Where do I even begin?

The first time Alyssa, Alex and I hopped on the phone to chat about their wedding plans and get to know one another we connected over their love for National Parks. At the time I was knee deep in design plans for our national park themed nursery and we hit it off immediately. These two radiate joy, they love each other beautifully, intensely, and simply. Exploring during their Engagement Session it became evident that these two get each other.

Fast forward and #COVID-19 changed their original wedding plans but they adjusted to the changes with such grace, in the end deciding that although they would wait to celebrate with their large group of friends and family, but they wouldn’t wait another year, month, or day to get married.

And so, I was able to witness and capture their dreams come true in the backyard of Alyssa’s childhood home.

And it. was. stunning.

COVID-19 wasn’t the only thing they overcame. Let’s just talk about the absolute torrential downpour that happened right as we were supposed to have their First Look. Alex and I stood underneath the tent as the wind blew, the rain came down in the most intense way, and we waited it out. Props to Alyssa and Alex for being extra patient and taking my advice to wait just a little bit longer so we could have their First Look under the gorgeous tree they had planned because it was absolutely worth the wait for the most beautiful light and post-rain-perfectness. Make sure to check out the look on Alex’s face when he first saw his bride because it’s definitely precious.

And seeing their personalities shine through with their decor and National Parks place cards (each one carefully chosen for each individual person), these two certainly didn’t let life’s circumstances detract in anyway from the intent with which they committed themselves to one another.

Congratulations Alyssa and Alex! Thank you for allowing me to capture this incredible journey for you both…and bring on the party in 2021!

One of my absolute favorite things about photographing in New England are the amazing and vibrant colors you can find on the coast - in the landscape and the architecture. Tiffany and Patrick’s Engagement Session was no exception with a beautiful sunset and so many gorgeous flowers in bloom. These two will be getting married this Fall and were ahead of the planning process, choosing an intimate wedding celebration long before COVID-19 changed the world (and with it, the way we can currently gather).

It’s been encouraging to watch their plans fall into place and have a chance to catch up as we walked around exploring this stunning coastal town - making this location even more meaningful is the fact that Patrick proposed here!

After months of quarantining, getting to spend a beautiful evening hanging out with Sarah and Jordan for their Engagement Photos - well, it truly meant everything to watch these two interact and chat about their wedding plans. Their outfit selections were on point, not to mention, Sarah’s doppelgänger might be Cinderella and they both have the most infectious smiles.

Choosing a dress - the dress - can come with some questions. Here are some helpful tips to walk you through the process and leave you empowered to look and feel your best on your wedding day!

There are 3 main things I see the gentlemen struggle with on their wedding day that can be easily avoided with a little bit of pre-wedding prep. After all, no one likes to add any more stress or reasons for sweaty palms on their wedding day! What are these tricky day of activities you ask?

Pinning Boutonnieres. Folding Pocket Squares. Tying ties or bowties.

Always and forever.

Without fail, at every wedding, someone is on their phone looking up tutorials, graphics, and videos about how to do these things. Learn them beforehand and you will be well on your way to being a well-prepared Groom. Promise.

The more control you feel you have over the little things that happen during the day, the more you will be truly in the moment enjoying the celebration.

Life used to be filled with uncertainties and questions when it came to what a fairytale ending should look like. I had preconceived notions about how it should feel to be in love and to be fully me with another person. And I had tucked away feelings of “something’s not quite right” because I was more concerned about fitting into other people’s stories than I was about the power in each of our journeys, and the importance of bringing myself, unedited, unfiltered, and unaltered to the table.

There were several seasons (and a lot of tears) involved in shifting my mindset, primarily focused on finding my independence and ultimately myself, in getting me to the here and now of my story, but the pinnacle of it all was finding Andrew - finding my home.

Michelle and Johnny’s December wedding day was truly stunning; however, it was the emotion woven through the entire day that had in me in tears at least 3 times while editing their galleryl. There were so many touching and heartfelt interactions between the beautiful new Mr. & Mrs. and their friends and family.

I met up with these two to walk around Yale University a few weeks before the event to scope out the perfect spot for some photos. Let’s just say - I’m glad we took the time to do so because the weather cooperated and we got some seriously lovely photos of them snuggling together with incredible architecture as the backdrop for their love story. Fitting, as Yale is where they first met. These two were rockstars bearing the cold and I’d say it was worth it!

Regan and Dayne are some of the sweetest people with the most genuine hearts you’ll ever meet.

Years ago they first became aware of each other when Regan attended Freshman orientation at the Branford House where Dayne was giving a presentation. How cool that they can now say they were married in this same place (the exact same room, in fact). Their day was filled with all kinds of sentimental touches, woven together with the history of the legacy of their loved ones - fitting, considering they are both passionate historians. The dress Regan chose to wore was previously worn by her grandmother and mother and it was an absolute honor to photograph such an heirloom. And Dayne, a pianist having performed at hundreds of events at the Branford House previously, finally had the opportunity to sit and play for his wife. So many gorgeous long-awaited meaningful not-soon-to-be-forgotten moments are what this day was comprised of.

It was an absolute pleasure getting to know these two and walking alongside them capturing the next chapter of the beautiful story they are writing together. Thank you, Regan and Dayne, for trusting me to capture your wedding!

I pinched myself at least once a minute just to make sure I wasn’t dreaming during this session.

Johnna and Jay were married in September (you may remember their wedding from this blog post) and with a shared passion for rescuing horses, we had always planned to do a session on the beach late in the year when it opened up for these majestic creatures.

With beautiful florals, modified wedding attire, four of their four-legged friends, and their love to keep them warm (as well as about 100 layers of tulle for Johnna) we took to the beach and magic was made. I’m so grateful to have gotten to know this beautiful couple over the last year.

Meghan and Timothy are incredibly sweet and classy people - there’s really no other way to put it. In addition to this, boy, do they know how to break. it. down. on the dance floor. I’ve truly never attended a wedding where two people along with all of their friends and family knew every word to every song for an entire evening. At the close of the night, I’m pretty sure the dance floor was just as packed as when the night began - the true sign of a really good party.

They met in Boston while in college, and as they say, the rest was history. Timothy planned an elaborate surprise when he proposed and had brought their friends and family together to celebrate.

Their wedding day was full of beautiful moments (and heartfelt vows) displaying their history of falling more in love over the last 5 years and it was an honor to capture this next part of their story.

Congratulations, Meghan and Timothy!

This photo displays one of my absolute favorite moments to capture. It’s what I like to call, “The Smile Before the Kiss.” It’s the feeling of excitement in the anticipation of knowing what’s about to happen. It’s a great way to describe the season of being engaged as well. It’s a time filled with exciting to-do lists and decisions to be made, all in preparation for the exchanging of vows.

Charlotte and Rob live in New York City, so when we were trying to decide on a location for their Engagement Session I sent them some local options and they loved Harkness - it really is such a great choice to achieve different vibes and backgrounds all in one place!

We ended up moving their session up a bit to try to beat the rain and it luckily it worked! We started our time together walking around their venue, Jonathan Edwards Winery, and then made our way to the water for some cute photos of them (and their adorable dog, Scout)!

I’m already counting down the days until I get to see these two again and can’t wait to capture the joy on their wedding day and so many more smile-before-the-kisses kind of moments. Thank you Charlotte and Rob for trusting me to capture this season of your love story!

There’s one main word that comes to mind after spending time with Amy and Tommy during their engagement session: chemistry.

These two have been together for 10 years, so their connection certainly makes sense. Watching them interact was honestly an absolute privilege. The best part for me was actually knowing they entered the session being a bit nervous (I mean, really, who isn’t at the thought of having a stranger in your face taking photos? I totally get it) - but as we walked around and found each new spot and I guided them into “poses” focused on movement and really just encouraging them to be themselves with each other, well, it was MAGIC.

The in-between moments are where you can really see a couple’s chemistry come through and their personalities show up and I’m just so obsessed with Amy and Tommy’s “in-between-moments” from our time together. Both genuine, sweet, and compassionate people (it’s no wonder they’re both teachers) they are two people I would certainly describe as being meant for each other.

And I couldn’t be more excited they’ve chosen me to photograph their 2020 wedding!

Meet Sky & Chris!

Everything about this sunrise session had me FALL-ing in love.

With traveling to Boston for their session amidst a crazy wedding season, in order to make it work I had a crazy idea and texted them asking… “any chance you would be up for a sunrise session?” and they responded with my absolute favorite phrase from any couple:

“We’re up for anything!”

So we set the date and I set my alarm (I’d be lying if I didn’t say I had my husband set another 10 alarms to make sure we got our butts out of bed and our 3 month old daughter bundled up for the adventure).

These two braved the cold morning air and were nothing but smiles. We were able to walk around, find this amazing tree and I watched them get more comfortable being with each other in front of the camera (helped along I’m sure by the increasing warmth as the sun came up). It was magic.

A little backstory to the location choice! Sky and Chris met because of rowing, and the Charles River holds a lot of significance for them, as does the sport. In fact, Chris proposed to (a very stunned) Sky in front of 200 high school students and their parents during an awards banquet for the athletes he had been coaching. It’s a story that will bring anyone to tears and one I know they will hold onto forever. So sweet.

Beyond excited to photograph their 2020 wedding!

I remember the first time Trinity and I spoke on the phone - instantly drawn to her sweet personality - we chatted about almost everything and I fell in love with her vision for their wedding day. Even more than that, the way she talked about Curtis and their relationship had me so excited to meet these two. We decided on Harkness Memorial State Park for their engagement session, an especially meaningful decision as it was where they actually got engaged! In addition to getting to know Trinity and Curtis as we walked around, I also got to meet their sweet pup, Lulu, and Curtis’ parents (who generously volunteered to dog-sit while we explored).

Their love for Fall and the outdoors made The Stonington Meadows an easy choice for their wedding venue, with large windows and a beautiful view of the marsh behind. They couldn’t have asked for more beautiful weather to go along with this amazing venue and all that they had planned for the day.

Trinity and Curtis, thank you for trusting me to capture the love you share!

Remember these two cuties from their Lighthouse Point session a while back with their precious pups?

They’re back…and cuter than ever (if that’s even possible)!

Taylor and Sean are a bit unique because they will be tying the knot where my husband and I had our wedding reception! We’ve had a special bond from the very beginning just because of that and I couldn’t be more excited to capture their day.

Counting down the days until they say “I do” in Mystic.

Jamie and Scott were such a blast to hang out with. They pretty much had me in a fit of giggles the whole night and it was an absolute pleasure getting to know them both.

And as we were walking to the cars to say goodnight the sky put on a performance with some beautiful colors. I wouldn’t be surprised if they got in their car laughing with each other about one of my favorite phrases: “OK guys - let’s stop here for just one more photo!”

These are the sessions that give me life and make me beyond excited for all of the love I get to capture in 2020.

From the first moment I met these two their genuineness and ability to truly have fun together was infectious.

Maybe it’s in part because they’ve known each practically since birth, but they are so comfortably themselves with each other. After sporadically keeping in touch over the years, Rachel tells the story of them reconnecting when they happened to be at the same restaurant one night and Harrison made a funny face at her from across the room - the more time I spent with them the more I realized that this interaction is so them.

I would also like to mention another beautiful part of their story that I think made their wedding day even more intimate and precious. Harrison serves with the United States Air Force (thank you for your service, Harrison!) and he and Rachel have had several seasons of time apart in their relationship. The more I think about it, watching the two of them together there’s really no other way to put it (sorry for the cliche) but they’ve found home in each other. From short visits and moves around the country, they’ve stood one another. Watching them embrace is like getting a little window into the immense comfort and safe space they’ve created together.

I’m not crying, you’re crying.

Nope, actually I was definitely crying. Especially watching Harrison’s reaction to Rachel walking down the aisle and then when they literally did a little *completely* adorable jump together in the first few moments after sealing their union with a kiss.

an we please just talk about how seriously stinking CUTE these two are?

Rachel and Harrison currently live in Arizona and when we chatted over the phone about their wedding, I encouraged them to still consider planning an “Engagement Session” even if it was just the week before so we would have the chance to connect and also give them some adorable New-Englandy photos while they were back on the east coast.

Well, I’m so glad we made the time. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to spend even more time with them in addition to their wedding day.

Johnna and Jay spent 10 years together before walking down the aisle, but if there’s one thing I could say about these two it’s that the foundation they spent time building, well, it certainly shows.

From the moment I first met them, the way Jay looks at Johnna let’s you know that he feels like the luckiest guy in the world.

I got to document the day they confessed their love for each other in front of their friends and family, and with the sweetest vows they committed their forevers to one another and it was pretty dang cool to witness. During the bouquet toss I planted myself next to Jay at their sweetheart table to get the best shot, and as she was laughing it up enjoying the moment with the gals, I looked over at Jay and said, “she’s pretty great, isn’t she?”

His response? Grinning from ear to ear he said, “Yeah. She’s the best”

I’m not crying, you’re crying.