Weddings are Back: Quiana & Leonard, D.C.

A wedding is one of the biggest occasions of life and anything that determines its course cannot be underestimated. As the world’s beginning to languidly pare back the veil of quarantined-life and eagerly heralding the onset of normalcy, every once in a while, love is fighting all the odds to survive through all of it and is looking for a blissful horizon. 

They say, falling in love is the beginning of everything. And from the moment two people fall for each other, they begin a love story so unique that there’s none like theirs in the entire universe. And it’s this love that gives one a fairytale in the middle of ordinary life. It becomes their reason to look forward to every morning, a reason to love life, and a reason to begin their happily-ever-after! And of course, this is temporary and there is comfort in knowing about the situation of the world during COVID-19. The uncertainty, wait, and longingness, they are all temporary. But hope - hope is eternal. Hope is what the world is surviving on. Every day comes with the promise of being better than the previous. It only depends on how you perceive it. And one fine day, you simply decide that ‘this is going to be my day!’ And that’s exactly what Quiana and Leonard thought when they decided to move up their wedding date to July 4th, 2020. Going by the fluidity of the pandemic-struck situation, they didn’t want to wait for the perfect moment, instead, they made the moment perfect! 

Quiana and Leonard’s perfect moment arrived at the Washington National Cathedral, where they took their wedding vows. Washington National Cathedral lies in the District of Columbia and is a self-described ‘house of prayer for all people’. It is an American cathedral of the Episcopal Church boasting a Neo-Gothic design closely modeled on the English Gothic style of the late fourteenth century. It dates back to the early 1900s and the third-largest church building in the United States. The cathedral's iconic architecture is a great mix of influences from the various Gothic architectural styles of the Middle Ages, identifiable in its pointed arches, flying buttresses, a variety of ceiling vaulting, stained-glass windows and carved decorations in stone, and by a set of three towers. Over two hundred stained glass windows provide a beautiful look to the Cathedral and make for a delightful Washington National Cathedral photography. 

Quiana and Leonard chose to go for an intimate wedding due to the COVID-19 restrictions, which led them to reduce the guest count to around 20 people.  Intimate weddings have been gaining popularity for the last few years but have risen to new heights during this pandemic. Intimate weddings are a great idea as they give you a breathing space on the most important day of your life. They give you time to let that feeling of ‘just-married’ sink in and a chance to celebrate your love story with the people you love the most. They are budget-friendly and the money that’s saved can be utilized in adding more personal details and the ‘dream quotient’ to your dream wedding. We absolutely adore Quiana and Leonard’s decision as with that, they made sure that their love emerged as a winner! No pandemic or disruption could stop them from entering into a union. 

The beautiful bride’s big day began with a getting-ready session where our Washington DC wedding photographers clicked some ethereal shots of her. As she transformed from a beautiful lady into a beautiful bride, our wedding photographers captured all the little wedding details. These tiniest wedding details have some of the biggest meanings for a bride! Those perfect little accessories like the studded drop earrings and the gorgeous brooch atop a precious box with words ‘Mrs. Hamlin’ engraved on it formed one of the most beautiful photos of their Washington DC wedding photo album. 

Quiana and Leonard’s big day progressed with a wedding ceremony at the Washington National Cathedral. Leonard looked dapper in a white coat and shirt and black trousers. A black bow-tie and a floral boutonniere completed his wedding look. We loved Leonard’s classic look. As he stood across the aisle, waiting for the bride, the officiant, the bridesmaids, and the groomsmen struck a beautiful photo against the magnificent background of the church. The groomsmen wedding attire perfectly complemented Leonard’s and the bridesmaids looked absolutely stunning in a synchronized wedding style, keeping in mind the theme of burgundy, black, and white. Keeping up with the current times, the officiant wore a mask and we totally respect the adherence to social norms during this wedding.  

The wait was over as Quiana walked down the aisle with her father, who looked super stylish dressed in a black suit and a mask! Quiana looked drop-dead gorgeous in a white wedding gown with a trumpet silhouette and a long sheer white veil. Her bridal bouquet was in sync with the ruling colors and boasted shades of reds, whites, and greens. Leonard’s face beamed up as Quiana walked down the aisle with her father and the delicate moment was captured in the most perfect frames. We absolutely love the way he looked at her - totally smitten, and lost in love! Then came the moment when one of the groomsmen cracked a joke and the groom gave a shy smile. Memories of a love story are made of such beautiful and mischievous moments which were brilliantly captured by our Washington DC wedding photographers.