This stylish wedding with the most perfect fall colors at Great Marsh Estate was photographed by Hannah Bjorndal on Saturday, October 27, 2018 in Bealeton, VA.

Wow, what a special day this was! Michael & Cassie were married last Saturday at Great Marsh Estate in Bealeton, VA. It was an incredibly joyful day of celebration, and my heart is SO full for so many reason. I am so excited to share!

Great Marsh Estate is one of my favorite new wedding venues. They recently renovated their barn (it’s GORGEOUS!) and now are booking larger weddings! In April, I hosted a workshop for photographers here and fell in love with everything about it. When Cassie chose it as her wedding venue, I was thrilled!

Oh, the ever-changing weather forecast. Cassie & I texted back and forth all week with an eye on the weather. As usual, the forecast initially showed rain – LOTS of rain! We were hoping and praying all week for clear skies, but as the day got closer, it looked like we may be moving this couple’s beautiful  ceremony indoors. However (and honestly, at this point, unsurprisingly), the skies DID clear up and we were able to have their ceremony (and tons of gorgeous portraits) outside! The best part: the sun came out for the first time all day the moment Cassie started walking down the aisle! It gave me chills!

Where to begin with my favorite parts of this day? Michael was teary-eyed in the hours before the ceremony, and their first look was SO sweet. I loved that the couple wrote letters to each other and read them before seeing one another. The fall colors that this couple chose were absolutely perfect, particularly Cassie’s flower crown! Haley, of Cedar & Lime Collective, did an amazing job with all the floral arrangement (she just so happens to be the groom’s sister-in-law!). Cassie looked absolutely perfect in her dress and I adored the wrap sleeves she added. During the reception, the donut display was a HUGE hit (it was busy all night) and Cassie surprised Michael with a song – she has an amazing voice! There was so much to love, and I was honored to be a part of this dear friend’s wedding!

So, if you didn’t already know, Cassie actually is a larger part of my life than just being an engaged client of mine! Since the beginning of 2018, Cassie has become a dear friend and significant part of my life! This spring, Cassie interned for HBP. As the internship started coming to a close, I realized that I wanted to keep her on my team long-term! She has been training to be an associate photographer since May, and she’ll be shooting weddings of her own starting in 2019! While I’ve made mention of training a new photographer for my team, this is our FIRST official public announcement that she is joining the team, so those of you reading are the FIRST to know the big news! Knowing that I’d be a part of her wedding day has been SO exciting! When I say I have been looking forward to this wedding since before they got engaged, I’m not kidding!

Ok, back to photos! Enjoy my favorite snaps from the day!

Venue: Great Marsh Estate

Photographer: Hannah Bjorndal

Catering: Helga’s Catering

Wedding Planning: Angelica & Co.

Flowers: Cedar & Lime Co.

Hair: Sasha Styles

Makeup: Beauty for Ashes

Donuts: Duck Donuts

Invitations: Basic Invite

Wedding Dress & Bridesmaid Dresses: BHLDN

DJ: A to Z Music Factory