No. VA Wedding and Ft. Belvoir Reception Photographs by Tracey Attlee

Congratulations to our latest Northern Virginia bride and groom Meg and Jeremy!  Grace Episcopal Church, a historic stone structure in Alexandria, VA made a beautiful backdrop for photography of Meg wearing her own mother's sweeping lace wedding mantilla.  Meg and Jeremy's was a picture perfect October wedding day, complete with romantic photographs of the couple by the Potomac River at sunset behind Ft. Belvoir Officers Club.  Expressive roses and orchids designed by Mike Lucas and his team at Brookhill Event Florals figured in the bridal bouquets and centerpieces at the couple's Ft. Belvoir, Mt. Vernon Ballroom reception.  Brian Jones of MyDeejay provided plenty of mood with music for cocktails and dancing throughout the night.

For a sneak peek at some of Attlee Weddings and Portraits favorite photographs from Meg and Jeremy's Northern Virginia wedding and reception at Ft. Belvoir, have a look here:  Meg and Jeremy

Tracey Attlee of Attlee Weddings and Portraits is a No. VA wedding photographer and former White House photographer known for good quality work and attentive service to each wedding couple.  Attlee has photographed DC, VA, MD and DE weddings for over 20 years and has a second office on the Jersey shore for NJ, PA and NY weddings.

Tip for the Bride on Veil Placement

In the 25 years Attlee Weddings and Portraits has photographed DC and NY brides we’ve seen enough wedding horror stories to write a book. While we are sworn to secrecy, here is one we will tell: the continuing saga of the misplaced bridal veil. Set too high it falls into the bride’s eyes, too low and it falls off of her shoulders, set incorrectly and it takes on curious angles, dangles, sags and tumbles. In a stiff breeze a misplaced veil can blow off into the branches of a nearby tree! Save the inelegance and consider this advice from experts:

Pamela Vito and her mother Hannelore own the Alexandria, VA bridal shop Hannelore’s, an Old Town institution for the past 28 years. “We recommend our brides leave inserting the veil to their hairdresser. The veil comb is curved to follow the top of the bride’s head, the crown. The veil should be placed high above the mass of the hairdo so it floats down over the bride’s shoulders. Never put the veil below the mass of the hairdo or it will simply follow behind the bride like a tail. The veil is meant to circle around the bride’s shoulders, to hang evenly in front of her. If the bride plans not to wear her veil during the reception we recommend she place a hair ornament, a back piece, just above her hair mass to complement her dress in the back and keep a finished look when she removes the veil for her reception.”

Our photographs below will illustrate Hannelore's major points:  set the hair piece above the mass of the hairdo, set the veil comb at the crown of the bride's head, see the veil encircle the bride's shoulders.  One additional tip is to secure the comb of the veil at the crown.  We've seen some hairdressers secure the veil comb with cross placed bobby pins.  Others make a small ponytail with a little rubber band and secure the comb into that at the crown, the theory being the rubber band will stay in place and not slip.  Again, as Hannelore's recommends, leave this to your professional hairdresser.

Hannelore’s of Old Town is on 106 North Lee Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 Tel: (703) 549-0387
Attlee Weddings and Portraits thanks our above model Margot Locker, Ines DiSanto for her gown “Collette”, Erin Cole for this veil “Sparkle” and Hannelore and Pamela Vito of Hannelore’s.
Tracey Attlee has photographed brides and weddings from northern Virginia and DC to Philadelphia and New York for 25 years and is a former White House photographer in Alexandria, Virginia. Attlee's wedding photography is on the web site www.TraceyAttlee.com