We loved photographing Julia and Chris' Wedding at The Linden Place in Bristol, Rhode Island. We have a thing for historic New England houses so that alone was enough to have us running around like kids with too much candy, but it was really the spirit of their wedding day that got us. Julia and Chris are both extremely intelligent, creative and well spoken people whom we admire. Their wedding was such a beautiful representation of them as a couple as well as their friends and family coming together as one big happy group. I started off with Julia and her best ladies at the salon where they all primped and prepped to look even more gorgeous than they already were; while Matt hung with Chris, his guys and the couple's adorable dog, Buster, as they prepped for the ceremony. Something we see more and more of is when brides have a 'First Look' with their fathers after they are all ready and dressed and before he walks her down the aisle. I'm a big fan. Julia and her dad decided to share this moment with just the two of them minutes before the ceremony started and I'm pretty sure it was more emotional than the First Looks we do with bride and grooms. Meanwhile, guests outside waited for their crisp outdoor ceremony to start with warm cups of apple cider. Once the ceremony started Chris' face lit up when he saw Julia for the first time and the two of them only had eyes for each other which made the rest of us swoon in their sweetness. After the ceremony we zipped down to the Bristol waterfront for a few photos of the newlyweds on the docks and on the streets. The evening continued with a warm and cozy reception by a *huge* fire and lots of dancing and desserts. I'm in love with the giant paper flower installation Julia "whipped together in an afternoon" (super bride?) and tried to convince Chris that they need it as their headboard now. The paper flowers and loving, energetic celebration were just two small manifestations of what a great job Julia and Chris did infusing their wedding day with their personalities. What a great day! Julia and Chris, we are so happy for you and have loved working with you. Congratulations!
Katie + Greg = Engaged
Wedding Season is coming to a close which means that Engagement Season is revving up! We met up with Katie and Greg on Duxbury beach a few weeks back to capture them on the beach Katie spent summers on. They live in Texas and will be tying the knot next July in Vermont. When they approached us about shooting their wedding we were already booked but they wanted to do an Engagement Session with us anyway, which is a win-win for us! It's always hard hearing all of the great things people have planned for their weddings and then turning them away because we're already booked. In cases like this, we get the awesome opportunity to work with great people like Katie and Greg and also pass along some referrals of photographer friends who we know still have their date open. Katie and Greg flew up to New England to work on wedding plans for the week and were able to squeeze us into their busy schedule for an afternoon at the beach. We had a great time hearing about their life together in Texas and could tell right away that their relaxed and happy attitude towards life and each other made them a perfect match. While we're bummed not to get to work with you, Katie and Greg, we had a great time during your Engagement Session and know you'll have an awesome wedding! Congratulations on your engagement and enjoy the wedding planning process!
Kelsey + Danny = Married
I could gush allllll day about this wedding. When Kelsey and Danny approached us about photographing their big day in Antigua, Guatemala - we were head over heels for their wedding vision and for them as a pair. Kelsey and I go back to our college days in Minnesota. We danced together and I always admired her photography skills (she's a talented photographer herself) and heart for helping people. Naturally, these two things left me Facebook stalking all of her travel photos to Guatemala when she used to visit with her dad for medical outreach work - which only deepened my admiration for her. Fast forward a few years when Kelsey and Danny met in Guatemala. They fell head over heels for one another and the rest is history. We'd never met Danny in person, but once their wedding planning arrived in full force and we started talking with them more - it was clear what a great match he was for Kelsey. Grounded, compassionate and a heart of gold; Danny is a keeper. Their wedding day started much like our local weddings do with the bride getting ready with her crew and the groom doing the same while Matt and I photograph them separately. The hotel they got ready in was crazy gorgeous so we took full advantage of the nooks and crannies for their attire details and found a quiet little spot for their adorable first look (can you even handle the blindfold? I die). After some additional portraits on the grounds of the hotel with their families, wedding party and the parrots (hello!) we wandered around the streets for a few photos where Kelsey and Danny were literally stopping traffic with excited on-lookers. We eventually made our way up to their ceremony and reception venue which was owned by the same hotel but was the outdoor art-museum portion of the property. The venue was up a large hill which overlooked the city and the three volcanoes that surround the town, so the view was breathtaking. After a few more portraits we all prepped for the ceremony and I had my breath taken away when I saw their entire ceremony space FILLED with candles. Overlooking the city with volcanoes and hills, it was such a beautiful space to begin with, but with the addition of candles, sunset and the calm, joyous energy of their multilingual Catholic Ceremony - it was a truly beautiful experience. After the ceremony the party got started on the right foot with a gorgeous candle-lit reception set-up draped with roses and pearls. Kelsey and Danny made a lasting impression with their grand entrance by wowing all 300 guests with the most amazing first dance I've EVER seen. I later learned that they made up the entire thing on the spot. I shouldn't have been so surprised given how talented of a dancer Kelsey is, but I've got to hand it to Danny too. Wowzers. So much fun. The evening continued with sweet words from their loved ones and went on to be an amazing dance party that lasted until 3:00am. The Guatemalans know how to party (and dance)! We loved every moment of working with these two and their wonderful families. Congratulations Kelsey and Danny! You guys are the best!
Kelsey + Danny = Engaged
***Special Note: Our hearts go out to all of the Guatemalan families who have lost loved ones and homes during the earthquake yesterday. While we feel gratitude that the earthquake did not happen while we were shooting Kelsey and Danny's Wedding in Guatemala it does not lessen the tragedy of so many lives and communities broken.***
Where to begin? Today we're sharing the second part of Kelsey and Danny's Wedding Story - their Engagement Session! We arrived in Guatemala the day before Kelsey and Danny were to say 'I do' and hit the ground running. After arriving at the gorgeous hotel they had chosen for their guests to experience during their stay in Guatemala, we packed up our gear and met up with Kelsey and Danny to capture their last day as an engaged couple on the streets of Antigua. Immediately, we were reminded of how great Kelsey and Danny are (both together and apart) and wasted no time getting them in their photo groove as we excitedly took advantage of the photographers delight that is Antigua. Every building is a different vibrant color so one you mix in the lush green plants, historic ruins and a stunning bride and groom t0-be who are ALSO rock stars in front of the camera you get two photographers with huge grins wiped across our faces feeling like they have died and gone to heaven. Seriously. If you liked these, just wait for their wedding photos tomorrow. We'll be back with part III and many more juicy details!
Antigua, Guatemala
We thought we'd unveil our trip to Guatemala for Kelsey and Danny's Wedding over a few days on the blog, so today we're starting off with some personal travel photos from our fast and furious trip to Antigua, Guatemala. We arrived on Friday and had a portrait session with Kelsey and Danny, shot the Wedding on Saturday and flew back on Sunday so we had limited time to explore the city on our own (we couldn't really afford the time off during peak wedding season because it would slow the workflow down too much) but we had a fantastic trip with the time we did have as personal down time. Some highlights included wandering the streets to see the Spanish colonial ruins, (which were caused by a series of earthquakes in the 1700s) visiting the food market (aka - a maze) that boasted delicious looking fruits, vegetables, live chickens and other delicious things US customs would have never allowed us to bring home as souvenirs, and the fresh avocados (I may have ordered the same thing twice in three days because the avocados were so good). I couldn't help myself when I saw the barber shop donning the same name as our handsome Guatemalan groom. We left feeling excited to return someday to explore more and grateful for the opportunity to share in such an amazing country, culture and wedding. Tomorrow we'll be sharing Kelsey and Danny's Engagement Photos - stay tuned!
Dawn + Robbie = Married
Dawn and Robbie's wedding was everything they hoped it would be: a beautiful celebration of love in a coastal New England town in the fall. They live in New York City, so when they were planning their wedding they knew that they didn't want a big urban-chic soiree. They met during a tennis lesson (Robbie's an awesome Tennis player) and have an adorable chocolate lab named Miley (remember her from their e-session?) so it seemed like the perfect fit to choose The Ocean View Inn in Gloucster which boasts a beautiful view of the rocky New England coast with a warm and laid back vibe as their wedding venue. Dawn and Robbie have both faced many adversities in their lives and have many loved ones that could not be at their wedding, but the amount of love and support that was poured out by their family and friends on their wedding day was incredible. We loved seeing Robbie's nephews steal the dance floor on more than one occasion (they have every move from Gangnam Style memorized...) and my heart pretty much melted to the floor when Dawn's brother gave her away. These two have hearts of gold. Dawn and Robbie, it's been a true pleasure working with you, Congratulations!
Amy + Leah = Married
You guys. Seriously. This wedding was out of the park amazing. From the moment we met Amy and Leah, we were instantly smitten with their love for one another and zest for life. They have a beautiful way of being together and it's clear that they each are amazing individuals who deserve the best and found that in each other. Their wedding was held at one of our favorite venues, The Barn at Gibbet Hill where we arrived on the morning of their wedding to start off with each of them getting ready. Leah was upstairs with her parents and wedding party crew where loved ones were buzzing around prepping and primping for the ceremony. Amy's bridal suite was a bit calmer but just as much excitement was circulating around her. Once they were ready, we helped arrange their first look which is always one of my favorite parts of a wedding day. I think part of the reason I love first looks is because they are a little bit like when you are traveling apart from your loved one and you return from the trip seeing your favorite person in the world and all you can do is hug them with love and gratefulness that they are yours. It's as though you've been waiting to see them for so long and you've imagined what that embrace might be like and then it arrives and it's nothing but pure joy. Amy and Leah's first look was exactly like this, and it nearly brought tears to my eyes. After enjoying some couple portraits with them and the bovine (oh yeah!) we grabbed some shots of them with their hilariously awesome bridal party. As seen in the photo evidence above, it's clear that we took full advantage of the environment to get photos of their crew on the tractor and with farm equipment. Good times. After we finished photos the ceremony began and I can honestly say that there was not a dry eye in the crowd. Between the beautiful readings, overcast sky with vibrant fall foliage and the outpouring of love that Amy and Leah allowed their guests to bask in, it was a truly beautiful ceremony. The celebration continued with a cozy cocktail hour and full bellies of delicious food as their guests returned the favor of their own outpouring of love and congratulatory wishes in the form of toasts, hugs and some awesome dance moves. Amy and Leah, it's been an absolute pleasure working with you and we could not be more excited for your future together. We wish you decades of happiness, Congratulations!
Jenn + Keith = Married
I've never met two people more perfectly suited for one another than Jenn and Keith. I know I say that about almost every one of our couples, but there is something about their chemistry that makes them even better together than when they are apart. They were married at the Endicott Estate in Dedham, Mass on a crisp and sunny day in October. When we arrived Jenn was getting pretty with her ladies in the bridal suite and Keith was running final errands before suiting up. Jenn is a girl after my own heart and loves checklists and being as prepared as possible - so I imagined that she might be a little nervous before the ceremony - but when I arrived she was cool as a cucumber and felt grounded and ready. Keith and his guys eventually decided they better get ready so Matt hung with them as they got their game face on and Keith's owl tie perfectly tied. They opted for a first look so they could do the bulk of their photos before the ceremony (which from our end of things makes the day run more smoothly than fitting in as much as possible between the ceremony and cocktail hour) so Matt prepped Keith to see his bride for the first time. I don't think I'll ever forget the sound of Keith turning around to see Jenn. An explosion of joy and laughter came rolling out of him for a good five minutes. Pure bliss. They were so sweet together as we walked the grounds of the estate snapping photos of the two of them before they said 'I do'. After their lovely, bird chirping ceremony we stole them away for just a few moments to let them catch their breath after the emotional roller coaster that a wedding ceremony can be to grab some more photos of them on their emotional high. I love the series in the willow trees. The evening continued inside the Estate for dances, toasts and dinner as a mighty rain storm poured down. This made the Estate even more appealing as guests were spread between the dark and cozy rooms for dinner. The wedding concluded with a fun dance party (complete with plenty of 90s music.....yesss) and a newly coined husband and wife on cloud nine. Happiness.
Holiday Mini Sessions
Looking for a fun and easy way to have a FABULOUS Holiday Card this year? I know what that's like. Usually I'm scrambling to find a decent photo of Matt and I from the year earlier and I'll be the first to admit that the tripod method does. not. work. We thought it would be a fun and convenient way for those of you who have wanted a family/pet/couple/newlywed/engagement photos to get to work with us for slightly less than our normal rates AND get some stellar Holiday Cards to start you out right.
E-mail us at hello@summerstreetphotography.com or though our Contact Form to reserve your spot and for all the juicy details including shoot location and rain date, Holiday Card details, suggestions for what to wear and more. We hope to see you there!
Jessica + Greg = Married
Jessica and Greg live in Chicago and had an entire week's worth of fun planned for their family and friends making the trip to Cape Cod for their wedding. I think it's safe to say that if our couples are worried about anything during their wedding day, it's the weather. This is especially true if any of their wedding day plans revolve around outdoor activities. While I know they had a lot of fun that week, the impending storm system and weather forecast for their late September wedding was not looking promising. As they say in New England,"If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes" so when we were looking at the forecast, we tried to stay positive because it really could turn itself around and become a beautiful day. The night before the wedding brought buckets of rain and as we drove down to Brewster the rain did not let up. When I arrived to Jess's room, the venue had just finished telling her one of the hardest things a bride has to hear: not only was her outdoor ceremony going to be forced indoors but her reception pavilion was flooded and they were going to have to choose a different reception site. Talk about a double whammy. Jess handled the news with grace and the support of her bridesmaids and family kept her moving forward. A few minutes later, their coordinator Heather showed up again with some amazing news. Not only had the sun come out and the storm system passed allowing the ceremony to be moved back outdoors on the beach - but she had called the Army to pump the water out of the reception site and they were going to have the reception in the place they had planned to begin with! Cue Hallelujah chorus! Everyone was thrilled and blown away by how amazing Heather and the entire crew at Ocean Edge Resort was. We rolled with it all and continued on to Jess and Greg's sweet first look under a tree. The air was thick with misty rain as we snapped some portraits of them but Jess and Greg didn't seem to mind getting wet (such troopers!). After some fun bridal party photos and family portraits we all got ready for their heartwarming, sun drenched wedding on the beach. Such joy on their faces throughout the entire ceremony, it was so happy! After the ceremony we took full advantage of the beautiful sunset light on the beach and were amazed yet again by their willingness to tromp around barefoot in the sand in their (stunning) wedding attire. The evening ended with a hopping celebration for Jessica and Greg as their guests toasted to their new life together and boogied down on the dance floor. We've had a fantastic time getting to know these two and feel privileged to have been able to capture their wedding day. Big thanks to Chuck for joining our team for the day and lending his expertise behind the camera for Jessica and Greg. Congratulations Jess and Greg! You guys are the best!
Melissa + Matt = Married
Melissa and Matt's Wedding Day was a perfect blend of family, friends, love and a nice dose of wedding jitters to keep everyone in the moment. I started the day with Melissa and her bridesmaids as they got ready for the ceremony at her aunt's home. The house was buzzing with excitement as the ladies got their final touches on their hair and makeup - and Melissa was beaming. She was calm and happy, but was also fighting back tears at the realization that the day she and Matt had been planning for so long had finally arrived. Once everyone was all ready I grabbed some photos of Melissa with her nearest and dearest (isn't her grandmother stunning?) and we headed over to the Westford Regency Inn where the ceremony and reception would be taking place. I met up with Shannon, who joined our team for the day and she had just finished hanging with the guys and grabbing some photos of Matt and his groomsmen (isn't that 'flying V' groomsmen photo cool? It makes me smile). We set up for the ceremony and watched lots of happy guests file in to welcome Melissa into the room. There were two surprises during the ceremony that most people didn't know about. One was that Melissa's grandfather was officiating the ceremony and the other surprise was a song that was played during their ceremony that Melissa had pre-recorded of herself singing to Matt. I'm fairly sure this is when the waterworks started for both Matt and Melissa. It was so sweet. After the ceremony we grabbed some photos of the two of them as they basked in their newlywed glow and enjoyed watching the guests tear up the dance floor later on. Matt and Melissa were on cloud nine and radiated happiness the entire evening. Melissa and Matt, it's been such a pleasure. We wish you many years of happiness, Congratulations!
Corey + Brandy = A Proposal
We just had to share this one with you. Brandy and Corey live in Texas and had planned a Boston Vacation in September to enjoy the city, take in some Red Sox Games and unknown to Brandy - get engaged. Corey contacted us before their arrival to set up the plan, which was about the sweetest thing any guy can do after buying a ring and making a plan for a perfect proposal. It was clear that he was excited and ready to ask Brandy to marry him. We worked together to find a location in the Boston Public Garden where he would ask her, and instead of getting to specific (since they had never been there) we simply decided to 'meet' them by the Make Way for Duckings statues in the garden. When we approached them and casually walked by, giving Corey a nod, he was reading Brandy the Make Way for Ducklings book (he's a keeper). We chose a time that would be quieter in the Garden and followed Corey around until he found the spot. Brandy was totally clueless at this point what was going on, and that she was about to get paparazzi-ed. We watched as Corey's foot started tapping a million miles a minute as he locked eyes with Brandy and talked with her....all the while fumbling a bit towards his pocket for the ring. After a few minutes he sweetly got down on one knee and asked Brandy to be his wife. We snapped away, and after a few minutes we approached them as planned to grab a few photos of them as a freshly engaged couple. They were so sweet together and we loved learning about their upcoming journey to move to Germany for Corey's job. What an exciting and happy time! Congrats Corey and Brandy, we wish you nothing but the best!
Annette + Jason = Married
From the beginning, Annette and Jason wanted the theme of their wedding to be a celebration of family. They consider their friends family as well, so really, the goal was a celebration of relationships. Annette and Jason are very relational people, so this was an easy task. Every aspect of their wedding was planned with this in mind - from the family-style food at the tables that guests shared, to the specific vendors involved with the wedding. For example, an aunt designed all of their paper goods, a friend made the photobooth wall, the mothers crafted the adorable and cheery decorations and Summer Street photographed their wedding. Matt and Annette have been friends since they were four, so it's been a true pleasure knowing Annette and Jason first as friends and then as clients. They are so sweet and charismatic. With all of these elements its no wonder their wedding day went off without a hitch. We were honored to have Julia join our team for the day and enjoyed every moment of Annette and Jason's Wedding Celebration. Annette and Jason, enjoy your European Honeymoon adventure - you know we're insanely jealous! Congratulations!
Caitlin + Dave = Married
Caitlin and Dave make me smile. They are just so good together. I love when couples infuse their personalities and tastes into their wedding day, and Caitlin and Dave did such a great job at that. Caitlin is detail oriented, organized and utterly feminine. Dave works for a beer distributing company so he's clearly great with people and understands the importance of relationship and taking time to enjoy life. It was a natural fit for them to choose The Barn at Gibbet Hill as their wedding backdrop since the venue boasts pastoral views, a glamorous barn and great food. We started the day with them getting ready in their respective rooms at a nearby hotel where Caitlin was getting the final touches on her makeup and hair. Her bridesmaids were so supportive and sweet as she stepped out of the room fully dressed in her wedding gown, just glowing with excitement (don't you love their faces in the photo up there?). Next up we drove to the sweetest little New England stone church you've ever seen for their Catholic ceremony. They did a quick first look before the ceremony to ease the nerves and we grabbed a few shots of them in their wedding day glow. The ceremony was incredibly happy and felt like a dream as birds literally chirped and sang through the entire thing. After they said 'I do' it was off to Gibbet Hill where we enjoyed shooting their couple portraits and some cocktail hour candid moments. The rest of the evening was relaxed and warm with sweet words from their nearest and dearest and a fun dance that even the Priest who married them enjoyed. Such a happy day and great representation of their new life together. Caitlin and Dave, we've loved working with you - Congratulations!
Beth + Chris = Married
Beth and Chris were married on a beautiful September day in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. From the moment we arrived, Beth and Chris were on cloud nine. They were more than ready to get the party started. In many ways, I feel that couples today are committed to one another far before their wedding day happens, but the wedding day is a formalization, public declaration and celebration of that process. Beth and Chris are like that. Head over heels for one another and excited to take the journey of life side by side. What's even better is that for Beth and Chris, life is like a big happy dance party. Their ceremony took place at the beautiful North Church downtown Portsmouth where their friends and family poured out their love which was eminent by the smiles they wore on their faces as Beth and Chris saw one another for the first time at the alter. After the kiss we jumped on the Wedding Trolly with them to Newcastle Commons which boasts stunning views of the ocean and lighthouses. As wedding-day schedules usually go, we were zipping in and out of there faster than you can blink - so Beth and Chris' experience being in front of the camera during their Engagement Session paid off in a major way when it came time for wedding portraits. When we got back to their reception venue their guests were happy to see them and spent the next several hours hugging, laughing and toasting to the newlyweds. Once the band started up the floor was PACKED (overflowing, in fact) and the party was rocking and rolling. Love and a giant dance party - does one need anything else?