Plan a wedding at Fort Monroe and get a deal on your photography!

If you have followed my blog at all, you’ll have noticed that I shoot at Fort Monroe A LOT. Why, you ask? Because I absolutely love so many things about it and it’s one of the first places I mention to couples and families looking for amazing photos. This year, I really want to shoot more weddings at Fort Monroe, so I am offering a huge discount to up to three couples having their wedding at Fort Monroe in 2018 or 2019 (offer details at the end of this post).

A Little History Lesson

The Fort has a very perilous early history. Originally dubbed “Old Point Comfort”, the island (really a peninsula) was considered to be a prime location for defensive fortification of the Chesapeake Bay. Two previous fort’s, Fort Algernon and Fort George, were erected and subsequently destroyed by fire and hurricane, respectively. Old Point Comfort was left vulnerable until 1836 when construction was finished on the new Fort Monroe, named after the 5^th US President, James Monroe.

The Fort has been home and haven to many historical figures including Robert E. Lee, President Abraham Lincoln, and President Jefferson Davis. During the Civil War, the Fort became a safe haven for slaves escaping the Confederacy and, following the Emancipation Proclamation, was often referred to as the “Freedom Fort” or “Freedom’s Fortress”.

(Information obtained from http://fortmonroe.org/about/fort-monroe/history/)

Today at the Fort

For many years, Fort Monroe has welcomed tourists, despite also being an active Army base. The Fort was decommissioned just a few years ago and is now open to the public. As a visitor, there are many sites and historical markers to see. Personally, I have a strong connection to it, as my family became Hampton Roads residents by way of the Fort. Before purchasing a family home, my grandfather and his family was stationed and lived there for a few years in the late 1950’s. My mother still tells tales of playing in the prison cells in and around the Casemate and visiting the pet cemetery that follows the walls of the fort itself.

Besides the numerous couples that choose to get married on the beach, at the Bandstand at Continental Park, or at the Commanding General’s historic residence, there are also public events including frequent musical nights hosted by the park and special events honoring the military. There are several places that are open for sunbathing and swimming and a public pier for fishing. There is also an awesome brewery and a really cool beach club! If you are traveling to the area, I would definitely suggest taking a day to visit the Fort. It’s got something for just about anyone!

Planning a Wedding at Fort Monroe

Now that I’ve got you excited about the place itself, let’s talk about what we really want to know about – weddings at the Fort! There are multiple venues on Old Point Comfort and they cover outdoor, religious, and indoor ceremonies and receptions. You can see all of the options here, but I really love the idea of a wedding at the Commanding Generals Residence and Garden! Paradise Ocean Club is also a great place for receptions and/or beach ceremonies.

If you haven’t chosen your venue yet, I urge you to consider having your wedding at Fort Monroe. Not only do you get a huge variety of backgrounds for your portraits, but it offers so many options for planning the perfect wedding. And – bonus!! – You get to hire me for almost half off my regular price! For a limited time, I will be offering three weddings at Fort Monroe a huge discount. For only $1,195 you will get 8 hours of coverage with two photographers with all of your final digital images included. I’ll even include a complimentary engagement session!