Sep
30
For Emily and Yeung, the traditions and celebrations continued from morning to night. When last I wrote, I left off just as the Western wedding ceremony was beginning.
They included their own personal touches, such as the blending of colored sand.
After the ceremony, we toured around Boston to capture some great portraits of the newlyweds and their bridal party. We started at the Church of Scientology. Loving the trees surrounding the fountains when you first enter.
Then we headed over to Copley Square, just with Emily and Yeung, and took a few by the John Hancock and then the Trinity Church.
We finished up in Chinatown where the banquet would be held. And perhaps my favorite image, on the ramp of the parking lot above the Chinese Restaurant. You never know where you will find something fun and playful.
Soon the party got started. They kicked off the evening with a slideshow. Here the bridal party watches and enjoys.
They worked really hard on the choreography for their first dance. Showing off their moves….
Yeung took on the task of opening the champagne.
One of my favorite Chinese traditions are all the games. This crew put a twist on the evening. Instead of Emily and Yeung having to perform (at least at first), the guests had to complete challenging tasks (such as moving an ice cube from one tray to another with only a pair of chopsticks) in order to get Emily and Yeung to kiss. This lady was successful!
Emily’s maid of honor toasted the newlyweds, making everyone laugh, then cry.
It wouldn’t be a crazy chinese wedding without karaoke. This crew got together to share a song for the bride and groom.
Bouquet and garter tosses? Well they don’t happen quite as often as they used to, but when you get the right crew, they can be a lot of fun.
And then a new custom, perhaps. The gent who caught the garter put on a show for the lady who caught the bouquet. He happens to be a black belt and his moves were amazing.
He wasn’t the only one with great moves. Here’s another guest, putting on a show for our bride (now wearing one of her Chinese dresses). Loving it!
What a great day, full of fun and traditions!
Congrats and thanks go out to all the professionals who helped make Emily and Yeung’s day so special.
Getting ready venue: Home and Marriott Hotel
Ceremony Venue: Marriott Hotel
Reception Venue: Hei La Moon
Cake: Konditor Meister
Wedding Gown designer: Maggie Sottero
Bridesmaids dresses: Maggy London
Groom’s suit: Hugo Boss
Groomsmen’s suits: Kenneth Cole
And finally thanks to Emily and Yeung for choosing us to photograph your day. So glad we could be there to capture all of these special moments.
If you want more from Emily and Yeung, definitely check out their engagement session, sneak preview, and slideshow.
Sep
21
For Emily and Yeung, we kicked off the day with a few Chinese traditions. Emily was tucked away in their new house with her close friends and family. Yeung and his boys arrived to "break in" and get to his bride. And they came bearing the flowers. Very nice!
From the inside, I could catch glimpses of the groomsmen as they tried to negotiate their way in.
And I was able to spend a little time with Emily, as she observed the boys’ efforts from above.
And also capture a few details, such as the shoes she wore with her Xi-pao.
Eventually the boys were allowed inside. Yeung wasted no time; he jumped over the barricade on the stairs and rushed towards his bride with flowers in hand.
Emily greeted Yeung with smiles and the two of them joined their guests downstairs for the traditional tea ceremony. It was followed by a few portraits. Here, a silhouette of our bride and groom.
It was then time to head to the hotel where they would host their Western ceremony. Emily had a room where she could change into her white wedding dress.
Her girls helped get her into her ballgown.
Love that smile.
And check out the necklace she chose, such a great match for her gown.
Yeung and his groomsmen also had some touching up to do.
As soon as everyone was ready, they prepared for the ceremony to begin. Yeung waited at the end of the aisle and the guests peered anxiously towards the door for Emily’s entrance.
I leave you with that little cliff hanger. More to come soon from the ceremony, portraits and their Chinese banquet.
Want more now? Check out their e-session story: Prescribed Romance.
Sep
19
When two people fit like a glove, their wedding day is an affirmation of what everyone present knows and trusts- that they belong together and that it couldn’t be any other way. So it was with Becky and Neil. From the very beginning, Becky and Neil found they had so much in common- there was the obvious passion for chemistry, but also less obvious things like their style and approach to the world. Being a part of their wedding day was such a joy. They were truly relaxed on the day and each of them was so excited to get to marry the other.
Becky and Neil started their day at the Royal Sonesta, where they each got ready. Dave spent most of his time with Neil and I got to hang with Becky and the ladies. I started off with a few details. Becky’s color theme was black and white formality with a splash of red to spice things up. She even had a red sash added to her wedding dress.
The white and ivory bouquet of roses and freesia for Becky; the red roses were for the bridesmaids.
Becky helped her dad (who also happened to be her officiant) with the boutonniere.
And as Becky did a few finishing touches, her bridesmaids watched on.
Meanwhile, Neil was getting gussied up himself.
One of my favorite parts of the day was actually the "transportation." As they had chosen to get ready at the Royal Sonesta which was literally around the corner from the Museum of Science, their wedding venue, they elected to walk. So fun.
It was a brilliantly gorgeous day, perfect for a stroll. Along the way, Becky was treated to honks and hollers of congratulations from passers by.
Not a bad view from the pavillion at the Museum of Science.
And we were ready for the ceremony to begin. Neil walked down the aisle with his mom and dad. I love how all three of them look so proud and so happy.
Becky soon followed, escorted by her mom and her brother.
She and her mom exchanged a kiss, with smiles from her brother, before she greeted Neil as her groom.
Want more from Becky and Neil? Check out their engagement session.
Jul
02
We get to see all kinds of weddings, for sure, from the most minimal- a couple at city hall- to the most extravagant- a bride and groom with huge numbers of guests in grand venues- and everything in between. And we enjoy them all; the beauty in each truely comes down to the people involved. When Meagan contacted me, I was very excited. You see, Meagan was referred to us by her friend Leigh-Ann, who also happens to be our friend and a wedding industry peer so we knew Meagan would be fantastic to work with. She and Chris and their wonderful families did not disappoint. And their intimate wedding was absolutely beautiful.
Meagan and Chris had been engaged for awhile, but hadn’t gotten very far into the wedding planning, until this spring, that is. At which point, they decided not to mess around and scheduled the date for early June. They planned a small ceremony at her parent’s home in Beacon Hill, with portraits to follow in the Public Garden, and then dinner at a favorite restaurant. The whole feel of the evening was warm, loving, bright.
Meagan arrived at the ceremony on foot. Calm, at ease, and joyful.
She entered the living room where their guests were gathered. Some stood, some made themselves comfortable on the couches and chairs.
I found myself completely caught up in the meaning of the ceremony, truly listening and feeling the impact of the moment.
The kiss and the applause.
And the hugs and the tears. Pretty much everyone was in tears.
Meagan definitely thought about the details and they seemed to match her sophisticated taste to a tee. Her J.Crew wedding dress was modern and chic; her bouquet of cream roses with touches of whites and greens was the perfect accent.
Following the ceremony, we took a few portraits in the condo.
I love the moment just before the kiss.
Snuggling up by the window.
Then we ventured down to the Boston Public Garden.
The big tree in the back and the way Meagan casually holds her dress gives this one an old world romantic feel.
I am thinking these tourists definitely got their money’s worth from their Duck Boat adventure.
We went back up to the flat to hang out for a bit before dinner.
The yummy looking cake. Mmm…. I think I am getting hungry.
Then over to the Beacon Hill Hotel & Bistro for dinner.
And some more photos?!
Many thanks to Meagan and Chris. What a joy it was to work with you and be a part of your celebration!
If you want to see more, check out their slideshow.
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.
Apr
19
Last night, Jackie and William came over for the premiere of their engagement session photos. The viewing of the photos was a central part of the evening to be sure, but honestly I just had so much fun getting to know them better. I knew their story, the story of how they met, that is; and a good bit about their wedding planning. But now I feel like I know so much more about them, such as that they love good food and they enjoy cooking together. So then they tipped us off to a great Boston secret- a culinary school for average folk in Cambridge. We can’t wait to try it out.
But I digress, this entry is really about their engagement session, which was a blast! We journeyed down to Princeton University where they met while attending a reunion. It was the perfect location to do their engagement session. We were happy to oblige and found a weekend in early April that worked for everyone, including Naomi and Jack of Generations Cinemastories, who came down to film their story.
With a backdrop as beautiful as Princeton’s campus, we were truly experiencing an embarrassment of riches. Add to that all of the connections that they have to their school and we ended up shooting for hours. We would have kept on going if the daylight hadn’t left us.
We wandered around campus with Jackie and William pointing out favorite spots from their time at Princeton as well as the important locations from the weekend when they met and fell in love.
They saw each other for the first time in this amazing library in Chancellor Green.
In the courtyard outside the library.
William’s dining club from his year’s at Princeton, called Tower, also happens to be one of the places where they met up during the reunion weekend. The light shining through the doorway was glittery and magical when we popped in to look around.
Naomi and Jack took a few moments to interview Jackie and William.
Of course, early April on the East coast is hit or miss as far as weather goes. Clearly Jackie and William have done something right with their lives, because we were so lucky. They had the most perfect weather and all of the stars were aligned for trees full of blossoms. I am a magnolia fanatic so this was heavenly.
For mom….
For our fabulous couple….
Apparently Princeton has some very fun traditions, and Jackie and William were holding out on us until the very end of our session. It is customary for each class to have their own reunion uniform when they come back for reunion weekend. Celebrating the school’s colors- orange, black and white- and their mascot- the tiger- Jackie and William donned the outfits they wore that weekend for a few photos around Princeton’s landmark tigers at Nassau Hall.
I just have to close with one image that’s a bit more abstract, but I think it expresses what it must have felt like for Jackie and William to find each other. They were in what I imagine was a somewhat crowded space attending a reunion party and somehow they saw each other; the world slipped away. I created this in the library where they met for the first time and the effect is done completely in camera.
Of course this is only a glimpse of all the fun we had, so if you want to see a few more, definitely check out their slideshow.
Mar
11
The sparkles and sounds of Amber and Tyler’s wedding fit together perfectly with the taste and scents from the food and floral. From top to bottom and with all five senses, Amber created a feeling of city elegance.
Tyler chose Amber’s engagement ring with help from Amber’s mom, who also happens to be a jeweler. When they were ready to select their wedding bands, her mom was happy to help the couple find a perfect match.
Amber’s complete look- from head to toe- in style. Earrings, veil, hair, wedding dress, bouquet and rings… Beautiful.
A closer look at her birdcage veil, styled with jewels and feathers, and her teardrop diamond earrings.
After the ceremony, the veil was removed, but the feathered and jeweled comb for her hair stayed to add a sense of whimsy. Also check out Tyler’s distinguised black-tie tux with the singular white rose boutonniere.
The sounds that filled the air that evening can only be attributed to Keith Johnson and the AM Radio. They kept the dancing going and the guests entertained.
Actually Tyler also helped with the entertainment. He sang one special song just for Amber.
Though he knew the song, he wasn’t taking any chances.
I can’t think of anything more romantic. He even had a single red rose for his new wife. She rewarded him with a sweet kiss.
With the nerves set aside, it was time to party. Dancing to the great band was no problem for our groom!
And that completes the details from Amber and Tyler’s stunning wedding. If you would like to see the more from their wedding, I would recommend checking out their slideshow.
The pros involved in this wedding were amazing. Another round of thanks to:
Ceremony Venue: Borgia Room at The Westin St. Francis
Reception Venue: Alexandra’s at The Westin St. Francis
Hair: Antonio Cabral
Make-up: Aida Morano from Aida’s Custom Cosmetics
Gown Designer: Romona Keveza
Bridesmaid dresses: Siri
Groom’s tux: Canali
Groomsmen’s tuxes: Selix Rentals
Cake: Shinmin from I Dream of Cake
Floral Design: Jeffrey from J Floral Art
Band: Keith Johnson and AM Radio
Ceremony Musician: Amber’s stepfather, Carl Weimer
Invitations: William Arthur
Mar
08
You’ve probably already noted that Amber and Tyler‘s wedding at the historic Westin St. Francis Hotel above Union Square was all about city sophistication and classic style. She continued the look and theme with her floral design; limiting the type and color of flowers highlighted the texture and gave the whole look a cohesive feel.
For her own bouquet, held here by her bridesmaid during the ceremony, she chose white orchids with yellow centers.
Her bridesmaids’ bouquets were also a single flower type and color- all merlot calla lillies. They just feel like an flower for an evening event.
Together the ladies looked great- white on white for the bride and deep red with chocolate brown for the bridesmaids.
Corsages for the moms continued the look- deep red orchids.
To add to the elegance of the ceremony in the Borgia Room, white candles of varying heights and types were places on the mantle over the fireplace. They were surrounded by garnet roses and greenery.
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For the reception table decor in Alexandra’s, multiple containers were used on each table. Each had a different single flower type in complimentary colors; all the containers were varing sizes. The monochromatic look came together in a sophisticated way.
Up close…
From a distance…
One of my favorite touches was this monogram. The bride and groom’s formal initials laid on a bed of flowers- roses, dahlias, lilies, orchids- with lights around the edges.
Congrats to Jeffrey from J Floral Art for creating such a stunning look for Amber and Tyler.
Mar
03
Sophistication. Elegance. Cosmopolitan. All words that describe Amber and Tyler’s chic San Francisco wedding at the Westin St. Francis in Union Square. Selecting the location was key to creating the feel they were looking for. The hotel’s history, decor and architecture all added to the beauty of their day.
The ceremony took place in this fabulous space, the Borgia Room. I am enchanted by the wood panelling and the gorgeous ceiling. The chandeliers are not too shabby either.
I love the fireplace as the central focus point for the space and the wedding.
Even the hallways are magnificent at the St. Francis Hotel. They made for an excellent portrait location on a day when going outdoors just wasn’t possible.
As the guests made their way to the reception in Alexandra’s, they were treated to more elegant touches. The seat assignments were listed on this scroll.
Each place setting had a special gift awaiting the guest.
A Surf and Turf dinner soon arrived- quality to match any restaurant in San Francisco. And if you have tasted the food in San Francisco, you know that is truly high praise.
Champagne toasts followed the meal.
The reception space was gorgeous. I especially loved this mural behind the band, so beautifully lit.
And for a greater sense of the room, from our bride and groom’s perspective.
Through a doorway.
From the band’s perspective.
And the wedding dinner wouldn’t have been complete without a few tasty treats to cap off the day.
First a platter of desserts.
And then this stunning cake- wrapped in white chocolate sheets and decorated with dark chocolate swirls and roses. Amazingly elegant.
To add a sense of whimsy to the day, an adorable super hero cat groom’s cake.
More details and inspiration from Amber and Tyler’s wedding to follow soon. If you would like to see more from their day now, check out their story and their slideshow.
The pros:
Ceremony Venue: Borgia Room at The Westin St. Francis
Reception Venue: Alexandra’s at The Westin St. Francis
Hair: Antonio Cabral
Make-up: Aida Morano from Aida’s Custom Cosmetics
Gown Designer: Romona Keveza
Bridesmaid dresses: Siri
Groom’s tux: Canali
Groomsmen’s tuxes: Selix Rentals
Cake: Shinmin from I Dream of Cake
Floral Design: Jeffrey from J Floral Art
Band: Keith Johnson and AM Radio
Ceremony Musician: Amber’s stepfather, Carl Weimer
Invitations: William Arthur
