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.
Apr
03
Details, details, details. Oh and lots of delicious food.
Once the reception got started, Mollie and Matt’s stamp could be seen from every vantage point. The way they incorporate their Great Gatsby-esque theme was to infuse the day with gilded style.
The perfect pair welcomed their guests with a delicous bite of fruit.
At each setting a menu with their brand.
The reception flowers had a more vibrant hue- deep pink, purple and green.
Guests were seated in multiple spaces throughout the mansion.
One couldn’t forget that fall was in the air when stepping outside on the Grand Allee.
Did I mention the food? Tables of Content did an outstanding job with presentation and taste. A few morsels from the cocktail hour.
The Crane Estate itself offers inspiration and beauty at every turn. The grand staircase.
Dinner is served.
Even in darkness the house is a beauty.
And time for dessert.
For their favors, Mollie and Matt gave a donation to 3 charities and in honor of those, offered their guests a sweet treat in 3 different colors.
Can’t forget the band. This party was a ton of fun. Mollie even mentioned that the funniest moment was, "The Maid of Honor having a dance off with the band’s lead singer." What a great crew!
One last image before I go, I have to admit I can’t blame this young man one bit.
Couldn’t have done it with out these pro’s:
Wedding planners: Megan Whithed from Linnea Tangorra Events
Church: St. Williams Church, Tewksbury
Reception venue: Ashley DiCarlo from The Crane Estate
Tent: Seacoast
Caterer: Tables of Content
Wedding cake: Jenny’s Cakes
Make-up artist: Dani Wagener
Hair: Derek Yuen and Aurora Salon and Spa
Wedding gown: Pronovias at L’Elite Bridal
Bridesmaids dresses: Vera Wang at L’Elite Bridal
Groom’s attire: Calvin Klein
Groomsmen’s tuxedos: Classic Tuxedo
Bagpiper: Murray Hill Entertainment
Band: Unity Band
Floral designer: Tony from Paul Anthony Designs
Rolls Royce: Phyllis at Le Limo
Guest transportation: Black Tie Limo
Rental Furniture: Seacoast Tents
The best of the rest from Mollie and Matt’s wedding: engagement session, sneak preview, and the scoop.
Mar
21
Just had to share all the fabulous details from Mollie and Matt’s wedding at the Crane Estate in Ipswich. For part one, I wanted to focus on the first half of the day, from the getting ready (ie personal details) and the church to just before the reception gets underway.
Mollie prepped at her grandmother’s home (a family tradition in and of itself) where she added special details to her own look and that of her bridal party.
Loving the something blue with the "I do" on her shoes.
And super sweet silver ballet slippers for her flower girls.
Mollie brought up a florist from New York, who also happens to be a family friend, to provide the beautiful floral. Love the shades of pink in her bouquet, as well as the mix of flowers.
Special necklace.
Softness of her veil over her lace wedding gown.
Her wedding gown was a very special choice. And here’s what Mollie had to say about it: "It was actually the same dress Jennifer Garner wore when she got married in The Ghost of Girlfriends Past. Oddly enough that movie was filmed at The Crane Estate." How perfectly fitting!
And we can’t forget the boys. Matt looked dashing in his tux with the white calla lily boutonniere.
The ring bearer had his own look- a deep purple boutonniere for him.
One tradition I hope never dies (though I do love all the variations on this theme) is the lighting of the unity candle. I love that it represents two becoming one, and how it includes both families. Mollie and Matt chose a candle with a monogram.
Traveling in vintage style, Mollie and Matt selected a historic car for their travels.
And at last we arrive at the beautiful Great House.
Congrats to the team of professionals who made Mollie and Matt’s wedding such a success!
Wedding planners: Megan Whithed from Linnea Tangorra Events
Church: St. Williams Church, Tewksbury
Reception venue: Ashley DiCarlo from The Crane Estate
Tent: Seacoast
Caterer: Tables of Content
Wedding cake: Jenny’s Cakes
Make-up artist: Dani Wagener
Hair: Derek Yuen and Aurora Salon and Spa
Wedding gown: Pronovias at L’Elite Bridal
Bridesmaids dresses: Vera Wang at L’Elite Bridal
Groom’s attire: Calvin Klein
Groomsmen’s tuxedos: Classic Tuxedo
Bagpiper: Murray Hill Entertainment
Band: Unity Band
Floral designer: Tony from Paul Anthony Designs
Rolls Royce: Phyllis at Le Limo
Guest transportation: Black Tie Limo
Rental Furniture: Seacoast Tents
More to follow soon, but in the meantime check out their engagement session, sneak preview, and the scoop.
Jan
31
Excited to share the second part of Mollie and Matt’s beautiful wedding at the Crane Estate. They celebrated with the last bit of fall still in the air, and on the trees. After their ceremony at Mollie’s family church, they traveled to Castle Hill for their portraits and their reception.
First off, portraits of our beautiful couple. Loving the oranges and golds in the background.
Enjoying the architecture of the Great House.
Before they were introduced, Mollie went upstairs to the bridal suite for a few touch-ups. On her way back down…
The guests dined in the central hall.
A few guests spent a bit more time enjoying the views of the Grand Allee. (For Amazing Race fans, this view may look familiar. Last season the host started the journey here.)
The first dance.
Mollie and her dad.
After Matt danced with his mom, she was all teary eyed.
Mollie’s parents enjoying the party.
Little boy getting down.
Such a perfect cake. Fits right in.
One final moment. Mollie and Matt enjoyed a slow dance towards the end of the night, amidst all their guests.
What an absolutely amazing evening! Congrats to Mollie and Matt and many thanks to all of the professionals who teamed up for their wedding day.
Wedding planners: Megan Whithed from Linnea Tangorra Events
Church: St. Williams Church, Tewksbury
Reception venue: Ashley DiCarlo from The Crane Estate
Tent: Seacoast
Caterer: Tables of Content
Wedding cake: Jenny’s Cakes
Make-up artist: Dani Wagener
Hair: Derek Yuen and Aurora Salon and Spa
Wedding gown: Pronovias at L’Elite Bridal
Bridesmaids dresses: Vera Wang at L’Elite Bridal
Groom’s attire: Calvin Klein
Groomsmen’s tuxedos: Classic Tuxedo
Bagpiper: Murray Hill Entertainment
Band: Unity Band
Floral designer: Tony from Paul Anthony Designs
Rolls Royce: Phyllis at Le Limo
Guest transportation: Black Tie Limo
Rental Furniture: Seacoast Tents
Definitely check out more of Mollie and Matt- their engagement session and sneak preview.
Dec
07
When last I wrote, it was just before Thanksgiving and I wasn’t able to share all I wanted about Jen and Brian’s fabulous wedding day. So now, I can reflect back and share a few of my favorite memories from the day. Such as how excited Jen was, so excited in fact that she had already finished her make-up, put on her dress, put on her shoes before we even arrived. She simply couldn’t wait to get ready and get married. So fun.
And how nervous Brian was waiting for the ceremony to begin. And how they put a Patriots decal on the back of the limo, because Brian is a HUGE Pats fan. (I am sure he is feeling good today.) And how proud Jen’s dad was walking her down the aisle. All these special moments from the beginning of the day.
Now I also get to share a few favorites from the second part of the day, aka the Party. After the ceremony, we went directly to the hotel, because it was too cold to take any photos outside. Fortunately the downtown Hyatt Regency has some great spaces for portraits and there is only one wedding there a day, so we could use any of the spaces we wanted. We started with the quintessential grand staircase.
Jen has a great sense of style; she was absolutely beautiful from head to toe.
The groomsmen hung out with Brian upstairs while we were photographing the ladies.
Such an exciting entrance. You can totally see Jen’s enthusiasm pouring through; and I LOVE the way Brian is looking at her. These two couldn’t be happier to have gotten married.
They went right in to their first dance, which culminated with this stellar kissing dip. Sweet!
As part of the fun they had planned, they included a photo booth. The kids really got into all of the costumes and having their picture taken.
For that matter, so did the adults.
The adults also had an amazing time on the dance floor.
And best time ever…. Conga! I haven’t seen one of these in a while. Really so fab. They took their party all around the hotel.
Finally, have to conclude with this awesome shoe shot Dave captured at the end of the evening. (Feels right since we started the last post with a shoe shot. Bookends. ) It really incorporates so much of their day- love the colors, the fashion sense, and the people getting down on the dance floor in the background- all about the fun of it!
So many thanks to share with all of the people who teamed up for Jen and Brian’s amazing wedding day:
First off, Jen Nicholson played the roll of event planner for her dear friend and also works at the Hyatt Regency. She and her staff lead by Ellie Cash did an amazing job, as always.
And to the rest of the professionals:
Getting ready venue: Marriott Courtyard
Ceremony Site: Colleen Campoion and Father Salzmann from St. Timothy Catholic Church
Caterer: Hyatt Regency
Cake: Konditor Meister
Floral Design: Edison from Madison Floral
DJ: Jack Barrows from Entertainment Specialists
Ceremony Musicians: Joe Heffernan
Videographer: Laurie Fox
Invitations: Norwood Printing
Save-the-Dates: Wedding Paper Divas
Bride’s hair and make-up: Kris Perkins and Courtney from Green Tangerine
Bride’s wedding gown: Monique Lhuillier at L’Elite Bridal Boutique
Groom’s attire: Mr. Tux
Of course, we have to share our congrats and gratitude with Jen and Brian. It was such a pleasure working with you and your families. What a great celebration!
You want more? No problem. Check out their engagement session, sneak peek, and slideshow.
Nov
30
It was a crisp fall day when Mollie married Matt. The sunshine brought out the blues, greens and stunning fall reds, golds and oranges, creating a beautiful backdrop for their celebration. There was also a warmth running throughout the day, the comfort of loved ones and special familial traditions. Mollie got ready at her grandmother’s house, as her mother had done before her. She and Matt wed in the same church as her parents had wed. And even some of the photography hearkened back to Mollie’s mom’s bridal portraits. Throughout the day, the family bonds shone through.
Dave and I started with Mollie as she was getting ready. And she actually started by helping her sister.
Her sister, of course, returned the favor. Putting on her beautiful long veil was no simple task.
Dave headed over to the gents who were arriving at the church, while I did a few portraits of Mollie. The warm wood panelling was a lovely accent to her photos.
As was this delicious light.
Dave arrived at the church and it was clear the fall was still bursting out.
A few moments with Matt, allowed for a series of portraits.
Mollie and her dad were ready to get the show on the road.
Loving this sweet moment of father and son, prior to the ceremony.
We also learned that the priest who presided over the ceremony was a cousin of Mollie’s. It added a personal element to the ceremony as he shared stories from the family’s history.
Loving this stolen moment between our bride and groom.
Perhaps my favorite part of the Catholic wedding ceremony is the moment when guests greet each other. It is such a warm way for everyone to connect.
And just a quick peek of what’s to come when I share from the second part of the day. All kinds of fun details and beautiful touches. These two lovebirds were inside a birdcage which collected cards. Sweetness.
Check back soon for more from the rest of Mollie and Matt’s beautiful fall wedding reception at the Crane Estate, including stunning portraits, inspiring details and one heck of a party. In the meantime, you can also check out the slideshow from their engagement session.
Nov
24
This one is just a quick post because we really wanted to give Jen and Brian a taste of what’s to come, basically whetting their Thanksgiving appetites for more. We hope you enjoy!
I promise there’s more to come soon with the story of the day and all the fun, including their super fabulous party at the Downtown Hyatt Regency. In the meantime, if you want more of Jen and Brian, definitely check out their engagement session.
Sep
06
That’s what Suzanne yelled to me on the dance floor. And I answered right back with a resounding, "Yes!" And boy was it! Suzanne and Andy picked an amazing 80′s cover band, Pop Rocks. And they played some of the best music ever made. The crowd couldn’t get enough of them. Really, so much fun.
But I am getting a little ahead of myself, because I left off at the end of the ceremony with Suzanne and Andy ready for their celebration. They continued with the cocktail hour on the patio. We had finished all of the formal portraits before the ceremony but they wanted to grab a few with their friends. Check out this image Dave captured of Andy and the boys.
Everyone headed inside for the reception. On the way, they were treated to some great details. Including family wedding photos in two spots and a little bird cage, complete with bird, to hold cards.
And check out Suzanne’s bouquet, loved the rich dark centers of these calla lillies.
I am always enamored when people wear hats to weddings. We so rarely wear hats for the sake of wearing hats these days; I think it makes a beautiful statement about the specialness of the day.
As soon as they entered, Suzanne and Andy made their way to the dance floor for their first dance. I was so excited to capture the dip.
Perhaps one of the most exciting parts of getting married and one of the few things that feels immediately different is the new piece of jewelry you wear to symbolize the occasion. Suzanne and Andy happily showed theirs off.
A welcome toast from Suzanne’s parents.
And from her dearest friends to "Anne and Andy." (Sidenote, perhaps one of the coolest things from this wedding is how many friends Suzanne and Andy have from throughout their lives. We did a photo of everyone who went to the same high school as Suzanne and there were like 20 people in the group. I am so amazed that she keeps in touch with and is still close to so many friends from that period in her life.)
And then things got started on the dance floor. It didn’t take long for this crew to show their appreciation for the music.
Makes me want to sing at the top of my lungs to some really loud music.
Which is exactly what Suzanne did with a few of her girlfriends, on the stage. Unbelievable! Awesome! So much fun!!!
Many thanks to Suzanne and Andy for including us in your day! It was an absolute joy celebrating with you.
And much gratitude to all of the fabulous professionals who helped make the day special for Suzanne and Andy:
Ceremony and Reception venue: Amanda Harris from StoneTree Golf Club
Getting ready site: Courtyard Marriott
Wedding coordinator: Shana Goldberg of Dee Merz
Caterer: Amanda Harris for Elaine Bell
Dessert treats: It’s-It Ice Cream
Floral design: Millita from Grant Avenue Florist
Rentals: Suzie from Big 4 Party Rentals
Band: Kalie from Pop Rocks
Ceremony musician: Glenn Carter
Hair: Nicole Hitchcock of NH2
Make-up: Nicole Saysette
Wedding Gown Designer: Matthew Christopher
Groom’s suit: Theory
Invitations: Spark
Save the dates: Costco
Special thanks to Brian Lee who joined as as a third photographer for this amazing wedding!
I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted more, more, more. And if that’s the case, check out their sneak peek, slideshow and their engagement session. Enjoy!
Aug
25
I can’t imagine a more perfect day to enjoy the photos from Suzanne and Andy’s wedding. I am sitting in our Boston studio and it is all dreariness and rain outside, but in front of me, on my computer screen, I get to see all kinds of sunshine. The day was beautiful, true, but I think the brightest part of the day was definitively our bride and groom. They couldn’t be more full of energy and fun. You will see it in the way they look at each other, in the way they interact with their friends and family, and in the way they celebrate.
Suzanne and Andy chose to see each other before their ceremony. They had a private moment in the gardens at StoneTree Golf Club to drink each other up. Suzanne approached Andy and teased him a little before she asked him to turn around.
He couldn’t stop looking at her. She was absolutely stunning.
We took the opportunity to do their portraits before hand. Not only did they look their freshest and had plenty of time for some great photos, but they were then able to enjoy all of their cocktail hour. It was the perfect choice for them.
So sweet and fun together.
I adored Suzanne’s dress. It was perfect on her- the best combination of sexy, glamorous, and playful. Check out the awesome mini-accordion crinoline underneath. Great texture.
And then it was time for these two to get hitched. Andy waited patiently at the end of the aisle for his bride to enter.
She walked in on her dad’s arm. And here, I have to take a little detour from the wedding narrative, because I got to hear a lot about Suzanne’s dad on the car ride from the hotel to StoneTree. He was an angel helping out with the wedding. Anything Suzanne or her mom needed, he took care of it. In fact, her mom said something along the lines of, "I love your dad more than ever today." She was so proud of and amazed by him. Probably the sweetest thing I have ever heard a mother of the bride say about her husband on her daughter’s wedding day. Really.
And now back to the story… Looks like he was pretty happy to help out, and especially happy to have his daughter on his arm.
The ceremony was beautiful, under clear blue skies.
With the rings, it became official.
And the celebration began immediately following the pronunciation of husband and wife. Let the party begin!
Did I say party? You betcha. Absolutely do not miss this one- coming soon. The 80′s cover band knocked our socks off and kept this party rocking!
Aug
06
On the radar, there was a rain cloud stretching from New Hampshire to Washington, DC and it was moving East at a steady pace. We had been watching the weather reports all week long, dreading what was to come for Maren and Steve’s wedding. They had chosen the most beautiful location for their destination wedding- an estate by the water in Portsmouth, RI- with an outdoor ceremony in the gardens. And they had planned a photo tour prior to the wedding which would take us around Newport‘s stunning coastline. Of course, this required a rain-free day. Dave and I were certain we would be relegated to Plan B. I brought the red umbrella for whatever photos we would be able to take outside.
What we didn’t count on was Maren and Steve’s good fortune. We had no idea they had some kind of extra special karma hanging out in their corner. Because what unfolded was nothing short of a miracle.
Maren got ready at the Pelham Court Hotel- a sweet boutique hotel with a great suite for our bride and her ladies. She didn’t seem at all concerned about the weather, which at that point was all sunshine in Newport.
She and Steve saw each other for the first time in the courtyard of the hotel. I love this moment where they get a good look at each other. And I love that Dave purposely captured the blue sky as part of the image. He wanted to make sure they had at least one photo with blue skies from their wedding day.
We took a couple of portraits in the courtyard. We actually had to have them sit in the shade, because it was still so bright out.
Then we headed off to Ocean Drive, for photos along the rocky coast line. As we drove there, we could see the storm clouds getting closer.
Check it out in this image. Towards the west an ominous sky.
In the same spot, but toward the east, the bridal party got to enjoy a few more moments of beautiful blue.
At this point, the sky was getting dark fast. Steve asked his groomsmen to bring the umbrellas to us, just in case. They were ready for the worst. Strangely the storm seemed to stop and hold it’s position.
We were able to capture a few more at this spot, and even stop at another along the coast.
I was so glad that we had been able to get those photos in. I figured that was all the luck we would have and was prepared for the inevitable indoor ceremony. When I arrived at the Glen Manor House, I was greeted with blue skies again. What?!? I thought. Then I saw that the gardens were set up for the ceremony. I honestly thought the coordinator had made a mistake. She told me she had checked the radar and it looked fine. I was shocked but happy.
Then of course, the skies turned to gray again. Didn’t bother the ring bearer one bit, though.
Maren and Steve took a moment to enjoy the view of the water, gorgeous even with the gray skies.
Then the ceremony began. And unfortunately just as the bridal party made their entrance little drips of water started falling very lightly to the ground. This is it! I thought. Now it’s going to downpour on their ceremony. The pessimist in me came out. I couldn’t help being concerned for all of the guests and our truly fabulous couple. And just as quickly as it had started, Maren walked out, and I kid you not, the drizzle stopped.
Not one more drop fell. Crazy? Maybe. True? Yes. A miracle? Absolutely.
Post script- I suppose all this sounds a bit overdramatic. And I can be prone to that, but just to give you a sense of how bad this storm was, everywhere but at Maren and Steve’s wedding that is, check out this article.
