DC Elopement & Micro Wedding Photographer
I'm Jenna Leigh — and elopements and micro weddings are some of the most meaningful work I do. No seating charts, no vendor coordination marathons, no compromises. Just the two of you — or your closest people — an extraordinary DC location, and a day that's entirely yours.
I've been photographing weddings and elopements for over 16 years, including across Washington DC and the greater DMV area. I know this city's permit requirements, its best morning light locations, and exactly where to be at golden hour on the National Mall. For couples flying in from out of town, I can help you navigate the logistics so your only job on the day is to be present.
Whether you're planning a two-person ceremony at the DC War Memorial or a 20-person micro wedding with a rooftop reception above the city, I'd love to be there.
Featured in Washingtonian Magazine ·
Knot Best of Weddings Hall of Fame
16+ Years · 350+ Weddings
An elopment or micro wedding isn't a small wedding.
it's a deliberate choice to make the day entirely about you.
Vibrant, true-to-life photography for DC couples — local and destination — who want something intimate, intentional, and completely their own.
Elopement & micro Weddings
Washington, DC
Washington, DC
"Her photography is not only her business,
but her passion."
Nate
Beyond the Monuments
Fiola Micro Wedding
A rooftop ceremony above one of DC's most celebrated Italian restaurants, with the city skyline as backdrop and one of the finest dining experiences in the District waiting below. Fiola represents the kind of intimate DC wedding that's entirely about the experience — the ceremony, the setting, the meal, all elevated in every sense.
Beyond the Monuments
Primrose Micro Wedding
A French-inspired neighborhood restaurant in DC's Brookland neighborhood, with ceremony portraits at the Library of Congress and Capitol Hill before an intimate reception in one of the city's most charming dining rooms. The combination of landmark portraits and neighborhood warmth makes for a genuinely distinctive wedding day.
Beyond the Monuments
Line DC Micro Wedding
A converted 1912 neoclassical church in Adams Morgan, with a pipe organ chandelier, Diocletian stained-glass windows, and a rooftop terrace where the Washington Monument glows at golden hour. The combination of cathedral-scale architecture and a working boutique hotel makes The LINE DC one of the most photographically distinctive wedding venues in the city.
FAQ
Q: How do you get married in Washington DC?
A: DC has one of the simplest marriage license processes in the country. Apply online or in person at the DC Marriage Bureau, located at the Moultrie Courthouse (500 Indiana Avenue NW, Room JM-690), open Monday through Friday 8:30am–4:00pm. The fee is $45, payable by cash, credit card, or money order. There is no waiting period — your license can be issued the same day you apply, and it does not expire. No residency requirement, no blood test, and no witnesses required. DC is also one of the few jurisdictions in the US that allows self-solemnization — meaning one of the two parties can legally officiate the ceremony themselves.
Q: Do you need a permit for photography at DC monuments and memorials?
A: Yes — any professional photography on National Park Service land, including the National Mall, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Tidal Basin, and DC War Memorial, requires a Still Photography Permit. The application fee is $90 (non-refundable), with an additional location fee starting at $50, bringing the typical total to $140 for a couple's session. Applications must be submitted at least 2–3 weeks in advance — longer during cherry blossom season. The Capitol building requires a separate permit from the US Capitol Police. I'm familiar with the entire permit process and can help you navigate it as part of your planning.
Q: What are the best locations for a DC elopement or micro wedding?
A: The DC War Memorial is one of the most intimate and overlooked ceremony sites on the National Mall — a circular Greek temple with sweeping Tidal Basin views and genuine emotional weight. The Jefferson Memorial and Lincoln Memorial are iconic for good reason, especially at golden hour. The Library of Congress Great Hall is arguably the most breathtaking interior in the city. The National Cathedral offers Gothic grandeur and sweeping grounds. For something more intimate, the National Gallery of Art and Dumbarton Oaks Gardens are among my favorites. I'm happy to help you choose based on your vision, guest count, and time of year.
Q: We're flying in from out of town — how does that work?
A: DC is one of the most accessible cities in the country for destination elopements — served by three airports (Reagan National, Dulles International, and BWI), with excellent Metro access to most elopement locations. No residency requirement means out-of-town couples can obtain a DC marriage license the same day they arrive. I help destination couples plan everything remotely — location selection, permit applications, timeline planning, and marriage license logistics — so your only job on the day is to be present. Most of my destination couples are in regular contact with me in the months leading up to their day.
Q: What's the difference between an elopement and a micro wedding?
A: An elopement is typically just the two of you — or with one or two witnesses — with the focus entirely on your ceremony and portraits. A micro wedding brings a small group of your closest people, usually 20 or fewer guests, with a ceremony and some form of celebration afterward. I photograph both, and the approach is similar: intimate, intentional, and unhurried. DC is particularly well-suited to both — the monument corridor works beautifully for just the two of you, while restaurant venues like Fiola and Primrose are ideal for small celebrations with guests.
Q: What happens after we book?
A: For destination couples, I'll walk you through the marriage license process, permit requirements, and day-of logistics during our planning call. On your wedding day, you won't need to think about any of it.
DC Elopement & Micro Wedding Photography
Let's Tell your story
Tell me your vision, your date, and your location. I'll handle the rest.
Serving Washington DC · National Mall · Capitol Hill · Georgetown · Dupont Circle · Tidal Basin · National Cathedral · and throughout the District · also serving Northern Virginia · Maryland · and Annapolis & the Eastern Shore