welcome to the blog!

here on the blog, you'll find highlights from each of my weddings + sessions, tips for planning your own wedding or session, and even a few personal posts (when something fun happens in my little world)!  so pour yourself a fresh cup of coffee, get comfy, and stay a while!

Browse the Categories

weddings

engagements

families

babies + bumps

from your photographer

with love

personal

mandy + bryan | bolling haxall house wedding

bolling-haxall-house-richmond-wedding-photos

Y’ALL.  I’ve been a small-town girl all my life, but these two had me acting like a legit city photographer over the past 15 months (peep their e-session and Mandy’s bridal session if you don’t believe me!) and I kind of loved it.  And by “kind of loved it,” I mean I adored every minute of it and I’m so stinkin’ glad these two found me (thanks, instagram!) and invited me to be part of this season with them!

Mandy + Bryan’s wedding day at The Bolling Haxall House in downtown Richmond was classy, elegant, and so personal to who these two are together.  Mandy’s bridal details were the epitome of simple elegance, and the diamonds in her earrings and her necklace were heirloom stones – one set from her family and the other from Bryan’s.  During the ceremony, eighteen (!!!) of their closest friends stood by their side (biggest bridal party I’ve photographed to date – and they were all SO incredibly kind to me!), and their officiate regaled their guests with the story of how they first got to know each other – over coffee from the basement vending machines in the hospital Mandy works at!  Haha!  Countless times throughout the day, their family, bridal party, and friends spoke of what a perfect compliment these two are for each other – and everyone in the room was SO excited to celebrate with them!  As soon as the formal reception events ended, the dance floor was packed and the party did. not. stop. until it was time for the sparkler exit!

I am SO excited to share my faves from Mandy + Bryan’s wedding day with you, and I hope y’all love them as much as I do!

bolling-haxall-house-richmond-va-photos

I’m not going to lie, I’m OBSESSED with the dress shots in the Bolling Haxall House front parlor!  all. the. heart. eyes!

richmond-va-wedding-photographer

Also, how fortunate were we that the Bolling Haxall House had just re-upholstered this chair to this beautiful blue jacquard print that matched Mandy + Bryan’s colors perfectly?!?

richmond-va-wedding-photographer

Mandy’s necklace was a wedding gift from Bryan, made with diamonds from his grandmother’s ring!

richmond-va-wedding-photosrichmond-va-wedding-photos

Aren’t these blooms from Black Creek Flower Shop absolutely stunning?!  GAH!

richmond-va-wedding-photography

I can always count on Megs to get a great chandelier shot when she’s second shooting with me (see below) and I love her for it!

richmond-va-wedding-photographyrva-wedding-photos

Remember how I said Mandy wore heirlooms from both sides of the family?  She wore her mama’s diamond stud earrings to go with Bryan’s grandmother’s diamonds that were in her necklace. <3

rva-wedding-photosrichmond-va-wedding-planningrichmond-va-wedding-planningwedding-photographer-in-richmond-vawedding-photographer-in-richmond-va

The front parlor also had the most GORGEOUS window light to get ready in!

richmond-virginia-wedding-photographerrichmond-virginia-wedding-photographer

Love this mama-daughter hug right after the dress was buttoned up!

richmond-virginia-wedding-photosrichmond-virginia-wedding-photoscharlottesville-va-wedding-photographernorthern-virginia-wedding-photographernorthern-virginia-wedding-photographer

MANDY!  You are so stinkin’ gorgeous, girl!

ava-clara-bridal-richmond-varichmond-bride

I love, love, love this groom portrait Megs captured of Bryan!

richmond-groom

Ummm, can we all just take a minute to swoon over these lovely ladies and their S T U N N I N G dresses in all different shades of blue?!  Oh my goodness, ladies, y’all are so gorgeous!!

bolling-haxall-house-richmond-va-weddingbolling-haxall-house-richmond-va-weddingbolling-haxall-house-richmond-wedding-photosbolling-haxall-house-richmond-wedding-photosrichmond-va-wedding-photographerrichmond-va-wedding-photographerrichmond-va-wedding-photosblack-creek-flowers-richmond-va-photosrichmond-va-wedding-bridal-partydowntown-richmond-wedding-photosrichmond-va-bridal-partyrichmond-va-wedding-inspirationrichmond-va-wedding-planning-insporichmond-va-wedding-photosrichmond-va-wedding-photographer

I love the timeless architecture of the Bolling Haxall House and that this is the grand entrance guests saw when they started arriving for the ceremony!

bolling-haxall-house-richmond-vabolling-haxall-house-wedding-ceremony

Mandy’s dad walked her down the aisle, but all four parents (dad, stepmom, mom, and stepdad) gave her away and it was the sweetest thing.

bolling-haxall-house-wedding-ceremonybolling-haxall-house-wedding-photosshades-of-blue-richmond-wedding

This bridal party, y’all.  I know they were ready to get the party started by this point, but they were SO amazing for me when we took full bridal party portraits together.  The guys even made sure I had some extra ceremony chairs ready when it was time to set up some seated shots, and I’m so happy with how those images turned out!!  Thank you, guys, for being so kind and so helpful!!!  I’m super grateful.  🙂

shades-of-blue-richmond-wedding-photos

Love this sneaky side angle of Megan’s!

richmond-va-wedding-photographerrichmond-va-wedding-photographerrichmond-va-wedding-photosrichmond-va-wedding-photosrichmond-va-bridal-party-photosrichmond-va-wedding-photos

I’m not going to lie, I think this next shot on the right of Lexi cheering is the cutest thing ever.  (Thanks, Megs, for capturing these close-ups!)

richmond-va-wedding-photosdowntown-richmond-wedding-photos

I feel like I should warn you that these bride + groom portraits just might stop you in your tracks.  Just like they did at their engagement session, Mandy + Bryan slipped effortlessly into the softest embraces and the most genuine laughter as soon as they were in each other’s arms, and it made for some of the absolute sweetest moments to capture.  Bride and groom portraits are my jam anyways, but I seriously could have photographed these two in downtown Richmond all DAY.

bolling-haxall-house-wedding-photosdowntown-richmond-wedding-photosrichmond-va-wedding-photographerrichmond-va-wedding-photographer

I snuck Mandy + Bryan out into the garden courtyard while we waited for guests to clear out of the ceremony space … so this next image happened just minutes after they became husband + wife, and I love the quiet contentment of this moment.  <3

northern-virginia-wedding-photographernorthern-virginia-wedding-photographerrichmond-va-wedding-photographercharlottesville-va-wedding-photographercharlottesville-va-wedding-photographerloudoun-va-wedding-photographer

Reasons a cathedral veil is always a win:

loudoun-va-wedding-photographerroanoke-va-wedding-photographerroanoke-va-wedding-photographerwarrenton-va-wedding-photographerwarrenton-va-wedding-photographerbolling-haxall-house-wedding-photographerbolling-haxall-house-wedding-photosbolling-haxall-house-wedding-photographydowntown-richmond-wedding-photosdowntown-richmond-wedding-photographerdowntown-richmond-wedding-photosvirginia-beach-wedding-photographervirginia-beach-wedding-photographer

I loved that Bryan would just go in for a forehead kiss without me even having to ask him to – those are some of my favorite moments from this part of the day!

central-virginia-wedding-photographercentral-virginia-wedding-photographervirginia-wedding-photographerlight-and-airy-virginia-wedding-photographerromantic-virginia-wedding-photographybolling-haxall-house-wedding-reception-photosbolling-haxall-house-wedding-receptionbolling-haxall-house-wedding

Mandy and Bryan had taken dance lessons prior to the wedding day and they impressed everyone with a legit ballroom dance for their first dance!

bolling-haxall-house-wedding-receptionbolling-haxall-house-wedding-reception

Remember how I said the dance floor was packed all night?!  I’m about to prove it to you:

bolling-haxall-house-richmond-va-wedding

Y’all, this next frame is without a doubt my new favorite party shot EVER!

bolling-haxall-house-richmond-va-wedding

The bride’s brother, y’all:

Bryan is an EMT/firefighter, and the Bolling Haxall House is literally RIGHT next door to the fire station, so of course they had to ride off on the back of one of the fire trucks!

Mandy, Bryan, thank you for inviting me into your lives this year and letting me capture your wedding day for you.  I loved being your photographer, and I feel like I’ve gained two new friends in the process!  I hope you’ve loved re-living your wedding day through my favorite moments!  Sending the biggest hugs all the way to Thailand!  😉


SO. many. thank you’s to the incredible team of vendors who shared their time and talents with Mandy + Bryan on their wedding day!  Each of you were so amazing to work with!

venue | The Bolling Haxall House

florals | Black Creek Flower Shop

hair | Stotka Styles

makeup | Rachel Marie

bridal gown designer | Watters

bridal shop | Ava Clara Bridal

bridesmaid gown designers | Asos, Lulus, David’s Bridal, Kennedy Blue, BHLDN, Dillard’s

groom + groomsmen suits | Jos. A. Bank

caterer | Edwards Catering

donuts | Sugar Shack Donuts

dj | Perpetual Sound

video | Yeattes Productions

rentals | Classic Party Rentals

as always, my biggest thank you goes to my bestie and second shooter, Megan Myers!  thank you for road tripping it with me to Richmond, for tracking down things and people for me all day long, for being my second set of hands and the best veil fluffer there ever was, and for serving my sweet couples as well as if they were your own clients.  I’m so grateful for you!

  1. Joyce says:

    Wow! Lindsey, I think this may be your best work yet!! Every picture is amazing!! Looks like a fabulous bride & groom and wedding party as well! Just lovely!

  2. Jennifer Smith Escott says:

    Lindsey, What a fabulous job you did. Every detail is photographed to perfection. You are amazing. Thank you for recapturing my daugthers’ special day. You are amazing!

  3. Amy Daugherty says:

    Girl……you did an AMAZING job. I sit here “Crying like a baby” and reflecting on how AMAZING the special day was. I have coordinated over 100 weddings but have NEVER seen such perfect “Art”. Your gift is AMAZING. As Mandy’ Aunt I’m not just saying that. Your talent is “Breathtaking”.
    Thank you for capturing a pic of me to. “”Partying”.

    • Lindsey Rickards says:

      Amy, thank you so much for your kind words! I’m so glad you love the photos – and I’m glad I caught you dancing, too! 😉

  4. Craig says:

    All the hearts!! Amazing couple. Fabulous photographers and videographers. It was a pleasure working with you. And these pics are EVERYTHING!!

    • Lindsey Rickards says:

      Thank you so much Craig! That means so much coming from a fellow vendor! I enjoyed working with you and hope to do it again soon!

  5. JAN smith says:

    Thank you for such beautiful pictures of our Mandy and Bryan on their special day. They are an amazing couple full of love and dedication to each other and you captured it in each shot. I loved all the special attention to details you captured like the rings and the way you displayed her necklace. As her maternal grandmother I see her beauty but you captured it for all to witness

    • Lindsey Rickards says:

      Thank you Jan! I’m so glad to know that you like the photos, and more importantly, that they showcase what is special to you about Mandy and Bryan! 🙂

  6. JAN smith says:

    Thank you for capturing the wedding of my granddaughter. She is such a beautiful person inside and out and Bryan is such a great guy. Their love for each other showed in each photo you took. You captured the moments in the most elegant way.

11 COMMENTS

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *