Their wedding began in the historic town of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia — surrounded by family, by faith, and by the river-and-mountain landscape that makes the place unlike anywhere else. Later, the celebration carried on through the Virginia countryside to Gordon Springs in Purcellville, where their families and friends gathered to celebrate the beginning of a shared life.
It was a day filled with music, wildflowers, laughter and family. But at the heart of all of it was their Catholic faith, and the commitment they were making to one another.
Liz & JPa faith-filled Harpers Ferry wedding
There are wedding days where the beauty is in the details — and wedding days where the details mean something. For Liz and JP, it was both.
Their wedding began in the historic town of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia — surrounded by family, by faith, and by the river-and-mountain landscape that makes the place unlike anywhere else. Later, the celebration carried on through the Virginia countryside to Gordon Springs in Purcellville, where their families and friends gathered to celebrate the beginning of a shared life.
It was a day filled with music, wildflowers, laughter and family. But at the heart of all of it was their Catholic faith, and the commitment they were making to one another.
How Liz and JP Found Each Other
Their story began in the fall of 2024 with a Hinge match. They had never met. But on their first date, they discovered their families were already connected — a couple of their siblings had been in school together. Within a few months, they had fallen in love and knew they wanted to marry.
What they found in each other went beyond getting along. They share the same values around faith and family, and the same appetite for adventure — hiking, traveling, skiing, tennis, and a real curiosity about the world and the life they want to build in it.
Liz describes JP as giving, witty and adventurous. More than that, she describes him as someone who makes her want to become a better person:
- Someone spontaneous.
- Someone selfless with his time.
- Someone constantly trying to grow.
- Someone strong in the places where she is weaker.
"Love is patient, love is kind." — the words at the center of their ceremony
That shared desire to become better, together, was one of the most beautiful things about their story. And it was the story we were asked to film.
Watch the Film
Liz & JP · Harpers Ferry, West Virginia · Purcellville, Virginia
Liz & JP, thank you for trusting us with your day — the cantors, the bagpipes, the wildflowers, and a song from nine siblings. We hope this carries you right back into the middle of it.
With love, Desmond & Vera — Fine Art Wedding Film
Inside the Day
For anyone planning a Catholic wedding of their own — especially in Harpers Ferry, Purcellville, or anywhere across Loudoun County — here is how the day unfolded.
A Wedding Rooted in Faith
The ceremony at St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church was one of the most meaningful parts of the day. Inside the historic church, the voices of the cantors filled the space as Liz and JP exchanged their vows. There were three readings, Communion, and one particularly beautiful Catholic tradition: placing flowers at the feet of the Blessed Mother.
Liz and JP wanted their film to hold onto more than the architecture. The singing of the cantors, the readings, the prayers — each became part of the story, and together they made something deeply personal to them.
Music Before the First Word
A bagpiper played before and after the ceremony — as guests gathered outside the church, and again as the newly married couple stepped back out through its doors. Music became one of the threads running through the entire day, and it started here.
From Harpers Ferry to the Countryside
After the ceremony, the day moved from historic Harpers Ferry toward Purcellville. The old streets and historic architecture gave way to open Virginia countryside on the way to Gordon Springs — the historic church, the winding roads, the landscape, and then the celebration waiting at the end. The countryside became another character in their film.
Wildflowers Everywhere
Liz had been especially excited about the scenery and the flowers — colorful wildflower bouquets, and blooms spilling across every reception table. The florals, by Hillsboro Flower Co., carried the colors of the countryside right onto the tables.
From a Duo to an Eight-Piece Band
The Original Moonlighters opened cocktail hour as a key and sax duo, then expanded into a full eight-piece band for the reception. It was the kind of live music that fills a room without ever needing to be the center of it.
A Song From Nine Siblings
Perhaps the most meaningful musical moment came from JP's own family: his nine siblings came together to sing a song for Liz and JP. There are moments you can plan. And there are moments that happen simply because the people who love you decide to give you something you'll remember for the rest of your life. This was one of those.
Moon River
Liz and JP didn't plan a choreographed first dance. They didn't need to. After everything the day had held, there was something wonderfully simple about watching the two of them dance to Moon River — no performance, no production. Just husband and wife, finally getting a quiet moment together.
A Celebration Carried by Community
For Liz and JP, the wedding was never only about the two of them. From the people who traveled to be there, to the siblings singing, to the music and laughter filling Gordon Springs, the day felt less like a single event and more like the beginning of something shared. A marriage may begin with two people — but it is surrounded by everyone who loves them.
The Details
- Couple
- Liz & JP
- How They Met
- Hinge, fall 2024
- Ceremony
- St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church, Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
- Reception
- Gordon Springs, Purcellville, Virginia
- Service
- Catholic, with cantors, three readings & Communion
- Scripture
- 1 Corinthians 13 — "Love is patient, love is kind"
- Tradition
- Flowers placed at the feet of the Blessed Mother
- Ceremony Music
- Cantors & a bagpiper
- Reception Music
- The Original Moonlighters — duo to eight-piece band
- First Dance
- Moon River
- Florals
- Colorful wildflowers
- Most Memorable
- JP's nine siblings singing together
Planning a Harpers Ferry or Purcellville Wedding?
Liz and JP's day shows what's possible when you pair two very different settings. A ceremony at St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church in Harpers Ferry with a reception at Gordon Springs in Purcellville becomes a journey — from a historic river town to open Virginia countryside — and that journey can become part of the story.
Getting Married at St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church
For a Catholic wedding in Harpers Ferry, the church is at the heart of the experience. Because Catholic ceremonies carry specific traditions, readings, music and liturgical elements, talk with your filmmaker about the church's filming guidelines early in planning, so the timeline and camera placement can be built around them.
Most importantly, tell your filmmaker which parts of the ceremony matter most to you. For Liz and JP, it was the cantors, the readings, Communion, and the words about love. Those details shaped their film.
From Harpers Ferry to Purcellville
If your ceremony is in Harpers Ferry and your reception is in Purcellville, allow real time for the move between locations. The historic architecture of Harpers Ferry and the countryside around Gordon Springs are completely different visual worlds. Rather than rushing the transition, build in room for portraits, travel and a little breathing space.
Choosing a Videographer for a Catholic Wedding
If you're looking for a Catholic wedding videographer, ask how they approach the ceremony itself:
- Do they capture the readings?
- Will you be able to hear the music?
- Will the vows and speeches become part of the story?
- How do they work within church restrictions?
- Will the finished film feel like your marriage — not just a beautiful wedding video?
For faith-filled weddings, the words spoken during the ceremony can matter just as much as the images.
Choosing a Harpers Ferry Wedding Videographer
Harpers Ferry offers an unusual mix of historic architecture, mountain scenery, rivers and countryside — which makes it an especially beautiful place for a wedding film. Whether you're planning a Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, Purcellville, Loudoun County or Northern Virginia wedding, think about how your locations work together visually. A good film connects those places into one story, rather than treating each as a separate scene.
Your Wedding Should Sound Like You
Beautiful images matter. But years from now, you may find yourself remembering something else:
- Your father's voice.
- Your mother's laugh.
- The way your partner sounded reading their vows.
- The song your siblings sang.
- The words from the ceremony.
- The way everyone laughed during the speeches.
Those are the things that cannot be recreated.
Their Wedding Team
- Wedding Film
- Fine Art Wedding Film — @afineartweddingfilm
- Ceremony
- St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church, Harpers Ferry, WV
- Reception
- Gordon Springs, Purcellville, VA
- Wedding Planner
- Joanna Willard — Celebrate Slowly
- Photography
- Annie Rainwater Photography — @annierainwater.photo
- Entertainment
- The Original Moonlighters — @mltrsband
- Florals
- Hillsboro Flower Co. — @hillsboroflowerco
- Hair & Makeup
- Ky Washington — @moderngreengoddess
- Wedding Dress
- Amsale — @amsaleweddings
- Catering
- Justin Garrison
Fine Art Wedding Film
We approach every wedding as both filmmakers and storytellers. We want the finished film to preserve not only what your wedding looked like, but what it sounded like, what it felt like, and why it mattered.
For couples planning a wedding in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Washington DC and beyond, we'd love to hear your story.