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.
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.
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.
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.
