Lebanese-American Wedding // Monique + Corwin // Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, VA

This has been the best experience I’ve had for my wedding, and I would gladly work with Xiaoqi Photography again in a heartbeat!” -Monique & Corwin

 


 

Monique and Corwin’s Lebanese-American Wedding at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens was a day filled with emotional moments, and love from family and friends alike. I was so impressed by the thoughtfulness that went into every aspect of their wedding and the way they made the day their own.

Starting off, their first look was a dream come true for me. I’ve always wanted a couple to play Marco Polo for their first look, and they were totally up for it! My second photographer and I helped get them safely in the same area, and they called out “Mo” (short for Monique) and “Co” (short for Corwin) to find each other. Corwin was all smiles once he finally got to see his beautiful bride during their first look. Monique was equally joyous and jumping with joy. The overwhelming sense of peace and excitement for their future together was palpable during these moments!

Once the wedding party joined in, the couple handed each of them a custom selected book. Rather than flowers, they chose a book for each wedding party member, and painted a custom book cover for them. Their lives are so intertwined that rather than splitting up the wedding party, they did a joint wedding party with no sides.

The thoughtful touches continued into the ceremony. Each person’s entrance was choreographed to the music. Monique’s father officiated, with Corwin’s father and Monique’s brother coming up to say a few words as well. They each wrote their own vows in the form of paragraphs of spoken poetry. It was truly one of the most beautiful and unique vow experiences I’ve gotten to witness, and it left pretty much the entire room in tears!

The fun really began at their reception. Monique’s dress transformed from a beautiful ball gown to a cocktail dress ready to dance the night away. The couple and wedding party entered in a single file line, dancing to Lebanese music. The couple was surrounded in a circle, and at one point also lifted up onto Monique’s brothers’ shoulders. Beyond just an entrance, their dance was such a fun show for the guests! The show continued with epic performances during their first dance and parent dances. The energy stayed high the entire night on the dance floor. It was so much fun to capture! 

Keep scrolling to see more from this incredible Lebanese-American Wedding!

 

Vendor Team:

Photography: Xiaoqi Li Photography

Venue: The Atrium at Meadowlark

Macarons: Chelsea at Chiboo Bakery

Catering: Lebanese Taverna

bride and groom during first look at Lebanese America weddingbride walking up to groom during first look at Lebanese-American weddingbride and groom seeing one another for first time on wedding dayman and woman holding hands during first look at Lebanese-American weddingbride and groom smiling and celebrating seeing one another for first timebride and groom laughing togethergroom showing flower girl a bookclose up of book for flower girl at Lebanese-American weddinggroom being hugged by groomsmen on wedding daywedding party celebrating wearing emerald green bridesmaids gowns and green booksring bearer getting ready before Lebanese-American weddingbride and groom smiling together bride and groom hugging before wedding ceremonyring bearer wearing security badge ring bearer and flower girl being brought up to the wedding ceremonygroom hugging officiant before Lebanese-American wedding ceremonybride walking to wedding ceremonybride walking up to groom down aisle wedding couple standing at alter being marriedwedding guests coming up to give speeches during ceremonygroom reading vows to bridewedding party standing alongside bride and groom getting emotionalbride reading vows to groom during Lebanese-American wedding ceremonyofficiant smiling and laughing during bride's vowsnewly married couple kissing as husband and wifebride and groom walking out celebrating as husband and wifebride and groom hugging during sunset portraits at Lebanese-American weddingnewly married couple laughing and celebrating after Lebanese-American weddingreception food close up shot of Lebanese food reception food at Lebanese-American weddingclose up of reception food with purple florals macaron tower of yellow and green macarons at Lebanese-American weddingwedding guests celebrating and laughingwedding guests clapping and dancing at Lebanese-American weddingbride and groom being lifted up and holding hands at receptionbride and groom dancing together at Lebanese-American wedding receptionbridesmaid giving speech at Lebanese-American wedding receptionwedding couple smiling and laughing during speecheswedding guest hugging wedding couple at Lebanese-American weddingwedding couple hugging friends at receptionbride getting up to speak to guests and groom at Lebanese-American wedding receptionbride hugging father during father daughter dancegroom dancing with mother during mother son dancebride and groom dancing at Lebanese-American wedding receptiongroom lifting bride while dancing wedding guests dancing and celebratingguests celebrating at Lebanese-American wedding receptionbridesmaids dancing at Lebanese-American wedding receptionmore guests celebrating during receptionwedding guests dancing on dance floorgroom dancing with guests at Lebanese-American wedding reception

Check out how these other couples incorporated their culture into their wedding day! Ankita + Anwaiz’s Hindu-Muslim Interfaith Wedding, or Ziwei and Victor’s Chinese Tea Ceremony + Fall Wedding 

Already dreaming of an incredible photography experience with me? Let’s chat soon! 

 

 

Kind words from the couple:

“Xiaoqi and the whole photography crew essentially saved our wedding…they helped us make it through and went above and beyond to make sure all the special moments and photos happened and were captured beautifully. Extremely adaptable and friendly, they made us and our loved ones feel comfortable and that we didn’t have to worry about a thing. Overall, this has been the best experience I’ve had for my wedding, and I would gladly work with Xiaoqi Photography again in a heartbeat!”

-Monique + Corwin

bride and groom smiling and celebrating seeing one another for first time

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PUBLISHED & AWARD-WINNING DESTINATION PHOTOGRAPHER
RANKED TOP 12 WORLDWIDE BY WPJA

PUBLISHED & AWARD-WINNING DESTINATION PHOTOGRAPHER

RANKED TOP 12 WORLDWIDE BY WPJA