Aug
28
Heather and Christian were married earlier this year in Italy. But Heather knew that she wanted to have a fabulous bash with all of her friends and family when she and Christian made it to the States. She enlisted the help of the talented crew at Rafanelli Events to make her dream party come true. Working with them while living abroad in Lebanon was a challenge she was up to and the end result turned out magnificent.
I began the day with Heather as she and her mom were getting ready at the Westin Boston Waterfront.
A little pampering and some fabulous music courtesy of Luiz (Luz Beauty) and his ipod got the party started on the right foot. Let me just say Heather was definitively the most easy-going bride. She was totally calm and relaxed during what can sometimes be a little bit of an anxious time. She sat back and assessed and enjoyed everything as it was happening. That said, this prep time was a lot of fun and we all wanted to start dancing right then and there. Okay so maybe some of us actually did.
Love the silhouette as Luiz plays with Heather’s hair.
Mom, who had finished just as I arrived, enjoyed the view as Heather finished up.
Then we all headed over the Institute of Contemporary Art, where the real festivities were set to take place.
And there we met up with Heather’s husband, Christian. I love how his face lights up when he looks at Heather.
Dave and I took a few portraits with our gorgeous couple in and around the ICA. The view of the Boston Harbor is so beautiful and we had a truly lovely evening.
And then the celebration really got underway. The cocktail hour was held outside on the back deck of the ICA.
The Rafanelli team put together some really fabulous touches for Heather and Christian, including their own personalized Italian sodas (appropriate given that Christian is from Italy, they met in Italy and were married in Italy) and photos in acrylic frames from their wedding ceremony.
And a quick peak of what’s to come. The dinner reception was in the ICA’s theater. Love the fabulous view and the setting sun. The colors of the sky perfectly matched the lighting, floral and linens for the event. Stunning work!
Check back soon for more from the Heather and Christian’s elegant and modern soiree. There will definitely be loads of details to share from the rest of the evening and you are not going to believe the dancing at this event. It was non-stop amazing fun.
Aug
26
This weekend, we snuck in an engagement session with Jess and Ivan, whose wedding is in just over a week. We wanted to make sure we had this chance to get together in a relaxed setting before the wedding. And also, to share the photos with them and get their feedback before the big day. The weather had been less than cooperative for our initial plans, but this day was perfect. As was the location.
With the Back Bay as our playground, we enjoyed the wealth of possibilities our fair city has to offer. Gotta love Boston!
We actually know Ivan and Jess pretty well already. Ivan and Dave had been roommates in college at UMass Amherst; as soon as we moved back to the Boston area, we got together with them. We instantly adored Jess.
And of course, playdates with Max and their pup Noodle were a must. Both dogs love the tennis ball and neither is agressive about having it. Excellent playmates.
Perhaps my favorite thing about heading out on a photographic double date with Ivan and Jess was pausing to watch them interact with each other. They laugh so much!!!
And my other favorite thing was watching them play with Noodle- who is totally absolutely adorable. Such a happy family.
And so cute, Noodle watching Jess and Ivan. Like he wants to join in.
All around a great morning! Thank you both- we had so much fun.
We really can’t wait for your wedding at the Harvard Club. It is going to be amazing. And we are totally going to take you up on your offer to hang out and dance for a bit after we are finished shooting!
If you want to see more, check out their slideshow.
Aug
22
Erin and Vitali are such a great match- they both value their families and each other completely. Vitali totally makes Erin laugh. And Erin watches out and protects Vitali. Perfect! Add to that a plethora of adoring friends and you have just the right mix for not only a fabulous wedding day, but also an amazing life together.
Erin and Vitali chose The Lord Thompson Manor as the backdrop for their special day. The Lord Thompson Manor brings back the joy of weekend getaways from times gone by. It’s perfect for a destination wedding, where friends and family can join you for an extended period of time.
After the rehearsal, Vitali spent the night at the Manor. On Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, Erin was treated to spa fun with the girls at the Cottage. I arrived to capture some special details and some of her getting ready.
Erin’s dress was beautiful. She had a complete look that totally fit with the style of her wedding at the Manor- elegant- and definitely influenced by the 1920′s.
The KISS spa is a serene place to spend a few hours. Everything is white on white. So of course, Erin’s bouquet of pinks, greens, and purples popped against the backdrop. That’s Erin getting her hair done with her mom and maid of honor watching in the background.
Checking out the make-up…
Even Erin’s dad had a little work done.
What an embrace! You can feel the love Erin has for her brother. He played an integral role in their day, as the brides’ best man. He stood on Erin’s side next to her Maid of Honor and gave the toast. She found a truly special way to honor him and their friendship.
Erin’s mom helped her with the finishing touches up in her bridal suite.
The antique lavalier is Erin’s something old. The necklace belonged to Erin’s Great-Grandmother who passed it on to Erin’s Grandmother who passed it on to Erin’s Mother who wore it on her wedding day.
When Erin was all ready, her friends joined her at the spa. I love the smiles on all of the ladies, each expression tells a different story.
For this very special occassion, I was joined by Keirnan of KCK Photography. Not only is she a hugely talented photographer, she is wonderful to work with. Thank you, Keirnan, for helping me out and a huge thanks to your family for giving you up for the day. I totally appreciate it.
Keirnan popped over the Manor to get a few of Vitali and his kids as they were getting ready.
Here’s Vitali helping his son and groomsman.
And some special portraits. All the kids….
One more of the pup- because I LOVE this photo. Keirnan prefectly captured this adorable moment.
I will leave you with a teaser, one image I captured as Erin walked down the aisle on her dad’s arm, a prelude of what’s to come. Though I placed it at the end of the post, it is definitely “the beginning.”
There’s lots more to come… the ceremony, the toasts, the dinner, the cake, the party, and some fabulous portraits. So check back soon!
Aug
20
Since we moved to Boston, we have had a the distinct pleasure of getting to know many fabulous wedding professionals. One of those just happens to be Tasha Bracken, Cape Cod and Boston event planner extraordinaire and the woman behind SD Events. She has so many great ideas and the ingenuity to make them happen. A recent favorite would be chalk board tables for a fabulous mitzvah celebration. Plus, she is great to be around. I would totally want her at my event, if not working, then as a guest.
So when Tasha told us that she and Bill were celebrating their anniversary, I knew we had to do something special. They hadn’t had professional portraits taken since the wedding; we immediately thought, “portraits would be a great way to celebrate!” We met up with them at their home in Newton.
It was our first time meeting Bill, and let me just say, he is great! I think he and Dave could have hung out all day talking about the Red Sox. Such boys! And even more importantly, he is clearly still so sweet on his beautiful wife.
Here’s a few of the happy couple.
Breaking out with some totally fun goofiness….
Hanging out on the back porch.
Now into a section of "Favorite Things", aka the best parts of life, or that which Tasha and Bill love.
First off, Mariah, she totally posed for the camera. What a beauty!
And Elton, definitely more camera shy, glad Tasha was able to catch him. He’s so handsome.
His and hers cocktails; getting snuggly in the background.
Note the Red Sox attire. The couple that cheers together, stays together. 
Since it was an anniversary session and Tasha looks fabulous, we coaxed her into doing a few in her wedding gown. No surprise, it fit perfectly. Besides, what girl doesn’t want a chance to put on that beautiful white dress just one more time?!
Mariah came back for a repeat performance.
And one parting image… I love the juxtaposition of Bill in his Red Sox shirt with Tasha all gussied up in her wedding gown! Makes me smile.
We are so thankful to Tasha and Bill for inviting us into their home. We had a really great time with you both!
If you would like to see more, check out their slideshow.
Aug
17
It is with great pleasure that I share Lauren and Steve’s wedding. They were married in true California style with an outdoor ceremony and reception all on a private estate in Carmel Valley. They were surrounded by friends and family for a weekend of festivities. Though relatively close to home, their wedding definitely had more of a destination feel. We had an amazing time sharing in their celebration.
Without further ado….
Lauren’s gorgeous dress, in the master suite at the private residence.
Lauren getting ready with her bridesmaids, a good friend and her sister-in-law Emily.
The finishing touches…
The true fun begins, Lauren walks down the aisle on her father’s arm. Her smile made everyone in the area smile along with her.
Their ceremony was held on the front lawn of the estate under a gorgeous old oak tree.
During the ceremony, Lauren’s Spanish family shared a reading.
After the ceremony, we took a few moments for portraits around the estate. I love how her magenta bouquet matches the bougainvellia.
A little into the evening, we stepped out for a few minutes to capture some images as the sun set. The light was absolutely stunning streaming through the valley. And Lauren and Steve were able to enjoy a few private moments.
Dave captured this image of their reflection in the pool. I love the dreamy, watercolor quality of it- all done in camera.
The reception got going with a fabulous meal, great speeches, and good times all around. There were definitely tears during the ceremony. But once the party got started, Steve and Lauren were cracking up non-stop.
All of their guests surrounded them when they took the dance floor for their first dance.
They danced to an upbeat swing song. The movement was so much fun, absolutely perfect for these two.
Lauren dancing with her dad.
Steve with his mom.
Our closing photo from the evening. What a idyllic way to celebrate, under the stars, under the lights, on a perfect evening.
We have so many people to acknowledge and thank for making Lauren and Steve’s wedding a dream come true.
First, Heather from Colette Cuccia Wedding & Event Design. She and her partner made sure everything about the day ran smoothly. A huge success!
Also, a shout out to Ginger at Studio 519 for Lauren’s beautiful hair, with touch-ups by Lauren’s fabulous sister-in-law to-be Leah. And to Justin Alexander Bridal who completed her look with that gorgeous gown.
For the lovely bridesmaids, kudos go out to Jasmine Bridal for their B2 collection. And to Jos. A Bank for the guys.
The paper goods and gifts set the tone for their day:
Invitations: Union Street Papery
Save-the-Dates and other printed materials: Little Lulu
Favors: beau coup
The party and party design were amazing. Huge congrats and thanks to the following:
Caterer: Paradise Catering
Wedding Cake: Layers
Floral Design: Kathryn Smith Flowers
Lighting Design and Plants: Plant Tenders
Rentals: Classic Party Rentals
DJ: Daryl Lowery
Video: Dream Media Weddings
And lastly, to Lauren’s dad Phil, you are amazing! The flowers you planted around the ceremony site brought the space to life. All I can say is: Wow!
Thank you so much, Lauren and Steve, for including us in your wedding day. We are so glad we could be a part of it.
And for those of you who would like a few more from this gorgeous wedding, check out their Sneak Preview and their Slideshow.
Aug
12
On her wedding day, I asked our wonderful bride, Lauren, if it felt real. And then followed up with, "When did it feel like this was your wedding day?" Her response was, "When David [of Allegro Photography] arrived." I smiled.
And then later, when she was about to put the dress on, and Lauren was kicking out all of the men, except aforementioned David, because as she put it, "He’s family; he can stay." I laughed. Of course, all of us who weren’t helping her put on the dress, still closed our eyes or turned our backs until she was ready.
And then still later in the evening, when Lauren’s soon-to-be sister-in-law, Leah (whose wedding to Lauren’s brother Dave we will be photographing in November) checked on us to make sure we had eaten something. Actually, come to think of it, we were being offered food all weekend. Definitely family.
You see we have been a part of Lauren’s family since her brother Mark married Emily. We started with their engagement session and then photographed their wedding, which was when we met the rest of their families.
When Lauren got engaged in the winter of 2008, she called us up almost immediately to share the news. We were so excited for her. She knew she wanted us to be a part of her celebration, and we were looking forward to it. At that time, she hadn’t chosen anything else; she wanted to make sure we were available- how cool is that?! So throughout her planning process and decision making, we were a part of things. From her initial plan to get married at a destination resort in Mexico to her ultimate decision to create her dream wedding at a private estate in Carmel Valley.
When the big day finally arrived, we were so excited. Excited for Lauren and Steve, excited for both their families, and excited to see everyone. In honor of this, I dedicate Lauren and Steve’s sneak preview to family. Enjoy!
Lauren’s mom just after Lauren put on her dress.
Lauren and her dad after he walked her down the aisle.
Steve’s parents, being absolutely adorable, during the reception.
The families together.
Lauren’s adopted parents from her time in Spain, also being rather cute.
Lauren and Steve are clearly devoted to their mom’s. They gave each mom a beautifully embroidered handkerchief.
And they included family wedding photos as decor.
Now for the sibs.
Steve with the groomsmen, which included Lauren’s bothers and Steve’s brother.
Lauren looking up to her "little" twin brothers Dave and Mark.
Lauren getting ready with the help of her bridesmaids, which included her sister-in-law Emily (Mark’s wife) and her sister-in-law-to-be Leah (Dave’s fiance).
And I just want to close with one of my favorite photos from the wedding, one of the newly formed family unit, our gorgeous bride with her handsome groom.
What a totally fabulous and wonderful wedding! I can’t wait to share more of the happy couple and their gorgeous day. Definitely check back soon!
Aug
09
When I walked into the Boston Mandarin Oriental, the gentleman at the door greeted me with, "Welcome home!" and boy, oh, boy had I come home. The Mandarin is a lovely modern hotel with amenities like you wouldn’t believe. To start, their standard rooms are larger than most older hotel’s junior suites. This brand is known for quality, luxury, excellence- all with an Asian flare. You will discover that they go the extra mile with all of their events as well.
Located in the heart of the Back Bay, the hotel is perfect for the cosmopolitan bride and groom who want an urban feel and access to some of the traditionally beautiful architecture of Boston. It is an easy ride over to Commonwealth Ave‘s tree-lined pedestrian way, and perfect for guests staying at the hotel to enjoy great restaurants and shopping when they are not partying it up at your celebration.
The first thing you notice, after the greeting, is the Mandarin‘s modern architecture and decor- clean lines and exquisite materials. Even the floral arrangements in the lobby speak to the aesthetic.
The entrance….
The complete view…
I can’t help gushing about the event spaces and staff. Once again, you will be wowed with service and style. All of the rooms have beautiful furniture and artwork on the walls. It feels like you are in a place where people might live. Very welcoming.
And the details of each space are lovely. My favorites are the light fixtures…
And the fabric walls. A really nice touch.
And then there is the service. I met up with Rachel, who is the Catering and Conference Services Manager responsible for weddings and social events. She is fabulous; she and her staff will totally take care of all your needs. Even the needs you didn’t know you had. For instance, the staff brings out Japanese slippers before dancing so that ladies can wear something a little more comfortable for that portion of the evening. Also they bring warm scented towels between dinner courses and cool towels during dancing. Amazing!
And for the bride and groom who want to make the space extraordinary, Rachel’s team will take care of it. They can change the lights on the panels in the back of the ballroom (pictured below in yellow) to be almost any color. There are also spotlights that they direct on the tables. They can change the color of these as well as put gobos (which create shadow patterns) in them. All of this is included! I was floored.
Another awesome bonus- there’s a great salon (Mizu) in the hotel. Super convenient!
But I save the very best part for last. This is brand new, hot-off-the-presses information- the Mandarin has secured the rights to have weddings outdoors in the space behind the hotel. So now you can have your fabulous outdoor ceremony and your super-chic reception all in one location. To top it off, check out the view. The John Hancock Building and Boston skyline are totally within reach.
If you are looking for a Boston wedding site with understated elegance and service that will knock your socks off, you have to got to check out the Mandarin.
Aug
03
And now it is time for the second engagement session from our awesome Sunday of SF shooting.
Jilanne and Doug came up from San Jose and met us at the Crissy Field Center Cafe for a quintessentially San Francisco shoot. We immediately headed into the Presidio to start around the historic buildings. The Presidio is one of our favorite places in the Bay Area. The building structures are varied and have great character, plus there are many green spaces.
Taking a walk in the woods by the Golden Gate Club.…
Then over to Fort Point, another of our favorite places to shoot in San Francisco. Not only is it historical, it also has kick-ass views of the Golden Gate Bridge. The brick always provides an excellent background, and although it is typically chilly out there, it never fails to provide beautiful light.
Oh, and Fort Point was the site where Kim Novak jumped into the San Francisco Bay in the movie Vertigo. I note this only because while Jilanne and Doug aren’t particular Hitchcock fans, they are getting married at the Mission San Juan Bautista, where James Stewart watched Kim Novak jump from a tower (there isn’t really one there) to her supposed death in the same film. I just think the tie-in is kind of fun.
But I digress… Fort Point is really great photographically. Add to that backdrop our gorgeous couple and you get ….
Did I mention they tango? So talented. Look at their form.
Jilanne and Doug, thank you for this truly amazing shoot. Dave and I had tons of fun with you guys. You are so totally perfect together. We love your sense of style and your playfulness. Not to mention your willingness to weather the chills of Fort Point. We can’t wait for your fall wedding at the Mission San Juan Bautista and Leal Vineyard. It is going to be gorgeous.
Want to see more? Check out their slideshow.
