DDM Photo and Video Blog

6/21/08- Sarah and Tom

Location: Bethany United Methodist Church and the Omni Hotel

In what looked like one of the most anticipated first kisses ever, Sarah & Tom closed their June 21st ceremony at Bethany United Methodist Church with a smooch for the ages. They exited to a bubble sendoff before taking formal pictures, then made their way to the Omni Hotel in Newport News. After driving around the block a few times (to maximize sweet limo time), the newlyweds exited for a few more photos, then made their grand entrance to the reception. Then the fun began.

In what proved to be a party loaded with vocal talent, karaoke interspersed with dance music to make for a lively night. A touching toast was made, and for a single night, red wings fans and penguin fans united (although not without it's trash talking). We wish Sarah & Tom the best, and expect nothing but good tunes and good times for them for many years to come.

6/21/08- Anna and Aris

Location: Greek Orthodox Church, Newport News Virginia

What a beautiful day! Anna and Aris' wedding took place at the Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church. This beautiful venue is a pleasure to shoot. Having just done Marina and Greg's wedding here last month, we were anxious to return. Everything went very smoothly with four Officiants and a perfectly sized ceremony that really accentuated Anna and Aris' love for each other.

After a luxurious limo departure, the wedding party made their grand entrance at the exquisite hall adjacent to the church. Interestingly enough, they cut their cake upon entrance which really helped keep the guests on their toes! With a beautiful first dance, Anna and Aris kicked off a multi course dinner of, among other things, Greek salad, complete with a huge slice of feta cheese and a main course of fillet Mignon.

After dinner it was dancing all the way with a great live band. Greek dancing is a riot! It's rare to see such passion and fervor with such a large group of people. Talk about fun! There was also some great American techno-y dancing from the experienced record scratching DJ. Towards the end of the night, we took a short breather for a bouquet toss. But after that, the Greek dancing was on full force again! Oh, and as a final note, the baklava was to die for.

(Stills from video clips below)

 

6/21/08- Lindsey and Ashton

Location: Private Residence in Windsor, Virginia

Nothing better than a country wedding at a place that you love. Lindsey and Ashtons wedding was held at Lindseys family home out in Windsor. A beautiful property, it came complete with a lake full of bass and catfish, and just has the feel of a traditional Virginia property. And this was just the backdrop for the whole event.

Michelle Kilgore of weddings by Michelle handled the planning, decoration, and overall coordination of the event. She really outdid herself on this one. Daevids handled the floral decor, which as always was tasty and perfect for the occasion. Distinctive Rentals provided an enormous tent for the propery, which was setup to handle the dinner and reception.

The bride was stunning in her Vera Wang wedding gown. She just radiated happiness, it was clear that this was her greatest day. The ceremony has held with cotton fields as a backdrop, with the treeline just on the horizon. The weather ended up being perfect, the sun breaking through the clouds just before the ceremony, despite the earlier morning rains in the area. After the ceremony, David Schwartz did some great work with her on her photography, utilizing some great location shots and lighting.

We'd like to wish Lindsey and Ashton the best of luck, and safe travels to Austrailia and beyond!

(Images and review coming soon)

6/14/08- Chris and Jessica

Location: Eastern Shore Chapel and Contemporary Arts Center

It was a beautiful day for a beautiful couple! That's how I would describe Chris and Jessica and their wedding day. The ceremony took place at the picturesque Eastern Shore Chapel, followed by a romantic reception at The Contemporary Arts center in Virginia Beach. Chris waited in anticipation as Jessica was walked down the aisle to meet him, and they both exited the church in excitement (and an antique car) after the intimate ceremony.

The Contemporary Arts Center was decorated in lush blacks and golds to give it the feel of a night in Italy. The small trees throughout the room were adorned with small lights and the tables with vases of ribbon and feathers. As soon as Chris and Jessica arrived, the party truly started; the two of them could light a room with their energy! Dinner was quickly served and the guests enjoyed a feast of baked salmon, asparagus, mashed potatoes, and much more! After the toasts and the cutting of the elegant cake, the dance floor was opened so Chris and Jessica could enjoy their first dance as husband and wife.

Once all the guests were allowed to join in the fun, it seemed like you couldn't pry anyone from the floor, it was just too much fun! Everyone took a break for the garter and bouquet toss, but I think most of the guests were trying to catch one or the other! It was hilarious!

Between the happy couple, great food, fun guests, amazing decorations, and a DJ that could rock all night, Chris and Jessica's wedding was one for the books!

(Images coming soon!)

6/14/08- Stephanie and Shane

Location: First Presbyterian Church and The Cavalier Beach Club

review and images coming soon!

6/14/08- Alex and Dana

Location: Greek Orthdox Cathederal of Norfolk and The Cavalier Golf and Yacht Club

It all started on a beautiful summer evening at the Lesner Inn. This festive rehearsal dinner was absolutely perfect. For the first couple hours, guests enjoyed cocktails on the balcony patio overlooking the water and gorgeous sunset while meeting and greeting. As people settled in and ate, we all enjoyed toasts from friends, family and the lovebirds themselves. Believe it or not, there were also a couple of off-the-wall skits peppered in from Alex's buddies. The festivities went well into the night with some spirited dancing. This fantastic rehearsal night was a perfect warm-up to the main event.

The ceremony was held on a hot, but beautiful, afternoon at the Greek Orthodox Church of Norfolk. The ceremonious backdrop of the church served as a perfect place for Alex and Dana to confirm their love for each other. We have done Greek ceremonies in the past and it is always fascinating to see the rich heritage that goes into each part of the wedding. Everybody performed wonderfully and the ceremony went off without a hitch. After some quick photos, we all headed off to the Cavalier Golf & Yacht Club to receive Alex and Dana by yacht. Soon, the guests settled inside and started the night off with a bang with a very classy dance by Dana and Alex.

When you're at a Greek wedding, you know you are going to have a lot of spirited dancing. We were not disappointed as circles quickly formed to the live music of The Fabulous Grecian Keys, all the way from Warren, Ohio! These guys were great! At one point, we even managed to get one of our cameras in the middle of a tight circle and wow...it was intense! Aside from dancing, there were great speeches, toasts, a bouquet 'handoff' and the awesome plate breaking. These people definitely know how to have fun and I know the party will continue well into Dana and Alex's future. We wish nothing but the best for them and are grateful that we were able to share in their special day.

(Video Screen shots below)

6/14/08- Monique and Gregory

Location: Virginia National Golf Club and The Greenbrier Country Club

    Golf anyone? This was a beautiful day, with the setting being two of the best golf clubs in the area. We started at the Virginia National Golf Club (formerly the Tournament Players Club) for the ceremony. The sun was out, and though it was a bit smoky from the fires miles away, it was still a beautiful day. Barb Anderson from Style Events provided the coordination, and keeping everything on task and looking beautiful. Friends and family from across the world attended the event, including relatives from Nigeria who were wearing some beautiful African clothing, and added a little something extra to this special event. Monique was escorted down the aisle by longtime coach and friend Jack, who was clearly a very dear friend of Monique. The rest of the ceremony was fairly short and standard, but was quite beautiful with the placement on the rear lawns of the club.

    After the ceremony, we handled the formal posed pics in short order. We did get some great stuff with the couple out on the golf course, but held off on most of them until we reached the Greenbrier Country Club. The Private Events Director Misti worked in conjunction with Style Events to ensure a great dinner and reception at the Club. Dinner was a combo special...top sirloin and chicken breast. (Great Dinner!) Greenbrier is a great location for a reception, and their staff was fantastic.

   So after the early parts of the reception, we headed out to the course to get some pics. Misty scored us 3 golf carts to hit up some great locations on the course, which of course was a great time. We spent a lot of time out there with the couple, getting some great shots, and letting them cut loose. Too much fun! As dark approached, we wrapped up the shooting and headed back to finish out the reception with the couple. We finished up with the cake cutting, some special dances, and then watching everyone party on to a variety of music, including some Nigerian Dance Tunes. We'd like to congratulate Monique and Greg, and wish them the best in the future! 

6/7/08- GHDC Summer Recital

This was the 2nd event we covered for GHDC over the past few months. It was the summer culmination and recital of all of the dance groups of GHDC, from young children to now professional dancers that were past students of GHDC. As always, it was an artistic show, and contained a variety of choreographed numbers, from traditional dance, to tap, hip-hop, and interpretive dance. We highly encourage anyone who has the opportunity to see first hand what Gails Harts school is all about. Not only are these top-shelf dancers, but also great students who rank in the top 90% academically in their schools, and good citizens who live a clean life and are well prepped for great college careers and beyond.

(Stills from video capture below)

6/7/08- Lindsey and Lewis

Location: Private Residence

Not many couples are blessed with the option of having acres of beautiful real estate at their disposal, but this was the case for LIndsey & Lewis, whose family owns a gorgeous plot of land in Melfa, VA (located on the Eastern Shore). On June 7th, 2008, the couple tied the knot at the Onancock Baptist Church in front of a packed house.

Hot temperatures did not keep the outdoor reception from sizzling as family and friends danced the night away. Sunset dances, chocolate fountains, and a massive congo line were just some of the memorable events that occurred on this magical evening. An energetic bubble sendoff to the limo brought the evening to a close. Lindsey & Lewis'

love for one another is apparent and infectious, and it was hard to find a moment where they were not locked in kiss or embrace. A beautiful wedding for a beautiful couple!!

5/31/08- Erin and Adam

Location: Star of the Sea Catholic Church and The Cavalier Hotel on the Hill

We started our shooting at the Star of the Sea, and popular church down at the oceanfront. They are going through some impressive re-modeling right now, but the sanctuary shows no sign of the construction going on. The ceremony itself was a fairly standard Catholic ceremony, and moved right along. Julie Morgan of As-You-Wish Bridal Consulting did a great job coordinating with the vendors, and ensuring the ceremony and reception went off without a hitch. Speaking of reception....

The reception was held at the Cavalier on the Hill, in the Grand Ballroom. The upper part of the room was filled with tables of appetizers and heavy appetizers for the guests, while the lower section was setup for seating and dancing. The Dickens Band provided the live entertainment and DJ services, and I must say the were very good. They showed remarkable ability to cover a wide variety of music, from hip hop to classic rock without forcing it. Very versatile group, with some talented musicians. The evening was pretty much one big party, with some great dancing, and a lot of fun moments.

Congratulations to Erin and Adam, and best wishes for the future!