A Snowy Winter Wedding in Vienna, Virginia

When you plan a January wedding in Northern Virginia at a venue that showcases the outside views with floor-to-ceiling windows like The Atrium at Meadowlark Gardens, you have to hope for at least a tiny bit of snow. That is exactly what Abbie & John got lucky with for their beautiful wedding day! Just a few days before their wedding on January 20th, 2024, the DC metro area received about 4 inches of snow (and more in some areas!). This is the first notable snowfall seen in the area since January of 2022 and thankfully, the snow decided to stick for a few days after its first fall so we could capture Abbie & John with it.

Is it just me or are cold temperatures more bearable when there’s beautiful blankets of snow to look at? Abbie may or may not disagree as she gritted her teeth through some photos outside in the 19°F weather, but I think she will find the photos so worth it for the few minutes of bone-chilling cold! One amazing aspect about The Atrium is that the inside has plenty of real plants and trees all around the edges, and there is even a small “river” with bridges that made our indoor portraits almost feel like we were outside (which was SOOOO great given how cold it was outside). I also have such a grand appreciation for the floor-to-ceiling windows that allowed in so much natural light to help beautifully light the surroundings and this sweet couple.

Mr. & Mrs. Wilson

Abbie & John were actually the first couple to hire me for their wedding upon announcing my move to DC metro area from Florida. When I first spoke with them, we immediately clicked and it felt so right to help capture their day. Abbie told me she hoped for a “whimsical, fairy-like winter wedding” with genuine, real photos of their day and I knew I could help.

Abbie & John actually met in DC back in 2020, so we had to celebrate their engagement with a session at the Lincoln Memorial which you can check out here. Their engagement session was also the first session I got to photograph after moving to the DMV! We got so lucky too because construction was JUST starting up at the Lincoln Memorial but we were able to snag some great shots that I hope they will treasure forever.

From their engagement session to their wedding day at The Atrium at Meadowlark Gardens, the love John has for Abbie just pours out of him and this is evident just by the way he looks at her. You can tell how much they care for and adore one another by their small interactions. The tight embraces, the touching of hands, the gentle brushing of hair. Their love truly radiates from them.

The Atrium at Meadowlark Gardens

This was the first time I had been to The Atrium at Meadowlark and it truly is such a stunning venue. I thoroughly enjoyed photographing Abbie & John’s wedding here despite some of the technical challenges that came with it being a bitterly cold winter wedding. Normally when it is warmer, the ceremony is held outside on the deck which allows for the reception space to be set-up in advance. For this wedding, however, the ceremony space had to quickly be flipped to the reception space while the guests enjoyed cocktail hour in the back of the reception room. I have to say that I was thoroughly impressed with how the staff handled this transition–there were no hiccups that I knew about! Overall, it was such a smooth and graceful transition.

The Atrium also has a small bridal room called the Lilac Room. This room is especially handy when a couple wants to have a private moment after their ceremony without being surrounded by guests.

The Atrium has on-site catering provided by Great Blue Heron Catering. I really enjoyed their offerings and the staff was so friendly! They even came up to me during cocktail hour to make sure I could get some photos of the hors d’oeuvres before they were all eaten up.

Feel free to check out the photos below to see how I captured Abbie & John’s beautiful wedding day at The Atrium at Meadowlark. Want Love, Lomax Studios to preserve your wedding day through photos? Contact me here to see if your date is available!

So…you like what you see?

Let’s work together to capture your day beautifully! Contact Love, Lomax Studios here and let’s see if we are available for your date!

Vendor Team

• Venue: The Atrium at Meadowlark
• Catering: Great Blue Heron Catering
• Baker: Nothing Bundt Cakes
• Gown: David’s Bridal
• Suits: Men’s Wearhouse
• Bridesmaid Dresses: Lulus
• DJ: DJ Chris Laich
• Uplighting: DJ Chris Laich
• Florals: Costco
• Stationery: Canva
• Hair & Makeup: Done by the bride herself