Camping.  Since having my daughter, over four years ago, we have only gone camping once.  I used to camp in primitive campsites, or on rare occasion, backpack overnight.  Having a baby just changes everything, but as she is getting older I really want to share some things that I have always loved with her.  Getting outdoors is definitely one of those.

I was a little scared moving the Washington DC area that there would not be much hiking or camping.  I have been so pleasantly surprised that there are tons of parks, and trails.  Plus being out in Virginia gives me a pretty quick escape to Shenandoah or West Virginia.

Over a year and a half ago, we took the little one camping for the first time, in Oregon.  We made sure the place had bathrooms, and big drive up sites.  We bought her a children’s sleeping bag from REI, and she helped put up the tent.  We roasted marshmallows.  We had an absolute blast.

Somehow time has passed, as it tends to do too quickly.  This winter, I insisted we buy a new family tent big enough for all of us to be comfie in, and I finally replaced my 10+ year old Cats Meow sleeping bag.  (It served me well for many trips, including a few snowy nights and a particularly wet cold one in the Olympic Mountains that hubby may never forgive me for.)  Yesterday we went through our basement, and had fun sorting through all our camping stuff.  I dedicated a corner of my office so it’s easy to toss it all in the car, and am very excited for our first spring trip!

Here’s a photo from a hike in Washington at Mount Saint Helens.

I crossed the Chesapeake Bay Bridge for the first time on my way to Love Point.

I don’t like driving on bridges very much, and as most of you probably know, this one is very long.  The view though… I wanted to just pull over and watch the sailboats.  When I got onto Kent Island in Stevensville, Maryland, I followed my gps directions.  I instantly felt the relaxation of the beach, driving down the quiet streets.  My gps led me to the intersection of Love Point Road and Old Love Point Road.  There was no mansion or wedding venue in sight.

Luckily, there was a small country store.  They noticed me pull up and came out to my car.  I guess I was sitting in it fidgeting with my gps for a bit too long.  I got out and was greeted by a very nice woman.  At first she had no idea about a place for weddings.  Then I told her about how it was a private home and just sold, and she knew the story.  Gotta love small towns!  She said she was pretty sure of the street but went to ask someone else.  Another lady came out and told me which way to go, and to be sure to follow the road as it winded around, not to turn off anywhere. She told me to look for the biggest house at the end.

A few minutes later I found the street and followed it towards the water.  Suddenly a deer was stopped in front of my car staring me in the eyes.  I had braked instinctively before I even realized what was happening, and think I missed him by about 2 inches.  He seemed to realize it too by the look he gave me.  I looked around and saw I was driving through corn fields on both sides of me.

Shaken, I slowly proceeded and easily spotted this beautiful mansion.  The front has a pull through driveway, with an open field backing to a row of tall trees and another field filled with tall corn stalks.  Walking into the stately entrance, the room opens to a view of the Chesapeake Bay.  As you walk through the great room, you see a massive round balcony, bigger than the yards in most suburban homes.  The balcony has a view of the bay and the Bay Bridge.

Stairs proceed down on both side.  They bring you to a covered area under the balcony, and acres of waterfront land.  This wedding had the ceremony setup near the water, and a huge elegant tent on the other side of the grounds.  There is a little sandy beach area, complete with adirondeck chairs, and a pier to walk out further on the water.

I will share photos soon!  In the meantime, check out their website.  (It is actually  even more impressive than it looks online too!)  It’s an amazing venue combining the best of nature and the elegance of DC, less than 30 minutes from Annapolis, and right around an hour from DC or Baltimore.

Update: Wedding photos can be seen here.

Here is a photo of one of the wedding guests holding the bride and groom’s baby daughter. The contrast of this substantial man with the delicate precious little one is what I adore here.

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This was a big celebration. Danica and Alphonse had over 300 guests, and the family cooked all the food! Not only did they cook it but it was amazing. I only sampled a little, as I was busy with the wedding photos of course, but there were piles of choices… meat patties, rice dishes, dough balls, and all sorts of Nigerian specialties.

I didn’t get to try the beautiful cake but I did sample a tiny little chocolate pastry. It was the richest chocolate I’ve ever tasted, and I am really hoping the bride and groom will share their baker’s name with me.

The wedding was like nothing I have seen before. From the breaking of the kona nut, to the parents’ speeches, and the multicultural dance, which was the highlight of the reception for me. (More about the dance in a later blog post.) I am honored to have been chosen to photograph such a unique multicultural celebration!

It was my first trip to Battle Ground.  Until now, it was just a sign on the freeway while driving from Portland to Seattle.  I was amazed at how rural it gets so quickly.  We were 30 minutes from downtown Vancouver and the community has sprawling fields and farms.  I love exploring.

I got to the bride’s home as she was walking in from getting her hair and makeup done.  I asked how she was doing and her response was, “nervous”.  The house was filled with family, friends, and lots of little ones, including the bride and groom’s own baby, Lillian.  As most of Danica’s bridemaids were helping her, one was off to the side getting Lillian dressed.  I took a few seconds to grab some images of this precious moment.