Jan
10
I pick up where I left off with Eleni and Johnnie’s joyous wedding. We had just finished our portrait session at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral, so Eleni and Johnnie climbed into their vintage limo to head to Cambridge for their reception.
At the Charles Hotel, we had a little extra time for portraits. (We had originally planned to take portraits at the pedestrian bridge over the Charles River, but it was covered in scaffolding. So bummed about that, but really glad the hotel has a pretty awesome lobby.) The lighting and the art at the hotel is mysterious and rich, lending to some amazingly unique images. Here, blending reality with a dreamlike quality- kind of like a wedding day, actually.
Meanwhile the guests enjoyed an outdoor cocktail hour. One of my favorite things about the Charles Hotel as a venue is this courtyard.
Inside the romantic scene was being set with candles,
Warm lighting and vibrant colorful floral arrangements,
And this decadent, sparkly wedding cake.
Eleni and Johnnie made their grand entrance.
Right into their first dance.
As is the Greek custom, their family and friends showered them with money.
Ultimately they were joined on the dance floor by everyone. I especially enjoyed their nephews dancing crazily beside them.
And the party begins….
After the DJ got things heated up, the Greek band led the Greek dancing.
A highlight for all… the men’s dance. Hilarious. I am not 100% sure what it is about, but the boys have to get down on their knees,
On their backs,
and drink. Too much fun!
And I’ll drink to that.
Huge congrats to Eleni and Johnnie and their families. What an amazing celebration. We are so glad we could document it for you.
Additional thanks to all of the pro’s who help make it a fantastic day:
Ceremony Officiant and Venue: V. Rev. Dr. Cleopas Strongylis of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral
Reception venue and planner: Sarah Chatigny of the Charles Hotel
Caterer: Henrietta’s Table at the Charles Hotel
Cake: Danny Angelopolus at the Charles Hotel
Brides wedding gown: Monique Lhullier from L’elite Bridal Salon
Bridesmaids dresses: Melissa at Allegria Bridal with Jim Hjelm and Lazaro gowns
Groom and groomsmens tuxes: Russo’s Tux
Bride’s hair: Maria Iannessa from Bella Capelli
Bride’s make-up: Eddie Fee
Floral and lighting design: Donna Fucaloro of Pepperberry Flowers
DJ: Kostas Flathras of Hellenic Sound Productions
Ceremony Musicians: Lindsey McChord of Longly School of Music
Videographer: Jesse Barack of Mass Videography
Invitations and other printed materials: Lynne Johnson of The Inviting Company
If you still want more, check out their engagement session, Part 1, and their PicFlick.
Jan
04
We knew that Eleni and Johnnie’s wedding was going to be fantastic long before the actual day arrived. First there was our initial consult and the way Johnnie looks at Eleni. And at that first meeting, he shared how much he wanted to just get married so they could start their life as a family.
Then there was their engagement session, which was loads of fun. The North End was Johnnie’s stomping ground, and where they had their first date. We saw more of the neighborhood than we ever had before. And then during our pre-wedding meeting, we asked them what they were most looking forward to and they both reiterated, “We can’t wait to be married!”
So we knew the day would be extraordinarily special, focused on their love and we knew based on how much fun these two are, that their friends and family would surely be a blast as well. We were not disappointed.
We started at Eleni’s parents home for her getting ready photos and family portraits.
Gotta love her dress, but this image is also about the home that she grew up in- the chandelier, the china cabinet and other family heirlooms.
Dave popped outside to get a photo of all the boys in the family. Eleni couldn’t resist sneaking in. Only one little guy noticed. Then Dave headed off to Johnnie’s mom’s house for their family photos.
Meanwhile, Eleni was helped into her beautiful dress by her mom and her sisters.
I took a few portraits of Eleni in her parents bedroom. The window light was gorgeous. But I also love all of the family details. In this image, I was able to capture her mother watching as well as her parents wedding photo on the wall, a layered story.
And the boys helped her make her way down the stairs.
On the way out, she kicked the glass of water down the stairs. Then she hopped into her vintage limo.
Meanwhile, Dave and the boys had made it to the Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Johnnie can totally pull off the Godfather look; he has the perfect smile.
But his true nature comes out as he waits in the back of the church. He must be thinking, “When can we start already?!”
And then the festivities began in earnest. The boys made their way out to the sanctuary. And as his niece was walking down the aisle, his sister waved her on enthusiastically.
Eleni waited outside the doors with her parents.
From the moment she entered, she and Johnnie were all smiles. And he kept stealing glances at his beautiful bride.
Just before the kiss, Johnnie’s smile grows even bigger.
And what a kiss it was!
Portraits followed… here’s one quick glimpse of what is to come following the ceremony.
And the Charles Hotel reception follows that with some seriously fun and funny Greek dancing!
Feb
10
This past September, I had the pleasure of working with Mimosa on a table top design they created for Grace Ormonde Wedding Style Magazine. I arrived early to help determine the best spot for the table with regards to lighting. So I was able to watch Teresa Fung and her talented team work. Oh my! What a treat. They are such artists, only instead of painting with oils or watercolors, they paint in three dimentions with flowers and plants, with linens and tableware. As they were working, I observed and I documented; I was captivated.
Our story starts at Mistral Restaurant, the location for our shoot. Their very chic private events space and wine room was the backdrop for the table.
Teresa had already prepped some of the floral before she arrived. In particular, the very time intensive work of attaching orchids to willow branches.
Some pieces had to be assembled on site. I was fascinated by these clear gelatinous balls that are nearly clear when you add water.
They allowed plants, such as these succulents, to appear as if they were floating in a glass vase.
So creative, this design used glass candelabras as containers for floral.
Teresa is very hands-on. She would look at the design from every angle and make adjustments to the flowers or the linens or the glassware, seeking perfection.
Even the tiniest details were thought of. These miniature flowers were strung around tall vases.
Pinks of all shades.
Love the burgundy calla lily on the square plate. (Idea for Valentine’s Day?)
Gorgeous. Gorgeous flowers.
Even the linens had a floral feel. And Teresa had two options so that she could see how the whole look came together- one lavender and one this deeper fuchsia color.
Another look as the pieces are coming together.
Sometimes it just takes four hands to get the flowers to cooperate.
And finally, everything is complete. Simply magical. Love the arch and how it frames the candles and softens the wall in the background.
Romantic glassware.
The vision. I couldn’t get over how beautiful this was. I know I would feel immensely special eating a meal at such a beautiful table.
And ultimately published in Grace Ormonde Wedding Style Magazine. Congrats to Teresa and the whole Mimosa team. Such an absolutely beautiful work of art!
Many professionals contributed products and services to bring this look together. Special thanks to all those involved:
Venue: Mistral, Boston, MA
Table and Floral Design, Glassware: Mimosa Fresh Flower Design, Boston, MA
Linens: Wildflower Linen, Buena Park, CA
China, Flatware and Chairs: Rentals Unlimited, Stoughton, MA
Vases: Tommy Wholesale, Boston, MA
Thank you to all of our colleagues!
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.
Mar
08
You’ve probably already noted that Amber and Tyler‘s wedding at the historic Westin St. Francis Hotel above Union Square was all about city sophistication and classic style. She continued the look and theme with her floral design; limiting the type and color of flowers highlighted the texture and gave the whole look a cohesive feel.
For her own bouquet, held here by her bridesmaid during the ceremony, she chose white orchids with yellow centers.
Her bridesmaids’ bouquets were also a single flower type and color- all merlot calla lillies. They just feel like an flower for an evening event.
Together the ladies looked great- white on white for the bride and deep red with chocolate brown for the bridesmaids.
Corsages for the moms continued the look- deep red orchids.
To add to the elegance of the ceremony in the Borgia Room, white candles of varying heights and types were places on the mantle over the fireplace. They were surrounded by garnet roses and greenery.
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For the reception table decor in Alexandra’s, multiple containers were used on each table. Each had a different single flower type in complimentary colors; all the containers were varing sizes. The monochromatic look came together in a sophisticated way.
Up close…
From a distance…
One of my favorite touches was this monogram. The bride and groom’s formal initials laid on a bed of flowers- roses, dahlias, lilies, orchids- with lights around the edges.
Congrats to Jeffrey from J Floral Art for creating such a stunning look for Amber and Tyler.
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.
Apr
25
Ever the romantic, I am totally in love with these pink orchids all wrapped up in willow branches and surrounded by candles. This table setting definitely has a tropical feel mixed with old world elegance. I think this arrangement could work in any season and would definitely wow your guests.
Dave captured this at the Westchester Ritz Bridal Show while photographing for David Tutera, who was speaking and displaying his work.
Check out more from the show here.
Feb
28
Just a week ago, I ventured to New York to photograph a wedding designed by David Tutera and his amazing team. Their art shone at the Metropolitan Club, where both the ceremony and the reception were held. This club, adjacent to Central Park and across from The Plaza, is majesty in Manhattan. And all of David’s ideas worked to enhance the beauty already present. The lighting used to highlight the ceilings, the elegant floral display with just the right degree of opulence, the candlelight thoughout, the crystals dripping from the centerpieces…. all a perfect match.
Here’s a peak of the wedding’s style and elegance…
The guests were welcomed by this stunning ball of roses with ivy.
The ceremony began in this splendid space at the Metropolitan Club. I love the red draping along the doorways and the beautiful paintings above. David accented the walk down the aisle with this amazing floral archway which the bride walked through on her way to the huppah.
And the huppah felt like a private sanctuary of flowers.
Music accompanied the guests, the bride and her attendants as they entered the space.
The guests then gathered in the Marble Room for cocktails and hors d’euvres.
Later everyone retired to the Metropolitan Club’s dining room for dinner and the remainder of the reception.
The wedding was truly elegant and sophisticated. The experience for the bride and groom and their guests was magical.
A huge thank you to the whole David Tutera team and everyone at The Metropolitan Club. What a truly stunning event! We can’t wait to work with you all again.
