Tara & Jordan (Part 1) | Richmond Wedding Photography

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Getting Ready & Portraits

“Brides who CARE.” If you speak with most wedding photographers (especially the Richmond wedding photographer typing these words!), you will learn we get inexpressible joy when working with couples who are deeply invested in photography and have a vision for how they desire their day to be captured. Yes, we do need trust from our brides & grooms, to let us lead you into the best light or away from a distracting background, but we also crave knowing your desires and having you care about what is being captured. There’s nothing better than working with a bride who knows what she wants and communicates clearly so I can take her vision and run with it on the wedding day!

From the beginning, Tara exuded a heart of CARE for what wedding photography means to her & Jordan, and what they desire for their wedding day when it comes to photos. Having been through some traumatic life events in the last few years, she knew the value of being alive and the importance of cherishing (and documenting!) specific moments to freeze forever. She went above and beyond preparing every detail and creating a stunning, luxurious day for me to capture.

Tara & Jordan prepared for their wedding in their home in Richmond, Virginia. It was a perfect, calming environment with gorgeous window light to make this VA wedding photographer’s heart swoon…

Strapless draped wedding gown displayed on a black dress form in a softly lit room
Close view of the gown's pleated organza bodice styled on a black mannequin
Crystal-buckled bridal heels resting on a black side table in front of a sheer veil
Groom's black patent shoes with satin bow tie and cologne bottle arranged for detail photos

Black and white flat lay of wedding invitation, save-the-date, rings, perfume, and earrings on tulle

Wedding invitation suite with rings, perfume bottles, and calla lilies arranged across the bridal veil

Pair of pearl-embellished bridal heels lying on layers of soft white tulle
Engagement ring and wedding bands displayed in black velvet hexagon boxes on the veil
Diamond engagement ring in a velvet box with a bridal shoe blurred in window light behind
Bridal heels on a dark table beside a perfume bottle and velvet ring boxes
Solitaire engagement ring standing upright in a navy velvet box beside the gold wedding band

Can we talk about this mannequin? I wanted to steal it for all my weddings! Tara truly thought of everything!

Bride in a white robe kneeling beside her gown, smiling up at the mannequin
Bride in a lace-trimmed robe reaching toward her gown displayed near bright windows at home

This Richmond wedding photographer loved capturing these getting ready images in T&J’s own home! It added such a relaxing element to their getting ready process, and all the window light made my heart so happy.

Groom fastening his collar in front of a bright window, black and white portrait

Smiling groom adjusting his black bow tie while getting ready

Groom pulling on his white dinner jacket over a crisp shirt and bow tie
Groom in a white shawl-collar tuxedo jacket buttoning it as he looks down

Tara’s Mom and sister were the best bridal team, caring for her and simplifying every need. Big bridal parties are fun, but there’s something so wonderfully special and peaceful about just having a few close family members be alongside you for every bit of the day.

Mother in a beaded gown buttoning the back of the bride's dress, black and white
Hands fastening the row of buttons down the back of the bride's gown
Family member kneeling to buckle the bride's ankle-strap heel, photographed in black and white
Bride lifts her skirt as a family member kneels to fasten her jeweled shoe
Bride in her strapless gown glancing back toward the window with a soft smile
Profile of the bride smiling into window light while holding her gown at the waist
Black and white portrait of the bride carefully putting on her drop earrings
Bride laughing as she fastens an earring beside built-in shelves in her Richmond home

Bride wearing pearl drop earrings smiling toward the window with hands at her waist

Father-Daughter moment before the First Look between bride & groom.

Silhouetted bride at an upstairs window watching a vintage car parked outside
Father in a tuxedo embracing the bride in a tender moment before the first look
Father and bride share a long embrace, captured in black and white
Veil draped over the bride's face in profile, a pearl earring catching the light

Ready for the First Look!

Groom in his white dinner jacket waiting with hands clasped behind his back for the first look

Bride touches the groom's arm as he turns for their first look by the fireplace

Simple, stunning, special moments… these adjectives describe so much of the wedding day!

Bride and groom share a laugh during their first look at home before the wedding
Groom admires the bride's gown and long veil during their first look at home
Bride smiles holding her skirt as the groom looks on after their first look
Bride in a cathedral veil faces the groom in his white dinner jacket by the fireplace
Couple leans in for a kiss in a bright bedroom after their first look

Off to the Jefferson Hotel in downtown Richmond, VA, for bride & groom portraits! I can’t get enough of these in-between captured moments…

Bride steps out of a vintage Bentley onto a cobblestone drive in downtown Richmond

Bride gathers her flowing gown beside the open door of the classic grey car
Bride smooths her dress beside the vintage Bentley before portraits in Richmond

Someone get these two agents because they are natural MODELS, my goodness!

Bride and groom laugh together beside a vintage car at the Jefferson Hotel entrance

Couple poses with the classic Bentley by the fountain at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond

Wide view of the couple and vintage Bentley outside the Jefferson Hotel's covered entrance

Bride and groom kiss beside the chrome grille of the vintage Bentley
Black and white embrace as the groom wraps his arms around the bride outdoors
Groom kisses the bride near the fountain outside the Jefferson Hotel
Bride and groom gaze at each other smiling during courtyard portraits

Bride and groom embrace by the tiered fountain and vintage car at the Jefferson Hotel

Bride and groom touch foreheads beneath her sheer veil, both smiling softly
Black and white portrait under the veil as the bride touches the groom's face
Couple kisses beneath the draped veil beside a classic car at the hotel entrance

The bride's veil sweeps across a vintage Bentley as the couple embraces at the Jefferson Hotel

Oh Jefferson Hotel, you make it easy!!

Bride and groom stand with a classic car beneath the Jefferson Hotel's clock tower

Okay, Bently, you are my new favorite accessory for any wedding shoot!

Black and white portrait of the couple nose to nose beside the Bentley's grille

Tara, I cannot with you…

Bride shows off her gown's slit and jeweled heels in front of the vintage Bentley
Bride glances over her shoulder as her veil drapes across the classic grey car
Bride plays with her billowing veil beside the vintage car on the cobblestones
Bride laughs as her long veil floats over the car behind her

Bride reaches for her wind-caught veil, jeweled heels peeking beneath her slit gown

Groom in a white dinner jacket leans against the front fender of the vintage Bentley

Groom buttons his jacket while leaning on the classic car outside the Jefferson Hotel
Black and white portrait of the groom standing hands in pockets before the Bentley

View from inside the vintage car as the seated bride reaches toward the open window

Bride poses in the Bentley's open doorway, her gown parting to show jeweled heels

Black and white portrait of the bride seated in a vintage car outside the Jefferson Hotel
Bride beams from the back seat of a classic car, chin resting on her hand
Bride glances down with a laugh while seated in the vintage car doorway, in black and white
Smiling bride poses in the open door of a gray vintage car at the Jefferson Hotel
Bride laughs out the open window of a classic car in downtown Richmond

Bride seated in a vintage Bentley before the fountain at the Jefferson Hotel entrance

This Richmond wedding photographer could shoot here all day with girl! My goodness!

Wide view of the bride in the classic car beneath the hotel's glass entrance canopy

Bride extends one jeweled heel from the car, her gown train spilling onto the cobblestones
Detail of the bride's crossed legs and crystal-buckled heels in the car doorway
Bride looks over her shoulder from the vintage car, train draped across the pavement
Close portrait of the bride gazing through the classic car's open window
Bride peeks through the car window with one heel stepping toward the brick drive

Black and white scene of the bride framed in the car window at the Jefferson Hotel

Tara & Jordan were my first wedding of 2024 (first since having a baby in January!), and goodness did they start the year off right! Their portraits at the Jefferson alone brought all the giddy glee that I get to be a wedding photographer capturing amazing humans like these two! You won’t want to miss Part 2 of their wedding next week, featuring the Bently again but this time: in another dress and some night-time sexy glow!!

Planning: @allinthedetailseventsandmore
Videography: @knz_film
Hair: @emmestylist
Makeup: @kissylunamakeup
Florist: @vogueflowers
Venue: @thejeffersonhotel @historictuckahoe

Wedding Photographer Richmond | Richmond Wedding Photography

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