Chesapeake Bay Wedding | Bay Bridge | Maryland

Nicki and Jordan’s Chesapeake Bay Wedding took place just across the Bay Bridge, at the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club! I got to second shoot this wedding for Elizabeth M. Photography and it was so much fun!! (For all of y’all in Florida, she’s now based down there so you should check her out if you get the chance!)

Honestly, this couple has such a sweet story!! Would you believe they are actually middle school sweethearts!?! They’ve been best friends since middle school, and then dated throughout high school and college. When the time came, Jordan proposed and Nicki said yes!! It’s not often that you hear stories like this. It made photographing their wedding day extra special.

Nicki and Jordan were SO chill on their wedding day, which was great BECAUSE they definitely had some not-so-chill things happen. If you’re from the DC area, you know that the Bay Bridge can get backed up sometimes. Well, that weekend, there was construction on the bridge and TRAFFIC WAS BACKED UP FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR AND A HALF!!!!!!!

THANKFULLY, all their family and bridal party were staying in the same hotel as Nicki and Jordan. Doing so meant that they could start their day on time and not have their schedule impacted. They were also able to give the guests a heads up on the traffic, so everyone was able to make it on time, praise the Lord!

I think my absolute favorite moment of their day was their first look!! I had just finished some groom portraits with Jordan, and had him turn around so he couldn’t see Nicki as she walked up. As soon as she tapped him on the shoulder, he turned around and was just…stunned. They both teared up, but followed it with sweet kisses and hugs.

We did their bride and groom portraits after that. I worried that the afternoon light would be too harsh, but praise the Lord, the light was great! Their bride and groom portraits are actually some of my ALL TIME FAVES!

Now, as a second shooter, I start the day photographing the groom with his groomsmen while they get ready. (The lead photographer hangs out with the bride and bridesmaids…so if you’re wondering where are all the bridal photos, haha, it was my turn to get the groom photos instead)! Anyway, the morning of this Chesapeake Bay wedding was a little different. I met up with Jordan and a handful of his groomsmen for some getting ready shots, but we didn’t do their groomsmen photos for later in the afternoon

Side note: when I first started second shooting, being with the guys actually made me nervous because I didn’t know what to expect. However, now I LOVE photographing the guys because I NEVER KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT!!! Haha, I could write a book with the amount of goofiness that goes on during the groomsman photos.

SPEAKING OF WHICH, I HAVE A COOL STORY!!

Ok, so while I did the groomsmen photos, I had the idea to do a cool suspenders shot! Well, one guy had forgotten his suspenders! Like, completely left them at home. (Which was okay, because they were going to wear suit coats during the ceremony.)

As I was trying to think of how much work it would be to Photoshop suspenders on him, a couple of the other guys figured out a way to make it work! When you see the suspenders photo, the guy to the RIGHT of the groom forgot his suspenders. I realized that if I hid the right side of his body behind the groom, that would solve one side. Then, the groomsmen BEHIND him (the one with the cool beard), took one of HIS suspenders, threw it over his friends shoulder, clipped it to his friends belt, and then pulled it down tight enough behind his friend AND IT WORKD!!!!!

NO PHOTOSHOP whatsoever!! I was so excited that it worked!!! AND, we captured the cool suspenders shot.

The rest of Nicki and Jordan’s day went super smoothly. Everyone headed over to the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club, where we photographed the bridal party first thing. Shortly after, guests began to arrive and everyone took their seat!

Their ceremony was breathtaking! It took place on the edge of the Chesapeake Bay, during golden hour (the hour before sunset), with the Chesapeake Bay Bridge in the background!! So picturesque!!

We DID have a moment at the beginning of the ceremony that I’m sure they’ll remember forever! Most brides probably would’ve freaked out – but again, both Jordan and Nicki were SUPER CHILL, so it was okay. As Nicki walked down the aisle with her dad, the train of her (gorgeous and very long) veil caught on one of the brick steps! She turned her head to try to tug it off the steps, but her veil popped right off of her instead!! Oh, I felt so bad for her, but she looked at her dad and they just kept going, because it was okay. She came to get married to her best friend, Jordan, veil or no veil! And, honestly, she still looked perfect, and I’m sure Jordan thought so too!

After the ceremony was a fun cocktail hour with BEAUTIFUL light!! Then everyone headed to the reception, which was full of delicious food, beautiful toasts, and lots of smiles and laughter shared amongst many friends. It was a sweet night!

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