* Lauren and Kirk

venue: Lauren's family summer home on Lake Wentworth in Wolfeboro, NH
coordinator: Amy Piper Signature Events
caterer: Sunshine Catering Goffstown, NH
flowers: Spider Web Gardens (assembled by Lauren and her mom)
cake: Just Like Mom's Pastries Weare, NH
hair: Styles by Tara, Wolfeboro, NH
dj: Peak Entertainment Vermont
dress: Madeleine's Daughter (Bridals by Marisa) Portsmouth, NH
bridesmaids dresses: Simple Silhouettes
transportation: Molly, Wolfeboro Trolley Company

Formerly of Vail and now living in New York City, Lauren and Kirk know how to throw a party! When Kirk phoned to check my availability last year for their Lake Wentworth, New Hampshire wedding, I nearly fell off my chair. Not only did I grow up summering on Lake Wentworth as a child, but I can see their wedding location from my grandparent's beach (that's their tent in the bottom right)!!

The tent up close.

The ceremony scene.

I love the super narrow focus of a few lenses I recently purchased.



Bright pink was the accent color throughout the day.

Love the sash on those bridesmaids gowns. The colors really popped in the overcast day.

I love this shot of Lauren getting ready inside and her guests being seated outside.

A shout-out to Kirk, an amateur photographer himself.

Kirk's brother was in charge of the wedding bands, and kept them securely on this carabiner.

Or so he thought.

Yes, exactly what you are thinking happened actually happened. But the ring was recovered after a few minutes of panicked pawing in the sand.

The bridal party forms a sweet spontaneous huddle.

Toes, too.

Married!

The rain started to come down during dinner and the music went up. And then things got very fun to photograph!

And Lauren took the muddying of the bottom of her bridal dress in stride.

Great effort by the women on the bouquet toss!

What a great wedding!

* Lisa and Dan

venue: Sebasco Harbor Resort Sebasco Estates, ME
cake: European Bakery Falmouth, ME
florist: Rosemont Floral Portland, ME
photographer: Emilie

Lisa and Dan traveled from Annapolis to Maine for their first time to host an intimate 12 person ceremony on a Thursday evening. Rain threatened the entire afternoon, but thankfully did not start until we were comfortably seated inside for dinner.

I literally walked in to meet Lisa getting ready with her family and was pleasantly surprised (ok, shocked. I was shocked) to see her brother helping with her hair (and shoes, and train, etc). Very impressive!

Lisa, on the phone with her sweetie. Doesn't she look a bit like Kirsten Dunst?

Her sweetie, Dan.

Because of the weather forecast, and their small number of guests, Lisa and Dan were married atop the Lighthouse. We wanted to be sure to get a picture incorporating this now very significant building in a creative way. Thus began the smooching...

... and some more...

... and more. Too cute! I love how affectionate they were together.

Instead of a traditional reception, a most delicious dinner was enjoyed in the Pilot House Restaurant just next to the Lighthouse. Doesn't this picture have a Last Supper quality? Perhaps it's just the arched roof that is giving it a religious feel?

And I'll leave you with this, which was a wedding first for me. Apparently, the florist told Lisa that she wraps the flower stems of her bouquet in a condom to keep them moist, and then places tape and ribbon on top so as to hide this secret. Curious, Lisa unraveled her bouquet to reveal its truth and then left it on the table for some rather interesting dinner conversation.

Thank you, Lisa and Dan, for allowing me to witness such an important and sweet day in your lives. Your families were a lot of fun, and I am so grateful to have had the time to join you for that amazing dinner. I hope the rest of your inaugural trip to Maine was as memorable and I can't wait to hear about your meandering honeymoon around New England!

* Emily and Steve

venue: Emily's family's home, Hollis, NH
reception flowers: The Garden Party Floral Boutique Milford, NH
bride's bouquet: Emily's father, The Mixed Border Nursery & Gardens
caterer: Aspirations and The Meat House
cake: Em's grandma
dress: Country Bridals Jaffrey NH (Belsoie by Jasmine)
shoes: Talbot's
officiant: Emily's brother Andrew
wedding bands: A & E Diamond and Gold Inc. Merrimack, NH
photographer: Emilie

I met Emily more than a dozen years ago when I was a senior in high school, and Em was a freshman. It was an unlikely match, but when we met during rehearsals for a school play in which we were both participating, there was no looking back. Em & I were inseparable, and have made many, many memories together since. Not many people can say one of their best friends share the same name, but for us, it's only makes sense.

Back in February, this was the email I received from Emily:

Em-
I’m assuming the answer is yes, but do you already have weddings booked for July 19th and July 26th?
~Em

And my reply:

WHY?! DO YOU HAVE NEWS TO TELL ME? I'll be really mad if you're telling me over email that you are engaged!

(and actually, I am teaching at my Cape Cod workshop on the 19th, but am available on the 26th)

Nope, they weren't engaged. They decided to skip that step. Emily and Steve, therefore, started planning what would be a surprise wedding at an otherwise normal summer bbq on the one Saturday I had free this summer. Weeks before the big day, Emily let her mom in on her little secret to give her the chance to find a dress, and her backyard bbq turned into a larger catered wedding at her family's home with the ceremony at her family's nursery and garden. Even tho the guest list swelled to 100, the theme- casual- stayed true and it was a great day.

On to the pictures...

Em's beloved pugs were the ring bearers.

Em, forgive me for posting this, but gosh, this image cracks me up. Here is Emma (as I call her) sequestered in her mother's room to get dressed. Her almost mother-in-law is peeking in the door to remind her that she was running late, and Emma takes a big gulp of champagne.

Emily's brother Andrew, in the line of fire in the busy kitchen, quickly finises the ceremony. Yes, he officiated! He was ordained for the day online.

The ceremony was under an arbor in their family's nursery, The Mixed Border.



I love this glance Emma is giving Steve.

Her parents sang them a James Taylor song.

Andrew pronounces them husband & wife!

Married!

First moment alone as Mr and Mrs.

I love this warm, glowy light!



I brought the flowers and cake from my studio opening to Emma's wedding. And altho the pink & brown did not match her wildflower decor, it was still fun to dress up the dining room table inside the house.

The cake joined the other yummy treats outside in the tent.

The nursery gardens were a perfect backdrop to the reception tent.





Seeing as we were surrounded by flowers, it only made sense to photograph their wedding bands among them.





Crayons were dispersed on the tables to encourage drawing on the tablecloths. Loved this sweet sentiment.

Two little baby birds were spotted on the ground below their nest.

Steve got a little carried away feeding their grandmother's favorite carrot cake to Emily. This image makes me laugh, and then want to throw up a little. :)

Simple. Fun. Celebration.


Emma and Steve, we are so happy and proud of you both! Even tho your surprise wedding morphed into something a bit bigger, it was still very much a reflection of you both. I really enjoyed meeting many of your extended family and new friends, and photographing in the backyard I spent many of our childhood days! Love you guys!

* Jess and Nat

venue: Moraine Farm Beverly, MA
caterer: Timothy S. Hopkins Catering
florist: Lynn Curcio
band: Rare Form Boston, MA (my new favorite band!)
hair: La Belle Femme Marblehead, MA
photographers: Emilie & J

I knew Jess and Nat's wedding was going to be fantastic the moment I met Jess last year at a coffee shop in Portsmouth. We immediately gabbed like old friends, spent a year furiously sending emails back and forth as their plans came together, and even met again for lunch at one of my favorite places in Boston, Wagamama. So on our drive down to Beverly the morning of their wedding, I really felt like we were going to photograph a friend's wedding (which is often the case, I'm lucky to report!).

Settle in for a lengthy slideshow here.

I met Jess and the maids at an adorable salon in Marblehead, the town Jess grew up in. It was perfectly shabby chic with lots of pink and sweet, sparkly details.



Jess' maids were such fun throughout the day. Few wear make-up on a daily basis and all were fascinated with Jess' elaborate application (which even included a heated mascara brush curler. Brilliant).

They giggled like school girls when they pulled out their old yearbook.

I always love catching the reaction once the veil goes on, and it all comes together.

Meanwhile, J was with the guys as at their hotel, and then at Moraine Farm (what a great venue! Our first time there and I cannot wait to go back) waiting for things to get underway.

As they were assembling for some posed formals, a spontaneous (and clearly fake) kung-fu fight broke out.

Jess' mom's reaction to seeing her in a wedding dress for the first time. How precious.

In the limo (the biggest I have ever been in) en route!

Beautiful hydrangeas accented the ceremony chairs.

The amazing ceremony site in front of Moraine's tea house.





Married!

The reception tabletops.

First dance bliss.

Very funny toasts!

Jess and Nat opted for a dessert bar instead of a cake. What a perfect opportunity for a creative ring portrait!

The glow of the tent against the night sky.


Jess and Nat, I know you know how much you mean to me. Many thanks a million times over for sharing your love with us, and inviting us to capture that for you and your families always. Looking forward to catching up with you again soon! Hugs!

* Dana and Ed

venue: Spruce Point Inn Boothbay Harbor, ME
florist: Boothbay Greenhouses Boothbay Harbor, ME
cake: Steve Watts Sweet Sensations
officiant: Sally Bullard
dress: Alfred Angelo
hair/make-up: Spruce Point Inn spa
photographer: Emilie

Bostonians Dana and Ed are one of many match.com success stories. Although we didn't meet in person until a month before their wedding, I, too, enjoyed communicating with them online! Ed is currently enrolled with the Center for Digital Imaging at Boston University, so we have a lot in common. Dana works for Marriott and wanted to plan a wedding that was different from the many she has seen in her hotels. Spruce Point Inn was the perfect location!

Dana getting ready, a bit nervous for the big day's events.

Our groom, Ed.

And the flower girl wanted to be sure to include their cat, Winston.

The poolside ceremony. It was a very overcast day, with occasional glimpses of sunshine, but no rain!



The sweet flower girls' buckets made by their great grandmother.

Married!

Everyone requests a shot of these Adirondack chairs at SPI.

I have not been to a wedding at SPI with so many children before. Their energy was such fun!



The little boy in the center is writing a note to one of the girls. Gosh, doesn't this bring you back to elementary school?

And this is the adorable gal he was after, posted here as evidence of how it started should we all gather again for their wedding someday. :)

Wave cards told guests what table to sit at.

Custom M&Ms spelled out the news.

Emotional toasts.

Beautiful hydrangeas accented the cake from Steve at Sweet Sensations.

I never tire of the funny faces couples make when cutting their cake.

Dana's parents have both passed away, so her brother stepped in to dance with Dana at the reception while Ed danced with her grandmother, and a slideshow played images of her family. What a moving moment.

A beautiful evening on the coast of Maine.


Dana and Ed, your love for each other, your friends and your family was evident in every minute of your day and I was so honored to capture that for you. Thank you. Good luck with photography school, Ed! And please stay in touch! Hugs!

* Elisabeth and Ward

venue: Blair Hill Inn Greenville, ME
florist: Hearts Desire, Guilford, ME
cake: DKB Catering Greenville, ME
dress: BCBG
hair: Vanessa Springer, Greenville, ME
engagement ring: Simon G
officiant: Cindy Hanscom, Town of Greenville
photographer: Emilie

Ward got a great birthday gift this year- a wife! He and fiancé Lisa eloped at the magical Blair Hill Inn in Greenville, Maine, with two of their closest friends. They were married by Cindy Hanscom, who works for the town of Greenville and is the mother of the bride, Sara, whose wedding I photographed at Blair Hill last fall!

Although they live in Pennsylvania and Baltimore, Lisa and Ward have a camp nearby and chose to elope at Blair Hill for it's beautiful Maine vistas. Unfortunately, the weather had other ideas and didn't show off the gorgeous landscape to its fullest potential!

Lisa especially loves Maine pines.

The men went for a hike the morning of the wedding.

Lisa's very cool BCBG silhouette.

Flowers.

Ward's wedding and Lisa's engagement rings.

Just as we went out on the lawn for the ceremony, the weather started to clear!

Lisa was so happy to be marrying her best friend.

The setting.

Married!


Lisa treated Ward to a little blue box birthday/wedding gift. My kinda gal!

And a poem.

Private table set for four.


And one final, classic Maine scene. The black flies were awful!

* Cheryl and Jason

ceremony: St. Pius Lynn, MA
reception: Salem Country Club Peabody, MA
florist: Flowers by Darlene Salem, MA
band: K2 Boston, MA
cake: Montilio's Brockton, MA
dress: David's Bridal
photographers: J & Michele Stapleton

Is someone excited to get married?

Seeing Dad.

Cheryl with her girls.

Jason (far left) with his guys (by Michele).

Before the family formals at the country club.

I bet this dad was a lot of fun to grow up with!

Yummy sherbet by Michele.

We don't take formal table shots but prefer candid images like this instead (by Michele).

A different view of the bar.

Excellent final image by J. Love the balance of the folks flanking them.

* Joanna and Joel

ceremony: First Congregational Church South Portland, ME
reception: The Inn on Peaks Island
cruise: Casco Bay Lines Bay Mist
coordinator: Cityside Events (Kirby, Kelly & Erica)
ceremony musicians: Portland Symphony Orchestra quartet
band: Jim Ciampi Band
florist: Flora Fauna
nails, hair, make-up: Paradiso Salon and Spa Portland, ME
dress: Andrea's Bridal Portland, ME
bridesmaid dresses: J Crew

Joanna and Joel treated their friends and family to a true Maine experience for their wedding, with a cocktail cruise on Casco Bay and a tented reception at Peaks Island. As those from Maine say: if you don't like the weather, wait 20 minutes. This proved true as we dodged bouts of rain and heavy fog in between beautiful spots of sunshine.

View the slideshow **here.**

A group effort.

Joanna and Joel met at Gritty's, so it only seemed appropriate to swing by for a few pictures.

We stopped briefly at Portland Head Light before the fog rolled in.

Go time.

Hiding in the church. I love the anticipation in this photo, and the exit sign reminds me so much of a scene that should have been in the movie "Runaway Bride."

How cute are these ring bearers and flower girls?!

Married (by J)!

Joel made some great faces throughout the day...

As did Joanna (by J).

Sandy Beach on Peak's Island.


At sunset (by J).

Judy of Flora Fauna created a beautiful river of flowers, moss, rocks and candles on the head table.

Things got a little nutty late night (by J)!


It's been a pleasure working with you, Joanna and Joel, and getting to know your sweet families, too! I am so happy that you live in the area and we can continue to see one another! Let me know when your book club resumes, Joanna! Congrats!

* Jill and Moe

J recently photographed a wedding for emilie inc. associates at Church Landing in Meredith, New Hampshire. This particular image shows the very foggy, yet the peaceful lakeside setting.



If you didn't yet know, J is available to photograph weddings as are two other associates, Geneve and Wyndee!

* Lindsay and Tim

venue: Rockywold/Deephaven Camps Squam Lake, NH
coordinator: Kate Parker Weddings
florist: Kate Parker Weddings
hair: Lena Hartford, Hair That Moves
ceremony musicians: High Range
reception band: The Allnighters
rehearsal dinner dress: LuKa NYC
wedding dress: Lindsay's mother's wedding dress
bridesmaid dresses: Diane Von Furstenberg

New Yorkers Lindsay and Tim created the ultimate camp chic experience for their out of town guests, with thoughtful attention to every last detail. They combined their last names Bello and Martin to create Camp BelloMartin, the theme of the weekend for all stationery, totes, and even t-shirts, jackets and sweatpants!

View the rehearsal dinner square dance slideshow **here.**

View the wedding day slideshow **here.**

A camping guide for guests.

In the back of the guide was a facebook of all the guests, how they know the bride & groom, where they live, and what cabin they stayed in. Brilliant!

The great save-the-date, left, and letterpress wedding invite (that incorporates a map of the camp).

Their rehearsal was a traditional square dance. Love Tim's belt buckle.

Lindsay's friend Luka designed her rehearsal dinner dress, so we took a few fashion shots on the dock.

On the wedding day, as I was taking this:

J was shooting from a different angle, which gives the image a "Where's Waldo" feel of the ceremony procession.

The beautiful lakeside setting among the trees.

Married!

Lindsay and Tim's getaway transportation was a canoe, dragging empty SoBe cans behind it (Lindsay's father started the company).

They stopped for a quick twirl on a raft (by J).

Meanwhile, guests enjoyed cocktails back at the ceremony site.

The newlyweds.

I love how lush everything is in June in New England!

The bridal party, trying very hard to organize themselves. I prefer this chaotic picture to the posed formal. It cracks me up to look at each person's expression and body language.

How sweet is this little guy? Lindsay, by the way, made all the bow ties for the men in the bridal party.

The flowers were stunning, skillfully assembled by Kate Parker.



The reception hall.

Love the glowy lanterns. They give great style to an otherwise nice, but plain, camp dining hall.

The centerpieces were beta fish.

Or underwater flowers.

The first dance.


Getting down!


Later in the evening, Lindsay's dad sang with the band (he was very good!). Great glare capture by J.

And they danced around champagne bottles that were passed around and chugged! I've never seen that before (by J).

It was an incredible celebration, that lasted until the lights came back up.


Congratulations, Lindsay and Tim! I hope you had a blast in Turkey and Greece and can't wait to put together an album from your very fun weekend. Thank you for having us!! Hugs!

ps- Loved seeing your announcement in the New York Times!

* Jennifer and Matt

venue: Wentworth by the Sea Newcastle, NH
cake: Jacques Pastries Suncook, NH
gown: Andrea's Bridal Portland, ME
flowers: Violet Designs Newburyport, MA

Jen and Matt were planning a September lakeside wedding but an Oops! pregnancy pushed their wedding up a few months. Jen, now 5 months pregnant, looked radiant in her "tent dress" as she called it (don't worry, Jen, we'll take photos in your "real" dress for your anniversary!) despite the 90+ degree temps!

The gazebo is a beautiful spot for a garden ceremony (captured by J).

The blooming flowers and bushes were gorgeous, especially the azaleas (these are azaleas, right?), just before sunset.

J captured this fantastic moment of Jen and her mother starting the procession toward the aisle at the start of the ceremony. Beautiful.

Tee hee. Check out the flower girl's expression at the man who is trying to get her attention as she marches up the aisle.

And we cannot forget the ring bearer, equally as adorable.

Mr. and Mrs. sharing a smooch between slicing.

The flower girl took to the stage wiggling her hips. Wonder where she gets her rhythm? That's her mom in the background dancing.

Speaking of, Jen's playful expressions were certainly a trait passed down from her own mother...

Seen here pulling out "the sprinkler," a quick grab by J.


Many warm congratulations, Jen and Matt! We're both so happy for you both, and wish you a fantastic summer preparing for your new arrival! Please give me a call once he arrives, as I'd love to capture your love for your little luv, too!

* Erika and Mark

venue: Spruce Point Inn Boothbay Harbor, ME
cake: Sweet Sensations
dj: Rockwell Productions South Portland, ME
flowers: Alda Stitch
hair/make-up: Spruce Point Inn spa

Erika and Mark's seaside nuptials at the beautiful Spruce Point Inn were lovely, even tho heavy fog kept the stunning views under wraps.

I have photographed many weddings at SPI, so each time I go I try to find something new and different. I spotted these mini plates on the bikes for the inn's guests and thought it was a perfect detail for a destination Maine wedding.

After having her hair and make-up done, Erika and her bridesmaid head to the room to get dressed.

Admiral's Quarters is my favorite room to photograph a bridal party's preparations. There is a lot of beautiful natural light, and plenty of space for everyone to spread out.

The two flower girls are cousins, but acted much more like sisters.

They did their best to behave and sit quietly inside before the ceremony.

Mr. and Mrs!

Soon after the ceremony, Erika and Mark ditched their formal shoes and opted for flip flops. Erika's sister took plain, J Crew white flip flops and glued Swarkovski crystals to them for Erika!

Erika really wanted an Adirondack chair photo. It was so sad that you couldn't differentiate the sky from the water in front of them!

There were many sea-themed details, including the wedding rings presented in a shell.

The cake by Sweet Sensations had edible shells decorations, and the sand on the table was actually sugar!

Erika's mom quilled their wedding invitation. Pretty amazing, isn't it?

I love a good laughing toast photo!

The flower girls were inseparable at the reception. Too cute!


Congratulations, Erika and Mark! Thanks so much for making me feel so welcome at your wedding. I already miss your families! I can't wait to hear all about your honeymoon! Come back and visit when you are in Portland anytime!

* Ginna and Allan

venue: Migis Lodge South Casco, ME
caterer/cake: Migis Lodge
guitarist: Brian Cullen
DJ: DJ Smallchange (Jim Dier), NYC
dress: Priscilla of Boston
honeymoon: Spain

The week of their wedding, Ginna sent me an email with some last minute details and noted that she hoped her wedding wouldn't be too ho-hum compared to the last few destination weddings I have photographed. Au contraire! Ginna and Allan's lakeside wedding at Migis Lodge was anything but! J and I had a fantastic time, and the weather couldn't have been more perfect for the outdoor ceremony (no rain! no bugs!).

If you have not been to Migis Lodge and are looking for a unique wedding venue, you must check it out immediately. It's 125 acres of beautiful wooded lakeside property dotted with rustic, yet chic, cabins. GM Phil and his wife Amy are so gracious and warm, they'll make you feel right at home and like long-time friends instantly. The grounds are gorgeous and well kept. And don't even get me started on their delicious food! It's just a 45 minute drive from Portland, yet the setting feels like a hard-to-find secluded getaway.

On to the pictures...

The theme of this wedding was obviously the great outdoors. J captured this fantastic exterior shot of Ginna having her hair done inside the cabin, set among the reflection of the trees.

Beautiful Ginna

Her lovely bouquet

Ginna arrived to the ceremony by boat. I was so excited to ride in the Chris-craft with Ginna, her father and her maid-of-honor.

This was our view as we rounded the corner and saw everyone up on the hill waiting for us.

Getting married under a cathedral of pines.

Hitched!

A first, I was asked to go in a canoe and photograph alongside Ginna and Allan as they went for a quick spin in their new canoe (a sweet wedding gift, huh?!).

J captured this gorgeous silhouette against the water and mountains in the distance!

Ginna and Allan scheduled in a healthy amount of time for us to wander around the grounds for portraits- thank you!! It was so nice not being rushed.




Outside their wedding night cabin.

The flowers were all white at the reception. The low vases of varying types of flowers was simple, yet elegant.

The most ridiculously yummy buffet ever.

This cake was clearly made with a lot of love, and featured fiddleheads! Very cool!

The best man Dan, my canoe chauffeur, gave a fantastic toast which included- and why not- a piece of toast for the bride and groom.

Hilarious wedding guests getting down!


Ok. I think that's enough images... I got a little carried away! You can tell we really, really loved it at Migis!

Congratulations, Ginna and Allan! Wishing you both a wonderful honeymoon to Spain, and many happy paddles in your new canoe together for many years to come! Hugs!

* Machell and Effie

venue: Aura Restaurant, Juan Dolio
band: Leo Subervi Orchestra
flowers: Di Fiore
cake: Rosario Hernandez
hair & make-up team: Monica Mendoza
videographer: Christian Nin
fireworks: Phantastik
wedding dress: Reem Acra
shoes: BCBG
bride's earrings: Nakamol
bridesmaids dresses: Two Birds Bridesmaids
bridesmaids bracelet & earrings: Viv & Ingrid
groom, groomsmen, & dad's shirts: My Barong
veil & Cord: My Barong

Machell, a style editor at Brides Magazine in NYC, and Effie brought their friends and family to the Dominican Republic for a destination wedding at the beautiful Aura Restaurant (Effie's grandparents, who speak no English, traveled all the way from Israel!). Torrential rains earlier in the day had everyone fearing the worst for the ceremony, but the skies cleared in time for a lovely beach ceremony.

** Click here ** to view the slideshow with surprises like a shirtless groom, midnight swimming and fireworks!

On to the images:
Machell's bridesmaids were at the ready for every task as she prepared for the wedding.

This was so cute... this friend didn't want to see Machell before the wedding, but needed to get something from the room for the groom.

Machell fell in love with this dress during a photo shoot for Brides. She knew then, before even trying it on, that that dress was the one she wanted.

Indeed it was!

Our sweet groom Effie, captured by J.

A great angle from J of Machell walking up the aisle to meet Effie.

The very fun bridal party, seated on one of the restaurant's beach beds.

The stunning restaurant glowing at night, by J.


How adorable is Effie's expression as he watches Machell dance with her father?


Thank you so much, Machell and Effie! It was a pleasure working with you on these wedding plans, and exploring a new destination for the celebration! Let us know if you're ever up this way!

* Lauren and James

venue: Rockhouse Hotel Negril, Jamaica
florist: Floral Fantasy Negril, Jamaica
dress: Marisa
bridesmaids: J. Crew
napkins: Margot Bianca on Etsy
stationery: White Aisle
hair flower: gabbymac.com

The adorable Lauren and Jamey were the second, and final, recipients of my WeddingBee promotion from last year. They were married at the lovely Rockhouse Hotel in Negril, Jamaica. You can see pictures of the hotel grounds from my previous blog post, but be sure to check of Lauren and Jamey's slideshow ** here ** for a fun tease at their amazing wedding day. It goes fast, so watch closely!

And a few images...
The adorable couple, at their rehearsal.

Lauren putting her make-up on in her villa's outdoor shower- the spot she found with the best natural light! Love the pink polka dot bikini hanging up to dry!

The stunning bride. I fell in love with this lime green wall.

J climbed atop the pool bar roof to snag this ceremony overall.

Another great capture by J while I was busy photographing the families during cocktail hour. Yum, Red Stripe!

It was an amazing sunset.

The reception was held at the Rockhouse's beautiful cliffside restaurant.


Again, be sure to take a peek at the slideshow for more images from the wedding. And thank you to Lauren and Jamey for bringing us down to Jamaica. We had the best time, and certainly want to go back to the Rockhouse soon! Hugs!

* Lyndsay and Andrew

venue: Beachside Resort, Key West FL
officiant: Aaron Wechter
harpist: Robin Kaplan
dj: Blue Party Productions
cake: Key West Cakes
flowers: Mama Flowers
linens: BBJ Linens
dress: Venus Bridal
bridesmaids: After Six
men: Oscar de La Renta

Lyndsay and Andrew were chosen as one of two couples for a destination wedding promotion through WeddingBee a year ago (the second is later this month in Jamaica).

Worth noting, Lyndsay and Andrew were scheduled to have their wedding at another resort which has been under renovation for some time. They were promised it would be ready for their nuptials (you see where this is going...). A month before the wedding, they flew from their home in Baltimore to Florida to have one final look and it was disastrous. No waitstaff, no liquor license- no kitchen! Not even door knobs into the ballroom! Luckily, they were able to secure Beachside, a glorious new resort that just opened in October (the hotel rooms are high-end condos).

On to the pictures (there are a lot of them!)...

Lyndsay and her very fun mom Lana had their hair done at a very sweet beauty/clothing shop in town. The experience, unfortunately, was unsatisfactory so I am not going to post the name.

It was so cute inside! Felt like we were in a scene from Fried Green Tomatoes.

The process.



The pretty ceremony setting just before sunset.

Andrew and his groomsmen waiting for the ceremony to start. I like how this almost has the look of a posed portrait even tho he only looked at my lens for a split moment.

How sweet is this?! Lyndsay's mom and stepdad watching Lyndsay walk up the aisle with her brother.

J ran to the other side of the resort and onto the roof to zoom in and capture the scene from above. Great effort, J!

One happy bride!

I love this sliver of smile that J captured.

The moms congratulating each other.

The bridal party.

Lyndsay's beautiful rings (that engagement ring does have a canary diamond).

I couldn't decide which was my favorite portrait of Lyndsay and Andrew, so I'll post a few. Do you have a favorite?







A hysterical garter capture.

Dance floor action by J.

And one last random collage.


Thank you so much for having us, Lyndsay and Andrew. You and your families were a blast to be with in beautiful Key West. Wishing you both lots of happiness in the years ahead! Hope to see you again at Mary's wedding soon (wink, wink). Hugs!

* Jenna and Slavko

ceremony: St. Joseph's Epping, NH
reception: Wentworth by the Sea Newcastle, NH
dress: Madeleine's Daughter Jacqueline Private Label
maid's dresses: Watters & Watters
flowers: Jardinere Florist
hair & make-up: Wingate Salon & Spa
cake: Jacques
dj: Sound Spectrum Ron Reid

The day started with a rainy mix. But even tho it was just about New Year's, Jenna and Slavko's late December wedding could have easily been mistaken for fall or spring because it was 50-degrees and sunny for their afternoon ceremony! This was a very fun, festive off-season wedding. I personally love the holidays and thought the formal winter-themed wedding was super romantic.

On to the pictures!

This is Jenna. She has an amazingly warm, fun personality that puts you in a good mood just by being around her. Love that! Slav had already left for the church, so you'll get to see him in a little bit. He's got the same infectiously warm thing going on, too!

The beautiful roses by Jardinere in Portsmouth.

Jenna's super sweet father escorting her up the aisle.

And here's Slav at the altar with Jenna.

Slav's mom is very emotional. She cried throughout the ceremony, and met her son with tears just after too. Pulls at my heartstrings!

I got to ride on the bridal party bus. Whoop! Whoop!

The reception was at the Wentworth by the Sea in New Castle, NH. We had mere minutes of light once we returned from the ceremony.

The new Mr. and Mrs. Seriously, aren't they a perfectly sweet match?

First dance.

Toasts.

Sneaking a kiss during dinner (love that 85mm 1.2 lens!).

Oops! The feeding of the cake didn't go exactly as Jenna had planned- Slav surprised her with lots of frosting.

Parent dances.

Grandma gettin' down! She took over this dance floor for a bit!

Go Jenna, go Jenna!

Oh, a love a throw-your-head-back laugh!

Slav's groomsmen hoisted him up.

And everyone joined in some very fun Croatian line dances.

This guy was an amazing break dancer!

Circling 'round for the last dance.

And even at the end, Slavko's dear mom is still sobbing. What an emotional day!

I hope you two had a fantastic honeymoon to the Dominican Republic! I'm headed there in May, so you may need to give me some pointers!

Many thanks to Slav's co-worker Toby for recommending me and my work. I photographed Toby's wedding to Anna-Lisa in Cape Cod in 2005 (congratulations on your new baby, guys!).

Year-end request

To properly say farewell to 2007 later this month, I thought it most appropriate to ask those newlyweds married this year to reflect on what their favorite image is from their wedding day and why.

Please take a minute and choose the ONE image that you simply love the most, then email me (photo@emilieinc.com) the image (or number from your online gallery), with a brief explanation, thoughts, feelings, etc., on why that image is so important to you both.

I will post your replies here before New Year's, and I'd love to send you an 8x10 print for your time! Thank you!

* Ashley and Nat

venue: York Harbor Inn York, ME
officiants: Nat's mom & dad
ceremony musicians: Harvey Reid and Joyce Andersen
florist: Katherine's Garden York, ME
cupcakes: Party Favors Brookline, MA
dress: Hussey's General Store (really!) Windsor, ME

Meet Ashley and Nat. They ooze sweetness, don't they? These two met in college in Boston, have traveled the world together and currently live in NYC.

They planned a beautiful seaside wedding at the Hartley-Mason Reserve in York, but unfortunately the weather did not cooperate. They were married in the ballroom at the York Harbor Inn instead.

They were disappointed to be indoors, but honestly, their ceremony was so touching and so intimate and- unlike if we were outdoors under umbrellas- everyone was comfortable. Their love of the Red Sox was even included in their vows!

Ashley did a great job keeping her spirits up while getting ready, and had everyone laughing as she described how she didn't want her veil to look.

I love this brief moment with Ashley and her mom getting ready.

We did manage to catch a break in the rain to sneak down to the beach for a few minutes during the reception. Personally, I love the romantic feel of the fog from these images.


There are many adorable smooching moments between Ashley and Nat from the day. These are two of my favorites.

When I met Ashley and Nat, Ashley told me how much her grandmother means to her and she asked if we could duplicate an image she has from her grandmother's wedding. And although the setting did not allow for that scene to be copied, Ashley, I have a feeling that one day you might have a grand-daughter who will want to copy some of your wedding images. Your wedding was both sweet and simple, and truly touching. It was the last wedding of my regular season and I was honored to wrap up my season with you both and your fantastic family and friends.

* Virginia and Pete

venue: Pineland Farms New Gloucester, ME
officiant: Nicole Todd
florist: Yarmouth Flower Company
dj: Danny Diabase Greg Powers Entertainment
cake: Foley's Bakery
invitations: Teresa Lang
dress: Andrea's Bridal Portland

Due to a family health emergency, Pete and Virginia postponed their May wedding until October, but they went on their spring honeymoon to Jamaica anyway and exchanged their vows there. In front of many friends and family, they recently renewed those vows at Pineland Farms.

Pineland Farms is a 5,000 acre working farm (see the homemade jam!) and business center. The day before Pete and Virginia's wedding, it poured! Amazingly, the sun shone brightly on their wedding day!

Virginia arrived to the ceremony in a horse-drawn carriage.

The sun was in a harsh spot for photos, so instead of fighting it, I embraced a little flair for their recession up the aisle.

Speaking of light, how gorgeous was the light inside for their first dance?

Virginia and Pete are adorable together. I loved watching their sweet interactions throughout the day.

Congratulations again, Pete and Virginia! I am so glad it worked out to photograph your "second wedding"... I would have loved to have joined you for the first, too!! I look forward to seeing you around Portland!