Dominion Valley Country Club Wedding Photos: Katherine & Chris

I was SO READY as I was driving out to the Dominion Valley Country Club for Katherine & Chris’s wedding last Saturday.  They were wedding number two of my very first double-header weekend, but I knew their energy would rub off on me!  Kathy & Chris are just FUN like that.  Plus, my longest running roommate was a bridesmaid, and I knew I would be seeing lots of Sigma Kappas that I got to know during my Richmond years.  😉  I felt like this wedding was destined to be one for the books . . . and I was right!

Katherine and Chris are actual #couplegoals.  They are so fun and silly together.  They just seem to CLICK.  It’s hard to describe, but when you’re around them, you just know that these two are made for each other.  Maybe the best way I can tell you how they love each other is to show you photo after photo of absolute JOY on their faces!!

Katherine & Chris,

I am SO GLAD that I got to be a part of such a happy, fun, joyful wedding.  🙂  I don’t think Berlin is ready for you two!!

xoxo, Shalese

Vendors

Photography | Shalese Danielle Photography

Venue & Catering | Dominion Valley Country Club

Dress & Veil | Celebrity Bridal, Chester, VA

Jewelry | Kendra Scott

Hair & Makeup | Up Do’s for I Do’s

Flowers | Sam’s Club

DJ | D.J. Rich

Cake | Edibles Incredible Desserts

Bridesmaids Dresses | Azazie, Show Me Your MUMU, Nordstrom

Formalwear | David’s Bridal

Invitations/Paper Goods | Minted

Matches & Coozies | Etsy

Photobooth | Cap City Booths

Boathouse at Sunday Park Wedding Photos: Heather & Aaron

I LOVE a Friday wedding!  And when it’s a sweet couple on a beautiful day??  That’s even better.  🙂

Heather & Aaron put so much thought and love into every bit of their wedding day.  They included so many fun details like oyster shells for guests to sign, lobster mac and cheese, and gorgeous succulents & florals from Flowers Make Scents.  I’m not going to lie, these are some of my favorite detail shots to date! 

Enjoy a “few” of my favorites from Heather & Aaron’s wedding day!

Heather & Aaron,

Thank you so much for making me a part of your big day!!  I hope you are LOVING Greece!!

xoxo, Shalese

Vendors

Photography | Shalese Danielle Photography

Venue | Boathouse at Sunday Park

Wedding Coordinator | Johanna Lassiter

Dress |Essence of Australia at Tiffany’s Bridal

Shoes | Badgely Mishka

Jewelry | Nadri

Hair & Makeup | Avenue 42 Style Studio

Floral Design | Flowers Make Scents

Band | The Finns

Cake | Pearl’s Cupcake Shoppe

Bridesmaids Dresses | Bill Levkoff at Tiffanys Bridal

Groomsmen and Groom Attire | Michael Kors at Tiffanys Bridal

Invitations/Paper Goods | Shine Wedding Invitations

Transportation | James Limousine

Honeymoon | Santorini, Greece

Stover Hall Wedding Photos: Rachel & Paul

I have been waiting and waiting to share this Stover Hall wedding!!  Not only did it mean shooting at a new (to me) venue in the mountains, it also meant shooting for a fellow photographer and friend!!  Paul and I took a few photography classes at JMU together, so it was SO easy to work with him and Rachel.  He even sent a Google Drive folder full of photos at Stover Hall for my reference.  I knew exactly what I was walking into on Sunday!

Sunday started in the best way, in my opinion: mountain views!  The cool thing about Stover Hall is that your family and friends can stay on the property, so the whole weekend had a very fun, family-oriented feel.  🙂

Rachel & Paul,

Thank you so much for having me along for this ride!  (Another bike reference, get it?! haha)  I hope you’re having a ball in Asheville!!

xoxo, Shalese

Vendors

Photography | Shalese Danielle Photography

Dress | Specially Hers, Baraboo, WI

Venue | Stover Hall

Accessories | made by the bride’s mother

Shoes | Cole Haan

Hair & Makeup | Liz Miller

Floral Design | Bloominous

DJ | DJ Gbaby

Cake | made by the bride!

Caterer | Valley Pig Pickin’

Bridesmaid Dress | Azazie

Groomsmen and Groom Attire | Indochino

Invitations/Paper Goods | Vistaprint

Favors | Confetti Cookies baked by the bride

Honeymoon | Asheville, NC!

The Weekender

Why are weekends so much shorter than week days?  I really don’t think it’s fair.  I’m dead set on enjoying these last weekends of August because September is packed full of weddings.  The time for Netflix binges, afternoon ice cream cones, and lake days is growing short!

  • A few Fridays ago, Robert and I braved the storms to go see Incredibles 2!  It was, as expected, adorable.  I totally want to see a short film of Edna & Jack Jack’s babysitting adventures.  Edna is my favorite.
  • Can you believe it’s been 14 years since the first Incredibles?!
  • That weekend, we took Rory to the lake for the first time!  We had taken him to a pool, and he hated it.  But when we got to Lake Anna, he RAN right into the water! 
  • I also took the first step toward making him a kayaking dog.  He only dove out twice! haha It’s not easy to paddle with a puppy in your lap, but that’s where he’s happiest!  He’ll be a water dog in no time.  🙂
  • Remember when I talked about working toward a healthier lifestyle?  I never thought I would be able to change my tastebuds.  I mean, the thought of eating a pepper would make me literally gag.  Now I chop peppers and toss them into any old thing.  I also eat Brussel sprouts.  I love them.  Sauté those suckers with some honey or chop them into a hash with fried egg?  Amazing.  And trust me, I NEVER saw that coming.  It’s never too late to learn to love new things!
  • I’m also drinking Perrier with lemon when what I REALLY wanted was a fountain Coke from McDonald’s.  So much progress.
  • Yesterday was another rainy evening, so I finished the Stevie Nicks biography I found on super sale last week.  😉  
After our lake day, we got Rory a life jacket. We are obsessed.

The Weekender

Happy Monday!  I have a lot of things to say this Monday, so let’s jump right in the deep end with my exciting weekend of . . . . cleaning?  😉

  • Adult Confession: I spent most of Saturday afternoon deep cleaning my apartment, and it was GLORIOUS!  Robert took Rory to play with Cedar, so I was able to get so much done without a little fluff trying to bite the vacuum.  I think it’s truly a mark of getting older that I found so much satisfaction in cleaning.
  • But honestly, there is something so beautiful about clean surfaces!  My kitchen island, the bathroom counters, the dryer . . . all clear.  Yes, I do have a habit of leaving clothes all over the dryer.  Can’t even get to the lint trap.  IT’S A PROBLEM.
  • I also organized my makeup, nail polish, magazines, winter blankets, and fridge.  It was rejuvenating.
  • I am SO EXCITED to be reunited with my BFF, Chloe, this week.  We are going to catch up, show her around Orange (thrilling, haha!), and talk WEDDING INVITATIONS!  Because duh . . . who else would do our invitations?? 🙂
  • Would having Rory’s face on the envelope liners be too much? hahaha
  • You may have seen on my Insta story last week that I got a great deal on a big crate for Rory.  It’s here, but I can’t bring myself to switch it yet.  I’m not ready to move him out of his baby crate.  Is this what parents feel when their babies move into big kid beds??
  • I also got my She Reads Truth Bible the day after I ordered it.  Free one day shipping is a gift from the Lord.  😉
  • In all seriousness, this new Bible has already been a game-changer.  It’s silly, but having a beautiful new book has motivated me to start reading the Bible for the first time in my life.  I’ve never read the whole thing or even tried to do an kind of study.  Now I’m doing Hannah Brencher’s Bible study . . . that I got back in February.  AND IT ROCKS.
  • I finally understand what people mean when they say it’s a “living word.”  You really can relate this 2,700 year old book to your life.  It’s almost scary how much so many things apply.  Hannah’s study started off as a study on our social media use, and MAN does God have a lot to say about being obsessed with ourselves & other people.  It’s like he knew Instagram was coming.  😉
  • Ok, last thing, the one I’m MOST excited about: I’m sponsoring a child!!  Yesterday was Sponsor a Child Sunday at Lifepoint.  We partnered with One Child Matters, and our church sponsored over 600 children.  SIX HUNDRED!!  The girl I chose is from Cambodia.  Her name is Sreynich, she’s 8, and she hopes to be a nurse.  I’m going to help get her there.  🙂

How cute is she??  I’m really excited to write letters and learn more about her.  She also shares a birthday with my best friend, so we’re meant to be.

And of course, no Weekender is complete without photos of Rory.  😉  He turned 4 months old yesterday!!  Pardon me while I cry — my baby is getting so big!