So I wanted to give a quick teaser of one of my favorites from the day to this beautiful couple! Matt and Louellen are just the sweetest people EVER. They just have that natural ability to make everyone feel like a best friend! What an amazing trait to have, right! And their wedding was SO PERFECT! It was a 10 am wedding ceremony which we have only had a hand full of times in our Tiptoe careers! They married at the Lowe farm in Shepherdstown, which was absolutely amazing and picturesque! The weather was great, it couldn't have been a more amazing day! I am so happy they chose us to capture their day! They make a perfect Tiptoe couple! I hope you all love this shot! Enjoy!
Weddings
Tiptoe Teaser ~ An {Engagement} Session
I am so excited to share this session with you all. This couple booked their 2016 wedding with us just a couple of months ago, and thank goodness they did! They are such a great example of a Tiptoe couple! They are so in love, so happy, and willing to go the extra step to make some great images! All that we could ask for!
So for their engagement session, they took me back to a place I haven't been in years! Like not since I was roaming the streets of Shepherdstown as a Jr. High Schooler! Walking into town after school was the cool thing to do, so of course me and my group of girlfriends would do it. We would go to Tony's pizza have a snack and then roam to wherever our hearts desired. Sometimes this would be Sky's the Limit, the Town Run, the river access behind Shepherd College, and sometimes it would be the Rumsey Monument, which is where we went for this session! And with the exception of a couple of picnic tables, it was just the same as all those years ago. (On a side note, what were our parents thinking, letting 12-14 year olds roam the town for a couple of hours after school? Anyway...) We picked the perfect time of evening because towards the end of our session the sun was setting behind those trees and it was magical!! We walked around for over an hour using all the little spots the area offered. They had such great ideas for pictures too, including the "Rocky" picture I included! I love, love, love that they would do everything I asked and they would do it with a twist to showcase their personalities! These guys were so much fun and I can't even wait to see how much fun their wedding is going to be! Enjoy!!
Meet the DeHavens!
As most of you may already know, my husband is a career firefighter with Winchester Fire & Rescue, and I am super excited to introduce you to the "newest wife" of the WFRD family! Mrs. Brandy DeHaven!
It was a beautiful day for a beautiful bride, and Drew made sure that the day was perfect for his soon to be wife. From sending her love letters throughout the day accompanied by pictures, to making sure no one would see her if she stumbled getting off of the firetruck, which she DID NOT...thank goodness. But needless to say...he thought of it all.
The only thing that could have made the day more perfect was if their "kids" (cats) could have been there to share the day with them.
Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. DeHaven! I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of this memorable day, and I hope that you will allow Tiptoe to continue to share all of the memorable moments that your life together has... <Shameless plug, I know>
Tommie & Mark {A Fairytale Wedding}
We have shot many weddings over the years, so we have seen it all. But when I say they thought about everything, really...they thought about EVERYTHING. It was such an amazing day that I'm sure their guest will not forget. Everything was absolutely STUNNING! Tommie and Mark are such a sweet couple, and we are so thankful to have been able to capture their perfect day! They got married at The Bowling Green Country Club in Front Royal, VA. Enjoy a couple teasers from their special day.
Justine & Danny {Love}
What a beautiful wedding this was. Justine looked absolutely flawless in her dress and those bright red lips. Danny could not keep his eyes off her and I don't believe he EVER stopped smiling. I mean do you blame him...just look at her, GORGEOUS!! They got married at the George Washington Hotel in Winchester, VA. Here are a few teasers from their special day. Enjoy!
A First Look- Ashley & Cody
We have shot A LOT of weddings over the past 7 years and about a handful of those have actually been "first looks". We have never pushed a first look and very rarely even discuss it at our consults other than asking, "Will you guys be seeing each other before the ceremony?" and when we get a "no" we leave it at that. I think everyone is so caught up in keeping everything "traditional" that they are missing out on something AMAZING! (Just my opinion)
I get it, I was once there. I remember when I was planning my wedding, it wasn't even a question I wanted the "traditional way". I wanted Codie to see me for the first time walking down the aisle. I wanted the photographer to capture his "REACTION" and of course I got the shot I wanted....him crying, (because he swore he wouldn't) I mean lets be honest ladies, isn't that the shot we all want? Whether you're in a church (like myself) or wherever and those doors open or you walk around the corner and your eyes meet for the first time. It's an indescribable moment! I still remember like it was yesterday. It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about that moment. I was nervous, scared, excited...so full of emotions, but the music came on, the doors opened and there he was...and in that moment I didn't notice the 200+ people standing there..... I just saw him!
So why do a first look you ask? Well here are a couple reasons...
Experience the moment in private
Doing a first look will allow you to embrace the moment, alone. The bride can walk up behind him, tap his shoulder and as he turns around and sees his gorgeous bride for the first time...He can kiss her, hold her, cry with her, talk with her (which you wouldn't be able to do until after the ceremony) and just share this moment together without any distractions or holding any emotions back. PLUS, your hair and make up are fresh and photo ready!
Looking back now, I wish I had that time to talk with Codie and tell him how handsome he looked and how excited I was.
Get rid of any nerves
Even us brides are so full of emotions, wondering if he's going to get cold feet and seeing each other beforehand can be a huge comfort for us before the big walk down the aisle.
More time for photos
You aren't trying to squeeze in all the photos after the ceremony. It sounds like plenty of time during the cocktail hour to rally up the family and bridal party for group photos, but it's harder than you think. It leaves you with barely any time for photos of just the two of you. (Just to be clear, it is all doable, as we have been doing it for years, but not feeling rushed is wonderful)
Alone time
Doing a first look allows you to be alone, because trust me you won't get any alone time the rest of the day. You will get 30-40% more photos of just the two of you than you would if you didn't do a first look. We can get those sweet intimate photos because your emotions are fresh and you can't keep your hands off each other. Whereas sometimes, it's harder to get back to that "lovey dovey" stage after waiting for so long to get through the family and bridal party photos. You can just enjoy each other without feeling rushed to get to the reception.
Whether you choose to do a first look or not, the day is still just as magical, but we have seen the benefits to doing a first look so we wanted to share this info with our couples.
Enjoy these images of Ashley and Cody's first look!
Tiptoe {weddings}
Our wedding season is in full effect, and we have been so, so blessed to have been chosen to shoot Dr. and the new Mrs. Phillips' wedding at the George Washington Hotel a couple weeks ago. I mean the stars must have aligned for us this day because it was beautiful outside and Katelyn chose Tiptoe colors, so best believe we will be using this group for some advertising in the near future (and not to mention everyone was absolutely STUNNING!) Here are a couple Tiptoe Teasers for the newlyweds! Enjoy! 
A day late but worth waiting for…
I personally have been sooooo excited about this day for 10+ years! My brother and sister in law reunited and got remarried this past Friday! Michelle has been in my life since I was little. The first time BA (my brother) brought her home, I remember my mom looking out the window when they were pulling in the driveway and Michelle was sitting in the middle of the Jeep and BA had his arm around her. I felt the excitement that my mom was feeling, and as a kid, I just remember thinking they were the perfect couple! That day quickly became engraved into my memory, and her riding in the front seat so close to him quickly became a country song in my head. Michelle was like a big sister to me, during my early teenage years, she used to be allowed to take my moms car and drive me around. I remember feeling so COOL! They married the first time when I was 12 years old, I was in the wedding, big braces and all (I still have the pictures to prove it, ahhh)! They were married several years before they had my niece, the little love of my life, Mikayla! Boy oh boy, I did (and do) love that kid! At 18, I ended up living with the 3 of them. Looking back at that time in my life, I realize more and more everyday what a special person it took to have a new baby AND take in your husband's kid sister. They were just starting their family and I was there, probably driving them nuts. It was a tough time in my life, but never did I ever feel unwanted or like a nuisance! Knowing now what it is like having a new baby, I am confident that I would NOT be able to take in a 18 year old permanent house guest. But Michelle did, no questions asked! I love her more for that now, than ever! But this was also the time when their relationship had taken a downward turn and they ended up divorcing. I remember when it was happening, and my mom and I saying that one day they will get back together. We had confidence! They belonged together and seriously NO one was ever going to take the place of her as my sister! Michelle had mentioned at their wedding how mom had never taken down her high school portraits, they were hanging on the wall right next to my brothers and mine, TEN YEARS after the divorce. She belonged there!
So can anyone imagine my excitement when 2 + years ago BA started going to church with Michelle? This was the path they needed to reconcile. I am sure it hasn't been an easy path for them, but it has been a God driven one! They have stayed true to themselves and God, equipped to work out any of those past demons! Their testimony is a great one! Our family is complete again, Michelle is back! So needless to say that being apart 10+ years then finding their way back to one another, has quickly become another country song in my head! LOL! Cheers to Ba and Michelle!!!
Here are some quick teasers from the wedding!
