shesaidyes

“Kipper is shivering! Let’s finish these photos inside!” Brittany said. We all looked at Kipper in his adorable, yellow raincoat shaking from the cold. “That’s a good idea!” I said worried about their sweet, little dog. As we walked back toward Brittany and Will’s Fairfax, Virginia apartment in the rain, I smiled. Brittany and Will only adopted Kipper a few months prior to our session and they were already so in tune and such good care-takers. They had all the Kipper essentials and than some. It was clear, that they put Kipper first and were happy doing so.

Once we got into their homey, warm apartment, Brittany took Kipper’s raincoat off and they all began to play. All three of them looked so happy and content just hanging out together, throwing and catching a stuffed bunny. It made me think,  this is what it is all about. Togetherness, happiness, love. And love there was! In every detail of their apartment, in every word spoken and in every joke made, you could see that their life was full of love and admiration for each other…. and of course Kipper too.

Brittany and Will have been together since before Instagram was a thing and I absolutely admire their commitment and connection to one another. It is evident that they are best friends, partners and each others biggest support systems. Brittany and Will’s personalities complement each other. From High School to College, all the way to moving to Fairfax, Virginia together, they have been a united front that can take on anything and everything.

These two are such a unique couple, and their puppy engagement session was no different! Once we realized that Kipper was not a happier camper outside, we moved our engagement session inside. It was no longer just an engagement session but a session about the home they built, the puppy they adopted and the life that they had created.

Brittany and Will, you have found it. The happiness, the love and the excitement for your future that everyone searches for and I hope your happiness and love grows until the end of time! I cannot wait to photograph your wedding! July is too far away!!

So you did it, you found the woman of your dreams. You are totally and completely in love and you cannot wait to spend the rest of your life with this amazing woman… Now, all you have to do is ask her… but how?

Proposal season is upon us and the love of your life deserves nothing less than the best.  For most of you, this will be the first and only time you pop the question and you might not even know where to begin! But don’t you worry, I am here to help! Follow these 10 easy steps and you will have the girl of your dreams wrapped around you crying tears of joy before you know it!

1.  The Ring: 

   Now this first step is one of the most important steps, once you get the ring, the rest will fall into place. There are a few ways to go about to make sure you are getting the woman of your dreams the ring of her dreams…
   (A) Go shopping together. Some people LOVE this option. I mean, one of the biggest parts about a successful marriage is being a team and working together, so why wouldn’t you want to share this experience with one another.
   (B) Get the Hint…. if she is the kind of woman who does not beat around the bush and has been sending you links, photos and pinterest boards for the last 18 months, you are one lucky man, you already know exactly what she wants…
   (C) Consult her bestie.  Let’s face it, women talk, this isn’t news… and what do you think one of the things we talk about when we are in a serious relationship, the engagement ring. Meet the future-maid-of-honor for some coffee, ask her to share the ring intel and get as much detail as possible. Her best-friend will be ALMOST as excited as you are…almost.

2. Ask her Parent’s for her hand in marriage: 

   I know what you are thinking,  how old fashioned… But let me fill you in on a little secret, this small gesture will mean the world to them and to your future wife. It will make her parents feel like they are a part of the celebration and why not keep your mother-in-law and father-in-law happy from the beginning. This will set the stage of your relationship with your in-laws for years to come!

   

3. Pick a location: 

   It can be as simple or as lavish as you want it to be. Just remember, you know your girl the best, you know what means the most to her and what would make her happy. It can be right in front of her favorite taco stand that she took you to on one of your first dates, or in the middle of the park that you guys walk your dog in every day or even on top of the ferris-wheel. It can be in your apartment or at a fancy restaurant. At a carnival or on vacation. Don’t over think it,  wherever you ask her, she will love it because it is your love story and you are making her dreams come true.

   

4. Choose a gesture:

   Now that you have the location, it is time to figure out how, how are you going to make this moment special, how are you going to set it up and how are you going to ask her. Are you going to send her on a scavenger hunt? Surprise her from out of town? Whisk her off to a romantic city? Once you get her to the location, are you going to get down on one knee, have her nieces and nephews surround her, show her a montage of your relationship? Before you pick the gesture, you should know, that most proposals are done in private, contrary to what Hollywood portrays. Consider who she is when deciding how big or how small the gesture should be! Your proposal story will be told hundreds of times, it might even be your grandkids favorite bedtime story, so make sure that whatever gesture you choose, it is consistent with who you are a couple.

   

5. Consult a photographer!

   This is it, it is the moment you both have been waiting for. The moment that will change your life forever. You are asking your best friend to be with you from now until forever, how special would it be to have this moment captured? To have this memory frozen forever. To have photos that will keep this moment and these feelings alive!

   

6. Create a Master Plan:

   Now that you have the ring, the location, the gesture and the photographer, it is time to put it all together and create a master plan. You have worked hard to prepare for your big moment, winging your wedding proposal is not an option. Talk to all the necessary people to ensure that this moment goes off as well as possible. Consult the photographer about lighting and timing, even do a walk through of the location to make sure you know exactly where you are going, where she will be standing and how you will be kneeling. Consider traffic, late reservations, delays, and anything else that might create any issues. This way, you will be prepared and as ready as possible.

7. Have a Plan B:

   It is never a bad idea to have a Plan B. You never know what is going to happen. You never know if it will start pouring 5 minutes before your candle lit balcony proposal or the restaurant sits you at the wrong table or even there is a pop up beer garden at your favorite park, therefore, come up with a simple Plan B that is easy to pivot too.  This way, you won’t add too much stress if something goes wrong.

   

8. Rehearse:

   These words, this question, the look in her eyes as she listens to you, is going t be a moment that will be cherished forever (no pressure)! I don’t know about all of you, but when I get nervous, I start rambling on and on and
   usually end up not making any sense… practice what you are going to say, rehearse taking the ring out of your jacket or pants pocket and getting down on one knee. It will make your proposal go that much smoother and make you feel like you are the most romantic man that has ever been.

   

9. Get her there: 

   Sometimes, getting her there can be tricky, so you have to get creative.  Make sure you know exactly how you are going to convince her to get there and consult everyone who will help you get there. I know, you are never supposed to lie to the woman you are going to marry (or to anyone in general), but let’s be real, this might be the ONLY time it is ok to tell her a small fib… She will forgive you for lying about your reservation being 20 minutes earlier or that you have to stay late at the office for a work thing. She will forgive you for not being able to meet her and her sister for brunch if that is all part of the grand proposal plan.

   

10. Ask her: 

    And finally, the most important thing… ask her to marry you. It will be the happiest moment of her life thus far and you will be the luckiest man on earth. It is as simple as that.

Ok… so what are you waiting for! Go get that ring, talk to her parents and consult her best friends! Go tell her how much you love her, how much you cannot wait to grow old together and how you will never want to wake up without her by your side.

“The dreaded seating chart. I just can’t get myself to start. It is already giving me a migraine.” One of my brides said as we sat across from each other at La Colombe.  We were putting together the finishing touches of her GuestBook Photo Album and she was filling me in on the ups and downs of her wedding planning. Her wedding was only a few weeks away and she still had so much to do!  “I mean even just making sure we have everyone name on the board is going to be such a process.” She continued as she unlocked her phone to take a look at her never-ending todo list. I saw her concerned expression and heard myself sigh. That’s when the lightbulb went off…

“Hey, have you seen this?” I said as I quickly opened up a new tab on my computer and typed in Digital WeddingWire Seating Chart Designer.

As she looked over the table at my laptop, I realized that she hadn’t.

“This is great!” She said as she scrolled down the page. “this is way easier than using a poster-board!”

Say goodbye to post-its and the fear of forgetting a guest or two. Say hello to the comfort and ease of digital seating charts.  The last two weeks before your wedding is full of last minute changes, unpredictable obstacles and game time decisions. The last thing you want to do is move around colorful post-it notes on a poster-board at 1am. Let’s face it, it’s 2018 and having a digital seating chart is much easier to manage. WeddingWire has created an incredible tool to make your life that much easier. In just a few easy steps you can have your seating chart designed and sent to the venue!

1. Map out your custom floor plan
2. Sync your guest list with WeddingWire
3. Drag and drop names to tables
4. BAM – that’s it

xo,

Yael

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There are not many things in this world that can make me happier than photographing a wedding (besides my family, friends and my Robert). So on Saturday, when I checked my phone after the bride and groom portraits and right before the wedding ceremony began, I didn’t think I could get much happier, but then I received this text message… “This is Juan, and I got engaged today!”

OH MY GOD was all I could say as I quickly typed a response and went back to capturing the wedding even happier than before.

About a year ago, I met Juan. He was looking to get back into the dating game and wanted to update his online dating profiles with some new, professional portraits. Of course, being the romantic sucker I am, I was more than happy to work with him!  As we walked around, we set him up in different poses and had a few different outfits to work with. Juan told me about his tight-knitt family, his career, what he is looking for in a wife etc… I really felt like I got to know him. We worked together to capture the essence of who he truly is and let me tell you, Juan is a great guy. He is personable, smart, sweet, accomplished, and I waked away from our session thinking whomever he ended up with was going to be one lucky woman.

A few months later, I was with one of my 2018 amazing YPcouples (shout out to Brittany & Greg) on the warmest January day when we ran into Juan right in front of his apartment building. He was with a beautiful woman and I could already tell that there was a spark between them. I didn’t want to interrupt what looked like one hell of a date, so I said my quick hello, gave him a huge smile and went on my way with Brittany and Greg.

“I took his dating profile photos!” I explained as we crossed the street into the square. I couldn’t help but think I hope the photos helped!

“The photos you took peaked her interest” Juan told me as we waited for Lilly in the lobby of their apartment building. All I could do was smile. They were so happy, so in love and so perfect for one another… I felt honored to have had a small part in helping them find each other. Lilly is just as incredible as Juan. An elementary school teacher with a heart of gold, a loving personality and a smile that could light up any room. She is even better than the woman I envisioned all those months ago at my first session with Juan. And as I saw them together, it was obvious that Juan had never been happier.

We spent the chilly Autumn morning walking around Rittenhouse Square. Although the park was bustling with people. It felt like we were the only three there. Lilly and Juan’s love was evident in every touch, every word and every smile and I know that they will have a strong, powerful and loving marriage.

Lilly, Juan, I cannot even begin to express how much it meant to me to capture this chapter of your love story. Cheers to many, many more chapters and many, many more incredible, heart-felt  moments.

xo,

Yael

“I have so many kids coming to my wedding.” She said as we were looking over the timeline. “Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE kids. Specially the ones coming to my wedding.  I just don’t want them to get bored mid-ceremony you know?” I totally knew. This is actually a big concern for a lot of couples. They love the idea of having all of the little ones around, but get nervous about missed nap times and skipped over snacks. “Well, you know what I just saw the other day” I said as I closed my laptop to focus completely on my bride. “One of my couples put together these little fun goodie bags for all kids and gave them out right before the ceremony” She smiled.

“You mean like a bag full of distractions?”

“YES!” Exactly like that. And with that, we both opened our laptops again and started searching for the best things to put in her goodie bags.

Distract the little ones. I love kids. I mean, I do have nine nieces and nephews of my own and I want nothing more than to see them in their pretty dresses and cute bowties at my future wedding. There is nothing sweeter than seeing a child’s face as they witness the magic of a bride and a groom getting married. But, with strict timelines, the crazy chaos and complete newness of a wedding day, it can be a little much for the little ones. By the time the ceremony comes around, the children can be exhausted, hungry and overwhelmed. So, give them a goodie bag just for them. Right before the ceremony, have someone go around to each of the kids with a bag full of quite toys, such as a container of bubbles, a yoyo, stickers and even some crayons with a fun “wedding day coloring book. Anything that is quite and can keep them sitting and entertained. Their parents will thank you and you will love to see what pictures they colored at your ceremony!

xo,

Yael

” We have been together ever since…” Sarah said with a huge smile on her face. As we walked away from the Starbucks, the place they went on their first date, I couldn’t help but thinking about Sarah and Ron eight years ago. I couldn’t help but think about the adorable and lovely University of Maryland Freshman, Sarah, meeting Ron, the sweetest guy on campus that everyone seemed to know and love. I couldn’t help but picture 19 year old Ron, nervously sitting in the Starbucks, and wondering What coffee drink should I get her?  In typical Ron fashion, he wanted to make sure he had the right thing ordered for his date by the time she got there, but he had no idea what to get her and felt terrible when she walked in and he had nothing to offer. It’s the little things that make a relationship truly great and Ron understood this from the beginning.

Sarah and Ron had a deep, loving, committed relationship since that beautiful fall day at that Starbucks in Georgetown. They are the epitome of college-sweethearts and I couldn’t be happier for them! Amongst the craziness of college life, everyone else around Sarah and Ron were breaking up, getting together or doing the whole on again-off again thing that seems to be very popular in undergrad. Sarah and Ron never stopped loving, laughing and growing together.   And trust me on this one, I was there! I was one of the college kids who took part in the rollercoaster version of love at UMD, but not these two. These two were strong. These two learned how to flourish together, how to push each other to do better, dream bigger and live larger.

Eight years later, I had the immense pleasure and honor of photographing their engagement session. I couldn’t have asked for a better combination of passion, admiration and fun. Their expressions say it all. Walking around Georgetown, seeing where it all began and seeing the excitement in their eyes for their future together, was a dream come true.

Sarah, Ron, my wish for you is to have the most incredible life together. To continue to grow, flourish and be each others biggest support system. To never forget the amazing way your relationship began but always strive for a bigger and better future. You were such an incredible team in college and I feel lucky to have known you then, and even luckier to know you now. Sending you all the love in the world!

“Sean came up to me the other day and said that he could never thank me enough for hosting his wedding here on my property.” Mike paused and looked at Sean and Julie sitting at the sweetheart table. Every guest was quiet as they were waiting for Mike to continue…”But, in all honesty, I cannot thank Sean enough. I have spent every day of my life trying to get Julie to smile the way she does when she is around Sean. Sean thank you for making Julie the happiest I have ever seen her. I owe you everything” And with that, Mike put the microphone down, walked over to Sean and Julie and gave them both big bear hugs.

Julie, Sean, Mike and all of their closest friends and family spent the last year transforming Mike’s beautiful property into a fairytale wedding venue. The tent was absolutely breathtaking. I heard myself gasp as I walked up the long drive way, through the fun cocktail hour area, past the portable beer taps, all the way into the classy decorated tent. “Don’t forget to look up!” Julie shouted from the driveway as she saw me standing at the entrance of the tent. I looked up and heard myself gasp again.  There were a dozen beautifully white painted hula hoops decorated with vibrant pink flowers twinkling in the wind. I was in awe. Julie and Sean really did it! They had a vision for what they wanted their wedding day to look like and they put in the time, energy and love. And trust me when I say this, you could tell they loved everything about it.From the bonfire, to the dogs running around all the way to the coolest ice cream truck I have ever seen, every detail felt like them and I was amazed in every way.

Julie and Sean are the most genuine, loving couple. As individuals, they each have such a unique warmth to them that it only makes sense that they ended up together. The way they talk, the way they embrace their friends and family, the way they interact with everyone around them, is just sweet in every way. Witnessing Sean watch Julie walk down the aisle made the chili October day feel like a mid August day; beautiful, warm and full of admiration. There is nothing like it. There is no doubt in my mind that Julie and Sean will continue to create the sweetest marriage and family. I cannot wait to see the beautiful life they will share together.

Julie, Sean, my wish to you is that your life is full of amazing moments that are all as sweet as you.

“Do you think people will like this!?” one of my brides texted me. I waited for the screenshot to download. It was the cutest save-the-date. They looked happy, in love and stunning in every way. I started typing back, “YES!” but hesitated, shook my head and backspaced, “The more important question, is do YOU!?” I could just imagine my bride grinning ear to ear as she read my text and looked back at the screenshot of her card. A few seconds later my phone buzzed again “I really, really do.”

Does this make me happy? I know sometimes it is easy to get caught up with other peoples opinions, specially the mother’s of the world. Sometimes, and don’t get me wrong, I am no exception, we all can agonize over the little things… Should you have the pink champagne or a speciality drink? Do you pay extra for the bigger floral centerpieces? Do you splurge for the chiavari chairs?? Sometimes, you even find yourself comparing your plans with your best friend (who happen to be getting married a month after you), wedding plan’s. While you agonize, question and compare, please take a step back and ask yourself these questions…. “Do you like it!? Do you even really care? Is this thing you are stressing about now really going to add that extra little something to your big day?” If the answer is yes, then good! Keep doing what you are doing. If the answer is no, then stop your worrying! Everything will be beautiful, lovely and completely and totally you.

Let me fill you in on a little secret… Wedding guests really only care about three things; dancing, food and whether or not they had a good time. They don’t think about how much time and effort you put into handwriting, rewriting and then re-rewriting the seating chart. They don’t know how many hours you spent contemplating if there are enough peonies in the centerpieces. And they definitely don’t have any real understanding how many emails you sent questioning the number of candles on each table.   You are better off focusing on the bigger picture and most importantly, what makes YOU and your fiance happy. So, when in doubt, ask yourself this yes or no question…”Does this make me happy?”

xo,

Yael

As Heather pulled out the two handkerchiefs from her black bag with such grace and care, both of our eyes began to water. Heather was still in her white robe and I was set up on the Hotel Alcott terrace photographing the rings and invitations. She handed the handkerchiefs over with such delicacy and love, I was truly in awe. As we held back the tears she explained, both handkerchiefs were from two incredible women whom were no longer with us. The first, was given to Heather’s mom by her grandmother the night of her mom’s wedding. The second, was from Heather’s Father’s Aunt who helped raise Heather’s Dad from the age of ten. You could tell by the tone in Heather’s voice how significant these women were to her and how connected she felt with her family.  Heather made it clear that the most important photos to both Billy and her were the family ones. They  loved their families with all of their hearts and cared more than anything to capture every single relative who was there with them.  This was much more than just two people’s wedding day, it was a family celebration and there is nothing more beautiful and more pure than families like these two.

As Heather and Billy made their promises in front of the people that mattered the most to them, I could see the pride and joy in every single guest. There were tears and there were smiles, but everyone in that room felt like they belonged and looked like they could not have been happier.  I too, felt an abundance of love and happiness as we all witnessed the sweetest couple in the world becoming husband and wife.

The entire day was amazing. I think I may have used the word ‘perfect’ a thousand times. The weather couldn’t have been better for a late September Wedding, the couple couldn’t have been more in love and the dancing couldn’t have been more fun. Even the center pieces were stunning and custom made by Heather’s talented mother. Every detail was lovingly and carefully planned and came together in the perfect way.

Heather, Billy, you already know how much being a part of your wedding meant to me. I wish for you to wake up every day and feel even more love and support as you did on your wedding day. You two deserve a life full of adventure, bliss and boundless love. Cheers to you, your family and everything you stand for!

xo,

Yael

The music queued, the entire church stood and turned to look back at the door. Courtney was a vision; beautiful in every way. Total bliss and love radiated off of her as she walked down the aisle. Right next to her, arm linked, ready to give her away to the love of her life, was her brother Jamie. Jamie and Courtney are Irish twins and have been through everything together. It was only fitting that he would give her away. The bond that Jamie and Courtney share is so incredibly sweet and full that I could not imagine seeing anyone else walk side by side down the aisle next to Courtney. It was evident, from the way Gary looked at Courtney, that he could not wait to be her husband. Gary’s smile only grew bigger and bigger as Courtney and Jamie got closer to him. Courtney’s eyes sparkled with joy and admiration as she saw her groom waiting for her. It was the most wonderful moment to witness.

Capturing Gary and Courtney say “I do” in front of all their closest friends and family was an honor. It felt like I was watching one of my favorite scenes in a Romance Movie that I had grown up with. Their love is strong. Their love is fierce and powerful. Their love has matured together and has helped them blossom into two incredible people (Read all about Courtney & Gary, the early years here). Not only was their ceremony and reception exquisite, but it was 100% true to who Courtney and Gary are; elegant, classic, fun and above all, family oriented.

Their gorgeously tasteful reception took place at Courtney’s family farm, The Woburn Manor. This farm had been a part of her family for over 200 years. It was near and dear to all of them in the most heartwarming way.  Every detail was carefully thought-out, planned and executed by either Gary, Courtney, or someone else close to them. From the second I drove up to the stunning farm, through the moment I saw Courtney’s mother help zip up her wedding dress, and all the way to the tears we all shed during the first dance and family toasts, it was clear that this was a family affair. Courtney and Gary wouldn’t have it any other way. Family comes first to them. I walked out of their reception feeling warm and fuzzy.  Being a part of their love story, their special day of unity and their lovely family affair assured me that I am doing exactly what I am I supposed to be doing; photographing love, life and families.

Courtney, Gary your love for each other and your love towards your friends and family is all consuming and magnificent. I could not imagine a world without the two of you being the power couple that you are.  I wish only the best to you and the newest addition to your family : ) I cannot wait to continue to watch your bond grow stronger and your love grow deeper. Cheers to hundreds of years of joy and adventure!

xo – yael