Pam + Matt

A Loelynn Farms, Hot Air Balloon Wedding | Lovettsville, VA

One couple, two weddings, one on the ground and one in the sky. No this isn’t the start of a Dr. Seuss story book but the amazing description of Pam and Matt’s wedding day! When Pam and Matt first told me about their plans, I was giddy with excitement for them. I love seeing couples get creative and do non-traditional, fun things on their wedding day! So when Pam and Matt told me that they were going to have two ceremonies, a quick legal exchange in Virginia, then rush across the border to Maryland for a second ceremony, a hot air balloon wedding in the sky, I knew this was going to be a special day! My creative soul left my body to sing and rejoice with elation, and watched as my earthly self was left in shock! To say I was excited is an understatement.

Pam and Matt’s first ceremony was held at Loelynn Farms, a beautiful little family owned farm venue outside of Lovettsville Virginia. With Pam and Matt’s closest family and friends, their intimate ceremony was filled with beautiful weather and picturesque blue skies.

As I throw my camera bag into the back seat of the car ( by throw I mean carefully and gently placed), I can feel my adrenaline kick in and my palms start to sweat. Not many people know this but I have two big phobias. Galeophobia, a fear of sharks, and aviophobia, the fear of flying. Now when I say I’m a terrible flyer, I mean I go into straight panic attacks with even the smallest bump of turbulence. So knowing I was going to be hundreds of feet up in the air was making me a little nervous. But my excitement for the opportunity to capture beautiful portraits was all I needed to settle me back down.

As I arrive and pull off the gravel dirt road to our launch site somewhere in the middle of rural Maryland… I see her. No, not our beautiful bride, but the magnificent balloon and her crew. Though she’s not as impressive deflated, I know she is going to put on a show for us in a matter of minutes. As I hop out of my car and introduce myself to our pilot, I start inspecting her. She is a stunning vibrant blue, with a classic rainbow racing stripe running down one side. I’m surprised at the size of her balloon. I run my hands over her thick wicker strands that make up her basket, feeling their strength. In that instant I’m brought out of my haze of admiration and suddenly realize the basket is much smaller than I was expecting. Considering I know there are going to be 6 of us in it. But those worries drift away as I see Pam and Matt pull off the dirt road into the field. It’s showtime!

For those that have never laid witness to a hot air balloon launch, let me just say it’s not as slow and romantic as I was expecting! The process only takes about ten to fifteen minutes before you are jumping in the basket and taking off! It really is amazing. Our take off was smooth and as the basket left the earth lifting to the sky, we transcended to another world entirely. Up in the clouds you are removed from all the noise you didn’t even know was surrounding you. As we climbed through the air we watched our gorgeous field slowly melt into Maryland’s beautiful quilted countryside. We gazed in awe of the kaleidoscope of colors and panoramic views that surrounded us. We found our draft at 4,000 feet and coasted through the air as Pam and Matt had their second ceremony of the day. This time exchanging their own vows of love and eternal commitment, soaring over rolling farmlands and tree tops, watching the sun set over the Blue Ridge Mountains.

It was a magical day all around. I have fallen in love with this growing family and can’t wait to see what the future holds for them! It was such an honor to have been a part of their big day and I cannot thank them enough for taking me along for the ride. It will be a memory I treasure forever! Enjoy my favorites from this beautiful Hot Air balloon wedding!