Warm and Rustic Dulany's Overlook Wedding | Frederick, Maryland

I’m celebrating one last Fall wedding before the winter season truly settles in for the long haul! This beautiful union took place at Dulany’s Overlook in Fredericks, Maryland in late September, and this barn wedding was everything an autumn celebration should be, even with the little bit of rain that appeared to give them good luck!

Dulany’s is an amazing and fully-renovated colonial era property that sits on an 170-acre farm. The rich wood interiors and brick facade wrap the whole experience in rustic charm and complemented the couple’s earthy wedding colors of copper, rust, and russet tones. The orange tones on the bridal party and groomsmen practically popped against the overcast sky, a vibrant slash of color that really makes all of their photos so warm and inviting.

And that’s a good way to describe Andrew and Shaida themselves!

When we spoke during our initial consult, we had such a good time getting to know each other and they filled me in on their love story.

The bride and groom met in 2012 at a bluegrass concert in Asheville, NC, and according to Shaida, they’ve been in love ever since! Asheville is a gorgeous city, so it’s not hard for me to imagine strangers falling in love there!

Their meeting abroad suits them totally, because Shaida and Andrew were already both global citizens to begin with. Shaida was born and initially raised in Iran for nearly the first decade of her life. Meanwhile, Andrew spent time living in Japan and Taiwan as a child because his father worked for Toyota, an early introduction to experiencing other cultures and ways of life.

The couple spent the next decade bonding over this shared sense of adventure and travel. Shaida and Andrew both consider themselves playful and always up for trying new things so they spent their free time traveling to places like Patagonia, Argentina, Chile, Vietnam and Thailand. When they were home, they made it a point to jam to music, sample craft beer and food, and generally spend time outdoors together when they weren’t hanging with their black cat, Zuri.

Andrew actually loves the outdoors so much that he made a career out of mountain biking! He builds motorbike trails for fellow biking enthusiasts. As a fellow lover of the outdoors, I fully understand that career choice!

In any case, the well-matched pair thrived in learning to navigate life together, and Andrew decided to make it official in the Spring of 2021. He proposed in their beloved outdoors, in front of the Potomac River, and they were off to wedding planning!

Since they were going for a rustic/elegant/warm/vibrant vibe, Dulany’s offered an amazing backdrop to add some grandeur in the landscape, while keeping it intimate, laid back, and fun. The couple envisioned something unique and fun to match their personalities, but still give them the full wedding experience.

The day of their wedding was full of joy and laughter, some pinball machines, and lots of go with the flow vibes. They had fun posing with their umbrellas in the rain, celebrated in style, and spent time relaxing with their loved ones. Although I wasn’t able to shoot their big day because of the arrival of my bundle of joy, (shout out to my amazing associates!) I loved living through the experience in the editing process.

Thank you Andrew and Shaida for inviting us into your adventure, I can’t wait to see what the next journey brings!