Sep
15
We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming…. Yup that’s right. You already saw these two get married, or at least the beginning of the wedding festivities, so while you are waiting for the final installment, I thought I would share a few from their super fun engagement session. They took us through their old stomping grounds of Boston’s beautiful Back Bay and then to the Charles River.
We started at Bar Lola, infamous for their first date and many others after that. The bartender knew them by name, knew their favorite drinks, even knew what to song to play for them. In fact, that first date ended with dancing right about here….
Since they used to live in the Back Bay, they spent time all around Commonwealth Ave. And it is perfect for photos.
As we made our way to the Charles River, we couldn’t help but enjoy this picturesque neighborhood.
More dancing.
Enjoying the view.
And a few more in the city they love…
If you want more from their engagement session, definitely check out the slideshow.
And now we return to our regularly scheduled programming. More from Janette & Wes’ Very Boston Wedding at the Trinity Church, Public Gardens and Fairmont Copley Plaza to follow soon.
Jun
20
When Jon proposed to Ayesha, let’s just say she wasn’t expecting it. They were walking their pup, Lucy, along the Charles River and it was quite late at night. In fact, Ayesha said something to the effect of I am glad I don’t have anything valuable with me because they weren’t the only ones out that late. Jon just smiled to himself. Of course, they had nothing to fear with their beautiful giant French Mastiff Lucy by their side. So when he found the perfect spot, a dock along the river overlooking Cambridge, Jon popped the question. As you can imagine, Ayesha happily said yes!
For their engagement session, we knew two things. First, we had to find our way to that dock. And second, Lucy would have to make an appearance. So we started our foggy morning e-session at the river esplanade.
I love how they hold hands.
And we made our way from the bridges and green spaces to the infamous dock.
This one reminds me of cornfields, which in turns reminds me of the midwest. And since they met at Ohio State, I find it all very fitting.
Lucy steals the show as we take her for a walk and some playtime in the Back Bay.
Along the beautiful tree lined path of Commonwealth Ave, a spot the family enjoys often. I love Lucy’s expression.
If you want more of Ayesha, Jon and Lucy’s Charles River engagement session and Back Bay family session, definitely check out their slideshow. So much fun!
Oct
18
Jackie and William’s premiere was last night and it was so great reliving their wedding with them. They were married a few months ago but they have been so busy we hadn’t had a chance to get together. It was wonderful to catch up and to enjoy a really leisurely afternoon, into evening, viewing all the photos.
You may recall that Jackie and William celebrated their ceremony and reception at a private women’s club in the Back Bay. While we aren’t able to share photos that show a lot of the interior, I picked out a few images that don’t show the space, but give you a sense of the emotion of the evening.
Jackie and William stealing a moment after dinner.
Soon after, they made their way to the ballroom for their first dance as husband and wife.
Then the dancing really got going. They had an intimate wedding, but all of the guests took their turn on the dance floor. The party was raging, with some fabulous 80′s music. And perhaps one of my favorite memories of the evening, the club staff always takes a spin on the dance floor- a special house tradition. And so we figured we would too. We got to party with our bride and groom. Very very fun!
After everyone left for the evening, we spent a couple more hours with Jackie and William doing some night portraits around the city. We started by their very cool vintage Cadillac, outside the club. Loving the feel of the brownstones and the way the car is a character in this image (those are William’s words, but he is so right).
And we met them at the Boston Harbor Hotel, where they would start their honeymoon.
Catching the reflection of the BHH’s Atrium on the waterfront.
And one of my absolute fave’s, in front of the hotel, with the city streaming passed them. A very cinematic capture by Dave.
Jackie and William’s wedding really was an amazing event. So I want to thank all of the people who made it so very special:
Getting ready venue: Boston Harbor Hotel and the club
Ceremony and reception venue: Back Bay private women’s club
Wedding dress: Vera Wang
Groom’s tux: Brooks Brothers
Floral Design: Edison from Madison Floral
DJ: Mike Love
Cinematography: Naomi, Jack, and Lauren from Generations Cinemastories
And so much gratitude to Jackie and William for including us in your beautiful, beautiful day. We are so glad we could capture these photos for you. It has been an absolute joy.
If you would like to see more from Jackie and William, definitely check out their engagement session and their sneak peek.
Jun
05
I am so excited to be sharing a sneak preview of images from Jackie and William’s amazing wedding at a private club in the Back Bay. I am limited by what I can show you at the request of the club management and their members, but I am able to share a few snippets from William’s getting ready, the portraits along Commonwealth Ave and a few details. So I hope you enjoy.
Dave started the day with William at the Boston Harbor Hotel, where he was getting ready. This view from William’s room would totally put anyone in the right frame of mind- peaceful, serene, stunning.
William was very excited about the tux he had custom-made by Brooks Brothers for the occasion. It seems only fitting that he receive artful photos of his attire.
A final check….
The effort and choices he made were impeccable. He looked so dashing.
William made his way to the club in a Rolls Royce, arriving in high style.
Meanwhile, Jackie was at the club getting ready. She chose a Vera Wang gown; the fabric flowed beautifully and totally showed off her figure. Plus the texture and shape was a perfect match for the cherry blossoms, which she used throughout to decorate.
After they saw each other for the first time (a truly emotional and beautiful experience), we popped outside for some photos around the Back Bay. Comm Ave is surrounded by gorgeous brownstones and a tree lined pedestrian way, so finding locations was no challenge. Plus we still had the Rolls Royce to play with.
Such a gentleman…
And a few little bits from the ceremony. The groom’s vows…
The embrace.
And a post ceremony portrait of their gorgeous puppy, who also played the roll of ring bearer. He was so cute walking down the aisle, and looked so handsome with his bowtie.
More to share soon, but if you want more now, and I wouldn’t blame you, definitely check out Jackie and William’s engagement session in Princeton and their love story by Generations Cinemastories.
Sep
11
Yelena and Rob’s wedding was definitively all about the fun. And there was a lot of fun to be had. Everyone came ready to celebrate these two fabulous people. There was enthusiasm and vigor aplenty and a whole lot of love and admiration too. We had the perfect recipe for a great evening.
We started our day with Yelena in her suite at the Fairmont Copley Plaza as she was getting her hair and make-up done. Her closest girlfriends and family were are all around, checking in and getting ready themselves.
And then came the unveiling of the dress. It was a pretty momentous occasion and her dad was super excited for it. He definitely had to be there and wanted to help place it where we needed it so we could get some beautiful pictures. I love when dads get involved. And really, I can’t blame him. Yelena’s dress was stunning. She chose a Vera Wang gown that perfectly accentuated her classic beauty alongside her modern sophistication and style. Gorgeous!
Before we ventured downstairs for the Ketubah signing and Bedeken, we wanted to capture a few portraits of Yelena alone.
And then downstairs for Yelena and Rob to see each other for the first time on their wedding day.
He was already in the room where they would meet up. But his groomsmen didn’t want him to catch a glimpse of Yelena before she was ready. No peeking, Rob!
Yelena entered. Both their faces lit up. Lots of smiles and laughter followed.
After the ketubah and bedeken ceremonies, Yelena and Rob met under the chuppah for the traditional Jewish ceremony with all of their guests. They utilized the St. James Room at the Copley- what a great feel.
A few of my favorite candid moments from the ceremony…
Yelena and Rob went off for their yichud. The remaining family members were totally amusing as they exited.
Rob’s brother "connecting" with his friends and family…
The portraits followed. The boys were philosophical. Or rather, hysterical. Serious fun.
And I leave you with just one from our portrait session with Yelena and Rob.
This is clearly just the beginning of Yelena and Rob’s amazing celebration. There was dancing, dancing, and more dancing- along with great food and good times hanging with family and friends.
If you want a few more, you can also check out our Facebook Page where we posted their sneak peak.
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.
May
05
Dave and I were really fortunate to participate in the Gilded Bride event a couple of Sundays ago. This was definitely not your typical bridal show. Not only were there amazing vendors with truly unique products and services, but the set-up was very different from others we have been a part of. One of the things that made it special was the way the fashions were shown off. No runway for this crew. The “brides” and “grooms” mixed and mingled with the crowd. All of the dresses, tuxedos, accessories, and flowers were supplied by vendors at the shows. The looks were unique and exciting.
While I met with brides, grooms and their families, Dave did a mini-fashion session with the models. He had a lot of fun playing with a more fashion-editorial feel. There’s definitely a common thread of sexiness running through the images. Here’s a bit of eye-candy from the photo shoot:
We have so many people to thank for helping make this possible.
To start with, Ally from Polished Wardrobe Advising for sponsoring the event and inviting us to attend. Also thanks to Gilded Boston and the Algonquin Club for sponsoring the event.
A huge thanks to all of the vendors who put together the looks we featured above. They include:
Ties and shirts: 9Tailors
Tuxedos and suits: Evolution of Style
Dresses: Lily and Migs
Flowers: Carolyn Kegler Floral Designs
Hair: Daryl Christopher Salon and Day Spa
Make-up: Maria Capuano for Motives Cosmetics
Porsche: Classic Cars and Byways
And last, but definitely not least, the amazing models. We couldn’t have done it without you! Thanks for your hard work and dedication.
