Dec
23
Just thought we should kick off this rainy holiday weekend with a refreshing celebration from this past summer. Part deux of Soo Jin and Roger’s perfect Sonoma wedding at Viansa Winery.
Our last post was all about the beauty leading up to and through their wine cave ceremony. And now we share sunset portraits and one fabulously good party.
First up the bridal party, with signature white parasols, courtesy of Viansa.
And then some alone time enjoying the magnificent valley scenery as the sun was beginning to set. Warm light made their skin glow. Well, that, and the happy day.
So many beautiful spots to shoot. We honestly could have photographed here all day.
But we had a party to attend. And the guests were waiting.
Grand entrance through the bridesmaid and groomsmen gauntlet. Love that the girls took the guys sunglasses and handed off their bouqets to the gents.
Yup.
First dance.
Finished off with a dip.
Kiss, please!
Fooling around in the photo booth.
Check out this super fun ring shot. They had the letters on their dessert bar table. Picked up the little chairs which were holding the escort cards, and then placed the rings on each chair. Love the connection to their day.
All around good times and simply stunning wedding. Congrats to Soo Jin and Roger and thanks to all those who made it a spectucular wedding!
Nov
23
Soo Jin and Roger have style to last til the end of time, and planned an elegant wedding in Sonoma. I can’t imagine a more perfect backdrop than these vineyards and wineries with all of their romance. The skies were clear. The air was warm. And Soo Jin and Roger were so excited to tie the knot.
They both got ready at a private home with Roger and the boys taking over the main house, and Soo Jin and the ladies enjoying the guest house by the pool. Not a bad way to enjoy a destination wedding really.
Her dress and the view from her pad.
Roger primping and prepping.
The boys downed a shot of something- not sure what- but here’s how it went down. Hmmm….
Meanwhile, Soo Jin was getting gussied up. Finishing touches on her dress.
They decided to do a first look before their ceremony so that they could take portraits without time constraints at Viansa. Roger was peeking before he was supposed to. Who can blame him?
He made up for it with kisses.
And then the ceremony began. It took place in the wine caves, lit by candles. Beautiful and romantic!
Clearly a happy couple! And more to come from sunset portraits and the reception fun.
Sep
06
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.
Jun
12
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.
May
12
If you are anything like me, you have always wanted to be a part of a TV production- to see what happens backstage, so to speak; to watch as the characters move on and off screen; to observe the camera crews and the director. Well, Dave had just that opportunity when he photographed Christina and Ed’s wedding for WeTV’s My Fair Wedding. He followed the planner and star of the show, David Tutera, as well as capturing the bride and groom and their wedding details. So you feel like you were actually part of the shoot. Since I posted about the book earlier this week, I thought I would share the behind the scenes photos today.
Tutera is not only an amazing planner, he’s a fabulous designer. He created a beautiful Mexican inspired wedding for Christina, whose Riviera Maya destination wedding had to be canceled. His first stop was to check on the decor at the hotel where the reception would be. His team was already doing a great job; he added a few more touches to the look.
Next he visited the bride who was in the process of getting her hair and make-up done.
Never a private moment on a TV show.
This is when he reminded Christina of the 3 dresses she tried on. He is about to tell her which one he chose for her. (This also happens to be one of my fave moments each episode of the show. I can’t help loving that they don’t know which gown he chose. The suspense is super fun. And while most women wouldn’t want someone else to chose this most important of all dresses, I actually would have loved it. I had such a hard time figuring out what to get.)
Before and during the ceremony, there is tons going on both behind the camera and in front of the camera. These portraits show how David is working to make sure that everything goes off without a hitch. Before the ceremony he is checking to see everything is in place. As guests arrive, he greets them and helps them get where they need to be. During the ceremony, he is watching here, there and everywhere.
Being on a public Staten Island beach with lots of cameras, the wedding was sure to draw a crowd.
Still, the crew was pretty inconspicous during the ceremony. One team all the way back and two teams on the side at the front. No guests’ views were interrupted. As photographers, we pride ourselves on putting the wedding first. After all that’s why we are all there. So it is really nice that Tutera’s team also has this in their mind, even when their work is for TV.
After the ceremony, whether for TV or not, David brings his couples into the reception hall before all of the other guests, so that they can actually take a moment to enjoy the space he has created for them. So they can check out the details they have thought about and planned with him. Christina and Ed are clearly enamored with their colorful chocolate cake.
Their first dance in the dreamy tropical space.
One question we get about the show and working with David is: Is he really that nice? The answer is absolutely 100% yes. He is a truly down-to-earth, caring gentleman AND he likes to have a good time. He doesn’t dance at every wedding but when appropriate, he will enjoy the party with the couple and their guests. Enjoying a moment with the bride.
Dancing with a bridesmaid.
Clearly he felt a connection with this group and they with him. They even invited him into their group hug.
The folks who make it a televsion show. Yup, that’s a lot of paparazzi.
What a great day to be a part of! We are so thankful to David Tutera and his team for asking us to photograph this My Fair Wedding episode.
May
09
I am literally doing a little dance; I am so proud of my partner in all things. Dave’s work was recently published in David Tutera‘s My Fair Wedding book!!! We just got our hands on a copy and it is fabulous. Each chapter is devoted to a different episode and has great tips for your wedding- tips ranging from choosing your dress to engaging with your guests to permit needs to thematic choices. Really practical. And of course the photos are amazing!
Here’s a few pages from Dave’s Chapter in the book. Yup, a whole chapter. Did I mention I was proud? He photographed Christina and Ed’s Mexican dream wedding. They had initally planned a destination wedding in Riviera Maya, Mexico, but had to change their plans suddenly. With no time whatsoever, they were at a loss. David Tutera created a stunning Latin inspired wedding in Staten Island. They were even able to wed on the beach. Amazing!
And now a few details that actually aren’t in the book for those who want more.
Christina’s dress was one of the first from the David Tutera by Faviana bridal collection. It’s perfect for both the ceremony and the reception; the skirt below the flowers can be removed for a fun party dress.
If you’ve watched My Fair Wedding, you know that David makes the decisions. The brides can voice their opinions, but in the end, the buck stops with Tutera. Once he decided on the Latin theme, he included it at every turn. The bridesmaids dresses, for instance, were light, airy and supremely colorful.
As I mentioned, they were able to host their ceremony on the beach. It was quite breezy.
David transformed this corner of the beach into an oasis with tropical plants, orange and yellow roses, green turf and gold chiavari chairs.
The string ensemble enhanced the mood with beautiful music.
Blue skies and puffy white clouds with an oceanview. Oh my!
In the distance, the clouds weren’t quite as playful, but I love the bridge peaking through them. And a chance to see what was going on nearby at the beach.
Everyone went inside the hotel for the reception. The colors and theme were carried through into these spaces as well.
Cocktails with fruit.
A Mariachi band started off the party with Mexican flair.
A very romantic, warm dinner table. Roses dripping from everywhere and amber plates and glassware.
Candlelight always great for ambiance.
Bringing in the tropical flowers and more vibrant colors on a chocolate cake. Mmmmmm…..
To end the day, what could be better than fireworks?
The bride and groom were definitely surprised and happy with this ending!
Congrats to my hubby, Dave Lee; to our friend and fellow photographer, Critsey Rowe, who is also published in the book; and of course, to the man behind it all, the extremely talented, warm, and charming, David Tutera. It is such an honor and pleasure to work with David and his team- consummate professionals and creative geniuses!
Check back soon for a behind the scenes look at the making of this season 2 episode of My Fair Wedding.
Apr
03
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.
Mar
21
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!
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
More to follow soon, but in the meantime check out their engagement session, sneak preview, and the scoop.
Jan
31
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.
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
Definitely check out more of Mollie and Matt- their engagement session and sneak preview.
Dec
07
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.
