Amanda and Brandon are two wonderful people and it was a true honor to photograph their big day at the Meridian House In Washington DC.

Here’s a little bit of their story:

It all started on a spring Sunday evening in Atlanta, GA. We decided to meet at a wine bar for our first date. Neither of us expected to stay until the bar closed, but we ended up getting kicked out after talking for hours, all over a bottle of Pinot Grigio. At the end of the night, both of us felt a spark and couldn’t wait to see each other again. For the next couple months, we ended up spending a lot of time together and going on many dates throughout the city. In August of that year, Brandon decided to accept a job offer in Washington, DC. To make things work, we found long weekends during which we could visit each other. We FaceTimed nearly every night. We took an old school approach and wrote (typed) letters to each other, all of which we have saved and will forever hold on to. We sent each other surprise packages to let each other know we were thinking of them. At least one time daily at work, Brandon would send Amanda a new song to check out, and that became Song of the Day! To keep the time apart more bearable, we planned fun adventures to have things to look forward to. Our most memorable adventure was a 10 day trip to Spain. We fell in love with the food, the wine, the culture and the beautiful landscapes. The rest is history. The Proposal: Brandon and Amanda planned another weekend trip, that at first seemed to be nothing out of the ordinary. This adventure's destination was a log cabin in Blue Ridge, Georgia. Brandon cooked a delicious steak dinner (recipe courtesy of the Bobby Flay, Brandon’s favorite) and Amanda, unbeknownst to herself, took the lead on baking dessert to celebrate their engagement. After dinner, and before dessert, Amanda, Brandon and Nala (the dog) took a breather from the kitchen and relaxed on the couch. Brandon started saying everything he loved about Amanda and before Amanda realized what was going on, got down on one knee. Amanda obviously said yes but had no idea what else Brandon had up his sleeve for the proposal. Brandon knew Nala was a big part of Amanda’s life and wanted to include her in this special night. So, he proposed to her as well with homemade ring-shaped dog treats and a ring box dog toy (we think Nala said yes, especially after tasting those treats). Next, knowing how sharing a bottle of wine has played a key part in their relationship, from their first date to their unforgettable Spain adventure, he then surprised Amanda with a bottle of Pinot Noir from their favorite winery in Spain (plus an additional bottle for their wedding night). Lastly, Brandon created a playlist from their favorite songs compiled over the past year from their daily song of the day. Within a few months of the proposal, Amanda and Brandon moved to the DC area and ended all the heartbreaking goodbyes.

Venue: Meridian House
Planner/Coordinator: Simply Breathe Events
Hair & Makeup: Alison Harper Co.
Dress: Global Bridal Gallery & Lillian West
Shoes: Betsey Johnson
DJ: The Dapper Djs

Invitations: Minted Photo booth: Pro Stop Photo Booth
Bridesmaids dresses: Azazie Catering: Main Events
Florals: The Garden Studio