This warm, inviting autumn wedding on a private estate in Charlottesville, VA was photographed by Hannah Bjorndal on Saturday, October 24, 2020. Hannah is a Charlottesville wedding photographer available for Virginia weddings, DC weddings, Maryland weddings and beyond! She has photographed weddings around the world. Click here to get in touch to chat about your own wedding!

Wow, what a day! It was truly an honor to be Lauren and Nate’s wedding photographer last Saturday! Lauren and I have known one another since 2014 and she saw my business grow from the start. Nate and I participated in the same post-graduate leadership program (but at different locations!) and I also have memories of meeting him way back when I moved to Washington, DC in 2013. So I have history with these two, and I love that. Seeing their relationship bloom and being invited in to their special day was so exciting for me!

One of my favorite things to see in 2020, the year of the pandemic, is that a lot of couples are over waiting. They don’t want to spend a year (or more) planning a wedding, and many of them are ready to jump in and just get married! Some have super-small elopements or micro weddings, some planning weddings smaller than they would have otherwise, and some are even opting for the courthouse ceremony with a larger party to follow in a year or two. Lauren and Nate did not want to wait, so they didn’t! They spent about 3 months planning for their day, and it was absolutely perfect!

At the end of October in Virginia, you never really know what you’re going to get for weather. The day after this wedding, it was cold, rainy and pretty much miserable outside. But on their wedding day, Lauren and Nate had absolutely perfect weather. The temperature hovered right around 70 degrees for most of the day, with peeks of sunshine every now and then. There was a gentle breeze, and it was beyond lovely – absolutely perfect for their outdoor ceremony!

A few other favorite parts of the day included Lauren’s beautiful wedding gown with lace details, Nate’s feather bowtie and Lauren’s corresponding matching bracelet (the perfect little pop that blended their ensemble in the most lovely way!) and the commitment of the guests to dancing (which was so much fun!). On a personal note, I had the pleasure of working alongside three other dear friends in the wedding industry, which was delightful! It was the most lovely and joyful day, and I’m so grateful to have been a part of it!

Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Herndon!

 

VENDORS

Venue: Private Estate in Ruckersville, VA

Photographer: Hannah Bjorndal

Planning: Rosemary Spooner Events

Wedding Cake: Virginia Cake Co.

Flowers: Ash to Oak (Lauren’s bouquet & Nate’s boutonniere)

Catering: Jack’s Shop Kitchen