A Wine and Cream Wedding | Yorktown Riverwalk Restaurant | Belle Eve Photography | Virginia Wedding and Branding Photographer

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Jessica and John’s wedding at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church and Riverwalk Restaurant in Yorktown, Virginia was filled with this kind of love. They are such a sweet couple and it was truly an honor to be a part of their wedding day.

Their Story

Jessica and John met then soon had their first date at Busch Gardens in 2016. They walked around the park laughing and getting to know one another. Towards the end of the evening he surprised her with their first kiss as they waited in line for the Verbolton roller coaster. They made their relationship official on July 30, 2016 in Nags Head, North Carolina. After four years together, John proposed to Jessica at Oak Grove Lake Park on June 18, 2020, overlooking the lake.

The Wedding Day Begins

The day started at Blown Away Salon where Jessica, her mom, and her Matron of Honor were having their hair and makeup done. We enjoyed capturing candids of the amazing hair and makeup artists at work on these lovely ladies. In addition to capturing candids, we also worked on arranging and photographing the beautiful details such as their wedding rings, a medallion from her father, her grandmother’s ring, the invitation, an heirloom pearl necklace that belonged to Jessica’s grandmother and mother, and a tie clip that Jessica gave John.

After we finished capturing details and candids, we headed to St. Luke’s United Methodist Church to finalize preparations for the ceremony. After photographing Jessica’s wedding gown at the entrance to the church sanctuary, I spent time capturing moments between Jessica, her mom, and her Matron on Honor as my second shooter spent time with the groom, his Best Man, and his family to capture their interactions. Jessica looked absolutely gorgeous in her Sharona dress from Blush Bridal. One really special moment was recreating an image that was taken at her mother’s wedding: a mother and daughter reflection in a mirror.

The Ceremony

The ceremony took place in the beautiful sanctuary of the church. I loved the candelabra styled chandeliers and white pews in addition to the “warmth” of the room. The bride hand made the wine rose sprays that adorned the pews. The service began with both of the moms lighting taper candles to the left and right of the unity candle. It was a beautiful service that unified two families as Jessica and John were united in marriage.

The Reception

After the ceremony and family pictures were complete, we headed to the Riverwalk Restaurant in Yorktown, Virginia for the reception. As the newlyweds arrived in the limousine, we captured their arrival. The reception hall was adorned with lovely florals, elaborate place settings, a beautiful sweetheart table, and a huge sign that the bride made using string art which hung over the fireplace. One of the details that really touched my heart was the place setting that they arranged for me and my second shooter. The tapas styled meal by Riverwalk Restaurant was incredible. The reception wound down with speeches and some dancing. The culmination of the event was a bubble exit on the Riverwalk.

A Romantic Riverwalk Session

As the guests left, we walked with the bride and groom along the waterfront to do their romantic couple session. It was a cloudy, chilly day, but they were such troopers and were fantastic! John was so tender with Jessica and I was so impressed with how caring they were with one another.