Shenandoah Microwedding

November 1, 2024

When Maressa and Daniel contacted me about photographing their Shenandoah Microwedding I was thrilled. Not only did they seem like the sweetest couple, but the Shenandoah Valley is one of my favorite places. On that call, I also learned a fun fact about Maressa. She had never in her life been to a wedding. To me, that meant their wedding day was going to feel even more fun! I was so excited for them.

Planning a Microwedding

Planning a wedding doesn’t have to be stressful. You just need to figure out the things that are most important to you as a couple, and try to incorporate them into your day. Maressa and Daniel live in the Shenandoah Valley, and wanted to make sure it was easy for their closest friends and family to make it to their celebration. They also wanted the beauty of the outdoors to be the backdrop of their day. Natural Chimneys combined both of these priorities, and was the perfect location for their Shenandoah microwedding.

The couple decided to get ready separately at their friends homes, and then planned to meet up for a first look and private vows before their ceremony. Maressa was beaming all morning, and could not contain her excitement for the day.

A bride sitting at a table with her bridesmaids. The woman are doing their hair and makeup, and the bride is holding a tiara with a giddy grin on her face. She looks so excited
A bride putting on a long pair of satin glove. The photo is in black and whit, and she is wearing a tiara and a veil, and satin gloves

First Look and Private Vows

Maressa and Daniel had their first look nearby the ceremony site in an open field. It was important to them to exchange vows they had written for one another with just the two of them. Tears were shed (I definitely cried), and they had the sweetest moment together just taking in the excitement of the day. They were going to get married!!!

A bride stands behind her groom waiting to see him for the first time. She is tapping him on the shoulder, telling hime to turn around. She is wearing a wedding dress with a tiara and long satin gloves. He is wearing a wool suit and a bowtie. They are standing in the middle of a field with a fence behind it
A bride looks emotional after seeing her groom for the first time during their first look. She looks as though she is crying, and she has her arms wrapped around the groom . She is wearing a tiara and long white satin gloves
A bride and groom walking arm in arm. The bride is holding up her dress while she walks adding drama. They are in the grass. She is wearing a tiara and veil, and he is wearing a wool suit with a bowtie

Intimate Ceremony at Natural Chimneys Park

The couple said “I do” surrounded by their closest friends and family in this cozy timber structure at the park. The groom’s sister, who was also the bride’s former roommate in college (and helped bring these two together) was the officiant. She had so many sweet things to say about the couple, and made the ceremony so special.

A black and white photo of a bride, groom, and their officiant during the ceremony on their wedding day. The bride and groom are looking at one another with smiles. The bride is holding her bouquet

Some fun details that made their day unique

-Daniel was a professional ballet dancer, so not only did he choreograph and epic first dance, but he also performed some of his best ballet moves for the guests.

-Maressa found someone to make the exact same kind of tamales as her family, so that everyone could enjoy tamales for dinner (What a treat!)

-They had a giant bubble making station during the reception, which the kids loved.

-We met up at sunrise the following morning to take some portraits of the two of them at a special place in their town

A couple practicing their first dance on their wedding day. The photos is in black and white, and the groom is dipping the bride, and she has her hand in the air
A bride and groom embracing. The groom is kissing the bride's cheek, and she is looking at the camera and smiling. She is wearing a tiara
A groom lifts up his bride and spins her around. The photo is in black and white. the bride is smiling, and snuggling her face against the grooms

Some final thoughts on this Shenandoah Microwedding

Maressa and Daniel planned their perfect wedding day, surrounded by those that are most important to them. It was fun and joyful, and I guarantee that even though it was the first wedding Maressa had ever been to, it will always be her favorite.

Check out my blog on How to Have the Perfect Shenandoah National Park Elopement

A bride looking at herself in a mirror after her makeup is done. A bridesmaid is also in the photo smiling with excitement with how beautiful the bride looks
All of the bridesmaids are sitting at the dining room table doing their hair and makeup. Their is a dog laying on the floor in the forefront of the photo. The photo is black and white
Two bridesmaids in peach robes are smiling while they pour everyone shots
A bridesmaid applauding at how beautiful the bride looks. The photo is in black and white
A bride walks towards her groom during their first look. He is turned around the opposite so he cannot see her as she approches
A bride stands behind her groom waiting to see him for the first time. She is tapping him on the shoulder, telling hime to turn around. She is wearing a wedding dress with a tiara and long satin gloves. He is wearing a wool suit and a bowtie. They are standing in the middle of a field with a fence behind it
A bride and groom embracing during their first look. The bride is wearing a wedding dress with a tiara and long satin gloves. He is wearing a wool suit and a bowtie. They are standing in the middle of a field with a fence behind it
A bride looks emotional after seeing her groom for the first time during their first look. She looks as though she is crying, and she has her arms wrapped around the groom . She is wearing a tiara and long white satin gloves
A bride and groom walking arm in arm. The bride is holding up her dress while she walks adding drama. They are in the grass. She is wearing a tiara and veil, and he is wearing a wool suit with a bowtie
The father of the bride walking the bride to her groom. The mother of the bride is also acting as the flower girl, and tossing petals in front of the bride
A bride, groom, and officiant during an intimate Shenandoah wedding at Natural Chimneys Park
A bride and groom recessing after the ceremony of their Shenandoah microwedding. Someone is blowing giant bubbles while they walk, and the bride is trying to pop one of them
A group of bridesmaids having a group hug moment with the bride. They are all wearing pink and peach tones
A groom kissing his bride on her forehead in front of a Natural Chimney formation.
A close up of a bride and groom holding hands. The photo is cropped tightly. Both have unique tattos on their arms
A bride and groom kissing. The bride has her hand on the grooms face in a romantic, loving way. The photo is backlit by the sun
A couple practicing their first dance on their wedding day. The groom is looking at his bride lovingly.
The ring bear admiring some giant bubbles
The ring bear admiring some giant bubbles
The bride is walking through the photo admiring her friends making giant bubbles
A married couple performing their first dance on a timber stage at Natural Chimneys Park
A married couple performing their first dance on a timber stage at Natural Chimneys Park. The groom is lifting his bride high into the air
A married couple performing their first dance on a timber stage at Natural Chimneys Park. The groom is dipping the bride. The bride looks so elegant
A couple performing their first dance in front of their guests at their Shenandoah microwedding. The couple is doing a dip on stage, and their guests are applauding.
A groom, who was a professional ballet dancer performs for his guests at his microwedding. He is mid leap in this photo
The bride is tossing the bouquet for the guest at her miscrowedding. She is up on a stage, tossing to the ladies below
A bride and groom cutting their cake. The cake has a vintage feel, and is three layers with cherries. The bride is wearing a tiara, and the groom has on a vest and a bowtie
A bride and groom kissing after feeding each other cake. The bride has some icing on her face, and the groom is kissing it off. The bride is laughing
A bride gently leans on the chest of her groom. The groom is looking down at her, and they both have soft smiles. The sun is getting ready to rise
A bride gently leans on the chest of her groom while holding up pieces of her dress. The groom is kissing her on the cheek, and she has a soft smiles. The sun is getting ready to rise
A couple stands in a cave at Natural Chimneys Park. They are a bride and groom, and they just got married. She is wearing a tiara and the groom has on a bowtie and a wool suit. They are standing facing each other, and the groom is kissing the forehead of the bride.
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