You may have to be creative with how to include your dog on your wedding day, but with a little intentionality they will have a place of honor in your plans!
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Every detail of their celebration at Saltwater Farm Vineyard in Mystic, Connecticut was crafted with so much love (and talent). Now seems like a great time to mention that Amanda made every single one of the wooden flower arrangements you will see below. The vibrant pops of color and beautiful display of both of their personalities was evident throughout.
The guest book? A custom globe. Escort cards and guest gift? Gorgeous colorful luggage tags. Have I mentioned just how much I really love guest gifts with a purpose that are sure to be used and serve as a reminder for years to come? Every table “number” had the beautiful cityscape of Paris engraved on the wooden base of a city name - a great spin on finding a place to sit. From their Destination Engagement Session in Portsmouth in New Hampshire I knew I was going to want lots of time and beautiful ways to style Amanda’s ring. My favorite is that Amanda loves details as much as I do, so I arrived to an entire box of extra florals, an Eiffel Tower heirloom souvenir and several macaroons from Sift Bake Shop in Mystic (and knowing their love for macarons and the significant roll they played in their engagement, these were well utilized!). Amanda and I had been chatting throughout their planning process about the fabric choices, food decisions, etc. and I walked into this wedding knowing a lot about their day and being prepared for helping to craft a visual narrative reflective of their incredible relationship and that really makes all the difference.
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Much like so many other couples who had planned their original wedding and full celebration for 2020, Alyssa & Alex were faced with planning and adjusting in the middle of a global pandemic. They had decided last year to be married with an intimate backyard gathering surrounded only by a few people, and they delayed their larger gathering another year and waited to really celebrate at the Burr Homestead in Fairfield, Connecticut. As I had the privilege of photographing both unique celebrations, you can checkout their 2020 intimate backyard wedding here.
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It still feels a little surreal that this downtown New York City Manhattan rooftop proposal happened (so I can’t even imagine how it feels to be Carmine and Courtney). Everything about this day was perfect. The view from the top of Carmine’s sister’s apartment building on 34th street has a view to the Hudson River and the day was *so* clear and gorgeous - we really could not have asked for better weather. So many people came together to make this day magical for them and to watch a tight knit community at work, as an outsider looking in, is incredibly powerful.
I had never chatted with Carmine or Courtney and was enlisted (with Carmine’s blessing, of course) to photograph this occasion for them through friends of friends of friends - you know how the story goes, and the world feels a little smaller with every connection and the stars align? I love those moments and connections. Well, Carmine’s sister worked hard to keep this all a secret and sectioned off the most beautiful corner of the rooftop, with a great view of the building where they both work, and even taped a dollar bill to the ground and setup champagne for a little post-proposal celebration. The meaning behind the dollar you may ask? Well, Courtney has apparently found a dollar before most significant occasions or occurrences in her life, SO Carmine’s adorable request was to have a dollar strategically placed that she would walk up to it and likely know that something was going on. And it worked. Courtney said after that as soon as she saw the dollar she knew she was about to be engaged.
I love that Carmine crafted the cutest most intimate proposal but also surprised Courtney with a huge celebration of friends and family after she said, “YES!” Courtney kept asking questions about the plans for the day in complete disbelief and shock at all of the surprises and celebrations he had planned.
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Aside from Taylor and Andrew being two of the sweetest humans (I mean it, they were an absolute blast to hang out with) it turns out Stamford is a place I’ll be going back to often because it’s so cute. Views of the water and Long Island Sound, great restaurants and bakeries, swings, a play area with sand for the kids, gorgeous parks and modern architecture - and, bonus, from everything I saw it’s a superrrrr clean city. This downtown area was quiet and serene and it really turned out to be such a perfect evening. The sunset colors even showed off for us and we concluded the night dancing on the dock with a pink-sky-backdrop as Taylor twirled around in the most beautiful floral dress.
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I first “met” Stephanie on a phone call about 6 years ago when I was booking a limousine with Joshua’s Limousine for my own wedding. Over the years we’ve gotten to know each other and I’ve had the privilege of photographing her beautiful family and collaborating with Joshua’s Limousine for this coastal wedding styled shoot in Mystic, Connecticut.
Fast forward a bit to today and I think we can all agree that life has changed significantly in the last year and a half and the way we buy food and interact with local businesses and shops has also been drastically affected due to living in the world of a global pandemic. COVID-19 changed everything. Though much of these transitions have been traumatic and the lives of sos many rocked, we have also admired the resiliency of humanity, the loyalty of friendships, the kindness of strangers, and the importance of hard work, communication, and the ability to adapt. Many of these shifts in the world aligned just right for Stephanie to begin a company that focuses on the creation of gourmet food items and luxury service - a journey that really started with the chocolate dipped strawberry and has expanded from there. So today I’m excited to be introducing you to the Southeastern Connecticut business, Simply Ohana.
Behind every small business is a story of the person who had a vision and worked hard to have it come to life, and Stephanie’s story is particularly significant and moving and gives so much meaning to the heart she brings to her endeavor. Read on for her story…
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Sitting at my desk watching the snow fall in April - got to love New England - and it reminded me that I haven’t had a chance to blog Nicole and Dan’s cozy winter engagement photos at Heavitree of Griswold B&B. From a few warm indoor photos with tons of historical character, cozying up on a couch together with gorgeous exposed beams, fireplaces and a taproom, to some outdoor moments with gorgeous rock walls, a red barn and a Christmas tree farm backdrop of Geers Tree Farm, this session was filled with all of the reasons I love New England and the moments it inspires in love stories.
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Despite the many speed bumps and hurdles these two faced while planning, they crafted a day that focused on the safety of their loved ones, amidst a global pandemic, and a day that was representative of their relationship. They chose to have a First Look under a willow tree that provided for gorgeous soft light and a romantic aesthetic with the addition of Charlotte’s plush bouquet with pops of maroon and plum, followed by portraits around the gardens. Their “I Do’s” were exchanged at the most stunning ceremony site where the sun shone through the orchard trees and incorporated incredible architecture and florals. The cocktail hour was the perfect prelude to the rest of the evening full of celebrations. Guests had the opportunity to mingle and move about and explore the different elements which had been carefully designed with hightop tables, several elegant and cozy seating areas, and various games to encourage social distancing - all while eating from individual charcuterie cones (their Catering team, A Thyme to Cook, really knocked it out of the park along with so many other vendors).
Charlotte and Rob are two of the most thoughtful and genuinely sweet and caring people I’ve ever met. They incorporated countless details in their plans emphasizing their concern for both the safety and overall experience of their guests. Even their loved ones who were no longer able to celebrate in person with them due to COVID-19 were a focal point, with an honored place live streaming at their ceremony - they may have even had a better view of their vows and first kiss than the guests in attendance! Speaking of all things thoughtful, they had previously sent out a toast for everyone to enjoy with them at home. Capturing them say hello to everyone celebrating remotely after the ceremony was one of my favorite moments.
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Working with Kelly and Stephen to document this day amidst a global pandemic had it’s ups and downs in planning, but I think after everything we can say that their wedding plans worked out exactly as they were supposed to.
We held to their original plan of a church ceremony in Branford, but the reception that followed took place at Kelly’s childhood home. Now, her home is not in just any neighborhood - it’s one of those neighborhoods they make shows about. All the kids grew up together, the parents are all friends, it seems the neighbors collectively raised each other’s children (giving a whole new meaning and depth to the phrase “it takes a village”), the group even had their favorite song that brought everyone out on the dance floor at once. I don’t know all of the details of the many years of friendships that have developed in this neighborhood, but I do know from experiencing the level of community on display for just one night, this is they type of community and we should all be fighting for these days. It was so beautiful to watch Kelly and Stephen have all of their closest people celebrating with them in a place with such history for them.
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And then Courtney began to walk towards Ryan and the sun came out. I could hear gasps of excitement from their guests, it was that noticeable. An undeniable sparkle and warmth from a sun we hadn’t seen all day. I’m telling you, I’m crying as I’m writing this, because it was one of the most redemptive moments of 2020 so far and I was there with a front row seat to witness.
Congratulations, Courtney and Ryan! I can’t thank you enough for trusting me in this season and allowing me to capture some of your most precious memories.
Possibly my favorite moment from their day were the two separate moments (both captured with photos you can see below) where shortly after they had exchanged rings, shared a kiss, both Courtney and Ryan looked down at their hands with the sweetest expressions, visibly realizing that the hand they were holding was now, without question, there’s to hold forever.
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Whitney and Dylan are two people who love intentionally. Everything they do is done with such care for those around them. Every detail of this day of celebration in Mystic, Connecticut at The Stonington Meadows came together beautifully. Whitney’s dress was absolutely breathtaking, the weather was glorious, the florals were stunning, the ceremony was meaningful, and the party was epic. It was a beautiful day and I could not think of two more deserving people to have their plans finally fall into place.
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The first time Courtney and I chatted on the phone we connected over so many things - among them, the similarities shared by our significant others (right down to them sharing the same birthday). During their initial inquiry call we talked at length about the plans they envisioned for their wedding day, but even more importantly, I had the opportunity to get to know them and hear about their love story up until their engagement. These two have been together for about 10 years, and from the bits and pieces I’ve picked up from conversation, as well as their live-life-to-the-fullest personalities, I would say that those 10 years were filled with more epic adventures and life experiences together than some have the opportunity to have in a lifetime.
When they were officially engaged, in conversation with Courtney’s 98 year old Grandmother (affectionately known as Grma), she asked that they get married in Connecticut so that she could dance at their wedding. A Connecticut wedding wasn’t necessarily a given because Courtney and Jeff have lived in Connecticut, Hawai’i, and Colorado, but they decided to plan for a New England wedding to make Gram’s wish come true.
Fast forward to a meeting over Christmas week to tour Guilford Yacht Club together, followed by a global pandemic (COVID-19 plot twist), added state guidelines, gathering mandates, travel restrictions and a change of venue. At the end of it all? A happy ending for two of the most deserving people I know. A stunning wedding with their family in attendance on Chaffinch Island in Guilford, Connecticut where they frequented together in the early days of their relationship. Gram was in fact able to dance at their intimate outdoor wedding reception, and the joy that lit up that backyard made several months of stressful wedding planning and adjusting worth it.
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Are you recently engaged? Did you get engaged before the global pandemic, began planning a wedding and are now looking around wondering what the next year will hold?
I have a lot of feelings about this season, and I can’t imagine as an engaged couple all of the feelings you are working through, but I hope no matter where you are in life, if you are next to the one you love, you are supported and encouraged that in the chaos of the moment we become stronger. Stronger as individuals, stronger in our relationships - increasingly aware of the things that really matter in this life.
Awhile back I’d posted “5 Date Ideas for the Engaged Couple,” but I realized that I should maybe revisit and modify this list for those of you engaged during this season and looking for inspiration to lean into joy and dedicate time your significant other. So here goes!
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This Engagement Session actually happened last May. Whoa. I can’t believe I’m just now sharing this gorgeousness, but when I photographed these sweethearts I was actually about 8 months pregnant, and well, that was a pretty crazy season of life - I’m kind of loving revisiting these images just a few weeks before their celebration with friends and family.
I began working with Whitney and Dylan back in 2018, if you can believe it. I still remember sitting at Starbucks chatting about the dreams they had for their wedding day (plans that were ultimately altered a bit by COVID-19). Well, I’m happy to say, not only did these two have an intimate ceremony and still get married on the original day they had planned, although they had to postpone their larger celebration, the party will be happening THIS month and we’re all pretty excited.
Since I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know them they’ve bought a house, added fur babies to their pack, and actually gotten married - it feels like a lot of life has happened since we met and I couldn’t be more excited to stand with them in celebration as they are able to have their closest friends and family witness their commitment to all of life’s changes and challenges ahead.
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