First look in a cave, a gorgeous garden ceremony, and a dance floor that was rocking– Hannah and Dan’s wedding was full of candid, authentic moments and made me so proud to be one of the best DC wedding photographers. Stay tuned to see their incredible centerpieces that were 3d printed by the groom and custom ceramic vases crafted by the mother of the bride!
Why Rhinehart Photography?
Hannah shares, “We chose Rhinehart Photography because we felt the range and depth of emotions in their portfolio captured the many candid and special moments that happen during the wedding day. We also loved the creativity they bring and wanted our day brought to life in this way.”
She continues, “On the wedding day, Lisa’s associate photographer, Jim made us feel so comfortable and at ease. We loved every photo in our sneak peek and are excited to see the rest.”
Jim is a photography friend that I met at a photography conference over a decade ago. We have photographed dozens of weddings together. He has a similar style and approach, being caring and client-focused, a driven, highly-skilled photojournalist with hundreds of weddings under his belt. He and I spent years neck and neck competing for #1 wedding photographer in Pennsylvania! He’s even held my rope as I dangled 20 feet in the air rock climbing! I trust this dude!
Why St Francis Hall?
Nestled in the heart of Washington DC, you wouldn’t expect all this greenery and long outdoor corridors, let alone a cave– I mean I was surprised to have parking, hehe!
Hannah recalls, “We visited the Franciscan Monastery years ago to tour their gardens and thought they were so beautiful. When we got engaged and realized the Monastery also had a wedding venue, St. Francis Hall, we knew we wanted to get married there.”
She continues, “We love how there is a beautiful, big indoor space for the reception and dancing where everyone can be together, and that we could do photos throughout the Upper and Lower Gardens and the ceremony on the lawn.”
First Look: In a Cave!!
Dan smiles, “When we finally came together for the first look, my first thought was how beautiful Hannah looked and how excited I was to spend the rest of our lives together!”
He adds, “Jim suggested the grotto for our first look, and it felt like we had stepped away from the city and were in our own special world. Taking photos near the Spanish arches transported us to Europe, and it was so fun to get creative in different parts of the gardens.”
Hannah & Dan’s first look in the cave was so intimate and dramatic— great call Jim 😉
Ceremony in the Garden
Dan shares, “We went on our first date to a play in downtown Philadelphia. The date went so well we got a drink afterward and then walked around the city, ending up at the top of the Loews Hotel looking at the Philly skyline. We fell in love over the course of many fun dates throughout the city, including making homemade pasta. But a pivotal moment was when Hannah got back from an international trip and I had made homemade bread for her.”
He continues, “I love Hannah’s perseverance, dedication to her values, and unwavering loyalty to her loved ones.”
Hannah smiles, “I love Dan’s creativity and positive energy, as well as his sense of adventure.”
She adds, “On the wedding day, we both experienced a huge range of emotions. Walking down the aisle, I got nervous for the first time and felt my heart begin to beat rapidly. When it came time to give our vows, I had to take a moment to compose myself before speaking.”
Hannah recalls, “Our vows were special because we had not shared them with each other in advance but they still had similar themes, including that we both promised to be each other’s adventure buddies.
Dan continues, “We also had to make a nod to our love of science fiction and Hannah’s obsession with Star Wars, so after the ceremony, we walked down the aisle to the Star Wars soundtrack.”
🎶I get by with a little help from my friends
Hannah says, “Dan started the day with a bike ride through DC with his friends, while I took some time by myself to reflect.”
She smiles, “Our friends are amazing – so supportive and high energy throughout. My bridesmaids kept the energy high as we got ready together and ate bagels while watching the Olympics. A highlight was when my bridesmaid, Olga, surprised everyone with McDonald’s fries, nuggets, and iced coffee to keep energy up before the ceremony.”
I love all candid moments heartwarming ones silly ones they all come together and make your day unique!
Best DC Wedding Photographers: St Francis Hall
Hannah says, “It is a naturally beautiful space, which meant we could focus on the little details with decor: Hannah’s mom made custom ceramic vases for each table’s centerpiece and Dan 3D printed our table numbers, menu holders with our initials, and succulent vases that we gave to our guests as favors.”
For the first time as Mr & Mrs
I love the joy and excitement from Hannah and Dan as they are announced as Mr & Mrs for the first time! You can just see the love in their eyes for one another during their first dance 🙂
Dan smiles, “Our family and wedding party entered the wedding to ‘Hot To Go’ – which was such a fun entry song – and we entered to the classic ‘Call Me Maybe’.”
Wedding traditions
Hannah shares, “We knew our first dance would be to Your Song by Elton John long before we knew we would be getting married.”
She adds, “One of the most emotional times was when Dan and his mom danced together – she was crying and everyone else got happily emotional.”
Dan adds, “Hannah’s dad’s toast perfectly captured us, including the fact that many guests were happy to finally have a wedding in the city where they lived, DC.”
Let’s open the dance floor
Hannah smiles, “One priority for us was dancing the night away, and the dance floor was packed the entire night. Getting to dance with our loved ones from every part of our lives was so special. We closed out the evening with a bubble send-off to Love on Top by Beyoncé and it was amazing to walk through a tunnel of all the special people in our lives.”
At the end of the Night
Hannah shares, “Jim pulled us away for a few minutes to take photos at sunset, on the beautiful wraparound porch around the venue. We had no idea how the photos would turn out and were blown away when we saw the sneak peek. They perfectly captured the romantic setting!”
She adds, “The rest of the night passed in a blur of fun, friends, and dancing. As we were leaving, Dan and I felt like we would redo the day over and over again.”
Congratulations Hannah & Dan! Photographing your wedding made Jim and I so proud to be two of the best DC wedding photographers!
Vendors:
- Venue: St. Francis Hall
- Planner: Events by Faten
- DJ: Mike Blaufeld
- Catering: Putting on the Ritz
- Hair & Makeup: Fleur Beauty Studio
- Floral: Nana Floral
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