Equestrian Bridal Portraits in Virginia

Bridal portraits can be a fun way to express a part of the bride (or couple’s) personality that might not otherwise make its way into the wedding day. For example, including your furry friend! Sometimes it makes sense to include a pet in the walk down the aisle, or at least some portraits before or after the ceremony. But, sometimes the logistics just don’t work out getting a pet to cooperate for the day of – or he/she must be left at home with a pet sitter. Including them in bridal portraits (or some other shoot) is a super fun way to feel like they were involved and still get some shots with them!

Obviously this beautiful horse wasn’t able to make a grand entrance to a wedding, so bridal portraits were a must for this horse-loving gal! This is my little sister, Samantha, and she trains horses for a living. I like to think of her as the horse whisperer. Whenever I’ve been around her when she’s with her horses I am quite intimidated by their size, but Samantha treats them like some sort of lap-animal. She’s comfortable with their movements and it’s like as if her and the horses are the same entity. It’s really bizarre, but quite beautiful. One time I was with her at this farm and I was trying to coax the horses to come near me at the fence… but they wouldn’t. As soon as they saw Samantha, they quickly headed towards her knowing who their mamma was! … well, they knew who puts out the food at least!

This shoot was on what felt like the hottest day of the year, but you wouldn’t know it because Samantha is a modeling pro!

The horse needed some sort of flowers, of course! So, I made this beautiful blue hydrangea garland for her!

Simple, but funky bouquet of dahlias and hanging amaranthusAren’t these dahlias just amazing?!

This shoot was also published on United With Love

Florals: Anthomanic

Photographer: Charlotte Tittle

Hair & MUA: GoGo Gorgeous

Venue: Southern Heritage Farm, Midland Virginia

Gown: David’s Bridal