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.
Oct
20
What do you get when you mix a family of Italians and a family of Greeks celebrating a wedding? Great food, yes. And also full on Mediterranean zest for life, which translates to one helluva good time. And so it was when Loula married Massimo.
It started with a ceremony at Boston’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Lovin’ the look in Massimo’s eyes.
You have to check out the beauty of this place- so vibrant and colorful- with stunning crystal chandeliers, an amazing space for a wedding.
And the lights are kept pretty low, so there is a romantic ambiance and warmth as well.
The ceremony was presided over by his and hers officiants, aka a representative from both Loula’s and Massimo’s faiths, making the service doubly official.
The newlyweds….
We dashed off to the State Room for their reception. Loula and Massimo added beautiful touches, such as custom designed menus and table numbers, as well as elegant floral arrangements, making the already elegant venue truly shine.
Their first dance, surrounded by their guests, with the city lights in the background.
As is customary in the Greek tradition, this dance becomes a money dance. This young man is helping the couple start their lives with good fortune.
And sharing a different kind of fortune.
Some guests watched (and cheered) from the upper gallery as the party got started.
Dancing got underway quickly, first with modern music.
Then with Greek tunes. Loula’s dad with a few great moves.
During the evening, toasts and merriment prevailed. Our bride…
and our groom definitely had a good time.
Oh, and did I mention that Loula changed into a party dress later in the evening? So cute and fun, complete with the perfect shoes.
Lovin’ this look on Loula. Beautiful!
What a crazy night! Really. Everyone knew how to have a good time.
Congrats to the professionals who helped make their day so special:
Getting ready venue: Boston Harbor Hotel
Ceremony site: Father Cleopas from the Greek Orthodox Cathedral
Officiant: Father Tom
Reception site: Venessa Hoyle from the State Room
Cake: Claudio of Modern Pastry
Floral design: Kerranne of Les Fleurs
Ice Sculptures: Brookline Ice & Coal
Cinematographers: Naomi, Jack and Lauren from Generations Cinemastories
For ladies’ looks:
Hair: Shelly of Dellaria
Make-up: Luiz Filho of Luz Beauty
Wedding gown designer: Claire Pettibone; and Shelly from Sewly Yours
Party dress designer: Lazaro; and Maria from Cristina’s
Bridesmaid dresses: Jim Hjelm at Cristina’s
Want more from Loula and Massimo? Check out their engagement session, their sneak peek and their slideshow.
Oct
15
Prepping and primping for a wedding takes time, takes experienced professionals, takes vision- well, at least for the women it does. For the men, it takes about 5 minutes, and they’re done. So of course, the photos captured during the getting ready of the men and the women are vastly different. For Loula and Massimo’s wedding, Dave and I split up- Dave hung with the boys at Massimo’s place in the North End and I played with the ladies at Loula’s suite at the Boston Harbor Hotel.
The rings were with the boys. And Massimo wanted an image documenting the ring alongside the day’s newspaper.
Meanwhile, I was capturing details of Loula’s wedding dress, shoes and veil.
And of course, documenting the process of the preparation.
As I mentioned, the boys don’t take much time to get gussied up. So Dave had time for some fun portraits of the boys.
Loula getting into her dress.
Her koumbara put on her shoes, a special Greek tradition.
Loula takes a moment by herself, almost, to put on her jewelry. I love how her pup watches her captivated.
I have time for a quick portrait before we head out.
Dave and the boys are already at the church. This little sweetheart is so intent.
As the boys arrive at the church, we are heading out. Loula hired a beautiful vintage car to carry her and her parents to the ceremony. Just a moment before we leave.
More from Loula and Massimo’s wedding- ceremony at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral and reception at The State Room- to follow soon. In the meantime, check out their engagement session in Nahant.
Sep
14
But what is a perfect couple? I am sure we may each have our own definition, but here’s mine. They are a couple that laugh and cry together; hold each other; play with each other; enjoy, admire and appreciate each other. They are two people who have their own unique interests, but find other interests in common. They help each other grow. Christina and Vincent are one such couple. I love the way they interact with each other- completely at ease, each so much a part of the other person. Their wedding was filled with smiles, laughter and love. It celebrated who they are as individuals and who they are together.
As Christina and Vincent were both getting ready at the Boston Harbor Hotel, we were able to spend time with both of them. Christina had already had her hair and make-up done at a salon near her mom’s house so the ladies came to the hotel to get into their dresses and complete a few finishing touches. The crew was very relaxed and pretty much just enjoyed the time together. Lots of laughter here.
One of the ways Christina and Vincent chose to share a bit of themselves was in the theme of their wedding- wine and chocolate. Sounds good, no? So they chose to incorporate deep reds and purples- burgundy, merlot, wine- into their color scheme. Check out the bridesmaids bouquets alongside their garnet dresses.
We had a little time before Christina was scheduled to meet Vincent for the first time so we captured a few portraits of Christina and a few details. She looked stunning in this halter style Vera Wang gown. So elegant.
And the veil with ribbon edges was a perfect match.
Dave popped into the room where Vincent was hanging with his boys and captured this portrait of Vincent waiting for his chance to see Christina.
Then it was time. Vincent was waiting in the Rotunda with his back to where Christina would enter. As she left her room, she gave her girls a high-five. Such a perfect moment.
As Christina approached Vincent, her mom and bridesmaids peeked around the corner to watch.
Vincent’s huge smile when he sees Christina.
Christina’s joyful tears when she sees Vincent.
Then they enjoy a few moments together amidst the architectural beauty of the Rotunda.
And that’s just the beginning. More to come soon from their beautiful Boston waterfront wedding.
Want to see more from Christina and Vincent? Check our their stormy engagement session in Beacon Hill.
Sep
06
That’s what Suzanne yelled to me on the dance floor. And I answered right back with a resounding, "Yes!" And boy was it! Suzanne and Andy picked an amazing 80′s cover band, Pop Rocks. And they played some of the best music ever made. The crowd couldn’t get enough of them. Really, so much fun.
But I am getting a little ahead of myself, because I left off at the end of the ceremony with Suzanne and Andy ready for their celebration. They continued with the cocktail hour on the patio. We had finished all of the formal portraits before the ceremony but they wanted to grab a few with their friends. Check out this image Dave captured of Andy and the boys.
Everyone headed inside for the reception. On the way, they were treated to some great details. Including family wedding photos in two spots and a little bird cage, complete with bird, to hold cards.
And check out Suzanne’s bouquet, loved the rich dark centers of these calla lillies.
I am always enamored when people wear hats to weddings. We so rarely wear hats for the sake of wearing hats these days; I think it makes a beautiful statement about the specialness of the day.
As soon as they entered, Suzanne and Andy made their way to the dance floor for their first dance. I was so excited to capture the dip.
Perhaps one of the most exciting parts of getting married and one of the few things that feels immediately different is the new piece of jewelry you wear to symbolize the occasion. Suzanne and Andy happily showed theirs off.
A welcome toast from Suzanne’s parents.
And from her dearest friends to "Anne and Andy." (Sidenote, perhaps one of the coolest things from this wedding is how many friends Suzanne and Andy have from throughout their lives. We did a photo of everyone who went to the same high school as Suzanne and there were like 20 people in the group. I am so amazed that she keeps in touch with and is still close to so many friends from that period in her life.)
And then things got started on the dance floor. It didn’t take long for this crew to show their appreciation for the music.
Makes me want to sing at the top of my lungs to some really loud music.
Which is exactly what Suzanne did with a few of her girlfriends, on the stage. Unbelievable! Awesome! So much fun!!!
Many thanks to Suzanne and Andy for including us in your day! It was an absolute joy celebrating with you.
And much gratitude to all of the fabulous professionals who helped make the day special for Suzanne and Andy:
Ceremony and Reception venue: Amanda Harris from StoneTree Golf Club
Getting ready site: Courtyard Marriott
Wedding coordinator: Shana Goldberg of Dee Merz
Caterer: Amanda Harris for Elaine Bell
Dessert treats: It’s-It Ice Cream
Floral design: Millita from Grant Avenue Florist
Rentals: Suzie from Big 4 Party Rentals
Band: Kalie from Pop Rocks
Ceremony musician: Glenn Carter
Hair: Nicole Hitchcock of NH2
Make-up: Nicole Saysette
Wedding Gown Designer: Matthew Christopher
Groom’s suit: Theory
Invitations: Spark
Save the dates: Costco
Special thanks to Brian Lee who joined as as a third photographer for this amazing wedding!
I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted more, more, more. And if that’s the case, check out their sneak peek, slideshow and their engagement session. Enjoy!
Aug
25
I can’t imagine a more perfect day to enjoy the photos from Suzanne and Andy’s wedding. I am sitting in our Boston studio and it is all dreariness and rain outside, but in front of me, on my computer screen, I get to see all kinds of sunshine. The day was beautiful, true, but I think the brightest part of the day was definitively our bride and groom. They couldn’t be more full of energy and fun. You will see it in the way they look at each other, in the way they interact with their friends and family, and in the way they celebrate.
Suzanne and Andy chose to see each other before their ceremony. They had a private moment in the gardens at StoneTree Golf Club to drink each other up. Suzanne approached Andy and teased him a little before she asked him to turn around.
He couldn’t stop looking at her. She was absolutely stunning.
We took the opportunity to do their portraits before hand. Not only did they look their freshest and had plenty of time for some great photos, but they were then able to enjoy all of their cocktail hour. It was the perfect choice for them.
So sweet and fun together.
I adored Suzanne’s dress. It was perfect on her- the best combination of sexy, glamorous, and playful. Check out the awesome mini-accordion crinoline underneath. Great texture.
And then it was time for these two to get hitched. Andy waited patiently at the end of the aisle for his bride to enter.
She walked in on her dad’s arm. And here, I have to take a little detour from the wedding narrative, because I got to hear a lot about Suzanne’s dad on the car ride from the hotel to StoneTree. He was an angel helping out with the wedding. Anything Suzanne or her mom needed, he took care of it. In fact, her mom said something along the lines of, "I love your dad more than ever today." She was so proud of and amazed by him. Probably the sweetest thing I have ever heard a mother of the bride say about her husband on her daughter’s wedding day. Really.
And now back to the story… Looks like he was pretty happy to help out, and especially happy to have his daughter on his arm.
The ceremony was beautiful, under clear blue skies.
With the rings, it became official.
And the celebration began immediately following the pronunciation of husband and wife. Let the party begin!
Did I say party? You betcha. Absolutely do not miss this one- coming soon. The 80′s cover band knocked our socks off and kept this party rocking!
Aug
03
A party that happens to be a wedding allows for all sorts of non-traditional elements and playful bits. Donna, along with her designer Jane from D’Lish Intimate Catering, pushed the boundaries at every turn.
Opening with my favorite of all the details from Donna and Jimmy’s wedding- the Cake. Konditor Meister definitely outdid themselves with this wild animal print cake. So so so fun!
Taking a step back in time. The ketubah that Donna and Jimmy signed prior to their chuppah ceremony.
On to cocktail hour, drinks galore and check out the awesome zebra print linen below.
Multiple small glass containers held orchids in the lobby and cocktail space.
Time for the reception. A peak from above, looking down onto the table arrangement. Loving the gold linens, which match the Chiavari chairs.
The menu and place setting.
The centerpiece, orchids in a clear vase. Candlelight completes the look.
The head table had its own centerpiece arrangements. Love the peonies.
And a look at the whole set up.
Gotta give credit where credit is due. And the pros who helped make their event spectacular definitely deserve props. Inspiration provided by Donna and Jimmy’s Team:
Event designer: Jane Pofcher Goldman of D’Lish Intimate Catering
Getting Ready Venue: The Hotel Marlowe, Cambridge
Ceremony and Reception Venue: Exchange Conference Center, Boston
Caterer: Legal Seafoods
Wedding Cake: Konditor Meister
Floral design: Winston Flowers
Chuppah Design: Jessica Erickson
Chuppah Rental: Tommy Wholesale Design
Linens: Rentals Unlimited
Wedding Gown: Vera Wang
Invitations and Graphics: Jessica Erickson of J.L. Erickson Design
If you still want more, check out their e-session in Ashland, their sneak preview, their scoop and their slideshow.
Jul
29
Mina and George first met during an Argentine Tango class. Music has followed them through their relationship and I honestly felt as if I heard a soundtrack accompanying their wedding day. So this post is primarily a tribute to that element of their day.
Starting with the birdsong backdrop during their portrait session.
During their first dance, guests enjoyed watching our couple show off their moves.
While they were visiting tables, a Persian game between the bride and groom and their guests turned into a spontaneous dance party.
Mina and George are not the only ones who felt the inspiration to dance. Almost instantly everyone was on the dance floor.
Mina and George took center stage.
Taking a break from the music, for a few toasts.
A sweet slow song.
Girls just want to have fun… with the bouquet toss. This one taken by our associate, Brian Lee. The ladies had such a good time.
Boys! Boys! Boys! The garter toss. Mina giving George a little instruction about what to do and not to do.
One boy getting psyched up for the garter.
Closing the evening out with a lullaby, my favorite by Brian. This young lady was pooped from all the fun.
What a pleasure it was photographing Mina and George and their families, such fun spirits. Thank you for including us.
And much gratitude to the team of professionals who made their day so lovely:
Getting Ready Venue: San Ramon Marriott
Ceremony and Reception Site: Canyon View
Cake: City of D’lights
Floral design: San Francisco Florist
DJ: Aykut
Hair and Make-up: Victoria’s Salon
Wedding gown: Jenny Packham at Nouvelle Vogue
Invitations and other products: Lovebirds Stationary
Can’t get enough of this musical duo? I don’t blame you. For more of Mina and George, check out their engagement session, sneak preview, and slideshow.
Jul
27
After seeing a glimpse of the first half of their day, you must already know that Donna and Jimmy were going to have a great time at their reception. In fact, everyone did.
Their grand entrance as husband and wife.
Enjoying the first dance.
Guests joined them for a slow song on the dance floor. I captured this image of the feel of the day- intense love, zooming.
Then things really got underway. Some very serious dancing.
Loving the rim of light around the lead singer.
At most weddings, the bride and groom get their first dance together and then maybe a few fast songs together, if they are lucky. Donna and Jimmy managed to get in several dances, and they enjoyed every single one.
And Jimmy getting down on his own.
After all that dancing, Donna needed a break. One generous gent offered her a foot rub. Definitely the way it should be for the bride.
Jimmy toasted his guests.
Then, side-by-side Donna and Jimmy attacked, I mean, cut the cake. Hilarious!
The party continued, with guests joining the band, and singing a few.
And the band kept the fun going all night long.
Many thanks to our couple, Donna and Jimmy, and all of the talented professionals who helped create this magical party for them…
Donna’s best friend, Jane Pofcher Goldman, and planner of D’Lish Intimate Catering, for coordinating, designing and planning the event with Donna
And the rest of the team-
Getting Ready Venue: The Hotel Marlowe, Cambridge
Ceremony and Reception Venue: Exchange Conference Center, Boston
Caterer: Legal Seafoods
Wedding Cake: Konditor Meister
Floral design: Winston Flowers
Chuppah Design: Jessica Erickson
Chuppah Rental: Tommy Wholesale Design
Linens: Rentals Unlimited
Wedding Gown: Vera Wang
Invitations and Graphics: Jessica Erickson of J.L. Erickson Design
If you still want more, check out their e-session in Ashland, their sneak preview, and their slideshow.
