Wedding: Kristie & Jeremy - Annandale, VA
Who doesn’t love a “homegrown wedding?”
It’s not everyday you get to photograph your childhood friends’ wedding… and it’s certainly not everyday you get to photograph part of the wedding at your own parents’ house. For this reason, this wedding was an emotional one to capture. Kristie and I - along with her brother, Scott - grew up together. I was either down at their house or they were up at ours. We spent Saturday nights and holidays together, swam on the same teams, fished our neighborhood creek together, terrorized the neighborhood on bicycles together, and got into good-ole fashion mischief together.
Who doesn’t love a “homegrown wedding?”
It’s not everyday you get to photograph your childhood friends’ wedding… and it’s certainly not everyday you get to photograph part of the wedding at your own parents’ house. For this reason, this wedding was an emotional one to capture. Kristie and I - along with her brother, Scott - grew up together. I was either down at their house or they were up at ours. We spent Saturday nights and holidays together, swam on the same teams, fished our neighborhood creek together, terrorized the neighborhood on bicycles together, and got into good-ole fashion mischief together.
When Kristie introduced us to Jeremy - I knew he was the right guy for her. After courting each other for a few years (and with a pandemic raging), they decided it was time to tie the knot. For reasons important to the bride and groom - their wedding date could not wait! For any couple who planned a 2020 wedding (and actually got married in 2020) - I think it’s fair to say that the couple’s decision to wed was not taken lightly.
Oddly enough, when I first heard of Kristie’s wedding, I already had a plane ticket in hand because I was flying home to help my folks with a “family matter”. It seemed “fate” had two reasons to bring me back in good ole Northern Virginia; one to assist my folks and two - to capture Kristie’s special day. Within a matter of weeks, Kristie and Jeremy planned a Micro “Covid Safe” Wedding; taking every precaution reasonably possible. The ceremony was held at Green Spring Gardens in our hometown of Annadale, Virginia.
Photo: Fiander Foto | Venue: Green Spring Gardens
Bride’s Dress: BHLDN | Guitar: Joe Fiander |
Micro Wedding Photography Packages
Covid-19 has changed many things in today’s world, including the wedding industry. If you’re in the midst of planning (or re-planning) your wedding, you may have heard the term “Micro Wedding”. The big question: what exactly is a micro wedding? In short: a Micro Wedding may have up to 30 guests, including the couple. They are bigger than Elopement but smaller than a “normal” wedding group size.
Covid-19 has changed many things in today’s world, including the wedding industry. If you’re in the midst of planning (or re-planning) your wedding, you may have heard the term “Micro Wedding”. The big question: what exactly is a micro wedding? In short: a Micro Wedding may have up to 30 guests, including the couple. They are bigger than Elopement but smaller than a “normal” wedding group size. From a photographer’s perspective, Micro Weddings are awesome because they allow for a more intimate experience - which yields gorgeous and emotional photos!
We’ve put together a special photo package for those interested in planning a Micro Wedding (30 guests or less); the package includes 4 hours of shooting, the edited high-resolution files, a private online gallery, and a print release. For a limited time, these packages are available any day of the week for $2800 except holiday weekends. These packages are designed to ensure you capture all the important moments and with this in mind, a unique timeline for photos will be developed. We know planning a wedding during a pandemic can be uncertain; the package also includes scheduled communication via email and phone calls leading up to the wedding date - this way, you always know what’s going on!
If you’re interested in chatting more about booking a Mirco Wedding Package, the first step will be to fill out our online “Wedding Client Questionnaire”. This will give us a good idea of when your wedding will be, where it will take place, how much time you need, and how many guests will attend + a few other fun details. Click on the link below to access our “Wedding Client Questionnaire”:
Mini Photo Sessions - Bermuda & DC
It’s that time of year again ~ mini session time! Whether you’re planning for your holiday card or just want to schedule a fun photo shoot, this deal is for you! We’re offering a few different dates and locations; sessions will take place both in Bermuda (Sunday, 10/25 from 1:00-4:00pm at Southlands Estate Park and Marley Beach) and the DC area (Sunday, 10/4 from 4:00-6:00pm at Great Falls Park, MD)! For those looking for holiday cards: you can create yours from within your online gallery, which your images will be delivered within!
It’s that time of year again ~ mini session time! Whether you’re planning for your holiday card or just want to schedule a fun photo shoot, this deal is for you! We’re offering a few different dates and locations; sessions will take place both in Bermuda (Sunday, 10/25 from 1:00-4:00pm at Southlands Estate Park and Marley Beach) and the DC area (Sunday, 10/4 from 4:00-6:00pm at Great Falls Park, MD)! For those looking for holiday cards: you can create yours from within your online gallery, which your images will be delivered within!
Mini sessions are 30min long and include both traditional and candid shots. 30min sessions typically yield between 30-40 images, although the more exciting the group - the more fun memories that are captured! Kindly note: all clients are required to adhere to our Covid-19 Safety Policy; please click “here” for more details.
Fall SALE & Newsletter
Raise your hand if you're ready for fall leaves, comfortable sweaters, and pumpkin spiced lattes. To ease the pain of summer coming to a close - we're getting a "jump" on our annual Fall Sale! Now through the end of September - check out our latest sales and email for details.
Wedding: F & T - Coral Beach Club & Mid Ocean Club - Bermuda
From the moment Fleming and Tyler got in touch with me, I knew they would be wonderful clients! Fleming - originally from Alabama… like my Grandfather’s family (Roll Tide) - and Tyler - from the DC area… like myself - and I hit it off from the start. The morning of the wedding started off at Coral Beach and Tennis Club. While the ladies got ready, Tyler and his guy friends squeezed in a game of golf before putting on their tuxes. From there, we were off to Holy Trinity Church for the Ceremony and over to the Mid Ocean Club for the Reception. From start to finish, the day was spectacular!
From the moment Fleming and Tyler got in touch with me, I knew they would be wonderful clients! Fleming - originally from Alabama… like my Grandfather’s family (Roll Tide) - and Tyler - from the DC area… like myself - and I hit it off from the start. The morning of the wedding started off at Coral Beach and Tennis Club. While the ladies got ready, Tyler and his guy friends squeezed in a game of golf before putting on their tuxes. From there, we were off to Holy Trinity Church for the Ceremony and over to the Mid Ocean Club for the Reception. From start to finish, the day was spectacular!
Photography: Fiander Foto
Hotel: Coral Beach & Tennis Club | Ceremony Location: Holy Trinity Church | Reception: Mid Ocean Club
Bride’s Dress: Amsale | Groom’s Attire: Montague Ede & Ledbury
Wedding Planner: Bermuda Bride | Vintage Car: Bermudaful Moments
Band: The Big Chill | Florals: Suzan Sickling
Fiander Foto: Wedding & Event Videography
We have some super exciting news ~ we’ve teamed up with one of the best videographers on the island! You can now add a video services to your photography package! I’ve worked with Lara for years - literally years - and finally, we have teamed up to offer our clients a more simplistic booking process. Looking for both photography and video - then look no further!
We have some super exciting news ~ we’ve teamed up with a few of the best videographers on the island! You can now add a video services to your photography package! I’ve worked with them for years and finally, we have teamed up to offer our clients a more simplistic booking process. Looking for both photography and video - look no further! Check out a few of the projects we’ve worked on together & email for details.
Hindu Wedding: A & T - Hamilton Princess, Bermuda
Welcome to “Wedding Wednesday” ~ let’s check out this awesome wedding at the Hamilton Princess in Bermuda! The couples’ events took place over several days and I worked closely with an amazing team of vendors to make sure their wedding was perfect. My time with the couple started the day before the wedding at the “Making of the Bride” gathering. Later that same evening, I had the pleasure of capturing their Rehearsal Dinner. On the day of the actual wedding ~ I started with the Groom for his “getting ready” shots at 7:30am - just after sunrise… and what a glorious sunrise!
When this lovely Bride ( - we’ll call her “T”) and Groom ( - we’ll call him “A”) first got in touch with me about their Destination Hindu Wedding in Bermuda, I was excited to hear that their multi-day wedding was going to be a religious and cultural celebration; one that would tie them together spiritually as husband and wife. One of my favorite things about their Hindu wedding was getting to learn more about their religion and culture. With their event taking place over several days, I worked closely with the couple and an amazing team of vendors to make sure the wedding was perfect. My time with the couple started the day before the wedding at the “Making of the Bride” gathering, which took place at the bride’s house. Later that same evening, we gathered at the Hamilton Princess for the Rehearsal Dinner. On the day of the actual wedding, I started with the Groom for his “getting ready” shots at 7:30am - just after sunrise.
Afterwords, I made my way over to the Bride’s room. Upon my arrival, T was just about done with her hair - which was beautifully done by Stylz by Traci - and was getting ready to step into her mint sari, the first outfit for the day. Later on in the evening, the bride would wear a beautiful gold lehenga - which was accompanied by rubies, diamonds, and a pair of Yves Saint Laurent heels. The bride, her mom, aunts, and cousins all got ready together.
With the Bride’s father and family waiting just outside the ceremony door - it was time for the Groom’s Arrival, who was accompanied by his parents. From there, the Kashi Yatra began. During this time, it’s traditional for the Groom to pretend as though he’s not ready for matrimony and for the Bride’s father to have a “heart to heart” with him about the values of marriage; a few “words of wisdom” for a bit of encouragement if you will… Both the Groom and the Father of the Bride played out this traditional scene quite well. After a few laughs, the groom was offered gifts, his feet were washed, and everyone made their way to the ceremony space.
It’s important to note that the couple hosted their wedding in the middle of the day in the middle of the summer in Bermuda. Considering the heat and humidity, the couple thought it best to conduct most of the ceremony indoors, where everyone could benefit from the air conditioning. Cyniqua, the wedding planner, and her team at Just Dreams Event Planning & Decor did a wonderful job of setting up the ceremony space in the Trudeau Ballroom at the Hamilton Princess. Gold and white were the “theme colors” for the wedding; simple and classic.
Once the groom, families, and guests made their way into the ballroom, the priest continued with the Ganesha Pooja. This began at the mandapam, a stage or platform with four pillars, which represented the four elements of earth: land, water, fire, and air. During this time, prayers are said to Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles; these prayers ask for Ganesha’s blessing. The Punyahavachanam was the next step, which is a purification ritual that occurs before the Kanya Agaman, which is the arrival of the bride. T made her way down the aisle - coconut in hand, which represents selflessness & the couple giving each other selflessly in their relationship.
Once the Bride arrived at the mandapan, she found herself on one side of a curtain with her groom - or so she hoped was her groom - on the other side! With sacred hymns and Sannai Melam (drums) playing in the background (thank you DJ Rusty G) - it was time for the Kanyadaanam - the giving away of the bride. Only at the most appointed auspicious time does the Subha Muhurtham occur - still behind the curtain - the couple applied Jeelakarra (a paste of cumin seeds) and Bellam (hardened brown sugar) onto each other’s heads. The sweet sugar and bitter cumin represented the ups and downs the bride and groom may face together during their marriage.
With the curtain lifted and offering prayers stated, the Mangalya Pooja & Dharana - the Tying of the Knot - began. To the beat of drums and music of Naathaswarams, the Groom tied a thread necklace around the bride’s neck. Garlands were exchanged between the couple and clothing between the families.
I can’t say enough about the priest that conducted T & A’s ceremony; he was friendly, hilarious, and talked the couple through each stage of the ceremony. Throughout the two hour wedding, family and friends joined in on the fun; often coming up to the stage to partake in a game.
The Talambralu - the Showering of Rice - was one of my favorite parts of the wedding. During this time, the bride and groom pour rice on each other’s heads symbolizing the showering of good fortune and prosperity. Next up was the Homam - the Lighting of the Sacred Fire - during which the priest invokes the presence of Lord Agni, who brings divine energy and acts as a witness to the wedding ceremony. With the fire being lit, the Laja Homam began. The bride’s brother gave her a handful of rice, which was handed off to the groom, and was then “fed” to the fire. The significance of this act is the bride seeking a long life for her husband and the start of a family. The Saptapadi came next; the groom’s garment and bride’s sari are tied together in a knot and they take seven steps together around the sacred fire signifying their union and asking for the following seven blessings: sustenance, physical and mental health, spiritual observance, companionship and happiness, prosperity, longevity, and healthy descendants. The couple then played a little game of “Find the Ring” or “Ring Fishing”. In a silver basin full of oil and flowers, the engagement ring was dropped in. T & A both stuck their hand into the basin to find the ring; best out of three would win. (It’s safe to say - the bride won this game.)
With the bride’s victory in the “Find the Ring” game, the couple was ready to proceed with the Arundhati Darsanam. The couple went outside to view the Arundahati and Dhruva stars to request blessings for a long life and strength of their vows. The key thing to note about these two stars is that one star does not revolve around the other but instead, they both orbit around the same mass. Thus symbolizing how they will support each other and work towards a common goal.
Last but not least, the Aarathi & Asheervadam was performed. This was when the bride and groom received blessings and good wishes from the priest, their parents, family, and friends.
With the ceremony taking place in the morning, the reception occurred in the evening. The Harbourview Ballroom was beautifully decorated by “Just Dreams Bermuda Events & Decor” for dinner and dancing. Sticking with the white and gold theme, the centerpieces - which were created by “Flowers by GIMI” - looked stunning!
Remember the gold lehenga I mentioned earlier? The one that was accompanied by rubies, diamonds, and a pair of Yves Saint Laurent heels? Well… here it comes! The couple and I took about 25 minutes to capture some sunset bridal portraits around the Hamilton Princess Resort. By this time, the temperature had cooled down and the newlyweds could simply enjoy spending time together - one on one.
During the reception, there were quite a few speeches! The couple had hired Lara Smith from LDS Multimedia - who I love working with - as their videographer - which allowed for all of the speeches to be recorded. Towards the end of the speeches, the couple thanked everyone for coming and stepped onto the dance floor for their first dance.
This wedding reception was full of FUN - loads of awesome tunes for all to dance to (thank you again DJ Rusty G)! My lovely husband - Jim West - ran the photo booth, which was an absolute hit during the party. The photo booth is essentially a very large selfie stick; guests were able to take their own still photo or GIF, which were instantly delivered to their phones. T & A loved getting their online gallery of all the photo booth images.
A very special congratulations to the newlyweds! A big thank you to the couple’s families for making Jim and I feel so welcomed during your festivities. Last but not least - a big shout out to the wedding crew:
~ Vendors ~
Photography: Fiander Foto | Planner: Just Dreams Events & Decor
Venue: Hamilton Princess Resort | Florals & Garlands: Flowers by GIMI
Videography: LDS Multimedia | DJ: DJ Rusty | Photo Booth: Fiander Foto
Hair & Makeup: Stylz by Traci | Henna: Velina Wheatley of VWK Art
Summer Cup Match SALE & News
Ready for an amazing SALE? Now running through August 2nd for all NEW bookings! Please note: Our Summer Cup Match Sale cannot be used with other offers. Please check out the details by clicking on the link below:
Ready for an amazing SALE? Now running through August 2nd for all NEW bookings! Please note: Our Summer Cup Match Sale cannot be used with other offers. Please check out the details by clicking on the link below:
Feature - Way Up North | "Humanist Ceremony in Scotland"
Many thanks to Way Up North for publishing my story on the Humanist Ceremony I had the pleasure of capturing in Errol, Scotland! Click “here” to read all about it.
A "Covid" Elopement - Lauren & Ed at Horseshoe Bay & The Loren
Lauren and Ed were married in the "midst” of a pandemic. With their masks, wedding attire, and dog - the two “tied the knot” at Bermuda’s beautiful Horseshoe Bay Beach. After which, they held a virtual reception at The Loren. (How cool, right?) This included a virtual cocktail hour via Zoom with several of their friends and family members. They also held their First Dance and Cake Cutting over Zoom. From there, we went over to The Residence at The Loren. Lauren - being a documentary filmmaker - and Ed - being a doctor - both shared a common love of English Sparking wine. They cracked open a bottle and we set off onto the beach for our sunset photos - the perfect ending to an elopement!
Lauren and Ed were married in the "midst” of a pandemic. With their masks, wedding attire, and dog - the two “tied the knot” at Bermuda’s beautiful Horseshoe Bay Beach. After which, they held a virtual reception at The Loren. (How cool, right?) This included a virtual cocktail hour via Zoom with several of their friends and family members. They also held their First Dance and Cake Cutting over Zoom. From there, we went over to The Residence at The Loren. Lauren - being a documentary filmmaker - and Ed - being a doctor - both shared a common love of English Sparking wine. They cracked open a bottle and we set off onto the beach for our sunset photos - the perfect ending to an elopement!
Photographer: Fiander Foto | Locations: Horseshoe Bay Beach & The Loren Hotel
Officiant: Bermuda Registry General | Florist: Suzan Sickling
Bride’s Dress: Stella McCartney | Bride’s Earrings & Groom’s Cuff-links: Davidrose Jewelry
Groom’s Shorts & Socks: TABS | Groom’s Blazer: English Sports Shop