Apr
22
When planning a destination wedding, it can be a challenge to bring all of the ideas you have together. With a unique location, inspiration is not the problem, but rather logistical details. Cassie and Dan had a beautiful vision for their wedding and selected the right team of people to bring it all together. Everything went off without a hitch, a pefect celebration on their much loved Martha’s Vineyard.
The pros:
Church: Old Whaling Church, Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard/ Reception: Dr. Daniel Fisher House, Edgartown, MV / After party venue: The Boathouse, Edgartown, MA / Getting ready location: The Wheel House at the Kelley House / Event Planning: Judy Murray of MV Event Planning / Bride’s hair and makeup: Sea Spa, Edgartown / Cake: Kim Garrison, Something Sweet / Wedding Gown: Priscilla of Boston, Boston, Mass / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Dessy Lela Rose Collection / Groom’s attire: Raymond Personal Tailor / Floral & Event Design: Donaroma’s Nursery / Entertainment (ceremony): Eric Johnson / Entertainment (reception): Jon Bates Band and John Alaimo, pianist / Wedding invitations: Goosefish Press, Boston, MA / Save the Dates: Vera Wang / Rehearsal dinner invites: Wedding Paper Divas
Getting ready- Dan at Cassie’s family home and Cassie at her hotel- offered an opportunity to capture details that set the tone for the day.
The letterpress invitations with island details and their unique wedding bands.
This gorgeous white blossom on Cassie’s dress.
And her rustic elegant purple bouquet.
At the family home, little touches like this windchime created a whimsical feel.
The groomsmen’s dress shirts ready and waiting.
All decked out, our groom with his purple rose boutonniere.
At the Old Whaling Church, guests were welcome by this Scottish bag piper.
And the interior was decked out in shades of purple flowers.
A view of the steeple.
And the tent at dusk on the lawn between the church and the Dr. Daniel Fisher House.
Inside, the reception details were ready and gorgeous. I adore this cake with it’s oversized purple flower.
Multiple centerpieces in shades of pink and purples.
Each table named after a favorite MV location.
Favors for the guests- olive oil and a scented candle.
Cocktail tables on the patio of the house were decorated with smaller arrangements.
The party kicked off by the band.
A scrumption dessert bar.
Ending the reception with a sparkler send off.
A beautiful celebration with rustic elegance and whimsy inspired by the island, envisioned by Cassie and Dan, and executed by an amazing team of professionals.
More from Cassie and Dan’s wedding? Check out their Fenway Park e-session, their Chappy Rehearsal Dinner, their Old Whaling Church ceremony, their Daniel Fisher House reception, their Edgartown Boathouse after party and their destination wedding slideshow.
Mar
05
You really can’t go wrong when you get married at a Castle. So when Ayesha and Jon chose Searles for their backdrop, they knew they had found the perfect spot to celebrate their wedding ceremony and their reception.
The ceremony was held on the lawn to the left of the castle. Well actually the ceremony was held on the castle wall and the guests were seated on the lawn. They blended Ayesha’s South Asian traditions with Jon’s Christian ones, bringing together their two cultures in a beautiful way.
The bridesmaids entered first.
Followed by two of Ayesha and Jon’s adorable neices and nephews as flower girl and ring bearer. And then followed by Ayesha and her dad.
Especially love this shade of red accentuated by the creamy roses.
Groomsman watching the proceedings.
And back to the ceremony. Ayesha’s dad ties she and Jon (hidden behind her dad in this image) together. Love her dad’s quiet smile and her huge one!
Jon’s mom offers her own blessing. More wonderful smiles. Jon looks so happy and proud. And his mom his radiant.
A reading.
Jon puts Ayesha’s ring on her finger.
Sweet kiss.
And celebration.
After the ceremony, Ayesha changed into her western wedding dress. Jon got to see her for the first time, again.
After a few portraits and a little time alone, they joined their guests in the tent for their first dance.
A speech by Ayesha’s best brides’ man.
And because they met at Ohio State and had their fabulous peers at the wedding. We had to do at least one photo for their alma mater.
With such a beautiful setting and a lovely evening, we had to take advantage for one night photograph in front of the castle. Fortunately, Ayesha and Jon were very happy to oblige. I guess the kiss didn’t hurt our cause.
Such a great day and evening, filled with joy and color and magic. What else would you expect at a castle!
Special thanks to Ayesha and Jon for including us in your festivities. And to all of the pros who helped to make their day wonderful…
Ceremony and Reception Venue: Shaun and Scott from Searles Castle / Officiants: Sri Lankan Ceremony – Mr. Bogamuwa, Exchange of Vows – John Morse / Caterer: Shaun and Scott from Searles Castle / Cake: Jani from Jacques Pastries / Ceremony Floral Design: Susanne from Susanne’s Weddings / Lighting Design: Boston Uplights / Ceremony Musicians and Band/DJ: Chris D from NuImage Entertainment / Hair & Makeup: Brandon and Karla from Brandon Keith Salon / Bride & Bridesmaids Sarees brought in from overseas / Groom and Groomsmen’s Tuxedos: Lindsay from Men’s Wearhouse / Save the Dates: Wedding Paper Divas
If you would like to see more from Ayesha and Jon’s South Asian wedding, check out their Searles Castle Wedding sneak peek and their dog-friendly engagment session.
Feb
23
Cassie and Dan’s hometown destination wedding on Martha’s Vineyard was truly picture perfect. From the Chappy rehearsal dinner (photos to come) to the wedding day to the Sunday brunch, Edgartown’s waterviews, white washed buildings and picket fences, and amazing skies provided a gorgeous backdrop for their celebration.
Picking up after the ceremony with a view of the Old Whaling Church, and our happy couple now as husband and wife.
A few portraits around the Daniel Fisher Estate before joining the guests in the tented reception.
First dance.
I don’t blame Cassie’s mom one bit. I felt it too.
Toasts by the Best Man and Cassie’s sisters. There were tears and…
laughter. Actually lots and lots of laughter.
Celebrating with our groom.
Dancing with her dad.
Dan with his mom. So sweet.
Observing and remembering.
The dancing got underway and this crew definitely knew how to have a good time.
The send off began with a group familial hug. Such joy and love!
And continued with sparklers and cheers.
How could you not be smiling after seeing this gorgeous day? And yet, if you want more smiles, you will have to come back because the after party was an absolute blast too.
In the meantime, check out their engagement session at Fenway Park and the getting ready and ceremony on Martha’s Vineyard for more fun photos.
Jan
29
For Cassie and Dan’s wedding, location was everything. And rarely is the setting of the wedding so personal and meaningful, especially when it is a destination wedding. You see, Dan is from Martha’s Vineyard and Cassie’s family has a place on the island, so they have both basically grown up on its beaches. Of course, they also met there. Though they now live in Boston, their ties to this beautiful place are deep and unbreakable. It was truly the perfect location for their wedding. And now a peek at their magical day…
Dan got ready at Cassie’s parents’ house with the rest of the groomsmen, and their two pups. Tank smiles for the camera with Dan prepping in the background.
Cassie and her girls were at a hotel in town. The place had that special beach house quality to it. So when her flowers arrived, I thought it would be perfect to use the surroundings to show them off. Love the whimsy in her bouquet.
Upstairs the ladies prepped and primped.
Cassie checking our her hair and make-up.
The ladies hopped on board the trolley to go see the guys and do a couple of portraits. One of the most beautiful locations for a first look ever.
He’s already smiling and he hasn’t even seen her yet.
And then his smile gets even bigger.
Loving everything about this spot. All the way down to the grasses.
Everyone hopped back on the trolley to go to the Old Whaling Church, where they would celebrate their wedding. The views were beautiful. Loving the beach umbrella in this image.
More sweetness from our couple.
Just before they make their way onto the stage.
Cassie with her dad… two perspectives.
Such a pretty spot. Absolutely fits with the look and feel of Edgartown.
Happily married!
So this is just the beginning, because I have so much more to share from Cassie and Dan’s beautiful wedding- the reception at the Dr. Daniel Fisher House, the after-party in a private club by the water, and even the rehearsal dinner on Chappy. Check back soon.
Jan
18
From our engagement session, I already knew a bit about how Ayesha and Jon were as a couple, and as parents to their pup Lucy. They are easy-going and each has a calming presence, but they also like to play and laugh. They are generally just really nice to be around. On their wedding day, we got to see another side of them. They were all of those things and more; they were gracious, warm hosts and even took care of us (totally not necessary but very much appreciated).
The day was hot, really steamy kind of hot, but night came and brought a bit of relief. Fortunately they also chose an absolutely gorgeous venue, which lifted sticky spirits and added to the whimsy and romance of the day.
We started with Ayesha as she was getting ready at the hotel. I had my first chance to see a woman dressed in a Sari. For South Asian brides (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, etc), this is the customary wedding attire. Can I just say- it is one stunning dress! Oh and it takes about 20-30 minutes to put on with the help of a professional.
Ayesha’s bridesmaids also got to wear these beautiful garments, though modified so they were a bit easier to put on.
The boys had it easy- tuxes. Still they look awfully good on this crew.
I especially love the contrast and vibrancy of the reds.
Having chosen to see each other before the ceremony, Ayesha and Jon had their first look amongst the castle walls.
Big smile from Jon when Ayesha told him he could turn around and see her.
Equally huge smile from Ayesha.
The girls hanging and enjoying the day.
I love the way these two hold hands, so sweet.
Yup, pretty stunning here.
Too bad, ladies, he’s taken.
Melts my heart.
We went back up to the main house to get ready for the ceremony. The light was beautiful and so was our bride.
A quiet moment before things really get underway.
More to come from the outdoor ceremony and the tented reception.
Aug
09
Seeing as Tami is a former wedding planner, it’s no surprise that all of the wonderful details of her wedding were absolutely beautiful and perfectly reflected her and Gio. You may recall that they had an intimate wedding at the Outdoor Art Club in Mill Valley on a beautiful April day this spring. Now’s the time to enjoy a bit of inspiration and a few photos from the reception just for fun.
Check out the sweet flowers on her cake.
An elegant table setting.
Introductions and speeches are always fun.
Did I mention Tami’s beautiful red wedding dress?
A kiss while dancing, witnessed by more than one camera.
And since these two are tango dancers, they treated their guests to a show.
Loving our bride’s hair accessory- feathers and pearls.
Enjoying toasts.
This little munchkin was enjoying the gardens, and also happens to be one of our connections to Tami and Gio. Or more accurately her parents are. We photographed their Bernardus Lodge wedding, which Tami planned. So fun to see them and their growing family at Tami’s celebration.
A sweet bit of romance from their invitation for this ring shot.
Good music.
Means good dancing.
Congrats again to our fabulous couple! Extra special thanks to the team of professionals who helped make Tami and Gio’s day so special:
Getting ready, ceremony and reception venue: Laureen Novak from the Outdoor Art Club
Tami’s hair: Ashley Smith of Flower and Gold
Bride’s make-up: Alexia Ogle of Flower and Gold
Bride’s gown designer: Amy-Jo Tatum, custom design
Groom’s attire: Black Tie Tuxedo
Caterer: Alicia from La Mediterranee
Cake: Matthew Reilly
Floral Design: Erika Frank
DJ: DJ Olly
Ceremony musician: Leo King
Invitations: Delphine Doreau
Wedding favors: Vosges Haut Chocolat
Dance Instructors: Gustavo & Jessica Hornos
Want more from Tami and Gio’s colorful California wedding? Check out their slideshow and sneak peek. Or check out Tami’s thoughts on her blog.
Jun
25
Hanging out with Amanda and Greg one June afternoon was an absolute blast. They so clearly adore each other and enjoy spending time together. They seem to mesh just so. Both working in PR and Greg consulting and speaking specifically on social media PR, it is very apropos that they first met online. Nope, not on Match or e-Harmony, but on Twitter. How absolutely perfect!
When we met up with them at their home on Long Island, we got to know them better and to see a bit of their life in this beautiful small town.
We started at their home, where they had just finished re-landscaping. Everything looked amazing so we wanted to show off the house as well as the two of them.
Sweet and sexy all at once.
Hanging out inside. The character of their home definitely shines through in this image.
After a quick wardrobe change (Amanda wanted to capture the contrast between nicer clothes and a more casual environment), we walked over to their local park. A great place with evening concerts, weekend festivals and a museum.
Statues.
Loving the dreaminess of the reflection behind them and the steaminess of their moment.
Among the grasses.
Enjoying the flowers.
So Greg’s one request was that we not use props. But then at the end of the shoot, we saw this ice cream truck. It wasn’t planned, but it was so bright colorful and "casual" that it had to be a part of our shoot. And besides, Amanda and I both wanted ice cream. 
Sorry, Greg.
Yummy!
Heat in the background and cool ice cream in the foreground. LOVE!
A truly great day with tons of photos to share. Now we can’t wait for their wedding at the Liberty Hotel! In the meantime, I highly recommend checking out their slideshow for a few more of our faves.
Jun
16
I’ve known Tami for several years now. It all started when she was a wedding planner and Jo and I had the distinct pleasure of working with her. Since then, our paths have meandered in different directions, but we have been in touch throughout. So when Tami found Gio and they decided to get married, I was thrilled that she asked me to photograph their celebration. She and Gio selected one of my favorite intimate wedding venues in the Bay Area, the Outdoor Art Club, and spring couldn’t have been more perfect on their wedding day.
I started with the two of them as they got ready at the club.
Tami wasn’t particularly worried about western traditions. She chose a chic birdcage veil and a stunning red dance dress for her wedding look.
Our beautiful bride walking down the aisle.
Gio couldn’t be more smitten.
Or more excited to be officially married to Tami.
Sweet smiles leaving the ceremony in the garden.
During cocktail hour, I had the chance to capture a few portraits. Tami definitely planned another beautiful event. I loved her personal touches, like this sign.
We were all treated to some great music during the portraits and cocktail reception.
One of the many sweet little ones at the wedding. She is captivated by the flowers in the garden.
Tami and Gio were able to enjoy a few moments alone.
More to follow soon from Tami and Gio’s spring wedding in Marin County.
Apr
26
Love this San Jose family. Their older boy is full of energy and so engaging and his new baby brother is all about cuteness. We met up with them about a month after the little guy was born. We had a warm sunny California day. Their home and yard were the perfect backdrops for the portrait session.
Playing around.
Or trying at least.
Sleepy, sleepy.
Sweetness.
One more bit of fun. Anything for an orange.
Want more of this fabulous family? Check them out here.
Jan
24
If you loved all the varied uses of pinks from Maren and Steve’s "Special Touches," just wait til you see their flowers. All of the texture and softness and beauty. Plus, I am adding a bonus to spark your appetite with some of my favorite food images.
Part 2- Flowers and Food
First the flowers, pinks perfect for a summer wedding.
Loving the lushness of our bride’s bouquet. And check out our groom’s boutonniere.
The walk down the aisle was just perfect with these flower baskets hanging from the seats.
Sweet flower girl with her soft pink roses bouquet.
They brought the pails from the ceremony to place on the cocktail hour tables.
The dinner setting was just perfect. Some tables had tall centerpieces, some with petite centerpieces, all set off by the crystal chandeliers.
One of the tall centerpieces. The use of greens and whites add depth to the arrangement.
Along the fireplace, the bride’s and bridesmaids’ bouquets were placed in glass vases tied with pink ribbons.
And now for a few sweet, yummy morsels. Maren’s caterer- Blue Rocks Catering- was fantastic. The food both looked and tasted (what we were able to enjoy) amazing!
Oh and her beautiful cake. A perfect combination of the food and the flowers!
And one last favorite, which I think shows how perfectly her floral choices fit with the grounds of the Glen Manor House…
More thank you’s to their amazing team of experience professionals:
Ceremony and Reception Site: Katie Wilkinson from the Glen Manor House
Getting Ready location: Kate Jenkins of the Pelham Court Hotel
Caterer: Ingrid Martins of Blue Rocks Catering
Cake: Kate Repko from Cappuccino’s
Floral Design: Sayles Livingston of Sayles Livingston Flowers
DJ: Sidney Posey of DeeJays Etc.
Ceremony Musicians: Crystal Pascucci and Quartetto Vivo
Hair and Make-up: Wavelengths Salon & Spa
Wedding dress designer and salon: Simone Carvalli; Maria Spyridopolous of Sabella Couture
Bridesmaids Dresses and salon: Watters & Watters; Cheri Amor of Perfect Bridal
Groom’s attire: Jos. A. Bank
Groomsmen’s tuxes: Men’s Wearhouse & Tuxedo
Invitations, place cards, save the dates- aka the full design suite: Steve Reepmeyer
Want more? Check out their slideshow, PicFlick. Or on the blog, their engagement session, sneak preview, scoop and details: part 1.
