Three's Company

It's good to be back!

And while you probably thought I was out enjoying the holidays and new year like you guys, I was actually working three weddings in rapid succession. From a Christmas wedding, to a pre-new year's wedding aboard the last surviving Potomac river barge, finally concluding with a new year's extravaganza, there was no rest for the weary. But it was all fun and each wedding, as one would hope, had its own personality.

The holidays began with the marriage of Alicia Glassburn and Matt Biliouris, just a few days before Christmas. Matt and Alicia got married at the historic Old Presybterian Metting House in Old Town Alexandria, not far from Matt Mendelsohn Photography World Headquarters.

There's something wonderful about Old Town at Christmas. Actually, there's something great about Old Town any day of the year. Since moving my studio to the corner of Madison and St. Asaph a couple of years back I've really enjoyed spending my days down there, just a few blocks from where George Washington went to church and Lafayette drank his ale. Old Town also happens to be the most canine friendly city on earth, so Cooper the wonder dog relishes his time there as well. We like to walk past the Olde Town School for Dogs (think Miss Porter's for Fido), with Cooper pulling on his leash and nuzzling every person he passes. The Olde Town School dogs look on with disdain.

Speaking of dogs, that's how I met Alicia in the first place. Every year we have a charity event at the studio, dubbed Photo Marathon, and I shoot endless portraits on an ancient camera, using ancient film. 100% of the monies raised go to a worthy cause. Several years ago, when we were raising money for the sons of Michael Kelly, a great journalist killed in Iraq, Alicia and her dog Paris came by. We've known each other since and it was a pleasure to return the favor, so to speak, and shoot her wedding.



It was a crisp night and the entire wedding party walked the several blocks from the meeting house over to the Lyceum. I don't think I've ever really appreciated how hard it is to play bagpipes and walk for blocks and blocks, particularly when you're freezing you're tush off, so Alicia's friend deserves a lot of credit. It's always fun to see people pop their heads out of their homes when a bagpipe procession goes by, and being just a couple of days before Christmas made this one even more special.

I spent Christmas here in Washington with my family. Alexandra, now 3 1/2, is at that perfect age, as far as opening presents is concerned. She hasn't mastered the art of throwing the wrapping paper over one's head, a la A Christmas Story, but she did scream out "Oh my goodness!" after every present was opened. (An unrelated new line of hers: she loves to tell the same knock-knock joke and each time she says "orange 'ya glad I didn't say banana" she squeals "I got you good, daddy!")



Right after Christmas I had the pleasure of shooting one of the smallest--and sweetest--wedding ceremonies I've seen. Nicki Gonzalez is someone I've bumped into at weddings for years and years. She's the lead singer of The Nicki Gonzalez Band and she has a gorgeous voice. A couple of months ago Nicki e-mailed me to say that she was getting married, though the venue seemed a bit odd at the time. Nicki and Jake had chosen the Gen. Jubal A. Early, the sole remaining Potomac river ferry still in service.

If you've never been on White's Ferry you should definitely check it out. The barge holds only 24 cars and makes the quick trip between Leesburg and Poolesville, MD. in a matter of minutes. What it lacks in glamour it more than makes up for in history. And as an added bonus, the U.S. Coast Guard recently tried to shut the ferry down, employing the tried and true govermental practice of swatting a fly with a sledgehammer, only to find that the ferry's owner was not about to cut and run, to use a term I truly loathe. Long live the Gen. Early!



It's not often you can count a wedding party on one two hands. (It would have been one hand but for the reporter from the local paper who tagged along. He couldn't remember anyone ever getting married on the ferry.) The ferry captain held up cars for a few minutes as we ambled to the middle of the Potomac and began our private little wedding. The river was absolutely still and everything seemed just perfect. Even the folks who had to wait for twenty minutes were offering up congratulations to Jake and Nicki.


After a beautiful ceremony, presided over by the always friendly Rev. Jim Birch, a minister I see every couple of months, Jake and Nicki hopped into their Jeep Liberty and headed off to a NYC getaway.

For me, I still had one last wedding to go before 2006 could run it's course. I met Liz Burke and Andy Bodendorf way back at the beginning of 2006 and it seemd fitting for them to be the final event of the year.


Liz and Andy chose the Willard for their big event and the hotel looked great. The holiday decorations were still up, even though everyone was now focused having a blast when midnight rolled around. After a beautiful ceremony at Faith Lutheran Church in Arlington, overflowing with candlelight, we all went back to the hotel to ring in the new year.
(I have to make special mention here of Pastor John Bradford at Faith Lutheran: After 400 weddings I think it's safe to say that members of the clergy and wedding photographers will never be drinking buddies. But Pastor Bradford was, without a doubt, the warmest, most jovial minister I've ever come across. He actually uttered the following words, rumored in wedding photography circles to be a sure sign one has died and gone to heaven: "Where would you like to be during the ceremony?" Thanks, pastor.)



Alright, enough. Time for bed. I wish all of you guys a happy new year and I promise to be a better blogger in 2007!

Matt