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Val & Ryan

Valarie and Ryan Heaps Blog Collage

Real Weddings

October 3, 2019

“So I’m standing here, with my hand held out,

Knowing that your love will never fade, I stand amazed without a doubt”

Tears were streaming down many a face when Val & Ryan swayed together to the tune of Coffey Anderson’s “Better Today” for their first dance as husband & wife last Saturday.  All wedding days have their fair share of emotion & sentiment, but this wedding…this was one for the record books.

It may have been the majestic ambiance of their Lakeside Pavilion ceremony & Mansion House reception sites at the Maryland Zoo. Or that there couldn’t have been a more perfect September day. Though the sun was shining in a cloudless, cerulean sky, the temperature never inched above 85 with a cool breeze tickling the tops of our shoulders throughout the day. Periwinkle blue blossoms mixed with playa blanca roses & eucalyptus accents were set aglow by twinkling chandeliers overhead. It was absolute perfection.

Perhaps the most poignant source of giving us ALL the feels was the fact that Ryan has been courageously battling Kidney Disease for years, Val by his side every step of the way. Though Ryan is currently on the donor list awaiting a match for a kidney transplant, neither he nor Val allowed that to stop them from soaking up every second of their joyful celebration. On the contrary, it gave them even more reason to be truly present in the moment. 

So often, we just assume that our lives will follow a sequence & timeline we’ve envisioned for ourselves well in advance. But life doesn’t always go according to plan. It gets messy. It can throw curveballs we never expected to have to field. This very special day, at least for us, reinforced the importance of appreciating every moment we are given & never taking anyone or anything for granted. As photographers, this represents the nexus of our why for what we do: we immortalize the love & cherished memories our couples share. Because life is short, & we never know what it will throw at us next.

We’re not crying, YOU’RE crying!

BUT, possibly the COOLEST part of their big day was the Guest of Honor. Ryan & Val are avid animal-lovers, one of the primary reasons they wanted to have their nuptial celebration at the zoo. So naturally, they wanted to include an Animal Ambassador on the guest list…

Their Guest of Honor was a PENGUIN!!!!

Keep scrolling to meet Dawn, an African Penguin named after the dish soap that saved her! This cheeky little chickadee was front & center to kick off the Panzer-Heaps reception, though not before she could spend some quality time alone with the bride & groom. And we are SO grateful we were there to capture all the adorable moments wrapped up in revelry!!!

 

Looking at the pictures of Val & Ryan gazing into each other’s eyes under the handcrafted arbor Ryan made himself, or giggling uncontrollably as they watched Dawn nuzzle into Val’s dress, or busting a move on the dancefloor with their nearest & dearest, one thing is for sure:

these two are the quintessence of soulmates & share a love that will last the ages.

Val & Ryan, we love you like a penguin loves herring!!! Every second of your day was an amazing adventure, & we can’t thank you enough for letting us have a bird’s eye view of your ZOO-tastic shindig!!!

 

Left: Flat Lay, Right: ring in a Mrs. Box 3 Images of blue wedding details and bridal heelsWedding details - heirloom broach and ring shotWedding rings on save the dateWedding details - ring shot and cufflinksA Square diamond ring in the Mrs. Box, and a sweetheart wedding dress hanging from a tree Personalized Coffee Mugs for the Bridesmaidswedding ringsMaid of Honor putting bride's veil in and bride holding pictures of her family members Bride putting on her earrings outside of the hotel Left: rings on the blue invitation, right: bride getting into her dress Bridesmaid placing in the bride's veil Left: Invitation suite with tiny flower, right: bride in front of bridesmaids at the hotelBridesmaids and Bride walking on the patio of the hotel. Bridesmaids wearing long blue dressesLeft: Bridal Portrait, Right: Green ribbon on veil for kidney disease Left: Square diamond ring with wedding band in the Mrs. Box, Right: Bridesmaids tying the bride's dressHeaps first look at on the front steps of the mansion at the maryland zooBride and Groom waiting to have their first look Ryan seeing Val for the first time on their wedding day at the Maryland Zoo Left: Groom twirling bride during the first look, Right: close up of white, sage green, and blue bridal bouquet Horizontal Close up of bridal bouquet with white roses, sage stems, and blue snap dragons Left: Bride and groom looking at each other during first look, Right: Groom holding the train of the brides gown against a stone wall Groom nuzzling into the bride in front of a stone wall while holding her bouquet Two images of the bride and groom standing in front of the stairs of the Maryland Zoo Mansion Left: Groom holding the train of his bride's dress, right: close up of groom's bow tie and boutonniere Bride holding her bouquet with the groom in the background Groom dipping bride back and kissing her, and bride holding bouquet down by her side Bride and groom being playful on the carousel at the MD zoo Groom wearing a gray tux and a dark blue bow tie Married Couple kissing on the carousel at the Maryland Zoo Two photographs of the bride and groom hanging out on the carousel at the Maryland Zoo for portraits The Heaps Bridal Party standing on the stairs of the mansion on the property of the Maryland Zoo Two photos of Valarie and Ryan Heaps on their wedding day Valarie and Ryan Heaps kissing on the carousel Valarie and Ryan Heaps on their wedding day at the Maryland zoo Groomsmen with Groom's face one socksGroom + brother and momFull bridal party wearing dark blue and gray walking toward the camera The Heaps Couple giggling together on their wedding day at the Zoo Up close horizontal shot of the bride's bouquet with white roses, blue snap dragons, sage dollars and stems Two images of the Heaps couple with their bridal party at the Maryland Zoo Full Bridal Party in front of the stairs at the Maryland Zoo Left: Bride with her bridal party in navy blue long dresses, Right: Bride greeting her grandmother in lawFamily member fixing bride's dress Left: Bridesmaids holding out their bouquets, Right: Bride standing on the steps looking over her shoulderFull bridal party at the Maryland Zoo Valarie Heaps on her wedding day Valarie with her bridesmaids cheering in the background Two images of Valarie with a few of her bridesmaids in navy blue long dresses The ceremony location and sign for the Heaps wedding Arbor handmade by the groom and a sign saying, "We know you would be here today if heaven weren't so far away."

Groom escorting his grandmother to her seat. Brothers of the bride walking her down the aisle at the Maryland zoo, right: ceremony signValarie walking toward Ryan during their Maryland Zoo Wedding Ceremony Heaps Ceremony at the MAryland zoo Special readings and prayers at Heaps wedding ceremony Black and white of bride and groom holding hands during their maryland zoo wedding ceremonyflower girl smiling at the camera and couple holding hands at the alterGroom slipping ring onto fingerBride and groom kissing on their wedding day under the handmade alterBlack and white of the pastor giving the sermon Bride and groom cheering as they leave the ceremony with arms in the airTwo portraits of the bride and groom with the penguin, Dawn. Val and Ryan kissing under the large tree at the Maryland Zoo Husband and Wife Portraits with Dawn, the penguin at the MD Zoo Bride and Groom Kissing under the large willow tree at the zoo in MD

Valarie, Ryan, and the penguin, Dawn Dawn, the MD Zoo penguin during portraits on a September wedding day Two Wedding Day Portraits with Dawn, the penguin from the MD Zoo Dawn the Penguin sitting in between the bride and groom on their wedding day Two bridal portraits with a penguin Valarie, Ryan, and Dawn the penguin going for a walk Dawn the Penguin from the MD Zoo Penguin Dawn sitting with Valarie and Ryan on their wedding day Husband and Wife Portraits for Valarie and Ryan Heaps at the MD Zoo Dawn the penguin in focus up front and Valarie and Ryan blurry in the background, kissingValarie kissing Ryan on the cheek Collage of mother + groom and bride + groom+ penguinNavy blue inspired reception decorations Sweetheart table centerpiece Zoo inspired reception details Valarie and Ryan Heaps' guest signing table Left: Groom and his mom dancing, right: table centerpiece Table settings for a Maryland Zoo Wedding Reception Animal Inspired Cake Cutting at the MD ZooThe first dance shared between Valarie and Ryan Heaps Valarie and Ryan Heaps dancing for their first dance at the MD zoo Black and white photograph of family members watching their first dance, the groom dancing with the flower girl, the sparkler exit Bride and groom kissing as they ended their first dance on their wedding day at the MD Zoo Valarie and Ryan kissing under their sparklers as they exited their reception

 

Creative Team

Venue: Maryland Zoo | @marylandzoo
Videography: Dare Visuals | @dare_visuals
Photography: MaeWood Photography | @maewoodphotography_my & @maewoodphotography_jes
Hair: Lavish Salon & Spa | @lavishoffallston
Makeup: Fleurt Beauty Co. | @fleurtbeautycompany
Florals: Fleur De Lis Floral Design | @fleurdelisbaltimore
Catering: Santoni’s Marketplace & Catering | @santonismarketplace
Wedding Dress: The Bridal Boutique | @bridalboutiquecolumbia

DJ: Mark Hemler | @mchemler

See other blog posts for your engagement and wedding inspiration!

No. 1 | Taylor and Matt’s Salt River Engagement Session

No. 2 | Brooke and Patrick’s Swan Harbor Farm Engagement Session

No. 3 | Eliza and Cole’s Rocky Ridge Engagement Session

 

 

  1. Wendy says:
    October 5, 2019 at 10:41 am

    Oh my goodness!!!!!!!!! Maewood Photography!!!!!!!!!! You two have the most amazing, outstanding, breathtaking photos!!! love your style!!!! ❤📸

    Reply
  2. Maggie says:
    October 8, 2019 at 11:22 am

    Jess these picture you two did are gorgeous. It helps you had two beautiful people to capture.
    Love

    Reply

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