Tolu and Kyle’s Wedding at Rose Hill Manor in Leesburg, VA – Wedding Photographer in Virginia, Maryland and Washington DC

Birthday parties are a time of celebration. Another year of life. Another chapter in someone’s life. Another moment to celebrate a wonderful person. When people think of birthday parties, they usually have just one person in mind – the one who is celebrating the party. But, there are times when the gifts given at the party aren’t restricted to just one person – and few people know that better than Tolu and Kyle. Tolu and Kyle met at a mutual friend’s birthday party in Silver Spring, MD, and they really hit it off. Shortly after meeting, Kyle asked Tolu out on a date, which resulted in a night long excursion on U street – starting with Marvin’s, moving on to Ben’s Next Door, and even including Ulah. Needless to say, it was a match made in heaven, and soon the pair became inseparable.

Though one might argue the first birthday party was the most memorable for this couple, there was a second party that played a major role in their lives. At the All Set restaurant in Silver Spring, MD, Kyle proposed to Tolu at his own birthday celebration – and he got the best present of all when she said yes. We at Judah Avenue had the privilege to shoot this couple’s engagement, and were thrilled when we later met with the couple at the Rose Hill Manor in Leesburg, VA, where Tolu was getting ready for her special moment surrounded by her friends and loved ones. Though Tolu clearly didn’t need any makeup to look like a goddess, we snapped photos of both her and her wedding party as she made the transformation into a bride.

There was laughter and hugs all around as everyone in the party – right down to the youngest member, helped Tolu get ready. When she slipped into her beautiful gown, she looked as though she belonged on the red carpet. A shining star.Meanwhile, Kyle also got ready for the big moment with his own friends and family. His face was full of anticipation as his groomsmen surrounded him, each doing their best to offer a helping hand in getting him ready for his biggest moment. The anticipation was clearly written across his face as he prepared to head downstairs to the ceremony.

When the big moment finally arrived, guests lined the walls of the room, each one eager to see the union of his new husband and wife. Proud of her Nigerian ancestry, Tolu wanted to incorporate some Nigerian traditions into their ceremony – even jumping the broom. They lovingly exchanged their vows and their rings, bringing tears to the eyes of more than one member present. We photographers captured every second of the powerful moments that were exchanged between the couple.

Afterward, we took the opportunity to capture as many photos as we could of the wedding party with the bride and groom. The grounds of the manor were perfect for such an occasion, with each pose stealing the breath from everyone who beheld the moment.

Then, it was on to the celebration. The reception hall of the manor had been decorated in a regal manner, with blue and orange colors flush throughout the room. The cake stood whimsically in the corner, tempting all who passed by.
As soon as the guests arrived, the celebration began. Dancing, speeches, blessings, and well-wishes filled the air as each guest made every effort to show the bride and groom their support of the union. More than one tearful toast was made, and even the youngest in the room got on board with the support. Of course, no wedding celebration is complete without the bouquet toss or the cutting of the cake, and there were even members of the party dressed in the traditional Nigerian gowns to show their love and support to Tolu. Dancing ensued for much of the night, and we wedding photographers were careful to capture every second of the joy. It was clear every guest was thoroughly enjoying themselves during the celebration, but Kyle and Tolu were enjoying themselves most of all. Every chance they could find, they were in each other’s arms, smiling at each other and expressing their love and admiration for each other.At the end of the evening, we took the opportunity to snap a few final photos of the bride and groom, sending them into the next chapter of their lives in style. Thank you so much for allowing us to be a part of your special day, it’s clear that you are going to have many, many beautiful years together, and all of us here at Judah Avenue want to extend our congratulations. If you are a guest who just wants to say hello to us you can do so on our Instagram page @judahavenue, or if you engaged and looking for a wedding or engagement photographer in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia area, you can connect with us at (240) 643-4708 or make an appointment to visit our studio at 718 Cloverly Street, Silver Spring, MD 20905. Our email is info@judahavenue.com