A Peabody Library wedding: Kelsey + Chris - Jennifer McMenamin Photography

A Peabody Library wedding: Kelsey + Chris
George Peabody Library wedding // Baltimore wedding photographer // Baltimore wedding photography

Kelsey had dreamed of getting married at Disney World. “But my dream,” she explained while smiling when we first met a year before her wedding to Chris, “was not our dream.” So together, they picked a venue that captured some of the fairytale qualities and Beauty & The Beast look that she was hoping for in Baltimore, a city that was home to neither the bride nor groom but where her grandmother was born and raised. They had candelabras and richly hued fall flowers and gold sparkle and a few little nods to Beauty & the Beast characters in their menu and invitation and other papergoods. There was a toast from the father of the bride that turned into an epic rap performance about his daughter and her new husband. In a nod to the video game-themed birthday party where the couple met, the groom rented a full-size Big Buck Hunter game for the groomsmen to play while getting ready early in the day. With the wedding in a library, there was a giant dictionary in which guests were asked to find, flag and sign a word that reminded them of the newlyweds to serve as an interesting twist on a guest book. The bride’s godmother, who officiated the ceremony, delivered one of the greatest moments of the day when she surprised Kelsey by pulling out a rhinestone-encrusted scepter at the end of the ceremony, proclaiming herself to be a fairy godmother and declaring Kelsey and Chris to be married. Kelsey’s surprise and delight was immediate and a joy to photograph. And the bride, a New York City elementary school principal, used what I can only imagine is an incredible school pep rally voice to kick off the reception as she pumped up the crowd for amazing toasts and a nonstop dance party. Oh what a night! Here are many of my favorites from Kelsey + Chris’s big day:

The bridesmaids belted out “You Don’t Own Me” from the First Wives Club before Kelsey handed out the beautiful earrings she bought them as gifts.

Meanwhile, just a few floors away, the guys got ready with Bud Light, Big Buck Hunter and some pretty sharp antler cuff links. My friend and wonderful assistant, Renee, took many of the photos of the guys getting ready.

Then, it was time for Kelsey to step into her gown.

I love this next image of Kelsey with one of her friends helping her finish up getting ready.

The bride, looking absolutely lovely.

When the Baltimore Marathon tied up traffic on Kelsey + Chris’s wedding day and they worried about the shuttle looping back to pick up the groom and groomsmen in time for photos, they brilliantly piled everyone on the bus to drive to the first look. But first, they made some make-shift blackout shades to prevent Chris from peeking at Kelsey before they officially saw each other for photos that afternoon. It was pretty awesome.

Theirs was easily one of the greatest First Looks I’ve ever had the pleasure of photographing. As a photographer who values capturing real moments and authentic emotion above all else on wedding days for my clients, this was pretty incredible to document for them.

I love the little look they’re exchanging in this next image.

After some family and wedding party photos, it was time to head into the library for the ceremony!

When Kelsey’s veil slipped out of her hair during the processional with her father, a guest simply stepped into the aisle and pinned it back into place for her. It was lovely!

Here comes that declaration from the fairy godmother!

Kelsey + Chris liked a photograph from their sunrise Fells Point engagement session this past summer so much that they wanted to shoot a similar pose with a different big door on their wedding day so that they can frame the two images together. I was happy to oblige!

A few reception details.

Kelsey + Chris told me at our first meeting that they both mostly wanted candid photographs on their big day — but that one big sweeping scene shot of them in the library before the reception was a must! Mission accomplished.