Great Marsh Estate Wedding : Virgina Wedding Venue Guide

It’s so thrilling to share this Great Marsh Estate wedding venue guide! If you’re looking for an amazing Virginia wedding venue, please read on!

A Glorious Estate Wedding Venue Close to Home

When San Diego natives J+E first booked me, they had planned on using one of my favorite San Diego wedding venues for their wedding. However, plans for that venue fell through and it was back to the drawing board. In addition, they soon realized that maybe their best bet was a Virginia wedding venue, near their Arlington home.

Where Formality and Elegance Rule

E+J wanted a Virginia wedding venue that was grand and formal. In addition, they also wanted a venue that didn’t require a lot of decor and could also accommodate their Persian-Greek wedding celebration. Their Great Marsh Estate wedding was truly befitting of a global affair.

A Wedding Venue Befitting of Sophisticated Couple

Great Marsh Estate in Bealeton is a 121-acre Georgian estate located about an hour’s drive from Washington DC. Its beautifully manicured grounds are on par with any luxury wedding venue I’ve seen. In addition, the decor of the manor itself is jaw-dropping.

If you’re looking for a sophisticated Washington DC wedding venue or a Virginia wedding venue, a Great Marsh Estate wedding should be at the top of your list!

Find out what makes John Schnack Photography different!

Bridal Suite at Great Marsh Estate

bride and bridesmaids in matching robes pop champagne during great marsh estate wedding

I love the picture of E and her bridesmaids and their matching robes were amazing. If you look closely in the upper-right corner, you can see the cork! The color palette inside the manor at Great Marsh Estate is very soft. A bride and her bridesmaids can’t help but feel serene in this Washington DC wedding venue.

The photos above are perfect examples of how client photo needs can balance with a photojournalistic approach.

bride and mother embrace in bridal suite

bridesmaids happy expressions first look with bride

On the left, E and her mother share a quiet embrace in the bridal suite. How amazing is the light? Also, when I have the space, I love to do first-looks with a bride and her bridesmaids because it’s a different reaction than that of a groom but no less powerful and emotional.

Bride and Groom First Look at Great Marsh Estate

groom reacts to seeing bride first look woodsy path

bride groom hold hands first look woodsy path

These are the moments I live for! J’s reaction to seeing E for the first time is visceral–hands to his face and eyes welling. At right, when possible, I like to back off after shooting the initial first look so I can watch the emotions unfold from afar. Oftentimes couples are less self-conscious when they feel they’re more alone.

Portraits of the Bride and Groom at Great Marsh Estate

portrait of groom in traditional tuxedo in wood paneled bar

bridal portrait in long train and veil with flowers on stone railing at great marsh estate

At Great Marsh Estate, they have this unreal lounge with a pool table and a bar–the perfect spot for a portrait of the eternally handsome Justin. At right, it’s like something out of a Jane Austen novel. Emily taking in all of Great Marsh Estate’s glorious Georgian architecture.

Emily and her bridesmaids enter the ceremony like bosses!

bride and groom pose with dog in tuxedo at great marsh estate

bride and groom pose on driveway at great marsh estate

And now, ladies and gentlemen, we’ve come to the “stunningly gorgeous” part of the show. Emily and Justin insisted on a photograph with their dog, Eros, who came dressed for the occasion!

Wedding Ceremony at Great Marsh Estate

A top-level view of J+E’s ceremony at their Great Marsh Estate wedding.

J is Persian, so they incorporated a “sofreyé aghd”–a table with symbolic elements–into their Great Marsh Estate wedding ceremony.

bride looks at groom with bridesmaids in black dresses in background great marsh estate

bride and groom kiss in front of circular flower arch great marsh estate

That look! Couples like this are why I do what I do. The kiss! I was so grateful for this soft light.

Post-Wedding Portraits at Great Marsh Estate

The grounds of Great Marsh Estate remind me of the English countryside, like something out of a Tolkien novel.

groom kisses brides hand black and white

bride wearing long veil stands in open field looking at great marsh estate

Quite honestly, I really didn’t need to pose these two very much because their sense of self and trust in their love meant every expression was truthful. On the right, we were out in the meadow shooting portraits and took a bit of a break, when suddenly Emily just stood there, clasped her hands, and took it all in. It was breathtaking.

Husband and wife stroll the grounds of virginia wedding venue Great Marsh Estate after their classic destination wedding.

One of my favorite photos of the day. I wanted to do something inspired by Ralph Lauren–bold but with a hint of class and history. In addition, I wanted it to show the Estate, as it was really important to J+E.

Cocktail Hour and Reception at an Amazing Virginia Wedding Venue

bride and groom raise champagne glass walk out door to cocktail hour at great marsh estate

Ok, into cocktail hour. Emily and Justin greeted their guests with a glorious cheers as they made their way to meet everyone. Cocktails out on the main lawn in front of the manor at Great Marsh–not too bad. In addition, they even flew in a street poet from NYC to type out poems for guests.

Into the stable for the reception, where E+J started the party with waterfall of champagne.

head table at stable great marsh estate wedding reception

bride groom first dance stable great marsh estate wedding reception

A crew had finished remodeling the stable the day before Justin and Emily’s wedding. Nice work, fellas! At right, J+E, twirling through their first dance at Great Marsh Estate.