There’s something special about photographing a wedding to which we have a special connection. We feel even more seamlessly integrated into the celebration, even more a part of every moment. And that often brings out our best as DC wedding photographers. Sometimes that connection comes because we know the couple from before. Other times, it’s because we’ve worked at their venues a lot. In Melissa and Alex’s case, we felt truly a part of their wedding for both reasons! We photographed the wedding of one of Melissa’s bridesmaids last year. So the couple already were like old friends to us coming in. And their venues are two of our favorite spots in Washington. So every bit of their marriage celebration felt comfortable and familiar. And we’d like to think that the photos we took of their St Regis Washington DC wedding reflect that!
St Joseph’s on Capitol Hill and the St Regis: Two Awesome DC Wedding Venues
Returning to a Washington DC wedding venue isn’t just great because of the familiarity. It’s also cool to see how the location transforms itself to fit each couple’s specific vision. And more importantly, we can use those differences to highlight what makes each wedding really unique.
The last time we photographed a wedding at St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, for example, it was during the pandemic. As a result, that ceremony was very small. There were only a handful of guests, and the bride’s father (a pastor) officiated. All of our photos were intimate and close.
By contrast, Melissa and Alex’s wedding ceremony included a full Catholic mass and enough guests to really make use of St Joseph’s large interior space. And naturally, our photos highlighted those elements. (As an aside, if you are planning a Catholic wedding anywhere in DC, think of securing this venue. The lighting inside this Capitol Hill institution is very good for a church, and the church officials are very accommodating when it comes to photography!)
Our previous visits to the St Regis DC – one of the premier luxury wedding venues in the Nation’s Capital – couldn’t have been more different from one another. In the first, the couple made use of the hotel for their entire event. The bride got ready in the bridal suite. The couple exchanged their vows in the very unique Astor Terrace. And they celebrated with their guests in the swanky Astor Ballroom. The next time we were at the St Regis DC, the bride only used one of the rooms to get ready.
Melissa and Alex’s celebrations split the difference. The bride got ready in the luxurious bridal suite, but exchanged vows with her groom elsewhere. The entire wedding then reconvened at the St Regis DC for the reception.
Photos of Bride and Groom Getting Ready for St Regis Washington DC Wedding
As we just mentioned, Melissa and her bridesmaids got ready for the wedding ceremony at the St Regis Washington DC. Though the people in her wedding party consisted of her childhood friend, her future sister-in-law and some of her closest people from college one would have thought that this group had always known each other. And more importantly had always been in Melissa’s life!
Alex opted for a simpler location to prepare for the wedding ceremony. As luck would have it, one of his groomsmen lived just around the corner from St Joseph’s on Capitol Hill. So the entire getting-ready process felt quite appropriately like a bunch of good friends hanging out on a weekend afternoon. The group sat in the living room and around the dining room table, swapping stories about good times shared with the groom. (Our favorite involved getting a rundown car with no plates across the country while getting pulled over repeatedly.) Our favorite photos from that part of Alex’s day, though, featured just him. At one point, the groom ducked into a bathroom to shave and fix his hair. We set up a flash and created some really cool, high-contrast images of his preparations.
St Joseph’s on Capitol Hill Wedding Ceremony Pictures
All set for the main event, the bride and her bridesmaids hopped into the party bus and headed across town to the church. The groom and his half of the wedding party had a much shorter commute. They walked around the block and up the steps to St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church.
As we mentioned above, St Joseph’s on Capitol Hill is a great wedding venue for photography. The nice lighting and flexible rules on where we can stand mean we can capture a lot more moments a lot more creatively than we can at other churches. So we got a lot of great images of the tears in Alex’s eyes as he met Melissa at the altar. And of the two of them sharing loving looks during the ceremony. And of them putting a bouquet of flowers at the feet of a Virgin Mary statue.
Wedding Portraits at the US Capitol Building
The ceremony concluded with Melissa and Alex sharing their first kiss as a married couple and heading out of the church. Right after, they and their families reconvened at the altar for a few portraits. Then the couple and the wedding party piled into the party bus to enjoy one of the other great things about tying the knot at St Joseph’s.
The historic church is a short distance from another Capitol Hill landmark. From a block away, you see the distinctive dome of the neighborhood’s namesake. The back side of the US Capitol building is just a few more blocks down the street.
That part of the US Capitol grounds is an awesome spot for portraits! Unfortunately, it is typically off-limits for commercial photoshoots. (Capitol photography permits usually only grant access to areas on the front side of the building.) That is, of course, unless one of the subjects works on Capitol Hill! And it just so happens that Melissa is a staffer!
We started with some shots of the couple posing with the wedding party on the expansive lawn east of the Capitol building. First we did the whole group, then split them into two groups and finally got photos of the bride and groom with each bridesmaid or groomsmen. Afterwards, we took the newlyweds off to the side for a few couple’s portraits. We loved the flow of Melissa’s dress, so we had them do a little dancing that got the train whipping back and forth in the air. That added some motion and dynamism to the pictures of them in front of the US Capitol. Then we brought them to one of the trees at the side of the lawn. Once there, we created more intimate portraits of them cuddling amidst the leaves.
Toasts and First Dances at Wedding Reception in the St Regis DC’s Astor Ballroom
The newlyweds and the wedding party hopped back on the bus and made their way back to the St Regis DC. By the time they got there, the cocktail hour was in full swing out on the Astor Terrace. The couple mingled and greeted all their guests as the hotel staff set up the Astor Ballroom for the reception.
As soon as everything was ready, the invitees took their seats in anticipation of the wedding party’s entrance. And the kickoff to the wedding reception didn’t disappoint! The bridesmaids and groomsmen gave a hint of the craziness to come on the dance floor as they came into the Astor Ballroom. The couple themselves topped them all, though. The DJ got everyone quieted down and then cranked up “Get Ready For This” from the movie, “Space Jam.” It was a choice that was both funny and really exciting. And it definitely got everyone ready to party!
Before that happened, though, Melissa and Alex slowed things down for their first dance. For that, the couple chose a timeless classic: “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis. They wowed the crowd (and gave a hint of what was to come) with their flawless and stylish moves.
Melissa and Alex took a brief break from the dance floor to eat dinner and enjoy the wedding toasts. The speeches their parents, best man and maid of honor offered were some of the best we’ve heard in a long time. They were expansive, personal, touching and above all, funny. The maid of honor’s was particularly good. It was like watching a cleverly crafted stage show! After the speeches, the newlyweds returned to the dance floor with the father of the bride and mother of the groom.
St Regis Washington DC Wedding Reception Dance Floor Images
The rest of the evening was a blur of dancing and celebration. Melissa and Alex’s guests did their hosts proud on the dance floor. Especially when the planner brought out light sticks! The crowd in the center of the Astor Ballroom jumped, shouted, sweated and waved the glowing tubes in the air. In between greeting guests who were taking a break at the tables, the couple also got out on the floor. The groom showed the entire party how it’s done when he executed a flawless Twist with his dad!
The wedding ended with an awesome exit through the Astor Terrace. Though the sparklers that were the initial plan weren’t possible, the newlyweds and the planner found a perfect solution: the light sticks! So Melissa and Alex passed through a gauntlet of colorful “swords” as their family and friends cheered them on.
A very special thanks to a wonderful couple for giving us the honor of documenting your wedding!
Vendor Team:
Wedding Reception Venue: St. Regis DC
Wedding Ceremony: St. Joseph’s on Capitol Hill
Planning: Boxwood and Bloom Events
Hair and Makeup: JSL Visions
Bridal gown: Ellie’s Bridal Boutique
Groom’s suit: Men’s Warehouse
Videographer: Shawn Fisher Productions
Florals: Lavanda & Eucalypto Designs
DJ: DJ Adam Feit | Entertainment Exchange
Contact Us for More Information!
Interested in learning more about our services? Please visit our Wedding Photography FAQ page for answers to all your questions! Ready to inquire about our availability on your wedding date? Contact us now to get the conversation started!
Recent Comments