I close my eyes and the flashback starts…
From the very beginning, I knew this one was going to be special. Esra and John’s The View at Bluemont wedding day was filled with golden love, heartfelt celebration, and so many Taylor Swift Easter eggs that I was grinning behind the camera all day long. These two poured so much heart into creating a day that reflected them—their love story, their favorite people, and their golden girl, Maya, who proudly stole the spotlight as co-MOH.
From the moment I arrived for Esra and John’s View at Bluemont Wedding Day, The energy? The vibes? Immaculate.
No notes. It almost felt like the rest of the world was in black and white, but we were in screaming color.
(And yes—this blog post is stuffed with Taylor Swift lyric references. When you’ve been to the Eras Tour four times and gifted your photographer friendship bracelets at your engagement session, a typical wedding recap just simply won’t do. I tried to italicize any Taylor lyric-inspired references though there is a chance I missed a few— some are a little more hidden than others!)
So… the story starts when it was hot and it was summer. And no, really—it was hot. Esra, John, and their wedding party were absolute champs in the summer heat! I pulled my car off the road to the look out (appropriately named—The View at Bluemont more than lives up to its title) and found a few members of the wedding party poolside, soaking in those June rays. John’s sweet mom welcomed me and led me straight to the most important member of the wedding party—Maya.
For those not yet on a first-name basis, Maya is Esra and John’s sweet golden retriever, co-MOH, and certified good girl.
She greeted me with tail wags and a sparkle in her eye that said, “It’s me, hi, I’m the co-MOH, it’s me.” Naturally, head scratches were the first order of business before I made my way upstairs to the girls’ getting-ready suite. When I walked in, the girls were already in full glam mode and looking absolutely gorgeous— ready to make the whole place shimmer, some may say. Dressed in matching PJ sets with personalized robes on top, they were relaxed, joyful, and counting down the moments to “I do.”
Once Esra and John were dressed in their wedding best (just wait until you see Esra spinning like a girl in a brand new dress—it was everything), they shared the sweetest first look on the side lawn.
It was the kind of moment that makes you pause and soak it all in. You could feel it—the “your eyes look like coming home” kind of love. The kind of love that says, “I don’t wanna look at anything else now that I saw you.”
We headed right into taking some some portraits that had Esra dancin’ in her dress in the sun, Dear John with the biggest smile on his face as he stood hand in hand with his bride looking at her like this love is ours.
Not long after, Maya joined us and instantly worked her way into every frame and heart. (I mean… naturally, just wait ’til you see how cute she is!) She was living her best life in her floral collar, posing proudly with her now-almost-married parents and the wedding party. We wandered the lawn at The View at Bluemont as the summer sun danced across the hillside. Green was the color of the grass beneath our feet, and everywhere we turned, there was an absolutely jaw dropping view. The wedding party was dressed in the dreamiest blend of pinks, mauves, burgundy, and navy—an elegant palette that paired beautifully with the rolling Virginia countryside. The florals, inspired by Taylor’s Lover era, were romantic, vibrant, and everything. Even Maya had a custom floral collar of her own, and you better believe she strutted like the queen she is.
Now… let’s take a moment to remember—it was JUNE. And it was HOT.
Remember when we couldn’t take the heat? (I really just wanted an excuse to use this lyric… in reality, these two and their people were champs!!) We took a little AC break for family portraits, and before we knew it, guests began to arrive.
Esra and John’s ceremony took place under a summer sky so bright it made you say, “Oh damn, never seen that color blue.”
A close friend, who also happened to host the NYE party where Esra and John first met, officiated the ceremony—bringing things full circle in the most meaningful way. This friend really saw them from cleaning up bottles on New Year’s Day to saying I’d marry you with paper rings.
To start the ceremony, Maya confidently trotted down the aisle—ears perked, paws light— like she knew she had a very important job to do. Then, the doors opened, and there stood Esra, arm in arm with her father.
John had already talked to her dad. Esra had picked out her white dress. And it was clear to everyone watching—all along, there was some invisible string tying them to each other.
(Yes, she walked down the aisle to Invisible String. And yes, it was perfect.)
Their vows were personal and emotional—you could hear it in the silence, you could feel it on the way home, you could see it with the lights out… they are in love.
Cocktail hour flowed effortlessly from there—absolutely no champagne problems to be had here. The wine was cold, the company warm, and the joy? Palpable. Esra and John mingled with guests, shared hugs, and took a few portraits before Maya headed home for a well-earned nap— her paw-rents trading in her leash for glasses of sparkling rosé flowing with their chosen family
As they made their rounds, I couldn’t help but think—the planets and the fates and all the stars aligned, bringing these two and their favorite people together under one roof to celebrate the beginning of a beautiful forever.
Soon, it was time to head into the reception, and let me tell you… when it came celebrating, Esra and John’s people were ready for it!
Their reception space was intimate, glowing, and decked out in the most stunning pastel florals. The whole place was dressed to the nines! At every turn, you could feel the care and intention Esra and John poured into the day. Their seating chart read: “And at every table… I’ll save you a seat.” And that’s exactly what Esra and John did! They are just those kinds of people— thoughtful, generous, always making room for the people they love. Their favorite people gathered close around carefully set tablescapes, taking the seat saved just for them, excited to celebrate E + J!
After a heartfelt round of toasts and a first dance to Lover (🥹), the room transformed.
The lights lowered, the dance beats kicked in, and suddenly, the dance floor was alive. It was the kind of night where you just had to pause and smile, because this night was sparkling!
Before the party was really in full swing though, Mother Nature gave us the blues and then purple pink skies and it was time to sneak away for just-after-sunset portraits with the newlyweds! It was peaceful, quiet, soft—the kind of moment that really made me think about summer, all the beautiful times, sunsets, and how these two have loved each other for three summers now, honey, but they now get ’em all. (Ok so maybe the math isn’t exact and neither is the lyric, but is Lover not the sweetest song ever?) We took some pretty photos with the Virginia views and Devon even got a drone out for some iconic portraits.
Back inside, the dance floor was still bumping!
Esra had told me she hoped for a dance floor to remember—and wow, did their group deliver. No one was dancing with their hands tied. Esra and John’s people brought the energy, the big dance moves, the love, and the celebration all night long. Every night with us is like a dream was really the vibe in the room!
Now before I say goodbye, goodbye, goodbye and give you a minute to scroll all of the pretty from their day, just a little love for E + J:
Esra and John—what a joy it was to photograph your day. Your love is grounded, joyful, and full of so much light. You’ve built something beautiful, and it was an honor to help you hold onto these memories— because they’ll hold on to you.
Scroll on for a little preview of your beautiful The View at Bluemont wedding day. Long live all the magic we made.
And just a quick little shoutout to their amazing vendor team:
Venue: The View at Bluemont | Second Photographer & Drone: Caitlin Wilcox Photography | Gown Boutique: Ellie’s Bridal Boutique | Bridal Shoes: Anne Klein | Groom’s Attire: Men’s Warehouse | Floral Design: J. Morris Flowers | Hair & Makeup: Gorgeous Locks and Make Up | Cake: Heidelberg Bakery | Calligraphy & Signage: Live Life Lettered | DJ: Suit and Tie Entertainment | Pet Care and Logistics: Premiere Dog Services (Lorenzo)
Thank you, Esra and John! It was such an honor and a joy to celebrate you two!
If you enjoyed this blog post, you may also like:
Southern Maryland Wedding Photos | Anna and Sam
