Whitehall Estate Wedding | Bluemont, Virginia Wedding Photographer

I have great memories of shooting this wedding on behalf of Martha Stewart Weddings magazine. Working directly with the creative team, especially the bride’s sister Rebecca Thuss (who was a staffer at the time) was a career highlight. Stephanie wanted a wedding that reflected her feminine style and the traditional, bucolic setting of The Manor House at Whitehall Estate. A toile theme in pale pinks, greens, and blues was established as the perfect compliment to these two elements. Not to be left out, the groom’s passion for baseball was celebrated with charming details such as a peanut and crackerjack treats offered to guests at the end of the night (repackaged in a beautiful toile packaging, of course). I marveled at the charming personalization of every little detail.

Since the wedding took place in late July, the creative team also designed printed paper fans that served double duty as ceremony programs. A fitting poem called “The Promise” by Rafael Sexton was printed on the inside:

Across the years I will walk with you –

In deep green forests, on shores of sand,

And when our time on earth is through,

In heaven, too, you will have my hand.

A reimagined “guest book” consisted of large Juliska pitchers and an invitation to write a private note to be placed inside. Prompts such as “favorite memories of the bride and groom” gave guests some inspiration if needed. And envelopes were provided so that the couple would have the pleasure of opening each individual message.

Looking back on the day the bride remembers that they “sneaked back out to the swing” where they had posed for pictures earlier in the day so that they could watch the party from afar.

New York cake master Ron Ben-Israel designed a four-tier creation with delicate sugar hydrangea and a fondant “ribbon” design befitting of the Classic Revival Ballroom of Whitehall Manor.

It was such an honor to capture all the details from this amazing event and get to know these sweet families. Having the pictures run as a 10-page spread in the magazine was literally icing on the cake.