Wow, Nicole and Eric faced some wedding planning challenges most couples never face. Not only were they planning through a pandemic, a tropical storm also decided to make its way to Alexandria on their wedding day. When I contacted Nicole back in April to tell her we were expecting and that our due date was less than a month before her wedding day…she was calm, cool, and collected. We discussed the ongoing pandemic, as the state of Virginia was under a state-at-home-order at the time, and commented on the fact that we were sure everything will have calmed down by the time the fall rolls around…little did we know!

Nicole and Eric both work in the medical field and are in and out of a hospital everyday. Because of this, they were extremely conscious of the virus as their wedding date approached. They downsized their wedding day from 100+ to about 25. They both were COVID tested prior to their wedding day, and everyone followed mask protocols throughout the day.

While it wasn’t quite the celebration they had originally envisioned, they navigated the day with grace and love, always asking how they could help others feel more comfortable and making sure to keep their guests’ health at the forefront of every decision. Seeing them interact with their family and friends showed me that they are in exactly the right careers—serving and caring for others.

Eric and his son, Isaac, got ready at their home, while Nicole was getting ready in her childhood with her mother and aunt by her side. Something about the quiet, intimate moments with just your closest family near is just so…comforting…on a wedding day. There’s not much hustle and bustle like there is on a traditional wedding day with a wedding party. When I walked into Nicole’s parents’ house it was just like I was home.

Whenever a couple has heirlooms they are including in their wedding day, I am always sure to photograph them. The gold bracelet Nicole is wearing belonged to her grandmother. Not only that, her mother and aunt also had ones which they wore to the wedding in her memory as well. Her earrings were her “something borrowed” from her aunt who also wore them on her wedding day. Lastly, she also attached her great aunt’s sapphire to the lining of her dress as her “something blue.” Possibly my favorite part of Nicole’s bridal attire, however, was her veil. Her mother hand-stitched her veil just for her, and I find that oh so special…shr created an heirloom for future generations!

They were married at the church Nicole grew up attending, under a tent to protect them from the rain coming down, before making their way back to Nicole’s parents’ house to celebrate with their immediate families over pizza delivery, cake, and champagne!

When Eric went to pop the champagne…get this—the cork BROKE! Now, if that is not the most typical 2020 thing to happen, I don’t know what is!

Despite a pandemic, tropical storm, and uncooperative champagne corks, Nicole and Eric are MARRIED and very happily so! Thank you both and your families for allowing me to be a part of your wedding day!