Happy Anniversary to Kaitlyn & James! I had the pleasure of photographing their wedding in the fall of 2012! What made their wedding unique was that these two were - and still are - in the U.S. Army. With the help of their siblings and friends, they had planned their wedding while they were both deployed in Afghanistan! Given that they were overseas, Kaitlyn and James had never seen their chosen venue, taste-tested their menu, or met their vendors. Although, none of that mattered to these two; they were too excited to get married and their wedding day went off without a hitch! The morning of the wedding was very relaxed for the bride and groom: coffee (with a touch of Baileys added to it), hair, make-up, and an old fashion shave for James and his groomsmen, a quick "insignia polish", and finally, stepping into the white gown for the First Look.
Kaitlyn and James both come from military families. Both of Kaitlyn's parents were in the Army along with James' father, who served in the Vietnam War. It was very important for Kaitlyn and James to squeeze in a Bridal Portrait Shoot after their First Look photos at a few of the Monuments in Washington D.C.! Before the ceremony at Saint Joseph's in Old Town, Alexandria, we popped over to the Jefferson Memorial and Roosevelt Island.
The wedding ceremony took place at the historic Saint Joseph's Church in Old Town, Alexandria. After Kaitlyn and James said their "I Dos", we took a few family portraits at the alter. As the couple exited the building, James' groomsmen formed a Saber Arch for the two to pass under. What military wedding would be complete without requesting a kiss from the bride and groom before crossing through the arch?
After the ceremony, Chariots for Hire picked up the bridal party and a few relatives for a quick spin in a party bus around town! From there, the reception kicked off at the Hilton, right off King Street! The bridal party was announced; each pair danced into the room. A brilliant cake cutting and smashing followed. Guests of all ages enjoyed their photo booth and danced the night away!
Since these two have gotten married, they've had a beautiful little boy and are expecting their second child shortly. Kaitlyn & James are still serving in the Army, are stationed in Germany, and have both earned the rank of "Major". I think it's fair to say that these two are a great fit together! Happy Anniversary and cheers to many more!
