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Emily & Matt
Hillendale Country Club -- Baltimore wedding photography -- Maryland wedding photography

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It isn’t every weekend that a bride’s mom meets you at the front door with a 32-year-old photo of your sister as a darling little pre-schooler. Such was the case with Emily’s mom, whose son, we figured out about halfway through our first meeting, had gone to pre-school with my little sister in the very early 1980s. What a small world! The whole day felt just like that — like working with old friends. Emily was nervous and excited and anxious before the ceremony. Matt was calm and mellow and quietly funny. I imagine these two are like that a lot together. Their wedding was infused with lovely personal touches, many coming from the piece of land they bought together last year where, as Emily put it, “we’re building a house and building our lives together.” Matt proposed on the property and they gathered wood from the lot to use in their centerpieces and table card holders. Speaking of their table cards, theirs were one of the most fun and clever ideas I’ve seen. Rather than numbering their tables in simple chronological order — 1, 2, 3, etc. — they chose numbers that had some significance for them. So table No. 2 marked the number of helicopter rides that Matt has tricked Emily into taking over the course of their relationship. Table No. 14 marked the inches of height between the petite Emily and her 6-foot-4 groom. Table No. 3,356 marked the maximum number of miles that have separated them since they started dating (when Emily was in Ireland and Matt home in Baltimore). And table No. 861 marked the days since the couple’s first meeting. Each card included a photo. It was a lovely way to share fun facts about their relationship and to entertain their guests, who walked from table to table during the party to read the various cards. As big fans of Tiffany blue — and presumably the store’s jewels as well — they created little Tiffany-like ring boxes to hold custom-created chocolates for favors for their guests. And they had one of the most detailed cakes I’ve ever seen, celebrating New York City, its famous stores and landmarks. Here are some of my favorites from their wonderful day:

Emily got ready in her childhood bedroom.

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The bride, looking gorgeous. 007-LessnerSolel_00183-0043_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 008-LessnerSolel_00203-0048_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 009-LessnerSolel_00269-0061_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 010-LessnerSolel_00312-0069_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 011-LessnerSolel_00389-0084_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography

We were a bit nervous that the forecasted rain might derail plans for an outdoor ceremony — something that the nature-loving bride and groom really, really wanted — but it instead managed to pour about an hour before the ceremony. You can see the rain coming down in these next several photos of the bride, her bridesmaids and parents outside on the porch.012-LessnerSolel_00442-0091_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 013-LessnerSolel_00453-0093_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 014-LessnerSolel_00477-0103_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 015-LessnerSolel_00479-0104_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 016-LessnerSolel_00491-0107_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 017-LessnerSolel_00535-0117_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography

A family prayer before the ceremony. 018-LessnerSolel_00731-0159_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 019-LessnerSolel_00750-0162_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography

The dapper groom. 020-LessnerSolel_00623-0133_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 021-LessnerSolel_00662-0140_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 022-LessnerSolel_00676bw-0145_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography

And then, it was time to get married! 023-LessnerSolel_00803-0173_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 024-LessnerSolel_00955-0204_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 025-LessnerSolel_00973-0211_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography

Asked who presented Emily to be married, her father Denny responded, “My mother and I.” (He obviously meant *her* mother and I.) It made for a very funny moment. 026-LessnerSolel_01053-0226_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 027-LessnerSolel_01060-0228_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 028-LessnerSolel_01065-0230_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography

These two looked at each other just like this all day long. It was magical. 029-LessnerSolel_01113-0237_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography

The next image on the right was shot by my assistant Lucas.030-LessnerSolel_01141-0248_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 031-LessnerSolel_01126-0242_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 032-LessnerSolel_01119-0240_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 033-LessnerSolel_01191-0259_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 034-LessnerSolel_01183-0256_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 035-LessnerSolel_01225-0269_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 036-LessnerSolel_01252-0278_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 037-LessnerSolel_01307-0289_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 038-LessnerSolel_01336-0295_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 039-LessnerSolel_01364-0302_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 040-LessnerSolel_01401-0313_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography

Married! 041-LessnerSolel_01460-0325_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 042-LessnerSolel_01488-0329_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography

This next image was also shot by Lucas. 043-LessnerSolel_01500-0333_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 044-LessnerSolel_01526-0338_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 045-LessnerSolel_01572-0347_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 046-LessnerSolel_01579-0350_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography

We zipped through the family and wedding party photos and some portraits of the newlyweds, confident it would start pouring again at any moment. Thankfully, it did not. 047-LessnerSolel_01782-0386_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 048-LessnerSolel_01809-0392_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 049-LessnerSolel_01909-0407_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 050-LessnerSolel_01934-0412_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 051-LessnerSolel_01974bw-0426_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 053-LessnerSolel_02051-0440_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography

A few reception details. 054-LessnerSolel_02094-0444_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 055-LessnerSolel_02145-0455_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 056-LessnerSolel_02194-0464_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 057-LessnerSolel_02212-0470_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 058-LessnerSolel_02234-0475_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 059-LessnerSolel_02113-0449_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 060-LessnerSolel_02242-0476_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography

A first dance. 061-LessnerSolel_02415bw-0523_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 062-LessnerSolel_02422-0524_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 063-LessnerSolel_02439-0531_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography

A few toasts. 064-LessnerSolel_02446-0536_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 065-LessnerSolel_02467-0541_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 066-LessnerSolel_02491-0547_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 067-LessnerSolel_02534-0557_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 068-LessnerSolel_02719-0600_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography

An emotional father-daughter dance. 069-LessnerSolel_02743bw-0608_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 070-LessnerSolel_02793-0617_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography

And lots and lots of fun and merriment. 071-LessnerSolel_03189-0720_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 072-LessnerSolel_02898-0641_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 073-LessnerSolel_03079-0688_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 074-LessnerSolel_03063-0682_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 075-LessnerSolel_03140-0708_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 076-LessnerSolel_03157-0711_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 077-LessnerSolel_03200-0725_JenniferMcMenaminPhotography 078-LessnerSolel_02594-0569_JenniferMcMenaminPhotographyCongratulations, Emily and Matt. It was an absolute joy to work with you both and your families!

Credits:

Photography: Jennifer McMenamin Photography, LLC

Ceremony, reception & catering: Hillendale Country Club

Officiants: The Rev. Christopher Tang and Cantor Jinny Marsh

Ceremony musicians: The Antares Musicians

Bridal attire: Augusta Jones gown from The Betsy Robinson Bridal Collection

Make-up: Nicole Palermo

Hair: Jackie Messman of Bridal Hair Design

Bridesmaids’ attire: Bill Levkoff dresses from The Betsy Robinson Bridal Collection

Groom’s attire: The Tuxedo House

Florist: Divine Designs and Events

Cake: Yia Yia’s Bakery

Videographer: Reflexion Videography

Transportation: The Limo Lady

Papergoods: DIY

 

 

Comments

  1. Martha Lessner

    There are no words to express how lovely this is. You are the best. I was telling everyone I never saw the photographer at all during the wedding, and that is what is supposed to happen. The photos in this blog are wonderful and I can’t wait to see all of the photos thanks so much for your kindness and professionalism. and of course the beautiful photos

    Reply
    1. jennifermcmenamin

      Thank you so much, Martha! It was an absolute pleasure to work with you, Denny and Andrew for Emily and Matt’s big day. I’m so glad that you didn’t notice me at all on the wedding day — and that you’re thrilled with the photos. To me, there’s no greater compliment! I hope you got a nice break after all your hard work with the wedding planning!
      Best,
      Jennifer

      Reply

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Wedding Confetti