My FAVORITE blog post of the entire year!!! I get to brag on all of my 2021 couples and let me say- this year will be hard to beat.  These 12 couples all went through planning a wedding (and some planning essentially two weddings) during a global pandemic which is NOT an easy task.  They rescheduled, downsized, and made the changes they needed to in order to make it happen. They also will always hold a special place in my heart because we share a wedding anniversary year.  I am so thankful that each of these couples and their families trusted me to document their wedding and welcomed me into their big day.  I feel like I’m leaving 2021 with 24 new friends.  These weddings span 11 venues all in Virginia and are all SO different.  It was so hard assigning superlatives to each couple because all of these weddings had so many of them present. 2022 is shaping up to another big year of weddings starting in just a week for me!! Without further ado- here are your 6th annual 2021 superlatives in order of their wedding date! 

 Check out previous superlative posts HERE: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020

1. Most Welcoming- Vince & Rachel 

Rachel and Vince were my first 2021 wedding and it was such a great wedding to start the year!! Vince works in the floral industry and Rachel works in the wedding industry so their day was amazing!  They got married at Seven Springs Farm surrounded by all of their family and friends and even a few farm animals.  When I look back at this wedding, it felt like a wedding of a good friend but I had only met them at their engagement session!! They were so welcoming and so were their families.  I got to know people in their life during the day and let me tell you- they are surrounded by some of the best.  In fact- Vince’s sister booked me for her 2022 wedding, so you will be seeing more of this family!  I’m so happy for you two and glad I left this wedding with two new friends!  Also…peep the sunset they had, it was amazing!!!   

2. Best Reception- Ethan & Lora

Ethan and Lora were my first bride and groom that had to postpone in 2020.  They pushed their wedding back an entire year and then somehow we were STILL in a global pandemic in 2021, ugh! Weeks before their wedding, they had to move their reception.  I remember texting Lora and she was like yeah I’m basically planning a whole new wedding in two weeks, imagine that!?  When I showed up to their reception (which was moved to their very own home) I was floored!! It was honestly perfect.  It was raining but guests were having a BLAST.  Their home is a unique beautiful historic home in Church Hill and they had it all decked out and even had gotten a tent for the backyard.  Their pup got to be a part of the day and you would have NEVER known it was the back up plan.  Honestly, ya’ll need to be wedding planners because you did an amazing job.  I’ll never forget your wedding! Just like my first wedding of 2021, I’m photographing Lora’s sisters wedding in just a few weeks, I’m SO excited! 

3. Best Surrounding Team- Will & Abby

Abby and Will were another couple that had to roll with the punches and reschedule their wedding.  They also had a venue change due to restrictions and I don’t think their day could have been more perfect if they tried, crazy how that works out.  You two have some of the best family and friends and it was so neat to have a backseat to this all day long.  Abby’s sisters and bridesmaids were SO sweet and Will’s friends were up for whatever I had in mind.  They had amazing speeches and I even quietly watched their family and friends shed a few tears because they were so happy for the two of you.  It was so fun seeing these two as guests at a later wedding in 2021.  I loved being able to see some of their friends and family again too.  You two are surrounded by some of the best! 

4. Best Party- Shelby & Josh

Next party I host, I want Shelby and Josh to plan it!! These two actually got married in May in Mexico and I was SHOCKED how many of their family members and friends joined them for that party from the photos.  That says so much about the two of you!!  They had a celebration here in Richmond in June and everyone came to have a good time.  It was nice to not have the stress of getting married and instead they could just have a good time with everyone.  I LOVED watching you guys on the dance floor with everyone.  Another special thing about these two is they have two pups that look almost identical to River and they just announced that they are expecting.  Ya’ll are going to be the best parents, I am SO excited for you two! 

5. Best Ceremony- Josh & Bekah

What an absolutely incredible day.  Josh and Bekah were my first Jewish wedding I’ve ever photographed and I LOVED every second of it.  One thing I really loved about working with these two is I could tell their absolute number one goal was getting married.  The rest was just an added bonus, which I loved.  They had traditions in place that were so special to watch and photograph and I loved the involvement of their parents in the ceremony, it was incredible to see.  We won’t mention Bekah’s little tumble on the way out of the ceremony but honestly that made it all the more memorable and she was able to laugh at herself throughout the night.  I’m so happy for you two and thank you for trusting me and believing in me when photographing my first Jewish wedding. 

6. Most Joy- Becca & Joseph

So for Becca and Joseph, their superlative was easy.  The thing that stood out to me the most about their day was the way Joseph looked at Becca all day long.  Sometimes you just know two people are meant to be and that’s the feeling I had all day with these two.  I could tell that Becca was already such a big part of Joseph’s family and vice versus.  The joy you two had was contagious and I left your wedding feeling so incredibly happy.  I loved watching you all interact with your nieces and nephew, your first & last dance, and seeing Joseph’s face during your first look.  I wish you two all the best! 

7. Best Planned/ Most Anticipated – Matt & Mackenzie

Where do I even start with these two?! Mackenzie and I became fast friends during the wedding planning process and I was so so thankful for that Mackenzie.  They had to also postpone from February 2021- October 2021 but that ended up being a God thing because February they would have gotten married during a huge ice storm!!! I honestly had my own countdown to yall’s wedding!  I was so impressed about how every single detail of their day was thought out.  They had the most beautiful details, a horse and carriage ride, buried Bourbon to dig up on their day, had personalized favors for each guest, and even had the Duke dog in attendance, go JMU!! You didn’t leave any detail unturned and that made you guys able to just soak it all in on during the day.  I vividly remember the DJ announcing the last dance of the night and Mackenzie saying to me, “I don’t want it to end” and honestly I felt the exact same way.  Congrats you two!! 

8. Most Packed Dance Floor – Jessie & Hagan

Holy moly, these two know how to dance.  Sometimes at receptions there is a tiny bit of lag time where people are eating, no dancing, and not much going on but with these two I was running around all night and I loved every second of it.  Their DJ was amazing and so were their family and friends.  I was told a little secret during their wedding, that these two go on cruises with family sometimes multiple times a year and party it up!  I need to know how to get in on that.  In fact, I think I saw on fb they are on a cruise as I type this!! I appreciated your taco bar for dinner and late night pizza and so did your guests!! Thank you two for being so incredibly FUN! 

9. Most Sentimental – Lindsey & Rob

This wedding was special to me for many reasons.  First was how close Lindsey and I had gotten over the past year.  Second was the fact that Lindsey is a photographer herself and actually second shot Jessie and Hagan’s wedding with me the very weekend before her own wedding, she’s incredible!! I can’t talk about this wedding without pointing out how sentimental and special every detail was.  Lindsey sang a song during what would have been her father daughter dance and there wasn’t a dry eye in the room including mine.  I loved seeing Rob’s face during this surprise.  I also loved that these two hired their favorite local Richmond band to perform and everyone had a BLAST dancing all night.  I’m excited to stay friends with these two and see all they do in their marriage, I have a feeling it’s going to be incredible. 

10. Best Style- Nick & Leslie

Nick and Leslie are the kind of couple you are just drawn to.  They live in Texas and celebrated their marriage here in Richmond with family and friends.  The style these two have is something to be jealous of.  From the sharp tux’s to Leslie’s dress change, to the unique beautiful bridesmaid dresses I was just in awe.  You two have true class!! One thing about their day I’ll never forget is the relationship that Leslie has with her parents and sisters.  She got ready at her family home with just her sisters and parents.  They had the football game playing in the background and were so calm and just having a good time together.  You set the bar super high for your younger sisters Leslie, what an incredible wedding!  It says a lot that almost ALL of their guests traveled out of state to celebrate with them.  You two surround yourself with the best people and I enjoyed meeting everyone.  I’m still jealous of Leslie’s surprise reception dress change!  

11. Best Vows- Cody & Savannah

Cody and Savannah actually went to high school near me and are both from Mechanicsville.  They live in Charlottesville area now with their son and got married in that area as well.  They chose to write private vows and read them to each other in the garden before their ceremony and it was such a powerful moment.  I felt honored to witness the love you two have for each other.  I loved how Avery was a special part of their day (even if he was feeling under the weather) and also enjoyed talking to everyone in their bridal party during the reception.  You two are so kind and sweet to each other, it was really neat to watch you guys interact during the day.  I can’t wait to see what marriage has in store for you two! 

12. Most Relaxed- Ian & Colleen

Ian and Colleen were actually supposed to get married in April 2022 but pushed their wedding up because of the pandemic.  When they told me about the date change I was so glad I could still be a part of their day.  They chose to get married with only their immediate family present which created the most intimate wedding I’ve been a part of.  It was raining when it was time to do their first look but they both were so relaxed about the backup location and even mentioned they were happy it rained and they could use the backup location.  These two were solely focused on getting married and I was honored to be there.  Colleen comes from a big family and one of my favorite parts of the day was during the prayer before the meal at the reception both families joined hands and went around the circle adn said how much they loved each other, it was such a sweet moment.  Congrats you two!! 

What an incredible year, thank you to each of these amazing couples and I look forward to all that 2022 will bring!!

To see previous superlative posts, check them out HERE: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020