Four Seasons Baltimore wedding: Allison + Danial - Jennifer McMenamin Photography

Four Seasons Baltimore wedding: Allison + Danial
Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore | Baltimore wedding photographer | Baltimore wedding photography

I had the good luck of wrapping up my 2018 wedding season — and my 13th year in business! — with a spectacularly gorgeous wedding for two wonderfully warm people. I loved every e-mail exchange I had with Allison + Dan in the year leading up to their Four Seasons Baltimore wedding as she would pop up in my inbox to inquire about videographers and engagement session locations and wedding day timelines. And I throughly enjoyed the afternoon I spent running around the Cylburn Arboretum with them for their fall engagement photos, laughing about linens and my magical Monet lens and their jobs. So I could not have been more excited to close out my year by getting to work with them again and their families. Theirs was easily one of the most visually beautiful weddings I’ve ever had the pleasure of photographing. The color palette of white and dark green and gold was striking and elegant and a little bit Christmasy without being all red and green. There were tall mercury glass lanterns lining the ceremony aisle and a magnolia tree that seemed to grow out of the ceremony stage (which was later repurposed as a magnificent photobooth backdrop!). The always-excellent Sly 45 band performed in front of a giant grass wall with a swirl of white twinkle lights woven into it on site at the hotel. And the tables offered a stunning array of green garlands and candles and towering florals and sparkly linens and terrariums and dark green pops of color on menus and placecards. But more than any of the beauty and inanimate objects, it was a joy to photograph Allison + Dan with their families and closest friends. Dan’s darling niece served as flower girl, offering no shortage of photogenic twirls and silly faces and adorableness. There were funny moments during the ceremony. (I’m especially fond of the photo of the little flower girl’s puzzled expression after she spotted her grandmother wiping away a few tears during the ceremony.) There were big laughs and touching tributes during the toasts — including when one of Dan’s brothers recalled the groom’s habit of writing cards, even as a kid, and pulled one from his coat pocket that he had saved from years earlier. And there were emotional tears and really touching little looks between Allison and her father during their dance. It was just a wonder of a day from start to finish. Here are many of my favorites from Allison + Dan’s beautiful Four Seasons Baltimore wedding.

I started with Allison and her bridesmaids as they prepared for the day. Meanwhile, a few floors away, Dan and his brothers worked on bowties and cufflinks and pocket squares. Soon, it was time for Allison to step into her gown. Her mother and sister helped, making for some lovely photos of Emily working on alllll those buttons on her sister’s dress. The bride, looking absolutely lovely. Allison + Dan chose to see each other before the ceremony for photos. With a storm dumping rain on Baltimore the entire day, we stayed indoors the whole time. I could not have been more grateful for so many lovely spots for photos at the Four Seasons. After a few efficient, formal family and wedding party photos, it was time to get them married! A few ceremony details. I love catching little moments and little glances like these between my clients on their wedding days. My hope is that documenting authentic, emotional moments like this will allow my clients to remember and relive what they were feeling as they got married. To me, that’s the difference between capturing an actual memory that they’ll want to hang onto as opposed to only documenting what the scene of the wedding looked like. Married! Some of my most favorite reception details. A beautiful first dance. Who can resist a twirling flower girl?? A trio of toasts. A pair of parent dances. And lots and lots of fun and frivolity! Many, many congratulations, Allison + Dan! We could not have had more fun with you, your families and your friends.