Couples

the newest work, featured weddings & engagements, helpful posts for the couple planning a joyful wedding & see more about the heart behind the lens

Here’s my favorite wedding venues in Virginia for the most incredible portraits, coming from a Richmond VA wedding photographer who knows that not only should your venue be a spectacular place for hosting a wedding but should also have equally spectacular features for your wedding day photography.

Modern & Classic VMFA Wedding

It was an incredible day filled to the brim with stunning details. Luisa & Matt decided on March 19 for their wedding date and we were blessed with one of the most beautiful Virginia spring days I’ve ever seen for a wedding. Luisa’s eye for a classy and modern wedding came to life and I was blown away by the details and how her vision came together for their VMFA wedding in Richmond, Virginia.

They waited 441 days for this day. It was so evident on their wedding day just how loved they are by the people who know them and knowing them, you just can’t help it. I loved every minute of working with these two and it never even felt like work because it was just so much fun! It was truly my honor being their photographer and friend. Enjoy scrolling through my favorites from this gorgeous whimsical and colorful summer Old Silk Mill wedding!

Last Friday I got to meet Matt & Luisa at Libby Hill Park in Richmond VA for their engagement session and I have to say it was definitely one of the most fun engagement sessions I’ve ever done! The weather was perfect and it was a sunny day which made for gorgeous golden hour portraits! Luisa and Matt were so fun to talk with and getting to hear more about them and their sweet pets! Especially since their 5 month old puppy, Max, joined us for photos and I was over the moon!

Engagements

Weddings

Wedding photographer, Dunkin' enthusiast, and lover of all things romance and weddings.

MEET MONICA

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For Brides

I literally couldn’t have asked for a better way to finish my engagement season than with Katie and Ryan this past weekend in Richmond! I loved getting to meet Katie and Ryan in real life after months of chatting on Instagram, it was like I’d known them for longer than that!

I met Marine and Matt on the most beautiful Sunday afternoon at one of my favorite RVA places, Belle Isle. The sun was soft and golden, the river not high and reflecting the perfect sky. Marine and Matt were cheerful and so easygoing and relaxed.

I’m pretty sure I have the best couples ever. I met Maddy and Tim on Monday for their engagement session and ah, what a fun time! These two were in town for a friend’s wedding in Farmville and before heading home to New Jersey, we had their engagement session and they were MAGIC.

Their engagement session was so fun and it’s all due to Maddy and Tim themselves. They’re hilarious and kept laughing throughout the session, their energy was just warm, welcoming, and just so joyful and they were effortless in front of the camera too.

We walked through the tall grass, walked on the sandy beach part and we used up every single second of sunlight the day had to offer. We left the park at dusk with a memory card full of incredibly gorgeous images and the best feeling. I loved getting to hang out with these two again and it was a session I’d be thrilled to do over and over and over again. TJ mentioned he wasn’t a huge fan of photos and that he wasn’t a model but he and Melissa honestly belong on the cover of a magazine somewhere with how incredible they were during their session!

I wish it wasn’t so long until their June wedding at the Barns of Kanak in Prince George VA next year but I’m happy I have these golden hour portraits to hang onto until we get more golden hour ones at the Barns!

So until June 2022, enjoy some of my favorite photos from their Pleasure House Point Park engagement session!

When Mary Madison told me about the English Garden vibe for their wedding day in 2022, I think I knew right away that Maymont would be a perfect place for their engagement session. I met Matthew and Mary Madison at Maymont Park in Richmond for their engagement session and I couldn’t have asked for more beautiful weather. We rescheduled our original date on Friday to Sunday to avoid rain and I’m so thrilled it worked out. Maymont was truly showing off with a garden bursting with florals!

© MJ MENDOZA PHOTOGRAPHY 2022

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