Catie + Carl met on Capitol Hill, so it’s only fitting we took photos there after their SURPRISE WEDDING! That’s right, y’all – they invited their closest friends + family to an “engagement party.” And then 30 mins into it they snuck off to do a quick change and came back in wedding attire, ready to say “I do!” I love the idea of a surprise intimate wedding!

Washington DC Surprise Intimate Wedding

They had been planning a big wedding, and they thought that’s what they wanted. But when it came down to deciding what felt like THEM, where they wanted their money to be spent, and what they wanted the first day of their wedding adventure to look like…well, the vision quickly changed.

And goodness, I LOVE where they ended up. I wish everyone looked at their wedding day like that, because truly, it’s YOUR day. Not your mom’s, not your maid of honor’s, just the two of you. And designing a day that’s all yours can look like anything at all. And I’m so grateful Catie + Carl listened to their guts and brought me along to capture every moment.

In the middle of their engagement party, the couple snuck upstairs to change into their wedding outfits. Guests were shocked when they saw Catie in a gown! They said I Do’s on the rooftop, with such incredible views. After, we went downtown to the Capitol where we got pictures as the sunset. They celebrated with a rooftop party,

Bride Wearing: Amy Kushel from BHLDN