williamsburg winery

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 2017 | Business

Best of Weddings 2017 | Business

Where did 2017 go?! It felt like just yesterday that I was staring a new year in the face, and all of a sudden here I am, doing the exact same thing, marveling at how time flies and how incredible one year can truly be.

I will probably say this each year, but 2017 may have been the best year so far. With every wedding season my confidence increases, my skills have grown, and my couples are still as amazing as ever. This year I spent about half my time in Hampton Roads, in venues like the Williamsburg Winery, Two Rivers Country Club, Saude Creek Vineyards, and more. I also ended up doing a lot of traveling, from the Plantation on Sunnybrook in Roanoke to the Kimpton Lorien Hotel in Alexandria, the beautiful area of Asheville, and even all the way up to Reading Country Club in Pennsylvania.

June was by far the craziest month of the year with 4 weddings in 3 weeks, and a double header weekend that had me shooting a wedding in Williamsburg on Friday and one near Philadelphia the very next day. To top it all off, just when I thought I would get some rest, we welcomed home our little baby girl. I know that isn't a wedding highlight per se, but it absolutely rocked my world...

Williamsburg Winery Wedding | Williamsburg Wedding Photographer | Rick + Lexi

Williamsburg Winery Wedding | Williamsburg Wedding Photographer | Rick + Lexi

Rick and Lexi were supposed to get married all the way in Key West, Florida...and then along came Hurricane Irma. As anyone knows who is reading this, the city was damaged beyond immediate repair, leaving families devastated in the wake. Upset as she was about their wedding plans changing, Lexi kept calm and re-planned her wedding in a manner of days, realizing how much worse the damage could have been if our city had been hit by such a great natural disaster.

Though it was planned last minute, this wedding was beautiful down to the very last detail, thanks to the amazing professionals who made it all happen. Burgundy dahlias contrasted with white roses in the bouquet and centerpieces. The courtyard of the Williamsburg Winery was quickly set up for the ceremony. The dress had already arrived and a tiny naked cake was the perfect addition to their intimate dinner reception.

There was a festival happening simultaneously at the winery and when we went outside, Rick and Lexi realized the band playing was one of their closest friends! We took the bridal party down and reverse wedding crashed the party...it was absolutely hilarious! The band dedicated a special song to the newlyweds, they danced in front of hundreds of guests when so many of their friends and family couldn't make it, and the whole celebration was the cherry on top of what turned out to be a perfect day...