Wine & Cocktail selection at your reception.

I just opened a bottle of Cupcake Vineyards wine - yes, I sometimes choose wine according to the label/name/picture and I'm not ashamed - but this one got me thinking that it would be super cute to have on your wedding menu if you were having a tower of cupcakes instead of a traditional cake:

I think it's fun to have some kind of meaning behind the menu at your wedding; when Paul and I got married, we chose an Australian wine for the private dinner with our families at SW at Wynn Las Vegas it was a Mitolo G.A.M, the motto is 'Honor nostrorum liverorum pulchrorum' or 'In honour of our lineage' which seemed quite fitting. Paul had spent 6 months in Australia for work and when I visited him we went to various vineyards hence the choice.

And at our post wedding reception at Atkinson Country Club (essentially a big excuse for me to wear my wedding dress again and celebrate with our friends) we had a martini ice luge and named the martinis after our dogs - so we had the Coco Chanel Cosmopolitan and the Nutty Tiger Woods:

I've photographed weddings with signature cocktails, jugs of homemade lemonade and even wine pairings with each course and they've all been a huge hit with guests - it makes everything a little more personal.

And for the photography fiends amongst you, the top picture was taken with my D700 at ISO 1600, and the Nikon AF-S Micro Nikkor 105mm 1:2.8G ED lens at f3 1/100, a little backlighting with a Litepanel video light and a hint of light from a Brinkmann gun light. I know I'm getting impatient for wedding season to start when I start playing with lighting a wine bottle...

Sunday Reading :: Week 2

Yes, I know it's Monday but I'm close right? And if you missed the introduction of Sunday Reading last week you can find it **here**. Without further ado, this week we have an almost sonnet but actually a poem from e.e. cummings.

e.e. cummings is a favorite at weddings, he talks of a deep and profound love in many of his poems personally I just love the simplicity and how he'll break the rules of grammar and punctuation. Even after all of these years, his work is fresh and timeless yet somehow epic (kind of like the photographs I try to take)

i carry your heart with me

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart) i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)

i fear
no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

Do you have a favorite poem, reading, essay you'd like to share - click on "see comments for this post" and let me know!

The Tipping Point or How to masterfully dip your bride

I photographed the wedding of Corey & Isaiah last year. Their fall wedding at Maudslay Park in Newburyport, MA stands out in my memory for the moving ceremony conducted by Corey's father, hysterical dancing, the beautiful wedding party, toasts that were somehow heart-wrenching and joyous at the same time, the delicious BBQ by Blue Ribbon, and most of all for the mad dipping skills demonstrated by Isaiah. Evidence #1:

Corey's brother Park, missed the wedding as he was serving in Iraq so I met up with the happily married couple and Park and Corey's parents and sister to do a family shoot at Christmas. As we finished the family pictures, I mentioned that I'd recently been a guest at a wedding and it was almost painful to watch the groom attempt to dip his bride - they didn't know where to start and ended up in an awkward sort of hunched over pose.

And so without further ado, I present Corey & Isaiah's "How to masterfully dip your bride" Guide:




I could barely focus for laughing as they carefully talked and demonstrated through "the dip". I had thought we were done with the middle picture above but then Isaiah declared "And finally - you need FLAIR!" and he and Corey simultaneously gave me spirit fingers. Brilliant. Watch and learn people :)

And just as importantly as following a strategic well thought out plan; they also shared some do's and don'ts:


I can imagine Corey & Isaiah in the far away future when they're ninety years old. It might not be quite as dramatic or quite as deep but I think Isaiah will still add a little dip as he kisses Corey goodnight.

Questions, questions, questions....and holiday snaps (feel free to skip)

Let me answer your question first - "I thought you were a wedding photographer? I'm not here to look at your vacation pictures?!?" - see here's the deal, January-May is kind of my Summer. Wedding season hasn't really started and it's a great time for a vacation.

And if your smart and talented husband has a place on his company incentive trip to the Four Seasons in Costa Rica? Well, it's the perfect time for a vacation! Wedding photographs will resume shortly....

Anyhoo, we landed in Logan late last night and since we arrived home I've had a great many questions of my own...for starters, how come the sand in Costa Rica feels so divine on your feet? The cold stone of our kitchen floor is somehow not quite so inviting.

And when I look outside my window in NH, where are the cute little howler monkeys?

And this morning, where was the catamaran to take us to a private beach? The chilled face cloths? The ice cream? The sushi? The cocktails? And on a vain personal note - was I channeling "There's something about Mary" in this picture?

And looking out into the NH night sky and listening carefully, why can I only see the cloudy night sky and hear the MBTA commuter rail in the distance? Did someone forget to set up the fireworks show?

And why are the only wild animals in the house our two miniature weiner dogs? Where are the body-painted artists and the snake guy? Why was this the first opportunity I've had to wear the Louboutin's since our wedding?

And if me and Mr H feel like dressing alike a la Posh & Becks or Ashton & Demi, will there be a "white night" we can attend with white decor, white flowers, white banquet seating and white drapes? How about a pastry chef mixing liquid nitrogen with marshmallows and ice cream to create mindblowing popsicles that belong in ElBulli or Alinea?

And if I feel the urge to explore the open air delights of Plaistow or neighboring towns of say Haverhill or Merrimack is there a shortcut I can take via zipline? And seriously, how come I'm the one speeding through the rainforest canopy on a wire but Paul is the one with the injury? Boo to those pesky divots on the golf course that cause you to sprain your ankle.

And this isn't exactly a question...but One Guajito, Two Guajito, Three Guajito Floor?

I somehow stumbled across this rather delicious cocktail (or did I stumble after the cocktail?) and one of the bartenders was kind enough to share the recipe.

Officially you need Guaro which is a sugar cane liquor (also known as aguardiente de cana) but white rum can be used in a pinch.

2 measures of Guaro/Aguardiente/White Rum

1 measure Midori

1 measure fresh lime juice (key lime is kind of nice here)

1 measure simple syrup

Handful of mint leaves and handful of crushed ice

Throw it all in the blender, whizz down and serve in a glass with a slice of lime. Mmmm

And here's the question - does the handful of mint count as a vegetable serving?

And if I decide to go to the beach tonight (Salisbury anyone?), will the water be balmy and warm? Will the sand feel soft between my toes? Will the sky be alight with fiery oranges and reds at sunset?

Is there an interesting tour schedule tomorrow that will be announced on the daily newsletter? Who will be telling me all about the native trees of the area? And the plans for Costa Rica to be a carbon-neutral country by 2013? And what's a tour without a stop at the clubhouse for an Imperial Beer for Mr H and another Guajito for me?

Why is this little guy so mad? Maybe he wants a Guajito? Someone get the monkey a drink...

And where are all our friends? How could they go back to Australia, Germany and New Orleans and leave us?

And I've just peeped inside our bedroom and I don't understand - THERE IS NO GIFT ON MY PILLOW!!! And how come I have a sneaky suspicion that when I wake up tomorrow there will be no room service set up on a screened-in deck?! WHERE is the fresh papaya juice with lime? And my two perfectly poached eggs with toast? WHERE IS MY CREPE WITH NUTELLA???!?!? IT'S JUST NOT FAIR

Sorry about that. I assume that most people find themselves to be relaxed on arriving home after vacation. I am too, really. Honestly. I've had a great day. I've been to Target to pick up laundry detergent and Shaws for groceries. It's almost as good. Just keepin' it real.

In question conclusion, perhaps you're looking for an amazing honeymoon vacation? Did you check out the Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo? Maybe you'd like to do a destination wedding and you're looking for a photographer who is familiar with the property? I'll waive my usual fees for a couple of Guajitos...

Introducing Sunday Reading...

I probably hear Corinthians 13:4 at least once a month starting in May or June with the first wedding of the year and by October I can pretty much recite the reading from memory. But there's a reason why it's so often chosen for weddings - it's simply great advice:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4

And so I'd like to introduce a new blog topic, each Sunday I'll share with you some of my favorite readings, poems and other essays that I've either heard at a wedding or that just inspire me.

For the inaugural entry we have The Station by Robert J. Hastings. A great friend (hello Kate - when are we next meeting for drinks?) shared this with me a few weeks ago. Who hasn't done the whole "when I start a new job...when I lose 10lbs...when...when", and this is all about living in the moment:

The Station by Robert J. Hastings

Tucked away in our subconscious is an idyllic vision. We see ourselves on a long trip that spans the continent. We are traveling by train. Out the window we drink in the passing scene of cars on nearby highways, of children waving at a crossing, of cattle grazing on a distant hillside, of smoke pouring from a power plant, of row upon row of corn and wheat, of flatlands and valleys, of mountains and rolling hillsides, or city skylines and village halls.

But uppermost in our minds is the final destination. On a certain day at a certain hour we will pull into the station. Banks will be playing and flags waving. Once we get there so many wonderful dreams will come true and the pieces of our lives will fit together like a completed jigsaw puzzle. How restlessly we pace the aisles, damning the minutes for loitering – waiting, waiting, waiting for the station.

“When we reach the station, that will be it!”, we cry. “When I’m 18.” “When I buy a new SL Mercedes Benz!” “When I put the last kid through college.” “When I have paid off the mortgage!” “When I get a promotion.” “When I reach the age of retirement, I shall live happily ever after!”

Sooner or later, we must realize there is no station, no one place to arrive at once and for all. The true joy of life is the trip. The station is only a dream. It constantly outdistances us.

“Relish in the moment” is a good motto especially when coupled with Psalm 118:24: “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” It isn’t the burdens of today that drive men mad. It is the regrets over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow. Regret and fear are twin thieves who rob us of today.

So stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles. Instead, climb more mountains, eat more ice cream, go barefoot more often, swim more rivers, watch more sunsets, laugh more, cry less. Life must be lived as we go along. The station will come soon enough.

And because every post is always better with a picture and with the "go barefoot more often" sentiment in mind, here's one from last Monday in Costa Rica (tune back in tomorrow for more on that - go on - you know you want to - what's better than looking at someone else's vacation pictures):

And if you have a favorite poem or reading, I'd love to hear about it...

Custom wedding websites

I'm happy to announce a fun little addition to my wedding collections for 2010 and 2011. Custom flash-based wedding websites for all of my wedding clients (provided immediately after their engagement session)

Wedding websites are great for:
- providing all of the information you can't squeeze onto your save the date cards
- helping out-of-town guests figure out accommodation and transportation
- giving your guests an easy way to get in touch with you if they have question
- tracking RSVPs to wedding weekend events such as a day-after brunch
- telling the story of how you met and what you're looking forward to about being married
- and of course...showing off those fabulous engagement pictures!
- and after the wedding you can post a thank you note and link to your wedding pictures

The sites are insanely easy to use. Each client gets a log-in and password, I give them a head start by uploading their engagement photos and then they simply choose a template, the color palette that works with their wedding colors, fill in their text and maybe 30-60 minutes later they have a beautiful professional website to share with their guests.

Disclaimer: all of the pictures on this post are simply screen shots of the websites so they're not the most amazing images but you'll just have to deal :)

Stunning flash splash pages that run a little slideshow of pictures:


Great choice of classic and designer templates with numerous color options for a perfect look and feel that fits your style:

Websites come with http://yournames.leahhaydock.com but you can also grab a custom url www.janeandjohn2010.com at somewhere like www.godaddy.com and point it to your site - easy peasy!


You get both an RSVP area and a Guestbook page where guests can reply or leave messages. Lunda & Jonathan used their RSVP page to invite guests to a pre-wedding Day at the Races:


Or you can just keep it as a regular "Contact Us" page. Some couples will set up a specific wedding email account to keep everything in one place or you can use your regular email:


And if I'm not your wedding photographer (why not, you are asking yourself!) but you're interested in a cute wedding website you could also check out:
www.ewedding.com $14.95/month
www.TheKnot.com Free version offered or $60 for features such as flash
www.weddingchannel.com Free version offered or upgrade to a premium site for $30-60

Smile; an upward curving of the corners of the mouth often indicating happiness, pleasure or amusement

I had an appointment with my dentist today to replace a filling (thank you delicious but too chewy sourdough bread) and it got me thinking back to when I first visited his office in somewhat of a panic with 10 days to go before our wedding back in 2007.

I know all of the stereotypes about bad British teeth and I'm ashamed to admit that when I first moved to the US I was so freaked out at the thought of having to get a bunch of work done that I procrastinated and didn't see a dentist for almost four years (I know, I know, bad Leah). I once caught an episode of The Simpsons where Lisa was shown a horrifying "Big Book of British Smiles" by her dentist and it made me feel even worse:

Anyway back when planning our wedding in just 2 months (planning takes as much time as you have in my opinion - you can plan for 1,3,5 years if you have it, I just figured we could make it happen in less than 3 months), I was so focused on all of the obvious details - picking out readings, finding the dress, alterations, the shoes, booking hair and make up - that it wasn't until about 10 days to go that it hit me.

We'd have these wedding pictures for ever and I hated my teeth. I am the biggest scaredy-cat when it comes to shots and so I hit the interwebs planning to find someone to sedate me and then work some Extreme Makover-style magic on my teeth. Imagine my delight when google led me to my now dentist Dr. Corben. Yes, his offices in Salem and Danvers are a decent drive from our house but frankly I would have flown to him when I found out that he had some kind of magic high-tech drill and lasers that vibrate out any decay which meant no numbing shots.

And not only that but Dr C and his lovely team happily scheduled me for almost daily appointments for the next 10 days where my gnashers were cleaned, buffed, polished, Zoom whitened, filings replaced and a couple of little chips bonded.

On our wedding day I don't think my smile could have been any wider, I was marrying the man I loved (and my teeth looked pretty darn good whilst doing it).

Photo credit: Wynn Las Vegas

I'm sharing this as I've had conversations with wedding clients who are self-conscious and worried about smiling on their wedding day. One lovely groom even asked if I would be able to only take pictures of him with his mouth closed. So maybe it's not just British people ;)

Patience is a virtue?

When I moved to the US from the UK in 2002 one of the hardest things was leaving behind my friends and family. I was really lucky to make some great new friends including Emma & Deb. Over the years there have been job changes, location changes, weddings (for me and Deb, Emma got married when she was like 12), and now babies (for them, not me) and through it all we've been pretty much constant in our lunch dates once a month. Mostly at Sweet Basil in Andover where we only ever get one lunch delivered at a time, but we like the Pad Thai so much that we don't stress over the random service. And once in a while we even go out for dinner with the husbands, the last time was December and featured my green Dorothy Oz shoes.

Anyhoo, you would imagine that having a friend who's also a photographer would be a good thing right? Alas, poor Emma and Deb, I've inevitably got my camera with me when we all hang out but the pictures of their super cute kids are held hostage on the memory cards until I'm all caught up with wedding season.

Last week we lost power and internet for a night but thanks to the 3 hour Mac laptop battery I managed to get a little caught up with pictures and thought I'd share with you. First some snapshots of Emma (and Mitch's) twins - seriously, how cute are they?

And then Deb (and Mark's) baby girl - I met Deb at the beach the day after I picked up the rather delicious 105mm f/2.8 Macro lens and so there were a lot of close ups :) - I'm wondering what kind of industrial strength eye-drops I'd need to get amazing sparkly eyes like Samantha:

And don't get me started on the pictures I still have to work on of my amazing Goddaughter....we went to see the Lion King yesterday, at just two and a half years old, she did incredibly well to sit quietly in the theatre. Except for when Mufasa dies - he's lying on the floor with the lionesses crying over his dead body - and this little voice rings out "Ohhh, does the daddy lion have a boo boo?"