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Andrea & Patrick's Bavarian Inn Wedding in Shepherdstown

An October wedding at the Bavarian Inn: vows under a draped arch on the terrace above the Potomac, portraits in the middle of German Street, dinner beside the brewhouse tanks, and a dance floor that went late.

October 5, 2024

Patrick dipping Andrea into a kiss beneath the great spreading tree on a brick corner in Shepherdstown, her green heel kicked up and her bouquet trailing toward the sidewalk

The Bavarian Inn sits on the bluff at the edge of Shepherdstown, a row of Tudor chalets above the Potomac, and on the first Saturday of October 2024 it gave Andrea and Patrick the full version of itself: turrets against a blue sky, a terrace over the river in early autumn color, and a dance floor under a tent that nobody wanted to leave. I live in this town, and days like this one are why I keep saying yes to weddings here.

Getting ready, in greens

The palette was green from the start: bridesmaids in every shade of it, a velvet ribbon on the bouquet, and Andrea's emerald platform heels waiting by the door. Patrick and his groomsmen got ready in the chalet loft. Andrea dressed in the dark-walled lounge downstairs, and when she stepped out, her whole party found out at once.

The half-timbered Tudor chalets of the Bavarian Inn under a clear morning sky — The chalets, waiting for the day.

Patrick smiling as he adjusts his tie in the chalet loft before the ceremony — Patrick, nearly ready.

Patrick and his groomsmen raising glasses in a toast in the timber loft — A toast before the terrace.

Andrea's emerald green platform heels beside her bouquet of ranunculus, roses, and dahlias — Emerald, from the shoes up.

Andrea twirling in her satin gown as her bridal party in shades of green sees her for the first time — The reveal, met with a chorus.

Andrea smiling with her vivid bouquet of dahlias, ranunculus, and roses in the dark-walled lounge — The bouquet, against the dark wall.

Andrea looking down at her bouquet of orange roses, pink dahlias, and pale blue delphinium, standing against the dark gallery wall of the lounge — A minute alone with the flowers.

Andrea seated on the leather sofa beneath the framed gallery wall, her satin sleeves and skirt spread around her, one green platform heel showing — Waiting, in the dark room with the pictures.

Andrea kneeling at the center of her bridal party as all of them raise bouquets and arms in a cheer, every shade of green around her — Her whole green chorus.

Vows on the terrace above the Potomac

The ceremony stood on the stone terrace at the bluff's edge: a branch arch draped in sage, zinnias on stumps, the river valley running green and gold behind everything. Andrea came down the grass aisle to Patrick with the whole town's best view over her shoulder.

Patrick waiting quietly under the tent beside family before the processional begins — The quiet minute before walking in.

Andrea walking down the grass aisle between standing guests toward the draped arch, the wooded valley beyond the terrace — Down the lawn, toward the river.

Andrea and Patrick facing each other at the sage-draped arch on the terrace, bridesmaids in greens to one side and groomsmen to the other — The terrace, holding everyone.

Andrea reading her vows to Patrick beneath the arch, the turreted Bavarian Inn chalets rising behind them — Vows, with turrets listening.

Andrea smiling as she reads her vows, her bridal party in shades of green watching from beside the arch — Her side of the promises.

Andrea and Patrick holding hands beneath the arch during the ceremony, the Blue Ridge soft in the distance — Hands held, mountains beyond.

Andrea and Patrick kissing beneath the sage-draped branch arch on the Bavarian Inn terrace, the wooded Potomac valley behind them and groomsmen applauding — The first kiss, under the sage arch.

Andrea raising her bouquet and Patrick raising their joined hands beneath the arch just after being pronounced married — Married, arms to the sky.

Andrea and Patrick walking back up the grass aisle hand in hand, both grinning, her bouquet raised past the applauding guests — Back up the aisle, already laughing.

The full wedding party in navy, gray, and a dozen shades of green cheering with bouquets raised on the lawn — The party, in every green there is.

Andrea and Patrick surrounded by family on the lawn, every single person wearing Groucho glasses and mustaches with their hands thrown in the air, golden light behind them — The family portrait, as negotiated.

Andrea kneeling with her bouquet beside the flower girl in lavender, both smiling — The two best dressed guests, together.

Portraits on German Street

Between the ceremony and dinner we walked into town, because when your venue is a few blocks from German Street, you use German Street. Brick storefronts, a crosswalk held for thirty seconds, and one very good tree.

Andrea and Patrick crossing German Street in downtown Shepherdstown, brick buildings and autumn trees lining the empty road — German Street, briefly theirs.

Patrick in the foreground in his navy suit and floral boutonniere looking off down the street while Andrea stands soft-focused by the tree behind him — Two halves of the same street.

Then we found the tree. There is an old spreading one at the corner, in front of a white clapboard storefront with a mosaic in the wall, and it makes a room out of a sidewalk. We stayed under it a while.

Andrea and Patrick standing hand in hand beneath the wide canopy of the old corner tree, brick street and planters of orange flowers on both sides — The old tree, holding the whole corner.

Andrea and Patrick standing together at the base of the great corner tree, its branches spreading overhead across the brick and white storefront — Under the branches, in the last of the sun.

Andrea laughing up at Patrick beneath the low branches of an old tree, a red brick building behind them — Something said, just then.

The quiet minutes

Every wedding has a stretch like this one: the crowd is somewhere else, nothing is scheduled, and the two people at the center of it get about fifteen minutes alone. These are usually my favorite frames of the day, and this day made them easy.

Andrea and Patrick standing hand in hand along a low stone wall in golden light, turned toward each other, her bright bouquet at her side — Hands held, nothing to say yet.

Andrea laughing with her forehead resting against Patrick's, her colorful bouquet held between them in warm evening light — Forehead to forehead, laughing.

Close frame of Patrick's arms around Andrea from behind, both of their hands holding her bouquet of coral dahlias, cream roses, and rosemary — Four hands and a bouquet.

Patrick holding Andrea's hand in both of his, her engagement ring and his black band close together against her white sleeve — New rings, still being learned.

Andrea and Patrick leaning together against the stone wall beneath tall trees, fallen leaves across the path and the inn glowing white behind them — Beneath the tall trees, before going back in.

Dinner by the brewhouse

Dinner filled the timber-framed brewhouse room, long tables under an antler chandelier, the tanks gleaming behind glass, and little photographs of the two of them running down every table. There were toasts, a marriage license signed in front of an audience, and a dessert table that quietly ran the second half of the night.

Long reception tables set with salads, sage runners, and small photographs of Andrea and Patrick at each place — The two of them, at every place setting.

Andrea and Patrick welcoming their guests at the head of the timber-framed brewhouse room, brew tanks behind glass and an antler chandelier above — The brewhouse, full to the beams.

A toast being delivered by the tall windows of the brewhouse room, guests laughing along — A toast, mid story.

A witness signing the marriage license while Andrea and Patrick point at the paper and mug for the camera — Witnessed, in every sense.

A long dessert table lined with tiramisu, pastries, and cookies under evening light, a guest filling a plate at the near end — The dessert table, doing quiet damage.

The inn at dusk

Between dinner and dancing the sky went pink over the bluff, and the Bavarian Inn turned into the best version of itself: lamps lit along the path, the bar tent glowing under the stone house, and the terrace still holding its chairs above the river.

The stone and slate main house of the Bavarian Inn at dusk, lamps glowing along the curving path and guests seated under umbrellas on the terrace — The main house, at the blue end of the day.

The white bar tent glowing warm at dusk beside the inn, bartenders working and guests gathered under strings of lights — The bar tent, lit for the evening.

Wide view of the Bavarian Inn grounds at dusk: the ceremony chairs and draped arch on the lawn, the half-timbered chalets and umbrella terrace to the right, and the bridge over the Potomac beyond — The whole hill, emptying out at dusk.

The main half-timbered building of the Bavarian Inn at dusk, its turret and balconies lit warm against a pale blue sky — The inn, with its lights on.

The Bavarian Inn's Tudor chalets at dusk, lamps lit along the drive and hedges dark in the foreground — The chalets at last light.

Dancing into the night

Then the tent filled and stayed full. There was a twirl to open it, a lounge outside where the conversations went long, and a dance floor that kept its crowd until the fringe dress came out for the last stretch.

Patrick twirling Andrea under the string lights at the edge of the tent as guests applaud — The first turn of the night.

Andrea laughing with her head back as Patrick holds her close on the dance floor, her skirt gathered in one hand and couples spinning on both sides — Her laugh, in the middle of the floor.

A crowd of guests packed together under the tent in pink and purple light, arms around each other, all shouting toward the camera — The tent, at full volume.

Guests settled into armchairs in the outdoor lounge at night under strings of lights, all of them laughing toward the camera — The lounge outside, where the long talks went.

Andrea beaming with her sunglasses pushed up in her hair while Patrick sings beside her, both of them buried in a cheering crowd under ribbons of warm light — Everybody's song, apparently.

Patrick dipping Andrea, now in a short fringe dress and sneakers, into a kiss on the dance floor as the tent glows pink — The fringe dress, earning its keep.

Andrea and Patrick kissing in the middle of the dance floor, her hair swinging and long ribbons of warm light curling around them as guests cheer and clap — The last of it: a kiss, and the whole room around them.

Thinking about a Bavarian Inn wedding?

I live in Shepherdstown and have photographed weddings here since 2018, Bavarian Inn days among them. Start with the Shepherdstown wedding photography page, or check your date.