This journal entry is one of two for Niyati and Jeremy’s wedding celebration. Why, you ask? Because Day Two is their Indian wedding. So you get two incredible posts to read! When I say incredible, I don’t say that lightly. Niyati and Jeremy have been one of the most impressionable couples I have worked with. Ever since they first told me about their Walden Hall wedding, I have enjoyed getting to know them. Through our emails, their sweetheart and proposal shoot in Arizona, their engagement session at Rixey Manor and their two wedding days, all I can say is “wow.” They are the most generous and gracious couple and getting to know them has been a highlight of my year.
Niyati and Jeremy share a sweet friendship and an obvious chemistry! But they also share a deep love for close family and friends as well as true gratitude for everyone who has served them. In fact, they even wrote the kindest review for me before even receiving their wedding day images. I can’t wait to share more images from their special days over the next two weeks.
Niyati and Jeremy fell in love with Walden Hall after visiting earlier in the year and decided it would be the perfect place for an intimate early Fall wedding. They live out of state so a Walden Hall wedding created the perfect environment for guests coming in from other areas. On October 1, they shared the first of two wedding days with their guests and had the joy of Niyati’s brother officiating. (Although, I might let you in on a little secret further down in the post!)
The evening began with Niyati preparing in the bridal suite and fainting room at Walden Hall. It really is the most lovely of spaces!
Niyati wore her hair down and her long locks were gently curled and styled by the incredible as always, Yisell Santos. She chose a BHLDN dress with flowing layers and a lovely lace bodice. It was perfect for that soft, romantic look she wanted for the first day of nuptials.
The setee and sofa in the fainting room remain one of my favorite places for bridal portraits. Niyati was lovely as she prepared to tie the knot with Jeremy.
We also took a stroll outside of Walden Hall prior to the ceremony. Niyati looked like a princess as she walked around the property and surveyed the ceremony site. Tonight’s ceremony would be in the side garden under the arbor and tomorrow’s ceremony would be facing the pond.
I photographed Niyati using both a full frame DSLR and medium format film.
Jeremy also prepared for the ceremony and separately viewed the space prior to ducking back inside. He was anxiously awaiting the moment as well.
The time came for the ceremony and it was so very special! I don’t get to witness many weddings in which the bride’s brother is the officiant. It was so very sweet to hear how fond of Jeremy he is and how happy he is to see them all become family. Both of these dear families came together in such joy to celebrate their union. Jeremy and Niyati expressed their personal vows and exchanged rings as it became publicly official that they were now husband and wife!
It was then time for Jeremy to kiss his bride and begin their new adventure!
Instead of a large wedding party, Niyati had decided she wanted her sister to be her bridesmaid. Both she and her parents couldn’t have been happier!
Niyati and Jeremy then walked off with me to celebrate together with romantic couples’ portraits. The weather was perfect and as we walked the grounds their guests enjoyed a cocktail time courtesy of Louie Mobile Mixology.
Niyati and Jeremy’s couples’ portraits were amazing! By now, these two pretty much know what to do and enjoyed getting close to celebrate. We took advantage of the lovely weather and the time right before golden hour to capture their love in portraits.
Niyati and Jeremy continued the celebration with appetizers, a cake cutting and an amazing dinner prepared by the Blue Ridge Pizza Company. They had previously invited me to stay and eat with their guests after they cut their cake…again, simply so generous and welcoming! Niyati and Jeremy not only cut the cake together at sunset, but also gave a welcoming toast to their guests.
It was also during that toast that Jeremy revealed a secret. Niyati’s brother’s paperwork hadn’t been fully “legalized” in the state of Virginia yet. So earlier in the day, they met with an officiant who married them at the local McDonald’s! So unbeknownst to many of us, they had already been married earlier in the day. LOL!
Niyati had another treat in store for all of their guests. She had also hired an incredibly talented henna artist to give henna tattoos to everyone there who wanted one. Needless to say, I donned an intricate design on my hand that Heena completed in under five minutes! I have never seen anyone work so well and so fast. Her designs on Niyati were just stunning as well.
I concluded my time that evening with just a few portraits of Niyati and Jeremy as the sun was already low on the horizon. It was a lovely few minutes and after I said goodbye I headed home to prepare for tomorrow’s full wedding day! I can’t wait to share that with you as well. Stay tuned! Here are a few words from Niyati about their special evening. They are followed by the incredible team of wedding professionals who helped make the evening special as well as image highlights from the evening!
“We will never forget the anticipation leading up to the first time we saw each other. For the first ceremony, I remember how beautiful everything looked as the sun was shining down on us…We will also never forget my brother officiating the first ceremony and just how we felt as we recited the vows we wrote to each other.” Hear more words continued from Niyati in their next journal post from Wedding Day #2!
To see more Walden Hall weddings and engagements, peruse HERE.
Thank you to these folks who helped make it so special!
Venue: Walden Hall
Planning/Coordination/Florals: Bella Giornata Events
Hair and Make Up: Yisell Santos Hair and Make Up
Videography: Olea Films
Catering: Blue Ridge Pizza Company
Cake: Haute Cakes Pastry Shop
Henna Tattoo Artist: Mehndi with Heena
Ring: Forever Artisans
Alcohol: Louie’s Mobile Mixology
Photography Assistant: Lindsay Hickling
Michelle Lieb with Lieb Photographic is a Virginia Wedding Photographer, Charlottesville Wedding Photographer, BaltimoreWedding Photographer and Maryland Wedding Photographer. She is also a Washington DC Wedding Photographer, Phoenix Wedding Photographer, Arizona Wedding Photographer and a Destination Wedding Photographer!