The COVID-19 pandemic taught us all a lot about smaller weddings. That they are just as meaningful, beautiful and special as bigger celebrations was perhaps the most important lesson. That all that really matters is that the two people marrying love each other and want to spend their lives together. Perhaps that is why many couples are still opting for smaller gatherings after restrictions have gone. As wedding professionals, we have also seen how certain venues are absolutely perfect for these more intimate events. Places like the DC War Memorial, for example, are too cozy for big, traditional weddings. They are just right, though, for the “new normal.” Another smaller venue, Fathom Gallery (near Logan Circle in DC) has emerged as the “go-to” location for scaled-down marriage celebrations. As we were reminded when we photographed Annashea and Jose’s lovely spring Fathom Gallery micro wedding.
Fathom Gallery’s Unique Bridal Suite = Great Getting-Ready Moments
As we have mentioned elsewhere, just about every part of Fathom Gallery’s layout is one-of-a-kind. You’ll find no ceremony location more unique than its rooftop garden, for example. (More on that below.) Similarly, the venue’s main interior area effortlessly marries Fathom Gallery’s present and past – hip artistic space and auto repair shop. It is also something of a blank canvas; couples can decorate its walls with their own photos.
Surprisingly for such a cozy venue, Fathom Gallery also has a bridal suite. Even more surprisingly, it’s pretty large! It was a little bit of a squeeze, but Annashea, her mom, two bridesmaids, a couple of makeup artists and the two of us all managed to fit in the space.
As always, we were very glad that we had the opportunity to document the getting-ready portion of the day. We often tell prospective clients that it is the part of the wedding day that often produces the most memorable moments. Why? Because it is one of the only times when they can be with those closest to them. And Annashea and Jose’s wedding was no exception. The interactions the bride had with her mom and her good friends while getting dressed were really sweet. We especially loved the moment when Annashea’s mother gave her “something blue” to wear – a fat blue plastic ring that put a smile on everyone’s faces! Similarly fun was when one of her bridesmaids got tangled up in the bride’s extensive veil.
Jose’s getting-ready was also fun, though much more low-key. He and his best man got into their suits in the room adjoining the bridal suite. Highlights of that process included the two consulting YouTube to figure out how to fold pocket squares and Jose’s future father-in-law helping ensure the groom’s suit was lint-free.
First Look Outside Fathom Gallery
One of Fathom Gallery’s other distinctive features is the narrow staircase that runs from 14th St. NW up to the indoor event space. It is something that most other wedding venues don’t have, and therefore it’s perfect for one-of-a-kind wedding photos. Especially of a first look. Shots of that moment look great when one person is descending a staircase behind the other. So naturally, we used Fathom Gallery’s unique layout to create a visually striking first look.
Private Logan Circle Wedding Ceremony…
After their first look, Annashea and Jose followed us to nearby Logan Circle. Both the bride and groom are fairly shy people. As such, they wanted to exchange some more personalized vows away from their family and friends. Though Logan Circle is technically quite public, it offered the couple the relative anonymity they were looking for. None of the people enjoying the unseasonably warm April day noticed as Annashea and Jose read extremely sweet, touching and often funny letters to one another.
…Followed by Fathom Gallery Micro Wedding Ceremony
From there, it was a short walk back to Fathom Gallery for Annashea and Jose’s exchange of vows in the presence of their family and friends. Just like every other part of their Fathom Gallery micro wedding, their ceremony was intimate and personal. Almost everyone present was either immediate family and close friends of the couple. Including the service providers! With the bride’s brother officiating, we and Fathom Gallery’s excellent staff were the only “outsiders” there. And even we were more involved in the ceremony than we usually are. Pete dusted off his rusty Spanish skills to translate the vows for the guests who didn’t understand English well.
Following the exchange of vows and rings, which were punctuated by lots of moments that left the couple and their guest laughing, the whole micro wedding moved to Fathom Gallery’s indoor space for the formal family portraits. We normally don’t have a lot to say about that part of a wedding day. But you never can tell when memorable moments are going to happen. Such as when a bridesmaid decides to photobomb a family picture and ends up doing the splits unintentionally. Which is what happened at Annashea and Jose’s Fathom Gallery micro wedding! (It was even more important to capture that moment because the bridesmaid in question was a surprise attendee.)
Logan Circle Wedding Portraits…
The final part of Annashea and Jose’s Fathom Gallery micro wedding day was the taking of their couples portraits. To get a bit of variety, we decided to do a little “mini-tour” of the surrounding Logan Circle neighborhood. The area offers a nice mix of city and nature, of colorful murals and leafy trees. We took full advantage of this diversity in creating beautiful Logan Circle wedding portraits for the couple.
…And Watermelon House DC Couples Portraits
Our favorites were the ones we took at The Watermelon House, a local institution. (The name comes from the side of the building the owners painted to look like the inside of the eponymous fruit. It is a famous destination for social media photos in which people are leaping into the air in front of the mural.) Annashea and Jose’s Watermelon House DC couples portraits were everything you’d want from those kinds of images – fun, colorful, happy and creative!
A huge thank-you to this lovely couple for letting us be a part of your very intimate Fathom Gallery micro wedding! It was an enormous honor to be among the very select group allowed to witness your celebrations!
Vendors:
Venue: Fathom Gallery
Hair and Makeup: Top Style Salon
Cake artist: District Donuts
Contact Us for More Information!
Interested in learning more about our services? Please visit our Wedding Photography FAQ page for answers to all your questions! Ready to inquire about our availability on your wedding date? Contact us now to get the conversation started!
Recent Comments