Jul
23
Fun. That’s what Donna and Jimmy are all about. And they wanted their wedding to express that part of themselves. Donna explained the evening as "a party where where there also happens to be a wedding." She totally hit the mark. People were smiling and eating and laughing and dancing all night long. And even the wedding ceremony was filled with joy and cheers. The gray skies couldn’t bring anyone down.
Donna and Jimmy started their day at the Hotel Marlowe in Cambridge; breaking all the rules, they got ready in the same room, so we didn’t do a special first look moment. Instead we started right in on the portraits. First one of our dashing groom.
And one of our lovely bride, looking stunning in her Vera Wang gown.
Then off to the Exchange Conference Center on Boston‘s waterfront. The guests had already begun to arrive and were being treated to drinks and good company. Donna was excited to see everyone.
Soon Donna and Jimmy were whisked away to a room upstairs for their Ketubah signing ceremony. A few of their closest friends and family joined them.
Totally cute holding hands under the table.
And one looking in from the outside.
We had hoped to go outside for portraits on the pier, but the weather that day thwarted our plans. Dave was able to give them a taste of the view through a window.
When getting married the second time around, there are definitely different people at your wedding. For Donna, the fact that her sons could walk her down the aisle made the day all the more special. Still she couldn’t take her eyes off Jimmy as she walked towards him.
The stories told during the ceremony were warm and funny, but my favorite moment was their kiss. Even the guests were super excited about it!
And Donna and Jimmy look so happy to have sealed the deal.
More soon, but if you just can’t get enough of Donna and Jimmy, check out their Ashland e-session, complete with a Harley-Davidson.
Dec
04
And laughter and tears, pretty much all at the same time, and it certainly made for a great day. Joy and beauty enveloped Sarah and Bryan for their wedding at Stern Grove in San Francisco, California. Jo and I are captivated by Stern Grove on it’s own- it is a place of nature (the redwoods are stunning) and music (each year hosting the Stern Grove Festival). Now I add "love" to the list, as Stern Grove was the back drop to this amazing wedding.
I started the day with Sarah and her girls at the Clubhouse.
Sarah walked down the aisle with her mom and dad on each arm, and tears of joy in her eyes.
This image says it all. Sarah’s dad gave Bryan a warm welcome into the family, before the ceremony even got underway.
Check out their ceremony site. So beautiful among the trees.
Watching.
Under the chuppah, sealed with a kiss.
Then they took a few moments for their portraits and to enjoy their newlywed status.
Let the party begin. Friends and family got things started with some music.
Sarah and Bryan kicked off the dancing with their first dance.
Did I mentioned laughter? Because there was tons of it. I am still laughing over the toast by Sarah’s cousin in which she explained the origins of the Jewish tradition of breaking the glass. Her explanation was one I had not heard before, and it had everyone reeling from laughter.
More dancing followed dinner.
Shosh and Jon, who introduced us to Sarah and Bryan, took a spin on the dancefloor.
The guests definitely enjoyed themselves.
And for that matter so did Sarah.
Thank you so much, Sarah and Bryan, for inviting me to be a part of your wedding day. I had such a great time working with you and am thrilled to share the rest of your photos with you. But first, a little PicFlick….
For more of Sarah and Bryan, check out their slideshow.
Nov
09
Sammy is a super great young lady whose bat mitzvah we photographed this fall. This was so different from my bat mitzvah and so much fun. Not only did she showcase her knowledge and talent during the morning service at the synagogue, she performed two dance routines during the reception and gave a speech about her family and friends during the candlelighting ceremony. Sammy is definitively gifted- full of spark, energy, intelligence and thoughtfulness. We had a wonderful time working with her.
We started our day with family portraits before her bat mitzvah ceremony in Needham.
After the service, Sammy’s guests had lunch at the synagogue. Everyone reconvened that evening at the Blue Hill Country Club in Canton. A few more portraits before the reception….
The party got underway after a fabulous cocktail hour for the adults and mocktail hour for the kids. Then dancing, dancing and more dancing. Sammy’s brother kicked it all off.
Then Sammy made her grand entrance and did her first dance routine with these two professionals. Her theme for the evening was based on Tiffany and Co, so she surprised all of her guests by popping out of a huge Tiffany’s box. And then going right into the dance. Of course the song she danced to was Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend. She looked amazing.
The hora followed. Everyone in the family had a turn in the chair, but Sammy was first.
Sammy and her dad had a special dance all to themselves….
Well, almost. Some of Sammy’s friends busted in about half way through and they kicked it up a notch- this was planned, of course, but a surprise for the guests. Sammy did her second dance number during this portion of the evening.
The end of the evening came faster than anyone could say "Sammy & Company." But it was clear that all of the kids had a great time.
If you would like to see more from Sammy’s amazing day, you can view her mitzvah PicFlick here.
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.
Jul
15
Lisa and Scott really did a fabulous job pulling together so many details for their Boston wedding. They wanted to celebrate and honor their family traditions- both Jewish and Chinese- as well as add their personality to the day.
They were both really excited about the argyle socks for the boys. Note the purple diamond in the mix, one of their colors.
Check out Lisa’s dress- sparkly gorgeousness. Lisa fell in love with the dress for its own merits, but also enjoyed the fact that it was designed by the Project Runway winner Kenneth Pool because she loves the show.
Lisa and Scott poured their heart and souls into the paper products. They did a great job creating a consistant feel using their colors of aubergine, eggplant and fuchsia.
The program…
The reception table seating cards…
The labels for the candy take-away boxes…
The labels for the gift bags for guests staying at the hotel…
Her invitation suite was purchased through Cartier. Love the simple elegance of it.
Lisa and Scott had seen our engagement sign-in album when we first met them at the bridal show. They later selected to have us create their guest book from their New York City engagement session. The images were great; I am glad they chose to use them in this way.
One of the most exciting details of the wedding was all of the music. Jazz musicians of CZONE performed during the cocktail hour and during the reception.
And the lion dancers of Gund Kwok kicked off the reception with pomp and circumstance.
If you would like to see more details from Lisa and Scott’s wedding at the Boston Hyatt, check out their flowers and food.
And still want more? Check out their engagement session, sneak peak, the scoop, and their slideshow.
Jul
09
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.
Jul
02
Lisa and Scott spent nearly two years planning their wedding at the Boston Hyatt Regency downtown, so they had tons of amazing details to share. I wanted to make sure I gave them all due consideration; I am going to be posting them in 3 different sections: flowers, food, and everything else, from the dress to the lion dancers to all of their amazing paper products.
First the flowers. Lisa selected Teresa from Mimosa to create her floral design. From the very first moment, it was clear that Lisa had chosen the right professional for her wedding. Her bouquet (above) and all of the personal flowers arrived in a gorgeous box. And each piece was beautifully crafted. I love the soft pinks and whites of peonies and orchids.
The groom’s boutonniere.
The ceremony site was decorated with beautiful tall arrangements of willow and orchid branches. The colors were soft pinks and greens.
A close up of one arrangement.
The flowers for the reception were equally stunning. Centerpieces included willow branches with orchids attached or at the base. In vibrant hues of pink and purple, the room was magical.
A close up of one arrangement.
One table.
Variation on a theme.
Still more variation at another table. (Side note- Lisa and Scott created the table number displays and aren’t they amazing? I love the look of the lace in the shadowbox frame.)
For the cocktail reception, a similar style with a focus on the greens….
Beautiful touches at every corner! Thank you to Teresa and her team for giving us this floral art to photograph. Stunning work, Teresa.
Jun
27
Just two weeks after photographing our David Tutera wedding at The Plaza, Dave popped back down to New York to photograph the decor of this fabulous wedding at Gotham Hall. It was all blossoms and sparkles and simply amazing details. And the food looked to die for.
When the guests first arrived, they were greeted by a security detail and serenaded by violinists.
They entered the Grand Ballroom of Gotham Hall to find their escort cards laid out on this beautiful table. Then took their seats for the ceremony behind it.
At the top of the entry, you see the full view of the ceremony space. The aisle lined with elegant floral arrangements on pedestals. But the Chuppah was simply out of this world. I love the view from the inside looking out. This is one canopy I would gladly start the rest of my life under, and for that matter spend the rest of my life under (assuming the flowers wouldn’t die).
And a close up…
And you can get the full awesomeness of the scene, as the bride takes her first steps done the aisle…
Another amazing aspect of this wedding was the food- the presentation was simply a work of art. The champagne was chilled in ice sculptures.
An array of sushi in every shape, size and color.
The bride and groom were Russian Jews so the food also needed to pay homage to their roots. Each guest received a rainbow of caviar at his seat.
And the piece d’resistance, the stunning cake designed by Sylvia Weinstock. The craftsmanship, technique and attention to detail that goes into her cakes are exemplary.
During the cocktail hour, the David Tutera team transformed the space from the ceremony arrangement you saw above to the reception arrangement below. I think they had just over an hour to get it all done.
They turned the Chuppah into a canopy for the sweetheart table. This is the bride and groom’s view (looking to the right) during the reception.
And another view (straight ahead), where they can see the dance floor.
Some of the tables were arranged in a criss-cross patern. In the center was this tall arrangement with roses, willow branches, and all kinds of flowers pouring out of the urn and the pedestal.
These displays of calla lillies, roses, and crystals were placed throughout the hall and reached way into the sky.
The whole look was stunning. A huge thank you to David Tutera and his team. We are so thrilled that we could be a part of this beautiful design and capture these images for you.
Want to see more? Check out the slideshow.
Jun
15
Welcome home, Lisa and Scott!
They just returned from what looks like an amazing honeymoon in Paris and Morocco. Gotta love Facebook, cause it allowed me to see pix from their grand adventures. Now, I can’t wait to hear the stories. For now, I will focus on sharing the photos from their beautiful wedding at the Hyatt Regency in Boston.
In my last post, we saw images from the getting ready to the portraits in the Public Gardens through their tea ceremony and western ceremony. Everything was perfect. The music throughout their celebration set the right tone. We went from classical string quartet to jazz to Lion Dance drummers to an all round great band and then DJ. Clearly music was important to Scott and Lisa and it definitely brought another layer of magic to their day.
The Lion Dancers kicked off the reception. It was so much fun. The colors and movement are certainly a site to see. They definitely brought smiles of joy and excitement when they entered the ballroom.
Dinner followed their entrance. And Scott steals a quiet moment with Lisa. So sweet!
Their first dance…
The speeches were awesome. I already knew Scott and Lisa were perfect together, but then I learned why their friends thought so as well. Turns out they both dream big. When Scott was in elementary school and all of his friends wanted to be a fireman, he had aspirations of being a CEO. Too cute! Lisa had similarly lofty goals. And each of them is making their dent on the world now, Scott just graduated and will be a praciticing doctor. Congrats, Scott! And Lisa is a lawyer helping people with their estate planning. The other piece that impressed me is how much they both value their friends. You can totally see how they all adore each other. And both Lisa and Scott have known their best friends since they were in grade school.
Then there was even more fun. The cake cutting and, even more importantly, the tasting.
The horah- this was one of the events Lisa was really looking forward to. Looks like it was a blast.
And then lots more partying. Don’t worry all these peeps are doctors, so if they drop Scott, they can take care of him.
Sneaking a few more romantic moments at the end of the evening….
What an all around amazing day! We are so grateful that we could be a part of it. Lisa and Scott, thank you so much for choosing us.
And a huge thank you to all the professionals who added their expertise and talent to create such a fabulous event:
Jennifer Nicholson and the incomparable crew at the Hyatt Regency in Boston
Teresa Fung of Mimosa for her floral design
Paul Therrien of Boston Uplights
Montilio’s for the wedding cake
Greg Capozzi and the talented jazz musicians of CZONE
Christopher Vuk and the exceptional string ensemble of Boston String Ensemble
The Gund Kowk Chinese Lion Dance Troupe
Also want to note the fabulous folks who helped with Lisa and Scott’s look for the day:
Hair: Lypor Leung
Make-up: Katrina Hess
Lisa’s Wedding Dress: Kenneth Poole
Bridesmaids’ dresses: BCBG
Groom and groomsmen’s attire: Joseph Abboud
And a shout out to those who helped with all of the paper products:
Invitations: Cartier
Save the Dates: Etsy.com
All other stationary: lots of hard work by DIYers Scott and Lisa
If you want to see more from Scott and Lisa’s Boston wedding, check out their engagement session, sneak preview and slideshow.
