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Mansion at Valley Country Club | Rand + Andrew | Baltimore Maryland Wedding Photographer

  • Aug 1, 2017
  • 2 min read

“It’s because of me that Rand and Andrew are getting married today”, Rand’s flower girl said. I laughed and listened as she explained that she had been the first one to Facetime Andrew when Rand was visiting. Oh the age that we live in!

Rand and Andrew’s wedding was immersed in tradition from both of their cultures. Rand’s Palestinian culture was represented even as I arrived at her getting ready location, with her family and friends listening to Arabic music and playing drums. I’m convinced that Rand’s family had been celebrating since their arrival the previous Sunday and there was no sign of letting the celebratory spirit fade!

Rand and Andrew were married at their church Saint Mary Antiochian Orthodox Church with a traditional Greek Orthodox ceremony that included the crowning of the bride and groom, the first dance/walk, the common cup. Both Rand and Andrew had tears in their eyes as they met at the aisle where Rand’s father joined Rand and Andrew’s hands. I can’t quite describe with words the level of emotion at this symbolic exchange, but it was beautiful. Some may picture a traditional ceremony as being stiff or cold, but their ceremony was far from it. The rich tradition didn’t dampen the emotion but added to it, as I caught Rand’s bridesmaids and others present to participate in Andrew and Rand’s commitment to love, honor, and serve each other for the rest of their lives.

After the ceremony and family portraits in their beautiful white-walled church, we headed down the street to the Oregon Ridge Nature Center for their couples portraits before heading to the reception. Oregon Ridge was the perfect interlude as I know how much Rand and Andrew love to be outdoors! These two are completely natural with showing their mutual affection and love to each other while having laughing and having fun too!

There is an Arabic tradition called the Zaffah where the bride and groom are welcomed at the reception with celebration and dancing, so as soon as we arrived at the Mansion at Valley Country Club, all of the guests were standing outside, ready to greet the two newly weds! Drums, dancing, love, affection and cultural traditions - these all continued late into the night!

Wedding gown and gold bridesmaid dresses through leaves
Wedding gown and gold invitations
Groom and groomsmen at a bar with rum
hands in and bridesmaid in robes
groom in tux black and white
bride getting ready with help from her mom
casual groom in tux in back yard
finishing details as bride gets ready
bridesmaids see bride in her wedding dress for the first time
bridesmaids helping bride with limo
bride adjusting her veil with pink and burgundy bouquet
details at saint mary antiochian church in baltimore, md
flower girls dropping petals at saint mary's antiochian church
the cutest little ring bearer with bow tie
bride coming down the aisle with her father
groom and bride's reaction seeing eachother
bride down the aisle saint mary antiochian church
symbolic exchange of the father giving away the bride
bridesmaids and groomsmen with burgundy, pink, and blue details
traditional greek orthodox church wedding
traditional greek orthodox wedding baltimore maryland
first kiss of the bride and groom greek orthodox wedding baltimore maryland
joy coming down the aisle greek orthodox wedding baltimore maryland
wedding party inside saint mary antiochian church
wedding party inside saint mary antiochian church
bride and groom inside saint mary antiochian church
bride and groom getting into the limo baltimore wedding photography black and white
oregon ridge bridal portraits on walking bridge in the trees
forehead kiss oregon ridge bridal portraits on walking bridge in the trees
Kisses at oregon ridge bridal portraits on walking bridge in the trees
oregon ridge bridal portraits on walking bridge in the trees
oregon ridge bridal portraits on walking bridge in the trees
oregon ridge bridal portraits under the veil black and white portrait Katherine Elizabeth Photography
oregon ridge bridal portraits by the lake
oregon ridge bridal portraits by the lake Baltimore Wedding Photographer
oregon ridge bridal portraits by the lake
oregon ridge bridal portraits by the lake Maryland Wedding Photographer
oregon ridge bridal portraits by the lake
Traditional Zaffah at the Mansion at Valley Country Club
Traditional Zaffah at the Mansion at Valley Country Club
Traditional Zaffah at the Mansion at Valley Country Club
arrival at the Mansion at Valley Country Club
Porch at the Mansion at Valley Country Club
Details at the Mansion at Valley Country Club
Door of the Mansion at Valley Country Club
Family Wedding Portraits on reception table
First dance at the mansion at valley country club
First dance at the mansion at valley country club
Mother son dance at the mansion at valley country club
mother son and daughter-in-law special moment at the mansion at valley country club
father-daughter dance at the mansion at valley country club wedding baltimore maryland
greek dancing during reception at the mansion at valley country club
on the yellow couch at the mansion at valley country club

underneath the chandelier at the mansion at valley country club

kiss by the stairwell at the mansion at valley country club
drumming and dancing at the reception
all of the rings on the table

Photography by Baltimore and Annapolis Wedding Photographer Katherine Elizabeth Photography

The Amazing Vendors!

2nd Shooter: The Wonderful Erin Duffy

Baker/Cake Artist: YiaYais Bakery

Hair and Makeup: Coco Leigh Hair Boutique

Transportation: Bayside Limo

Jewelry: Smyth Jewelers

Bridesmaids dresses: LuLu's from Nordstrome


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