I had the absolute best time celebrating Matt and Joe during their engagement session at The National Portrait Gallery!
This incredible DC spot is one of my favorite indoor locations for portraits—it’s filled with history, stunning architecture, gorgeous light, and so many hidden corners that make the perfect backdrop for sweet moments.
Getting to explore the gallery with these two just about this time last year was such a treat!
We met up one evening late last summer after work, just a few months before their November wedding day, and it was the perfect way to soak in this special season before all the excitement of their celebrations kicked off.
Matt and Joe’s story is one of my favorites— they met the old-fashioned way, yes… in the wild (!!)… at a Memorial Day BBQ! As Joe was heading out, Matt asked him for his number which soon turned to texting and planning their first real date. Their first date was the following Wednesday at Lulus Wine Garden in DC, where they split a few bottles of wine and, as they say, the rest was history.
Fast forward a bit, and their proposal story is just as sweet.
In August of 2023, Matt popped the question in a way that tied into such an exciting season of their lives. The two were in the process of buying a house together, and while the sale hadn’t closed yet, their offer had been accepted. Matt suggested they drive by “just to see it again.” Joe thought they were simply stopping by, but when they got out of the car, Matt had an entire proposal setup waiting. (BRB crying all over again… How romantic is that?!). Even more special—later that year, they said “I do” in an intimate ceremony at that very same spot, before renewing their vows and celebrating with all their closest people at Decatur House in November of 2024!
During their engagement session, we wandered through some of the most iconic corners of the gallery—soaking in the art, finding gorgeous light, and stealing a few cozy moments in the arboretum.
Matt and Joe are kind, so incredibly smart, and such a blast on the dance floor (if their wedding was any indication!). Seeing the way they laugh together and love so effortlessly made photographing them such a joy.
Matt and Joe, thank you for letting me celebrate such an exciting chapter with you. Engagement session at The National Portrait Gallery was an absolute dream, and I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to tell such a sweet chapter in your story together!
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