Congressional Country Club wedding – Bethesda, Maryland
It’s always a good spring when I get to photograph a wedding at Congressional Country Club! It’s such a gorgeous venue and just a few minutes from home. April 30th was a little cooler than usual — although this spring has hardly been the usual in DC and at least it wasn’t raining!! It was also one of the most popular dates of the season this year. Kate started the day surrounded by her girls and her family at her parent’s house in Potomac and the weather cooperated enough for us to take advantage of their lovely backyard and the blooming pink dogwoods. The boys gathered at Congressional Country Club then headed to The Chapel at Our Lady of Lourdes on the campus of Georgetown Prep where Justin attended school. After years of my kids swimming at the Prep pool, this was my first time shooting a wedding in their chapel. I just loved the ironwork on the doors and some of my favorite photos of the day were framed by those doors (see above). One of the highlights of the ceremony was the look on Justin’s face as he caught a glimpse of his bride for the first time. After the ceremony we headed to the club to take some portraits around the clubhouse and on the 18th green with the clubhouse in the background. Kate surprised her groom with a wedding cake decorated with sailboats and together they wowed their guests with their first dance (dips and all!). And you know it’s a serious party when the groom breaks out the Budweiser jacket midway through the reception. After many weddings at Congressional I’m not sure I’ve ever shot a bouquet toss there and this one looked really cool from above. I’d love to say I took the photo but it’s a real reason why I have such talented second shooters with me–to get every angle.
Wedding The Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes at Georgetown Prep 10900 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD
Reception Congressional Country Club, 8500 River Rd. Bethesda, MD, Marlene Gusella, site coordinator 301.469.2000
Event coordinator Jean Thomae 781.635.5530
Caterer & Cake Congressional Country Club
Florist Kelly Shore Petals by the Shore 240.389.5722
Hair Victoria Elizabeth Designs
Makeup Kathy at Blend Makeup Artistry
Band The Bachelor Boys Band 443.822.5323
It’s pretty obvious I was a little obsessed with a few things at Sarah + Brenden’s wedding. Where to start? Her dress (amazing and perfect for the setting), her edible bouquet, the couple’s dog Ollie (a perfectly behaved gentleman the whole day long) the flower girl and her brother the ring bearer (adorable). And of course, the car. The 1946 Ford truck was restored by the groom and his father in law and originally belonged to the groom’s grandfather. In addition to being mechanically inclined, Brenden and his mother made the luncheon napkins from scraps of quilting material in addition to making the bow ties his brothers wore. This was my first time at Patapsco Valley State Park and the spot they chose for the wedding was gorgeous, overlooking the river. With a rainy start to the day it was a little touch and go as to whether we’d be able to take advantage of the vantage point. By show time, the clouds were parting and it was a quick but lovely ceremony followed by a vegetarian luncheon. It was a small wedding but one filled with personal touches that made it such a pleasure to photograph.
