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.
Aug
17
Brace yourself. This one’s a long one. I just couldn’t help myself. Too much fun. Too many beautiful spaces. Too many wonderful people. So there are a few more than usual.
Maren and Steve planned an absolutely stunning destination wedding at the Glen Manor House in Portsmouth, RI. Their guests traveled from far and farther to celebrate with them and were treated to a weekend getaway celebration. Care was given to the smallest of details (each guest had their own personalized itinerary) and thought to the feel of the whole event. Spaces were created for relaxation, for dancing, for socializing. More on all of that later in a details blog post. For now, I want you to be able to get a sense of what it was like to be a guest at this wonderful wedding. And the answer is nothing short of amazing.
As I skipped ahead to Maren’s entrance in my last blog, I thought I would take a step back because I love this moment before Steve enters. The anticipation gives me goosebumps.
The guests also couldn’t wait to see Steve’s reaction to Maren’s entrance.
The ceremony was full of smiles and tears. When Maren and Steve brought each mom a specially embroidered handkerchief and white rose, Steve’s mom already had tears on her cheeks. So Maren helped wipe them away. Steve’s love and understanding of his mom came out in his smile.
Gotta love the folks who bring out the laughter.
At the end of the ceremony, Maren and Steve had not one, but two kisses, and then this very tender look as they enjoyed their new husband and wife status.
Oh wait, make that 3 kisses.
We snuck away for a few portraits on the grounds.
Immediately it felt like Maren and Steve were meant to be on this estate. They were so at ease at the Glen and comfortable in the space. It fit like a glove.
A private toast before they joined their guests.
The cocktail hour was enjoyed on the back lawn and guests spread out to all of the outdoor spaces, really enjoying the property.
Steve and Maren were such excellent hosts. It seemed as if they had invited all of their nearest and dearest to their private country estate. They really took ownership of the celebration, graciously welcoming their guests.
Loving the playfulness that comes with children.
And the sweetness. I can just imagine the conversation, something along the lines of "You look like a princess" from one of the ladies. Followed by "So do you," from the other.
A quick portrait on the steps with the whole bridal party. The kids are simply too cute.
For that matter, so is Maren. This moment during their first dance is hilarious. Maren is perfectly in character.
Loved hearing the story of how they chose the first song. Steve had requirements, well really just one. He didn’t want a song that would make him cry. Something upbeat fit the bill and as he liked Dean Martin, "Ain’t that a Kick in the Head" seemed a perfect choice. It was all fun, no tears.
As it turns out, his mom had similar requirements. So Steve surprised her with his favorite song from his childhood, Elvis Presley’s "Teddy Bear." The crowd, and his mom, loved it.
Dinner was served.
And guests wandered in and out of the ballroom, the dining rooms, and the outdoor spaces on this perfectly lovely evening.
What it actually means to be married I think. Too funny.
Just as we were about to depart, Steve broke out the cigars. He was hanging out with his friends- the whole group of guys, and gals, enjoyed a celebratory smoke.
Oh, what a night! And day, for that matter. This was such a wonderfully joyful wedding. I am so glad we could be a part of it. Many, many thanks to Maren and Steve for including us.
Additional gratitude goes to all of the professionals who helped make their day so fabulous. Each and every person was amazingly talented and wonderful to work with. Honestly I think Maren said it best though. "I just want to invite them all to Thanksgiving dinner." Now if that isn’t high praise.
A very special shout out of thanks to Katie Wilkinson the manager of their ceremony and reception venue, the Glen Manor House. What a joy it was to work with you! Everything was impeccable.
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
And the knock your socks off invitations, place cards, save the dates- aka the full design suite put together for their wedding, by none other than our groom, a professional designer by trade, Steve Reepmeyer.
So honestly truthfully, I had such a hard time narrowing these down for the blog. I really hope you will check out their slideshow and their PicFlick. And if you haven’t yet seen their engagement session, definitely check that out.
Jun
15
Two of the most warm and caring individuals, Dara and Keith are the epitome of kindness and love for each other and their families. It was a joy watching them connect with everyone at their wedding. When we spoke to discuss the details, they highlighted so many people they wanted to capture photographs of (like Dara’s uncle) and moments they knew they were going to cherish (like Keith’s brother crying during the ceremony). Here’s just a taste of their beautiful day.
Dara got ready in the bridal suite at the Log Cabin in western Mass. She was surrounded by her dearest friends and closest family members. Two of her bridesmaids helped her tie the corsette laces of her wedding dress.
A moment to check out the dress and all of her personal details. Dara’s classic beauty and softness shine in this image.
Meanwhile the boys were all set so they took some time to enjoy the stunning mountain views.
Just before Dara walked down the aisle, the flower girl and ringbearer prepared to lead the way.
Keith was terrified that he was going to cry during the ceremony. Apparently he is known for this, having cried during his brother’s wedding. He was trying desparately to keep it together in preparation for Dara to walk down the aisle.
On the arm of her father.
Arriving to her groom.
Check out this amazing, stunning, spectacular, gorgeous, out of this world mountain view. And the temperature was perfect. An idyllic scene, no?
The gentle breeze caught Dara’s veil and the light made it glow during their vows. So pretty.
I absolutely love this image of Dara’s mom and dad during the ceremony. You can feel the love they have for each other and for Dara and Keith just by looking at their faces and body language.
Just as Dara and Keith started their departure after their kiss and being pronounced man and wife, their ringbearer realized he was on the wrong side of the aisle. For a young man, what other solution is there, really, but to dash across to the correct side? Too funny.
And at the end there were bubbles – have I mentioned that I love bubbles?
What an all out great day! Definitely check back soon for more from Dara and Keith’s spring wedding.
May
03
Hooray! Hooray! I get to share the rest of the images from Selina and Greg’s wedding. This was the first wedding of our season and what a way to start off the year- a fabulous destination wedding at the stunning Palms Hotel in Miami Beach with a truly wonderful couple. Selina and Greg are so full of joy and vibrance and love and they are not afraid to show it. Honestly, I keep falling for them. I can’t help it.
So allow me to let them inspire you and infuse your day with joy. We begin at the beginning.
Preparing for the big day, Selina was relaxed and happy.
Of course, it didn’t hurt that this was the view from her window. Even on a stormy day, Miami Beach is gorgeous.
Selina’s mom helped her put on her veil. So beautiful.
Selina and Greg created amazing atmosphere for their wedding. I can’t wait to share more details and inspiration; everything worked together beautifully. But for now, here’s just a peek from the ceremony decor.
Walking down the aisle on her dad’s arm.
She was literally jaw-dropping gorgeous. Can’t blame Greg for this reaction upon seeing his bride for the first time on their wedding day.
Bringing in family traditions, Selina and Greg jumped the broom at the culmination of the ceremony.
Relaxing with her bridesmaids after the ceremony. I love their dresses- very fresh and flirty and tropical. Best of all, they are totally wearable.
A hint of what’s to come from the reception details and inspiration. Stunning.
I love how Dave captured this image from their first dance. For me, it tells the whole story of this moment, but still allows for mystery. Very romantic.
Later dances included the father-daughter dance and mother-son dance. Greg’s mom looks so happy.
The party got underway. And it was quite a party. In fact, Selina told me this group had so enjoyed the destination aspect of the wedding, everyone arrived a few days before the wedding. They had all been hanging out together until at least 2 am each night. This group was totally up for some fun times.
So cute how the girls formed a circle around Selina.
On the dance floor. Selina and Greg know how to have a good time together.
So it’s no surprise that during the cake cutting, Selina had a plan to play a trick on her new husband. She got him as close as she could. Note her right hand.
Then sneak attack. She hit him with cake on the face.
Laughter abounded- cause that’s just how these two roll- and of course a "make-up" kiss.
Just had to finish with one of my absolute favorite images. A totally natural, candid moment of pure joy, love and tenderness.
I absolutely couldn’t blame you if you can’t get enough of Selina and Greg and their gorgeous destination wedding. So definitely check out their Newlywed Session where we did a little Trash the Dress action or their slideshow.
And of course, we have to thank all of the professionals who helped to make their wedding great:
Wedding Venue: The Palms Hotel and Spa, Miami Beach, Florida
Wedding coordinator: Helen Diaz from Modern Events
Ceremony Officiant: Father Frank Fagan
Make-up artist: Miriam B.
Floral Design: Ever After Floral Design
Cake: Elegant Temptations by Rosie Cunill
DJ: Exquisite Sound Productions by Raquel Salcedo
Another huge thank you to Sarah and Bryan for introducing us to Selina and Greg. We are so glad we can continue to be a part of your family’s celebrations.
Most of all, we want to thank Selina and Greg for including us in your amazing wedding. We are thrilled we could capture these memories for you.
Apr
23
Heading into the weekend, I figure we could all use a little dreamy beachside gorgeous-ness. And Selina and Greg found just the spot for their destination wedding at The Palms Hotel & Spa in Miami Beach, Florida. Just sharing a few favorites from their newlywed session the day after their wedding.
Alas, it rains even in paradise, so we started off with portraits around the hotel. Fortunately the hotel is beau-ti-ful so we had no problem finding amazing locations around every corner. Plus Selina and Greg would look good anywhere. They totally made it easy for us.
We did jump from the veranda terrace to a little jungle-like oasis by the pool without getting too, too wet.
Then over to the bar with appropriate grass thatched roof.
Snuggling up among all the greenery…
and by The Palms gate.
As soon as there was a break in the rain, we headed out to the beach.
You might guess that Dave and I were a bit in love with the lifeguard stand. As it was raining, the lifeguard didn’t have a ton to do that day and was totally at ease with us playing on his perch. All of the stands along Miami Beach are decorated with Art Deco flair, but the one by The Palms just shouts sun and fun. How lucky is that!
We couldn’t miss the opportunity for a little Trash the Dress action, but only a little. Selina and Greg were flying off to their honeymoon that afternoon and we couldn’t have their baggage weigh more than the limit. So they couldn’t get too wet, but that didn’t stop them from taking on the From Here to Eternity moment and adding their own flare to it.
Oops. Didn’t expect that wave.
Yup, even with the stormy clouds, the view was spectacular.
So glad we were able to venture to Miami Beach with Selina and Greg. Can’t wait to share more from their fabulous destination wedding! More to come soon from the ceremony, the reception, the family and friends celebrating.
Jan
30
Jackie and Scott’s fabulous New Year’s Eve wedding at the Boston Intercontinental Hotel was an absolute blast. The perfect way to kick off the next year and the next decade. We finished off our last entry with the church ceremony. The newlyweds hopped into the limo with their entourage and started the party. Truly, the limo was hopping with dance music and laughter. We made it to the hotel and were all set for a fun portrait session.
All of the family and friends who were needed for portraits hung out together during cocktail hour. The boys had a good time messing with Scott.
A few of Jackie and Scott enjoying their newlywed status. So sweet together.
Before the guests came into the ballroom, we wanted to capture the magic created by Winston Flowers for Jackie and Scott. The winter theme was gorgeous. Jackie had given Ryan and Pam a few guidelines as to what she was looking for, but they totally exceded her expectations with all of the special details- from orchids dripping from the tall arrangements to silver globes and varied candle styles and heights.
At our planning meeting before the wedding, there had been some discussion about the song they would choose for their first dance. And while I watched them dance, I knew the song actually didn’t matter. They were so in the moment, so with each other; their dance was only about them.
Toasts soon followed and the best man got everyone’s attention with jokes and surprises galore.
Stealing a kiss after the cake cutting.
The dance floor was soon mobbed and guests enjoyed all of the hoopla of the night. I love the way this photo Dave created captures the energy on the dance floor.
A bit of romance. I am a complete sucker for couples who get into the specialness of a wedding.
New Year’s Eve in Boston is not known to be the warmest of times. In fact it snowed earlier in the day, but this crew could not be stopped. They wanted a photo outside by the waterfront and the holiday decorations. So we took the party on the road; everyone had such a good time.
Did I say party? Yes. Definitely. Dancing like you wouldn’t believe. Dancing with smiles.
Dancing with hats.
Dancing that turned into kissing at midnight!
What a truly amazingly fun evening! And from what I hear the party continued well into 2010, with everyone hanging out ’til dawn.
Huge congratulations to Jackie and Scott, and to your family! And also many, many thanks for including us in your wonderful celebration. We adore you guys.
Also much gratitude to all of the professionals who contributed to this wonderful New Year’s Eve wedding:
Reception Site: Paul Melino and Ralph Black and their team at the Boston Intercontinental Hotel
Ceremony Site: Father Farrell of Our Lady of Assumption
Hair: Bobby Pinkham and Marie of Skin for All Seasons
Make-up: Jessica Russo from Bobbi Brown
Bride’s gown: Vera Wang Boston
Bridesmaids’ dresses: Vera Wang Boston
Groom and groomsmen’s tuxes: Men’s Wearhouse
Cake: Ellen Bartlett from Cakes to Remember
Floral Design and decor: Ryan Zoeller and Pam Boudreau from Winston Flowers
Lighting design: Paul from Boston Uplights
DJ: Peter Accolla from Nulmage Entertainment
Invitations: Arabella Papers
Save the dates: Mark Harris Stationers
Want to see more from Jackie and Scott’s New Year’s Eve wedding? Check out their slideshow and their PicFlic on facebook.
Jan
16
When Jackie and Scott chose to get married on New Year’s Eve 2010, they selected a night that would symbolize all of the things that weddings are meant to be- a tribute to their history, the start of something new, a celebration of family and love and joy. Really I can’t think of a more perfect way to start the next decade than a wedding. And they had one hell of a good time at their party. But I am getting ahead of myself.
So let’s begin with 2009, the last day of the 00′s decade. We had snow that day; it is Boston after all. So our New Year’s Eve was freshly painted with white. A scene setting image from the ballroom at the Intercontinental Hotel, where Jackie was getting ready and would later celebrate with family and friends.
Then up to her amazing suite to put on her dress. I captured a few of the details. First the shoes…
And then her Vera Wang dress. Absolutely loved the style and it looked amazing on Jackie. The lines like a sunburst from the side are quite flattering.
When Jackie was all set, we headed off to the church. She looked fabulous; even had the perfect wool coat to keep her warm.
Meanwhile, Scott was already at the church, preparing for the ceremony to begin.
Jackie was accompanied into the church. Note all of the fabulous candles and the beautiful display at the front of the church. Winston Flowers created the decor and winter theme for Jackie’s wedding and they did an absolutely phenomenal job- they brought the look together with lights, candles, greens, whites, silvers, and blues in all sorts of textures. Amazing!
Jackie and Scott had a Catholic ceremony at her family church north of Boston. I love the way Winston decorated the church interior. As you entered, you walked through an archway of greens dripping with crystals in fabulous glass vases. You felt like you were walking into a magical space.
Jackie and Scott were so cute during the ceremony; they found lots to enjoy and smile about.
Happy Newlyweds!
I have to leave with one little teaser image of what’s to come. Jackie had one wish for her wedding decor and she honestly didn’t think she was going to be able to get it. She wanted an escort card table of acrylic. She had seen a picture of one during her planning and totally fell in love with it. When she told Ryan and Pam of Winston Flowers, they made her dream come true. And wow!!!
Definitely check back as we party all night long with Jackie and Scott, bid a fond farewell to 2009 and say hello to 2010. More amazing photos to come!
Jan
13
Marla and Shawn had a stunning destination wedding at Hans Fahden Winery in Napa Valley, California. They had many of the traditional elements and celebrated in good style, but the day after their wedding, they wanted to spice things up a bit. So we did a very special newlywed session in the Marin Headlands and along the California Coast.
First stop, Point Bonita Lighthouse- so fun- everyone was cheering and so gracious, allowing the newlyweds to cross the bridge at the head of the line.
When walking back up the hill from the lighthouse, we noticed this little path in the grasses and a fabulous view of the Golden Gate Bridge. We had to stop and enjoy the scenery.
We had parked by this old bunker. It was a great place to play around for a bit. All of the old, rusty metal provided great texture and contrast to Marla’s softness.
We concluded our tour at Rodeo Beach for a little wave action and an opportunity to Trash the Dress.
Yes, they got wet and yes, it was very, very cold. These two were such troopers though. I was amazed!
We really got so lucky with the weather and the day turned out to be perfect. If you want to see more from their TTD session and their wedding, definitely take a look at their slideshow, their sneak preview, and their scoop.
Dec
06
Courtney and Brian are artists, both professional filmmakers and editors as well as graphic designers; plus Courtney is a trapeze artist. We were unbelievablely honored when they chose us to photograph their wedding day.
We wanted to make sure we captured their day in a way that spoke to their fun and creative nature as well as their individual personalities. Courtney is exuberant, energetic and courageous. And Brian is so, so sweet and supportive and genuine. They perfectly compliment each other. So today I share with you just a taste of what’s to come from their wedding at the Topsfield Commons. I hope you enjoy!
Courtney’s beautiful dancing dress and super cute shoes.
Hanging with the girls before the wedding.
Hanging with the boys…
A few portraits after the wedding. Tender sweetness.
A little background for this photo…. Courtney and Brian asked one of their dear friends to perform the ceremony at the wedding. She also happens to be a trapeze artist and a member of the circus arts community. During the ceremony, she handed Courtney and Brian each a clown nose with the wise thought that they never take themselves too seriously. They started not taking themselves too seriously immediately after the wedding and obliged us with a few emotional photos.
Another of Courtney and Brian’s talents’, swing dancing. They were awesome with aerials and all. (By the way, guys, we’d love to join you sometime. We haven’t been swing dancing in a very long time and totally miss it.)
Stealing a kiss during dinner.
After dinner and a bit of dancing and a few drinks, the circus crew went outside for a bite of dessert, aka fire. Okay so maybe it was more of a show than dessert, but it was so cool. This would be the "ringleader."
Several guests gave it a shot. And Brian used the tools of the trade to light his cigar.
Courtney was considering giving it a go. She had actually decided not to do it prior to the wedding- you know the whole don’t want to burn myself up and ruin the honeymoon idea- but then on the night of the wedding, she considered it. Here’s one of her attempts. Aaahhh, but did she go through with it? Check back to find out.
And I have to put a plug in for Courtney’s next trapeze show. It’s at the TSNY Beantown Boston area facility on Saturday, December 19 at 8 pm. We are so excited to finally be able to make it to one of her shows and it promises to be amazing. Come if you can!
Stay tuned for more photos.
Nov
02
Last night, we invited Andrea and Eric over for their wedding premiere. They had just returned from their amazing honeymoon in Greece- which sounded out of this world. We had a truly great evening hearing about the highlights from their trip- great food, stunning sunsets, and really friendly people- and reliving their wedding day with them through the photos. And now I am excited to share a few more with you.
I wanted to start with the portraits today because I felt like there were a few more fun ones I had to share from this part of the day. I love the old stone walls you find in New England. And The Harding Allen Estate definitely has some pretty ones.
The Estate has amazing gardens, complete with little hideways, pretty paths, a pergola, statues and this reflecting glass orb.
Catching the highlights from the setting sun and the resulting shadow.
The bustle on Andrea’s dress took a bit of time, but I love this image of her surrounded by the lace of her dress. And don’t her arms look amazing?
Off to the reception….
The speeches were great all around, but my personal favorite was the musical toast to Andrea, sung by her bridesmaids. They took the song "Agony" (which is actually a love song) from Into the Woods, the play Andrea and Eric were working on when they first met, and turned it into a tribute to Andrea. It was beautiful, witty, touching, perfect.
They were rewarded by a huge hug from Andrea and Eric.
Last night, we also learned a bit more about some of the preparation and thoughts that had gone into their planning. One of the things that stuck with me was that Andrea hadn’t planned on wearing a veil. But then when she tried it on, she just felt like a bride. I know exactly what she means. It didn’t feel real to me, when I was trying on dresses, unless I had a veil on. So then on Andrea’s wedding day, it became an important part of her look. I love the way Dave captured this image that shows off the veil in such a beautiful way.
And something a bit more amusing…
The young boys were outside playing with Eric’s brother’s dog. He was quite an athelete and the kids were highly entertained.
Back inside the dancing got kicked off by Andrea and Eric. If you haven’t checked out the PicFlick of them dancing, you should definitely do that. Here’s one of my absolute favorite still images from their first dance.
I love that Andrea took this moment to dance with her mom. They are clearly so close; it seemed only right that her mom should get a chance to dance with the bride.
And then the real party got underway. Some seriously crazy fun dancing, complete with handstands, kids on shoulders, two Conga lines, and even a dance routine led by one of Andrea’s bridesmaids. Good times were had!
The last dance slowed things down a bit, a chance for Andrea and Eric to embrace and take in the moment.
If you would like to see a larger set from their wedding, please enjoy this PicFlick…
Special thanks to all of the professionals who helped to make Andrea and Eric’s day so special:
To Grace and Leslie at The Harding Allen Estate, the grounds and service were amazing.
To Lisa at the Blessed Sacrament Parish, what a stunning New England Church!
Judy from Fulgere Salon and Spa, for Andrea’s hair and make-up
Andrea’s stunning wedding gown from Casablanca Bridal
The coordinated bridesmaid dresses from Jasmine Bridal
Eric and his groomsmen’s tux’s from Men’s Wearhouse, with special ties to match the ladies; gowns from The Tie Bar
Floral Design by Danielson Flowers
Revel Video captured the moments of their ceremony
Music was so important to Andrea and Eric and their musicians and DJ did an outstanding job fulfilling their dreams:
Arioso Chamber Players, lead by Brenda van der Merwe, and Elizabeth Noone, their organist provided the ceremony music
Roberta from Music Sensations kept the dancing going during their reception
For their invitations and paper products, friends Molly and Jon created the design. They also utilized a Rita Renning collection through Papyrus and created super cool save the date magnets through Magnet Street.
If you would like to see a few more of Andrea and Eric, definitely check out their engagement session, their sneak peek, and their slideshow.
