If you are thinking about getting married in Washington DC during the summer, this blog post is for you! Take a moment to envision what your DC elopement could look like through Drew and Hailey’s elopement photography. Let’s walk through their wedding day and explore the Smithsonian Castle, National Gallery of Art, Lincoln Memorial, and more for a dreamy, summery Washington DC elopement. 

Wedding Details Elopement Photography

Drew and Hailey’s elopement day started at their house in the DC area to get ready. As their DC elopement photographer, I started capturing their wedding details which included their vow books that were in their color scheme, perfume and cologne so they could remember their wedding day scents, and a Polaroid camera that they wanted to use throughout the day. 

Drew and Hailey’s First Look

For their first look, Drew and Hailey walked down to a local park for a private moment. As your elopement photographer, I always step back and give you a moment to be together. It’s such a big, anticipatory moment! I want you to have a clear, undistracted memory of seeing each other for the first time in your wedding attire. 

How to Get Around Washington DC for Your Summer Elopement

After the first look, we drove in Drew’s truck to our next location. However, there are multiple ways to get around DC on your elopement day! Some couples decide they want to drive their own car (like Drew and Hailey), so I make sure to plan out parking ahead of time in their elopement day timeline.

Most couples use rideshare apps like Lyft and Uber to get around DC while others choose to hire a private car service for the day. No matter what you decide, I’m here to help plan out those logistics to have your elopement day run as smoothly as possible so you can enjoy it!

A Dreamy Enid A Haupt Garden Elopement Ceremony

Drew and Hailey’s intimate ceremony was at the Smithsonian Castle Garden (Enid A Haupt Garden) at the Moongate. Here they exchanged private vows, rings, and shared their first kiss as a married couple!

They chose to self-officiate their elopement ceremony – a unique feature the city of DC offers for marrying couples. If you are also interested in self-officiating your ceremony, I have a blog post explaining how you can do it too! You can check it out here.

Exploring Washington DC & the National Mall

We took some photos around the Smithsonian Castle Gardens before beginning our walk over to the National Gallery of Art. On the way, we dropped off their flowers in the car because real flowers aren’t allowed in the museum (if you want to keep your wedding flowers, don’t forget this!). 

During our walk over, we explored and took in the sights of the National Mall. It’s a place where both locals and tourists love to come hang out. Picnics, sporting events, and even the famous Fourth of July DC fireworks are best seen from the National Mall. When you step out on the grassy panels, you can look one way to see the Washington Monument towering over the city and can look the other way to see the US Capitol building. 

The National Gallery of Art Elopement Photography

The National Gallery of Art is a great place to explore during your summer DC elopement to get out of the heat. It’s also one of my favorite art museums in the city! It’s one of the many Smithsonian museums, so it’s free entry to the public and doesn’t require a photo permit. I could spend hours exploring the museums myself let alone doing photos with a couple! 

With it’s historic art, marble columns, sky-lit atriums, and uniquely colored rooms, we took our time to be intentional with their elopement photography and get creative. The art museums are also a great indoor venue option. You can get out of the heat, rain, or cold because they’re open year round (except for Christmas and New Year’s Day). 

Fairytale Like Elopement Photos at the National Cathedral

After the National Gallery of Art, we walked back to the car to drive to the National Cathedral. This beautiful cathedral is the world’s 6th largest cathedral and is known for its unique architecture and beautiful gardens. Hailey’s whimsical dress really matched the vibe of the National Cathedral like a fairytale. We explored the courtyards and the Bishop’s Gardens on the grounds. 

It was such a beautiful, sunny day. In the springtime, Bishop’s Gardens are blooming with all kinds of flowers and cherry blossoms! It is a dreamy location for spring and summer DC elopements. If you want to elope in the gardens of the National Cathedral, check out this blog post!

The Final Elopement Location: The Reflecting Pool and Lincoln Memorial

Our last destination was the Reflecting Pool and the Lincoln Memorial on the other side of the National Mall. The sun was beginning to set behind the Lincoln Memorial, so we took elopement photos around the Reflecting Pool with the iconic Washington Monument in the background. Doesn’t it look incredible?

A Sweet Elopement Surprise!

To end Drew and Hailey’s DC elopement day, we went back at their house for a cake cutting with a sweet surprise! The bakery created a gender reveal cake as Hailey and Drew were expecting their first child together! What a wonderful way to end the day celebrating their baby boy on the day they got married. 

Juliana Wall Photography | Washington DC Elopement Photography

Check out more of Drew and Hailey’s DC elopement photography to inspire your summer DC elopement. Save your favorites to your Pinterest wedding board or jump to my Pinterest for more DC elopement ideas. 

Can you see yourself getting married in Washington DC? I would love to capture your elopement and support you in planning the wedding that you’re envisioning! You can learn more about my elopement photography services here. 

Drew & Hailey’s Testimonial of Their Elopement Photography

“Juliana was an amazing photographer! She made the whole day easy and effortless for us. The photos were absolutely beautiful! Highly recommend investing in a great photographer for your special day, Juliana was the perfect choice!” – Hailey & Drew on Google Reviews

If you’re interested in booking with me for your summer DC elopement, you can inquire with me here! I can’t wait to meet you and hear about the vision you have for your wedding day! 

The Vendors from This Summer DC Elopement 

Wedding Dress: Azazie

Shoes: Converse

Suit: The Blk Tux

Her Rings: Tiffanys

His Ring: Thorum

Hair and Makeup Artist: Yisell Santos // IG: yisellsmakeup

Cake: Cheers Bakehouse in Arlington VA