September 24, 2020 ● Brooke Tyson Photography

July 16, 2019

Lauren + Mick, a Colorful Torpedo Factory Wedding

Brooke Tyson Photography

Today is ALL about fun and color!! I am so excited to share Lauren and Mick’s AWESOME Torpedo Factory wedding today!

Lauren and Mick were married at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church on Saturday, July 6, and then celebrated with friends and family at a beautiful and FUN reception at the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, Virginia.

Kelsey and I were SO excited to work with the incredible Brielle of Brielle Davis Events again!! She is wonderful to work with in so many ways, from thinking of EVERY single details to executing the day flawlessly! Brielle and her team LOVE their couples so much, and it really shows. Brielle took Lauren and Mick’s vision for a fun and colorful day and turned it into an incredible event that was SO them. The details were spectacular!!

The day started at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Arlington, Virginia. Lauren and Mick shared their vows at the church they attend, surrounded by family. They had each written a letter to one another, and their priest surprised them by reading those special words to them. It was so sweet, and the way Lauren and Mick smiled at each other throughout the ceremony was adorable. Lauren and Mick recessed from the church to “Simple Gifts” and then we got to do some pictures inside and outside of the church.

The day started out beautiful and sunny, and then during the ceremony it started pouring rain. Thankfully the rain ended when the ceremony ended, and we had the prettiest light for pictures – in the middle of the day! The rain also cooled things off – for a bit! After pictures, we headed to the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, Virginia, where Lauren, Mick, Kelsey, and I got to explore downtown historic Alexandria around the Potomac. It was BEAUTIFUL and we got so many gorgeous pictures in a short amount of time. But it was VERY hot!! These two were such good sports, because it was SO hot and sunny during this time. We were very thankful when we found some shade! :) It was so nice walking around with these two and getting to know them more. It is clear that Lauren and Mick complete each other and compliment one another in so many ways. They are both so kind and funny, and they both have such big hearts. They love to travel, and they adore their dogs (their newest dog, Storm, was rescued from overseas!). Lauren and Mick were so, so happy to be married, and it was really special to see how much these two love one another. We had a great time at pictures! And thankfully afterward, these two had a little break time to cool down (honestly it felt like one of the hottest weddings ever! It was a HOT day!). A cool fact: Mick went for a run that morning in the same exact spot where we did pictures later that day. I thought that was so cool that he started his day there engaged, and ended it in the same place – as a married man!

And then it was cocktail hour time!! It was SO fun to see the guests arrive and be blown away by all of the fun details and decor that Brielle and her team, Josh and Sarah, put together inside of the unique and awesome Torpedo Factory! The cocktail hour was on the patio outside of the Torpedo Factory overlooking the Potomac River – it was so nice!! And then everyone gathered inside for Lauren and Mick’s grand entrance down the Torpedo Factory staircase – and the party began! Lauren’s father, joined by her mother, gave a very special speech, inviting Mick’s mother, brothers, and sisters up, as well as Lauren’s grandmother. It was such a nice way to show the uniting of two families. Afterward, everyone gathered for dinner, which was designed to be just as fun as the night. Guests were treated to stations representing both Lauren and Mick’s hometowns, and then another one that was special to the two of them! Lauren is from Maryland, and the Maryland food station included Maryland classics, like Maryland crab cakes and macaroni and cheese. Mick’s station was all about Detroit, and it included different types of pizza, Greek salad, and Coney Detroit hot dogs! Lauren and Mick love visiting Tulum, Mexico, so they also had a Tulum Taco Bar with ALL kinds of Mexican favorites. It was so fun and such a cool way to share favorites with their wedding guests. And the guests loved it! Tables were arranged in both floors for guests to mingle and meet each other, and tables were not assigned. After dinner, Lauren’s matron of honor, Karen, and Mick’s best man, Joe, gave such special (and hilarious!) speeches, and then the party REALLY kicked off!! And this was a dancing crowd! It was such a fun night!!

Lauren and Mick’s DJ, Ross of Bela Sono Music, kept everyone partying on the dance floor late into the night, and guests enjoyed the ADORABLE mocktails named after Lauren and Mick’s two sweet dogs, Jackson and Storm! Brielle ordered one of each drink for some cute photos with Lauren and Mick’s #MickandDick (haha!) napkins, so I got to try the green drink – the Jackson. It was SO good! I even tried to recreate it at home last week (my recreation was pretty good, but not as wonderful as the REAL Jackson!). Not only did the guests get fun mocktails, but they also had a late-night treat of Taco Bell burritos! (So fun!! I love the trend of serving late night snacks!). There were also cute s’mores marshmallows for guests to enjoy, and late into the night, huge cutouts of Jackson and Storm the dogs joined the dance floor!! Haha! Lauren even switched to cute “bride” PJs to end the night!! It was SUCH a fun party!!

Afterward, Lauren and Mick continued the celebration by going on a fun mini honeymoon with their pups to beautiful Wintergreen! These two have lots of fun places they want to visit and are working on narrowing down the list for their big honeymoon later this year! :) Lauren and Mick, it was such an honor to celebrate with you two!! Kelsey and I LOVED getting to know you both, and we absolutely loved your amazing, fun, and oh-so-you wedding!! It was PERFECT!! Congratulations, Lauren and Mick!! Enjoy a few highlights from your beautiful wedding day!!

Yay!! Married!

So beautiful, Lauren!!

I love these colorful flowers!

Lauren and Mick’s wedding day was all about color and fun, so I was so happy we found a colorful backdrop for some pictures!

I love this one!! They kept each other smiling all day! :)

I love these by the water!

I loved how this staircase created such cool geometric lines behind them!

An all-time favorite!! How beautiful are these two? I love this!!

Lauren and Mick’s had the most fun signature mocktails – names after their two dogs, Jackson and Storm!!

A selfie with all of their guests! So fun!

Lauren’s dad gave such a sweet speech, including both Lauren and Mick’s families in such special ways. It was awesome!

And then it was time for dinner! Guests were treated to stations representing both Lauren and Mick’s hometowns, and then another one that was special to the two of them! Lauren is from Maryland, and the Maryland food station included Maryland classics, like Maryland crab cakes and macaroni and cheese. Mick’s station was all about Detroit, and it included different types of pizza, Greek salad, and Coney Detroit hot dogs! Lauren and Mick love visiting Tulum, Mexico, so they also had a Tulum Taco Bar with ALL kinds of Mexican favorites. It was so fun and such a cool way to share favorites with their wedding guests. And the guests loved it!

Lauren’s matron of honor, Karen, gave such a sweet speech – and then surprised Lauren and Mick with a BIG gift!

Mick’s best man, his brother, Joe, gave a HILARIOUS speech (he said it was his chance to get back at Mick for Mick’s speech at Joe’s wedding). He also passed out “Mick-isms” so that Mick’s new family could also understand his funny sayings. It was great!

And then the party took off!! This was such a FUN night!! Lauren had a second beautiful wedding dress for the reception (and ended the evening in her bride PJs!), and guests partied late into the night! Guests were treated with late-night Taco Bell and smores marshmallows, huge cut outs of Lauren and Mick’s dogs, Jackson and Storm, and LOTS of fun dancing and partying!