In many ways, sharing Erin and Koji's wedding with you on Independence Day is fitting. While they didn't have fireworks or a red white and blue themed wedding - they exemplify the very essence of giving freedom. You see, Erin and Koji have a heart for international medical work. They use their medical education and talents to bring healing to people all around the world who are sick and afflicted. In fact, it was their work that brought them together. We could think of no more deserving couple to have found one another and share a lifetime of happiness together. One of our favorite moments from their wedding (aside from their perma-smiles during their ceremony) was Erin's little surprise for Koji during their reception. Koji has been a long time fan of the super talented musician Peter Mulvey. It was a no-brainer that Erin and Koji would share their first dance to one of his songs - but Erin wasn't going to settle for a recording. As a surprise for Koji, Erin hired Peter Mulvey himself to be dinnertime musical entertainment, as well as play their first dance song *live* during their reception. You may want to scroll back up and see the adorable reaction Koji had. That kind of happiness and delight was infused throughout the entire day which left us feeling so happy that we get to share in such a special a part of our client's lives. Erin and Koji - we couldn't be happier for you. Thank you for making our job so rewarding - you guys are the best!
Maria + Kyle = Married
When Maria and Kyle asked us to photograph their Green Bay, Wisconsin wedding - we knew it was going to be awesome. Kyle and Matt grew up together so we already knew the kind hearted, goofy and loving teddy bear he was and while we had barely met Maria, we knew that she was going to be a perfect compliment to Kyle's charismatic personality. Down to earth, sweet, and drop dead girl-next-door gorgeous, Maria was everything we had expected and more. They are perfect together. If their relationship could be summed up in one day it may have well been their wedding day. Their loving families contributed their talents in many ways; Maria's brother composed and directed the music for the ceremony, another one of Maria's brothers performed in the ceremony and Kyle sang 'My Maria' by Brooks and Dunn during the reception to his bride. (Melt our hearts!). Every speech and toast drove home what amazing people Kyle and Maria are separately, and how wonderful they are together. All in all it was a happy day, and we're so grateful to have been able to share in it. Congratulations Maria and Kyle!
Kristin + Brian = Married
Kristin and Brian were married at the Mansion at Turner Hill in Ipswich on the rainiest day in June. As their big day approached and the weather kept threatening major storms on their wedding day, we were all a little disappointed that their outdoor garden ceremony and leisurely cocktail hour they had originally planned to be outdoors would need to be moved inside. Lucky for us (and the rest of the wedding guests) the inside of the Mansion at Turner Hill is absolutely spectacular. In fact, it has served as a backdrop for many major motion pictures and even stepping inside you feel as though you have been whisked back into another era. As the morning of the big day arrived and as all of the preparations buzzed, Kristin was as cool as a cucumber as she readied herself to see her groom for the first time on their wedding day. Brian and his guys waited for the ladies while relaxing in the historic smoking room, playing cards and drinking scotch. As the rain poured down, we found a large covered overpass for Kristin and Brian to have their First Look and Portraits utilizing the natural light while remaining dry and clean in the hurricane-like weather. We were all glad to go inside afterward where guests started arriving to be welcomed by a large fire in the library and many happy welcome hugs. A cozy vibe isn't something you might expect at a June wedding but it was a fabulous touch and highlighted the exquisite nature of the venue. Their ceremony was sweet and beautiful and the rest of the evening went off without a hitch; dining in the tent, toasting to their happiness and rocking out the dance floor with a live band. While the wedding did have to utilize that all important 'Plan B' rain back up plan, the most important elements - family, love and two people entering into a new life together - were so present and full that the small details paled in comparison. It truly was a perfect day.
Holli + Eric = Married
Many of our clients know that Matt and I are not native to New England. Maybe it's because we didn't grow up here and we're more sensitive towards the regional nuances, but we've always been smitten with New England culture, accents, and big loving Italian families. Sharing in someones wedding day from the photographer's perspective is like being in their community for a day. It's a really interesting and fun experience that gives you a look into their families and friends. With these things in mind, you can imagine that Matt and I had a blast shooting Holli and Eric's wedding day. People greeted one another with bear hugs and a hearty kiss on the cheek, and laughter was never absent. Holli and Eric's love for one another was the perfect accompaniment to their joy filled day. Holli was beaming with excitement all day and Eric's face lit up like the sun whenever he laid eyes on his beautiful bride. We wish you two many years of happiness, Congratulations!
Meaghan + Joe = Engaged
Meet Meaghan and Joe. They are tying the knot in September at one of our favorite wedding venues, The Willowdale Estate. From the moment we started talking with them, it was clear that they would be really great people to work with and thus we really wanted to shoot their wedding. They are super laid back with an eye for detail and have the type of love that radiates when you're around them. We were smitten. When we met up with them at The Historic Wayside Inn in Sudbury, MA for their engagement session all of our first impressions of how great they are were exceeded. They are everything they exude and more: relaxed, fun, kind hearted and full of laughter. We enjoyed the beautiful weather and abundance of natural landscape on their shoot and we're so excited to see them in just a few months for their gorgeous wedding!
Morgan + Peter = Married
You will not meet a couple that is better suited for one another than Morgan and Peter. We've absolutely loved getting to know these two, especially since they booked us to shoot their gorgeous Cape Cod wedding almost two years ago. You really get to know someone in that amount of time, and one of our favorite perks of this job is when clients become friends. It was in that process that we got to know them better, met their dog, had an engagement session with them, worked on some smaller photo projects with them and exchanged about a thousand e-mails. On their wedding day when Kendra's allergies were so bad that she had lost her voice completely (but felt fine) it was no big thing since the four of us had established a relationship throughout their engagement and knew everything was going to work out (p.s. Morgan gets bride of the year for trusting a miming photographer with large group portraits!) Their wedding day was everything they imagined it to be. Gorgeous weather, perfect beachy wedding details, happy guests, a rocking dance party and an overflowing love that surrounded them as they became a new family. So much love. Morgan and Peter, it's been a true joy being a part of your lives. We couldn't be happier for you!
Heather + Steven = Married
There is so much to love about Heather and Steven. If the above images haven't shown you just how good they are together, let me elaborate a bit. Heather and Steven met while in undergrad at Yale. They now live in Cambridge where Heather commutes to her Graduate program at Brown and Steven is at his Graduate program at Harvard. As Heather's sister and maid of honor pointed out in her toast on their wedding day, this alone is enough to make you feel a little jealous of them - let alone their stunning good looks. The thing about Heather and Steven however, is that they could not be more loving, caring or kind. They are the real deal. We enjoyed every moment of their wedding at St. Thomas More Chapel in New Haven (by far one of the most unique Catholic Church we've shot in!) followed by their old world charm reception at the New Haven Lawn Club and gorgeous florals by Candi's Floral Creations. As if the venues weren't exciting enough to photograph, it was really Heather and Steven's love that stole the show like a big cherry on a sundae. We left their wedding with a giant smiled wiped on our faces after witnessing the outpouring of love from their family and friends during their big day (Heather's Dad who doesn't consider himself a singer even sang her a Billy Joel song during the reception, and Steven and his mom's parent dance was so advanced and charming!) All in all, it was a beautiful day filled with beautiful love. What more could you ask for? Congrats you two! We hope you're having fun in Italy!
Melissa + Matt = Engaged
Melissa and Matt are our kind of people. They enjoy the little things in life like nature, laughter and love. They have super laid back personalities and are all about making life FUN. When planning their engagement session, we knew that we needed to find locations that would suit their personalities. Matt and I have a running list of locations that we'd like to shoot engagement sessions in that are just waiting for the right couple, and when Melissa and Matt asked us for suggestions, we knew just where we should go. They love the outdoors and feel most comfortable in nature, (Matt's an excellent fishermen!) so we started the session at the Lyman Estate and then hopped down the street to the most colorful and fun graffiti wall in downtown Waltham - which is a perfect capture of Melissa's bubbly personality. Needless to say, we had a blast getting to know these two even better and can't wait for their wedding in September. They are contemplating using one of their engagement photos as a temporary stick on tattoo for their guests as wedding favors, and our vote is definitely for one of the photos with the colored bubbles raining down on them. Which one would you choose?
Janet + John = Engaged
The first day of June seems like a perfectly fitting day to share Janet and John's Engagement Session in Larz Anderson Park with you. We met up with Janet, John and their sweet dog Pudgey (cutest name ever, right?) a few weeks back to capture their Engagement at their favorite park and the place John proposed. The park is a beautiful place to shoot with it's old stone structures, quaint little pond and bounty of lush green landscape. Janet and John were naturals in front of the camera, so they made our job easy. We love the way Johns eyes light up when he looks at Janet and the way she always seems to be laughing when he talks to her. Pudgey kind of stole the show during some parts of the shoot with his sweet demeanor and love of sticks. We can't wait for Janet and John's wedding in August at Elm Bank at the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, it's going to be stunning!
Jenn + Keith = Engaged
Jenn and Keith had us at hello. Literally from their very first inquiry they were overflowing with love, joy and excitement for their wedding. Clearly this the cherry on top of a pretty pie for us. Without a doubt, working with great people who we get to call friends is one of the best perks of our job as photographers. After they "said yes to the photographer" so to speak, we knew it was going to be a blast working with them. Jenn and I e-mail back and forth a lot, and she always leaves me smiling, even on the computer! We of course remembered how sweet and loving Keith was from our initial meeting, but it was during their Engagement Session that we learned just how good they are together. They choose two locations that were dear to them; The Longfellow House in Cambridge and the Rosebud Diner in Somerville. Jenn, in her super organized manner, had coordinating outfits for each location and had been reading our blog close enough to remember how much I love French Macarons and gifted me some at the beginning of their session (Wheee!!). After a few minutes of shooting Jenn revealed that they were "just a little bit nervous" for their session. This is where Keith really shined. Every time she whispered to him that she was nervous, he wrapped her up in his arms and made her laugh. Laugh! When one is nervous laughter doesn't come naturally. Soon they were swept up into their own rhythm and our job was a breeze. We truly think these photos represent what Jenn and Keith are all about : love, joy and excitement!
Kristen + Jay = Engaged
One of the first things we noticed about Kristen and Jay was the way they listened to one another. When one of them is talking, the other is in complete rapture of what they are saying. The more we got to know them, we realized that it was a classic Southern Boy meets East Coast Girl love story. Jay is a true Southern Gentleman. He opens doors for others, speaks with care and is always smiling. Kristen is a charming East Coast Girl. She's witty and smart and knows how to make Jay laugh. They are perfect together. We enjoyed getting to know them better and hearing about their July wedding plans which we can't wait to be a part of. We spent part of their Engagement Session in Christopher Columbus Park on the Boston Wharf (don't you just love the arbor way?) and finished off in the North End where they had their first date, by Pizzeria Regina in fact. We just *had* to end the session by grabbing a slice with them. How could we not? It was then that we got to talk even more about their wedding and life plans together. What a lovely pair they are!
Marleah + Chris = Engaged
When we first met with Marleah and Chris and heard all about their plans for a laid back backyard wedding in Scituate - we were hooked. Clean, Vineyard Vines inspired design meets laid back summer day. Yes please! It came as no surprise to learn that they live in Nantucket and enjoy the little things like walks on the beach and playing with their cat and adorable chocolate lab, Fletcher. We met up with them in Scituate (with Fletcher of course!) and had a blast catching up on the latest wedding plans and generally getting to know the two of them even better. The shoot was fast and furious, but they jumped right in and clearly these two have got it going on in front of the camera. They are so happy together and their love for one another shines. We can't wait for their wedding in August - it's going to be an amazing day!
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The Summer Street Photobooth
Happy Friday friends! We're here today to talk about something we've had in the works for a long time - THE SUMMER STREET PHOTOBOOTH! Yeah. We're a little excited about it. We've been hunting for the perfect props and the most accessible set up to make having a photo booth at your wedding a breeze. Check out the vintage suitcase full of props!
Just in case there is any confusion, the suitcase is full of:
-Mustaches, glasses, bow ties and more on sticks including two different glass vases to hold the props
-Two different styles of an '&' to fit your wedding design aesthetic
-A chalkboard speech bubble (and chalk) for your guests to write well wishes or funny things
-Two lightweight wooden empty frames that can fit two heads
-Three feather boas
Basically, it's a one stop shop. You don't need to worry about talking with the caterer or florist about supplying photo booth prop holders (all included) or any last minute Etsy orders just days before the wedding because you forgot to order mustaches on a stick. We've got it all taken care of. We bring it, set it up, operate it, and tear it down all without you worrying who will be responsible for getting photos out to people afterward, paying too much for a photo booth company to set up their tiny point and shoot camera in an oversized booth, or trying to DIY your own photo booth which can have many accessibility and transportation issues on the day of the wedding. We wanted it to be SUPER easy and SUPER fun.
You know that we also couldn't just have a one size fits all backdrop option. Oh no. We have four.
First up: Gold Dots!
Secondly, The Summer Street Flag Bunting! (Recognize this one from any logo?)
Next, The Glittery Just Married Banner (Made by our dear friend Amy from Glass Confetti!)
And Finally, The Silver Tassle Bunting!
Annie and Kevin had The Summer Street Photobooth at their wedding a few weeks back, so we thought you might like to see some of the photos from their 'booth. Their guests LOVED the booth. Recognize anyone in there? :)
Pretty fun right? We've got lots of details about the technical requirements, booth operator options and more. If you're already a Summer Street couple, it's not too late to contact us for more info about adding the photobooth to your coverage, and if you're looking at hiring us for your wedding, know that it's an option for package customization!
Chris + Mark = Married
Oh Mark and Chris. They are so good together. They are the pair that finish each others sentences and have the relationship maturity of a couple who has been married for 50 years. We adore them. They said 'I Do' at one of our favorite Boston area venues, The Lyman Estate. You know that we're suckers for Historic New England properties (we got married at another Historic New England venue) but there is just something so special about weddings on these properties. It's as though you enter into a bygone era where parties on the green with food passing from inside to out is no big thing and people can mingle unhurried, enjoying the slow pace of an afternoon. Mark and Chris' wedding was no exception. Little details that reflected their relationship and interests (a scotch and whiskey bar!) were sprinkled throughout the grand estate. Youngsters enjoyed lawn games on the green while adults enjoyed the picture perfect weather outside and hugged the happy couple. We loved shooting in the lush greenhouse and grounds as Mark and Chris reveled in the newness of being married. Aren't the colors in the greenhouse amazing? Later on, the night continued with one of the most emotional mother-son dances we've *ever* seen (yes, Kendra cried) and then evolved into a hopping dance party. So much fun. We're so happy for you, Mark and Chris! Thank you for allowing us to share in your special day.
Katherine + Ian = Engaged
One of our favorite types of engagement sessions are with couples who are slightly shy. I wouldn't exactly call Katherine or Ian shy, but perhaps reserved is a better word. It can be a rather nerve racking thing to have your engagement photos taken especially if you're not used to being in front of the camera. You really don't know what to expect - so mix that in with meeting two new people - it can be a recipe for feeling nervous. We get it. In fact, most of our couples feel this way at the beginning of their engagement session. What we loved about Katherine and Ian, was that even though they both admitted to feeling slightly nervous, when they looked at each other, they were always laughing. It was so endearing. It was as though all of the feelings of being unsure about being in front of the camera, all of the feelings of feeling stranger's eyes watch them as they got their photos taken....all of those things disappeared when they looked at each other. It was just the two of them and the whole world faded away. Adorable. And just so you know, both Katherine and Ian said that it really wasn't as hard as they thought it would be. We say that it can't *not* go well with a love like theirs.