Client Reviews of Aaron Riddle - Virginia Marriage Commissioner
Aaron made us feel very comfortable during our elopement and helped guide us through the process. He is wonderful to work with and a great photographer. I highly recommend him and the animal sanctuary for your day. It is a very special area.
It was an absolute pleasure working with Aaron Riddle in scheduling and coordinating the wedding between my spouse and myself. Aaron is extremely organized and logistical planning was transparent and seamless. I recommend all to consider using Aaron to officiate their marriage vows. Thank you for all your hard work, Aaron!
We booked Aaron to officiate our wedding ceremony and be the photographer too. We picked the basic officiant photographer package and had a stress-free arrangement from start ‘til the end. He’s very easy to deal with and will guide you all throughout the process. We love all the photos taken at the venue. Me and my husband both looked awesome with the right angle, lighting and background!
Everything Aaron said he would do, he did! Aaron is a consummate professional. We loved the down to earth environment of the Woodland Package which suited our needs and personalities perfectly.
Aaron was able to accommodate us on short notice and was extremely responsive during the booking process. He gives very detailed information and our wedding pictures were very well done and processed in two days! He made our wedding day special and stress free, and make sure to meet Mr. Banks the pig!
Thank you for making our day magical and seamless. Your process made what could have been a very stressful day, fairly easy! It was a pleasure to work with you!
An absolutely amazing elopement! Much more than anything we could have hoped for getting married on such short notice. We were expecting a rushed, last minute, in and out of the courthouse wedding, but Aaron gave us the opportunity to do something a little more meaningful. It was absolutely perfect for us!
When we thought about our perfect wedding, we knew an elopement was the perfect choice, but we still wanted professional photos to remember our day. Working with Aaron was better than we could have imagined. We were grateful for his prompt responses and clear communication, and our ceremony was just what we wanted. The Woodland Package was perfect—such a pretty location for the ceremony and the photos turned out just beautiful!
Aaron is amazing! Total professional and makes the whole experience easy and simple for clients. Would happily recommend his wedding services and photography services to anyone!
Aaron’s services were perfect for our elopement! We went with the woodland package so that we wouldn’t have had to find a venue ourselves. He was very kind and professional. His property is beautiful and we got to pet his horses and his cat Zoe. He did a phenomenal job processing our photos and was very quick about doing so. He quickly mailed our paperwork back to the court the day after and it arrived in two days! He used priority mail and gave us a tracking number to see that it arrived safely. Although we had to travel about four hours by car to get to him, it was worth it! Thanks, Aaron!
Aaron was an amazing officiant. He was very informative on the process and his website is very concise on his packages and prices. He was very punctual the day of and he was able to perform our ceremony, 5-minute photo shoot, and file our marriage certificate in under an hour. Overall, great experience and would definitely recommend!
We had an amazing elopement and love our photos! The property is beautiful and Aaron made the day stress free.
Aaron is so kind, friendly, and knowledgeable. He made our experience so enjoyable! Visiting Mr. Banks with Piggins and Banks Pig and Animal Sanctuary made the experience even more memorable.
Aaron was exceptional through the entire elopement process. He explained everything well with detailed instructions. We selected a small ceremony outside the courthouse in Winchester. Aaron made our planning so easy, and made the process so simple. The ceremony with paperwork was quick and well explained. We selected the photo session at the courthouse and absolutely love the way the pictures came out. We would highly recommend Aaron’s services!
Aaron was wonderful! We wanted a small ceremony outside the courthouse in Winchester and he made it happen. I get stressed with planning so easily, and he sent us all the information we needed, which made the process so simple. We felt that Aaron did a great job of personalizing things for us during and after the ceremony! I HIGHLY recommend him!
Aaron made, what could be a stressful day, very easy. He was able to schedule us in quickly and explain the next steps after the ceremony. His photography session after the was wonderful. The pictures came out great!
Exceeded all expectations! Even amidst unfavorable weather conditions Aaron’s patience, adaptability, and creativity produced an absolute stunning album of photos.
Aaron was very professional and had a warm friendly pleasant personality. He made us comfortable from beginning to end. Thank you, Aaron!
My wife and I both wanted to elope in the Shenandoah valley. After researching, I knew that I wanted to go with Aaron. I loved the fact that his site was easy to use, had great reviews, offered different options, and was LGBTQ friendly. Aaron did a great job and was very patient with us and our dog, Chester. The pictures turned out amazing and overall, couldn’t ask for any better. I would highly recommend him! Thank you again, Aaron, for the awesome experience!
We chose Aaron as our wedding officiant after seeing his beautiful photos and reading his reviews. Our elopement was flawless. He was always keeping us informed along the way. Our private exchange of vows was perfect. The pictures turned out beautiful. I would recommend Aaron to anyone interested in eloping, or having a small, inexpensive ceremony. His prices are very affordable and the memories will last a lifetime!
Aaron was absolutely wonderful through our entire elopement process. The ceremony with paperwork was quick and well explained. Then we did the small photo session and absolutely love the way the pictures came out. Would highly recommend his services!
Huge thank you to Aaron for making our elopement exactly what we wanted it to be! I was looking for something cost effective, intimate, and I really wanted professional pictures. I reached out to Aaron and got prompt professional responses and we were able to pick our date. He sent incredibly helpful information, outlining everything we might need to know for our big day. When we arrived to the property, it was gorgeous and Aaron had such a kind, calm, and professional attitude. Our ceremony was exactly what we wanted it to be and we paid extra for the photo shoot. He coached us through the entire thing and we both agreed that these are the best pictures that have ever been taken of us. Our family and friends love them. Thank you, Aaron!
I highly recommend Aaron Riddle. We did the sunrise mountain elopement and couldn’t have been more happy! It was so perfect. The view was spectacular and the pictures were amazing!
I highly recommend working with Aaron for the photography and officiant package! I wanted an intimate elopement and it exceeded my expectations. The photos are absolutely stunning and I am impressed by the attention to detail. We had our elopement at the Blandy Experimental Farm and it is a great setting, especially in the spring. He is professional, punctual, and accommodating.
Aaron was so easy to work with! He even officiated for us last minute to accommodate our busy schedule. Our ceremony as short and sweet, and the pictures he sent us were beautiful! He poses you, so you don’t have to worry about anything when it comes to being in front of the camera.
Our experience with Aaron was spectacular from our initial contact with him all of the way through the day of our elopement. I would recommend Aaron to anyone that is looking for a professional and easy process to elope. I cannot thank Aaron enough for the experience that he gave us!
Best decision we made was to elope! Using Aaron made it very smooth and stress free. Our pictures are wonderful!!! He is good at what he does. Call now! You will not be disappointed.
Aaron is a professional and very accommodating! He makes you feel very comfortable taking pictures if it is not something you do regularly. The pictures he takes are beautiful! He also makes the actual wedding process easy as pie…we loved the entire experience!
Extremely happy with the experience and the photos! Aaron was very easy to work with, we never felt rushed. The photos are great, and the venue was beautiful for nature lovers like ourselves. Aaron has our highest recommendation!
He made our special day so simple and easy! Highly recommend! Also get the photo package he is an amazing photographer! Not one negative thing to say…definite perfection!!!
Me and my husband give Aaron five stars!!! Our wedding/elopement day went so smoothly. No stress, no headache, and no anxiety at all. Aaron made it absolutely a breeze. He is so informative and keeps in touch through the whole process and explains everything so well with lots of details. He’s just a down to earth country man doing what he does best! Not to mention our pictures came out breathtaking. Thanks again Aaron!!!! We appreciate you!!!
Aaron did a wonderful job officiating our ceremony. He was easy to work with and I couldn’t be happier!
Aaron was amazing to work with for our wedding day! He was very friendly, knowledgeable and responsive and provided all the information we could possibly need to avoid running into any problems on our big day. Our photos also came out wonderfully!
We decided to elope last minute and quickly began our search online for an officiant. Not only was Aaron able to fit us in on short notice, but he also takes some amazing photos! We are so happy to have chosen Aaron, the ceremony was beautiful underneath pine trees on a very cold January day. The photos were great and we are so happy we added a photography package. We highly recommend Aaron to anyone looking for an officiant and professional photographer, he’s the perfect all-in-one!
I had the pleasure of working with Aaron for a private elopement ceremony before the big wedding, and he was the best! His professionalism, efficiency, and outstanding communication made him an exceptional photographer and officiant. Aaron went above and beyond and provided detailed tracking information for our license so we were well informed at every step. The administrative process was seamless. The photos were outstanding. I worked in marketing for a Fortune 5 company and shared the photos with colleagues who commented they were magazine-quality. Aaron’s artistry and skill are exceptional. Aaron put us at ease and made the entire experience seamless. We highly recommend Aaron for a wedding ceremony and photos that exceed expectations!
We wouldn’t change a single thing about that morning! Aaron was professional, punctual, and made our ceremony truly special! He was very accommodating and helped us create a ceremony that was perfect for us. He captured all the special moments of that morning beautifully and we received the photos in a timely manner. I highly recommend him to anyone looking for a great experience on their wedding day! Thank you again Aaron for such amazing photos and relaxed experience.
Aaron made the process seamless. He is knowledgable and a fabulous photographer. The photos he took are breathtaking and the views were something out of a storybook. What a dream! I highly recommend Aaron and his sunrise mountain package if you are looking for an intimate experience with your spouse and photos that wow. Thank you Aaron for making our day SO special.
I wish I could give Aaron ten stars, as five stars are not nearly enough to measure our experience! Aaron is a consummate professional and made the entire process, from my first inquiry email to receipt of the photos absolutely seamless! We opted for the Woodland package, so Aaron’s beautiful property was the perfect backdrop for our perfect day. Our pictures are stunning and will elicit loving memories for years to come.
I highly recommend working with Aaron to organize your elopement and photo shoot! We approached Aaron with a last-minute elopement request and he was very responsive and helpful in answering questions and prepping us with the next steps. We arrived at his home and held a wonderful, private ceremony (including one of his cats who joined as a witness). Aaron took great care taking our photos, sent off our marriage certificate promptly, and delivered the digital prints within days. Everything went smoothly and we especially enjoyed meeting Piggins and Banks the pigs!
Mr. Riddle was completely organized, prepared and courteous to my husband and family. The pictures turned out amazing! Beautiful day and memories!
Aaron was incredible! Easy, quick, and efficient. Exactly what we were looking for! His property was beautiful and he was so friendly. So was Zoe the wedding cat!
Thank you Aaron for officiating and photographing our wedding. The quiet, beautiful surroundings, along with your guidance and direction made this a very special day, and exceeded our expectations. We’re so glad you liked our Wheaten Terrier, and you were so good at designing photos and then positioning her in them. Of course we’ll remember this day, but we will also remember how you put us at ease, so that we could truly enjoy it!
Dear Aaron – We just got home and are very pleased with your services from start to finish! Beginning with your website, it was very easy to see what services you offer and learn about the steps required to get married. I also want to comment that I personally liked how you addressed the same-sex marriage situation. I liked that you had a dedicated page addressing the question and included some very discreet pictures in some places as well. In the southern accent of Blanche Devereaux (from the Golden Girls), “it was tastefully done!” Your communication was very clear and I appreciated the different acknowledgments and instructions. You are literally a “reserve and just show up” kind of shop. You provided good guidance today and both the simple ceremony and pictures were great! Please, feel free to use us as references in the future, particularly for other LGBT couples. Finally, I really like the pictures and appreciate you including a few of them in both color and black and white. You do beautiful work!!!!
Corey and I had searched for elopement packages for a while, but nothing had lined up with our preferences or finances. When we found Aaron Riddle’s wedding officiant and photography services, we had NO idea how easy, affordable, and absolutely perfect this experience would be! We were able to select the venue that was best for us (Blandy Farm is absolutely beautiful), select a package that fit our budget, and receive the most beautiful pictures that captured our special day (in only a matter of days)! Aaron is always quick to respond to any questions or concerns, is a phenomenal photographer, and someone I would recommend to any couple wanting to elope. We are greatly appreciative for this experience!
Aaron Riddle was exactly the right guy for our wedding. He made us all very comfortable on a day our nerves were on high, had us laughing and having a great time, even Zoe the wedding cat joined in. The little touches like our names on the board as we arrived were super sweet. I got the feeling that he wanted our wedding to be perfect as much as we did. The landscape was beautiful, the pictures were perfect and he was super helpful and friendly throughout the entire process. All I can say is well done sir and thank you! I would definitely recommend Aaron to anyone that wants the perfect wedding.
My (now) Husband and I were looking for a quiet intimate place to elope and all I can say is Aaron’s services were above and beyond what we wished for! We went for the Woodland Package and extended photo session and we couldn’t be more thrilled! Aaron is so professional and kind, we immediately felt so taken care of. Thank you so much, Aaron, for making our day feel so special! Highly recommend!!!
My wife and I had decided we wanted to elope to the mountains when we found Aaron Riddle. He is fantastic to work with. The sunrise wedding photos he took were absolutely amazing! We were initially snowed out of our photos, but it was easy to reschedule for a later date when the weather was nicer. We highly recommend using Aaron Riddle as your wedding photographer and officiant.
Aaron’s elopement services were a complete God send for us! It was a beautiful, easy, experience and was EXACTLY what we were looking for. Aaron made the entire process easy, comfortable, and fun! Photos and video came out wonderfully and Aaron helped maintain stellar communication from start to finish! Wonderful wonderful wonderful!
Aaron was very helpful and easy to get ahold of, every question we had was answered and more. We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful ceremony, and the pictures were spectacular. We lucked out with beautiful weather and clear sky. Truly a day we will never forget. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! I’m so glad we found Aaron and his wonderful services!
Since the moment I booked Aaron, he was extremely prepared and professional. This is something that goes a long way for me since I am the type of person who needs to have all the information before I do something. I always get nervous when having photos taken of me, because they never seem to come out right, but for the first time in a very long time I felt beautiful in my photos. I cannot thank Aaron enough! Ben and I are so happy we chose Aaron to officiate our special day.
We decided to go with Aaron as our officiant. One, the fact that you have an officiant and photographer all in one doesn’t get any better! Secondly, there was never a dull moment. We were laughing and enjoying the moment the entire time. Lastly, we came from Newport News, VA (about a 3hour drive to meet with him) and it was well worth it. Each moment was memorable and Aaron helped shape that!
Aaron provided me and my wife an excellent experience. We were going to do a courthouse wedding but found Aaron’s website on google and had our wedding at his property. He was very communicative throughout the whole process and took excellent pictures. After everything he sent in the marriage license right away and we had our professional pictures within a couple days. I would 100% recommend Aaron!
We had a great time! Aaron was very professional. Our service was quick and Aaron was very clear about what paperwork to bring and helped us through it. Neither of us are comfortable in front of a camera, but he is an excellent photographer and got some phenomenal shots. We toured the pig sanctuary afterward which made for a fabulous afternoon. Aaron is very knowledgeable about pigs and treats his animals with so much love and care. It was the best day ever. We would absolutely recommend his services!
Aaron Riddle did a fantastic job in communicating our wedding needs for elopement, performing our ceremony and taking the most beautiful pictures for our wedding day. I would certainly recommend him for your elopement in the Winchester area! Thanks again Aaron, for the easy and perfect day!
Aaron really did an awesome job! The pictures came out great and the officiant service was simple and sweet–just what we wanted! I was also told by the woman working at the courthouse that you are the only officiant to type up a keepsake certificate. That is such an awesome touch. Thank you for everything!
10/10 would recommend! Aaron is extremely professional, and gave us a beautiful intimate ceremony with our family. We couldn’t be happier with his services as both an officiant, and photographer! Aaron, we cannot thank you enough for making our special day perfect!
Aaron was recommended to us by a friend and was everything we hoped for! We both decided that the stress and expense of a big wedding was not how we wanted to our special day to be. Even before being engaged we both said we wanted to get married at the court house. Aaron made it better than we imagined. He is professional and provides all the information you need so that you are prepared. Also no need to worry about a photographer because he can include that too, and our pictures were great! He also had no issue with us including our 9 month old daughter during the ceremony. Highly recommend!
Aaron was amazing to work with! My husband and I wanted something low key, simple and straight to the point and when I found Aaron’s website and instagram, I had to say yes! We got married in Winchester and the pictures turned out phenomenal. I 100% recommend him to anyone who wants a small, inexpensive wedding. Plus, the license is filed the same day, which is even better!
Aaron did a wonderful job officiating our wedding ceremony at the courthouse in Winchester and taking photographs afterwards! The process was very simple. We had our marriage certificate before we left the courthouse and the pictures in 2 days. We highly recommend Aaron!
My husband and I wanted a simple/sweet elopement with some nice pictures to capture the moment with, and Aaron did not disappoint! He was prompt, professional, and personable. He provided us with all the information we needed prior to the day of which made the process so easy, and the day of was seamless. We are kind of awkward when it comes to posing together and Aaron just laughed along with us and really helped us along, making us feel comfortable and capturing great pictures in the process. Thank you so much, Aaron!
Aaron did an awesome job taking our photos. We went to the Virginia State Arboretum Blandy Experimental Farm for an elopement style service. He had a great platform/website for scheduling his services and to view the photos. Everything was very easy to use and professional. Also, we got our photos within 1 week of the wedding, and he mailed our marriage certificate (with a tracking number and info about getting copies) off right away of course — so everything was done in a very timely manner. Would highly recommend!
We couldn’t have made a better choice in choosing Aaron to officiate and photograph our wedding. He was extremely prompt and professional in replying to our request. On our wedding day, he had a way of making it feel fun and relaxed but also special, as a wedding day should feel. We were also able to have a few close family members as guests, which was hard to find in other places that offered elopements. Our photos were beautiful and delivered to us within the next week. I highly recommend Aaron to anybody who is looking for an intimate, simple, and special wedding day surrounded by the real meaning of getting married- the love of bride and groom.
We could not be happier with our wedding package from Aaron Riddle! We had a wonderful ceremony with just us and one guest and everything was smooth and easy. We had opted to have our ceremony at Blandy State Arboretum and Aaron was very knowledgeable of the grounds and was able to suggest great locations for the ceremony. He handled the ceremony with professionalism and great consideration to us. We had the Essential Photography Package which includes a 60-minute photography session following the ceremony. Our wedding was an unseasonably hot day in October, and Aaron did a wonderful job of directing us to some thankfully shady and cool places for each photo. He listened to any feedback and ideas we had for taking photos and worked with us to make them possible! The pictures all turned out wonderfully as well! We would definitely recommend Aaron Riddle to anybody who wants a small wedding ceremony and amazing photos!
We couldn’t be happier! Aaron is super knowledgeable about the area, so even if you’re not familiar with Winchester he’ll help you find the right place for an easy, simple, stress-free elopement. Our pictures were great quality and we received them quickly. I highly recommend his services for anyone who wants to get married without a lot of fuss.
An absolutely incredible experience from beginning to end! My husband David and I are eternally grateful to Mr. Riddle for working with us in arranging our ceremony and pictures. Mr. Riddle was so patient with us when our wedding party changed and helped us find the perfect location after describing what we were looking for. We were recommended to Blandy Experimental Farm and decided to plan it around the end of October for their Ginkgo Grove’s autumnal colors. The day of was so easy! The ceremony was short and sweet exactly like we wanted, and Mr. Riddle guided us throughout the photo shoot. We’ve never had pictures taken professionally so having someone stage us was an immense relief! We had our pictures back to us in only a couple days! They came out better than we could have imagined 🙂 Thank you so much, Mr. Riddle!!!
I could not be happier. My husband and I decided on a weekend wedding at Aaron’s home followed by a 20 minute photography session. We were both blown away of how beautiful and intimate the service was (just how I envisioned). What I appreciated the most was the vow exchanging. We decided to write our own vows and Aaron didn’t put a time or word limit. He allowed us to be in our moment. His pictures… BEAUTIFUL!!! He’s professional and personable and responsive. For those who live a little further away thinking about the drive… DON’T! His services are well worth it and speaks for itself. Look no further…please consider. Thank you again Aaron, for capturing our special moment!
Aaron was absolutely wonderful and made everything so relaxed and easy. We had so much fun, and wouldn’t change a thing. It was very cool to meet Mr. Banks (one of his pet pigs)! The photographs turned out lovely, and we are so, so grateful for everything.
Aaron went above and beyond. We opted for the woodland package with extended photoshoot and we were beyond thrilled at how easy the process was. He was so kind and professional the whole time. The area was absolutely beautiful. I was originally so stressed about the day, but the second we stepped out on the property, it all washed away. I will forever recommend him to everyone looking to elope or have a private ceremony. 10/10!
My husband and I were browsing around online for wedding ideas when we came across Aarons website. We knew we wanted something small but I still wanted to feel like a bride. When we saw the Woodland package, we were sold! When I contacted Aaron for more information, he was so responsive and helpful. We were able to get our wedding scheduled on the date we wanted. We added extra pictures to our package and the chance to meet his pigs and we were so glad that we did. Our pictures turned out AMAZING! The whole experience was perfect. I wouldn’t change one thing about our big day, we had a blast!
Aaron Riddle was amazing! Very professional, passionate, patient and talented! We were wanting a small intimate ceremony and he delivered exceptional service. Very organized, great with communication and kind. Pictures turned out amazing. He deserves more than 5 stars!
I was so excited when I found Aaron and what he offered because this was not easy to find in Richmond. We took a chance and drove 3 hours and it was well worth it!! From the start of the process, Aaron was organized, informative and patient when answering my questions. My husband and I eloped in September and it was absolutely PERFECT. Aaron was super nice, his property was beautiful! All around a great experience. I’d say if your looking to elope go to Aaron and get the Woodland Package (private elopement) I highly recommend!
We used Aaron Riddle for our elopement at Stony Man Summit, which is a beautiful venue and an easy hike in the dark for a marriage ceremony and sunrise photo op. Aaron’s attention to detail and logistical support were outstanding and made our event seamless and easy. Most importantly, the pictures turned out amazing! Aaron is very personable and his technical photography skills are outstanding. His responsiveness, accessibility, ease of scheduling, and flexibility were helpful as we needed to change our date on short notice due to impending inclement weather. Within 24 hours Aaron sent us a link to our 50+ pictures and within a week he shipped a nice personalized book with etched thumb drive also containing all of our pictures. He goes the extra mile to make sure your day is memorable and stress-free. We highly recommend Aaron for your special day!
We are so glad to have stumbled across Aaron Riddle’s services online. My husband and I were married on Stony Man in May and Aaron officiated the ceremony and provided photography. The photographs are stunning and the ceremony was absolutely perfect, exactly what we were both hoping for. We had requested a secular service with time to exchange personal vows. Aaron was a prompt and detailed communicator. I strongly recommend his services for your special day!
My husband and I are married at Stony Man Summit at sunrise in mid-October by Aaron and had our photography session after. Aaron made the whole process easy and clear. From reservation to meet up, we received simple and comprehensive instructions. The hike up was smooth, guided by Aaron, and really warmed us up to brave the wind at mountain top. The view on top is just beautiful! Aaron really knows the spots for awesome shots and the pictures came out amazing! We couldn’t have asked for a better service! He is very professional and personal. If you’re looking for an officiant and photographer, 200% would recommend!
Aaron was absolutely wonderful! He was thorough, prompt in responding (and answering my detailed questions), and let us know exactly what to expect. He respected our wishes for the ceremony/vows and even took photos while we danced on the summit of Stony Man. The pictures he captured from our special day turned out stunning. He was friendly, professional, and an all-around good person. I simply cannot recommend him enough as an officiant and talented photographer – choose him to capture your memories, and you won’t be sorry!
We had the most amazing experience with Aaron on our wedding day. We cannot say enough wonderful things about Aaron, our photos, the beautiful Shenandoah National Park location or the experience. Every moment was perfection from the communication before our wedding day, to receiving our photos 24 hours after our wedding. If you are considering eloping, do not hesitate to reach out to Aaron!
We vacation to the mountains every year so when I saw this site, we were excited. Aaron was very responsive to our questions and setting up a date for our elopement. We eloped on the top of Stony Man Summit. Our experience was completely memorable and amazing! We exchanged our vows at sunrise and it was magical. The view was breathtaking. Aaron made us feel comfortable and guided us through our photo session. My husband is not a picture taker but our pictures looked natural and absolutely beautiful. At the end, we received a package of what to expect with obtaining a copy of our marriage license and an unofficial certificate of marriage. Our family is still complimenting us on our pictures and the video. Everything perfect and we can not thank Aaron enough for our magical memorable day!