My favorite post to do all year long!!!!! This is the 7th annual superlatives post and it was so hard to narrow these down. I’m so so so thankful for every couple that trusts me with such a huge part of their wedding day. I don’t take this job lightly and each of these weddings stay with me for a long long time. When your anniversary pops up every year, it brings me right back to the moments we experienced together. This year was a crazy one for me personally finding out I was pregnant with Annie literally the morning after my first wedding. I then had to take a significant portion of the Fall off which is my busiest season for weddings. Thank you all for the grace you provided me through all of this! I’m pretty sure the theme of weddings this year was PARTY because I usually give that superlative to one wedding but there were so many of ya’ll this year that threw epic dance parties or maybe guests were just ready to let loose after covid weddings in years past! I couldn’t pick just one superlative for you all so you each get a couple! The weddings go in date order. Make sure to click each couple’s name to see their wedding blog post! ENJOY and thank you all again!

To see superlatives from previous years check them out here: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021

1. Michele & Tim– Best I’m Here to Party and Sweetest Family

You probably remember Michele and Tim’s wedding by the beautiful snowy photos but I remember it by the epic dance party they threw! I’ve never seen so many people throw down right when dinner was over, it was awesome!!! I truly think this happened because of their second superlative which is sweetest family. They are all SO close and consider their friends family as well. I remembered Michele’s extended family throwing down at her sister’s wedding so I knew we were in for a good time. Tim is one of four boys and they are all so much fun. Not to mention, Tim is a firefighter and his squad was a blast too! The party started early in the day with Michele popping some champagne. I think we need a reunion in a few weeks for yall’s anniversary Michele? You down?

2. Lauren & Chris–  Best Surrounding Team and Most Packed Dance Floor

First of all, Lauren and Chris are traveling/living all over and I’m so jealous following them on instagram!! You guys are really living up your first year of marriage, so awesome.  Lauren and Chris got married downtown Richmond and got ready at an adorable airbnb in the city.  I loved seeing your family and friends come together from all over for your wedding.  You can tell you are surrounded by some really great people.  A huge shout out to their incredible dance party.  First of all, their DJ was amazing.  Lauren and Chris had a smaller wedding with just close family and friends and when I saw their timeline and how long the reception was I was skeptical and thought maybe people would leave early, etc.  I was SOO wrong.  The dance floor was packed for 3 straight hours.  It was seriously such a good time.  Even Lauren’s grandma was breaking it down.  I think we need a reunion of this one this year!   

3. Lianne & Ryan– Most Welcoming & Best Dressed

Photographing Lianne and Ryan’s wedding honestly felt like I was showing up to a good friend’s wedding and I had only met them twice before.  I also photographed Lianne’s brothers wedding and I was so excited to see everyone again.  Lianne and Ryan are some of the kindest people so it’s no wonder they have so many friends in their life.  They are the kind of people you just feel at home around.  Lianne has 4 younger brothers that she did a first look with which was so special for me to photograph.  I can’t talk about this wedding without mentioning the attire!!! Lianne’s dress was made for her, Ryan’s bowtie was so sharp, the bridesmaids dresses were some of my favorites I’ve ever photographed, and Lianne’s reception outfit change was PERFECT!  I should have known the style was going to be A+ after yall’s awesome engagement session outfits!! 

4. Sarah & Carter– Perfect Match and Best Cocktail Hour

Sometimes you meet a couple and you just know they are meant to be.  Sarah and Carter dated for TEN YEARS before their wedding.  Think about how many life stages that is that they went through together and changed and basically grew up together.  Weddings are so different when the couple has been together that long because all of the friends and family know each other so well which is so special for me to see and photograph.  Sarah and Carter also win best cocktail hour.  They got married at the freight shed venue in Yorktown, Va and for cocktail hour their guests got to grab drinks and walk along the river.  The sunset was beautiful and everyone was having such an amazing time.  I’d love to photograph more weddings with an incredible couple like Sarah and Carter and more at this beautiful venue!   

5. Emily & Aaron- Best First Dances and Here for the Right Reasons 

Emily and Aaron are some of the sweetest people.  I’ve done some mini shoots for them as well as their engagement session and wedding so we’ve gotten to know each other well!  They are one of those couples that you can just tell are so excited for their wedding but even more excited for marriage!!  This is honestly the type of people I could book for every single wedding.  They didn’t let anything sidetrack them from the reason this was happening including Emily being away for work leading up to their day.  They hands down win best first dances.  I’m pretty sure everyone was in tears when Emily’s niece and nephew twins joined her and her dad for their dance.  Thank you guys for such an amazing day! 

6. Dakota & Jacob– Most Elegant and Most Joy

At Dakota and Jacob’s wedding I felt like I was photographing for a magazine all day.  These two could be models so it made my job so easy!  Every detail was so elegant and beautiful.  Coming from someone that had every single color flower at her wedding, I absolutely loved the all white look that they pulled off.  It was so beautiful with Keswick and the vineyard back drop!  There was so much joy at yall’s wedding.  Jacob had the best reaction I’ve probably ever seen from a groom while Dakota was walking down the aisle.  Definitely not a dry eye in the crowd.  I loved watching the two of you dance and spend time with your guests.  I left their wedding praying and hoping every wedding after would be the same- so fulfilling!! 

 

7. Susannah & Spencer– Most Sentimental and Longest Party

I have never cried so many happy tears as I have at Susannah and Spencer’s wedding.  They included so many special touches in their details, ceremony, and reception.  Everywhere you turned was a sentimental touch to lost family members, special music, and even recognition for their pets!  What a beautiful day!! I’ll also never forget the text I got from Susannah the day after her wedding telling me that their DJ was having so much fun he basically stayed all night long!! I want to say they stayed and partied at The Boar’s Head Inn until 3 am or something crazy, how fun is that?!  They have some friends that were such good dancers, I had a blast photographing everyone at this reception! The bridesmaid dresses and textured veil were top tier too!! 

8. Lindsey & Matt– Most Relaxed & Most Anticipated 

Lindsey and Matt started planning their wedding in 2019 and due to COVID had to replan and replan and replan THREE times!  Every time they had to pick a new date I would hold my breath and pray that I was free because I’d been looking forward to celebrating with them for so long!! I’m so glad it worked out in 2022 and they had a beautiful evening with their closest family and friends at Maymont.  They had guests attend from all over the world to celebrate their love which was so special to see.  These two also win most relaxed.  Both Matt and Lindsey don’t love being the center of attention even though they deserve to be!! I loved hearing the speeches at your wedding from siblings and parents.  Lindsey even wore her mom’s wedding dress, cue the tears!!  On that note- a big shoutout goes to Cheryl, Lindsey’s mom for all the planning she did as well! 

 

9. Emily & Matthew- Best Planned & Best Ceremony

The thing about a well planned wedding is it makes everyones life easier!! Emily and Matthew thought of every single detail for their wedding so their guests, vendors, and even they had such an amazing experience.  I absolutely loved all of the details Emily had picked out for me to photograph and the loose blooms she had her florist bring.  I could have photographed Emily’s bouquet and the adorable napkins with their pets on them all day.  I also vividly remember them getting to attend cocktail hour and it being so relaxed since we did photos at other times during the day.  They were able to mingle with all of their guests (and the farm animals)!  I also adored Emily and Matthew’s beautiful church ceremony.  You two had such an incredible day and I hope our paths cross again soon!! 

10. Rachel & Ryan– Best Reception, Most Beautiful

My last wedding of 2022 ended on such a high note!! Rachel and Ryan had such a great day but their reception was honestly perfect from start to end.  Everyone loved being able to have cocktail hour around the fire pits and being led into the reception with the Fife and Drum was so neat!  The meal was incredible, speeches were great, dancing happened all night, they had late night snacks waiting for their guests, and a jingle bell bubble exit.  I overheard many guests talking about how much fun they were having!  This wedding alone made me hope I have a wedding every year around Christmas time.  I was smiling so big when their DJ started playing upbeat Christmas music and everyone was singing along.  What a way to end an incredible year of weddings! 

 

Thank you again Michele, Tim, Lauren, Chris, Lianne, Ryan, Sarah, Carter, Emily, Aaron, Dakota, Jacob, Susannah, Spencer, Lindsey, Matt, Emily, Matthew, Rachel, and Ryan for the best year yet!