Wedding Confetti

Blog


A Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Hotel wedding: Courtney + Christopher
The Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Hotel | Baltimore wedding photography | Baltimore wedding photographer

0001-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0038

There were so many wonderful moments during Courtney + Christopher’s wedding day at the Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Hotel that I feel like I’ve written this blog post about 100 times in my head. Their friends in the wedding party could not have been any more fun or any kinder to me. Their reception was full of beautiful details, from gold flatware and warm pink light on the walls to gorgeous flowers on the tables and swanky round menus that complemented the gold chargers. We found a gorgeous tunnel of green trees to fulfill their wish for pre-ceremony photos that *didn’t* look like they were all shot in downtown Baltimore. There was perfect light just when we needed it. And they had one of the most epic dance parties that I’ve had the pleasure of photographing. (The groom, for instance, completely sweat through his shirt and the dance floor was packed from start to finish.) But what I keep coming back to is Courtney + Christopher’s ceremony. It was so personal and it so beautifully blended their cultures and religions. There was a rabbi and a pastor. Jewish yarmulkes as well as Christopher’s Ghanian kente cloth. There was a darling if somewhat reluctant flowergirl, a trio of trumpets, floating candles lining the aisle and light moments of humor and laughter. The couple sealed their union by both breaking a glass in the Jewish tradition and jumping the broom in the African-American custom. And, oh their vows. They each wrote personal promises to the other. And when Christopher couldn’t quite collect himself as he began, Courtney reached out and held his face in her hands. It was such a tender moment that I got goosebumps as I photographed it and tears have filled my eyes every time the series of images came up on my computer screen during my editing process. As a photographer who loves capturing real moments and genuine emotion above all else on wedding days, theirs was a real joy to photograph. Here are many, many of my favorites from Courtney + Christopher’s gorgeous day:

0002-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0000 0003-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0001 0004-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0002 0005-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0003

I started the day with Courtney + her bridesmaids. Their suite was full of excitement and energy. 0006-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0004 0007-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0005 0008-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0006 0009-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0007 0010-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0084

Meanwhile, down in the groom’s room, the guys were a little more mellow — and a lot less further along in their preparations when I arrived! Christopher — a standout soccer player at both the McDongh School and the University of Virginia before he briefly played professional soccer — bought socks for his groomsmen to reflect his love of his favorite soccer team. His brother — a Chelsea fan, if I remember correctly — was not thrilled at having to wear the chosen footwear.0011-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0009 0012-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0010 0013-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0011 0014-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0012 0015-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0028 0016-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0024 0017-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0025 0018-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0026 0019-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0027 0020-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0034

Back to the ladies, it was time for Courtney to step into her gown. 0021-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0013 0022-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0014 0023-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0015 0024-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0016

I love this next image of Courtney’s grandmother looking on as the bride’s sister and mother help with her dress.  0025-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0017 0026-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0018 0027-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0019 0028-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0020

The bride, looking absolutely gorgeous. 0029-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0021 0030-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0022 0031-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0023 0032-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0029

These two have such a marvelous love story. They both attended the McDonogh School and were not at all wallflowers. He was a soccer star and president of his class. She was a cheerleader and very involved in school. And yet, they never spoke or knew each other. Their first meeting came years later at an alumni event, where their attraction was almost instantaneous. Their first date turned into an hours-long, wide-ranging day spent walking across Baltimore (including, apparently, through the tunnel of green trees where I photographed them on their wedding day!).   0033-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0030 0034-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0031

I loved photographing Christopher’s reaction to seeing Courtney for the first time that day.0035-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0032 0036-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0033 0037-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0035 0038-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0039 0039-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0037 0040-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0040 0041-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0041 0042-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0042 0043-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0043

A little wedding party fun. 0044-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0044 0045-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0046 0046-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0047 0047-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0045 0048-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0048 0049-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0049

0050-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0050

Then, it was time to sign the ketubah, the Jewish marriage contract. 0051-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0051 0052-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0052 0053-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0053

A few ceremony details. 0054-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0057 0055-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0054 0056-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0055 0057-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0056 0058-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0058 0059-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0085 0060-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0059 0061-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0060 0062-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0061

When I first met Courtney + Christopher last summer, he described himself as “very much the feelings person in our relationship.”0063-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0062 0064-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0064 0065-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0063 0066-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0065 0067-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0066 0068-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0068 0069-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0067 0070-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0069 0071-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0070 0072-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0071 0073-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0073 0074-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0074 0075-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0075 0076-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0076 0077-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0077 0078-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0078

Married! 0079-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0079 0080-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0080 0081-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0081

The genuine respect and affection that these two families have for each other was a sight to behold and a privilege to photograph. 0082-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0082 0083-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0083

A few reception details. 0084-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0086 0085-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0087 0086-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0088 0087-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0090 0088-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0089 0089-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0091 0090-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0097 0091-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0096 0092-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0092

A beautiful first dance. 0093-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0093

A pair of parent toasts. 0094-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0094 0095-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0095

A duo of tributes from her sister and his best man. 0096-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0099 0097-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0100

A fun cake cutting. 0098-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0101

A pair of emotional parent dances. 0099-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0102 0100-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0103

A rousing Hora.0101-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0104 0102-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0105 0103-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0106 0104-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0107

And lots and lots of fun, frivolity and dancing. 0105-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0108 0106-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0114 0107-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0098 0108-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0113 0109-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0112 0110-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0111 0111-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0115 0112-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0109 0113-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0116 0114-Jennifer-McMenamin-Photography-Royal-Sonesta-Harbor-Court-Hotel-wedding_0110

Many, many congratulations, Courtney + Christopher. It was an absolute joy to work with you, your friends and your magnificent families!

Credits:

Photography: Jennifer McMenamin Photography, LLC

Ceremony & Reception: The Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Hotel

Officiants: Rabbi Kenneth Block and Pastor Thomas Stoudt Jr.

Ceremony musicians: The Tryos Ensemble

 

Lighting designers: Event Pro

Rentals: Select Event Group

Bridal attire: Isabelle Armstrong gown from Betsy Robinson’s Bridal Collection

Hair & Make-up: Up Do’s For I Do’s

Bridesmaids’ attire: Bill Levkoff gowns

Groom’s attire: Geoffrey Lewis Ltd custom tuxedo

Florist: My Flower Box Events

DJ: Jordan Solender from District Remix

Invitations & Papergoods: mlc designs

Comments

  1. Gloria Saunders (Aunt Glo)

    Just viewed the pics from C & C wedding. The tears are flowing…felt like I was at the wedding again,absolutely the best I’ve ever scene. Jennifer you are the best!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


Wedding Confetti