I hope everyone has a safe and Happy Holiday! See you in the NEW YEAR! Merry Christmas!!

Happy Holidays!

Love,

Joey, Kate & Pancakes

Wow, Taylor & Martin are awesome!!! They were my last wedding in 2008, and were just fabulous to photograph! They were the last submission last February for my LOVE contest. When I read their story I knew they were special. I was very happy when my guest judges chose them as the winners. I have included Taylors letter to me so you all can read how their love was made to be:

Our (self-proclaimed great) Love Story:

Almost 4 years ago I was extremely lucky to land a job at a local corporate event planning firm in Washington DC. It was my dream job and I was thrilled to be doing exactly what I wanted to be doing. I work for a talented woman who was one of 5 siblings; her mother came by the office all the time and I got to know her pretty well.

About 6 months after I started working, by boss was having her Christmas party and invited me to come. I went, mingled, ate and was merry. I met 3 of her 4 siblings (all boys). By the end of the night, one of the brothers had me pinned in a corner and between him and his mother they were calling the youngest brother to hurry up and get over to the party because he had to me this girl (me). They were also trying to convince me to stay longer at the party to give Martin (the youngest brother) time to show up.

I thought they were all crazy. I left.

As time passed, I forgot about the infamous Christmas party. About 3 months after the party, the mother would come to the office; she would mention that I should really meet her youngest etc., etc. I didn’t want anything to do with it. I would tell my friends and we would laugh. One day the mother came to the office to drop off dry cleaning for one of the brothers to come and pick up. He came, he picked it up, he said “hi”, he left. It had been Martin (the youngest). I didn’t even look twice, I was working. I loved my job. There was no way in H*ll I was going to meet this guy, I was too driven and focused to let something as silly as a boy get in the way of my job. I gently let the mother down and said thanks anyway.

The year slowly crept by, I dated here and there, I worked hard and then it was Christmas. Another holiday party at my boss’ house. I put on a dress, met up with a co-worker and rode over to the party. I dreaded seeing my boss’ family; I didn’t want them to think I was an awful person for not wanting to meet their son/brother. I mingled, I ate, and I was merry. As I chatted with the mother, a light bulb seemed to go off in her head. “Taylor! Oh!! Come with me!”… This was it. The moment she had been waiting hoping for, for 1.5 years! She walked me over the Martin and introduced us. “Taylor, this is Martin. Martin, this is Taylor. You two have fun!” and walked away.

I gave him a once over, noticed he wasn’t much taller then me, he had a goatee and he was wearing a pink shirt. And tie. I looked him straight in the eye, “OK, let’s get this over with. What’s your deal?” We did the preliminary chit-chat. I wasn’t interested. I liked my job … no I LOVED my job. Why would I want to mess with that by event thinking about getting involved with me boss’ little brother!? As I was about to say nice to meet you and excuse myself, his nephew, my boss’ oldest son, walked up in a Redskins jersey. Both Martin and I went to give him a high five for rocking the jersey at the Christmas party. I stopped. This guy has potential if he was a Skins fan. We talked a little more, about football, for 3 hours. I left; I went home and told my room mate, “It’s too bad he’s my boss’ brother, oh well”.

About a week later I got an email… AN EMAIL asking me out on a date! How cute. I forwarded it to my boss. Naturally. I said how cute. I emailed it to my best friend asking her if she thought he was in 8th grade … asking me out in an email. PUH-lease!

I said yes.

We laughed, we drank and I had a great time. I hated it. I phoned my best friend … “but he has a goatee… and a BLOG. I can’t like this guy.” We went out a few more times, me plotting the entire time how I would end it right before it got serious. That way I could have fun and still keep my job. I didn’t like this guy that much, there was no way I was going to jeopardize my job.

I liked him. DAMNIT.

I gave in. We laughed, we learned, I got my own blog, he grew the goatee into a beard and we fell in love.

He asked me to marry him this past December, the morning before his sisters Christmas Party, coincidentally the same night as my boss’ Christmas Party. (Officially, she is now the same person.)

We love our story because it proves that if you’re meant to be together you will be. No matter how much you fight it, love wins.

Always.

on to the pics!

Tay is Super-bride, she put her dress on herself in about 2 seconds!

their ceremony was so touching!

we went all around the city for pics until the sun set. it was freezing, but so worth it!!

Martin, this pic is for you HOLLLA!

With Taylor being an event planner, and Martin an archetect, I knew their venue was going to be something special, and it really was! The Shakespeare Harman Center is such a unique location. It is all glass on the front, so you can see in from the street. It has several stories, and each was used for the reception. It was so chic and modern, just like them! I loved it!!

they had Redskins themed table names – love it!

the toasts made me cry!

thanks to Kristen for helping me with these pics!

(you can see all their guests partying on the 2nd floor!!)

gorgeous!

i love how silly they are together

how cool is this idea!

Congrats you two!!!

Kyle and Pat were married on 11.15.08 at the always elegant Westfields Hotel in Chantilly. They were very adament about having an almost 100% unposed, PJ style day. I think we all sucedded in making that happen!

I was able to take them around the hotel a bit for a few portraits of the two of them which I really LOVE! Enjoy the images (and thanks for your patience with this blog post!).

i got the guys to hang out next to the hotel bar for me, i love the result.

Pat was looking good!

Kyle’s suite had a small outdoor patio that we took advantage of since it was prety chilly and rainy outside. me likey!

Her dress was a custom Badgley Mischka – swoon! It was so amazing.

time to get married!

MARRIED!

I don’t remeber what was so funny, but it looks funny

SUPER HOT!

the reception room was so chic!

Mr & Mrs!

They caught me trying to be sneaky

The band Mixed Company kept the dance floor rockin all night!

Dress #2 – shake it like Beyonce girl!

it’s times like these that I really wish I wasn’t lactose intolerant!

I love this pic of both sets of parents dancing together.

future clients??

a quick round of duck duck goose while the grown-ups were finishing dinner.

bling-a-bling-bling!

Congrats Kyle & Pat, I hope your honeymoon was as relaxing and sunny as you were hoping for!!!