Hollyfield Manor Wedding | Richmond Wedding Photographer | Jake + Rachel

Marriage is a gift. It allows us to walk closely alongside someone else for our entire lives, and while that does present its own unique challenges, it also brings its own unique blessings. For Rachel and Jake, one of these gifts is the joy they have - a joy that is only multiplied when they are together. Just as they couldn't stop smiling and laughing during their engagement session, their happiness was overflowing on they day they said their I dos. There is almost nothing more beautiful than that.

Adding to the beauty of their day were gorgeous details planned to fit Jake and Rachel's simple, elegant style. The ONLY sparkly element was her stunning Badgley Mischka flats! Rachel's bouquet was absolutely stunning and carried on the navy and white theme of the wedding. And those watercolor bridesmaid dresses are some of my all-time favorites! With a venue like Hollyfield Manor as the backdrop, the wedding - with all its beauty and joy - came together perfectly…

To say this is one of the sweetest weddings I've witnessed would be an understatement! The day kicked off at the Hampton location of Liberty Baptist Church where the entire congregation was invited to come. Needless to say, it was a huge ceremony! After a reception with cake, punch, and tons of friends, Zac and Tori headed over with their family to the Suffolk campus to celebrate in a more intimate environment.

From the time I got there until I left, it was so obvious that Zac and Tori care so much about their family and friends. From the way Tori paid special attention to each flower girl and junior bridesmaid to how easygoing Zac was about ALL the pictures we had to take, they were both truly a pleasure to spend time with.

This was a day full of people - friends, family, the church, 18 in the bridal party plus 8 kids involved in the wedding - but despite the hundreds surrounding them, Zac and Tori had an intimate, sweet, ceremony that will be remembered for a long time. Each moment was truly thought out and special, which is so hard to do with a big wedding! It was a blessing to witness their love becoming one.

Zac & Tori, thank you so much for letting me be with you on your wedding day. As I look back at the pictures, I see so clearly the love you two have for each other, and I know it is built on a firm foundation! Stay tenderhearted towards each other, as I know you will, and I am so excited to see your love grow over time. Enjoy every moment of it :)

Wedding dress hanging from a chandelier in a church

Blue garter around sweet white ballet wedding flats

White rose bridal bouquet and blue hydrangea bridesmaids bouquet

Black and white bride getting ready at a church

Getting ready wedding pictures at Liberty Baptist Church

Groom with his future father-in-law on the wedding day

Groomsman getting ready for a wedding at Liberty Baptist Church

A sweet shot of Zac and his brother/best man, Daniel, praying together before the ceremony

Groomsmen praying together before a wedding at Liberty Baptist Church

Black and white bride putting on veil at Liberty Baptist Church

Detail shot of bride getting ready with her mother

Bridesmaids helping bride get ready in bright coral dresses at Liberty Baptist Church

Groomsmen in gray suits and pink bow ties at Liberty Baptist Church

Bridesmaids in bright coral dresses at Liberty Baptist Church

A beautiful shot of the three ladies - Tori, her mother (left) and her new mother-in-law (right)!

A bride with her mother and new mother-in-law before a wedding

Bride with her father before the wedding ceremony

Bridesmaid getting her son ready at a wedding at Liberty Baptist Church

Bridal party praying moments before a wedding ceremony at Liberty Baptist Church

Bridesmaid walking down the aisle at a wedding in a bright coral dress

Father giving a charge to his son at his wedding

Ring bearers holding Here Comes Your Bride sign

Bride walking down the aisle with her father at Liberty Baptist Church

Father giving his daughter away at a wedding, black and white

Coral and navy wedding ceremony at Liberty Baptist Church in Hampton, Virginia

First wedding kiss in black and white at Liberty Baptist Church in Hampton, Virginia

Bride and groom walking out of wedding during recessional in coral pink and navy

Navy and coral pink wedding cake with monogram on top

Bridesmaid and groomsman walking into wedding reception

All of Zac and Tori's wedding party (with only 3 exceptions) was family, and they gave the sweetest speeches/toasts at the reception. It was so special to see how much the bride's family loves the groom, and vise versa!

Groom and bridesmaid hugging after wedding toasts

Bride and groom cut coral pink and navy wedding cake at reception

Groom and his father embrace at the wedding reception, black and white

Like I said, there were hundreds of people!

Wedding reception in the dining hall of Liberty Baptist Church in Hampton, Virginia

Groom catapults blue garter on top of a staircase

Groomsman catches garter at wedding reception

This is Zac and Tori with her sister/maid of honor and his brother/best man...they also happened to be the bouquet and garter catchers! If you guys need a wedding photographer down the line, you know who to call ;)

Bride and groom with garter and bouquet catcher at wedding reception

Bride and groom exit in coral pink flower petals

Bride and groom portrait on a pier by the water in Suffolk, Virginia

Bride and groom portrait on a pier by the water in Suffolk, Virginia, black and white

Bride and groom portrait under the veil by the water in Suffolk, Virginia

Like I said...HUGE bridal party! We have so many picture combinations, but I think this one sums it up nicely for the blog :) They were all so great to work with, and we actually finished early! Crazy.

Huge bridal party in gray suits and coral pink bowties and dresses by the water in Suffolk, Virginia

Bridesmaids on a dock in coral pink dresses

...and since we finished early, we snuck in just a few more bride & groom portraits...

Bride and groom portrait on steps by the water in Suffolk, Virginia

Bride and groom portrait under a pagoda by the water in Suffolk, Virginia

Bride and groom walking from a pagoda by the water in Suffolk, Virginia

Bride and groom portrait on a bench by the water in Suffolk, Virginia

Twig and rose coral pink centerpiece at wedding reception

Ring shot in coral pink and white roses at a wedding

Ring shot in coral pink and white rose petals at a wedding reception

Black and white reception at Liberty Baptist Church in Suffolk, Virginia

The worship pastor at Liberty's Suffolk campus sang a special song just for Zac and Tori, and then the father of the bride introduced a surprise video that had 'marriage advice' from all of the kids. It was hilarious!