Amanda and I had talked a bit about what she liked in portraits, and one of the things we wanted to capture was intimacy in the midst of busy-ness. Usually on the bridge in the Public Garden this is an easy task, because there are tons of people around. On this particular Sunday afternoon, it was actually a challenge to get people in our photo, and then to encourage them to keep walking. They were all so nice and respectful, not wanting to interrupt their session. Oh, the irony. Patience, however, paid off, as we captured this moment.

Not having too many people also had it’s benefits.

We could go anywhere without worrying about them. And were even able to capture a bit of fall, though in general the trees hadn’t started to turn.

You may recall we took a cab to the gardens. Amanda carefully gets out.

Back at the Copley Plaza, we took a few more portraits. Love the lines of the staircase.

Introductions, right into their first dance.

Such a sweet moment when Ed dances with his mum (mum because he’s from England).

The toasts were fantastic. Ed’s step-dad and best man went first. He was hilarious.

Amanda’s dad had his turn as well. Of course, he shared one or two embarassing stories.

Loving the autumn colors infused into their cake.

Another super special tradition. Amanda’s sorority sisters from Duke, sang her a song and passed around a candle in her honor.

Then the party really got underway. This crew knew how to have a good time.

One last treat from their celebration.

Many congrats to Amand and Ed. Such an all around amazing day. So many people to thank for helping make it perfect.

Getting ready and reception venue: Alice Fay from the Fairmont Copley Plaza
Ceremony venue: Helen McCrady from the Old South Church
Officiant: Cal Grenzel from the Old South Church
Cake: Ellen from Cakes to Remember
Floral Designer: Rob Galeski from Twig
Lighting Design: Paul from Boston Uplights
DJ: Greg from 5 Star Events
Cocktail hour musicians: Felice from Gilded Harps
Calligraphy: Katrin from Calligraphy Katrina and Maison du Papier
Gown Designer: Lazaro dress from Christinas Bridal
Bridesmaids dresses: Saison Boutique
Groom’s and Groomsmen’s Tuxedos: Mens Wearhouse
Hair: Erik from Will Charles Salon
Make-up: Dani Wagener from Dani Wagener Studios

If you want to see more, check out their first entry and their PicFlick.

Talented? Case in point. Ed carved this traditional Welsh lovespoon himself; it’s all from one piece of wood. Typically this is given earlier in the relationship, but Ed’s gift on their wedding morning couldn’t have been more sweet or more appreciated. We included the engagement ring in the photo, another very special gift.

And the wedding ringshot on the Globe.

And now to Ed, during his getting ready at the Copley Plaza. Did I mention his sense of humor?

The gents took the stairs down to the Oak Room, for a toast before the ceremony.

A good opportunity for a portrait of our dashing groom.

Meanwhile, the ladies were still getting ready. Dani Wagener provided her expertise for Amanda’s make-up.

Love this photo of Amanda’s wedding dress in her hotel room; mysterious and romantic.

Such intricate and beautiful detailing.

Amanda is a classic beauty; she chose to keep her personal style natural, simple, elegant. It was perfect for her.

The ladies also enjoyed a toast before the ceremony.

So pretty.

Her church is across the square and she can see it from the window. Getting ready for her big day, she looks out.

The ceremony in the Gordon Chapel of the Old South Church had a very intimate feel. I also especially liked the Gothic look of the space as it reminded of Duke, where Amanda went to school (about 10 years after me).

They included readings by friends.

This little gal really wanted to be with the bride.

Afterwards we took portraits in and around the church and on the square lawn. A casual bridal party shot.

A classic bride and groom (aka husband and wife) portrait.

When we finished up there, I hopped in a cab with Amanda and Ed to take photos at the Public Gardens. Love this moment in the taxi. Definitely one of my favorite photos of the year.

More to come for sure… there were tons of amazing portraits at the Garden and a great party with their wonderful families, so check back soon.

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.

Here’s my favorite humorous moment from the bedecken. Sara’s checking out Mike to make sure he’s the right guy. Turns out he is.

What I didn’t count on, was the tears they would bring to my eyes.

During their ketubah signing ceremony, the Rabbi allowed for them to share some thoughts with each other. They were so tender and honest with each other.

And the way Mike looks at Sara simply melts my heart.

Here Mike is ensuring that Sara is indeed Sara. When I look at this image, I somehow make the same expression that Sara does. I can’t help it. Quivery happiness all over.

Alas, I have gotten ahead of myself. So allow me to take a step back.

I have known Mike for several years; we met while performing in a comedy improv group- Blue Blanket Improv- in California. Mike has since moved on and even started his own- Chicken Scratch Improv. And Dave knew Mike from their swing dancing days. We met Sara (and puppy Oscar) last fall and were instantly enamored. Mike and Sara are absolutely perfect together, and perfect parents for Oscar. When they chose us to photograph their wedding at Kennolyn near Santa Cruz, we started counting down the days.

We started off – me with Sara as she and her bridesmaids were getting ready and Dave with the handsome groom…

and his Entourage,

which included his adorable nephew. Precious missing teeth!

The guys have it a lot easier. Here, the women getting ready…Sara almost in her dress.

And a nod to Sara’s fabulous shoulders and back. She is a triathelete and spends tons of time in the pool. The pay-off is clear.

Just before the boys joined the girls for the ketubah signing, Sara and her beautiful little flower girl compared dresses.

Mike arrives. And Sara welcomes him in.

The Rabbi in the background. Flower girl, apparently, not so interested in that.

Then we head over for the ceremony under the huppah.

And Sara walks down the aisle with her mom…

I can’t wait to share more and there will definitely be lots, lots more. Of course, more from the reception, but I will also be sharing about the flowers. They were amazing! Bouquets and bouttonieres galore by Laughin’ Gal Floral. Definitely check back soon!

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.

Emily chose an elegant fitted silky Vera Wang gown with a gorgeous ruffled back that fit her style perfectly. It also looked amazing on her. She flew to NYC to have several fittings over the course of a week in Vera Wang’s flagship salon.

For her final fitting, Emily was joined by her mom Kelly and her dearest friends Ina, Jessica, Sue, and Kelly. A truly outrageous and fun group of women.

With Emily looking so amazing and her big day just around the corner, tears were not to be avoided, but neither was the laughter. It was such a big moment- this preview of Emily as she would look on her wedding day- the air was charged. I am so glad we were able to capture these moments.

This was just a snippet. More images will be posted on Emily and Erik’s site when we return from California.

Wanna re-visit more of Em and Erik’s wedding celebrations?
Engagement Photos
Wedding Sneak Peak

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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