Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Sara and Brian: Taj Boston Wedding

I am so excited to post the September wedding of Sara and Brian, and I'm going to jump right in. Sara is a picture of loveliness, with her pacific eyes, soft complexion and pretty, rosebud lips--but it was her adorable, winning personality that came sparkling through my lens, and had me grinning as I was editing, recalling how funny, warm, and fun-loving she was on her wedding day. She made the most of every moment. And moments there were! Sara and Brian have a love story straight out of a movie. They met on a cruise ship. He approached her and asked if she'd like to have a drink. She said no. By chance, she saw him again in an internet cafe on the ship. He asked her out again. She said no. (But did allow him to friend her on facebook.) Months later, still not having had more than a quick conversation with her, he asked if he could visit her in Boston. A stranger she had barely even met showing up in her city, at her door? He could be crazy. An axe murderer. But amazingly, and completely out of character for her, this time, she said yes. And she said yes again when he asked if she wanted him to move to Boston. And she said yes again when he asked for her hand in marriage. Fast forward a year, and I had the honor of heading into Boston on a sparkling September morning, accompanied by the talented Nir Landau, to document their nuptials at the Taj in the heart of Boston. There were too many sweet moments to mention...when Sara's father saw her for the first time, and gave her a gift that made her laugh and cry. When Brian walked through the door and saw her, his eyes tearing. When their circle of closest family and friends cheered as they entered the Public Gardens hand in hand. When her father and mother took her hand and led her down the aisle to her groom. The way they looked at each other as they stood under the chuppah and said their vows. It was crucial to Sara that these moments be savored, and Nir and I were so fortuante to have had the pleasure of preserving them. Really, the true story of this wedding is written on the faces that follow, especially on that of the lovely Sara, who lived and tasted and FELT every moment of her wedding day...For all my ramblings and oohing and ahhing, the photos really do tell the truest tale. So behold the love story of Sara and Brian... Stunning. A sweet moment between Sara and her father. And then she took Brian's breath away! Random guy with saxophone stepped in to accompany the moment. They were such good sports when I dragged them into a dirty alley... I love the shot on the left by Nir. One of my favorites from the day, also shot by Nir. Sara's step mother sang the father-daughter dance--so touching! Take a peek at their slideshow (set to a song I happen to love, and that was played at their wedding):

Friday, November 23, 2012

Jenna and Billy: Plymouth Plantation Wedding

Jenna and Billy booked me more than two full years before their wedding, so their September day in Plymouth was a much-anticipated one for me. But their long engagement is really just a moment compared to the tenure of Jenna and Billy's fourteen years together. It is an impressive accomplishment: they were each other's first love, and they have spent half of their lives together (and they are still only in their twenties!). When my assistant Felicia and I arrived at the charming cottage overlooking the ocean where the girls were getting ready, we immediatley exchanged that look that said, "this is going to be a good one." Jenna is one of four beautiful blue-eyed sisters, all of whom were her attendants, with the addition of her maid of honor, Meredith (one of my lovely former brides)--who fit right in, as if she is the fifth Cullinane sister! Jenna is a vision of natural beauty: flawless skin, clear aqua eyes, golden curls framing her face--but even more beautiful is her calm, graceful nature. The ease and comfort she and Billy have in each other was so obvious, and their affection so effortless. It was apparent in the way Billy gazed at her with a mix of seriousness and awe--and spoke softly to her during their first look. The day was filled with charm and natural beauty, from the view of the Atlantic from their close friend's cottage where they got ready and had their first look, to the charm of the sunken gardens at Plymouth Plantation where they exchanged vows, to the view from the tent at the Plantation where the reception was held. The reception was lovely (and extra sweet), with a tower of cupcakes, and glittering mountains of candy...but it was also a raucous party, led by talented Chris Saraiva of DJ Entertainment and Uplighting, with a rockin' photobooth manned by "Photobooth Josh." It was clear to me, watching the newlyweds dance at the end of the night, that the day was an official statement of a vow they made long ago, and have held to for many years now. After fourteen years, and a proposal atop a castle in Germany, they made another promise to one another there in that garden, surrounded by everyone who has supported them through the years, and it was the perfect culmination of their love story. A sweet first look. I loved that the boys struck a pose (with some help) to show off their snazzy argyles. Four stunning sisters... Awesome shot on the right by Felicia (gah! I'm in it). Love, love, love this. Be sure to check out their slideshow: