Jan
11
Maren and Steve pulled together one of those stylish weddings that most brides dream of. Their ceremony and reception were held in a fairytale estate with beautiful grounds. So here’s a little inspiration from their special day.
Part 1- The Special Touches
First off, pinks were the order of the day- from mauve to pastel- subtle shades and hues of luscious pink. More on the flowers in a later post (also pretty in pink).
The full compliment of paper products- invitation, save the dates, name cards and more.
Bird cage for collecting cards.
Programs.
Maren’s shoes with a hint of turquoise. This was a beautiful accent color to the pinks, and only used in two spots. Her something blue.
Her purse also with turquoise. She added the little hummingbird pin, a nice touch of whimsy.
Now check out their venue. The Glen Manor House is nothing short of stunning.
Loving the period details throughout, reminiscent of a French country estate.
The view of the ceremony lawn from the back patio, where the cocktail hour was held.
The back patio. Maren and Steve bought all of the lounge furniture and pillows to ensure it would have just the feel they were going for.
Twinkling in the evening.
A beautiful celebration such as this simply can’t be pulled off without a team of experienced professionals. Special thanks to all:
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 and scoop.
Aug
17
Brace yourself. This one’s a long one. I just couldn’t help myself. Too much fun. Too many beautiful spaces. Too many wonderful people. So there are a few more than usual.
Maren and Steve planned an absolutely stunning destination wedding at the Glen Manor House in Portsmouth, RI. Their guests traveled from far and farther to celebrate with them and were treated to a weekend getaway celebration. Care was given to the smallest of details (each guest had their own personalized itinerary) and thought to the feel of the whole event. Spaces were created for relaxation, for dancing, for socializing. More on all of that later in a details blog post. For now, I want you to be able to get a sense of what it was like to be a guest at this wonderful wedding. And the answer is nothing short of amazing.
As I skipped ahead to Maren’s entrance in my last blog, I thought I would take a step back because I love this moment before Steve enters. The anticipation gives me goosebumps.
The guests also couldn’t wait to see Steve’s reaction to Maren’s entrance.
The ceremony was full of smiles and tears. When Maren and Steve brought each mom a specially embroidered handkerchief and white rose, Steve’s mom already had tears on her cheeks. So Maren helped wipe them away. Steve’s love and understanding of his mom came out in his smile.
Gotta love the folks who bring out the laughter.
At the end of the ceremony, Maren and Steve had not one, but two kisses, and then this very tender look as they enjoyed their new husband and wife status.
Oh wait, make that 3 kisses.
We snuck away for a few portraits on the grounds.
Immediately it felt like Maren and Steve were meant to be on this estate. They were so at ease at the Glen and comfortable in the space. It fit like a glove.
A private toast before they joined their guests.
The cocktail hour was enjoyed on the back lawn and guests spread out to all of the outdoor spaces, really enjoying the property.
Steve and Maren were such excellent hosts. It seemed as if they had invited all of their nearest and dearest to their private country estate. They really took ownership of the celebration, graciously welcoming their guests.
Loving the playfulness that comes with children.
And the sweetness. I can just imagine the conversation, something along the lines of "You look like a princess" from one of the ladies. Followed by "So do you," from the other.
A quick portrait on the steps with the whole bridal party. The kids are simply too cute.
For that matter, so is Maren. This moment during their first dance is hilarious. Maren is perfectly in character.
Loved hearing the story of how they chose the first song. Steve had requirements, well really just one. He didn’t want a song that would make him cry. Something upbeat fit the bill and as he liked Dean Martin, "Ain’t that a Kick in the Head" seemed a perfect choice. It was all fun, no tears.
As it turns out, his mom had similar requirements. So Steve surprised her with his favorite song from his childhood, Elvis Presley’s "Teddy Bear." The crowd, and his mom, loved it.
Dinner was served.
And guests wandered in and out of the ballroom, the dining rooms, and the outdoor spaces on this perfectly lovely evening.
What it actually means to be married I think. Too funny.
Just as we were about to depart, Steve broke out the cigars. He was hanging out with his friends- the whole group of guys, and gals, enjoyed a celebratory smoke.
Oh, what a night! And day, for that matter. This was such a wonderfully joyful wedding. I am so glad we could be a part of it. Many, many thanks to Maren and Steve for including us.
Additional gratitude goes to all of the professionals who helped make their day so fabulous. Each and every person was amazingly talented and wonderful to work with. Honestly I think Maren said it best though. "I just want to invite them all to Thanksgiving dinner." Now if that isn’t high praise.
A very special shout out of thanks to Katie Wilkinson the manager of their ceremony and reception venue, the Glen Manor House. What a joy it was to work with you! Everything was impeccable.
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
And the knock your socks off invitations, place cards, save the dates- aka the full design suite put together for their wedding, by none other than our groom, a professional designer by trade, Steve Reepmeyer.
So honestly truthfully, I had such a hard time narrowing these down for the blog. I really hope you will check out their slideshow and their PicFlick. And if you haven’t yet seen their engagement session, definitely check that out.
Aug
06
On the radar, there was a rain cloud stretching from New Hampshire to Washington, DC and it was moving East at a steady pace. We had been watching the weather reports all week long, dreading what was to come for Maren and Steve’s wedding. They had chosen the most beautiful location for their destination wedding- an estate by the water in Portsmouth, RI- with an outdoor ceremony in the gardens. And they had planned a photo tour prior to the wedding which would take us around Newport‘s stunning coastline. Of course, this required a rain-free day. Dave and I were certain we would be relegated to Plan B. I brought the red umbrella for whatever photos we would be able to take outside.
What we didn’t count on was Maren and Steve’s good fortune. We had no idea they had some kind of extra special karma hanging out in their corner. Because what unfolded was nothing short of a miracle.
Maren got ready at the Pelham Court Hotel- a sweet boutique hotel with a great suite for our bride and her ladies. She didn’t seem at all concerned about the weather, which at that point was all sunshine in Newport.
She and Steve saw each other for the first time in the courtyard of the hotel. I love this moment where they get a good look at each other. And I love that Dave purposely captured the blue sky as part of the image. He wanted to make sure they had at least one photo with blue skies from their wedding day.
We took a couple of portraits in the courtyard. We actually had to have them sit in the shade, because it was still so bright out.
Then we headed off to Ocean Drive, for photos along the rocky coast line. As we drove there, we could see the storm clouds getting closer.
Check it out in this image. Towards the west an ominous sky.
In the same spot, but toward the east, the bridal party got to enjoy a few more moments of beautiful blue.
At this point, the sky was getting dark fast. Steve asked his groomsmen to bring the umbrellas to us, just in case. They were ready for the worst. Strangely the storm seemed to stop and hold it’s position.
We were able to capture a few more at this spot, and even stop at another along the coast.
I was so glad that we had been able to get those photos in. I figured that was all the luck we would have and was prepared for the inevitable indoor ceremony. When I arrived at the Glen Manor House, I was greeted with blue skies again. What?!? I thought. Then I saw that the gardens were set up for the ceremony. I honestly thought the coordinator had made a mistake. She told me she had checked the radar and it looked fine. I was shocked but happy.
Then of course, the skies turned to gray again. Didn’t bother the ring bearer one bit, though.
Maren and Steve took a moment to enjoy the view of the water, gorgeous even with the gray skies.
Then the ceremony began. And unfortunately just as the bridal party made their entrance little drips of water started falling very lightly to the ground. This is it! I thought. Now it’s going to downpour on their ceremony. The pessimist in me came out. I couldn’t help being concerned for all of the guests and our truly fabulous couple. And just as quickly as it had started, Maren walked out, and I kid you not, the drizzle stopped.
Not one more drop fell. Crazy? Maybe. True? Yes. A miracle? Absolutely.
Post script- I suppose all this sounds a bit overdramatic. And I can be prone to that, but just to give you a sense of how bad this storm was, everywhere but at Maren and Steve’s wedding that is, check out this article.
Jun
15
Two of the most warm and caring individuals, Dara and Keith are the epitome of kindness and love for each other and their families. It was a joy watching them connect with everyone at their wedding. When we spoke to discuss the details, they highlighted so many people they wanted to capture photographs of (like Dara’s uncle) and moments they knew they were going to cherish (like Keith’s brother crying during the ceremony). Here’s just a taste of their beautiful day.
Dara got ready in the bridal suite at the Log Cabin in western Mass. She was surrounded by her dearest friends and closest family members. Two of her bridesmaids helped her tie the corsette laces of her wedding dress.
A moment to check out the dress and all of her personal details. Dara’s classic beauty and softness shine in this image.
Meanwhile the boys were all set so they took some time to enjoy the stunning mountain views.
Just before Dara walked down the aisle, the flower girl and ringbearer prepared to lead the way.
Keith was terrified that he was going to cry during the ceremony. Apparently he is known for this, having cried during his brother’s wedding. He was trying desparately to keep it together in preparation for Dara to walk down the aisle.
On the arm of her father.
Arriving to her groom.
Check out this amazing, stunning, spectacular, gorgeous, out of this world mountain view. And the temperature was perfect. An idyllic scene, no?
The gentle breeze caught Dara’s veil and the light made it glow during their vows. So pretty.
I absolutely love this image of Dara’s mom and dad during the ceremony. You can feel the love they have for each other and for Dara and Keith just by looking at their faces and body language.
Just as Dara and Keith started their departure after their kiss and being pronounced man and wife, their ringbearer realized he was on the wrong side of the aisle. For a young man, what other solution is there, really, but to dash across to the correct side? Too funny.
And at the end there were bubbles – have I mentioned that I love bubbles?
What an all out great day! Definitely check back soon for more from Dara and Keith’s spring wedding.
Dec
28
Dave and I had the opportunity to visit Castle Hill on the Crane Estate in Ipswich and all I can say is WOW!!! One of my friends had gotten married there a few years ago and was telling me about the venue, I was so excited to see it as he had nothing but positive reviews. But honestly it is even better than he described.
First of all there are multiple fabulous options for an outdoor wedding. I know it is hard to think about that right now with the first serious snow just melting and more on the way, but that was always the way I pictured my wedding. I am pretty sure I am not alone on that one. So if you are like me and felt an outdoor wedding was your first choice, you have 3 great options: on the lawn facing the beach, on the lawn facing down the hill towards ocean views, and in the Italian Garden.
A few photos of option 2:
A few from option 3 (I think this is what I would do- I love the feeling of this secluded garden space- feels like ancient ruins)
Laura Daly and her team are great. They will also have a perfect back up plan, in case the weather doesn’t cooperate. We got a peek at the indoor option and it truly is lovely.
The best spot for cocktail hour, in my opinion, is on the back patio. I love this location because you get to enjoy the sweeping views of the water and have the gorgeous architecture as a back drop. Plus if you wanted to do a group photo it’s an excellent location for that.
Side note, awesome story, these two griffin statues were given to the Crane family as a gift from their servants. They had the sculptures custom made to protect the house. All I have to say is that the Crane’s must have been amazing employers to generate that kind of love from their staff.
Then you have two options for your reception as well. You can host the party indoors- the spaces are grand and elegant. Or outdoors on another patio. You could even tent the outdoor space.
And I just had to share a few of my favorite details from the site.
Dave and I enjoying the view.
I almost missed these bas relief sculptures of the cranes. Very cool and very appropriate.
All in all, I was amazed by the beauty of this wedding venue and the thoughtful consideration of their events team. I also really appreciate that they are making efforts to be green and provide environmentally beneficial resources, plus when you have a wedding at a historic site like this, your rental fee contributes to the greater good. Not a bad way to celebrate, in my opinion.
Oct
07
Me oh my- I am so excited to share more from Lauren and David’s amazing day at the Castle Hill Inn.
With the rain far behind us, we captured a few images of our happy couple with the beautiful scenery whenever we could steal them away.
And then we spent the rest of the evening photographing all the joy- and there was lots.
Lauren and David definitely like to have fun. They are so playful together. And Lauren must have had about a thousand different facial expressions to show her happiness.
After the first dance, the hora.
Each couple went up in turn, Lauren and David first, followed by Lauren’s parents, and then David’s. His mom was a little nervous I think.
David’s cousin gave one of the toasts and he rewarded her with a huge thank you hug.
Dancing got underway in full force. Lauren’s parents, so fun.
I loved this moment. Just before they fed each other the cake, there was definitely some teasing going on. And Lauren, all with her eyes, says, "Please."
Then more dancing. Lauren made sure to have a little time with each of her grandfathers.
And with her girlfriends.
Lauren’s sister was a great help throughout the day, and also enjoyed a little time on the dance floor once the party got underway.
Maybe the best thing about a destination wedding, like this one in Newport, is that everyone has more time together, because all of the guests stay for the weekend.
Lauren enjoys another chance to connect with friends.
I have to close with one of my favorite images from the day. We had this amazing sunset over the water. Such a beautiful place to spend a couple of moments as newlyweds.
Many thanks to the professionals who helped make Lauren and David’s day so special.
A big shout out to Nancy and her team at Castle Hill. Nancy was truly amazing, top notch all the way.
Also special thanks to Rocco Michaluk of Video & Vision. It was really great to work with you.
And for helping to complete Lauren and David’s vision:
Floral Design (more on this in a later post because WOW! gorgeous work): Laurel Lane of Laurel Lane Floral Design
Wedding cake and groom’s cake: Scrumptions
Invitations: Ruth at The Party People
Other printed materials: Judith Carroll at Papers
For creating Lauren and David’s personal looks:
Hair and Make-up: Jen Murphy and Frank Antonio from Frank Antonio Hair & Makeup
Lauren’s wedding dress: Romona Keveza from Bridal Reflections
Bridesmaid dress: Lazaro from Fontana’s
David’s attire: Georgio Armani
Groomsmen’s attire: Calvin Klein from Century 21
Plus a huge thank you to Lauren and David and your families. It was such a joy to be a part of your day and to celebrate with you.
Make sure to check out their slideshow as well.
Oct
01
I adore Lauren and David. Yup, I do. Why? Because nothing could dampen their spirits on their wedding day. And they had a few more things than normal to contend with, including a torrential downpour that came out of nowhere about 20 minutes before their outdoor ceremony was set to begin. Throughout it all, they handled everything that came their way with grace. I not only adore them, I admire them. And it doesn’t hurt that they are super nice and darn cute together.
So let’s start at the beginning of their day. We met up with Lauren at the Castle Hill Inn in Newport where she and David were celebrating their wedding. We started with Lauren in her room as she and her girlfriends were getting ready.
Then she met up with David in the chalet garden, where they saw each other for the first time on their wedding day.
The rain started coming down just as we finished the family portraits. And it kept coming down for a good long time. Fortunately, the ketubah and bedeken ceremonies were scheduled to be indoors. The went off without a hitch.
It seemed like the rain would pass. It was amazing- on one side of the building you could see sunshine and blue skies, on the other side rain. Lauren waited and watched.
They held off the ceremony as long as they could and just in time, the skies cleared completely. Except for a few of the most perfect fluffy clouds. It was definitely worth the wait.
A few of my favorites from the ceremony…
That’s David’s brother walking Lauren and David’s puppy, and ringbearer, Henry. Isn’t Henry such a sweet little pup?
Lauren walking down the aisle under the enormous sky…
Lauren during the ceremony…
The sun shining down on the happy couple under the chuppah…
I love Lauren’s smile.
And David’s.
And a fabulous kiss under blue skies.
Talk about weathering the storm. Lauren and David absolutely enjoyed all of the good stuff that came their way. It was such a delight to be with them on their wedding day.
There are definitely lots more to come. But if you want more now, check out the sneak peek on the Allegro Photography fan page.
Sep
21
Erin and Darren met in London, got engaged in Paris, and have lived in the Boston area (Erin’s hometown) for the past few years. Their wedding had all the makings of a great international affair – lots of British humor and good fun mixed with the best Boston has to offer and some really special touches from Paris. Not to mention, that these two are just so lovely together. I am so glad we could be a part of their celebration.
We started the day at the Boston Harbor Hotel and ran into Darren in the lobby first thing. Erin needed a little more time to finish getting ready before they got to see each other, but I honestly don’t think he wanted to wait a moment longer. We did not delay. We went right up to see Erin and capture her preparation.
The emotions on a wedding day are really what make it so rewarding to photograph. Erin and Darren’s wedding day was simply filled with great moments and expressions through and through. Here’s a series of my favorites, all from "first sights".
Erin’s mom takes her in- all decked out with the dress, the veil, the shoes- her completed look.
Erin and Darren had their first meeting outside the Boston Harbor Hotel, on Rowes Wharf. Darren stood with his back to Erin until she was ready. She told him to turn around and his eyes lit up.
Of course, this was also the first time she got to see him.
Body language says a lot, too. So sweet.
After they had a chance to enjoy the moment, we all hopped in their car (thank you to our fabulous driver Erika) and headed over to the Boston Public Gardens for a few photos. Erin had visions of willow trees and the swan boats and all the beautiful flowers, and I don’t blame her. What a stunning landscape! Still, those photos are definitively rivaled by the simplicity of this one that shows off Erin’s classic beauty.
We finished our portrait tour back at the waterfront with a few around the hotel. Dave and I had spotted this mirrored sculpture nearby on a prior to visit to the hotel. We knew we wanted to play there. Erin and Darren were amenable. So chic.
Then the day really got underway. The ketubah signing and bedeken ceremony took place in the board room. And they were officially married by Jewish law.
Followed by the ceremony under the chuppah in the Wharf Room. But for now, I leave you with just this one little hint of what’s to come.
Soon to follow… the ceremony, the party, and all of their special details.
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
20
Since we moved to Boston, we have had a the distinct pleasure of getting to know many fabulous wedding professionals. One of those just happens to be Tasha Bracken, Cape Cod and Boston event planner extraordinaire and the woman behind SD Events. She has so many great ideas and the ingenuity to make them happen. A recent favorite would be chalk board tables for a fabulous mitzvah celebration. Plus, she is great to be around. I would totally want her at my event, if not working, then as a guest.
So when Tasha told us that she and Bill were celebrating their anniversary, I knew we had to do something special. They hadn’t had professional portraits taken since the wedding; we immediately thought, “portraits would be a great way to celebrate!” We met up with them at their home in Newton.
It was our first time meeting Bill, and let me just say, he is great! I think he and Dave could have hung out all day talking about the Red Sox. Such boys! And even more importantly, he is clearly still so sweet on his beautiful wife.
Here’s a few of the happy couple.
Breaking out with some totally fun goofiness….
Hanging out on the back porch.
Now into a section of "Favorite Things", aka the best parts of life, or that which Tasha and Bill love.
First off, Mariah, she totally posed for the camera. What a beauty!
And Elton, definitely more camera shy, glad Tasha was able to catch him. He’s so handsome.
His and hers cocktails; getting snuggly in the background.
Note the Red Sox attire. The couple that cheers together, stays together. 
Since it was an anniversary session and Tasha looks fabulous, we coaxed her into doing a few in her wedding gown. No surprise, it fit perfectly. Besides, what girl doesn’t want a chance to put on that beautiful white dress just one more time?!
Mariah came back for a repeat performance.
And one parting image… I love the juxtaposition of Bill in his Red Sox shirt with Tasha all gussied up in her wedding gown! Makes me smile.
We are so thankful to Tasha and Bill for inviting us into their home. We had a really great time with you both!
If you would like to see more, check out their slideshow.
