Sarah and David's Wedding at the Lord Jeffrey Inn

Sarah and David were married on October 25th, with a ceremony and reception at the Lord Jeffrey Inn. 

Dave grew up in Chicago, and so that’s where he wanted to propose. The day before Thanksgiving in 2014, he brought Sarah to the John Hancock Tower on Michigan Avenue. Sarah suspected something, but Dave had a history of surprise dinners, so there was no real guarantee of a ring. Dave managed to play it sufficiently cool as the restaurant staff prepared a table with a stunning view of the Loop, Navy Pier, and the Wilis (nee Sears) Tower. With a little-unexpected help from a tourist taking pictures in front of the table, Sarah didn’t notice the flowers on the table until it was too late and Dave was already on one knee. When she said yes, the entire dining room broke into applause. 

Before the ceremony, Sarah and David decided to have a first look. She couldn’t wait to see Dave in his suit and for Dave to see her in her dress, and she seemed so much more relaxed for having seen him.

The ceremony itself was beautiful, especially the look in Dave’s eyes when he couldn’t keep from watching Sarah the entire time. It was clear that these two truly care for each other as well as for the people around them.

After the ceremony, Dave and Sarah had a “yichud,” which is a moment in Jewish tradition that the bride and groom share alone after the ceremony. For just a few moments, it was just the two of them, and they both came back from it feeling ready to take on the reception and all the celebrations ahead. 

Sarah & David, thank you so much for allowing me to be part of your celebrations. It was truly a beautiful and memorable occasion!

Vendors

Cake Maker: Greggory's Pastry

DJ or Band: Viren Entertainment

First Dance Song: You Are the Best Thing - Ray Lamontagne

Dress Boutique: Camilla's - Arlington, MA

Caterer: LJI

Florist: Designing Images

Mackenzie + Mike's Lord Jeffrey Inn Wedding

Mackenzie and Mike were married on September 4th, with a ceremony and a reception at the Lord Jeffrey Inn in Amherst, MA.

These two met while they were at Hamilton College, and they dated for some time before they got engaged. When Mike proposed, they were visiting their alma mater with their black lab, Colby. It was a snowy day as they took a hiking path in the woods, and Mackenzie was throwing snowballs for Colby to chase when she turned around, and there was Mike kneeling down with a ring.

On the day of the wedding, Mackenzie and Mike opted for a first look, and then we took plenty of pictures before the ceremony. They wanted to enjoy the reception without having to worry about fitting in time for pictures after the ceremony.

The ceremony itself was held outdoors, on the back patio of the inn, in beautiful fall weather. It was a heartwarming ceremony, filled with obvious affection, as they were surrounded by family and friends. 

Then, it was off to the reception. The food was wonderful, and I especially loved the way they utilized the rooftop at the inn. The music was phenomenal as well, and everyone seemed to honestly be enjoying themselves as they all partied hard in celebration of the new couple.

Thank you, Mackenzie & Mike, for trusting me to capture this amazing moment in your lives! I wish you both nothing but the best together.

Vendors:

Cake Maker: Greggory's Pastry Shop

DJ: DJ Tommy at Marx Entertainment

First Dance Song: To Love Somebody

Dress Boutique: Christina's Bridal in Andover, MA

Florist: Forget Me Not Florist

Alana + Joseph's Wedding at The Riverview

Alana and Joseph were married on November 6th, with a ceremony at St. Joseph’s Church in Windsor, CT, and a reception at The Riverview in Simsbury.

These two met during the Blizzard of 2013, also known as Winter Storm Nemo. Alana had been living in NYC at the time but was home in Connecticut for the weekend for a big birthday bash. Unfortunately, Nemo was only getting worse, and a travel ban had been put in place for most of Connecticut and Massachusetts. Alana’s best friend (and later her maid of honor) hunted down the only restaurant that seemed to be open for a little birthday celebration, and during dinner, Joey and a few of his friends walked into the restaurant as well. Their tables were coincidentally close to each other, and Joey says he caught Alana staring at him all night!

Alana and Joseph opted not to have a first look before the ceremony, because they wanted to preserve that moment when the church doors opened and they saw each other across the aisle. The ceremony itself was beautiful, and the emotion was evident in Alana’s face as her two dads walked her down the aisle and she looked up to see her husband-to-be. 

After the reception, there was a cocktail hour with lamb, seafood, and a raw bar, and later at the reception, there was a sit-down dinner with a salad and entrees—and a dessert station!

Then, there was plenty of dancing all around as the band, Current Affair, kept everyone out on the dance floor. The bride and groom had their first dance as well as father/daughter and mother/son dances, and everyone could see the love they had not only for each other but for their families.

Alana & Joseph, thank you for choosing us to be part of this amazing day! Congratulations, and may your future always be bright!

Vendors: 

Dress: Kleinfeld in NYC

Wedding Planner: Sarah Parlos, One Fine Day

Videographers: Barnberry Productions

Hair: Karma Salon

Make-up: Chante Make-up

Band: Current Affair

Florist: KM Designs

Limo Service: Michael’s

Brad + Mindy's Somerville Theater Wedding

Brad and Mindy were married on November 21, with a ceremony at the Somerville Theater in Somerville, MA, followed by a reception at the Cambridge Boat Club in Cambridge, MA.

The ceremony location had a special significance for these two, as they met in the audience at the Somerville Theater when attending as show. They didn’t start dating, however, until a few months later when they were both in a play together, also at the theater. I think the Somerville area is creatively very diverse and I use to visit good friends of mine in Davis Square whenever I could, so I enjoyed being back for the wedding. 

They opted not to see each other before the ceremony, and so the first time Brad saw Mindy was when she was coming in for the Ketubah signing. He had tears in his eyes when he saw her, and it was truly a touching moment. Following the signing was a beautiful ceremony. And then, after leaving the theater, we all traveled to the nearby Cambridge Boat Club for the reception. 

Between the wedding and reception, the duo decided that they wanted to do something as a new couple, so they went out on the town in full wedding regalia for a mini date. I followed them with my camera, and some of my favorite images came from just walking around the neighborhood with these two.

Throughout the day, it was clear that they had amazing friends and family to back them up and support them. One of the most amazing details about the wedding was the This American Life-style audio documentary that their friend, Andy Hicks, produced from interviews with them and their friends and family. It framed the entire ceremony and was an amazing way to showcase their lives. I am a big fan of This American Life, so I enjoyed the theme choice. 

They also observed the Jewish tradition of the seven blessings, but with their own personal twists. Some of their closest friends wrote and read their own versions of each blessing, individually tailored to Brad and Mindy. This moment, really the entire day, was filled with fun and whimsical details, perfect for them. 

Brad & Mindy, thank you so much for allowing me to be part of this amazing time in your lives. It was so much fun to hang out with you all day, and I wish you both the very best!

Vendors:

Ceremony: Somerville Theater

Reception: Cambridge Boat Club

Flowers: Derby Farm Flowers

Food: Vintage Tea and Cake

Video Documentary: Andy Hicks