Photography by Michelle Elyse Photography

 

THE REHEARSAL DINNER & WELCOME PARTY

The weekend kicked off with a beautiful Havana Nights themed Rehearsal Dinner and Welcome Party. The latin theme tied in Felipe’s latin heritage as well as his background as a professional ballroom dancer. Fun was had by all!

THE WEDDING DAY

It felt like things couldn’t possibly get any better after that first night. But then the next morning, we woke up to beautiful blue winter skies and a fresh day awaiting whole new memories- starting out with Tom and Felipe getting ready together in their suite.

You may have noticed Tom and Felipe’s custom crest, which was so beautifully woven into their wedding day – on their cufflinks, embroidered onto their shoes, printed on their invitations, and even incorporated into their bar.

We had a little fun! Especially with the cologne spritz before we headed out to take a few pictures alone before festivities got started

The start to the day was nice and relaxed. Then it was time to get these guys married! Their ceremony was held in the beautiful Omni Homestead Resort’s Crystal Ballroom. The classical pillars were covered in greenery, and the aisle was lined with candles.

Now party time! The Crystal Ballroom was transformed for the reception where Felipe, Tom and their guests danced the night away!

Vendor Team:

Photography: Michelle Elyse Photography

Planning, Design, Lighting, and Florals: Caroline LaRocca Event Design

Rehearsal and Wedding Day Venue, Catering, and Accommodations: Omni Homestead Resort

Tom & Felipe’s Black Tie Winter Wedding at Omni Homestead Resort | A Same Sex Wedding in Virginia

If you’re searching for an Omni Homestead Resort wedding, a same sex wedding in Virginia, or an LGBTQ friendly wedding photographer with a documentary and editorial style, Tom and Felipe’s wedding was the perfect example of why I love photographing weddings that are equal parts emotional, stylish, and deeply personal.

Their winter wedding weekend at The Omni Homestead Resort felt like stepping into another world. Imagine timeless black tie elegance mixed with rich personality, heartfelt moments, incredible design, and one unforgettable dance floor. Every detail reflected who they are individually and who they are together.

And honestly? Tom and Felipe feel like a match made in heaven.

Felipe, a retired professional dancer who now works as an interior designer, brings creativity, artistry, and a beautiful eye for detail. Tom, a realtor with a warm and welcoming personality, brings a grounded presence and genuine kindness that makes everyone around him instantly comfortable. Put those two things together and you get a wedding that felt sophisticated, emotional, and wildly fun all at once.

A Winter Wedding Weekend at The Omni Homestead Resort

One of the things I love about photographing an Omni Homestead Resort wedding is that the venue naturally creates a complete wedding weekend experience rather than simply serving as a place to host events.

Nestled among Virginia’s mountains, the Omni Homestead has this incredible ability to feel grand and historic while still feeling intimate. During winter especially, the atmosphere becomes even more magical. The crisp mountain air, warm interiors, elegant architecture, and cozy energy create the kind of environment where guests naturally settle in and fully enjoy the celebration.

Tom and Felipe embraced that experience completely.

Instead of focusing on a single wedding day, they created a full weekend for family and friends to celebrate together.

Havana Nights Welcome Party with Salsa Dancing and Cuban Music

The night before the wedding, guests were welcomed into an entirely different atmosphere.

Tom and Felipe hosted an incredible Havana Nights themed welcome party that immediately set the tone for the weekend.

The room was filled with vibrant energy, music, laughter, and movement. Rich colors, lively details, and an incredible Cuban band transformed the evening into something that felt immersive and joyful.

And then there was the dancing.

Lots and lots of dancing.

As a retired professional dancer, Felipe naturally belongs on a dance floor. Watching him move was effortless and beautiful. Guests quickly joined in, and before long the room became a giant celebration of music and connection.

Salsa dancing has this way of making people forget they’re being watched. People stop performing and simply become present.

As a photographer with a documentary and editorial wedding style, moments like these are absolute gold.

The documentary side of my work lives for real interactions: spontaneous laughter, movement, reactions, hugs, people throwing their heads back laughing, and moments that couldn’t be recreated if you tried.

Meanwhile the editorial side notices the beautiful light falling across the room, the movement of a jacket while someone spins, the composition of a scene, and the details that elevate a photograph from a memory into artwork.

The Havana Nights party gave us all of it.

Black Tie Wedding Style Meets Timeless Winter Elegance

The following day brought a completely different feeling.

The playful energy of Havana Nights shifted into elegant black tie sophistication.

Tom and Felipe looked incredible.

Black tie weddings always carry a certain level of timelessness, but there was something especially fitting about it here. The Omni Homestead’s classic architecture paired perfectly with the formal style of the day.

Winter weddings also have a mood that I absolutely love photographing.

The softer light, richer textures, darker tones, and cozy atmosphere create images that naturally feel cinematic and emotional.

Rather than competing with the environment, Tom and Felipe’s wedding design complemented it beautifully.

Everything felt intentional without ever feeling overdone.

A Crystal Ballroom Ceremony at The Omni Homestead Resort

Their ceremony took place in the stunning Crystal Ballroom at The Omni Homestead Resort, which also hosted the reception later that evening.

The Crystal Ballroom has an elegance that feels timeless. It’s dramatic without being overwhelming and grand without losing intimacy.

As guests entered the room, there was this quiet anticipation in the air.

Then came the ceremony.

The thing I remember most wasn’t necessarily a single moment.

It was the way Tom and Felipe looked at each other.

Throughout the day there were countless small expressions that happened in between everything else. Quick smiles. Looks across the room. Hands finding each other naturally.

These tiny moments are often the moments couples don’t even realize happened.

They’re also often the moments people treasure most years later.

As a documentary wedding photographer, those are the moments I’m always searching for.

Editorial Wedding Photography with Real Emotion

People often ask me what I mean when I describe my work as both documentary and editorial wedding photography.

For me, documentary photography means paying attention to real moments as they naturally happen.

Editorial photography means creating images that feel elevated and intentional.

The goal is never to interrupt the experience.

The goal is to create photographs that feel both honest and beautiful.

Tom and Felipe’s wedding felt like the perfect example of that balance.

Their wedding weekend had so many naturally emotional moments while also being filled with incredible design and style.

You don’t have to choose between authenticity and beautiful imagery.

You can absolutely have both.

A Reception Full of Celebration

After the ceremony, the Crystal Ballroom transformed for the reception.

And once again, the dancing took over.

No surprise there.

The dance floor stayed packed and the energy in the room never disappeared.

Friends and family celebrated the way I think weddings should be celebrated : fully and unapologetically.

There was laughter, emotion, incredible music, and the kind of moments that remind you why gathering people together matters so much.

 

Planning & Design by Caroline LaRocca Event Design (CLED)

One of the defining elements that elevated Tom and Felipe’s wedding at The Omni Homestead Resort was the extraordinary design work by Caroline LaRocca Event Design (CLED). Caroline served as the planner, designer, florist, and lighting designer for the entire weekend, bringing together every visual and emotional layer of the celebration with incredible precision and artistry.

From the Havana Nights welcome party to the black tie wedding in the Crystal Ballroom, every environment felt intentionally crafted and completely immersive. The welcome party transformed into a vibrant, music-filled experience with bold color, rich textures, and thoughtful styling that perfectly matched the energy of the Cuban band and salsa dancing.

For the wedding day, the design shifted seamlessly into a timeless black tie aesthetic. The Crystal Ballroom at The Omni Homestead Resort was transformed into an elegant, romantic space where lighting played a key role in shaping the atmosphere. Soft, flattering light enhanced the architecture of the room while highlighting the emotional moments throughout the ceremony and reception.

What stood out most was how effortless everything felt as a guest and as a photographer. Every detail—from floral design to lighting placement—worked together to support the experience rather than distract from it. Caroline’s ability to balance design, logistics, and atmosphere allowed the entire weekend to feel cohesive, elevated, and deeply intentional.

It’s always a privilege to work alongside creatives who understand how to shape not just how a wedding looks, but how it feels. Caroline’s work at The Omni Homestead Resort was a perfect example of how thoughtful design can completely transform a space and elevate a wedding story from beautiful to unforgettable.

LGBTQ Friendly Wedding Photographer in Virginia

As an LGBTQ friendly wedding photographer, one of the greatest privileges of my job is documenting people exactly as they are and celebrating love stories that are deeply personal and uniquely their own.

Everyone deserves to feel comfortable, celebrated, and fully themselves on their wedding day.

My approach is always centered around creating an experience where couples can simply focus on being present with each other while I document everything unfolding naturally around them.

Tom and Felipe created a wedding that felt authentic to who they are :  elegant, joyful, welcoming, stylish, and filled with heart.

It was an absolute honor to document every part of it.

Planning an Omni Homestead Resort Wedding?

If you’re planning an Omni Homestead Resort wedding, searching for a same sex wedding photographer in Virginia, or looking for an LGBTQ friendly wedding photographer with a documentary and editorial style, I would love to hear more about what you’re dreaming up.

Whether you’re planning a black tie celebration, a destination wedding weekend, or a wedding that is uniquely your own, I’d love to help tell your story.