Virginia Beach Wedding at the Lesner Inn

Brides

Oct 5

newlyweds laughing at sunset on a balcony

Megan and Connor’s Virginia Beach wedding was a perfect mix of heartfelt moments, personal touches, and an absolute blast of a party. Their day started at the Delta Hotel Virginia Beach Waterfront, where they spent the night before. With a small and intentional bridal party—Megan’s sister Kelsey as her Maid of Honor and Connor’s Best Man—the morning was intimate and relaxed as they got ready together.

One of my favorite moments of the morning was when Megan helped Connor get dressed before the first look. It’s such a sweet and underrated way to start the day, and I honestly wish more couples would do this!

While Connor finished getting dressed, Megan took her time with hair and makeup before slipping into her gown from Milk and Honey Bride in Virginia Beach. Her final getting-ready moments included both her mom and future mother-in-law, along with Kelsey, her maid of honor.

She kept her look timeless with pearl earrings and a delicate bracelet—classic and effortlessly elegant.

Once she was fully ready, we coordinated their first look just outside the hotel along the pathway leading to the beach. It was such a sweet moment for them to see each other before heading off to church, with waves crashing on Virginia Beach in the background.

Megan and Connor’s ceremony was held at St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church, and was filled with personal touches. Some of the most special moments included readings by both of their mothers and a song performed by Megan’s sister. A

The celebration continued at the Lesner Inn, a stunning Virginia Beach wedding venue right on the water. When I arrived, Megan and Connor were tucked away in the bridal suite, enjoying a beer post-ceremony. With no guests there just yet, we had plenty of time to soak in the moment.

They took a few minutes to practice their choreographed first dance, which was such a fun sneak peek of what was to come later. One of my favorite reception details was their table numbers—each table had baby photos of them at the corresponding age (“when we were 10” for table 10). Such a sweet touch!

Before guests arrived, we stepped outside for sunset portraits on the Lesner Inn’s balcony, with the water as the perfect backdrop. I will always encourage couples to take a few quiet moments together before the reception—it’s such a special way to soak in the day.

Meanwhile, cocktail hour was held downstairs, where guests were greeted with painted oyster shell place settings and champagne. They also had a raw bar and an orange crush bar—so fitting for a Virginia Beach wedding! The reception was everything you could hope for—kicked off by their beautifully choreographed first dance, followed by heartfelt parent dances and a blessing from Megan’s grandfather.

Speeches from their parents, siblings, and closest friends followed and kept us all laughing before the party even started. DJ Melody & Co. was incredible, keeping the energy high all night. I don’t think there was a single moment when the dance floor wasn’t packed!

At the end of the night, the celebration continued at Chick’s Oyster Bar for an after-party filled with even more laughter and catching up. Throughout the day, I worked closely with their coordinator, Noelle from ABC Coordination at Lesner Inn, who was an absolute dream to work with—so organized and kind. Carly, their DJ, was also amazing, and it was such a blast working with a female DJ (which, surprisingly, I don’t get to do often!)

On a personal note, Megan and I go back—we were both in the class of 2017 at the Naval Academy, where we majored in oceanography together and were in so many of the same classes! We also had a few summer programs together, so we were close during those years. After graduation, we ended up on opposite coasts, and life took us in different directions, but the Navy has a funny way of bringing people back together!

Now, we both live in Norfolk/Virginia Beach, and when she reached out about photographing her wedding, I was beyond excited! She wanted someone she trusted and felt comfortable with, which meant the world to me. Plus, our whole college friend group was there, and I even got to catch up with them at dinner instead of the vendor table—such a full-circle moment.

It’s one thing to attend a wedding as a guest, but witnessing it all unfold from getting ready in the morning to the last dance at night, makes it even more special. Megan and Connor, your day was everything and more, and I feel so lucky to have been a part of it!