Travis & Katie:::MARRIED!!!

A whirlwind of a weekend.  That's what best describes this weekend.  Actually, a better description would be "a whirlwind of a week." Washington, DC to Ithaca, NY to Philadelphia, PA to San Juan, PR to Philadelphia, PA and back home to Washington, DC.

Hours of travel - 34

Mileage - I have know idea

Weddings - 2

Pints of Chocolate Milk drank while traveling - 4 (for some reason I love chocolate milk and car rides...weird).

Times I played the ROCKY soundtrack to keep me awake - 1.75

Laptops and hard drives that were stolen while traveling - 2

A whirlwind to say the least and it all begins with the wedding of Travis and Katie.  Travis and Katie are just like Michelle and Brendan - members of the DC Tri Club.  That's how we met, but now that I think about it, I can't remember exactly when we met.  Travis and I have been training partners for some time now, but how that all began...it's tough to say.  I do know I've helped them move into their new home, Travis helped me move into mine, and he's even accompanied me on the last 20 miles of a 50 mile race I ran last year.  So, you put that all together, I guess it just makes sense that I would photograph their wedding.  

But where to have the wedding?  Annapolis? DC? NY? Well, after what sounded like an eternal search for the right venue - Ithaca, NY was the choice and it couldn't have been a better choice.  You must understand, when a member of the Capitol Hill DC Tri Club clan has a wedding, it's not just a day, but an adventure.  People will bike, people will swim and people will run.  It's a training weekend with a wedding thrown in the middle.  And Ithaca provided one heck of a landscape.  You may all know the slogan: "Ithaca is Gorges."  Well...it is.  And I'm not sure if Travis made a deal with someone, but the weather was AMAZING!  Add a few relatives from miles away and an extremely cool venue and you have the makings of a fantastic weekend.  Plus, the John Joseph Inn provided the perfect backdrop.  John & Elizabeth were extremely helpful in every facet of the day understanding exactly what needed to be done to make a perfect day happen.  Not to mention, John was instrumental in getting the picture in the sunflower field.  Thank you John!

What made the wedding great was that is was a weekend.  It wasn't a wedding day, but a wedding weekend.  Memories won't be contained to just one single event but from several events throughout the 3 days everyone was up there.  (OK, I was only up there for 2) But nonetheless, this approach to the wedding provides an ease which most weddings don't have.  So if you're in the market to be married and looking for a place, I highly recommend Ithaca and the Hamilton Farm at the John Joseph Inn & Elizabeth Restaurant.

Take Away: Every wedding I try to come up with some idea that I would steal for my own wedding.  This might be the type of cake or programs or something of that nature. And the winner is: The day of the wedding morning run followed by bagels and coffee.  For me, being a runner first (who loves hills) and a photographer second this was such an awesome morning.  We didn't go out too hard, but the terrain provided all the difficulty we needed.  I was in oxygen debt immediately, but with a mid-run respite at one of the gorges and a later pit stop at the local farmer's market, this run wasn't just social in nature but a wonderful introduction into what Ithaca has to offer.  I would definitely come back and visit and the morning run should be a staple in all weddings. Good call Travis!

Ladies and Gentleman, Travis and Katie.

Sunflower field behind the John Joseph Inn

Yes, those are Travis and Katie's initials. Probably the cutest thing I've ever seen at a wedding.  Love Travis' Mom.

The Inn provided amazing natural light all day long. Loved it.

The Inn just after sunset.  Stunning place to spend the weekend.

Finally, the slideshow.

www.kippierson.com/slideshow/TravisKatie

For more photos, check out:

KIP PIERSON PHOTOGRAPHY
www.kippierson.com

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Michelle & Brendan:::MARRIED!!!

I can't quite recall how Michelle and I met...I think it may have been thru some mutual friends in the DC Tri Club, but I do remember spending a lovely holiday dinner years ago at Michelle's house and having a wonderful time. Ever since then, Ms. Michelle has been a constant voice in my blogging life. A comment here, a "Like" there, and in the end it meant one thing. Michelle became a big fan of my work for a long, long time and she always said I was her photographer should that day ever arise. Well, I was on tour with the Kennedy Center with NOBODY'S PERFECT when the call came. Actually, I think it was an email. It said, very simply, "Guess who's off the market?" Also implying, "I guess I need a photographer." :-)

The day and the weekend were great. We were on a secluded property in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains at the Crimora Mine Retreat. Crimora Mine Retreat is this luxurious log home built a couple of years ago. The private cabin is located on 150 acres of woodland in the Blue Ridge Mountains and being bordered by the Shenandoah National Park and a few miles from the Appalachian Trail, it provides the perfect place for a getaway with family and friends. You can enjoy fishing, hiking, kayaking, and canoeing all while soaking up breathtaking views from this stunning locale. But most importantly, you can have a wedding. And that's what we did.

Take Away: Every wedding I try to come up with some idea that I would steal for my own wedding. This might be the type of cake or programs or something of that nature. And the winner is: Brendan & Michelle. Yes, I know they are people, but as people, friends, drinkers and cheerleaders these two are great. It's really the last part that makes this pick so special to me. From the moment I handed them the engagement photos to the moment I spent in their living room last Wednesday night looking thru every single photo on their 50in TV (Um, way better than anything I have) they have had nothing but a ball of praise for me and my work. If the two of them opened an ad agency I would hire them in a second. What I like best about this enthusiasm was, and I might be speculating here, is that Brendan wasn't too concerned with the photography at first. In fact, he may have been luke warm with the whole concept---understandable, we had only met once before at some DC Tri Club event I think. But when you go over to someone's house and they keep wanting to show you photos they took on the honeymoon incorporating tips and tricks they've learned by looking at your work...well, that is great. Brendan and Michelle are human sound boards in which they sing to the hill tops of your praise. So, if you're listening Brendan & Michelle, and I know that you are, THANK YOU. You are the model client. You have made this experience wonderful. Thank you for inviting me into your home, inviting to your wedding and most importantly, inviting me into your life together.

Without further ado, Mr and Mrs. Anderson.

Having never met the florist, I think Michelle did a wonderful job choosing

No, I didn't stage this. They were already there.

Love it!

The view, the lake, the property all made for a wonderful weekend.  Hooray for Crimora!

So I was riding around on Sunday with the golf cart checking out the property when I came across this fella.

Nighttime at Crimora.

 

Finally, I always do a slideshow. But I've become accustomed to my large iMac 27in screen in my office, so it's a little disappointing to see the slideshow condensed to fit this format.  So.......I've put the blog on my website and you can see it much larger. Thanks.

http://www.kippierson.com/Slideshow/MichelleBrendan/

For more photos, check out:

KIP PIERSON PHOTOGRAPHY
www.kippierson.com

Become a FAN of Kip Pierson Photography on Facebook:
CLICK TO BE A FAN!

Danielle & Jason:::MARRIED!!!