Apr
22
When planning a destination wedding, it can be a challenge to bring all of the ideas you have together. With a unique location, inspiration is not the problem, but rather logistical details. Cassie and Dan had a beautiful vision for their wedding and selected the right team of people to bring it all together. Everything went off without a hitch, a pefect celebration on their much loved Martha’s Vineyard.
The pros:
Church: Old Whaling Church, Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard/ Reception: Dr. Daniel Fisher House, Edgartown, MV / After party venue: The Boathouse, Edgartown, MA / Getting ready location: The Wheel House at the Kelley House / Event Planning: Judy Murray of MV Event Planning / Bride’s hair and makeup: Sea Spa, Edgartown / Cake: Kim Garrison, Something Sweet / Wedding Gown: Priscilla of Boston, Boston, Mass / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Dessy Lela Rose Collection / Groom’s attire: Raymond Personal Tailor / Floral & Event Design: Donaroma’s Nursery / Entertainment (ceremony): Eric Johnson / Entertainment (reception): Jon Bates Band and John Alaimo, pianist / Wedding invitations: Goosefish Press, Boston, MA / Save the Dates: Vera Wang / Rehearsal dinner invites: Wedding Paper Divas
Getting ready- Dan at Cassie’s family home and Cassie at her hotel- offered an opportunity to capture details that set the tone for the day.
The letterpress invitations with island details and their unique wedding bands.
This gorgeous white blossom on Cassie’s dress.
And her rustic elegant purple bouquet.
At the family home, little touches like this windchime created a whimsical feel.
The groomsmen’s dress shirts ready and waiting.
All decked out, our groom with his purple rose boutonniere.
At the Old Whaling Church, guests were welcome by this Scottish bag piper.
And the interior was decked out in shades of purple flowers.
A view of the steeple.
And the tent at dusk on the lawn between the church and the Dr. Daniel Fisher House.
Inside, the reception details were ready and gorgeous. I adore this cake with it’s oversized purple flower.
Multiple centerpieces in shades of pink and purples.
Each table named after a favorite MV location.
Favors for the guests- olive oil and a scented candle.
Cocktail tables on the patio of the house were decorated with smaller arrangements.
The party kicked off by the band.
A scrumption dessert bar.
Ending the reception with a sparkler send off.
A beautiful celebration with rustic elegance and whimsy inspired by the island, envisioned by Cassie and Dan, and executed by an amazing team of professionals.
More from Cassie and Dan’s wedding? Check out their Fenway Park e-session, their Chappy Rehearsal Dinner, their Old Whaling Church ceremony, their Daniel Fisher House reception, their Edgartown Boathouse after party and their destination wedding slideshow.
Mar
05
You really can’t go wrong when you get married at a Castle. So when Ayesha and Jon chose Searles for their backdrop, they knew they had found the perfect spot to celebrate their wedding ceremony and their reception.
The ceremony was held on the lawn to the left of the castle. Well actually the ceremony was held on the castle wall and the guests were seated on the lawn. They blended Ayesha’s South Asian traditions with Jon’s Christian ones, bringing together their two cultures in a beautiful way.
The bridesmaids entered first.
Followed by two of Ayesha and Jon’s adorable neices and nephews as flower girl and ring bearer. And then followed by Ayesha and her dad.
Especially love this shade of red accentuated by the creamy roses.
Groomsman watching the proceedings.
And back to the ceremony. Ayesha’s dad ties she and Jon (hidden behind her dad in this image) together. Love her dad’s quiet smile and her huge one!
Jon’s mom offers her own blessing. More wonderful smiles. Jon looks so happy and proud. And his mom his radiant.
A reading.
Jon puts Ayesha’s ring on her finger.
Sweet kiss.
And celebration.
After the ceremony, Ayesha changed into her western wedding dress. Jon got to see her for the first time, again.
After a few portraits and a little time alone, they joined their guests in the tent for their first dance.
A speech by Ayesha’s best brides’ man.
And because they met at Ohio State and had their fabulous peers at the wedding. We had to do at least one photo for their alma mater.
With such a beautiful setting and a lovely evening, we had to take advantage for one night photograph in front of the castle. Fortunately, Ayesha and Jon were very happy to oblige. I guess the kiss didn’t hurt our cause.
Such a great day and evening, filled with joy and color and magic. What else would you expect at a castle!
Special thanks to Ayesha and Jon for including us in your festivities. And to all of the pros who helped to make their day wonderful…
Ceremony and Reception Venue: Shaun and Scott from Searles Castle / Officiants: Sri Lankan Ceremony – Mr. Bogamuwa, Exchange of Vows – John Morse / Caterer: Shaun and Scott from Searles Castle / Cake: Jani from Jacques Pastries / Ceremony Floral Design: Susanne from Susanne’s Weddings / Lighting Design: Boston Uplights / Ceremony Musicians and Band/DJ: Chris D from NuImage Entertainment / Hair & Makeup: Brandon and Karla from Brandon Keith Salon / Bride & Bridesmaids Sarees brought in from overseas / Groom and Groomsmen’s Tuxedos: Lindsay from Men’s Wearhouse / Save the Dates: Wedding Paper Divas
If you would like to see more from Ayesha and Jon’s South Asian wedding, check out their Searles Castle Wedding sneak peek and their dog-friendly engagment session.
Feb
23
Cassie and Dan’s hometown destination wedding on Martha’s Vineyard was truly picture perfect. From the Chappy rehearsal dinner (photos to come) to the wedding day to the Sunday brunch, Edgartown’s waterviews, white washed buildings and picket fences, and amazing skies provided a gorgeous backdrop for their celebration.
Picking up after the ceremony with a view of the Old Whaling Church, and our happy couple now as husband and wife.
A few portraits around the Daniel Fisher Estate before joining the guests in the tented reception.
First dance.
I don’t blame Cassie’s mom one bit. I felt it too.
Toasts by the Best Man and Cassie’s sisters. There were tears and…
laughter. Actually lots and lots of laughter.
Celebrating with our groom.
Dancing with her dad.
Dan with his mom. So sweet.
Observing and remembering.
The dancing got underway and this crew definitely knew how to have a good time.
The send off began with a group familial hug. Such joy and love!
And continued with sparklers and cheers.
How could you not be smiling after seeing this gorgeous day? And yet, if you want more smiles, you will have to come back because the after party was an absolute blast too.
In the meantime, check out their engagement session at Fenway Park and the getting ready and ceremony on Martha’s Vineyard for more fun photos.
Jan
29
For Cassie and Dan’s wedding, location was everything. And rarely is the setting of the wedding so personal and meaningful, especially when it is a destination wedding. You see, Dan is from Martha’s Vineyard and Cassie’s family has a place on the island, so they have both basically grown up on its beaches. Of course, they also met there. Though they now live in Boston, their ties to this beautiful place are deep and unbreakable. It was truly the perfect location for their wedding. And now a peek at their magical day…
Dan got ready at Cassie’s parents’ house with the rest of the groomsmen, and their two pups. Tank smiles for the camera with Dan prepping in the background.
Cassie and her girls were at a hotel in town. The place had that special beach house quality to it. So when her flowers arrived, I thought it would be perfect to use the surroundings to show them off. Love the whimsy in her bouquet.
Upstairs the ladies prepped and primped.
Cassie checking our her hair and make-up.
The ladies hopped on board the trolley to go see the guys and do a couple of portraits. One of the most beautiful locations for a first look ever.
He’s already smiling and he hasn’t even seen her yet.
And then his smile gets even bigger.
Loving everything about this spot. All the way down to the grasses.
Everyone hopped back on the trolley to go to the Old Whaling Church, where they would celebrate their wedding. The views were beautiful. Loving the beach umbrella in this image.
More sweetness from our couple.
Just before they make their way onto the stage.
Cassie with her dad… two perspectives.
Such a pretty spot. Absolutely fits with the look and feel of Edgartown.
Happily married!
So this is just the beginning, because I have so much more to share from Cassie and Dan’s beautiful wedding- the reception at the Dr. Daniel Fisher House, the after-party in a private club by the water, and even the rehearsal dinner on Chappy. Check back soon.
Jan
18
From our engagement session, I already knew a bit about how Ayesha and Jon were as a couple, and as parents to their pup Lucy. They are easy-going and each has a calming presence, but they also like to play and laugh. They are generally just really nice to be around. On their wedding day, we got to see another side of them. They were all of those things and more; they were gracious, warm hosts and even took care of us (totally not necessary but very much appreciated).
The day was hot, really steamy kind of hot, but night came and brought a bit of relief. Fortunately they also chose an absolutely gorgeous venue, which lifted sticky spirits and added to the whimsy and romance of the day.
We started with Ayesha as she was getting ready at the hotel. I had my first chance to see a woman dressed in a Sari. For South Asian brides (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, etc), this is the customary wedding attire. Can I just say- it is one stunning dress! Oh and it takes about 20-30 minutes to put on with the help of a professional.
Ayesha’s bridesmaids also got to wear these beautiful garments, though modified so they were a bit easier to put on.
The boys had it easy- tuxes. Still they look awfully good on this crew.
I especially love the contrast and vibrancy of the reds.
Having chosen to see each other before the ceremony, Ayesha and Jon had their first look amongst the castle walls.
Big smile from Jon when Ayesha told him he could turn around and see her.
Equally huge smile from Ayesha.
The girls hanging and enjoying the day.
I love the way these two hold hands, so sweet.
Yup, pretty stunning here.
Too bad, ladies, he’s taken.
Melts my heart.
We went back up to the main house to get ready for the ceremony. The light was beautiful and so was our bride.
A quiet moment before things really get underway.
More to come from the outdoor ceremony and the tented reception.
May
12
If you are anything like me, you have always wanted to be a part of a TV production- to see what happens backstage, so to speak; to watch as the characters move on and off screen; to observe the camera crews and the director. Well, Dave had just that opportunity when he photographed Christina and Ed’s wedding for WeTV’s My Fair Wedding. He followed the planner and star of the show, David Tutera, as well as capturing the bride and groom and their wedding details. So you feel like you were actually part of the shoot. Since I posted about the book earlier this week, I thought I would share the behind the scenes photos today.
Tutera is not only an amazing planner, he’s a fabulous designer. He created a beautiful Mexican inspired wedding for Christina, whose Riviera Maya destination wedding had to be canceled. His first stop was to check on the decor at the hotel where the reception would be. His team was already doing a great job; he added a few more touches to the look.
Next he visited the bride who was in the process of getting her hair and make-up done.
Never a private moment on a TV show.
This is when he reminded Christina of the 3 dresses she tried on. He is about to tell her which one he chose for her. (This also happens to be one of my fave moments each episode of the show. I can’t help loving that they don’t know which gown he chose. The suspense is super fun. And while most women wouldn’t want someone else to chose this most important of all dresses, I actually would have loved it. I had such a hard time figuring out what to get.)
Before and during the ceremony, there is tons going on both behind the camera and in front of the camera. These portraits show how David is working to make sure that everything goes off without a hitch. Before the ceremony he is checking to see everything is in place. As guests arrive, he greets them and helps them get where they need to be. During the ceremony, he is watching here, there and everywhere.
Being on a public Staten Island beach with lots of cameras, the wedding was sure to draw a crowd.
Still, the crew was pretty inconspicous during the ceremony. One team all the way back and two teams on the side at the front. No guests’ views were interrupted. As photographers, we pride ourselves on putting the wedding first. After all that’s why we are all there. So it is really nice that Tutera’s team also has this in their mind, even when their work is for TV.
After the ceremony, whether for TV or not, David brings his couples into the reception hall before all of the other guests, so that they can actually take a moment to enjoy the space he has created for them. So they can check out the details they have thought about and planned with him. Christina and Ed are clearly enamored with their colorful chocolate cake.
Their first dance in the dreamy tropical space.
One question we get about the show and working with David is: Is he really that nice? The answer is absolutely 100% yes. He is a truly down-to-earth, caring gentleman AND he likes to have a good time. He doesn’t dance at every wedding but when appropriate, he will enjoy the party with the couple and their guests. Enjoying a moment with the bride.
Dancing with a bridesmaid.
Clearly he felt a connection with this group and they with him. They even invited him into their group hug.
The folks who make it a televsion show. Yup, that’s a lot of paparazzi.
What a great day to be a part of! We are so thankful to David Tutera and his team for asking us to photograph this My Fair Wedding episode.
May
09
I am literally doing a little dance; I am so proud of my partner in all things. Dave’s work was recently published in David Tutera‘s My Fair Wedding book!!! We just got our hands on a copy and it is fabulous. Each chapter is devoted to a different episode and has great tips for your wedding- tips ranging from choosing your dress to engaging with your guests to permit needs to thematic choices. Really practical. And of course the photos are amazing!
Here’s a few pages from Dave’s Chapter in the book. Yup, a whole chapter. Did I mention I was proud? He photographed Christina and Ed’s Mexican dream wedding. They had initally planned a destination wedding in Riviera Maya, Mexico, but had to change their plans suddenly. With no time whatsoever, they were at a loss. David Tutera created a stunning Latin inspired wedding in Staten Island. They were even able to wed on the beach. Amazing!
And now a few details that actually aren’t in the book for those who want more.
Christina’s dress was one of the first from the David Tutera by Faviana bridal collection. It’s perfect for both the ceremony and the reception; the skirt below the flowers can be removed for a fun party dress.
If you’ve watched My Fair Wedding, you know that David makes the decisions. The brides can voice their opinions, but in the end, the buck stops with Tutera. Once he decided on the Latin theme, he included it at every turn. The bridesmaids dresses, for instance, were light, airy and supremely colorful.
As I mentioned, they were able to host their ceremony on the beach. It was quite breezy.
David transformed this corner of the beach into an oasis with tropical plants, orange and yellow roses, green turf and gold chiavari chairs.
The string ensemble enhanced the mood with beautiful music.
Blue skies and puffy white clouds with an oceanview. Oh my!
In the distance, the clouds weren’t quite as playful, but I love the bridge peaking through them. And a chance to see what was going on nearby at the beach.
Everyone went inside the hotel for the reception. The colors and theme were carried through into these spaces as well.
Cocktails with fruit.
A Mariachi band started off the party with Mexican flair.
A very romantic, warm dinner table. Roses dripping from everywhere and amber plates and glassware.
Candlelight always great for ambiance.
Bringing in the tropical flowers and more vibrant colors on a chocolate cake. Mmmmmm…..
To end the day, what could be better than fireworks?
The bride and groom were definitely surprised and happy with this ending!
Congrats to my hubby, Dave Lee; to our friend and fellow photographer, Critsey Rowe, who is also published in the book; and of course, to the man behind it all, the extremely talented, warm, and charming, David Tutera. It is such an honor and pleasure to work with David and his team- consummate professionals and creative geniuses!
Check back soon for a behind the scenes look at the making of this season 2 episode of My Fair Wedding.
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.
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.
