Mitch and Mariah lived out of town, but were planning their wedding for 2020 in Roanoke, Virginia. I met them in July 2019 when they came to me needing help in planning the remainder of their wedding and wanting to ensure their wedding day had a professional onsite for the day so they could take a deep breath and relax.

Mitch and Mariah had originally met in high school and then had gone their separate ways. They reconnected in college that led them to the day they were to be married. The wanted a winter wedding so they kicked off my wedding season that January. As you head to downtown Roanoke, you will find the City Market Building filled with lots of neat places inside to eat. Travel two floors up and you have a large ballroom that can be transformed into your perfect wedding. With it being a winter wedding, there was some logistical planning that needed to be done for pictures. Winter weddings have limited time with good light, and although against it at first, Mariah shared a first look with Mitch so she could be sure to get the photos she had really wanted of the two of them together. And boy am I glad she did. The photos of the first look, along with the wedding party photos around downtown are some of my favorite of the day.

Emily Hancock Photography was on top of photos the entire day and was amazing at keeping the entire wedding party on schedule and ready to begin the ceremony promptly at 5 PM. A photographer after my own heart for sure! Guests gathered in the ballroom where they watched Mitch and Mariah declare their love for each other and become husband and wife. Afterwards, guests convened one floor down for cocktail hour while we, including the Charter Hall staff, got busy flipping the ceremony space into the reception space. When guests returned, they found the space now equipped for dinner and dancing. The rest of the night was spent enjoying the company of their guests then exiting through the ballroom doors, down the elevator and dodging the rain as they hopped in their car and left for the night as a new Mr. and Mrs.