I’ve been dragging my feet when it comes to posting our wedding portraits because this part of our day was disappointing. Who am I kidding? This part sucked. When we planned a vineyard wedding, at a vineyard that was built overlooking land that had meaning to us, we imagined taking pictures among the vines with the Blue Ridge Mountains behind us. Because of the storm that came through the area in the hours leading up to our ceremony, I spent our portrait sessions pretty much standing in the same spot, holding my dress up so it didn’t get soaked.
At one point while we were taking portraits, the rain started to fall again. Thank goodness Jeanne Cusick of Cville Makeup stuck around because my hair was looking terrible by the end of our pre-ceremony portrait session. Not that I cared. The rain had changed everything, but I just wasn’t going to freak out about the details any more. I honestly just wanted to get married and was in a tunnel by this point.
Looking back, the two images below make me laugh because they show my bridesmaids holding their bouquets up high and then dropping the bouquets down. Oddly, holding a bouquet low is something that I was told to do when I had a modeling gig as a child and I’ve never forgotten it.
Bouquets high
Bouquets low
Did you notice that we’re missing someone? Our third groomsman, who was carpooling with others, was a little late. Apparently, some people didn’t think the timeline that our DOC Amanda Gray put together was really serious about taking pictures at 3:30 PM when the ceremony was at 5:30 PM. Luckily, everyone showed up soon after we took those pictures and Mr. Mink got to pose with the guys while I was back in the bridal loft getting my hair fixed.
DJ Best Man, Mr. Mink, GM Luke Groomswalker, and GM Blue
I think the pictures of us with our niece and nephews are my favorites from the whole day. I love these kids so much and I wish I could scoop them up in hugs right now.
The boys loved the flags and boutonnieres I made for them.
We knew there would be a game time decision about whether my youngest nephew would be walking down the aisle. He was a little overwhelmed by all the activity and stayed perched on my brother’s arm for the afternoon.
By the way, Sister Mink had my newest nephew this past September. I happened to be in Boston on a business trip when he was born and got to hold him when he was less than 24 hours old. I can’t wait to show him that he was at our wedding.
Mama Mink looked beautiful. Unfortunately, Pippin Hill has a drainage issue to work out and the little road at that led from the parking lot to the venue had a pool of water at the bottom. Mr. Mink ran to carry her over the pool when she arrived, but she decided to walk through the grass before he got to her. The bottom of her dress was soaked in our pictures. I still think her dress was stunning and it dried out by ceremony time.
And in the close up pictures of me with my parents, you’d never know they were a little water logged.
The pictures of us with Junior Mink are some of our favorites. Having a dog at a wedding isn’t for everyone, but we loved having our golden retriever make a brief appearance during the ceremony.
So there you have our not-so-perfect portrait sessions. I often say that perfect is boring, but I was hoping our portraits would be a little closer to perfection. By the time we were done with post-ceremony pictures, Mr. Mink and I were more than ready to get the party started.
All images by Elisa B Photography
Did you miss a Merry Mink recap?
I think you look stunning! I know that holding up your dress feels less than ideal, but it shows off the fabric really well, actually. And the best part is that you look HAPPY in all of these photos! I think the mountains look gorgeous in the mist… almost like a painting.
And, I love the Hooray banners! Might have to steal that idea!
Awww, that’s stinks about the weather but honestly you holding your dress up really shows the gorgeous texture. The lighting was REALLY nice! Sometimes too much sun can be bad for portraits.
So nice to log in and see a post from you!! I’ve been missing you, Mink.
Your photos are so lovely! I know they weren’t exactly what you had hoped for, and I’m sure you were disappointed, but you wouldn’t know it from looking at these- you are so beautiful and happy!!
yay!
Also, can you tell me why you suggest holding bouquets low? I noticed in one photo I have where my arms are low that it make my arms look fat because they were pressed against my body!
You look stunning Mrs. Mink!! Love the close up one of you, you seem so happy!
I love your Moms dress, and you can’t tell it’s wet at all! Even though the weather was less than ideal, these pictures are beautiful. You look so incredibly happy in all of them! You can tell you weren’t letting the rain bring you down!
@Sunnybrook: We were up on Boston visiting my nephews a couple weeks ago and the middle one ran away at one point and came back waving one of the flags. It was so cute!
@lealorali: It was definitely easier to smile without the sun beaming down on us!
@mtnhoney: They weren’t what we planned, which is why I was so reluctant to share them…but they are part of the day and in the end, it was a wonderful day. 
@lealorali: I think a lot of people say you should hold your bouquet low so you don’t cover up too much of your dress.
@Schneewittli: I was hoping everyone would see my little nephew, holding onto my brother for dear life in that picture!
Even with the rain, I still think these photos are absolutely stunning!
BEAUTIFUL photos Mrs. Mink! I look at these photos and I can’t even tell that it was raining. All I see is a gorgeous bride and her beaming groom (and a stunning wedding dress too, of course!). I would never have known that these photos weren’t your plan all along!
I think we all end up having personal reservations about our couple portraits in the end. 
I really think your photos are gorgeous!
You look gorgeous in all of your photos! I love your color scheme too–I can’t wait to see more!
I absolutely love the solo picture of you Mrs. Mink! You look gorgeous and so happy. Truthfully you would never know that the day wasn’t perfect because the photos are beautiful.
I know you were disappointed in your photos, but I think you guys look amazing! I agree with Bracelet… I absolutely HATE our portraits… I was feeling so nervous and you can totally see it in the photos. My face is tight and I just look stiff, uncomfortable and not at all excited to be married! Instead I just focus on the candids taken after the ceremony… I was bubbling with joy and so happy in those photos! 
I love your pictures. Everyone looks happy, wet or not! And I love your pup. So great that your Golden got in on the action too.
We have a reddish Golden too!
a lot of these are winners, and it’s hard to tell what the weather is like at all! you still got some of the gorgeous backdrop and you, of course, look stunning.
These are ALL gorgeous! All I see are beautiful, happy smiles from you and your family, not the rain at all. The pictures with Junior Mink are so cute!
I love your pictures, they’re gorgeous. The pictures with Junior Mink are so sweet. I love that you could incorporate him!
I’m sorry you weren’t feeling your portraits but they really are beautiful! I am in love with your dress too!
You look happy and in love. You’d never guess what you were feeling or thinking then.
Mrs. Mink, Charlottesville, Virginia Age and Occupation: 34, College Administrator Fiance's Age and Occupation: 40, Craft Beer Consultant Engagement Date: November 26, 2010 Wedding Date: June 2012 Venue: Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards About Me: I left a pre-war brownstone in Boston six years ago to live in a funky, Southern city where Thomas Jefferson, Dave Matthews, and urban chicken keepers enjoy equal social standing. I still love my Patriots and Red Sox, but have fallen in love with Virginia. I work in education and specialize in integrating technology into my work to improve the student experience. I’m a diehard blogger, animal lover, jamband follower, and DIYer. I paint to relax and have transferred by energy from home projects to wedding projects in recent months. When Mr. Mink and I started talking about marriage, we knew our wedding would be outdoors, that my golden retriever would be part of the day, and that the music would be fantastic. We’ve taken a few risks during our planning process and we’ve been enjoying the process immensely!
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