Laura + Andres

Watching Laura and Dre’s love story unfold has truly been one of the highlights of 2021 for me! Dre first reached out to me in February to plan the perfect DC proposal, and a few weeks ago I had the honor of photographing their wedding. It was an intimate affair in northern Virginia with just their nearest and dearest in attendance, and yet the day was full of joyful laughs and heartfelt tears in remembrance of those that could only be there in spirit.

Over the months I’ve really gotten to know these two, and I can say with some confidence that Laura is the more analytical and serious one, while Dre is a total softie. Therefore, true to form, Laura selected the perfect gift to surprise Dre with: a custom pin featuring a photo of his late mother to wear on the inside of his lapel, so that a small piece of her could physically be with Dre on the wedding day.

One of my favorite moments of the entire day was when Dre opened this gift. It was such a touching and thoughtful gesture from Laura, and Dre’s earnest and emotional reaction was so moving to witness. These two truly bring out the best in each other, and I was so glad to have witnessed it!

The tears weren’t over yet, as the two shared a first look on the roof of the parking garage overlooking Tyson’s Corner. Laura and Dre also chose to exchange vows privately during the first look, which is one of my favorite “new” traditions! A private vow exchange is incredibly meaningful because you can say exactly what you want to say, without all of your guests watching. I highly recommend taking a few moments to privately exchange vows during your first look if time allows!

Then it was time to head to the couple’s church, where friends and family had already begun to gather. Laura and Dre chose to have a “flower guy” – another one of my favorite modern twists – which accented their playful nature and gave all of us a laugh. We wrapped up with a few formal portraits on the church grounds, and then the group headed off to a local restaurant to celebrate!

Congratulations, Dre and Laura! I can’t wait to watch your love story continue to grow from here. Enjoy a few of my favorites below!