Apr
16
You’ve seen the wedding, now see the engagement session. Soo Jin and Roger are one stylish couple and they picked two favorite San Francisco spots for their portraits. Starting off at the stunning Palace of Fine Arts (the only remaining building from the 1915 World’s Fair, and one damn fine piece of architecture) and then over to Chrissy Field (beach glorious beach, even on this SF-typical foggy day- I mean really, we couldn’t even see the Golden Gate Bridge for most of the session). Just days before the wedding, this e-session was a great way to warm up for the big day in Sonoma (or rather cool down before the warm weather in wine country). In either case, enjoy!
You just gotta love these two. And so I am sure you need more. Check out their wine country wedding and their sonoma wedding portraits and reception.
Apr
10
Cassie and Dan’s after party was completely in keeping with the spirit of their destination wedding weekend. It allowed for a more relaxed time to celebrate with their guests who had traveled to Martha’s Vineyard for their wedding. They chose the Edgartown Boathouse and hired out the upstairs so they could spread out and enjoy. The party (with an appropriate boating theme) included more fantastic food and drink, great views, and lots and lots of dancing.
Kicking off the after party with sparklers to send the bride and groom off from the wedding reception, followed by a lovely walk down main street before Cassie went back to her hotel room to change into a party frock.
And a taste of what it felt like in the club. Boating decor abounded.
Sliders=perfect midnight snack.
Fun and games and dancing and more dancing.
And we popped out for a quick photo under the moonlight to end the evening.
I can’t imagine a more perfect celebration weekend for Cassie and Dan. Sunday concluded the festivities with a brunch; we were lucky enough to attend as guests and really enjoyed spending more time with their families and friends- such a fantastic crew of people.
So if you want to see the whole suite of photos together. Check out their Fenway Park e-session, their Chappy Rehearsal Dinner, their Old Whaling Church ceremony, their Daniel Fisher House reception and their destination wedding slideshow.
Apr
07
When you have a destination wedding, as Cassie and Dan did, the rehearsal dinner becomes a true extension of the wedding celebration. For these two, it was about sharing what they love most about Martha’s Vineyard. They wanted a quintessential island feel and chose the Chappy Beach Club as the setting. In addition to a great selection of food (from raw oysters to ice cream by the scoop), they asked guests to come in their best Vineyard attire. And they even showcased old world sailors’ songs to get the guests really enthused. It was a fabulous evening all around.
If you want more from this amazing wedding weekend, check out their destination wedding slideshow and the stories on the blog (1 and 2). And don’t miss out on their Fenway Park engagement session.
Still to come, the after party.
Dec
23
Just thought we should kick off this rainy holiday weekend with a refreshing celebration from this past summer. Part deux of Soo Jin and Roger’s perfect Sonoma wedding at Viansa Winery.
Our last post was all about the beauty leading up to and through their wine cave ceremony. And now we share sunset portraits and one fabulously good party.
First up the bridal party, with signature white parasols, courtesy of Viansa.
And then some alone time enjoying the magnificent valley scenery as the sun was beginning to set. Warm light made their skin glow. Well, that, and the happy day.
So many beautiful spots to shoot. We honestly could have photographed here all day.
But we had a party to attend. And the guests were waiting.
Grand entrance through the bridesmaid and groomsmen gauntlet. Love that the girls took the guys sunglasses and handed off their bouqets to the gents.
Yup.
First dance.
Finished off with a dip.
Kiss, please!
Fooling around in the photo booth.
Check out this super fun ring shot. They had the letters on their dessert bar table. Picked up the little chairs which were holding the escort cards, and then placed the rings on each chair. Love the connection to their day.
All around good times and simply stunning wedding. Congrats to Soo Jin and Roger and thanks to all those who made it a spectucular wedding!
Nov
23
Soo Jin and Roger have style to last til the end of time, and planned an elegant wedding in Sonoma. I can’t imagine a more perfect backdrop than these vineyards and wineries with all of their romance. The skies were clear. The air was warm. And Soo Jin and Roger were so excited to tie the knot.
They both got ready at a private home with Roger and the boys taking over the main house, and Soo Jin and the ladies enjoying the guest house by the pool. Not a bad way to enjoy a destination wedding really.
Her dress and the view from her pad.
Roger primping and prepping.
The boys downed a shot of something- not sure what- but here’s how it went down. Hmmm….
Meanwhile, Soo Jin was getting gussied up. Finishing touches on her dress.
They decided to do a first look before their ceremony so that they could take portraits without time constraints at Viansa. Roger was peeking before he was supposed to. Who can blame him?
He made up for it with kisses.
And then the ceremony began. It took place in the wine caves, lit by candles. Beautiful and romantic!
Clearly a happy couple! And more to come from sunset portraits and the reception fun.
Sep
06
Oh boy, it’s been a crazy summer and I am just getting back to sharing more from Anna and Johnny‘s beautiful wedding. My apologies for the delay, but let met tell you, these two are totally worth the wait!
Picking up where I left off, a few portraits outside the Greek Orthodox Church where they held their ceremony. So sweet.
And with their super cool vintage car.
Then we all headed up to the Lake View Pavillion in Foxboro, where they were hosting their reception. What an absolutely beautiful site. Situated amongst the trees and overlooking a lake. So of course we wanted a few more with Anna and Johnny.
The reception started and was absolutely full of joy. One of my favorite moments…. The best man was just about to make his toast. He had set his glass down so he could hold his notes and told the ringbearer to keep an eye on it for him. The ringbearer took his duty very seriously.
This was the toast in which I learned that our Paisano groom wasn’t Italian. I mean, how was I to know? He owned a pizza restaurant at one point. Oh the disillusionment.
Dancing with her dad.
Such a fun celebratory tradition, the Greeks throw money at the bride and groom, as well as during the parent dances. Here Anna’s twin sister showers Anna and her dad.
Family hug to follow. Love!
And even though Johnny’s not Greek, he gets the full treatment. I think his mom likes it.
Lots more dancing!
Getting down with his sister.
Anna’s sister dances for her.
As does her dad.
Yup. I am enamored with this little guy. He really is just too cute.
We closed the evening with a little relaxation in the lounge.
What a day! What a night! What fun all around! Huge congrats to Anna and Johnny and your families. It was an absolute joy to photograph your wedding day.
And special thanks to all of the amazing professionals who helped make the day a success:
Getting ready venue: Joy Lubrano of the Providence Biltmore Hotel
Ceremony site: Assumption of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church
Reception venue: Terry Memmo of Lake View Pavilion
Make-up: Dani Wagner
Hair: Cristina Vasilakos/Jana Rago from Acote Hair Salon Newbury Street
Bride’s gown: Maria Spyridopoulos from Sabella Couture
Bridesmaids’ dresses: Terry’s Bridal, designed by Jordan
Groom and groomsmen suits: Tim from Miltons, Chestnut Hill
Flowers: Desi of Whispers of Spring
Cake: Montilio’s Bakery
Videography: Steve and kathy Horemiotis of S&H Videography
Limousines: Christopher Limousines
DJ: Kostas Blathras of Hellenic Sound
Ceremony musicisans: Michael Monte of Allegro Chamber of Music
Invitations: Crosstown Press
If you want more, definitely check out their PicFlick.
Aug
09
Seeing as Tami is a former wedding planner, it’s no surprise that all of the wonderful details of her wedding were absolutely beautiful and perfectly reflected her and Gio. You may recall that they had an intimate wedding at the Outdoor Art Club in Mill Valley on a beautiful April day this spring. Now’s the time to enjoy a bit of inspiration and a few photos from the reception just for fun.
Check out the sweet flowers on her cake.
An elegant table setting.
Introductions and speeches are always fun.
Did I mention Tami’s beautiful red wedding dress?
A kiss while dancing, witnessed by more than one camera.
And since these two are tango dancers, they treated their guests to a show.
Loving our bride’s hair accessory- feathers and pearls.
Enjoying toasts.
This little munchkin was enjoying the gardens, and also happens to be one of our connections to Tami and Gio. Or more accurately her parents are. We photographed their Bernardus Lodge wedding, which Tami planned. So fun to see them and their growing family at Tami’s celebration.
A sweet bit of romance from their invitation for this ring shot.
Good music.
Means good dancing.
Congrats again to our fabulous couple! Extra special thanks to the team of professionals who helped make Tami and Gio’s day so special:
Getting ready, ceremony and reception venue: Laureen Novak from the Outdoor Art Club
Tami’s hair: Ashley Smith of Flower and Gold
Bride’s make-up: Alexia Ogle of Flower and Gold
Bride’s gown designer: Amy-Jo Tatum, custom design
Groom’s attire: Black Tie Tuxedo
Caterer: Alicia from La Mediterranee
Cake: Matthew Reilly
Floral Design: Erika Frank
DJ: DJ Olly
Ceremony musician: Leo King
Invitations: Delphine Doreau
Wedding favors: Vosges Haut Chocolat
Dance Instructors: Gustavo & Jessica Hornos
Want more from Tami and Gio’s colorful California wedding? Check out their slideshow and sneak peek. Or check out Tami’s thoughts on her blog.
Jun
16
I’ve known Tami for several years now. It all started when she was a wedding planner and Jo and I had the distinct pleasure of working with her. Since then, our paths have meandered in different directions, but we have been in touch throughout. So when Tami found Gio and they decided to get married, I was thrilled that she asked me to photograph their celebration. She and Gio selected one of my favorite intimate wedding venues in the Bay Area, the Outdoor Art Club, and spring couldn’t have been more perfect on their wedding day.
I started with the two of them as they got ready at the club.
Tami wasn’t particularly worried about western traditions. She chose a chic birdcage veil and a stunning red dance dress for her wedding look.
Our beautiful bride walking down the aisle.
Gio couldn’t be more smitten.
Or more excited to be officially married to Tami.
Sweet smiles leaving the ceremony in the garden.
During cocktail hour, I had the chance to capture a few portraits. Tami definitely planned another beautiful event. I loved her personal touches, like this sign.
We were all treated to some great music during the portraits and cocktail reception.
One of the many sweet little ones at the wedding. She is captivated by the flowers in the garden.
Tami and Gio were able to enjoy a few moments alone.
More to follow soon from Tami and Gio’s spring wedding in Marin County.
Jun
12
You may remember our knock-out bride and groom from their engagement session. Anna and Johnny are that fabulous duo who enjoy boxing together, amongst other things, and who did a super fun session at the Lars Anderson Park. Now I am thrilled to share a quick sneak peek from their wedding day. An absolutely joyous day filled with wonderfully fun people. Honestly, when we left that evening all we wanted to do was dance and celebrate. Days like Anna and Johnny’s are why we get so excited to do what we do.
Our first stop for the day was the Providence Biltmore Hotel where Anna was getting ready. Anna had a suite with great views of the city. A fun way to incorporate that and her very sassy, stylish shoes.
She had the help of all her bridesmaids as she slipped into her wedding dress.
Putting on her veil.
A very sweet moment with her mom.
Walking down the hotel’s very grand staircase, Cinderella.
Meanwhile, Dave had made his way to the church and was with our dashing groom.
When we arrived at the church, Anna stayed in the limo with her dad, waiting for her entrance. She couldn’t help peeking back to see what everyone was doing as the bridesmaids lined up.
This Greek Orthodox church has all of the beautiful decorations I typically attribute to orthodox churches, lots of golds and reds. But they also have gorgeous blue stained glass windows which change the tone of the light in the space.
What a cutie, totally surrounded by pink!
So many fun traditions in a Greek wedding. As Anna and Johnny walk around with the priest, their bridal party and guests threw rice on them.
Happily greeting their guests during the receiving line.
There’s never enough rice throwing!
Definitely more to follow soon, so check back for the scoop of Anna and Johnny’s wedding.
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.
