We can’t believe how big Gavin is getting!

Check out his 8 month slideshow!

The post Northern VA Photographer | Bebe Coterie Baby Plan | Julie and Gavin| 8 month Baby Portraits appeared first on Ever After Visuals.

As soon as the cars were parked, Matthew happily made his way down the crowded streets of DC.  A big smile crossed his face.  Nina rushed to give him a hug.  “We haven’t seen each other all week!” she exclaimed.  He bent down to give her a kiss.  And as I looked over at Mindy, I knew she was thinking the same thing I was … that these two are so in love.  And this is going to be an amazing engagement session.

And amazing it was.  As Nina and Matthew walked through DC, the sun was slowly setting.  It was beautiful.  We got to know a little bit more about them, like how they met:  At a friend’s wedding in the Dominican Republic.  They made numerous trips back and forth from Boston to DC to see each other.  Throughout all the long distance dating, these two have not only found love, but have allowed it to thrive.  Nina also told us about her trip to Trinidad and how she fell in love with the people, with the dancing on the streets, and with the culture she found there.  When she met Matthew, who is from Trinidad, she knew that he was the one for her.

Thank you both for letting us get to know more about you!  We cannot WAIT to photograph your wedding!! xoxo

Take a look at the SNEEK PEEK slideshow we did for Nina and Matthew!

Best,

Mindy & Joriana – Contact Us!

View Our Portfolio | Order Prints | Ever After Portraits |

The post Washington, DC Engagement Photographer | Nina and Matthew appeared first on Ever After Visuals.

We are so excited to announce that today, it’s being published in In Bliss!
Please be sure to check it out here!

Best,

Mindy & Joriana – Contact Us!

View Our Portfolio | Order Prints | Ever After Portraits |

The post PUBLISHED! In Bliss, Nikki and Mike appeared first on Ever After Visuals.

Immediately after its opening in 1925, the Mayflower Hotel was known as the “Grande Dame of Washington, D.C.,” boasting more gold than any other building in the country except for the Library of Congress. Just four blocks from the White House, this grand, historic hotel remains not only a place to make history but to absorb it; throughout the last 80 years the hotel has hosted events that have changed the course of human affairs.

Mayflower Ballroom

Walking into the Mayflower is like walking into a dream. The chandeliers, the general opulence of each room begs for you to stay longer. We absolutely agree with this description: From historic architecture to lavish décor and opulent ballrooms, The Mayflower® Renaissance® Washington, DC Hotel is truly a Grand Hotel fit for the most exquisite of storybook wedding events. Royal amenities await your wedding guests – from valet parking to luxurious guestrooms.

Mayflower ballroom, Bergerons flowers, Chuppah

One of our past brides, Eneida, requested an after session at the Mayflower and the staff there was quick to give their permission and accommodate us.

The Mayflower Ballrooms are some of the most unique in Washington. Each ballroom is different and each offers a mystique and elegance like no other. Each ballroom also tells stories of histories past. Many notable figures have graced their hotel.

Exquisite coral floral arrangement provided by Bergerons at the Mayflower, designed by Christi Lopez

But there’s so much more than just the Hotel’s outer appearance that we love.

I’ve always said, what separates a mediocre hotel from an extraordinary one, are the staff. And the staff at The Mayflower are absolutely incredible! Everyone is not only very informative and helpful – they go beyond just being polite. They are warm, friendly and really make you feel like you’ve come home.

Here’s what some past brides have shared about their experience at the Mayflower:

“…it was absolutely AMAZING !!!!!!! EVERYTHING down to the last detail was perfect.”

“The catering team and chef prepared the best meal, display of food and service we could have asked for.”

And we know why. It’s because everyone at the Mayflower understands brides and is dedicated to providing each with exquisite service. We spent some time with Cliff, Ron and Jimmy a few days before the bridal show and got to hear their plans for the event.

Every detail was thought of, and a plan put into place to carry it out. You could really see the thought and effort behind everything – from the Bellinis and Macaroons that were served to each Bride that came to the show, to the lavish display in each room of ceremony and reception decorations. Much time, effort was spent to make every attendee who walked through the door feel cared for and appreciated. Each person was greeted warmly, and we watched as the stream of brides kept coming — and why not? Who wouldn’t want to have their wedding among the opulence and sophistication that is the Mayflower

Ron, Cliff and James are will make you feel welcome at the Mayflower, D.C.

Bergerons at the Mayflower is the on-site, exclusive Floral Design team adds to a no-stress experience by working with brides to create unique, elegant, and contemporary floral designs and will deliver floral items to the Church or ceremony venue.

The Mayflower experience provides a unique elegance that will ensure your dreams will indeed become a reality.

The post Venues We Love: The Mayflower appeared first on Ever After Visuals.

Being one of Northern Virginia’s finest Wedding vendors, Jessica Pi Productions sets an industry standard when it comes to videotaping events.  A video done by her will be classic, and elegant and will also reflect your personal tastes and be a cinematic reminder of your story.  And each wedding that’s covered will always have a second person videotaping for the ceremony.

Jessica also sees the importance in getting educated to follow your passion.  As she learned the “why” of film, she says it taught her to be able to dissolve and plan effectively.  As a result, she has been able to own and operate a very successful video production company.  Each wedding that Jessica videotapes takes 40-60 hours to edit.  That’s a lot!  Ever After Visuals, being photograhers, can appreciate the effort and time that Jessica puts into tellling the story of the day.

Many clients go through their big day thinking that they will always remember everything.  But there are simply too many details.  As months turn into years, the memories become a little fuzzy.  Jessica remembers many couples, who after their wedding regretted not having a video to sharpen the fuzzy lines around some of the fondest memories of their lives.   With Jessica, the client gets included in their video whatever they want.

We got a chance to interview Jessica and here’s what she said:

How do you describe your “style”? Cinematic is the first word that comes to mind. Having worked in the film industry, and studied filmmaking, I think I am always looking to make a movie of the day’s events. 

What keeps you passionate about weddings? Every one of them is different, in terms of every couple being different, but every one is the same in terms of them all being so filled with love and joy. It’s a wonderful feeling being part of such a happy occasion, and that never gets old.

Are you seeing any trends emerging in 2013/2014? I think now that the majority of people own HD TVs and Blu-Ray players, not only is HD becoming the norm, but I think moving pictures are becoming more valued.  The idea of watching the movie of your wedding day is more exciting with such high quality footage.

What distinguishes you from other vendors in your profession? Film and video production has been my passion since I started producing for a local TV show when I was 16.  I have worked continuously since then in the film and video industry and, after learning film theory and production techniques at NYU Film School, have continued to learn and grow as a motion picture artist.

What is one piece of advice in your profession that you feel you should share with every bride?  Hire a professional videographer. I know that seems self serving, but, honestly, whether a couple hires me or another professional, I really believe it is so important to capture the sound and movement of one of the most important days in your life.  A professional will know where to place microphones to get the best audio of the vows and the toasts, will know where to stand to capture the most perfect images of your first kiss and will be able to stay out of the way of guests having a great time at your reception while still recording the kind of footage that you and generations to follow will love to watch for years to come.

Outside of weddings, what brings you joy?  Spending time with my husband, family and friends.

Where can we find you online?

www.jessicapi.com

www.facebook.com/jessicapiproductions

www.jessicapi.com/blog

So all in all, we loved learning more about Jessica Pi Productions, and hope you did too!

The post VENDOR LOVE: Jessica Pi Productions appeared first on Ever After Visuals.

What we love about Jennifer:   We love vendors who are generous — and Jennifer is one generous gal.  She generously hosts an event called Thursday Therapy for wedding professionals — how kewl is that?  But not just once, EVERY month!  We respect, admire and love working with vendors who understand that brides are looking for a team to make their wedding day dreams come true and they are willing to cooperate for the benefit of the bride to make her day go off without a hitch.

Jennifer, the president of MyDeejay, oversees all day-to-day operations of the company, including talent management, client service, marketing and public relations.   She also matches each client to someone from the list of 15 DJs that are employed by MyDeejay.  Besides being the president of MyDeejay and all that involves, Jennifer also has other projects such as writing a blog called “WeddingIQ”;  acting as host for Thursday therapy, which is a local networking concept.  She also serves as the Media/PR chair for the Wasington, D.C. chapter of Wish Upon A Wedding.  And on top of all that, Jennifer also offers small business consulting services.  Whew!  Jennifer is one busy lady!

Now, you understand why we say “impressive” and we haven’t even gotten to our favorite part yet!

MyDeejay has some of the most outstanding reviews on Weddingwire.com!  I didn’t read all of them because there were 426!!!  But … the ones I did read were glowing!  Take a look at this one:

“MyDeejay was a joy to work with. The owner, Jennifer, contacted us quickly after our initial inquiry and immediately set up a meeting with a DJ. We had Michael Bell for our both our ceremony and reception. He was amazing. He listened carefully to our preferences, was very well prepared and professional, and played a fantastic, fun playlist of songs. We received numerous compliments about the music, including a guest who said it was as if he was “playing the soundtrack to our lives.” This was not easy considering the mix of generations and cultures we had at the wedding. We would highly recommend him and MyDeejay.”

We think that one of the reasons that Jennifer Reitmeyer stands out in the crowd is because she believes in company values.  And picking the right people.  Each potential DJ goes through an apprenticeship for one year which includes classroom training.  On the day of the wedding, not only does the chosen DJ arrive an hour early.  But Jennifer also hires another DJ just in case something were to happen.  This backup DJ has all of their equipment ready and the set-list loaded so that in the event that the original DJ had an emergency occur, it would be seamless and easy for the backup DJ to step in.

Even the little details are taken care of.  Small things that you probably wouldn’t think of such as the pronunciation of the bridal party’s names.  The DJ chosen for the wedding/event AS WELL AS the backup DJ both have everything needed for the gig — JUST in the off chance that they are needed.  How’s that for prepared?

Jennifer wanted MyDeejay to be different from other vendors that provide  Wedding DJ services in the Washington, D.C. area.  What sets them apart is their reputation for being respectful with a ‘if you see something that needs to be done, jump in and help’ kind of mentality.

And here’s some questions that brides might also have that Jennifer graciously took the time to answer :

How do you describe your “style”? Our DJs are, without exception, polished, professional and unobtrusive, yet they know how to keep the dance floor packed by selecting and mixing great music that appeals to a wide variety of guests.  We also take great care in understanding our clients’ music tastes and in respecting those tastes as we develop the playlist.  We’ll never play any songs the couple has asked not to hear!

What keeps you passionate about weddings? Honestly, the love and excitement that our couples experience throughout their planning, and of course on the big day itself!  What we do never feels like work, because we’re getting to provide the soundtrack for a couple’s biggest day.  Being part of something so important and intimate never gets any less rewarding!

Are you seeing any trends emerging in 2013/2014? Our clients have always placed a high priority on music — that’s a big part of why they choose us, because we share that passion! — but we’re seeing couples put more effort than ever into personalizing their playlists.  Not only are they making sure their music reflects their own tastes, but they’re also incorporating music that highlights their heritage or that holds personal significance to their loved ones.

What distinguishes you from other vendors in your profession? We place a huge priority on customer service, and especially on developing a bond with each couple. Couples are matched with a DJ based on their music tastes and any preferences they have regarding the DJ’s age and personality, and they get to speak in-depth with their DJ before signing a contract.  That DJ is then available to them anytime throughout their planning to provide music suggestions, planning advice, and anything else they need.  We consider ourselves to be our clients’ partner in creating an amazing playlist, and a resource to them for all aspects of their day.  We’re thrilled that many of our couples stay in touch long past the wedding day, and many consider their DJ to be a personal friend for life.

What is one piece of advice as a DJ that you feel you should share with every bride?   My advice is that all couples ensure they know exactly *who* their DJ will be before they commit to working with a company.  Music and emceeing is such a huge part of the wedding; it sets the tone for the entire event.  It’s so important to make sure you have a great connection with your DJ and that you are guaranteed to have that particular DJ on your wedding day!

Outside of weddings, what brings you joy? My two beautiful, fun, energetic sons (ages 3 and 6) keep me super busy! I also am training for my first triathlon this summer and do volunteer work with kids in foster care.

Where can we find you online? Website: http://www.mydeejay.com; Facebook: http://facebook/com/MyDeejay; Twitter: @MyDeejay

Thanks, Jennifer,  for letting us get to know more about you and your business!

The post VENDORS WE LOVE: MyDeejay, Washington, D.C. Wedding DJ appeared first on Ever After Visuals.

Jennifer and Dan’s wedding in the Clarendon Ballroom was one of our favorites! We are so excited to announce that today, it’s being published in Head Over Heels!

Please be sure to check it out here!

Best,

Mindy & Joriana – Contact Us!

View Our Portfolio | Order Prints | Ever After Portraits |

The post PUBLISHED! Head Over Heels, Jennifer and Dan appeared first on Ever After Visuals.

The year 2013 marks the 25th year Christi Lopez has been a floral designer. That’s a long time! Over 75% of businesses don’t make it past their first 5 years in business. That’s crazy, right?! So when I see businesses like Christi’s that have not only made it past those first trying years of business, but have grown and thrived, I applaud them for taking the industry standards and raising the bar.We had the wonderful opportunity to get to know Christi a little more and hear about her business and how it started. Christi’s Mom is her biggest fan, and for good reason. Christi, together with her Mom started designing flowers from their home.  As time went on, Bergerons grew and the ‘Bergeron’s Bride’ became apparent.

Christi and her mom, who helped Christi get her start in floral design.

Christi is an incredibly hard worker as we got to see firsthand when we saw some of her creations that decorated The Mayflower for the recent Capitol Bridal Show. When I looked at each table, all I could say was “Wow”! As wedding photographers, we have seen many floral designs … but we’d never seen any as beautiful or unique as these.

Unique and beautiful florals from Bergerons at the Maylower

One of the reasons we feel so comfortable recommending Bergeron’s for florals design is that we share a lot of the same philosophies on how brides should be treated.  Christi also puts in a lot of effort meeting with each bride, and understanding what she would like to see on her wedding day.  After each client meeting, Christi makes a recipe for each design then adds that to a spreadsheet. That way, the design is not left to only one person.

Unique and beautiful florals from Bergerons at the Maylower

Also noteworthy is Christi’s most recent location: The Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC. She was chosen out of many shops who bid to get that location. Christi’s dedication to detail – which is very evident in her work really sets her apart. She also really CARES about her brides and what they want. Christi tell us, “ I want to see how the bride is going to react when she sees her bouquet, and walks into the reception.” Whatever is most important to the bride, she makes sure that’s taken care of.

This unique coral design is unlike anything we’ve ever seen — Bergerons at the Maylower provides florals that always have a unique look

Christi explained that many of the brides that see her come in with an idea or even an image that they’ve torn out from a magazine to show  the feel they would like for their wedding day. The difference between hiring a florist like Christi at Bergerons and going to Costco is really as different as night and day — and it’s all in the process. Christi knows by looking at those images if the flower will be available in the month of the wedding, whether it will do well, if the weather is particularly warm as it is in the summer months, etc.

One of a kind florals — sophistication hand delivered! Have you ever seen anything so beautiful?

She also individually times EACH flower to make sure that the peak of being open is exactly when the bride needs it.  It’s that attention to detail that we love and why we feel so enthusiastic about recommending Christi.  Why add all that worry and stress about which flowers will look good together, their blooming times and which flowers are in season when you can have an experienced professional like Christi take care of everything for you?  AND each flower will look perfect, no wilted edges – in fact, they looked so perfect that when we saw her work, we had to reach out and touch them just to see if they were real!

We would be remiss to not mention the amazing staff at Bergerons as well. Everyone we’ve met has been helpful and great to work with.

Thanks again to Christi, Heather, and Aden,  Erica, Amanda,  Elizabeth, and last, but not least, Christi’s Mom.  Christi has a great team.  They all work so hard and we feel that the quality of their work shines through.  Thanks for making our job so much easier with such beautiful displays to photograph!

XOXOXOXOXO

Mindy & Joriana

The post Vendors We Love: Bergerons’ Floral Designs appeared first on Ever After Visuals.

Jessie and Dan’s wedding at Raspberry Plain was one of our favorites! We are so excited to announce that today, it’s being published in Delightfully Engaged!

Please be sure to check it out here!

Best,

Mindy & Joriana – Contact Us!

View Our Portfolio | Order Prints | Ever After Portraits |

The post PUBLISHED! Delightfully Enaged, Jessie and Dan appeared first on Ever After Visuals.

The post 2013 Wedding Trends: Why They Should Matter to Brides Like You appeared first on Ever After Visuals.