Allegro Photography » bridesmaids

The Scoop: Anna & Johnny

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 13:49:53 +0000

Oh boy, it’s been a crazy summer and I am just getting back to sharing more from Anna and Johnny‘s beautiful wedding. My apologies for the delay, but let met tell you, these two are totally worth the wait!

Picking up where I left off, a few portraits outside the Greek Orthodox Church where they held their ceremony. So sweet.

And with their super cool vintage car.

Then we all headed up to the Lake View Pavillion in Foxboro, where they were hosting their reception. What an absolutely beautiful site. Situated amongst the trees and overlooking a lake. So of course we wanted a few more with Anna and Johnny.

The reception started and was absolutely full of joy. One of my favorite moments…. The best man was just about to make his toast. He had set his glass down so he could hold his notes and told the ringbearer to keep an eye on it for him. The ringbearer took his duty very seriously.

This was the toast in which I learned that our Paisano groom wasn’t Italian. I mean, how was I to know? He owned a pizza restaurant at one point. Oh the disillusionment.

Dancing with her dad.

Such a fun celebratory tradition, the Greeks throw money at the bride and groom, as well as during the parent dances. Here Anna’s twin sister showers Anna and her dad.

Family hug to follow. Love!

And even though Johnny’s not Greek, he gets the full treatment. I think his mom likes it.

Lots more dancing!

Getting down with his sister.

Anna’s sister dances for her.

As does her dad.

Yup. I am enamored with this little guy. He really is just too cute.

We closed the evening with a little relaxation in the lounge.

What a day! What a night! What fun all around! Huge congrats to Anna and Johnny and your families. It was an absolute joy to photograph your wedding day.

And special thanks to all of the amazing professionals who helped make the day a success:
Getting ready venue: Joy Lubrano of the Providence Biltmore Hotel
Ceremony site: Assumption of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church
Reception venue: Terry Memmo of Lake View Pavilion
Make-up: Dani Wagner
Hair: Cristina Vasilakos/Jana Rago from Acote Hair Salon Newbury Street
Bride’s gown: Maria Spyridopoulos from Sabella Couture
Bridesmaids’ dresses: Terry’s Bridal, designed by Jordan
Groom and groomsmen suits: Tim from Miltons, Chestnut Hill
Flowers: Desi of Whispers of Spring
Cake: Montilio’s Bakery
Videography: Steve and kathy Horemiotis of S&H Videography
Limousines: Christopher Limousines
DJ: Kostas Blathras of Hellenic Sound
Ceremony musicisans: Michael Monte of Allegro Chamber of Music
Invitations: Crosstown Press

If you want more, definitely check out their PicFlick.

Sneak Peek: Anna & Johnny

Sun, 12 Jun 2011 20:11:41 +0000

You may remember our knock-out bride and groom from their engagement session. Anna and Johnny are that fabulous duo who enjoy boxing together, amongst other things, and who did a super fun session at the Lars Anderson Park. Now I am thrilled to share a quick sneak peek from their wedding day. An absolutely joyous day filled with wonderfully fun people. Honestly, when we left that evening all we wanted to do was dance and celebrate. Days like Anna and Johnny’s are why we get so excited to do what we do.

Our first stop for the day was the Providence Biltmore Hotel where Anna was getting ready. Anna had a suite with great views of the city. A fun way to incorporate that and her very sassy, stylish shoes.

She had the help of all her bridesmaids as she slipped into her wedding dress.

Putting on her veil.

A very sweet moment with her mom.

Walking down the hotel’s very grand staircase, Cinderella.

Meanwhile, Dave had made his way to the church and was with our dashing groom.

When we arrived at the church, Anna stayed in the limo with her dad, waiting for her entrance. She couldn’t help peeking back to see what everyone was doing as the bridesmaids lined up.

This Greek Orthodox church has all of the beautiful decorations I typically attribute to orthodox churches, lots of golds and reds. But they also have gorgeous blue stained glass windows which change the tone of the light in the space.

What a cutie, totally surrounded by pink!

So many fun traditions in a Greek wedding. As Anna and Johnny walk around with the priest, their bridal party and guests threw rice on them.

Happily greeting their guests during the receiving line.

There’s never enough rice throwing!

Definitely more to follow soon, so check back for the scoop of Anna and Johnny’s wedding.

Gatsby-esque Inspiration

Sun, 03 Apr 2011 14:58:31 +0000

Details, details, details. Oh and lots of delicious food.

Once the reception got started, Mollie and Matt’s stamp could be seen from every vantage point. The way they incorporate their Great Gatsby-esque theme was to infuse the day with gilded style.

The perfect pair welcomed their guests with a delicous bite of fruit.

At each setting a menu with their brand.

The reception flowers had a more vibrant hue- deep pink, purple and green.

Guests were seated in multiple spaces throughout the mansion.

One couldn’t forget that fall was in the air when stepping outside on the Grand Allee.

Did I mention the food? Tables of Content did an outstanding job with presentation and taste. A few morsels from the cocktail hour.

The Crane Estate itself offers inspiration and beauty at every turn. The grand staircase.

Dinner is served.

Even in darkness the house is a beauty.

And time for dessert.

For their favors, Mollie and Matt gave a donation to 3 charities and in honor of those, offered their guests a sweet treat in 3 different colors.

Can’t forget the band. This party was a ton of fun. Mollie even mentioned that the funniest moment was, "The Maid of Honor having a dance off with the band’s lead singer." What a great crew!

One last image before I go, I have to admit I can’t blame this young man one bit.

Couldn’t have done it with out these pro’s:

Wedding planners: Megan Whithed from Linnea Tangorra Events
Church: St. Williams Church, Tewksbury
Reception venue: Ashley DiCarlo from The Crane Estate
Tent: Seacoast
Caterer: Tables of Content
Wedding cake: Jenny’s Cakes
Make-up artist: Dani Wagener
Hair: Derek Yuen and Aurora Salon and Spa
Wedding gown: Pronovias at L’Elite Bridal
Bridesmaids dresses: Vera Wang at L’Elite Bridal
Groom’s attire: Calvin Klein
Groomsmen’s tuxedos: Classic Tuxedo
Bagpiper: Murray Hill Entertainment
Band: Unity Band
Floral designer: Tony from Paul Anthony Designs
Rolls Royce: Phyllis at Le Limo
Guest transportation: Black Tie Limo
Rental Furniture: Seacoast Tents

The best of the rest from Mollie and Matt’s wedding: engagement session, sneak preview, and the scoop.

Inspired by Tradition

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 11:20:06 +0000

Just had to share all the fabulous details from Mollie and Matt’s wedding at the Crane Estate in Ipswich. For part one, I wanted to focus on the first half of the day, from the getting ready (ie personal details) and the church to just before the reception gets underway.

Mollie prepped at her grandmother’s home (a family tradition in and of itself) where she added special details to her own look and that of her bridal party.

Loving the something blue with the "I do" on her shoes.

And super sweet silver ballet slippers for her flower girls.

Mollie brought up a florist from New York, who also happens to be a family friend, to provide the beautiful floral. Love the shades of pink in her bouquet, as well as the mix of flowers.

Special necklace.

Softness of her veil over her lace wedding gown.

Her wedding gown was a very special choice. And here’s what Mollie had to say about it: "It was actually the same dress Jennifer Garner wore when she got married in The Ghost of Girlfriends Past. Oddly enough that movie was filmed at The Crane Estate." How perfectly fitting!

And we can’t forget the boys. Matt looked dashing in his tux with the white calla lily boutonniere.

The ring bearer had his own look- a deep purple boutonniere for him.

One tradition I hope never dies (though I do love all the variations on this theme) is the lighting of the unity candle. I love that it represents two becoming one, and how it includes both families. Mollie and Matt chose a candle with a monogram.

Traveling in vintage style, Mollie and Matt selected a historic car for their travels.

And at last we arrive at the beautiful Great House.

Congrats to the team of professionals who made Mollie and Matt’s wedding such a success!

More to follow soon, but in the meantime check out their engagement session, sneak preview, and the scoop.

The Scoop: Mollie & Matt

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:56:19 +0000

Excited to share the second part of Mollie and Matt’s beautiful wedding at the Crane Estate. They celebrated with the last bit of fall still in the air, and on the trees. After their ceremony at Mollie’s family church, they traveled to Castle Hill for their portraits and their reception.

First off, portraits of our beautiful couple. Loving the oranges and golds in the background.

Enjoying the architecture of the Great House.

Before they were introduced, Mollie went upstairs to the bridal suite for a few touch-ups. On her way back down…

The guests dined in the central hall.

A few guests spent a bit more time enjoying the views of the Grand Allee. (For Amazing Race fans, this view may look familiar. Last season the host started the journey here.)

The first dance.

Mollie and her dad.

After Matt danced with his mom, she was all teary eyed.

Mollie’s parents enjoying the party.

Little boy getting down.

Such a perfect cake. Fits right in.

One final moment. Mollie and Matt enjoyed a slow dance towards the end of the night, amidst all their guests.

What an absolutely amazing evening! Congrats to Mollie and Matt and many thanks to all of the professionals who teamed up for their wedding day.

Definitely check out more of Mollie and Matt- their engagement session and sneak preview.

The Fun of It!

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 16:10:09 +0000

When last I wrote, it was just before Thanksgiving and I wasn’t able to share all I wanted about Jen and Brian’s fabulous wedding day. So now, I can reflect back and share a few of my favorite memories from the day. Such as how excited Jen was, so excited in fact that she had already finished her make-up, put on her dress, put on her shoes before we even arrived. She simply couldn’t wait to get ready and get married. So fun.

And how nervous Brian was waiting for the ceremony to begin. And how they put a Patriots decal on the back of the limo, because Brian is a HUGE Pats fan. (I am sure he is feeling good today.) And how proud Jen’s dad was walking her down the aisle. All these special moments from the beginning of the day.

Now I also get to share a few favorites from the second part of the day, aka the Party. After the ceremony, we went directly to the hotel, because it was too cold to take any photos outside. Fortunately the downtown Hyatt Regency has some great spaces for portraits and there is only one wedding there a day, so we could use any of the spaces we wanted. We started with the quintessential grand staircase.

Jen has a great sense of style; she was absolutely beautiful from head to toe.

The groomsmen hung out with Brian upstairs while we were photographing the ladies.

Such an exciting entrance. You can totally see Jen’s enthusiasm pouring through; and I LOVE the way Brian is looking at her. These two couldn’t be happier to have gotten married.

They went right in to their first dance, which culminated with this stellar kissing dip. Sweet!

As part of the fun they had planned, they included a photo booth. The kids really got into all of the costumes and having their picture taken.

For that matter, so did the adults.

The adults also had an amazing time on the dance floor.

And best time ever…. Conga! I haven’t seen one of these in a while. Really so fab. They took their party all around the hotel.

Finally, have to conclude with this awesome shoe shot Dave captured at the end of the evening. (Feels right since we started the last post with a shoe shot. Bookends. ) It really incorporates so much of their day- love the colors, the fashion sense, and the people getting down on the dance floor in the background- all about the fun of it!

So many thanks to share with all of the people who teamed up for Jen and Brian’s amazing wedding day:

First off, Jen Nicholson played the roll of event planner for her dear friend and also works at the Hyatt Regency. She and her staff lead by Ellie Cash did an amazing job, as always.

And to the rest of the professionals:
Getting ready venue: Marriott Courtyard
Ceremony Site: Colleen Campoion and Father Salzmann from St. Timothy Catholic Church
Caterer: Hyatt Regency
Cake: Konditor Meister
Floral Design: Edison from Madison Floral
DJ: Jack Barrows from Entertainment Specialists
Ceremony Musicians: Joe Heffernan
Videographer: Laurie Fox
Invitations: Norwood Printing
Save-the-Dates: Wedding Paper Divas
Bride’s hair and make-up: Kris Perkins and Courtney from Green Tangerine
Bride’s wedding gown: Monique Lhuillier at L’Elite Bridal Boutique
Groom’s attire: Mr. Tux

Of course, we have to share our congrats and gratitude with Jen and Brian. It was such a pleasure working with you and your families. What a great celebration!

You want more? No problem. Check out their engagement session, sneak peek, and slideshow.

Warming the Day with Family

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 00:37:25 +0000

It was a crisp fall day when Mollie married Matt. The sunshine brought out the blues, greens and stunning fall reds, golds and oranges, creating a beautiful backdrop for their celebration. There was also a warmth running throughout the day, the comfort of loved ones and special familial traditions. Mollie got ready at her grandmother’s house, as her mother had done before her. She and Matt wed in the same church as her parents had wed. And even some of the photography hearkened back to Mollie’s mom’s bridal portraits. Throughout the day, the family bonds shone through.

Dave and I started with Mollie as she was getting ready. And she actually started by helping her sister.

Her sister, of course, returned the favor. Putting on her beautiful long veil was no simple task.

Dave headed over to the gents who were arriving at the church, while I did a few portraits of Mollie. The warm wood panelling was a lovely accent to her photos.

As was this delicious light.

Dave arrived at the church and it was clear the fall was still bursting out.

A few moments with Matt, allowed for a series of portraits.

Mollie and her dad were ready to get the show on the road.

Loving this sweet moment of father and son, prior to the ceremony.

We also learned that the priest who presided over the ceremony was a cousin of Mollie’s. It added a personal element to the ceremony as he shared stories from the family’s history.

Loving this stolen moment between our bride and groom.

Perhaps my favorite part of the Catholic wedding ceremony is the moment when guests greet each other. It is such a warm way for everyone to connect.

And just a quick peek of what’s to come when I share from the second part of the day. All kinds of fun details and beautiful touches. These two lovebirds were inside a birdcage which collected cards. Sweetness.

Check back soon for more from the rest of Mollie and Matt’s beautiful fall wedding reception at the Crane Estate, including stunning portraits, inspiring details and one heck of a party. In the meantime, you can also check out the slideshow from their engagement session.

Just a Peek

Wed, 24 Nov 2010 21:06:19 +0000

This one is just a quick post because we really wanted to give Jen and Brian a taste of what’s to come, basically whetting their Thanksgiving appetites for more. We hope you enjoy!

I promise there’s more to come soon with the story of the day and all the fun, including their super fabulous party at the Downtown Hyatt Regency. In the meantime, if you want more of Jen and Brian, definitely check out their engagement session.

Absolutely! Marla & Shawn got hitched.

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 23:20:58 +0000

Marla and Shawn- what a couple! We had so much fun at their wedding. This was truly a destination wedding. Everyone came to Northern California from Texas and enjoyed the beautiful sunshine of wine country the week before the wedding. Of course, that meant that everyone was in great spirits throughout the day. On top of that, it is clear how perfect Marla and Shawn are for each other. Their day was not only a testament to their love, but also a celebration of family!

When Shawn proposed, he pulled all the stops, recreating their first date in style. Marla was truly surprised, but didn’t hesitate. She answered with a resounding, “Absolutely!” You can just imagine the cheers.

Marla and Shawn chose to get married at Hans Fahden, one of our favorite wine country venues. They had the best weather, perfect temps and clear skies with fun streaks of clouds. The kind of clouds you almost never see in California. Plus Hans Fahden was all abloom with pinks and oranges and whites. The setting was idyllic.

Marla prepped in the bridal suite surrounded by her closest friends, her sister, her mother, and her grandmother. There was lots of laughter, and suprisingly very little nervousness. Marla seemed so calm.

Before the ceremony, we took a few portraits in the gardens. Isn’t she stunning? When I captured this, I was completely entranced by her eyes. No wonder Shawn adores her.

Here’s the 3 generations of ladies. You can totally see the family resemblance in their smiles.

Marla hid up in the bridal room while we captured a few of Shawn with his family. These are his two darling little girls. They were so good throughout the day. And you could tell they completely adore both Marla and Shawn.

The ceremony took place overlooking the pond. With under 80 guests, it was truly intimate. Marla’s dad shared a special reading for them. And other family and friends created the music.

I can’t get over how sweet Shawn is. That smile is for his daughter. Melts my heart.

Another important element of the ceremony was their faith. Their connection to each other is enhanced by their religious beliefs. They definitely found ways to make the ceremony reflect their spirituality.

Marla and Shawn not only care about each other, they care for each other. You can see it in every gesture- a deep tenderness, appreciation, and love.

The final element to their ceremony was a special ritual designed to include Shawn’s two girls. Marla and Shawn presented each girl with a special medallion which symbolized their importance in the family. After the ceremony, we asked the girls to show us their necklaces. The necklace is really beautiful, but I think my favorite part of this image is the nail polish. So precious!

And just to give you a sense of what’s to come. One portrait with Marla and Shawn in the Hans Fahden gardens!

I can’t wait to share more. Not only did they have this amazing wedding day, but we got together with them again after their wedding to do a Newlywed/ Rock the Dress session. So there will be lots more amazing photos to see.

Details: Yummy Treats at Lisa & Scott’s Wedding

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:13:32 +0000

You’ve read the stories from Lisa and Scott’s wedding and you’ve seen Mimosa‘s amazing floral design. Now it’s time to talk food. Makes my mouth water just thinking about all the delights cooked up by the catering staff at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Boston along with a little help from Montilio’s and Lisa and Scott’s DIY candy bar.

First there was the cocktail hour, complete with sushi, a saute station and carving station. Guests were wowed by all the delicious offerings, especially the ones prepared right before their eyes.

Once the guests were seated. They received this gorgeous shrimp cocktail.

Then a beautiful salad.

The dinner concluded with a succulent Surf and Turf of lobster tail and steak.

But dessert was not far behind. The cake cutting soon followed.

And then the staff rolled out the candy bar. Guests had a blast filling up their gift boxes with all sorts of yummies.

All this talk of candy and chocolate and sweets, oh my! I need to go find a snack.