Historic New England Estates
Diana + Ryan’s beautiful Summer Wedding
The Connors Center, Dover, Mass.
Diana and Ryan are that couple that’s always smiling and laughing. I remember from our epic engagement session how Ryan just wanted to please Diana–he was game for anything and it really made things easy that day. Fast forward to their wedding and the forecasted threat of rain never materialized but not for one minute did either of these two show any concern. It just didn’t matter. All their friends and family were here and they were going to party and celebrate like crazy.
The Connors Center is such a fabulous venue to photograph with stone archways, epic staircases and beautiful gardens. And that natural rustic beauty inspired them to have a beautiful clear-topped reception tent. St. John the Evangelist Church provided a grand space for the nuptials and the Connors Center did the rest. An amazing clear top tent sent amidst the beautiful back garden area at the Connors Center was a beautiful unique addition. It brought in the connection to the outdoor space that just worked for their wedding. Great tunes from DJ Beas from HOT 96.9 in Boston pumped the crowd up all night long as this crowd never left the dance floor. Fun. Beautiful. Wedding.
Vendors:
Caterer: Capers Catering
Cake: Treats
Entertainment: DJ Reggie Beas
Venue: The Connors Center
Wedding Dress/Bridal Shop: Allure Romance
Florist: Busy Bee Florist
Nikki + Keilin’s late Summer wedding at the Lyman
My favorite classic New England Estate to photograph a wedding, especially during the Summer months. These guys had their ceremony on the back lawn, a bunch of fun lawn games to play and even had dinner al fresco. The Lyman has plenty of nooks and quite spaces inside and out.
Great bunch of vendors helped make it all a beautiful day/night:
Florist: The Concord Flower Shop
Caterer: Tastings
Entertainment: Rob Wier
Venue and linen and chairs: Lyman Estate
Gwen + Chun Fai at the Connors Center in Dover
When your tax accountant wants to hire you to photograph his daughter’s wedding–you jump at the chance. What a beautiful day for Gwen and Chun Fai at the Connors Center in Dover, Massachusetts. This Boston wedding photographer had the pressure on to deliver the goods after years of this man doing right by me when tax time came around each year. We had perfect weather for thelate Summer wedding ceremony in the garden. Gwen knew what she wanted to the smallest detail and I wanted to make sure her photographs reflected every bit of her meticulous planning. Enjoy this quick peak into their day.
Vendors:
Caterer: Swartz Catering Co.
Cake: Konditor Meister
Entertainment: Winiker Band
Venue: The Connors Center
Wedding Dress/Bridal Shop:Vera Wang Ball Gown and Aria Jullian Gown with low back
Florist: Artistic Blossoms
Beth + Hoa @ The Lyman Estate
Whenever a couple of mine chooses The Lyman Estate for their wedding I know instantly what kind of people they are–and that’s the BEST kind. This is such a great place for a classic New England Wedding. The outdoor grounds are fun for ceremonies, games and portrait sessions and the wrap around deck makes a great spot for toasts and cocktails.
Beth and Hoa had such a fun little wedding nestled in the main ballroom. We shot outside for some great evening light and danced the night away.
Nikayla + Stefan, House of the Seven Gables
House of the Seven Gables, Salem, Mass.
Nikayla and Stefan asked for a typical New England mid-September day for their little outdoor wedding at the House of the Seven Gables in Salem, Massachusetts. Mother Nature didn’t disappoint. We had plans to take a quick tour of downtown Salem’s historic district for couples photos but found Seven Gables to have all we needed. As a Boston wedding photographer anytime you can get out of the city and explore some of the quainter locals that New England has to offer its a golden day.
Sondra + Erik: The Commons 1854 in Topsfield
Very late afternoon sun is around just long enough.
Not two weeks prior to Sondra and Erik’s wedding I tweaked my back very badly while on a trail run in Groton. Lucky for me Erik runs a physical therapy business, Elite Physical Therapy. I go by to drop off a 30×40 canvas and he sets me up with some icy stimulation for my lower back. I met Sondra’s Dad in there as well getting treatment so he can get back at his mountain biking. Two weeks later we were both good as new and ready to go.
We made the most out of the short day and The Commons 1854 in Topsfield provided an incredible backdrop for the evening ceremony and reception. Eye 2 Eye provided the entertainment that kept the party hoppin’. The delicious cake was made by Eat Cake! from Newburyport and the flowers by Lotus Designs. And still no back pain!
Sondra checks out her amazing up do at her stylists house.
Sondra’s family react to her new style.
And Sondra likes what she sees.
A little help from Mom.
Honey from Lotus Designs in Boston created a perfect bouquet to accent our bride.
The reveal.
Window light.
Stealing a smooch before the ceremony.
The Ballroom set up for the ceremony.
The star treatment. Thanks for the assist from Uncle Joe with the video light.
Roses top the cake, of course.
The Ballroom after the flip.
All eyes on the new couple.
Grand entrance.
First dance.
Father-daughter
Last dance of many.
Lissa & Brian: One I just had to post
Seated firmly on a moss covered bench in an English garden surrounded by Nature–this is how I see them.
Lissa and Brian wrote me a while back and thanked me for “getting” them. I really don’t know if I can say that but what I can say is that these are the kinds of people, Good People, that we should all try to “get”. I feel honored to have been a part of their nuptials that day at the beautiful Codman Estate. What I do see is two people deeply in Love and very committed. Two that are One in so many ways. These folks have been an item since birth (well at least somewhere in toddlerhood). They survived high school, colleges, distances, and time–the Mutha of all relationship killers. I met them photographing Brian’s sisters wedding and could tell how attentive they were to the process and making that day special. Brian played violin (I hope I have that instrument correct but it was some sort of violin-looking thing). Lissa was doing DIY reception set-up until the 11th hour all to make that day special for Brian’s sis.
Then came our engagement shoot in Nahant–they scaled cliffs and forded tidal surges to allow me some epic shots–all with a nonchalance like they’ve done this many times before.
There are many people on this Green Earth–if you are lucky enough to run into these two woodland creatures–approach slowly, with a kind heart and just try to get them–it will make you smile.
Hope you didn’t think there’d be some ostentatious gown after that intro–simple and perfect.
More simplicity done right–thanks to Faxon Green: www.faxongreen.com
Getting ready–5 minutes ’til–not your usual bride.
Brian is gonna need some help.
…And he gets plenty.
The rings in the Nature of her bouquet.
Ceremony site in the Italian Garden.
Flora.
Fauna.
Almost time–some last minute jitters?
The long road ahead?
Some fun before we head down the ceremony–sorta American Gothic-ish.
We don’t want to be stumbling down the aisle.
As in LIfe they will be hand-in-hand for their entrance to their ceremony.
I don’t know who the statue guy was but he seems to approve.
Afterwards family gathers in such an organic way–no formal receiving line–just being real.
Great assist from my stellar 2nd cam Tony Yu with the off camera soft light sweetness.
The sun graced them just after the ceremony.
Reception outside the Carriage House.
Faxon Green’s flora.
and still more woman-created Natural flora.
And still more fauna–this little finch was lining its nest with these things.
Did she call ahead and ask the florist what the bouquet was wearing?
Cocktail magical hour.
The English Garden again.
Nothing says New England like a well made stone wall.
The colors of the buffet.
Homemade pie in place of cake–baked by all the friends and family: Peach, apple and blueberry-yum 🙂
Dance.
One last kiss good night.
Michael and Niveen – The Lyman Estate, Waltham, Mass.
Michael and Niveen couldn’t have just one wedding. Some with family split on opposite coasts and from all over the World they celebrated twice. Once in the Boston area at the Lyman Estate and the other 10 months later in sunny Santa Barbara, California. For a photojournalist like myself, I was just psyched to photograph these two people (great people), two cultures coming together and just tons of friends and family.
First up was the Lyman Estate on a wicked cold New England winter night in January that made for some spectacular visual imagery of their Pakistani wedding ceremony and reception. Then, it was off to Santa Barbara for a beautiful beach ceremony and crazy outdoor California reception amongst the palm trees of the West Coast.