So excited to share with you Fatema & Joe’s relaxed yet classically elegant wedding! I just love these two, and their day was just perfect. Fatema and Joe have an ease about them that makes you feel like you’re friends the first time you meet. This must be one of the reasons why they had so many close friends and family there to celebrate on their special day last October.
There was attention to detail where it mattered but yet their wedding was simple and relaxed in all the right ways. They were meticulous in their planning of certain aspects and it showed: there were great cupcakes, a carefully curated playlist, a custom designed engagement ring, gorgeous dress and shoes!
There were also some awesome DIY projects that added a personal touch. From Fatema: “Who doesn’t like a good DIY project?! From the save the date, invitation, to the handwritten seating chart… The handwritten seating chart was my favorite, it took me several hours, a few days to put it together, and I’m sure inhaling that much sharpie funk was not good for me, but it was so worth it lol!”
Even though they made sure all the details were on point, they kept it relaxed and fun by keeping the guest list and wedding party intimate, and the focus on family, friends and love. And, oh and by the way, they chose a stunning venue: Gramercy Mansion is one of my favorites!
Can we please talk about how STUNNING Fatema’s rose gold and blush diamond ring is?! From Fatema: “Fun fact, Joe secretly created a Pintrest account and stalked my page for ideas on engagement rings and took some of those ideas to the jeweler and custom designed my ring.” How sweet and awesome is that?! You did an awesome job, Joe!
I also loved the metallic Betsy Johnson shoes Fatema chose!
Fatema was such a stunning bride!! I just love those anxious moments leading up to the ceremony where everyone is nervous but so excited and joyful!
The cocktail hour was held outside at the Carriage House and it was a gorgeous fall evening.
You GUYS. These cupcakes were AH- mazing. Seriously.
I can’t think of a much more beautiful setting to have a wedding ceremony than a lush garden at golden hour with the sun peeking through the trees and surrounded by blooms.
The ceremony was even more special because it was officiated by Joe’s dad. From Fatema: “We wanted to have Joe’s father officiate the wedding. He’s done it for many of his children, and some cousins, and we wanted this to be a way he could share this day with us on such a personal level.” It was beautiful and many happy tears fell <3
This wedding party had my cracking up the whole time. I love it when the wedding party does their most important job: to make sure the bride and groom are laughing and relaxed!
Another fun thing about this wedding was the number of ADORABLE kids in attendance! No wonder Fatema and Joe are already expecting their own- how could they not want kids when they are surrounded by this much cuteness!
Fatema and Joe had the BEST light for portraits, hands down. How gorgeous and glowy is this golden hour?!
Now let’s talk about speeches. They are another of my absolute favorite things to photograph because of the range of emotions you can see in just a few minutes. Someone who knows you inside and out can make you laugh till you cry and also cry happy tears all in the course of five minutes… and that kind of friendship is just so awesome.
How romantic is their first dance? Seriously so beautiful.
From Fatema: “Joe and I are lovers of all kinds of music, and we actually met through a mutual friend through the DC music scene. So selecting the music together was so important to us, and SO time consuming lol! Otis Redding’s “Thats How Strong My Love Is” was our first dance. We went through a number of potential options…. we are sooo not ones to be the center of attention, so we were trying to find a song that would be long enough to dance through, but short enough as well haha. My first choice was The Talking Heads “This Must Be The Place” and then realized is almost 5 minutes long!”
As a person who mistakenly chose a 5 minute song for my own first dance, I get the importance of brevity if you aren’t a dancer. But I am here to say that these two were so in the moment with each other that the song could have been 30 minutes long and I don’t think they would have minded <3
One of the most adorable parts of Fatema and Joe’s day was all of the kids and babies having the ultimate dance party at the reception! Like I said, it is seriously no wonder Joe and Fatema are expecting because the baby fever in that room must have been at an all time high with all the cuties and their dance moves!
Cousins haha!! This was the best we could do before one or more of them decided they were over it hehe!!
Babies and more babies!!!
….And a few adults were there too lol!
We ended the night with a few quick shots outside in the crisp fall air. Another favorite part of a wedding for me is the end of the night when things are winding down at a wedding. Not because my job is done for the day, but because I love seeing couples in those imperfect moments- usually it looks something like this: someone spilled something on the dress, the groom has probably lost his jacket, often the bride has taken off her shoes, and everyone is usually a little tipsy and exhausted, but SO SO happy. (In Fatema and Joe’s case her hair and dress were somehow still absolutely perfect and I think she may have even managed to keep her shoes on the whole night- you go girl!)
But anyway, this last moment at a wedding where everything is relaxed and not-quite-perfect, sort of reminds me of what life is like after the wedding, during the marriage part (and also the parenting part, for the couples like this one that are on that journey). Married life and parenthood is sort of like the end of the night at a wedding, it isn’t always perfect, it’s a little messy and everyone is usually exhausted, but but its so worth it and full of love.
I know these two have a lifetime of love and laughter ahead of them and I can’t wait to see them take on the next chapter with their mini-Feinour, due to join the party in this summer!
Photography // K. Rainier Photography
Second Photographer // A. Stice Photography
Hair & Makeup // Landre from Behind the Veil
Dress // The Evie by Elizabeth Fillmore from Hannelore’s Bridal Boutique
Shoes // Betsy Johnson from Modcloth
Rings: Custom Designed at Market Street Diamonds
Earrings // Francesca’s
Suit // Bonobos
DJ // C&J Entertainment
Catering // Saschas
Venue // The Gramercy Mansion, Carriage House
Cupcakes // Alexandria Cupcake
Flowers // Scentsational Florals
Photo Booth // The Prop Stop Booth
Recessional // The Cure “Just Like Heaven”
First Dance // Otis Redding “Thats How Strong My Love Is”