Story

Bailey & Youssef's Brinklow, Maryland Estate Wedding

An August wedding at Youssef's family estate in Brinklow, Maryland: an Islamic marriage ceremony in the gilded sitting room, portraits under towering trees, a silver Corvette in the driveway, and a tent full of drums and dancing at the end of it.

August 31, 2024

Bailey and Youssef nose to nose beneath towering trees at a Brinklow, Maryland estate, her white satin cape and lace-edged train spread across the grass

Some weddings rent a venue. Bailey and Youssef were married at Youssef's family estate in Brinklow, Maryland, in the green hills of Montgomery County north of Washington, DC, and the day used every part of it: the house for getting ready and the ceremony, the walled garden for the first look, the woods for portraits, and a draped tent on the lawn for everything after dark. They were married there on August 31, 2024, with about a hundred people they love packed into one long, very good day.

I did not meet Bailey and Youssef through a contact form. Bailey coaches at the gym in Frederick where I train, which means she spent the months before the wedding correcting my squat form and I spent the wedding day returning the favor with a camera. Days like this one, where I get to photograph people I actually know, are some of my favorites on the calendar.

Getting ready in the house

Two bridesmaids in sage green pajama sets smoothing Bailey's long lace-edged veil across the wood floor by a bright window — The veil, laid out in the morning light.

Bailey and four of her bridal party in matching sage green silk pajamas sitting together on a bed between two lamps — Her closest, in matching sage silk.

Bailey in her white halter crepe gown perched on the edge of the bed while two bridesmaids in navy dresses fasten her sparkling heels — Steady hands for the last details.

Youssef smiling down in a navy vest and black bow tie while getting ready beneath a chandelier — Youssef, in the quiet before.

Black and white frame of Bailey on her grandfather's arm at the top of the staircase, holding her gathered train, about to walk down — Down the stairs on her grandfather's arm.

A first look in the walled garden

The brick and stone house at the Brinklow estate with leaded windows, boxwood hedges, and the white reception tent wrapping the lawn — The estate, dressed for the day.

The first look happened on the flagstone patio below the house, stone walls and Japanese maples on every side. Youssef turned around, and the laugh that came out of him is the same one you will see in every photograph for the rest of this story. Then Bailey flexed, because of course she did.

Youssef holding both of Bailey's hands on the flagstone patio during the first look, both laughing, stone walls and greenery behind — The first look, met with laughter.

Bailey and Youssef flexing side by side on the garden patio, her arm tattoo reading Confidence, both grinning — Confidence, in writing and in person.

Youssef looking down with a small smile as a white rose boutonniere with pale blue accents is pinned to his navy tuxedo lapel — A white rose, pinned in place.

Both wedding bands nestled into a cream rose at the center of a bouquet of white hydrangea and pale blue delphinium — Both rings, cradled in roses.

An Islamic ceremony in the sitting room

The ceremony happened inside the house, in a sitting room made for it: chandeliers, a gilt mirror, sconces, oriental rugs, and gold chairs pulled close on every side. Youssef's family is Egyptian, and the marriage was made in the Islamic tradition, at home, with prayers woven through the afternoon. Bailey wore a white satin cape over her gown. The two of them sat with the officiant at a low table while the marriage was blessed and signed, and the room stayed near enough to touch them the whole time.

The Islamic marriage ceremony in the estate's sitting room, Bailey and Youssef seated with the officiant beneath a crystal chandelier and gilt mirror, guests close on gold chairs — The sitting room, gathered close.

Youssef grinning in his navy tuxedo beside the officiant during the ceremony while Bailey signs the marriage document at the edge of the frame, family reflected in the mirror above — The signing, surrounded by family.

Youssef kissing Bailey's cheek at the signing table as she closes her eyes and smiles, the officiant and family smiling on either side — A kiss, with the ink still wet.

Bailey and Youssef walking hand in hand up the rug-lined aisle between applauding guests after the ceremony, her bouquet in hand — Married, into the applause.

Bailey glancing back at the camera open-mouthed with delight as she leads Youssef by the hand out of the ceremony room — Joy, glancing back.

Into the trees

The estate keeps a stand of tall old trees past the lawn, and late afternoon light under a canopy like that is exactly what a photographer wants handed to them. Bailey's cape and that lace-edged train did the rest of the work.

Bailey laughing at the camera from inside Youssef's arms beneath the tall trees, her satin cape catching the light — Laughter beneath the canopy.

Bailey and Youssef facing each other among the tall tree trunks, her bouquet of white and pale blue held between them — A still moment among the trees.

The families, the rings, and the Corvette

Both families lined up together on the lawn with Bailey and Youssef at the center, three generations from grandmother to youngest cousin — Both families, three generations, one frame.

Bailey and Youssef grinning at the camera and holding up their ring fingers, new bands on display, the glowing tent behind them — The new rings, held to the light.

Bailey seated on the hood of a silver Corvette in the driveway, her long train pooling to the asphalt, the reception tent glowing amber behind her — Silk and silver, in the driveway.

A tent full of drums and dancing

After dark the tent took over: amber-draped ceilings, woven pendant lanterns, live drums, and a dance floor that never really emptied. Bailey went up on a chair. Youssef went up on shoulders. The cake came out with the wedding date on the topper and a little airplane parked at its base, and the first dance got cold-spark fountains and a floral arch.

Bailey lifted on a chair with both arms in the air while Youssef dances beside her, drums and cheering guests around the glowing tent — Lifted, to the sound of drums.

Three-tier white wedding cake with blue delphinium and cream roses, a gold topper reading Mr and Mrs Selim with the date 8.31.2024 and a small airplane — The date, written in gold.

Youssef holding his hand to Bailey's cheek as she laughs through the first bite of cake beside the three-tier cake — The first bite, offered gently.

Bailey and Youssef slow dancing on the white dance floor as cold-spark fountains rise beside the flower-arched sweetheart stage — Their first dance, under falling sparks.

Wide view of the draped amber tent with woven lanterns glowing overhead as Bailey and Youssef dance at its center — Alone together, beneath the lanterns.

Bailey and Youssef walking out through guests waving glowing light wands and raising phones, both beaming — Out through a corridor of light.

Leah Jastrab of Leah Elizabeth Events coordinated the day, and an estate wedding with a hundred guests, two families, a ceremony flip, and a tent build is exactly the kind of day where you feel a good coordinator in your bones. Everything moved. Nothing rushed.

Planning a DC-area estate wedding?

A wedding at a family home is one of my favorite assignments: the light is yours all day, nobody watches the clock, and every room already means something. I photograph across the DC area, Montgomery County, and the hills west of the city, with travel included. Start with the Washington, DC wedding photography page, or check your date.