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A Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation & AVAM wedding: Jennifer + Nick

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Jen + Nick have one of the best how-they-met stories that I’ve ever heard. Jen, an accountant, was living in London when she was sent to Houston for work. While there, she decided to take a trip to Las Vegas because she had never been before. There, she met Nick, a Baltimore boy who was in Vegas for — I kid you not! — a bachelor party. When they returned to their respective home towns on opposite sides of the Atlantic, they kept in touch over e-mail. The e-mails grew longer. Then, they chatted over Skype. Then, they started planning visits to see each other. Eventually, Nick asked her to marry him. And by the time they exchanged vows in a gorgeous Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Baltimore last month and danced the night away at the American Visionary Art Museum, Jen had relocated across the pond to settle in DC with her now-husband. As you might expect, there were lots of jokes during the groomsmen’s toasts about how what happens in Vegas doesn’t really stay in Vegas after all — but you might get a spouse out of it. In the notes from my initial meeting with Jen + Nick, I jotted down that they thought they usually look “stiff and wooden in photos.” I laughed repeatedly about that little note while editing their wedding photos because it couldn’t have been further from the truth! Here are many, many non-wooden favorites from Jen + Nick’s amazing day, from her nervous excitement while getting ready in her English lace to their last spin around the dance floor at the reception to Elvis Presley’s Viva Las Vegas:

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I started with Jen, her bridesmaids and both her and Nick’s mothers as they primped and prepped. 0005-CoppinMarsh_00097-0024_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0006-CoppinMarsh_00123-0028_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0007-CoppinMarsh_00155-0032_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding

Meanwhile, Nick and the groomsmen got ready a few floors away in the hotel.0008-CoppinMarsh_00195-0041_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0009-CoppinMarsh_00184-0039_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0010-CoppinMarsh_00204-0044_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0011-CoppinMarsh_00208-0045_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0012-CoppinMarsh_00256-0048_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding

Nick sent a note to his bride through his brother. He was, in return, dispatched with a letter and gift for the groom.0013-CoppinMarsh_00292-0051_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0014-CoppinMarsh_00354bw-0065_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0015-CoppinMarsh_00365-0069_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0016-CoppinMarsh_00404-0074_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding

Then, it was time for Jen to step into her gown. Though she ended up purchasing a dress from a Dutch designer, she made sure that her jacket and veil were made of English lace. They were gorgeous.0017-CoppinMarsh_00490-0092_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0018-CoppinMarsh_00514-0094_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0019-CoppinMarsh_00456-0087_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0020-CoppinMarsh_00560-0102_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0021-CoppinMarsh_00591-0107_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0023-CoppinMarsh_00627bw-0117_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding

Jen added a trio of her grandmother’s mouse pins to the bow at the back of her dress. 0024-CoppinMarsh_00635-0120_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0025-CoppinMarsh_00659bw-0124_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0026-CoppinMarsh_00669-0126_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0027-CoppinMarsh_00705-0134_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding

The bride, looking absolutely gorgeous. And graceful. And not at all stiff and wooden. I mean, seriously! Gorgeousness. 0028-CoppinMarsh_00760-0145_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0029-CoppinMarsh_00779bw-0150_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0030-CoppinMarsh_00801-0158_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0031-CoppinMarsh_00807bw-0161_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0032-CoppinMarsh_00863-0169_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0033-CoppinMarsh_00984bw-0197_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0034-CoppinMarsh_01020-0203_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding

And then we were off to the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation, which is Nick’s family’s church. 0035-CoppinMarsh_01100-0216_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0036-CoppinMarsh_01104-0217_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0037-CoppinMarsh_01119-0223_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0038-CoppinMarsh_01278bw-0256_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0039-CoppinMarsh_01294bw-0260_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding

My former longtime assistant, Lucas, joined me for this wedding and shot this next wonderful image from the balcony at the back of the church as well as subsequent photos from a similar vantage point. 0040-CoppinMarsh_01349-0277_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0041-CoppinMarsh_01336-0272_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0042-CoppinMarsh_01362-0280_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding

I was lucky to have a bird’s eye view from the choir loft at the very front of the church, affording rare views of the couple’s faces as they exchange rings, wear crowns and participate in all the customs of a Greek wedding ceremony. It was wonderful!0043-CoppinMarsh_01394-0285_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0044-CoppinMarsh_01403-0289_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0045-CoppinMarsh_01419bw-0295_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0046-CoppinMarsh_01432-0297_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0047-CoppinMarsh_01441-0300_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0048-CoppinMarsh_01465bw-0306_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0049-CoppinMarsh_01470-0308_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0050-CoppinMarsh_01496-0312_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0051-CoppinMarsh_01624bw-0341_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding

The crown kept getting a little stuck in Jen’s hair. I love this next series of images with her reaction.0052-CoppinMarsh_01650-0348_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0053-CoppinMarsh_01676bw-0353_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0054-CoppinMarsh_01691-0357_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0055-CoppinMarsh_01700-0358_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0056-CoppinMarsh_01719-0362_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0057-CoppinMarsh_01722-0363_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0058-CoppinMarsh_01733-0365_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0059-CoppinMarsh_01762-0371_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0060-CoppinMarsh_01802-0380_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0061-CoppinMarsh_01821-0383_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0062-CoppinMarsh_01855-0388_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0063-CoppinMarsh_01946-0405_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding

Married!0064-CoppinMarsh_01971-0410_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0065-CoppinMarsh_02056bw-0432_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0066-CoppinMarsh_02292-0473_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0067-CoppinMarsh_02324-0484_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding

After a few family photos in the church, the newlyweds and their wedding party were whisked off to Federal Hill for some photos. We were graced with gorgeous late-afternoon light.0068-CoppinMarsh_02404-0492_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0069-CoppinMarsh_02502-0507_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0070-CoppinMarsh_02509-0510_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0071-CoppinMarsh_02629bw-0532_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0072-CoppinMarsh_02579-0525_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0073-CoppinMarsh_02736-0552_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0074-CoppinMarsh_02707bw-0545_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding

Such a fun wedding party!0075-CoppinMarsh_02806-0561_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0076-CoppinMarsh_02877-0572_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0077-CoppinMarsh_02906-0578_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0078-CoppinMarsh_03050-0605_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0079-CoppinMarsh_03060bw-0610_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0080-CoppinMarsh_03108-0620_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding

And then we headed down the hill to AVAM, one of my most-favorite venues in Baltimore.0081-CoppinMarsh_03269-0651_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0082-CoppinMarsh_03279-0654_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0083-CoppinMarsh_03300-0661_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0084-CoppinMarsh_03330-0670_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0085-CoppinMarsh_03347-0674_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0086-CoppinMarsh_03316-0667_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0087-CoppinMarsh_03397-0685_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0088-CoppinMarsh_03419-0691_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0089-CoppinMarsh_03383-0681_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding

Doesn’t the queen attend the weddings of all British subjects?0090-CoppinMarsh_03493-0705_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0091-CoppinMarsh_03453-0697_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0092-CoppinMarsh_03507-0706_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding

In one of their final pre-wedding e-mails to me, Nick and Jen cautioned, “There is a high probability that the first two toasts [at the reception] will be traumatic experiences for everyone within earshot. You have been warned.” I can say for sure that they prompted some incredible reactions from the bride and groom, which happen to be one of my most-favorite elements to photograph on the wedding day. And they were highly entertaining!

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A first dance. 0098-CoppinMarsh_03878-0788_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding

A pair of parent dances. 0099-CoppinMarsh_03928-0802_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding

A little Greek dancing.0100-CoppinMarsh_04037-0835_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding

And lots and lots of joy, laughter and merriment.0101-CoppinMarsh_04064-0839_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0102-CoppinMarsh_04129-0849_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0103-CoppinMarsh_04175-0865_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0104-CoppinMarsh_04300-0901_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0105-CoppinMarsh_04398-0920_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0106-CoppinMarsh_04498-0938_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding 0107-CoppinMarsh_04556-0951_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding

Viva, Las Vegas, indeed!0108-CoppinMarsh_04582-0958_Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-weddingMany, many congratulations, Jen + Nick! I could not have had more fun working with you both, with your friends and with your families.

Credits:

Photography: Jennifer McMenamin Photography, LLC

Ceremony: The Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation

Officiants: The Very Reverend Constantine Moralis and the Rev. Peter Thornberg

Reception: The American Visionary Art Museum

Catering: Sascha’s

Lighting designers: Event Dynamics

Bridal attire: Modeca gown from JS Couture in London

Make-up: The Studio of Makeup

Hair: Wendy Spielman

Bridesmaids’ attire: Amsale

Groom’s attire: A David Donahue tuxedo from Nordstrom

Florist: Mary-Ruth Chapin

Cake: Sascha’s

Transportation: American Limousines

Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas

Papergoods: mlc designs

 

Comments

  1. Mary-Ruth Chapin

    Jennifer….these are stunning photos and I certainly wouldn’t say they are stiff people. Thank you for acknowledging my work.

    Reply
  2. Charlotte

    Wonderful photography. Hands down, the most beautiful and stylish bride I’ve ever seen. It was a fantastic day.

    Reply

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Wedding Confetti