Brianne and Bryan only had a few months to plan their micro wedding at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens. Bryan serves in the United States Military and was deploying earlier than expected, so the couple decided to opt for a small, intimate ceremony at one of the most beautiful locations in the area. Standing together in front of the iconic wrought iron gate in the Statuary Vista, the two were joined by their immediate family and married by the Bride’s brother on a hot afternoon in July.

I loved the intimate nature of this elegant micro-wedding. It made for many quiet, meaningful moments. When I met up with Bryan to begin the day, he and his soon-to-be brother-in-law were having a relaxing morning watching game shows on television and taking turns keeping the fur family happy. Two dogs and one cat made their way into the wedding day photos with the groom, eager for their own moment to shine. After meeting with Bryan, I made my way to the Delta Bayfront hotel to see Brianne, who had already completed hair and makeup before my arrival. Her suite was quiet and serene as I documented details and she put on her absolutely gorgeous wedding gown. Her mom joined us for the dress and then we made our way to the ceremony site.

It was very hot on their wedding day, but everyone was in good spirits when we arrived. The ceremony lasted maybe 7 minutes (which was exactly what they wanted!) and ended with cheers from their families as they made their marriage official. We spent the next hour capturing their loved ones and their new marriage around their favorite locations in the gardens. It was a perfect day to celebrate their love and begin their journey as husband and wife.

The amazing vendors: Venue Norfolk Botanical Garden // Hair & Makeup Kim Wadsworth // Flowers The New Leaf Ghent