James and Natalie’s wedding day was the perfect start to the year! Everyone hears that rain is a GOOD thing to be present on a wedding day. What’s even better is when the rain comes and leaves before any wedding festivities begin. By the time I arrived at the beautiful Oatlands Historic House & Gardens in Leesburg, Virginia, the sun started to make an appearance. As I walked the grounds to get settled in before meeting with the girls, I noticed that Oatlands Historic House & Gardens has changed some things around since my last wedding there. Now they have a permanent tented area that is GORGEOUS (as you’ll see below) and the girls now have a beautiful house to prep for the wedding. THAT HOUSE was the most ideal space for prepping photos. The natural lighting is incredible!!!
Their wedding took place on one of the tiers in the garden where the altar arbor was covered in beautiful flowers! Sophie from Blossom & Vine added the perfect touch to this garden wedding. I cannot say enough how James and Natalie’s reception set up felt like a styled shoot. One of the last weddings Kim Newton Weddings and I did together was very similar where it felt like a styled shoot so it make it exciting to photograph. She’s awesome!!!
James and Natalie are a fun, unique couple! James attended Harvard and is incredibly talented in technology. In fact, if you haven’t read about their Legend of Zelda proposal, YOU MUST READ IT as it was even picked up by BuzzFeed! It says so much of who James and Natalie are as a couple! Natalie was so great to photograph and made everything ideal for me to photograph. In fact, Natalie is an awesome wedding photographer in California! It makes sense why everything was ideal because she was thinking from my perspective and of course she has the wedding knowledge to pull things together. 🙂 She created little details that added her personal touch. The shawl she wore throughout the day was hand knit by her. She laughed when she told me it took her three years to make it, but I totally know how that is! Haha! They added in their passion for video games by using music in their ceremony as well as the reception which was “so them”! Also, their cake was perfectly tied to their video game proposal if you check out the cake topper! Following the cake cutting event, Natalie threw a heart she hand sewn as an alternative to the bouquet toss. What a cute twist! Everyone was after the heart pillow. 🙂 The dance party immediately picked up by playing “Scat Man” which led to a true glow stick RAVE. It was so much fun to watch the dance floor lit up with family and friends running around! They left the venue by running through glow sticks where everyone said their farewell. The day flew by so fast but it was one no one will forget the classy garden, glow stick dance rave. 🙂
THANK YOU James, Natalie, your family and friends for a wonderful time Saturday! What a GREAT way to kick off the wedding season! Enjoy a preview and CONGRATS!!!!!
CONGRATS!!!!!
Thank you to all of the vendors involved in making James and Natalie’s wedding picture perfect!
Venue: Oatlands Historic House and Gardens, Leesburg, VA
Wedding Planner: Kim Newton Weddings
Photographer: Stephanie Messick Photography
Second Shooter: Rebecca Watkins Photography
Hair and Makeup: Beyond the Veil Beauty
Caterer: Purple Onion Catering
Florist: Blossom & Vine
Baker: Simply Desserts
DJ: Dan Huynh/Premier DJ Services
Stationery: Caitlin Creative Works
Dress Designer: Allure Bridals
Rentals: Purple Onion Catering
Transportation: Limousines Inc.
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