hollyfield manor wedding

Hollyfield Manor Summer Wedding | Shawn + Julia

Hollyfield Manor Summer Wedding | Shawn + Julia

Every bride and groom who planned their wedding in the midst of the current pandemic has had to make a million decisions and changes at the last minute and for Shawn and Julia, it was no different. They still wanted to get married on a date so special to them - April 25 - but they wanted family and friends to celebrate all together, which wasn’t possible a few months ago. Finally, they made the difficult decision to elope with just a few close family members at Roanoke College, and decided to postpone their Hollyfield Manor wedding until August when they could invite everyone they loved most in the world.

Though there was so much uncertainty surrounding their wedding, last Saturday was a beautiful celebration of two people who love each other and are deeply loved by everyone in their lives. Julia smiled all day long, tears filled her bridesmaids eyes when they first saw her in the stunning wedding dress she has gotten to wear so many times by now, and the ceremony was filled with emotion as Shawn held his bride’s hands, knowing their 8-year journey through dating and engagement was only the beginning of their lifetime together…

Top 10 Best Wedding Venues in Hampton Roads | Business

Top 10 Best Wedding Venues in Hampton Roads | Business

I’m thankful to have the privilege to travel up and down the East Coast for weddings, but I’m also proud to say that I photograph a lot of weddings right here in the Hampton Roads area. I moved here five years ago but I did not truly get to know my surroundings until I became a wedding and family photographer. Driving all over our little area for engagement sessions, family sessions, and weddings has made me fall in love with the 757.

It’s difficult to choose my few favorite wedding venues for a blog post, and I know there are so many places I get to shoot this year that I am sure this list will grow over time! That said, here are the ten best wedding venues in Hampton Roads that I have visited so far - with one honorable mention!

Best of Weddings 2018 | Business

Best of Weddings 2018 | Business

Being a wedding photographer was not something I grew up even knowing I wanted to do. It wasn’t until I met my brother’s wedding photographer, who has five kids and a thriving business, that I made up my mind to pursue this as a job. At the time I thought that maybe it would grow. Maybe it would become a part time thing that I could justify doing while caring for kids. Maybe, maybe, maybe.

Yet here I am, almost 6 years later, a wedding photographer for the best people I can imagine. It is an honor to be the person who captures the most special day in their lives. It’s amazing when couples ask their friends and family to put down their phones and be present in the moment, because they trust me to capture everything important. It’s a gift that I can give not just the couples, but their families, children, and grandchildren. What an honor. It is never lost on me.