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

boudoir

For Brides

As I reflect on 2020, I realize truly how wild of a year it really was. I was pregnant for a good half of 2020 and on maternity leave and there was, of course, a global pandemic. BUT I was still able to spend some time with some couples as we captured and celebrated their engagement!

I met Taylor & Jordan at Ironclad Coffee Roasters and despite growing up in the Richmond area, I’d never actually been there before! And I basically fell in love with the place as soon as I set my eyes on it. We then just hung around Ironclad, then headed over further into Shockoe Slip. This engagement session is quintessential RVA to me. Cool old buildings, brick covered facades and cobblestone streets.

I met with Nadine and Josh at the Daily Kitchen in nearby Carytown for coffee which honestly just started the afternoon off on a perfect note! I got to chat with them about their wedding day, about how our football teams (Giants for the Mendoza casa and the Panthers for them!) weren’t doing too hot that day and everything from traveling, weddings, adventuring in the city to just about anything in between. After enjoying our coffees, we headed to Maymont where the gardens just showed off its beauty and these two were basically magic in front of my camera.

Fall is finally here and I am LOVING it! I got to meet Erin and Michael on the nicest weekend and I literally couldn’t ask for more perfect weather. Warm, but cool and breezy and I was in heaven. Erin and Michael had decided to have their engagement session started off at Maymont Park in Richmond Virginia and I cannot believe how full and colorful the Italian Garden was! For someone who grew up going to Maymont on field trips, little day adventures, and picnics, I had never been during early fall and I was blown away by the colors in the garden.

Phew, 2020 is hitting us all really hard and I don’t think ANY of us could have expected everything that’s been happening! Greer and David had planned for their engagements at Maymont Park before all this happened and when the day came, of course Virginia had to throw in her own twist: rain and clouds. Between the uncertainty of not knowing if we would be in a mandated lockdown here in Virginia shortly or when the weather would improve, we decided to go ahead and have their engagements! And boyyyyyy was it so worth it!!!

© MJ MENDOZA PHOTOGRAPHY 2022

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