A Maryland Courthouse Wedding

      Orla and Pat made the decision that more engaged couples are choosing every year and endulged their simplistic side with a Maryland courthouse wedding. With two little ones on their hips and a few beloved family members in tow, Orla and Pat took the big plunge into wedded bliss in downtown Bel Air in Harford County, Maryland. Our whole party arrived prior to Orla and Pat’s courthouse appointment to take some wedding photos as everyone collected their nerves and the little ones got their wiggles out. It was a beautiful chilly autumn day with a breeze that blew Orla’s short veil and tea length white gown in a playful way that made photographing her a really fun experience while we waited. One of the features I love so much about Maryland court house wedding season is to really dig into the documentary side of wedding photography. There is something that feels almost chic and timeless about black and white photos of a bride and groom walking down the street in a city to go get hitched. In this case, my first chance at documenting this sweet Maryland courthouse wedding in all it’s chic and romantic splendor was a picture of the bride, hand in hand with her 3 year old son, taking a playful and leisurely walk to the bathroom for a potty break before the nuptials. It was the sweetest moment that went to nicely with the photos of the bride and groom holding hands to walk across the alley street to enter into the courthouse for their Maryland courthouse wedding. For information about weddings in The Armory or your own Maryland Courthouse Wedding, visit the town of Bel Air website here. 

Inside the courthouse there is a very official government desk area where the bride and groom check in for their marriage ceremony while the family, friends and photographer get to enter into a small chapel room where many couples have their wedding ceremonies for their Maryland courthouse weddings. The back wall of the room boasts being entirely built of windows, letting in a decadent amount of light from a photographers perspective! A large mirror stood against the back wall behind the giant, ancient book sitting on a podium. Hundreds, maybe thousands of other couples stood side by side at the podium to write their names in the book registry for those getting married at a Maryland courthouse. It was an honorific moment as we all paused to watch the bride and groom write their names, wondering how many couples before them had done the same. There was so much history in one book that Orla and Pat were able to add their piece of history to when they looked past the big ornate party wedding and went with a simplistic and sweet Maryland courthouse wedding instead. Although we spent time taking wedding photos in the beautiful room while we waited for the officiant, the ceremony did not, in fact, take place in the little courthouse chapel. Orla and Pat wanted to be outside in the quaint little area we all love around here; Downtown Bel Air. The officiant followed our small group outside where we stood across from the Maryland courthouse in a little common area with a fountain. Their wedding ceremony was elegant in its simplicity and imperfection. The wind tugged hard at Orla’s veil but she and Pat were completely unperturbed as they looked at each other with such tenderness, respect and deep friendship. Crumpled fall leaves swirled around us all as we watched the magic of two souls publicly declaring on a street corner that they would never let go. In sickness and in health, in good times and bad, through windy days and sunshine, they would always choose each other just like they did that day at their Maryland courthouse wedding. 

The short ceremony was over and with much excitement I stepped back to document the joyous hugs, tears, laughter and jokes that jumped between the couple and family like electricity. Passersby on their lunch breaks waved and shouted congratulations, cars driving by honked their horns in celebration and Orla glowed in the ambience of her wedding day. We casually traveled on foot to a few different areas of Downtown Bel Air to take couples photos and a few solo bride and solo groom photos. A lovely feature of a Maryland courthouse wedding instead of a full regalia wedding is the ease with which we can move through taking photographs of the bridal couple. There is no rush when you don’t have a venue timeline to stick to, guests to entertain and dances to dance. When couples opt for a Maryland courthouse wedding, the day is simply theirs to enjoy however they wish. Orla and Pat chose to enjoy both posed and documentary style photography which I was very excited about! Both styles of photography are unique and magnificent on their own but so very different. A wedding day of any sort feels incomplete to me without both styles, so I was thrilled that they wanted to go with my vision for documenting their Maryland courthouse wedding the way I felt would be the best way for them to enjoy and remember the day through photography. 

At my suggestion we walked across the street to take some photos in front of the stunning Town of Bel Air mural. It really is larger than life to create meaningful art with photography that includes the work of talented artists as the perfect backdrop! After some very cool wedding photos in front of the Bel Air, MD mural, we excitedly went over to The Armory gardens to take photos of the family as well as photos of Orla and Pat together, where I was happy to also sneak in a few photos of Orla’s brother and his darling boyfriend. Upon finishing all the family photos, the family decided to take the little ones back home to prepare for a very intimate gathering of music, champagne and finger foods to celebrate Orla and Pat’s new marriage, which provided us the perfect opportunity to take a few more solo and couple photos. 

The last thing we did before Orla and Pat left their Maryland courthouse wedding to celebrate in the comfort of their home with their little group of loved ones, I really wanted to get some detail photos. This is usually something done during the “getting ready” phase of weddings, but I simply don’t care. I LOVE detail photos and I feel they are appropriate to take any time at any wedding, regardless of size and glamour. The arches again came in handy here, though less of a major player they were, as I did a lot more focusing and zooming in on little details and some pull backs that focused on the bride or groom rather than the surroundings that framed them. Orla was ready to walk and swish her dress like the first woman to ever wear a dress and I she was GETTING it. You can truly feel the joy that exuded from Orla and Pat in their pictures; I can still feel it when I look at them a year later. 

We met years ago when Orla found me online before I even photographed weddings. She was looking for a family photographer to capture photos of them and their new little boy. Each year I had the pleasure of photographing their family, watching them welcome a little girl and then watching them say, “I do.” in their Maryland courthouse wedding. It truly is an honor to be welcomed in to these intimate memories and trusted with such sacred moments. To contact me to plan your own family photography session or your own Maryland Courthouse Elopement, learn more about me here! 

Do you want to plan your own Maryland courthouse wedding but you aren’t sure where to start? Contact me and let’s get started!