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.
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.
Dec
20
When I think back to Brenna and Dan’s fall wedding at the Boston Harbor Hotel, there are two things that particularly stand out. The first was the romance. Their love is truly captivating; they are so into each other. During the ceremony, they kept stealing kisses. The rest of the night continued in the same fashion. So sweet, so cute, so fun! Of course, their portraits reflect their intimacy. Check out Dan’s smile as they snuggle up to each other.
We also wanted to capture the beauty of their surroundings. And there is nothing like the BHH’s rotunda. Gorgeous.
And then there was the rain- intermittent and not at all dampening their spirits- providing an opportunity to pull out our red umbrella. This one under the rotunda.
Brenna in the Wharf Room, playing with her veil. Classic.
The second thing that I will remember was the food. Brenna and Dan love good food and have travelled all over the world experiencing the best of it. They wanted to share that with their guests. Thus a six-course meal was the centerpiece of their reception. I promise a future blog post all about the food, which looked amazing, and was personally prepared for them by the executive chef of Meritage, Daniel Bruce. What a treat!
Of the course the evening also included lots of time for fun and play. Brenna with a friend and her sister.
Dan’s toast.
The best man’s toast and reason to celebrate!
This crew was hilarious. They wanted a few group photos during the reception, but I think they were simply having too much fun.
First dance. Sweetness.
Looking on.
Then more dancing between courses. Group hug!
Enjoying the dance floor.
Really everyone seemed to have an amazing time. The whole celebration was intimate and warm, with smiles, laugther and kisses throughout the evening. Many thanks and congrats to Brenna and Dan for welcoming us into your celebration.
And much gratitude to the team of professionals who helped make the day a success:
Getting ready venue: Boston Harbor Hotel
Church: St Stephen’s Church on Hanover St, North End
Reception site: Michael Bovin and his talented staff; the Wharf Room at the Boston Harbor Hotel
Hair: Janet, Salon Marc Harris Newbury Street
Make-up: Sherri Snowden
Wedding gown: Monique Lhuillier
Planner: Michael Boivin, Boston Harbor Hotel
Caterer: Daniel Bruce, executive chef of Meritage
Cakes and desserts: DessertWorks, Norwood
Floral design: Honey, Lotus Designs
DJ: Dave Pettengill, Music Management
Ceremony musician: AnneMarie David
Transportation: Old Town Trolleys
Invitations: Mark Harris Stationer, Chestnut Hill
Save the Dates: Mark Harris Stationer, Chestnut Hill
So many great photos from Brenna and Dan’s wedding! Definitely check out their sneak preview and their slideshow.
Nov
18
A few years back, Brenna found herself in London for work. During her stint, she met Dan and they fell in love. When she started to plan their wedding though, she decided that Boston (where she was from and her family still lives) was the perfect location. Her stateside friends and family would easily be able to join in the celebration and she and Dan could introduce their English family and friends to a great town.
I started the day with Brenna in her bridal suite at the Boston Harbor Hotel. When I arrived, she was in the midst of having her make-up applied.
A final check before she put on her dress.
When I initially met with Brenna and her mom, I remembered Brenna talking about her wedding gown and how she was so excited about the dress. (I can’t help myself- when the groom’s not there, I always ask.) So I myself was looking forward to seeing what she picked, and I absolutely love this Monique Lhullier gown she chose.
The lace and the silhouette looked amazing on her, and she was completely at ease in this dress.
A classic beauty.
I would be remiss if I didn’t share a portrait of Dan. Such a cutie.
When Brenna was all set, she and her sister rode in a town car to St. Stephen’s Church.
Awaiting our arrival were two ushers.
The walk down the aisle can be a nervous one, but Brenna found great joy in seeing her friends.
Simple elegance of St. Stephen’s.
These two are absolutely and completely enamored with each other. They couldn’t help smiling and kissing and snuggling at every chance. It was a joy to observe because their smiles are truly infectious. Like this moment when Brenna is placing the ring on Dan’s finger.
Of course, there were a few tears from the guests.
After they sealed the deal with a kiss.
A few portraits at the church. We popped up to the balcony for some quiet moments.
One of my absolute favorites. This one feels like it should be on the front of a Going to the Chapel single. Plus you can see the red brick of the North End through the window.
More to come soon from their portraits at the Boston Harbor Hotel and the fun reception in Wharf Room.
Nov
09
And color too.
Last night, Alyssa and Slava came by for their wedding premiere. We had such a great time sharing their photos with them and hearing more of the stories behind their wedding day- stories like how the color palette of blue and yellow reflected Alyssa’s favorite colors and how their friend Tex enjoyed their wedding so much he suggested they have a wedding every week. It also became clear that these two look great from every angle and in every style. And so I am excited to share the photos from their ceremony and reception. Dave and Brian did such a fabulous day capturing the joy and spirit of the day.
The ketubah signing is the Jewish marriage contract and there’s a special ceremony for this that occurs before the chuppah ceremony. Alyssa and Slava were surrounded by their families and a couple of friends.
I am completely enamored with their ceremony. There was so much laughter and joy in it.
Check out the full view. A beautiful chuppah decorated with orchids and a runner with flower petals along the sides.
So sweet the way Slava holds her hand.
These two are so much fun. Honestly we were laughing non-stop last night. And you totally get that in this photo as they leave the ceremony for the reception. It’s play time.
Oh me, oh my. These gentlemen lifted Alyssa way up in the air during the hora. She almost fell off, but amazingly held onto the chair for a bit longer.
The feeling of joy when reaching the ground again, safely.
The Hotpockets (Alyssa and her two girlfriends sang together in high school and that’s the name of their group) dancing and singing their hearts out. Now if only they had taken the stage with Powerhouse….
Everyone took a break for a few toasts. Alyssa’s sister sharing her thoughts.
Which were highly amusing to Alyssa and Slava.
And then more partying. Actually to hear Dave tell it, the dancing was crazy fun. And to see the photos, I have to agree. These people know how to celebrate.
The groomsmen dancing up a storm.
The bridesmaids dancing up a storm.
The guests dancing up a storm.
The bride and groom dancing up a storm.
So much fun and you can absolutely feel all of the joyous energy.
During the slow songs, our associate Brian captured the next two beautiful images. And I love the way they tell a story when I look at them side by side.
The present.
What the future holds.
One last super sweet image. Dave took Alyssa and Slava aside during the reception so he could capture a portrait of them at night, and so they could enjoy a quiet, private moment to take it all in. Here they are amidst their ceremony site.
Special thanks to all of the pros who made their wedding so beautiful:
Wedding gown: Priscilla of Boston
Bridesmaids dresses: L’Elite
Groom’s suit: Saks Fifth Avenue
Hair: Kristy’s Hair Studio
Officiant: Rabbi David Meyer of Temple Emanu-el
Floral design: William Mizuta
Caterer: Toby Karlyn from Celebrations Gourmet
Cake: Ellen Bartlett of Cakes to Remember
DJ/Band: Alan James from Powerhouse
Invitations: Heleene Fink from Special Occassions
And huge thanks to their hosts for sharing this amazing location.
Last, but definitely not least, much gratitude to Alyssa, Slava and your wonderful families for sharing your wedding day with us.
If you would like to see more from Alyssa and Slava’s waterfront wedding, check out their engagement session, sneak peek and their slideshow.
Oct
29
When last I wrote about Jess and Dan’s wedding day, I shared the getting ready, a few portraits, and a teaser for the ceremony. If you haven’t checked those out, here’s a teaser from the portraits. A quick note about this image. This was Jess’ inspired idea. We loved it and so we all made the walk to Harvard Square from the Charles River. So glad we did.
And now for the rest of the good stuff. The ceremony and reception. Dan gazing at Jess.
And what a kiss! Check out how all the guests are cheering them on.
Right into their first dance. Literally. I mean they walked 2 steps and started dancing. How sweet is that.
A moment in time from the dance.
Observing it all.
Since it was an intimate wedding, every single person had a special connection to our couple. This made for some wonderful moments. Jess and a friend admiring each other’s fashion choices.
The guests also knew each other, for the most part, so they all really enjoyed catching up as well.
Oh, and we were told that Dan would only be on the dance floor once, during his first dance. "Dan doesn’t dance," we were informed. Well, you can imagine how surprised everyone was when they were able to drag him onto the dance floor. And I would venture to say he enjoyed himself. Loving how he is surrounded by the ladies.
And another one, just to prove it wasn’t short lived, our groom kicking up his heels with his bride. Nice moves, you two!
What a night! Huge thanks to Jess and Dan for including us in your intimate wedding. It was such a joy celebrating with you and your guests.
Many thanks to all of the professionals who helped make their wedding amazing:
Getting ready venue: the staff of The Charles Hotel
Ceremony and reception site: Annie Sarkis from the Rialto Restaurant
Planner, caterer and cake: Annie Sarkis from Rialto
Floral design: Hiroko Takeshita of Hanaya Floral Design
Invitations and save the dates: Paper Source
Hair: Jessica Diop from Aquinn Hair Studio
Gown designer: Amsale
Bridesmaids dresses: Amsale
Groom’s suit: Hugo Boss
Groomsman suit: Joseph Abboud
Can’t get enough? Me neither. Check out more from Jess and Dan’s engagement session, sneak peek, and slideshow.
Oct
28
For Alyssa and Slava’s wedding by the water, Dave teamed up with associate photographer, Brian Lee, to capture their wedding day. They were treated to stunning weather and beautiful views, not to mention a gorgeous couple, who are also truly kind, warm individuals.
They arrived in time to capture the groom getting ready in the billiard room.
Looking debonair.
Meanwhile, it took a bit longer for our bride. She started in curlers. So cute.
Checking out how the styling is going.
I adore Alyssa’s ring- here on their ketubah.
Her wedding gown.
And her shoes. Somehow this just works.
Once both our bride and groom were ready. Dave took them outside to see each other for the first time. Slava awaits his bride.
Each time I look at this photo of Alyssa and Slava seeing each other for the first time, I get a wee bit giddy. It is so rich with emotion.
In the scene. Stunning.
Then time for the ceremony. A beautiful silhouette by the water.
Their tented ceremony and reception followed, and with it are more amazing photos. But you will have to wait just a little longer to see those.
Oct
24
An intimate wedding with their closest family and friends, amazing food and wine, and works of art surrounding them…. These were the elements that Jess and Dan sought when celebrating their wedding. When they discovered that one of their favorite restaurants Rialto had a private event space, they knew they had found their location. The space offered the intimacy they wanted as well as the good eats.
Because the restaurant is located in the Charles Hotel, it was only natural for Jess and Dan to get ready there as well.
Jess had the help of a few close friends as she prepped.
Loving this image Dave captured of Dan getting ready. A completely different take on it.
I took a little liberty and included this image of Dan’s niece and nephew with his getting ready photos, even though it happened during his 2nd getting ready. Aren’t they adorable?!
After both Jess and Dan were ready, we brought them outside to a secluded walkway near the hotel so they could see each other for the first time in private.
Dan awaiting Jess’ arrival.
Jess is full of spunk, and this photo totally captures her personality. She did, indeed, boogie down the path to go meet her groom. I’m surprised we were able to keep our camera’s straight as we were laughing pretty hard.
When they saw each other, it was all tenderness; the mood changed to one of joy and peace.
Of course, the benefits of seeing each other beforehand are many. One of the reasons Jess and Dan chose to do so was so they would have enough time for their portraits, and be able to attend cocktail hour. We definitely love having the time to play around with our couples before their ceremony. Relaxed, fun, beautiful portraits come out of that time. A few of my faves.
Classic beauty.
Smoky sensuality.
Fun.
Oh, and here’s a good time to talk about the structural art surrounding them. First of all, Jess chose this phenomenal couture wedding dress by Amsale. And she worked with her florist to create floral arrangements that had depth and dimension. You can see it here in her bouquet and later in the table arrangments.
We worked our way back to the hotel for a few touch ups and to hide Jess away in the restaurant so none of the guests would see her. While we waited for the ceremony, we captured a few of Jess alone.
The guests gathered in the ceremony room, and then the music changed. It was Jess’ entry music. The curtains were drawn. And ….
You will have to check back for the rest from Jess and Dan’s wedding day. They are not quite ready. But if you need another fix now, you can see a few from their engagement session.
Oct
01
Last night, I had the pleasure of sharing the photos from Becky and Neil’s wedding with them. It was such fun catching up, hearing about their Hawaii honeymoon adventures, and of course, reminiscing about their day as we looked through the photos. And what a day it was! You know it’s good times when scientists get married at a science museum.
First of all, there is romance. The Washburn Pavilion let in beautiful afternoon light and provided views of the Charles River as Becky and Neil exchanged their vows.
Their parents and friends were alternating between smiles and tears. And sometimes both.
Becky and Neil chose red, black and white for their colors- formal with a splash of fun. They also happen to be the colors of the Museum of Science, a very nice tie-in. The bridesmaids carried bouquets of red roses and wore red sashes.
Loving this moment just before the kiss. Such joy!
Then there is the fun- it’s a museum and a fun one! I mean, really, what could be better than a museum that has stairs that play music?
After the ceremony, we took a quick tour of the museum to capture some portraits of Becky and Neil in and among the exhibits. Our first stop was the dinosaurs, but on the way, I wanted to capture Becky and Neil in the midst of it all.
We just had to play around with this big ole dinosaur. This reminds of the TV show Land of the Lost.
And then of course, there was this super cool physics machine/toy and the sky at dusk.
When we returned, it was time for the reception. Becky and Neil kicked things off with their first dance. They were great. They took lessons and had the dance choreographed; they totally sold the dance with their energy and connection to each other.
Their guests were understandably mesmerized.
Becky’s maid of honor toasted the couple…
And brought tears to Becky’s eyes.
Enjoying a moment with her parents.
At their sweetheart table, they steal a kiss.
As Becky danced with her father, her mom watched on.
Becky had a very special treat for Neil. Becky had actually sung with the band they hired for their wedding a couple times.
So she decided to serenade Neil with a special song. How cool is that!
For us, the evening came to a close after her song. What a treat it was to be able to spend this day with Becky and Neil. To our newlyweds- you guys are fabulous and your friends and family are lovely. What a truly wonderful day it was! We are so grateful we could be there to document it for you.
Also, special thanks go out to all of the professionals who helped create an amazing day for Becky and Neil:
Getting ready site: Austin Horn from the Royal Sonesta Hotel, Cambridge
Ceremony and reception venue: Leigh-Ann French from the Museum of Science
Caterer: Keith Mahoney from Wolfgang Puck
Floral design: Darlene from Kaleidoscope Florals
Ceremony musicians: Kristine & Steven Kirby of Alla Breve Duo
Band: SirTunes (aka Pete Massa Band)
Definitely check out more from Becky and Neil- their engagement session, sneak preview, and wedding slideshow.
Sep
19
When two people fit like a glove, their wedding day is an affirmation of what everyone present knows and trusts- that they belong together and that it couldn’t be any other way. So it was with Becky and Neil. From the very beginning, Becky and Neil found they had so much in common- there was the obvious passion for chemistry, but also less obvious things like their style and approach to the world. Being a part of their wedding day was such a joy. They were truly relaxed on the day and each of them was so excited to get to marry the other.
Becky and Neil started their day at the Royal Sonesta, where they each got ready. Dave spent most of his time with Neil and I got to hang with Becky and the ladies. I started off with a few details. Becky’s color theme was black and white formality with a splash of red to spice things up. She even had a red sash added to her wedding dress.
The white and ivory bouquet of roses and freesia for Becky; the red roses were for the bridesmaids.
Becky helped her dad (who also happened to be her officiant) with the boutonniere.
And as Becky did a few finishing touches, her bridesmaids watched on.
Meanwhile, Neil was getting gussied up himself.
One of my favorite parts of the day was actually the "transportation." As they had chosen to get ready at the Royal Sonesta which was literally around the corner from the Museum of Science, their wedding venue, they elected to walk. So fun.
It was a brilliantly gorgeous day, perfect for a stroll. Along the way, Becky was treated to honks and hollers of congratulations from passers by.
Not a bad view from the pavillion at the Museum of Science.
And we were ready for the ceremony to begin. Neil walked down the aisle with his mom and dad. I love how all three of them look so proud and so happy.
Becky soon followed, escorted by her mom and her brother.
She and her mom exchanged a kiss, with smiles from her brother, before she greeted Neil as her groom.
Want more from Becky and Neil? Check out their engagement session.
