Brandon + Elizabeth's Wedding

Not many couples who get married in December can say they had sunny skies and 70-degree weather – but the Greenwoods can! Brandon and Elizabeth’s wedding was absolutely perfect. Every single detail from the gorgeous weather to the accents of blush and gold throughout their décor made for a beautiful day. Stephen met Brandon and Elizabeth back in August and immediately knew these guys would be so fun to work with. We had just launched our company a couple of months prior, and to be honest he was nervous. After chatting in Starbucks for a few minutes the nerves melted away and it was apparent that these two were meant to be together. They met like so many great couples do – through a popular dating app – and the rest was history. Brandon proposed like a true romantic. Elizabeth had gone to the gym and came home to rose petals all over the floor, her favorite song playing, and Brandon down on one knee. We are SO glad she said yes and that we got to be a part of the most special time in their lives!

Brandon and Elizabeth had their ceremony and reception at Adeline Acres in Chester, Virginia. This venue is relatively new to the area and is STUNNING! If you’re looking for a perfect place to have your ceremony and reception – this place is it. They have indoor and outdoor options, an adorable bridal suite, an awesome bar for the groom and his guys to hang out at, the list goes on and on. Now enough talking (or I guess typing?) and onto the photos…they really captured how beautiful this day truly was.

We LOVED all of the little details that were thoughtfully put into this wedding. The décor at both the ceremony and the reception was simple and elegant. The color scheme of gold, navy, and blush was so pretty, and the winter inspired touches didn’t go unnoticed. Don’t even get me started on the beautiful brick and moss that we used as a backdrop – So. Gorgeous. We loved all the options Adeline Acres had to offer as far as scenery goes, but these detail shots might be my favorite!

There’s something so fun about getting shots of the bride and bridesmaids before the ceremony. Elizabeth was surrounded by friends, family members, and her maid of honor – her daughter. Make-up artist Nicole Laughlin and her glam team did SUCH a good job – these ladies looked FLAWLESS! We loved the touch of sparkle on the bridesmaid’s dresses and the amount of laughter coming out of that bridal suite.

Let me just say – these guys were a true pleasure to work with! Let’s be real. Most guys don’t like having their photo taken – these guys were CHAMPS! They did great in front of the camera -and looked mighty dapper doing it. We fell in LOVE with this vintage loveseat we found on site and knew we had to use it for these groomsmen shots and are so glad we did.

We were SO happy that Brandon and Elizabeth decided to do a first look! We know that every couple is different but it’s just such a special moment for just the two of you to have before the whirlwind of the wedding starts. We love being able to catch these sweet moments on camera. It’s the absolute best!

Brandon and Elizabeth’s ceremony was short, sweet, and right at sunset. They got married in the courtyard of Adeline Acres which is such a romantic part of the venue to tie the knot. Elizabeth walked down the aisle to “Marry Me” by Train and Brandon couldn’t take his eyes off her as she did. It was so perfect! They wrote their own vows (so cute!) and there were moments of tear- filled eyes and laughter. You could see just how happy these two were as they walked back down that aisle as husband and wife. It was time to CELEBRATE!

 There are seriously no words for how much fun this reception was. Okay, obviously there are going to be words…but you know what I mean. These people knew how to GET DOWN! Brandon, Elizabeth, and so many of their friends and family knew how to have one hell of a good time! They danced the night away and it was almost like it was contagious – we even started dancing! From the first dance, to The Wobble, to forming a gigantic conga line – this party was legendary. A HUGE thank you to DJ Steve’s Mobile DJ Service for keeping the party going and knowing EXACTLY which songs would get everyone on their feet. You guys did SUCH a fantastic job! 

 Brandon and Elizabeth were “sent off” in true winter wonderland style – with snow! These guys had their guests throw “snow” instead of birdseed or bubbles and we loved how it turned out. It was such a creative ending to a winter wedding! We are so happy for these two and wish them nothing but the best for their future, we are so honored to have been there to watch their love story unfold and know that many more good memories are ahead of them. Cheers to The Greenwoods!

Author: Jennie Carbone
Venue: Adaline Acres
HMUA: Nicole Laughlin MUA & Co.
Dress: David’s Bridal
Suits: Men’s Warehouse
Caterer: Sibleys BBQ
Cake: Donna’s Baking Creations

So you booked an engagement session with us?!

Where do you go from here? How do you prepare for your session? Here you will find all of the answers & guidance you need to prepare for an amazing engagement session with us. Leaving you with images that you can cherish for a lifetime.

Comfort is Key

We personally believe that comfort is one of the most important aspects to getting that “perfect photo.” If you are uncomfortable- chances are, it will radiate in your final photos. One of the biggest factors that impacts our comfort the most, are the clothes that we wear. When it comes to picking outfits for you and your spouse, it is important to wear something that you would typically wear. For example, if a mini dress with 5-inch heels isn’t usually your cup of tea- we would suggest NOT wearing this. Obviously you want to look your best, so wear something you feel confident in. Something that matches your personality, but also clothing that you won’t be tugging and adjusting on throughout the session. A lot of times we suggest bringing layers whenever possible. This allows us to get multiple looks and have accessories for different shots and areas throughout the shoot. Ultimately this gives you a bigger variety of photos to work with when you receive your gallery. 

Most people think you need to go out and buy a brand-new outfit instead of sticking to something relatively new that has been worn and washed and confirmed to fit exactly the way you like it to. Of course a new outfit is exciting, so we totally get it- treat yo’ self. Our advice on this- get it well in advance of your shoot so that you can wear it once or twice and have the opportunity to wash it and make sure it doesn’t shrink in places it shouldn’t, etc. Once you’ve landed the outfit, it’s time to iron & steam that sucker up. Get all of the wrinkles. Some wrinkles are expected and can often be edited out, however if you show up with your clothes looking like they just came out of the back of your dresser drawer, this will be a huge distraction in the image and will make all parties involved very sad (yes, including us).

Next up! Colors! Colors are very important when it comes to achieving great images. If we are doing your shoot in a green setting- it’s probably not a good idea to wear green or natural toned colors. We want you guys to stand out, not blend in with the background. There is a lot of flexibility when it comes to color. When in doubt, ask! That’s what we are here for. To make sure your pictures are perfect. We would also literally NEVER tell our couples to match. Coordinate, sure. Match, never. This can be just as big of a distraction as a wrinkled shirt. It’s important that your photos are consistent and flow well together. Wear colors/textures that complement each other. You could even both have “pops” of the same color in each of your outfits.

CHECK OUT OUR BLOG ON NAILING THE PERFECT OUTFIT HERE!

Hair and Makeup

Although this isn’t necessary- some brides like to use this as an opportunity to “trial” with their makeup artist & hair stylist. However, if you are planning to book a bridal session with us, we would advise using the trial for that instead of your engagement session. If you do decide to book someone for hair & makeup, make sure they are available on the date that you scheduled your session with us in advance so that you do not miss your opportunity to book with them.

Pets and Kids

Your engagement photos should be an accurate representation of what love means to you. Often times this includes our beloved little ones. Whether they have four legs, or two. We can absolutely arrange to have your pets or children in the shot. However, if you do decide to do this, please arrange this with us in advance. Furthermore, we require that you have a close friend or family member join us during the session so they can either take your kids/pets home after we get through those photos OR so they can watch after your little ones so we can focus on the more intimate engagement photos with just you and your spouse.

Bad Weather

When it comes to weather, especially here in Virginia, you never actually know what it’s going to do. Don’t worry. We are constantly watching the weather and have absolutely no problem rescheduling in advance due to inclement weather. However, we are also okay with waiting until the day of to reschedule, for you dare devils. Either way, we will make sure your images are exactly what you are looking for and we know the weather plays a huge role in doing that!

Nerves got you down?

We know just how overwhelming it can be being in front of the camera. We got married in 2017. We have been in your shoes. We will do absolutely everything we can to make sure that you feel comfortable for your session. Our goal is to make you forget that we are even there. Our photo journalistic style of photography allows us to capture the intimate candid moments that mean the most. We always tell our couples to focus on the love you have for one another. Think about the excitement of this new chapter you are taking in life together. This is a very happy time in your lives, and your photos should reflect just that!

Carbone Photo Co. LLC is a Wedding Photography company based out of Richmond, Virginia who travels the entire east coast for weddings. Carbone Photo Co. LLC offers photography for weddings, bridal portraits, engagement sessions, events, senior portraits as well as family portraits. This Virginia wedding photographer specializes in capturing the most sentimental moments using a photojournalistic approach to document raw candid moments of you and your loved ones.