After shooting Jessica and Jon's wedding, we have a new favorite type of wedding: BACKYARD WEDDINGS. Jessica and Jon wanted a wedding day that was zero fuss (they were even barefoot for their ceremony) and full of love and family. When we met up with them at a neighbor's house for first looks portraits their neighbor friend was chopping fruit for their wedding reception later. Jessica arrived with a stunning floral wreath (her step-mom arranged all the flowers) and a nervous excitement to see her groom for the first time that day. Jon was smooth and sweet as he turned to see his beautiful bride and their connection gave me chills as they shared their excitement for the evening ahead. We couldn't have had better light or setting as we snapped away for their woodsey couple portraits. After some family photos we were ready for the ceremony where Jon's children played a leading role as they welcomed Jessica into their family. Jessica's father quickly orchestrated the ceremony space switch as it turned into a magical reception as the guests enjoyed hors d'oeuvres on the lawn. The musical playlist lulled the group into a casual yet classy gathering as Jessica and Jon hugged their nearest and dearest as Mr. and Mrs. So easy, laid back and full of love. Mission accomplished!
Samantha + Ben = Married
Samantha (aka, Sam) and Ben are fun loving people. They share a love for animals, good food and lazy Saturdays spent together (amen!). With their adventurous spirits and a slight obsession for nerdy humor - they are a perfect match. The New England Aquarium was an awesome backdrop for their outdoor wedding which was oozing with love and laughter. We started the day by photographing their wedding preparations at the beautiful downtown Boston Hilton Hotel. Once they were ready to go, we met at Post Office Square down the street where Sam and Ben shared an adorable first look. In retrospect, they were waiting for us to tell them to turn around and see each other (which we don't usually direct), but before that happened a good five minutes passed where Sam stood behind Ben as he waited to see his her - and they just talked to one another. Their body language changed just by the sound of each other's voice, which was so sweet. After their first look we walked around and grabbed some portraits of the two of them, including some of our favorites on a carousal. Once photos were done they prepared for the ceremony which overlooked the entire Boston harbor. The ocean breeze was refreshing and all of their guests were enamored with their sweet vows and first kiss. Cocktail hour was spent among the fish tanks and penguins which everyone loved, followed by a rocking reception behind the Aquarium. The wedding party even had a surprise choreographed dance which was a lot of fun. Based on some of the reception photos, there is a little hint to what song they danced to. Anyone? Leave your guess in the comments and I'll personally high five anyone that gets it right. Sam and Ben, we were so happy to share in your Wedding Day and know you'll make each other eternally happy. Congratulations!
Kristen + Brian = Engaged
We met up with Kristen and Brian last month to capture their engagement in the heart of Boston. They are both fun loving, laid back people who enjoy life and adventures together. They are living in Rhode Island but both have a soft spot for the city and enjoy going to comedy shows and spending time at Fenway together. They are also both school teachers and when we passed the sweetest little "bookstore" alley we had to take some photos there since Kristen teaches English. We also loved the glowing lights under the theater that provided asymmetrical interest to their already stunning good looks (I mean seriously, how photogenic are these two!?) We had a great time getting to know them better and can't wait for their wedding next summer!
Kaitlyn + Ryan = Married
I swear Kaitlyn and Ryan are from another era. Ryan is dapper and gentlemen-like with a kind hearted demeanor and heart of love. Kaitlyn is a darling, lovely person. She beams with love for Ryan and has a soft spot for all things feminine. Everyone who knows them knows how sweet they are together, and that they have the kind of love that surpasses their age in years. You would expect nothing less for their wedding day than this adorable, DIY day filled with family, peaches and lace. They hosted their wedding at Ryan's sister's home in New Hampshire and said 'I Do' at a nearby vineyard down the road. After their joyful ceremony we grabbed a few portraits of them in a field of flowers nearby their reception venue. They had amazing food and the weather was just the right temperature to feel comfortable but remind you that it is summer. Halfway through their reception Kaitlyn had arranged a Good Humor Ice Cream truck to make a surprise appearance, which was a HUGE hit. The evening ended with a peaceful flying lantern send off, which was a magical way to end a perfect day. Congrats you two! We are so happy for you!!
Caitlin + Dave = Engaged
From the moment we met Caitlin and Dave, two things were very clear; Caitlin had a heart of gold, and Dave was crazy about Caitlin. They had a calm and confident vibe between the two of them that showed their relationship maturity and vigor to finally be husband and wife. They were centered, sure and ready to tie the knot. We took an immediate liking to them and were pumped when they told us they wanted us to photograph their upcoming September wedding. When we met up with them last month to shoot their Engagement session in one of our favorite Massachusetts towns (Concord!) we got to know them even better. We discovered that Dave is a talented musician and that Caitlin should probably become a wedding planner when their wedding is said and done because this girl is or-ga-nized. We loved watching their photo jitter nerves melt away as they found their vibe in front of the camera. Aren't they sweet? I just love the last photo of them. Pure happiness.
Komal + Kunal = Married
If the last 100 some photos above weren't proof enough; Komal and Kunal's Minnesota Wedding was a blast. We were excited to photograph their wedding for a number of reasons; 1) It was our first traditional Indian Wedding. 2) It was in Minneapolis (we love the Twin Cities). And 3) It was Komal and Kunal! We joined them on day three of their Wedding celebration - the pinnacle of their ceremonies. I first met with Komal who was getting ready for their ceremony with with her mom, sister and aunt, while Matt went with Kunal who was getting ready as well. They were calm and collected as the wedding preparations buzzed around them. After they were ready, they shared a sweet First Look and we grabbed a few portraits of them before the ceremony. Next up we prepared for the Baraat where Kunal was led to the ceremony with a processional of music and dancing. We loved the energy (and dancing of course!) from the baraat and so did all of the guests. Next up the ceremony took place in the gorgeous ballroom of the Hilton Minneapolis/Bloomington which was seeped in rich tradition and rituals. One of our favorite moments from the ceremony was Komal's face when she got to see Kunal after a cloth barrier was taken down so they could see one another. After the ceremony it was time to change into their reception outfits and then off for more portraits at the Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis which boasts a stunning view of Minneapolis' skyline. We were convinced that Komal and Kunal were looking like royalty at that point as they rocked their portraits with ease and a model-esque presence. The evening concluded with a beautiful reception full of color and life as all of the guests toasted to Komal and Kunal's life together. Komal and Kunal; we have loved every moment of working with you and are so happy that we were able to share in your wedding celebration. Congratulations!
Charlene + Andrew = Married
There are some days, scratch that, MOST days that we feel completely blessed to have the job we do. Weddings like Charlene and Andrew's exemplify our feelings times 100. Yes, weddings are beautiful events filled with flowers, beautiful dresses and freshly shaven faces. You don't have to twist my arm to enjoy photographing beautiful things....it's inspiring and fun. But all of those things are nothing if you don't have LOVE and JOY. This is what makes our job different than just shooting magazine or blog styled shoots. Charlene and Andrew's wedding was filled with so much happiness. They are better together than apart, and it was clear to everyone that their passion for life and each other far surpassed the glamour and glitz of a fancy wedding day. That isn't to say that their wedding wasn't beautiful. It was STUNNING and every detail was perfectly placed. But despite all of those things, their biggest priority on their wedding day was each other - and it was so joyfully obvious. They exchanged vows at their meeting place and Alma Mater, Bryant University and The Eisenhower House in Newport, Rhode Island was a perfect backdrop for their laid back tented reception. We absolutely loved shooting their portraits on the perfectly New England coastline in Newport and have to say that our favorite moment of the day was when Andrew surprised Charlene with a song he had written her during the reception. We actually think he may have a career as a rockstar ahead of him (seriously). Charlene and Andrew, Congratulations. We are so happy to have shared in your big day and wish you a lifetime of adventures!
Kristen + Jay = Married
One would think that with all of the weddings that Matt and I photograph, that we'd be searching for things to say about our couples in this little text tidbit, but it's actually quite easy to brag about how great our clients are. Their love stories tell their own unique perspectives - each coming together on equal ground to commit their lives to one another, but each love different than another couple. Really, the couple's tell their own love story, and we get to witness (and document!) it. And what an amazing job it is! Take Kristen and Jay. When I think about them, I just want to hug something. Their love is something to be envied, and when Jay looks at Kristen....heart fireworks ensue. Their wedding day was a beautiful July day that started at The River of Life Church in Jamaica Plain. They choose not to see one another pre-ceremony, which only heightened the anticipation everyone felt as Kristen floated down the aisle with her father, radiating with love. Actually, it was such a joyful moment that I don't think there was a dry eye in the church. Their ceremony was beautiful and personalized, afterwich we made our way over to Weston to The Henderson House which served as a stunning backdrop for their bygone era reception. When it came time to photograph their couple portraits, we found some beautiful light but they were beaming with so much happiness that their presence pretty much stole the spotlight. Kristen and Jay, it's been a true pleasure. We hope you enjoyed your Southern Honeymoon and are settling into married life with ease!
Zoe
I love senior photo sessions. I truly do. There is something so special about capturing young adults as they transition from childhood to adulthood. Zoe's senior session was a blast since it was clear that she is truly ready to spread her wings and do amazing things in the world. Her energy was bursting with excitement and joy, and let me tell you, the best guarantee for good photographs is JOY. Zoe lives in Texas but we were able to meet up in South Dakota while we were traveling in June to shoot her session. I never get tired of shooting in South Dakota. Many photographers say the light is best in Southern California, but I think the flat prairie does pretty well for itself. The vast expanse of fields and farms makes for a stunning backdrop and can we just talk for a second about the HORSES in her photos?! As we were brainstorming ideas for Zoe's session, I kept returning to a vision of photographing her around horses (she does ride after all). I casually mentioned it to my Dad, who simply called up some friends of his and asked if we could swing by to take some photos with their horses. I kid you not, they said "Of course! See you in an hour!" And just like that, we jumped in the car and met Rosie, the supporting star of Zoe's session. A *huge* thank you to Jim and MaryAnn for their generosity on last minute notice to use their horses in this shoot. They represent the type of people that make the community I grew up in so wonderful.
Susan + Tony = Married
Susan and Tony were married on a perfect summer day in July. We started out the morning with a traditional Vietnamese Tea Ceremony at Susan's parents house - which includes a procession of the groom and his family and friends presenting the bride and her parents with many gifts, including a whole roast pig. Since we don't speak Vietnamese, we can't exactly tell you what they say, but we can tell you that the Tea Ceremony was full of laughter, hugs and two people very much in love with beaming parents. That alone started the day out with a joyous, family-focused feel, which continued throughout the afternoon lunch reception and into their Catholic Ceremony and dinner reception. One of our favorite things about Susan and Tony is their ability to not take themselves too seriously. They know how to let loose and enjoy life, which is really what a wedding celebration is all about. Tony is notorious for looking at the world with the up most optimism; he is like a traveling party. Susan is his rock; grounded, organized and full of joy. We had a great time photographing their wedding and especially enjoyed their surprise Wedding Party Flash mob, they can really dance! Congratulations Susan and Tony! We wish you a lifetime of happiness together!
Jessica + Jon = Engaged
You know what it's like when you're just humming along, minding your own business and you see a couple that are so perfect together it almost hurts? Maybe you're waiting in line at the grocery store, and he opens the door for her and she sweetly smiles and holds his hand throughout the store - or maybe you're on a walk and you see them strolling by with no cares to be had, gazing into each others eyes and admiring the scenery. It's like they have rose colored glasses on and nothing could be better than being in the presence of the other. Well, Jessica and Jon *are* these people. Their love is something to be coveted, and it's immediately obvious how much they care about each other from the moment you talk with them. We've truly enjoyed getting to know these two, and had a great time exploring the Minute Man National Park in Concord, MA with them for their Engagement Session. Clearly, they needed no warm up time in front of the camera, and while we listened to their August wedding plans unfold, we couldn't be more thrilled to be a part of their upcoming wedding day. You'll be seeing more of them soon since their wedding is just around the corner so for now we'll just say that this is a small taste of the goodness that is to come.
Melissa + Jonathan = Married
Oh are we ever excited to share this wedding with you. Melissa and Jonathan are Graphic Designers living in Brooklyn (talented ones at that, they did our website!) who tied the knot on her father's New Hampshire farm in June. You guys. If the photos above don't give you a little glimpse into just how good their wedding was - well, I don't know what will. Weddings like Melissa and Jonathan's take a *lot* of work and we couldn't have been more thrilled to capture it. Melissa and Jonathan worked for months preparing their graphic design details, wedding design and aesthetic vision into the day which included many DIY projects like painting silverware handles and making hundreds of yards of fabric bunting just to name a few. They brought the incredibly talented Natalie Bowen Designs to create flawless florals for the big day and had Phebe from Making Me Planning and Event Firm on hand to pull the entire event together as the Day-of Coordinator. In addition to all of the beautiful aesthetic, the food from SoLo was literally the best wedding food we've ever had and the exuberant music from Raya Brass Band gave the event a cinematic experience that was filled to the brim with happiness. While all of those things are *more* than enough to make an amazing celebration, it's all for nothing without love; and Melissa and Jonathan had plenty to share. Their love for one another is so grounded yet radiant. Their wedding day was like happiness on steroids! We feel incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to work with these two and feel lucky to call them new friends. Congratulations you two! Have a blast on your European Honeymoon Adventure!
Liz + Josh = Engaged
One week before Liz and Josh's engagement session, they were hanging out in Liz's parents kitchen when Josh scooped up her up off the ground, stepped on a dog toy and slipped down to the ground breaking Liz's fall and landing hard on his wrist. In the process, he unfortunately tore a handful of ligaments in his hand and Liz ended up with some battle wounds as well. While the situation was unfortunate, we also can't help but smile at Josh's heroic act to protect Liz. We thought about waiting to shoot their engagement session until after his wrist was healed, but in the end we worked around it for the shoot and even incorporated it into the shoot as his badge of honor. We completely adore these two and had a blast shooting around their neighborhood, the beautiful Beacon Hill. At the end of the session we even got to go up to their rooftop to take some photos of the sun setting in the Boston skyline. Even with a view as breathtaking as a city sunset, Liz and Josh pretty much stole the scene. They are so perfect together!
Ellie + Mike = Married
You guys. THIS wedding. Let's start at the beginning. Ellie is the big sister I never had. Her younger sister and I have been best of friends since high school, hence much of our high school years were advised and entertained by Ellie. She is an extremely talented actress, singer and dancer (a triple threat, if you will) with an exuberant personality that draws people in. Anyone who knows her would say that she is joyously infectious. Having known Ellie all my life (my older step-brothers were even next door neighbors with her and her family) it was with a big bear hug that I greeted her boyfriend Mike when meeting him for the first time. If he was good enough for Ellie - well then, he was going to be a part of the family whether he liked it or not. Mike is everything I would have hoped for Ellie and more. As their relationship grew and they decided to get married, we were able to spend more time with Mike to get to know him. They are like yin and yang - so different but they balance each other out so perfectly. He is a super smart food scientist with a laid back personality and a permanent smile mounted on his face. We just love him. As their wedding day approached and we made our way across the country to shoot their wedding in the Black Hills of South Dakota - we were bursting with anticipation knowing what a labor of love their wedding was. They say that you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with, and let me tell you, the set up involved with their entirely DIY wedding decor and the talent that was involved in the actual day itself blew us out of the water. The entire day was OOZING with talent and love. One of our favorite moments was when Ellie and Mike surprised their guests by singing Ingrid Michaelson's 'You and I" during their ceremony complete with a ukelele and a wedding party chorus. I'm getting goosebumps just thinking about how happy it was. Ellie and Mike: we are so so happy for you and we couldn't have been more honored to be your wedding photographers. Thank you for trusting your photo vision to us, much love and Congratulations!
Ashley + Jamie = Engaged
There is so much to love about Ashley and Jamie. For starters, we had to do almost no "posing assistance" with them. From the beginning of their session they were calm, collected and confident in front of the camera - making our job a cinch. Most people take some time getting into their element, especially since the nature of this work is quite intimate. Not Ashley and Jamie - they were excited and open about being themselves right from the start. Their natural ease with one another was just the beginning. Ashley is gentle and warm with a spunk for life and Jamie's centered and sweet personality compliments her perfectly. They also don't take things too seriously either - it was fun to watch them interact and be a little goofy with one another. Oh, and there's the fact that we're pretty much in love with the photos from their session. They have a 'summertime and the living is easy' vibe going on - which was all due to the elements that make a photo session a success: an un-fussy backdrop, nice light and two people who are crazy about each other. We couldn't be more thrilled to be shooting their wedding in Vermont this September - it's going to be a GOOD one!