Monica and Max's Romantic Wedding at The Inn on Boltwood

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How did you two meet? We met at Colby College in 2011

• How did they pop the question? On a mountain top while we were on vacation in New Zealand.

• What was your favorite moment(s) from the wedding? - The whole ceremony especially our vows - Our first dance - Seeing everyone we love in one place - When the band came out onto the dancefloor

• How long have you been together? Nine years this December

• How would you describe your overall wedding experience? The perfect day.......exactly what we wanted. We could have done without the rain though =)

• What advice would you offer to other couples planning a wedding? Be in the moment and remember no one will notice the little details. People told us that, but we still worried AND no one noticed.

• What photography-related advice would you offer to a couple? - be prepared to smile a lot - have a day of planner/friend to keep everyone in line during formal photos

• Tell us about your dress! Where did you find it, how did you choose it, how did you know it was the one? I found it at Davids Bridal. I knew it was the one because I felt like myself in it and I could see Max smiling looking at me.

• Did you see each other before the wedding? If not, did you like waiting or would you have rather done it differently? Tell us why or why not! We saw eachother before. Would definitely recommend doing a first look to any couple. It was a nice way to get the nerves out of the way and it allowed us to have fun later in the day!

• Any tips on what to bring? Don't bring your phone - you won't need it.

• What was the first song you danced to as husband and wife? Father-daughter dance? Mother-son dance? first dance: Grow as you grow Benn Platt father daughter: my wish by rascal flatts mother son: wildflowers by tom petty

• What kind of food was served at your reception? filet mignon, chicken and salmon

• What were you most anxious/nervous/fearful about regarding your wedding day? What was the outcome? Definitely the vows....a lot of pressure! the weather....but we lucked out

• We love to hear about vendors that you particularly loved! List any vendors here and feel free to share your experience. Be sure to include the name of the vendor, their profession, city/state, site, or Facebook page. We loved the band......everyone was on the dance floor the whole time. Fever Band, Springfiield MA. We also loved you and Seth - you were both so great, fun and professional. Thank you so much!

Vendors

Venue: Inn on Boltwood

Photographer: Four Wings Photography

Hair/Makeup: Sei Bella Salon

Cake Maker: Atkins Farm

Band: Fever Band

Dress Boutique: David’s Bridal

Caterer: Inn on Boltwood

Florist: Forget Me Not Florist

Shannon and Nate's Wedding at The Industrial Elegant Boylston Room

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Isn’t it always nice to start at the beginning

• How did you two meet? In high school!!! We’ve been together ever since :)

• How did they pop the question? In our living room

• What was your favorite moment(s) from the wedding? At the end of the night all of the bridal party was sitting in the bridal suite passing a bottle or champagne

• How long have you been together? 9 years

• How would you describe your overall wedding experience? Stressful but rewarding

• What advice would you offer to other couples planning a wedding? Don’t sweat the small stuff... don’t be mean to your vendors. They are on your side. Just because it’s your day does not make you a brat.

• What photography-related advice would you offer to a couple? Trust your photographer.

• Tell us about your dress! Where did you find it, how did you choose it, how did you know it was the one? I found it at in white in Agawam. I loved my dress until I had to wear it all night. The bustle did not work and the dress was to long so I couldn’t dance! I knew it was the one because it just felt right.

• Did you see each other before the wedding? If not, did you like waiting or would you have rather done it differently? Tell us why or why not! We did a first look. It was a lot of stopping and pausing to take pictures. Honestly to me, it ruined the experience. I wish I could of just went up to him. But I know first looks are meant to take pictures and what not.

• What kind of food was served at your reception? Great food. Myers catering all the way!

• What were you most anxious/nervous/fearful about regarding your wedding day? What was the outcome? Overall, I wasn’t nervous. I dreamt of my wedding day for far to long.

• We love to hear about vendors that you particularly loved! List any vendors here and feel free to share your experience. Be sure to include the name of the vendor, their profession, city/state, site, or Facebook page.

Location of Wedding Our Lady of Mount Carmel

• Location of Reception The Boylston Room

• Who did Hair The bridal suite

• Who did Makeup The Bridal Suite

• Cake Maker Chmura’s Bakery

• Wedding Planner Erin Witmer

• DJ DJ pat Farrow

• First Dance Song Speechless dan and shay

• Dress Boutique In White

• Caterer Myers catering

Catherine and Gillian's Intimate Red Barn Wedding at Hampshire College

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How did you two meet? Nearly three years ago, we were both convinced that we needed a hiatus from serious relationships. After our respective breakups, we both logged into OKCupid thinking that we could set up one or two casual dates during the holiday season. I (Catherine) was visiting a college friend in what happened to be Gillian's hometown on my way back to England, where I'm from. Gillian was about to return from a term abroad and spend the vacation at home. We exchanged a few short messages online, not initially realizing that we went to partner schools on the opposite side of the state. In hindsight, both of us knew within a few hours of talking that something different was happening, and within a few days of nearly nonstop Skype calls, I was almost certain that she was the one for me. We met, finally, on a cold January evening in our small college town where we both went to school (Northampton), just hours after I returned to the USA.

• How did they pop the question? Over the three years we spent together, we both knew we wanted to get married, but that timing our engagement was vital to making it work. About a year in, Gillian moved to NYC for work, and I was finishing up my PhD and driving every weekend to see her. We developed some traditions early on that made us feel connected and joyful. For instance, whenever we had spare time, we would return to Northampton to hike to an outcrop that overlooked the ox-bow river and the whole town. In autumn the New England foliage was stunning, and snow hikes were arduous but wonderful. After each hike, we would climb back down and get food from a small burger place called LOCAL Burger that has AMAZING fried pickles. Six months after we met, I bought an engagement ring for Gillian and squirreled it away. A year later, she did the same. This summer, three years after meeting we were able to move in together, as we finally converged upon the same city again. The time was right, and we could both feel it. I asked Gillian to "think about something she might want to say to me in the next few months," took both rings, and put them deep in a hiking bag to wait. On Sunday, August 13th, we were in our college town, and decided to go for a hike. Anticipating this, I had purchased a nice bottle of champagne and given it to LOCAL burger to hold for us, and we hiked up to the outcrop overlooking the town where we met, a beautiful ox-bow (that looked like a ring), and the quiet of rustling leaves and birdsong. While I (Catherine) may have chosen the moment, we both proposed to one another and spent a wonderful, warm afternoon in the woods and in our favorite places in town. Not only did we have champagne, but many of the vendors in town, who remember us from college, gave us celebratory tea, food, and wine. What’s best is that we can always return to that spot and see both the town where our love began and the great expanse of what locals call the "happy valley." It couldn't have been more perfect.

• What was your favorite moment(s) from the wedding? One of Gillian's favorite moments from the wedding was the recessional after we were officially married, and the huge bubble of joy that led her to raise her arms in triumph! The ceremony was such a whirlwind that walking past the faces of all of our friends and family as a married couple felt like a strange moment of realization and excitement that really hit home. Gillian really loved being able to show her excitement and hear the cheer from the crowd at her pose (that Catherine mirrored)! Catherine's favorite moments took place on the dance floor and with the getaway car! The first dance and a few of the subsequent dances were so fun and intimate. Dancing with friends, family, and Gillian all wove together and organically morphed into some wonderful moments like dipping Gillian at the end of "Lady Marmalade," slow dancing to "New Year's Day," and spinning her mother during the mother-daughter dance. Another fun moment for Catherine was taking photos with the getaway car, a 1955 Chevy! It was such a stunning color and a dream of Catherine's to have a vintage car sweep us away for the honeymoon!

• How long have you been together? Four and a half years (five in December).

• How would you describe your overall wedding experience? Our wedding experience was both peaceful and overwhelming. There were so many moments of romance, of wild fun, and of complete exhaustion that having great vendors and friends around you is vital.

• What advice would you offer to other couples planning a wedding? Be deliberate and thoughtful about your vendors and your bridespeople (consider who will help you set the tone and be reliable on the big day). We were so glad we planned far enough out that we were able to surround ourselves with the best of the best. Also, let your photographers pull you away for a few brief moments together on the day--it goes so quickly!

• What photography-related advice would you offer to a couple? On your first sweep or two of the Knot and Wedding Wire vendors, go for skill with the camera, and style, and when you start doing in-person interviews (we narrowed it down to three), go with your gut about who will make you feel most comfortable, and who will be most capable on the day. We were not at all disappointed with our choice, the team we had (Ryan and Leslie) were quirky, funny, sweet, creative, and capable). 100% the right choice for us!

• Tell us about your dress! Where did you find it, how did you choose it, how did you know it was the one? Gillian: I found my dress at BHLDN in Chestnut Hill (MA), I had already looked in NYC and at other traditional and smaller stores in Boston, but the BHLDN dress worked best in terms of fit, elegance, and style. I didn't want a big floaty mass of fabric or anything too grand, I wanted something natural and flowy, that was off-white but not a vibrant color. In short: I wanted something that felt like me. I also got a dress topper for after the ceremony in the evening to change my lookup and add an extra touch of fun. Catherine: I opted for a suit instead of a dress. I tend to dress in a more masculine-of-center style, and it felt most comfortable and true to me. Rather than try to get a woman's suit (which is often too tight or weirdly cut), or a men's suit (which would be too boxy and the wrong size), I went to Bindle & Keep in NYC to get a bespoke suit made for my stature, and according to my personal style. Bindle & Keep are an amazing team of expert tailors and I got to choose the fabric, the lining, the piping, the style, the cut, and everything else you can imagine. It was an incredible experience and I couldn't recommend them enough. They work with all people and body types and have a series featured on HBO for their work with the LGBTQ community called "Suited."

• Did you see each other before the wedding? If not, did you like waiting or would you have rather done it differently? Tell us why or why not! We did the first look while was sweltering outside, but it was worth it! The moment I turned and saw Gillian, I didn't get overwhelmed like many marriers do. I wasn't in the least surprised by how radiant and beautiful she looked, but I loved having a private moment to see the details of her dress, her hair, and see how she was looking at me, too.

• What was the first song you danced to as husband and wife? Father-daughter dance? Mother-son dance? We danced to Kina Grannis's "Valentine." We have loved the song for years, and it worked well for the first dance as a married couple because it is under three minutes long, and it had an easy beat to choreograph a few steps to.

• What kind of food was served at your reception? We did a buffet with salmon, chicken, and vegetarian options, a vegetable medley, summer salad, and stuffed baked potatoes! The dessert was simply our wedding cake, which was from La Fiorentina Bakery and was DELICIOUS!

• What were you most anxious/nervous/fearful about regarding your wedding day? What was the outcome? We were both nervous about managing our mass amount of family members during the photographs and the wedding itself because so many were coming from far away (Athens, London, the west coast) and there were young children. Luckily, our photographer (Ryan) and our wedding coordinator at the Red Barn were excellent at people management and we had no problems whatsoever.

• We love to hear about vendors that you particularly loved! List any vendors here and feel free to share your experience. Photographer: Ryan Williams, Four Wings Photography Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Musician: Lindsay Straw HONEY Hair and Beauty: Ashely and Amber (Westfield, MA) https://www.honeyhairandbeauty.com/ Bespoke Suit: Bindle & Keep Tailoring Venue: The Red Barn at Hampshire College Getaway Car: Ed Powell, Private Owner (CT)

Erin and Jakes Romantic Quonquont Farm Wedding

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How did you two meet? We both swiped right on Tinder after 2 of our friends created profiles for us. The last thing we expected was to meet our perfect match!

How did they pop the question? We were in the middle of Piazza San Marco in Venice, Italy. I was very confused when he got down on one knee (mainly I thought he was tripping of the shoe laces he repeatedly kept telling me were becoming "untied" all day long)! He had the ring in his hands and he said "Yes." Haha... eventually he actually asked me to marry him and I of course said YES! It was truly a fairytale!

• What was your favorite moment(s) from the wedding? Erin: My favorite parts were my first looks with my mom and with Jake. I was so nervous and anxious about getting up in front of so many people and being the center of attention, but the nerves melted when I saw Jake. Our first look was one the the best decisions we made. It allowed us to have that intimate moment, just for us, before the circus of the day continued. My mom and I are incredibly close and she has been my rock throughout the planning process. Being able to have a first look and a quiet moment to share was such a gift and a priceless memory for us both. Jake: The first look. The anticipation of seeing how beautiful my bride looked on our wedding day. It helped me to calm my anxiety. I had gotten zero sleep the night before and it really made me feel at ease. Kind of like, as long as we're together we can get through anything.

• How long have you been together? 4 years on December 18th!

• How would you describe your overall wedding experience? It was like having the best dream and trying to stay asleep so it never ends!

• What advice would you offer to other couples planning a wedding? Don't bite off more than you can chew! Trust your vendors... you hired them for a reason! Have a crowd control plan! Haha.. Discuss having a receiving line or a plan for how you are going to greet your guests. That way you can optimize your time and enjoy your party too! Take little moments for yourself. The day flies by and taking some time to take it all in is so worth it! Things WILL go a little sideways- I am wearing none of my wedding jewelry, because I completely forgot! But it doesn't matter. What matters is you are committing yourself to the one person who would love you just as much in a gorgeous gown or in oversized flannel pants and road race t-shirt!

• What photography-related advice would you offer to a couple? Make sure you get pictures with the people who mean the most to you and are the most present in your life. Those are the priority. Also, do whatever Ryan tells you to do! If he says, "want to go on an adventure?" You go on that adventure and I promise you won't regret it!

• Tell us about your dress! Where did you find it, how did you choose it, how did you know it was the one? I had never worn anything remotely resembling a wedding dress before so my mom, godmother and sister took a trip to Davids Bridal to just try on some styles and see what looks good on me. I walked in the door and saw my dress on a mannequin and said "I want that one!" My mom was not convinced at first until I put it on and it was the one! My seamstress, Mrs. Rolann Childs, is a magician! She took my dress and made it into the masterpiece I wore on my wedding day!

• Did you see each other before the wedding? If not, did you like waiting or would you have rather done it differently? Tell us why or why not! Yes! Our first look was perfect! We both knew we needed to see each other first so we could essentially calm one another down before the ceremony! I just wish we had more time to hang out just us before the ceremony started. Definitely schedule enough time and give yourself some wiggle room. My hair and make up ended up taking longer than expected which pushed us back, unfortunately. The price of beauty, huh?! :)

• Any tips on what to bring? Bring comfy shoes!

• What was the first song you danced to as husband and wife? Father-daughter dance? Mother-son dance? Our first dance was "Better Place" by Rachel Platten. Jake had heard this song years ago and when he shared it with me he said, "We are going to dance to this at our wedding someday." We did and it was perfect! It truly expresses what we mean to one another and how our lives are better because we have each Other!

• What kind of food was served at your reception? We had LOTS of passed appetizers, chop chop salad, Gorgonzola sirloin, blacked salmon and stuffed chicken. Dessert was a spread of Disney themed cupcakes, travel themed sugar cookies and candy! The Dole Whip cupcake tasted just like a Dole Whip, which is my favorite snack from Disney! My favorite movie growing up was Beauty and the Beast, so we paid tribute by having a "Grey Stuff" cupcake, which was fantastic!

• What were you most anxious/nervous/fearful about regarding your wedding day? What was the outcome? I was afraid that it would go by too fast and I would miss something. THIS IS INEVITABLE! It does go by fast, but because you're having so much fun! And you will miss things, again, because you're having the time of your life and can't be everywhere all at once. I can't wait to see our photos and video. It's going to be amazing to relive that day and see everything that was happening around us!

• We love to hear about vendors that you particularly loved! List any vendors here and feel free to share your experience. Be sure to include the name of the vendor, their profession, city/state, site, or Facebook page. Quonquont Farm: Janelle and Ella were amazing to work with! They ran a nice tight ship, which was so appreciated. I didn't have to worry about a thing during my reception because they worked seamlessly with Monica and the Log Rolling team to make service flawless! Not to mention, the venue is stunning! I fell in love with it because we can always go back for a visit and pick apples, flowers or hit up the farm stand. Trips to Quonquont will be a great tradition for us as a family! Log Rolling: Monica (coordinator) and Manny (lead server) did not skip a beat and everything was perfect! I have never felt more taken care of in my life. It's like they could read my mind! Lisa our planner from Log Rolling was a dream to work with. She made the process so easy and was truly excited and happy to help make our day exactly how we wanted it! Colin McElany (videographer): I had only spoken to Colin on the phone before our wedding. He sent us some samples of his work and after crying over the weddings of complete strangers I knew he was going to capture all of the magic from our day! He is so nice and even though I knew he was there, I didn't even realize he was recording half the time! We can't wait to see how it all turns out! Supreme Photobooth- we were given an album of all the pictures taken in the photobooth with messages from our guests. ITS AMAZING and such a great way to capture the fun and excitement of our family and friends. Mr. Ryan Williams: From the minute I walked in the door I was greeted with a much needed hug and instantly felt more relaxed! He immediately got the ball rolling and get my massive Bridal party moving and on task! I honestly don't think people value the role a photographer plays during a wedding. I gave him all of my trust and he ran with it and literally made our wedding a spectacular experience for my husband and I. I know I'm going to completely melt when I see the finished product and I am very grateful to have had him along for the ride! Thank you so much! Colleen Turgeon- hair/make-up and friend: This girl has a gift. She and her team transformed me and my bridesmaids into princesses! I have never felt more beautiful in my life as I did on my wedding day!

• Did you find a store or site that had everything you were looking for? Use this space to talk about favorite shops. (Example, where you got your dress and sites where you got your veil/decor/accessories etc.)This wedding was brought to you by Etsy, Hobby Lobby, Home Depot and a lot of creativity, patience and skill from my husband! We made almost everything! The belt on my wedding dress I found on Etsy and it completed my dress!

• We love to hear about vendors that you particularly loved! List any vendors here and feel free to share your experience. Be sure to include the name of the vendor, their profession, city/state, site, or Facebook page. Quonquont Farm: Janelle and Ella were amazing to work with! They ran a nice tight ship, which was so appreciated. I didn't have to worry about a thing during my reception because they worked seamlessly with Monica and the Log Rolling team to make service flawless! Not to mention, the venue is stunning! I fell in love with it because we can always go back for a visit and pick apples, flowers or hit up the farm stand. Trips to Quonquont will be a great tradition for us as a family! Log Rolling: Monica (coordinator) and Manny (lead server) did not skip a beat and everything was perfect! I have never felt more taken care of in my life. It's like they could read my mind! Lisa our planner from Log Rolling was a dream to work with. She made the process so easy and was truly excited and happy to help make our day exactly how we wanted it! Colin McElany (videographer): I had only spoken to Colin on the phone before our wedding. He sent us some samples of his work and after crying over the weddings of complete strangers I knew he was going to capture all of the magic from our day! He is so nice and even though I knew he was there, I didn't even realize he was recording half the time! We can't wait to see how it all turns out! Supreme Photobooth- we were given an album of all the pictures taken in the photobooth with messages from our guests. ITS AMAZING and such a great way to capture the fun and excitement of our family and friends. Mr. Ryan Williams: From the minute I walked in the door I was greeted with a much needed hug and instantly felt more relaxed! He immediately got the ball rolling and get my massive Bridal party moving and on task! I honestly don't think people value the role a photographer plays during a wedding. I gave him all of my trust and he ran with it and literally made our wedding a spectacular experience for my husband and I. I know I'm going to completely melt when I see the finished product and I am very grateful to have had him along for the ride! Thank you so much! Colleen Turgeon- hair/make-up and friend: This girl has a gift. She and her team transformed me and my bridesmaids into princesses! I have never felt more beautiful in my life as I did on my wedding day!

• Did you find a store or site that had everything you were looking for? Use this space to talk about favorite shops. (Example, where you got your dress and sites where you got your veil/decor/accessories etc.)This wedding was brought to you by Etsy, Hobby Lobby, Home Depot and a lot of creativity, patience and skill from my husband! We made almost everything! The belt on my wedding dress I found on Etsy and it completed my dress!