Traveling for a southern Virginian wedding, I hopped on a plane and made my way from Rapid City to D.C. Courtaney and Corey found me on Facebook several months before their wedding, and we became fast friends. It turns out, they’re big fans of motorcycles and the outdoors.
With most of my wedding photography packages, the clients are offered a complimentary engagement session. We never thought that was achievable. Then, Courtaney told me that she and Corey were making a trip out to the Black Hills for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally!
Plans began brewing. For months we communicated and created a relationship based on trust. That was so important for working together with the 1600+ mile distance between us.
Stunning Wedding at New Venue
The Barn at Gully Tavern is a fairly new venue for southern Virginian weddings. Nestled in a cozy community outside of the heart of Virginia, I fell in love at the first glimpse I caught. Not only is the barn a stunning site to see, but they also have great areas for the bride to get ready and a little “man cave” cabin on the property.
As always, my favorite part of the day was the first looks. Courtaney wanted to do a first look with both her dad and Corey, and I happily obliged. The original plan was to do both outdoors, but due to the weather, we had to switch it up a little bit.
The little cottage where the ladies got ready had a beautiful foyer and staircase that we used for the father + bride first look. Shortly after they had their moment (take a look at all of that emotion!), we closed off the bridal suite for the first look between the groom + bride.
I love how these two are so personal. They could care less about the camera that is on them at all times. The whole day, they were just happy to be themselves. Courtaney and Corey knew exactly how the other would react and incorporated all of the silliness into their day.
More from the Wedding Day
One thing is for sure, this southern Virginian wedding was not short on laughter or love. I was so happy to be a part of it and cannot wait for Courtaney and Corey’s next trip into the Black Hills.
The Bride Tribe
The Groom Squad
Other Vendors
Venue: The Barn at Gully Tavern
Dress: David’s Bridal
Florals: Lazy Daisy Florist
Catering: Fish N Pig
Sweets: Pearls
Book Your Wedding With Me
Check Availability and Pricing