Tucked away in Madison, Virginia lies a hidden gem where Mark + Kenna tied the knot. The romantic and elegant venue is called Early Mountain Vineyard.

This black tie wedding had all white florals, black and white details, glowing candles, and one of the most lit receptions I have ever photographed.

This day was simple, yet elegant.

Timeless, yet romantic.

Black tie, yet insanely fun.

I photographed this day in a documentary style, but focused on an editorial style when it came to their portraits. From the moment I walked in to the girls suite early this morning, the feeling was fun, candid, and raw — so I chose to document it that way. I didn’t force moments to happen this day. I stood back with my camera ready and watched beautiful smiles, tears, hugs, and laughs occur. For their portraits after the ceremony, I used mostly flash as the sun had already set and because of that I chose a more editorial feel. Simple yet bold poses that when captured with flash looked like a vintage vogue wedding cover. This created images that could stand alone. I wanted to capture the true whites of her dress, the dark blacks of his tux, and the grandness of the rooms we were in. It was a whole lot of fun shooting that juxtaposition on one single wedding day. To me, it made their gallery feel full and feel exactly like Mark and Kenna wanted it to.

I hope you can feel these images <3

Photographer: Chandler Rae Photo

Venue: Early Mountain Weddings

Dress: Lovely Bride DC