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Jessica & Seamus | Alexandria Virginia | Wedding Photography

Jessica and Seamus walking through Alexandria Virginia with their wedding party, wedding photography done by Ashley.

The Beginning of Their Beautiful Love Story

Alexandria, Virginia is a beautiful and historic city, it’s the kind of place that makes wedding photography almost easy! The city gained more beauty when two star-crossed lovers bound their lives together there! Jessica and Seamus met in college, and fell in love one summer, simple and sweet as candy! I first captured their love and commitment at their engagement session (view it here!), which also took place in Alexandria.

When Jessica and Seamus booked their wedding with me, I was nervous at first because I was so excited about the beautiful location and amazing people. I wanted to do everything I could to go above and beyond for them! And it turned out to be a wonderful and fun day, perfect weather for around Memorial Day weekend. 

Getting Ready

The venue was The Alexandrian Hotel in Old Town Alexandria, and it had a stunning bridal suite! While the girls prepared, they played an awesome playlist that would make any early 2000’s girl geek out! A mix of High School Musical, Disney songs, and some Miley Cyrus, that I couldn’t help but sing and dance to while taking the wedding detail photos in the side room! One of the bridesmaids caught me in my own little world and started laughing. The laughter was infectious and the fun was as well!

Planning the Perfect Wedding

One thing that I tell all my couples is to make sure that they plan their wedding in a way that allows them to truly enjoy their day. Wedding days go by in the blink of an eye, so ensuring that you have a wedding day that you’ve always dreamed of and getting the pictures to match is extremely important. For Jessica and Seamus, they wanted to truly be present with their guests and not pulled away for more photos. 

So, we captured the first look, bride and groom portraits and the bridal party and family portraits before the ceremony. They went straight from the ceremony in the courtyard to the cocktail hour for a nice time with their friends. It was important for Jessica and Seamus to have that time with friends and family, uninterrupted by pictures!

A Reception Filled with String Lights & Love

After cocktail hour, everyone went inside for dinner. And when we came back out, the planners had transformed the courtyard into a dance floor and bar! With seating, corn hole, and the bar it felt almost like a club! Some people mingled with drinks and dessert, others took to the dance floor. It was even an ideal set up for photography, which isn’t the case for most wedding receptions, so I had extra fun documenting the night!

The new couple mingled and we got a lot of great pictures. They even provided a specific backdrop of greenery for guests to take group photos! The decorators cascaded the courtyard with gorgeous string lights. I obsess over string lights! The ambiance that the lights created was so beautiful and unique to the location.

Amidst the laughter and celebrations were the speeches. Jessica’s younger sister was her maid of honor, and she gave a stunning speech full of love and praise for her older sister. She even thanked Jessica for bringing a new brother into her life! The two best men, Seamus’ brothers, gave both goofy and heartwarming speeches. This wedding was so family oriented and sweet!

Jessica and Seamus,

I could spend days taking photos of the two of you because you’re just the sweetest to work with! Thank you both for the privilege of being invited into your celebrations and for choosing me to capture the beginning of your happily ever after! I wish you both a blessed and happy marriage!

Hugs,
Ashley

Vendor Team:
Venue: The Alexandrian
Planners: Impact Collective
Florals: Twinbrook Floral Weddings
DJ: Bialek’s Music

If you need someone to show your love story in pictures, send me a message, and let’s get coffee!

Check out these love stories:
Jessica + Seamus: Alexandria Engagement Session
Anneleise + Alec Engagement Session at Antietam Battlefield Burnside Bridge
Meghan + Michael Engagement Session in Downtown Frederick
Jordan + Mike’s Wedding at Historic Ashland
Lindsay + Travis September Wedding at Maryland Theater (Hagerstown, Maryland)

Bridal detail photos of the save the dates, shoes and rings, wedding photography done in Alexandria Virginia.
Jessica and her bridesmaids posing for a picture before getting ready.
Jessica with her dress and putting on her shoes, wedding photography done in Alexandria Virginia.
One of Jessica's helpers putting her necklace on and straightening her veil, wedding photography done in Alexandria Virginia
All of the bridesmaids freaking out at Jessica's reveal of herself in her wedding dress.
Seamus getting his tie put on and laughing, wedding photography done in Alexandria Virginia
Seamus posing and buttoning his blazer, getting ready for the first look.
The father-daughter first look, Jessica's dad almost in tears seeing his daughter all dressed in white, wedding photography done in Alexandria Virginia
Seamus seeing his bride in her dress for the first time, wedding photography done in Alexandria Virginia.
Seamus and Jessica hugging after the first look.
Seamus and Jessica side by side and kissing in front of a hedge, wedding photography done in Alexandria Virginia
The whole bridal party posing in a line while Jessica and Seamus kiss at the center.
Jessica posing with all of her bridesmaids, on a city sidewalk, wedding photography done in Alexandria Virginia
Seamus and all of his groomsmen posing on a sidewalk.
Seamus kissing Jessica on a brick street and then holding her hand while walking, wedding photography done in Alexandria Virginia
Seamus and Jessica posing in a mossy alleyway beside a historic building, wedding photography done in Alexandria Virginia
The groom spinning the bride on a city street, wedding photography done in Alexandria Virginia
Collage of Jessica posing on the sidewalk with her bouquet and then a close up of the bridal bouquet.
Seamus posing on the sidewalk with his boutonniere, wedding photography done in Alexandria Virginia.
Two groomsmen walking one of the mothers down the aisle to her seat, wedding photography done in Alexandria Virginia.
Seamus, all smiles, watching his bride being walked down the aisle by her dad.
Jessica walking down the aisle with her dad, wedding photography done in Alexandria Virginia.
Jessica and Seamus standing by the minister to be married, wedding photography done in Alexandria Virginia.
Seamus and Jessica exchanging rings and kissing as husband and wife, wedding photography done in Alexandria Virginia.
The new couple kissing on the aisle and walking back down after being presented as husband and wife!
A few friends sitting at a table at the reception
People mingling at the cocktail hour after the ceremony, wedding photography done in Alexandria Virginia.
Friends drinking and mingling during the after-ceremony cocktail hour, wedding photography done in Alexandria Virginia.
Photo of the sign for the venue, the Alexandrian Hotel in Old Town.
Pictures of the venue before the guests arrived, wedding photography done in Alexandria Virginia.
The reception hall all set up before the guests come, table centerpieces in place.
The new couple walk into the reception hall to cheers and clapping, wedding photography done in Alexandria Virginia.
Seamus and Jessica posing with all of their friends in a chaotic bunch.
Jessica and Seamus dancing the first dance at the reception, wedding photography done in Alexandria Virginia.
Dancing and kissing between the new bride and groom.
Jessica dancing with her dad for the daddy-daughter dance, with some spinning action.
Seamus dancing with his mom and spinning her, wedding photography done in Alexandria Virginia.
The moms and their friends enjoying the drinks and the company.
Everyone dancing and having a great time at the reception.
Drinking, dancing, and friendship on display at Seamus and Jessica's wedding reception.
Jessica and Seamus dancing and drinking during the party, wedding photography done in Alexandria Virginia.







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