Crystal & Michele | Pier 5 Wedding in Baltimore

Posted on Feb 3, 2015 in Same-Gender Weddings, Weddings | 15 Comments

same sex wedding in baltimore mdGosh, I don’t even know where to begin with Crystal & Michele’s beautiful winter wedding at the Pier 5 hotel in Baltimore, MD. When Melissa, from Melissa Grace Weddings, invited me to come and photograph a wedding with her, on a Monday, I was totally down! Usually weekday weddings are saved for elopements or destination weddings, so I was curious… why a Monday wedding? As it turns out, Michele and Crystal were married after dating for 7 years- to the date! How awesome is that?

It was my first wedding of the year and, I won’t lie, this wedding set a pretty high bar for the year to come. Not only is Pier 5 an amazing wedding venue, and Melissa a blast to work with, but Crystal & Michele are way too much fun! The two are so in love and so in-tuned to one another. I loved watching their subtle interactions with each other and they brought me to tears several times throughout the day .

I hadn’t met Crystal and Michele yet, and when I first arrived at the hotel, I saw two ladies, just hanging out in the lobby with their hair done. Naturally, I assumed they were bridesmaids, since we were no where near the first look portion of the day. As it turns out, those two beauties were Michele & Crystal! These two are so awesome, they spent their *entire* day with each other, hanging out and enjoying the day together. They did each others’ make-up and kept each other laughing and calm all morning.

While Melissa photographed the gowns, I got to play with shoes and jewelry! Crystal wore green accents and Michele word red. I love that their details were similar, but different.

wedding rings with shoes green and red wedding shoes green and red wedding shoes
After the girls where done their hair and make-up, we did split them up while they got dressed and ready for their first look.

bride in mirror Bride getting ready at Pier 5 Bride getting ready at Pier 5

Bride getting ready at Pier 5While Melissa finished up with Michele, Crystal & I headed downstairs to get ready for their first look!

Side note: Couples often say that they are hesitant to have a first look, because they worry it will lessen the moment when they first see each other at the aisle. And yet, here Michele & Crystal had spend their entire morning together, only being separated for about 20 mins after getting in their wedding gowns, and the tears were still flowing through their entire first look. (mine included). (*Spoiler alert* they cried again later at the alter.) I just love these sweet first look images!

brides embracing at Pier 5 two brides hugging bride wiping away tears two bridal bouquets Bride smiling same gender wedding flowers for same gender wedding flowers for same gender weddingBride smiling same gender wedding flowers for same gender wedding flowers for same gender weddingAfter their first look, we headed outside, where it was a *wee bit* chilly. But hey, that’s Baltimore in January! It was worth it though, as we got some beautiful images of Michele & Crystal.

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After these sweet photos, it was time to head inside and warm up before their ceremony.

Pier_5_wedding_ceremony_Baltimore_md-101pick a seat not a side signPier_5_wedding_ceremony_Baltimore_md-102There was so much laughter and tears of joy throughout the ceremonylaura cannon marries two bridesbrides laughing during wedding ceremony brides crying during ceremonyMrs. & Mrs. two bridesCrystal is a state trooper and these two actually met when Michele was working as Crystal’s dispatcher in Annapolis. So, it only seemed fitting that they include the cruiser in some of their wedding photos! It was cold, but Crystal and Michele were troopers (no pun intended) and they rocked these portraits.
same sex wedding in baltimore md same sex wedding in baltimore md same sex wedding in baltimore md same sex wedding in baltimore md same sex wedding in baltimore mdAfter we finished up outside, we headed inside, to warm up for some more portraits. The lobby at the Pier 5 hotel in Baltimore is a stunning place for wedding photos!

Pier 5 lobby wedding Photos Pier 5 lobby wedding Photos Pier 5 lobby wedding Photos Pier 5 lobby wedding Photos

Pier 5 wedding in baltimoreAfter we finished photos, it was time to head up to the reception. Michele & Crystal did all of the centerpieces and table decorations themselves and they did a fantastic job! Everything was perfect.

escort cards cake pops for christmas wedding sweet heart table wedding cake from sugar bakers wedding cake from sugar bakersSeriously, how sweet are these two together?

first wedding dancefirst wedding dance first wedding dance first wedding danceThen it was time to PARTY!!! Crystal and Michele had so much fun and it was great to see them really enjoy this time with their friends and family. I also *may* have had a little too much fun at the reception. The DJ played my jam and we reconfirmed that I still don’t know how to wobble. *Adds ‘learn to wobble’ to my goals for 2015

same gender weddings in baltimore people dancing on dance floor wedding reception dancing at pier 5 in baltimore wedding reception dancing at pier 5 in baltimore wedding reception dancing at pier 5 in baltimore wedding reception dancing at pier 5 in baltimore wedding reception dancing at pier 5 in baltimore wedding reception dancing at pier 5 in baltimore wedding reception dancing at pier 5 in baltimore wedding reception dancing at pier 5 in baltimoreAfter the night was over, we snuck outside for the coldest nightshots…ever. My fingers felt like they were freezing to the camera, but Crystal and Michele didn’t seem phased!

night time wedding photography in Baltimore night time wedding photography in Baltimore

Melissa, thank you so much for inviting me to photograph Michele & Crystal’s fabulous wedding at the Pier 5 hotel in Baltimore with you. I had so much fun! And Crystal and Michele- I’m so glad I was able to be a part of your big day. I wish you both nothing but the best and a lifetime of love and laughter.

 

Vendors:

Photographer: Melissa Grace Weddings

Venue: Pier 5

Florist: Flowers by Judy

Dresses: David’s Bridal

Ceremony Officiant: Laura Cannon of Ceremony Officiants

Cake: Baltimore Cakery

Cake Pops: Stephanie Allen

Music: Music Masters

Second Photographer: Jennifer Smutek

Photography Assistant: Kelly Anderson

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15 Comments

  1. Natalie
    February 3, 2015

    Wow!!! This wedding is incredible! Such a gorgeous day and two beautiful brides!

    Reply
  2. Angie
    February 3, 2015

    Beautiful wedding photos! I love all the details! Baltimore is lucky to have you!

    Reply
  3. Laura
    February 3, 2015

    I love the details here ! and the matching dresses are awesome!

    Reply
  4. Laura Carlson
    February 3, 2015

    Oh my goodness, this is absolutely beautiful! The brides are gorgeous! Every detail is perfect, what a lovely day!!

    Reply
  5. Trina Dinnar
    February 3, 2015

    You did an amazing job capturing this Baltimore wedding! Your photography really captures the essence of their day :)

    Reply
  6. Caitlin
    February 3, 2015

    aww such an emotional first look! you did an incredible job capturing such a beautiful couple.

    Reply
  7. Cyd
    February 3, 2015

    Gah! These are seriously stunning. I LOVE the silhouette shot (and all the others, but especially that one). The Baltimore wedding circuit is lucky to have you – Pier 5 looks like an amazing place for a wedding!

    Reply
  8. Krista A. Jones
    February 3, 2015

    I love their coordinating dresses and colors! What an amazing wedding!

    Reply
  9. Lauren Swann
    February 3, 2015

    Wow! What fun colors and details!

    Reply
  10. Michele
    February 3, 2015

    Thank you so much Jennifer Smutek for being a part of our special day!!! We enjoyed meeting you and having you as our second photographer for the day!! You were awesome and we hope to stay in touch!!! P.S. it’s OK if you had some FUN at the reception, we wouldn’t want it any other way ;-) We hope you can make it when we get to see our wedding pictures with Melissa. We are just so excited to see them all!!! Thank you again!!

    Reply
    • Jennifer
      February 4, 2015

      Michele, I am so happy I could be a part of your big day! I can’t wait to see the rest of the images from Melissa, too and I will certainly stay in touch!

      Reply
  11. Sarah Borchgrevink
    February 3, 2015

    Congratulations to Crystal and Michele! What a beautiful event! The lighting is fantastic in these Baltimore wedding images. Such a fun wedding!!

    Reply
  12. Nicole
    February 3, 2015

    What an amazing wedding! I love the colors and the images are stunning! What a perfect Baltimore wedding!!

    Reply
  13. Corey
    February 4, 2015

    What a beautiful Baltimore wedding! Love that they chose Christmas colors for their winter wedding and the Pier 5 hotel looks like an amazing venue!

    Reply
  14. Chris the Wedding Guy
    February 4, 2015

    Great couple to work with and fantastic photos!

    Reply

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