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When Allie + Val made plans for their Sagamore Pendry wedding, they envisioned exchanging vows and rings while overlooking the harbor of the bride’s hometown of Baltimore. One of the nicest things about the new Charm City venue, though, is the magnificent backup plan in the event of rain or other inclement weather: The Pendry has a partially-covered courtyard that is lushly landscaped with trees and plants and flowers. It is gorgeous. And from a photographer’s standpoint, it is an ingenius way to be able to shoot beautiful outdoor photos even in less-than-ideal weather. But in Allie + Val’s case, all of the rain that was forecast for every day of the prior week seemed to pour down on their actual wedding day. That meant that even the built-in rain plan was a bust because it rained so hard that the covered courtyard was dripping and full of puddles. So the couple and their wedding planner seamlessly moved on to Plan C and set up their ceremony on the grandest of grand staircases. If any of this bothered Allie and Val even one iota, they didn’t let on. The couple was married in a touching ceremony that combined their Russian heritage, their families’ Jewish and Christian customs and the song the groom had playing when he proposed on an iconic Central Park bridge in Manhattan. The darling flower girl zealously protected her petals. The little ring bearer strutted his stuff until he finally conked out in his stroller — with noise-canceling headphones covering his tender ears — way past his bedtime. And in one of the most amazing and intense scenarios that’s ever unfolded at any wedding I’ve photographed in 13 years, the groom’s two sisters (who are nurses) and one sister’s boyfriend (who is a doctor) saved the life of a guest who stopped breathing during the reception. (The guest as well as the groom’s sisters, Cil and Lil, and Lil’s boyfriend, Alfie, received standing ovations when the guest was able to wave goodbye on his way out of the ballroom with paramedics. Allie reports that he is now doing fine and has recovered!) The medical emergency made for an incredibly moving moment when the bride’s sister later finished her toast and expressed sincere thanks that Val and his family had come into their lives. It was a magnificent day with two magnificent families. Here are many, many of my favorites from their big day: