Dec
26
Details don’t make a wedding, but they certainly can make it elegant, fun, romantic…. you name it. Here’s a bit of inspiration from Lindsay and Rob’s wedding which absolutely was all three of those.
Lindsay’s bouquet with soft pinks, purples, yellows and whites- roses, dahlias, berries and more- it had a romantic country garden feel to it.
Her flower girl’s bouquet with similar flowers in a brighter color pallette- yellows and oranges and pinks- was a perfect complement to Lindsay’s bouquet and the coral dresses the bridesmaids wore.
Lindsay is supremely talented, a graphic designer for a game company, a jewelry designer, a cake designer. She can pretty much do it all. And she certainly had her share of DIY projects. Including this beautiful necklace and the necklaces she game to her bridesmaids, each one unique.
She also made this special something for her hair.
The earrings however were an heirloom, something old.
Because they met at Hasbro and love games, their was tons of whimsy and playfulness in their day. Here, our groom’s boutonniere- with yellow calla lily- has a Scrabble letter attached to it. Happens to be an R for his name, Rob. The groomsmen all had similar flowers with their own letters.
Kiddush cup for their Jewish wedding ceremony under the chuppah.
The look of the ceremony continued with rustic elegance in fall shades.
Another DIY project by the couple, the ringbearer’s pillow with birch bark and moss.
The Garden House at Look Park looked amazing, warm, romantic, elegant. Then the names of each tables are names of games – Life is at the forefront.
They made a game of it, with the escort cards. Guests had pieces from the game on their name card. They had to match the piece to the game to find their table.
View from the sweetheart table, with bride’s bouquet as centerpiece.
At the guests’ tables, a little entertainment- Trivial Pursuit: the Lindsay and Rob Edition.
Cake designed by Lindsay to match her chocolate brown and coral orange theme, as well as the touches of fall.
The printed pieces also stunning. No surprise there. Menu…
Invitation suite.
The sweetest touch: Lindsay and Rob created cookie mixes for guests to take home. We made one batch for their premiere and instantly became addicted. Out of this world delish!
Congrats to Lindsay and Rob on creating a supremely special event in which the details helped tell the story of who you are individually and as a couple.
And many thanks to the wedding experts who made the whole day such a success:
Getting ready location: Ruby Meng from Hotel Northampton
Ceremony venue: Jill Larken from Look Park, Pines Theater
Reception site: Jill Larken from Look Park, Garden House
Wedding planner: Caroline Levin from Sweet Caroline Weddings
Dress boutique: Bridal Heirlooms
Gown designer: Demetrios
Bridesmaids dresses: Alfred Angelo
Groomâ?(tm)s suit: Hugo Boss
Groomsmen attire: Menswearhouse
Make-up: Karrie Welch
Ceremony musicians: Chari Peno from Con Fuoco Music
Entertainment: Tommy Plante from Hard At Play
Lighting: Jim Powers from CJC Event Lighting
Florist: Heather Sullivan from Durocher Florist
Caterer: Blue Heron Catering
Cake: Susan Forest from Royal Icings
Officiant: Rabbi Rachel Barenblat
Want more from Lindsay and Rob’s wedding? Check out their sneak peek, scoop, and PicFlick.
Nov
15
Romance + surprises + games = crazy good times for our bride, groom, their families, and their friends at this Look Park wedding.
Lindsay and Rob kicked off their wedding reception in the Garden House with an awesome first dance. Just the two of them at first….
Then the kids joined in.
And then more guests joined in with choreographed moves. And then more guests. A flash mob of awesome creation. And in the end, it was just Lindsay and Rob again. So fun!
Of course, Lindsay’s mom loved it and had to embrace her daughter.
Rob’s brother and best man entertained guests and Rob with one hell of a great speech.
It doesn’t hurt that he is actually a stand-up comic, but still he had his moments of seriousness.
Lindsay and her dad.
Rob and his mom.
Lindsay and her new step-son.
And Lindsay’s parents enjoying the party. Really, everyone wanted to be on this dancefloor.
And the whole family went up in the chair for the hora. First, Lindsay, then Rob…
Then their daughter and finally their son. He seemed to be enjoying this Jewish tradition.
I love that Lindsay had a chance to dance with her girlfriends too.
The party was wild good times with dancing….
And creative use of the game-inspired table names. (More on this bit of genious in a later blog post.)
Congrats to Lindsay and Rob! A fabulous day to begin a fabulous marriage!
And many thanks to the wedding experts who made the whole day such a success:
Getting ready location: Ruby Meng from Hotel Northampton
Ceremony venue: Jill Larken from Look Park, Pines Theater
Reception site: Jill Larken from Look Park, Garden House
Wedding planner: Caroline Levin from Sweet Caroline Weddings
Dress boutique: Bridal Heirlooms
Gown designer: Demetrios
Bridesmaids dresses: Alfred Angelo
Groom’s suit: Hugo Boss
Groomsmen attire: Menswearhouse
Make-up: Karrie Welch
Ceremony musicians: Chari Peno from Con Fuoco Music
Entertainment: Tommy Plante from Hard At Play
Lighting: Jim Powers from CJC Event Lighting
Florist: Heather Sullivan from Durocher Florist
Caterer: Blue Heron Catering
Cake: Susan Forest from Royal Icings
Officiant: Rabbi Rachel Barenblat
Want more from Lindsay and Rob’s wedding? Check out their PicFlick.
Nov
01
When I met Lindsay and Rob about a year ago, I didn’t know them at all. They found us through Lindsay’s wedding gown boutique and came in because they liked what they had heard and saw. But all of that changed when we started to get to know each other. We quickly became friends. And really, if you met them, you would find them irrestibly fun and engaging too. They are easy to love- creative, talented, intelligent, so sweet on each other. I loved all of their stories. When they came over last winter to hang out, we played board games (an occupational hazard for them and a lot of fun for all of us). So when their wedding day arrived, it felt like we were going to the wedding of dear friends, and we wanted everything to be perfect for them. In truth, I think it was. So here’s a few of our favorites from their wedding day….
Dave popped by Rob’s room at the Hotel Northampton to see how things were going there. He and his son (aka ringbearer) were finishing getting ready. Loved the tailored suits and ties.
Meanwhile Lindsay was getting ready with the help of Rob’s little girl (aka flower girl).
Separately they made their way to the Pines Theater in Look Park, where they would enjoy a first look before the ceremony. Lindsay was so excited to see Rob she couldn’t wait, so she peeked out at him (his back was to her) from behind the bushes.
Then she walked out and made her way down to him.
If you want to see a few more from this first look (which was sweet and fun), check out their sneak peek on our facebook page. Following the first look, we had a good bit of time to enjoy the park and create portraits. We started with a few in the theater. These glorious trees rise behind the stage.
Then made our way over to the kiddie train. We only had a quick moment here because there was a long line of visitors waiting for the train, but the bridal party was able to hop on quickly.
There is some absolutely beautiful scenery in Look Park; one of my favorite spots is by this river.
Playtime? Absolutely (and this is only the beginning).
A super sweet family portrait.
Our ringbearer was hilarious.
Quick trip to mini-golf before the ketubah signing.
The guests have started to arrive and the kids couldn’t help but play with the bubbles in the field below the stage.
A strong embrace when Rob’s son arrives at the chuppah.
Rob’s daughter spreading rose petals for Lindsay to walk on.
A grand entrance.
So here’s the part where being a friend to the bride and groom can actually present challenges. Rob and Lindsay prepared beautiful and touching vows for each other. I couldn’t help myself; I was in tears, just like everyone else.
After the vows.
After the kiss and the glass stomp, Lindsay and Rob dashed off! It was like all of the pent up feelings of the day were released in a physical expression of energetic joy. (And Dave nearly got run over- too funny!)
They were soon followed by the kids.
More to come from the second half of the day and all of their amazing details.
Oct
12
Though they grew up on the east coast, Lauren and Ryan definitely have a super laid back and relaxed attitude. It might come from their recent years in California or may be the balance to their intrinsically adventurous spirits. Or perhaps it was because their wedding was also a homecoming, offering all the warmth and joy that went with that. Either way, they weren’t worried about anything. They were all about enjoying the moment.
Ironically, Lauren and Ryan may have been the only couple we have worked with that wanted to see each other before their wedding, but couldn’t because it didn’t work in their schedule. So we started off with a few getting ready photos. Ryan getting his boutonniere put on. Loving the silhouette and the line of light around his face.
And the girls helping Lauren with her dress.
And oh what a dress! It fit her like a glove, both literally and figuratively.
So in love with the flower and fabric details on the back.
And her make-up was soft, subtle, classic. Simply beautiful.
Before all the ladies headed downstairs for the ceremony, one helped her mom by pinning on the corsage.
And then Lauren (and her dad who is on the other side of the wall) waited for the call to come down for the ceremony. Still so relaxed.
The ceremony was beautiful, lead by a family friend, including a few special touches like the unity candle.
They kissed at the end of the ceremony. And they kissed again as they were walking down the aisle. Sweetness!
During the cocktail hour, we utilized the Hotel Northampton‘s gorgeous lobby for fireside family portraits. Love this one with their grandmother.
Just as the sun was beginning to set, we popped outside for a few with Lauren and Ryan alone. More smooching!
Eskimo kisses, too.
The party got rolling with some seriously entertaining entrances by the bridal party. Paparazzi fun!
And right into the first dance. Check out their smiles.
Ryan’s bro giving his toast.
And his mom enjoying it.
Kicking it up on the dance floor.
Because we didn’t have a ton of time for portraits earlier in the day and Lauren and Ryan were up for anything, we took a quick spin outside for a few night shots around the hotel.
Then we made use of these super cool old time phone booths (sans phones) inside the hotel.
Love this photo, because I adore the people in it. On the left, our wonderful bride and groom. On the right, Emily and Mark who were married just over 3 years ago, who we have been friends with ever since. So a very BIG thanks to Emily and Mark for introducing us to Lauren and Ryan. We are so grateful.
And an even BIGGER thank you to Lauren and Ryan for choosing us to photograph your wedding. You two are fabulous and your families are lovely. We had such a great time with everyone. Thank you.
And while I am spreading the thanks, a shout out of gratitude to all the pros who helped make Lauren and Ryan’s day so wonderful:
Getting ready venue: Ruby Meng of the Hotel Northampton
Ceremony and reception site: Ruby Meng of the Hotel Northampton
Floral Designer: Valerie Vassaos of VJS Designs
DJ: DJ Mike of MCO Productions
Ceremony Musicians: Joe Belmont of Duo Fusion
Cake: Deb Martin of Cakes by Deborah
Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas
Save the Dates: Shutterfly
Hair: The Lift Salon
Make-up: Brooks & Butterfield
Wedding gown designer: Galina Signature
Bridesmaids dresses: Alexia Designs at Pronuptia Bridal
Groom’s and Groomsmen’s suits: Jos. A. Bank
Want more? And you should because I had a really tough time narrowing these down to a reasonable number. Check out Lauren and Ryan’s slideshow.
Mar
02
We are so excited to share a few more images from our fashion editorial photographed in Killington, Vermont this winter. It has been such a challenge to narrow them down. We had the most perfect conditions- wonderful models (thank you, Mai and Rob) and a stunning wintery scene- a mountain backdrop, snow falling just when we wanted it and sunlight when we needed it (thank you, weather gods). So I did my best to only put a few of our faves up on the blog. If you want to see more, you can definitely check out our flickr photostream. Click here for the Vermont Winter Wedding Portrait set.
And once again, we could not have done any of these without our amazing partners in crime. Thank you so much to the gals at Bridal Heirlooms- you ladies are so wonderful to work with and you have amazing style- thank you. And much gratitude to Bill and Anne at Mountain Meadows Lodge. Everything was perfect- we are so grateful for your warmth and hospitality!
Click here to see images from the sneak preview.
Nov
13
Towards the end of the summer, we were able to do a fabulous fashion shoot at the Lord Thompson Manor. We shared a sneak peak of the photo fun a few weeks back. Now that the wedding season is coming to a close, we wanted to revisit and give you a full taste of what we did with this bridal shoot. We had such a good time working with our model Samantha, Christine and Shirley from Bridal Heirlooms, and enjoying the beautiful grounds of Jackie’s Lord Thompson Manor. I can’t say enough how much we appreciate the generosity of all these ladies. Thank you!!!!
No slideshow this week; all the photographs are right here on the blog. Enjoy!
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Sep
20
When we spoke with the amazing ladies from Bridal Heirlooms about doing a fashion shoot, we immediately knew where we wanted to do the shoot. And as we thought more about it we knew what story we wanted the images to tell. Each idea came more and more into focus.
Bridal Heirlooms has a wonderful selection of dresses and Christine and Shirley know just how to match a gown to a person’s style. We wanted to create a collection of images that hearkened back to times gone by, but with a modern touch. And we wanted to show off their fabulous gowns.
The Lord Thompson Manor is a stunning wedding site nestled in the woodlands of Northeastern Connecticut. It is just a short drive from Boston, Rhode Island, Hartford, and even, New York. A perfect getaway close to home, this estate was once a hunting villa. The feel of the site is still warm and welcoming and intensely glamorous – a wonderful place for wedding photography.
Here’s a sneak preview of the Lord Thompson Manor bridal fashion shoot.
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Jul
05
A few weeks back, we had an amazing engagement session with Mori and Nate. We were so excited to be able to take these photos for them. Nate makes Mori laugh at every turn. They are absolutely adorable together and so clearly in love.
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May
02
The show at Skera showcased a number of wedding gowns I have recently designed and reconstructed. More and more couples are choosing to make their weddings into unique expressions of their personalities, values, and experiences. In my work I have seen brides expressing an increased interest in restyling vintage gowns -particularly those belonging to a cherished family member and in creating a bridal look that is less traditional (think less fairy princess and more red carpet). In many cases, if a family heirloom is damaged or cannot be successfully reworked elements of the original piece may be incorporated into the contemporary dress. Color has also been a major trend.
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Apr
17
Local designer Cassandra Holden held a fashion show last week at the Skera Gallery. Dave and I had the pleasure of attending and catching a few images.
I should mention, however, that this was not your typical runway experience. Cassandra creates custom wedding dresses. They are designed for specific people, not for the mass market. And they are truly one-of-a-kind. In order for her to share her work, she invited the owners of the dresses, the ones for whom she designed, to be her models. They were fabulous. And so were the dresses.
Cassandra and her clients are not bound by tradition, though they are not immune to its influences. Many of the dresses incorporated colors- from subtle pinks to brown to crimson. In other cases, she helped brides modernize a grandmother’s dress. These may well have been my favorite dresses because not only did they look amazing, but they were rich with stories.
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