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VMFA Richmond Wedding

Preparation & Portraits | The Jefferson Hotel

Ceremony | Virginia Museum of History and Culture

Reception | Virginia Museum of Fine Art

Wedding Dress | David’s Bridal

VMFA Richmond Wedding Heather Hughes Photography

 

Abby and Adam were married in October with a ceremony at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture and a wedding reception at the Virginia Museum of Fine Art in Richmond, VA. It was such a pleasure to be the wedding photographer for this Richmond wedding! I loved the family focus of this wedding and all the attention to detail. The bride and groom are such a fun couple. I think you can really see that in their wedding photos!

Abby and Adam’s VMFA Wedding | Richmond Wedding Photography

The bride and groom got ready at the Jefferson Hotel so I staged a first look for Abby and Adam outside of the hotel. There was such joy and delight in their faces, truly a memorable first look! 

After the first look we did several wedding portraits and one of my favorite photos from the day was of Abby and Adam on the Jefferson Hotel staircase. The Jefferson Hotel is a Richmond icon, and the opulent, grand staircase is just one of its breathtaking pieces of architecture. But Abby and Adam weren’t having a Jefferson Hotel wedding! There was another wedding doing their photos outside… so we snuck indoors for a few Jefferson Hotel wedding photos. We finished just as the other couple’s wedding coordinator showed up to shoo us away! I don’t mind breaking the rules a little for my wedding couples!

Fall VMFA Richmond Wedding

During the ceremony at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, the bride, groom, and family signed a Quaker marriage certificate. The marriage certificate, unlike the legal kind of certificate, is a document that records the promises that the bride and groom have made to one another. Immediately after exchanging their promises, Abby and Adam signed the marriage certificate followed by their entire families. Their wedding ceremony was not a full Quaker ceremony, but I loved how they incorporated this lovely tradition. I am sure the marriage certificate will become a cherished keepsake since everyone who was present signs it as a witness and in support of the couple and their marriage bond.

Wedding Photos at the Jefferson Hotel

Abby and Adam’s Richmond wedding day was unseasonably chilly for October. Usually, for October weddings in Southern Virginia, we luck out with a little bit of warmth. When we were outside taking pictures, one of the bridesmaids brought Abby her leather jacket. I HAD to take advantage of that! The pictures of the bride in a leather jacket ended up being some of my favorite portraits to date!  

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Wedding Reception

Once we had finished taking wedding portraits, we headed to the VMFA for the reception. I loved how much love and thought had been poured into the details for their wedding reception. There were so many small touches that showed how much Abby and Adam appreciated the love and support they got from their families. There were two birthdays on their wedding day: the bride’s father and a friend. Abby and Adam made sure to announce them and they celebrated with cupcakes! Abby’s aunt had passed away, and a tree was planted outside the VMFA in her honor. We made sure to take a family portrait there to honor her memory on this special day too. There was also a guest with epilepsy, and they were considerate enough to talk to me about it ahead of time so I could be cautious with my flash use. Little things like that really showed how sweet and considerate Abby and Adam truly are.

I loved being the wedding photographer for this Richmond wedding filled with love, joy and laughter. Abby and Adam, thank you so much for inviting me into your lives to capture this beautiful day. Thank you also to Shawna, my second photographer who did an amazing job.

716 Thimble Shoals Blvd., Ste C, Newport News, VA

heather@heatherhughesphotography.com | (757) 870-4006

Office Hours | 9am - 6pm (by appointment only)

 

Voted the Knot’s “Best of Wedding Photographers” | WeddingWire’s “Couples Choice” Award

Virginia Living Magazine's "Top Wedding Vendor" | VA Small Newspaper Photographer of the Year Wedding Photojournalist Assoc. Blue Medallion Award