Happy Tuesday friends! Today I am thrilled to share with you the first wedding of 2018… Matt & Carrie’s Winter Naval Academy wedding.

I have to admit, I’ve been looking forward to this day ever since Carrie first contacted me about photographing their wedding! You see, Carrie was a bridesmaid in a wedding I photographed almost 3 years ago (Brent + Emily, how did that go by so fast?!) and we’ve kept in touch online ever since! That whole bridal party was so sweet and endearing — they certainly left an impression on me!

Fast forward to Matt & Carrie’s day when I walked into the bridal suite… it felt like a family reunion in there ;) So many sweet girls were loving on Carrie and helping her get ready.  From her mama & mother-in-law, to her sisters and amazing friends, Carrie got ready to marry her groom with her most important people surrounding her.

And she was beaming.

Despite the rainy weather and a less than ideal wait in the rain to get into the chapel, nothing could stop this bride from smiling!  Her energy spread to everyone she was around!

And then Matt showed up ;) I’ll tell ya what, just when I thought that Carrie couldn’t have been more joyful, I think Matt almost outdid her! He was so excited to see her and a smile literally never left his face.  One of my favorite moments of their day was the look on his face as he waited for her to greet him on the other side of the door to pray together before the ceremony.  They didn’t see each other before the ceremony, but they took some time together to privately dedicate their marriage to the Lord.

It was such an incredible way to start their day!

The rest of the day was just a beautiful celebration of a really incredible couple.  From the beautiful heirloom mink that belonged to her grandmother to the kindest bridal party, everything about this beautiful Winter Naval Academy wedding was perfect.  It was everything Matt and Carrie deserved and more!

M&C, I’m wishing you two all the happiness in the world! No matter who I talked to on your wedding day, everyone of your guests agreed – the phrase better together encompasses you two.  Who could’ve ever imagined, since you two are both so incredible apart?  I can’t wait to see how the Lord continues to bless you guys and use you two, even more now, as husband and wife!!

A HUGE THANK YOU TO THE INCREDIBLE TEAM WHO MADE MATT & CARRIE’S WINTER NAVAL ACADEMY WEDDING DAY SO SPECIAL:

Venue: US Naval Academy & Officer’s Club // Hair: Mindy Whalen // Make-up Artist: Judee Jo Makeup //  Floral Design: Rhonda Kaplan //  DJ: Mike Blaufeld  // Catering: Naval Academy Club // Photographer: Lauren R Swann // Second Photographer: Tricia Oxford