Gabriela & David’s Romantic Wedding at Common House in Richmond, Virginia

Bride and groom laughing and holding onto each other during their nighttime celebration at their Common House Richmond wedding, photographed by Chelsea Schmidt Photography.

December 2, 2025

There are some wedding days that stay with you long after the last song plays, and Gabriela & David’s March celebration at Common House in Richmond, VA is one of them. Their day was sweet, intentional, full of energy, and wrapped in the kind of heartfelt moments that make me love being a Richmond wedding photographer.

As their photographer, I knew their Common House Richmond wedding would feel deeply personal from the very beginning — a day overflowing with intention and quiet emotion. Gabriela is warm, outgoing, and incredibly detail-oriented, the kind of bride who thoughtfully infuses meaning into every element of her day. And David is gentle, grounding, and attentive, always making sure she’s taken care of. Together, they’re the perfect blend of joy, calm, and sincere partnership.

They chose Common House because it embodied everything they envisioned: a space with charm, texture, and warmth, classic but never stuffy, elegant but still fun. They loved the blend of southern charm and Richmond’s artistic vibe the venue naturally carries. That’s exactly how their wedding felt, too.

Their wedding felt exactly like them: intimate, family-centered, beautifully designed, and filled with the biggest smiles.

Getting Ready for their Common House Richmond Wedding

The Bridal Suite

The bridal suite sits on the lower level of the venue. It’s cozy and intimate, but it doesn’t have natural light, so I rearranged the space, popped on a flash, and made sure the light was clean and flattering for all her getting-ready moments.

For detail photos, I actually take everything upstairs to the first floor by the window. The large window of natural light is perfect for my soft, signature detail style, and it gave Gabriela’s dress a stunning, glowy moment of its own.

flat lay shot of bridal details like shoes, ring, and sunglasses.

Bride's dress hanging in her bridal suite

bride puts on her shoes in the bridal suite

Bride poses showing off her pearl earring.

The Groom’s Suite

Meanwhile, David was in the theatre room, dark, moody, and lined in velvet (like any good theatre should be). I leaned into that vibe with direct flash, which photographs beautifully and adds the film-inspired style I love incorporating throughout my wedding galleries.

Both spaces matched their personalities in unexpected ways: Gabriela’s warm and romantic details, David’s timeless and classic feel. Each corner of Common House set the tone for the day ahead.

The groom preparing his jacket while getting ready in the moody theatre room at his Common House Richmond wedding, photographed by Chelsea Schmidt Photography.

The groom adjusting his cufflinks during his getting-ready moments at his Common House Richmond wedding, photographed by Chelsea Schmidt Photography.

The groom and his groomsmen laughing together in the lounge at their Common House Richmond wedding, captured by Chelsea Schmidt Photography.

No First Look — Just Sweet, Building Anticipation

Instead of a first look, they waited to see each other until the ceremony. That meant we split up family portraits beforehand to save time later in the day. Gabriela also shared that seeing David for the first time was one of the moments she was most excited for, and afterward she said the nerves just melted away when she saw him.

“Once I walked down the aisle, I literally only saw my husband… it felt like we were the only two people in the room.”

— Gabriela

It was one of those quiet, cinematic moments, the kind that makes the whole room pause.

Bride walking down the aisle at Common House Richmond with two escorts, holding a white floral bouquet.

Groom wiping tears during the ceremony at Common House Richmond while standing beside the officiant and groomsmen.

A Beautiful Outdoor Ceremony in the Common House Courtyard

Even though March in Richmond can be unpredictable, the weather was perfect for their outdoor ceremony in the courtyard of Common House. The setting was refined and simple, with classic chairs tied with white bows that went perfectly with their floral arch.

It felt romantic but not overly feminine, which matched Gabriela’s vision for something timeless and intentional.

Both of their families were deeply emotional, and you could feel the love woven into every moment of the ceremony. The moment that Gabriela walked down the aisle, everyone was quiet, but I knew it was because of all of the emotions flowing. Every glance, every tear, every hand held a little tighter… it all added this beautiful weight to the moment. The love surrounding Gabriela and David was undeniable.

Ceremony setup at Common House Richmond featuring a lush greenery arch and rows of wooden chairs decorated with white ribbons.

Couple’s Portraits in the Heart of Richmond

Right after the ceremony, we took a few portraits under the floral arch. I always love photographing newlyweds in the spot where they just said “I do,” especially when the ceremony design is as beautiful as this one.

Bride and groom stand in front of their floral arch following their ceremony at Common House in Richmond, photographed by Chelsea Schmidt Photography.

Groom kisses his bride's head in front of their floral arch following their ceremony at Common House in Richmond, photographed by Chelsea Schmidt Photography.

Then we wandered through the nearby Richmond streets. Common House is surrounded by charming pockets of backdrop options: clean city corners, textured walls, small architectural details, and of course, the awning at Birdie’s, which always photographs beautifully.

It was that perfect early-evening light: soft, diffused, and warm enough to keep everyone comfortable. These portraits felt playful, natural, and very them, a mix of romance and effortless joy.

Since their wedding was in March, it had the potential to be pretty chilly during the day, but the weather was actually really comfortable that day! I love when my couples luck out on weather, they deserve it!

Bride and groom posing beneath the striped Birdie’s awning during their Common House Richmond wedding portraits in the city, photographed by Chelsea Schmidt Photography.

Black and white portrait of the bride and groom sharing a quiet moment under the veil during their Common House Richmond wedding, captured by Chelsea Schmidt Photography.

Bride and groom walking hand in hand in downtown Richmond during their Common House Richmond wedding, photographed by Chelsea Schmidt Photography.

A Wedding Party Filled With Family

Their wedding party included many of their siblings and closest relatives, which made photographing them feel like stepping into a big hug. Everyone was excited, supportive, and fully present for the couple.

There was so much laughter during these photos, genuine reactions, teasing, and the kind of group dynamic that makes my job so incredibly easy.

Family truly mattered on this day, and you could feel it in every frame.

Bride poses with three flower girls at her Common House Richmond Wedding photographed by Chelsea Schmidt

Black and white portrait of the groom with his mother during Gabriela and David’s Common House Richmond wedding by Chelsea Schmidt Photography.

Full wedding party portrait with bridesmaids, groomsmen, and flower children at Gabriela and David’s Common House Richmond wedding by Chelsea Schmidt Photography.

A Joyful Common House Richmond Reception — A Party to Remember

Once guests were invited downstairs for the reception, the energy completely shifted into a lively Common House Richmond wedding celebration inside the warm, rich, intimate setting of Union Hall.

Bride and groom share a romantic kiss during their first dance at their Common House Richmond Wedding photographed by Chelsea Schmidt Photography.

Emotional First Dances

Gabriela told me ahead of time how excited she was for their dances, and these were some of the most emotional moments of the entire night.

Both of their moms had recently received significant medical news, and the weight of that made these dances incredibly heartfelt. David’s dance with his mom brought tears to nearly everyone. Then Gabriela shared a dance with her mom, and again, there was not a single dry eye.

But she didn’t leave the room weepy. Gabriela brought the energy right back up with a fun, upbeat dance with both her dad and stepdad. They even brought out a money gun, and the entire room erupted.

**A Dance Floor That Never Quit**

From there, the reception exploded into one of the most high-energy dance floors I’ve photographed at Common House. Their families absolutely know how to party. From the shoe game, to the toasts, to dancing the night away… everything had guests fully present in the moment.

Bride and groom sharing a moment at their sweetheart table beneath a floral arch at Common House Richmond, captured by Chelsea Schmidt Photography.

Candid guest reactions during the reception at this Common House Richmond wedding, captured by Chelsea Schmidt Photography.

Bride and groom cheers their cocktails during their Richmond Common House Wedding

Gabriela & David also changed into traditional Cambodian attire, which was such a beautiful nod to their family and cultural traditions. It made their reception feel even richer and more connected.

Bride and groom posing together in their traditional Cambodian attire during their Common House Richmond wedding celebration, photographed by Chelsea Schmidt Photography.

The bride and groom raising a celebratory toast with friends during their Common House Richmond wedding reception, captured by Chelsea Schmidt Photography.

A Ribbon Exit — The Perfect Ending after their Common House Richmond Wedding

I absolutely loved their ribbon exit. It photographed beautifully, especially with the warm evening light and the joy radiating from both of them as they walked past their cheering family.

If you’re planning a wedding at Common House (or anywhere in Richmond), ribbon exits are such a stunning, movement-filled alternative to sparklers.

A few quick portraits outside, one last kiss, and that was the perfect end to their Richmond wedding day.