Word.

I still remember waking up to my alarm that November morning, tip toeing around the 5 or 6 bridesmaids asleep all over our lovely but not large enough hotel room & peeking out the door.

                                                                          by The Pinwheel Collective

And there he was, waiting for me :) Allthough we had a first look together (pictured above), sneaking through the hallway with Dean, down the padded stairs & into the lobby for some coffee in styrofoam cups was truly wonderful.

Any lingering concerns I had about table numbers & our reception playlist, which were finished just a few hours earlier vanished (yes, as in the middle of the night. I highly do NOT recommend giving yourself T-minus 5 hours to sleep!).

As you carefully plan out the details of your wedding day & timeline, think about the day of. If you could carve out a few minutes in the midst of it all, how would you spend that time?

Maybe it's reading through old letters together, eating your favorite breakfast or just exchanging a big hug. Whatever you decide on, know that you'll have the memory of those moments spent together to treasure throughout your marriage.

Advice for Brides: The Top 5

Advice for Brides: Making Decisions

Advice for Brides: Get more sleep

Advice for Brides: Your bridal party

Advice for Brides: Putting the wed in wedding

Advice for Brides: Creating your registry

{April Goals}

I declare 2014 the year that I let the overwhelming peace of God seep
down into all my heart, soul & mind. Read through the Bible & walk away transformed.
Learn & grow a photographer & business owner.

These are words I scrawled down from my heart back in January as I was filling out my PowerSheets. Well, it's APRIL now, y'all! And I'm excited to continue growing in all these areas!

April Goals

>> Review spiritual disciplines & pray asking the Lord to reveal what's lacking in my life
>> Put together a date night jar, with at least 1 outside activity to enjoy this beautiful weather
>> Price insurance, designer & accountant (carry-over from March)
>> Celebrate LMP's 1 year anniversary!!
>> Reach out to photographers for coffee dates
>> Take online course
>> Learn more about Mvelopes & decide to use or not use
>> Book 3 more weddings
>> Serve & pray for our Pretty & Polished guests
>> Search for material to recover the wooden storage bench in our bedroom
>> Stay away from all added sugar(s) for the rest of the month (INCLUDING Nutella!! Good thing we currently don't have any in our home...)

Sabrina + David | Fathom Gallery Wedding Sneak Peek

There were huge smiles, excited jitters, a hankie full of tears, laughter for minutes, beautiful stories exchanged and vows made.

3/29/14 marked the beginning of David & Sabrina's journey of a lifetime together. I can't wait to share more of their stunning vintage-inspired wedding soon!

March Gratefulgrams

"The life of faith is lived one day at a time, & it has to be lived - not always looked forward to as though 'real living' were around the next corner. It is today for which we are responsible. God still owns tomorrow." Elisabeth Elliot

There are days - sometimes Mondays, sometimes Thursdays - when I can look at the hours ahead, the things that need to be done & say, "Ughh, not this. I can't wait for _ _ _ _ _ _ _ to happen." Reading through Let Me Be a Woman by Elisabeth Elliot over the past few weeks has challenged me to examine my heart, my motives in this life.

This body & my spirit are not my own; I was bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Christ died for me, that I might live for Him (2 Corinthians 5:15). Does my day-to-day reflect that knowledge? He is faithful, just, compassionate, holy & good. I want to feast in His presence daily & live each moment bringing Him more glory & honor.

1. Thankful for Hubby who cares for me when I'm sick / 2. Here's to cutting off the old (literally) & embracing the new. Eek!! / 3. Long-distance celebrating with my sis who passed her real estate exam! / 4. Hiking, talking & laughing up a storm with these amazing ladies. / 5. Finding creative inspiration is good for the soul. / 6. Winding through hallways upon hallways with this guy.