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    Boston Engagement Pictures :: Waterfront + Faneuil Hall :: Hillary + Paul

    Thursday, September 30, 2010

    According to *this* article:

    15-20% of people met their spouse at school or work...
    8-10% found the love of their life at a party or bar...
    11% of people got lucky through their church...

    Hillary's parents picked out her husband from the Yellow Pages.

    Kidding! Well, not really. When I first met Hillary to talk about her wedding plans at Tupper Manor (with thanks to the wonderful Christina Doucette for the referral) I asked how her and Paul met. Hillary explained that her parents had hired Paul's paving company to do some work on their driveway and listed Hillary as the point of contact....

    I met up with Hillary and Paul on a HOT Saturday morning in Boston and as we walked around the city they told me more about that week and a half of paving work...


    Throughout the course of the week and a half Paul and Hillary would chat. Hillary admits that she had a crush on Paul but assumed Paul was married and not wearing a wedding ring due to the nature of his work. Paul admits that he thought Hillary was amazing, more than how she looks, how she holds herself and simply IS. But Paul is the consumate professional and didn't think it would be appropriate for him to ask Hillary out for a date.

    As the days ticked by and the work was going on, Paul and Hillary got to know each other a little better. Paul would drop the odd piece of personal information into the conversation but Hillary didn't bite. Hillary said she didn't want Paul to get the wrong idea

    On the final day of paving, it was a warm balmy evening and Hillary asked if Paul and his team would like a cold beer as they finished. Hillary was trying to delay Paul from leaving. Thinking of the professional liability, Paul asked if he could get a rain check. Hillary assumed her crush might just go away.

    As the trucks left one by one, it was just Hillary and Paul that were left. Hillary was sitting on the porch thinking that she didn't want Paul to leave. Paul didn't want to leave either. He was planning on waiting a week or so and then calling Hillary but he explained to me that he didn't want to regret not saying something for the rest of his life.

    So Paul asked Hillary to go on a date. Hillary told him to call her to make plans ;) Go Hillary!

    Paul did call her and their first date was in Boston, at Kingfish restaurant.


    And at the end of dinner neither Hillary nor Paul wanted it to be over so they walked and talked and got gelato in the North End (coconut and banana if you must know) and then walked and talked some more. Hillary ended up with pretty bad blisters but it was worth it.

    Some time later, Paul & Hillary went away for the weekend and Paul had the engagement ring in his pocket. Paul thought about proposing at dinner but knew that Hillary would prefer something more private. So early the next morning, up high on the widow's walk, Paul asked Hillary to marry him. Hillary said yes.


    This gentleman here is "Red" Auerbach, Coach and General Manager of the Boston Celtics for over 29 years. And the other two? That's Hillary and Paul who will be getting married next June!


    Who'd have thought the Mass Traffic Tunnel Administration Building would make such a lovely backdrop:


    This is one of my favorite pictures from the morning:


    We found a patch of lovely soft light under the arch of the Boston Harbor Hotel:


    And then wandered over the the aquarium. We may have stopped at the carousel but I may have agreed not to post those pictures ;)


    Hillary & Paul will be married at the gorgeous historic Tupper Manor and I can't wait to document it with pictures. I'll leave you with this last image:

    Kristine + Marc = Baby Matthew Xavier

    I used to do a lot of family, children, newborn photography. Now, not so much. Weddings are where my heart is and between the client meetings, engagement shoots, weddings, editing and album design it doesn't really leave much time for anything else. Well, other than shoe shopping.

    However, when I hear that one of my wedding couples are having a baby I'll often make an exception. I think at last count there are 5 babies on the way from the 2009 "Leah Haydock" couples (is it wrong that I think of them as my couples?!?)

    So remember Kristine & Marc? They got married on 10.10 last year:


    I remember the very first time I met them in Newburyport for coffee to discuss their wedding. Kristine arrived holding a very LARGE wedding binder and a tiny part of me thought "Uh Oh" here come the lists of 500 must-have shots you should DEMAND your photographer gets in 1 hour" but I couldn't have been further from the truth.


    Kristine and Marc were the most adorable couple, so relaxed and laid back, and when Kristine told me that she trusted me to be "her eyes for her wedding day" I was so honored to document their wedding.

    I photographed their engagement pictures at Salisbury Beach in May 2009 **here** and I remember them telling me that when (not if) they had their children they hoped to speak Portuguese to them. And I knew then that it wouldn't be long before I would be taking pictures like this:


    Baby hands and feet kind of fascinate me, so tiny and perfect:




    Matthew slept the whole time I was there, didn't matter if he was in Kristine's arms or Marc's, he was a chilled out little bean:


    However, he couldn't resist my mad baby whispering skillz...Matthew - give me spirit fingers:


    Matthew - show me your best opera singer impression:


    Take it from someone who was allegedly bald until the age of two that this is a fine looking head of hair:


    Mommy and Matthew:


    I remember the very first time taking pictures of Kristine and Marc and just how well they fit together. Still the case...


    Congratulations to Kristine & Marc on the new addition to your family! Matthew is lucky to have you two as parents :)

    Beach Engagement Pictures :: Salisbury Beach :: Amanda + Joe

    Wednesday, September 29, 2010

    Amanda and Joe met in a bar in 2007. Joe bought Amanda a drink and they swapped phone numbers. Joe may have kissed Amanda but I'm not here to tell tales...


    Joe called Amanda and invited her to go to a Red Sox game with him for their first date and Amanda happily agreed. And then Joe called Amanda again and said he couldn't wait until the game and asked if they could have a date in between.

    We met up at Salisbury State Reservation Beach, Salisbury, MA which is such a great location for engagement pictures in the greater Boston area. You know I have a weakness for shoes...how gorgeous are Amanda's burgundy heels:


    Amanda and Joe laugh and laugh and then laugh some more. Joe looks at Amanda and laughs and then Amanda looks at Joe and laughs right back at him. Which is good. Laughing has been shown to have numerous health benefits and make for a happier marriage so I predict these two will live a long and healthy life together!


    Oh and you'd probably like to hear about the proposal wouldn't you. It was February, just before Valentine's day and Joe arranged a surprise visit to the school where Amanda is a speech therapist to deliver some flowers. He'd spoken to some of her colleagues and they smuggled him in and hid him in Amanda's classroom so he was waiting as she walked in.

    I like that story.

    Almost as much as I like how Joe "spun" Amanda when I suggested they try out their "first dance" moves:


    One of the things that happens when you're planning a wedding is the meeting of the parents. This can sometimes be a tense and stressful time. Will the two families get along?

    My parents had only met Paul's parents very briefly before both families flew to Las Vegas for our wedding. We figured at the very least they would all be polite to each other and so it was such a great thing when they all got along so well. Right now I believe they're conspiring to all visit together in May so they can go on day trips to all the places that Paul and I haven't taken them to - Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, Vermont...

    Anyway, I digress, but Amanda & Joe's family also get along well! So much so that they even went on a joint beach vacation this summer.


    I love shooting on the beach in the fall, it's quiet and you get lovely light to play with. I rode in a helicopter for this shot. Not really ;)


    Joe was a trooper on the shoot as he was suffering from a bad case of poison ivy from some recent yard work. We figured a little dip in the icy cold salt water of the ocean might help him out and it proved to be a great idea as he found a sand dollar for Amanda. At the wedding I photographed in Maine on Sunday I learnt all about the five doves of the sand dollar; more on that tomorrow:


    Amanda and Joe will have their wedding reception at the Four Seasons, Boston, MA next July, can you guess the date?


    Oh OK then, just a few more....


    Loving everything about this picture:


    The End


    How cute are Amanda and Joe? Why not tell them so in the comments? Or tell me if you'd like to see more engagement pictures today (Hillary & Paul up next then Jennifer & Wiktor) or if it's time for teeny tiny baby pictures...

    My website: http://www.leahhaydock.com/
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    Tweet, tweet, tweet: http://twitter.com/leahhaydock
    Or just email me: leah@leahhaydock.com

    Wedding at Nubble Light :: York, ME ::Tess + Allen (Teeny Tiny Preview)

    I'm jumping the engagement shoot queue with just one image that caught my eye as I downloaded Tess & Allen's wedding photographs from their elopement at Nubble Light in York, ME.


    I'll be sharing all sorts of gorgeous pictures with you in the next few days but if ever there was a reason to schedule some time to sneak off alone for couple pictures during your wedding - even if its just 10 or 15 minutes (although give me 30 minutes and you'll be in heaven with a plethora of epic pictures) - then this is it:


    Like? Want to see more?

    The wedding of Jenn + Eric (Part II)

    I've got that Bruce Springsteen "I'm on fire" song playing in my head...because I'm on blogging fire. Yes, it's true. Three blog posts in one day. Coming up tonight/tomorrow/Friday we'll have Hillary & Paul in Boston, Amanda & Joe on the beach, Jenn & Wiktor at the Wayside Inn, Kristine & Marc introducing Baby Matthew and Tess & Allen eloping in Maine! And then it'll be time for Kate & Chris who are getting married on Saturday. Oh, oh, oh I'm on fire....


    So Jenn and Eric got married in a super sweet ceremony and I'm back with some relaxed family pictures down by the lake and then it's time for the reception



    With Eric's parents, Jenn and her sisters, with her AWESOME gran and Jenn's Mom:


    The newlyweds:


    I love first dances:


    And grandfather/mother dances:

    Athena is Jennifer's sister, she has the most amazing voice and sang a beautiful version of Faith Hill's Breathe to Jenn and Eric:


    Time for toasts. It was really lovely to see the two families celebrating together and bonding. Jenn's Mom spoke about how happy Eric has made Jenn. Eric's dad said how happy he was to welcome Jenn and Jake into their family. Jenn's sister Laura talked about how Eric was truly like a big brother to her. And then the little ones shouted their congratulations:


    Can you ever have enough cake??? Not at this wedding. Check out the CandyLand themed wedding cake:


    And is there ever a better use for a bouquet than as a microphone for "Don't Stop Believing"


    Congratulations to Jenn & Eric!!! I had so much fun at your wedding, it was so colorful and crazy and perfect. I hope you enjoyed the preview pictures - lots more in your gallery!

    The wedding of Jenn + Eric (Part I)

    I said this morning that more blog comments = more blog posts. I'll include facebook comments too so here's the second post of today. The third one is ready and waiting to go...

    I know how much Jenn has been looking forward to seeing some pictures and I was planning on doing one giant post but there are so many favorites that I'll have at least two posts for you!

    We already did some pre-wedding pictures at Kimball Farms which you should really catch up on **here** to better understand the candy theme and learn how Jenn personally dyed her crinoline hot pink using eight cans of RustOleum :)

    Without further ado you can join me at the Justic of the Peace's home in Lowell where the simple ceremony took place:


    As everyone arrived, I caught these shots of Jenn and her sister Laura who was also her bridesmaid. Hair by Juliette Turner and flawless airbrush make up by Kathy MacDonald at Beleza Salon


    Jenn even incorporated the candy theme into her flip flops:


    I like it when there's laughter at a wedding:


    Rings were exchanged and then Eric kissed his wife:


    After the ceremony, the two families enjoyed dinner with the newlyweds whilst I took some detail pictures. I should also take a moment to tell you how amazing welcoming all of Jenn & Eric's family and friends were. From Jenn's gran insisting that I eat dinner to Jenn's mom keeping me supplied with diet coke, it was an absolute pleasure to spend the evening with everyone.

    When I first spoke on the phone with Jenn about the wedding plans, she explained that she was thinking of having a different cake on every table, I wasn't sure there were even that many kinds of cake but I was happy to be proved wrong. Here are just 4 of the cakes from Creative Cakes by Debby:


    As if all of the cakes weren't enought there were also lollipops on the tables, a HUGE chocolate fountain with strawberries, cake, pretzels and my favorite - an ice cream sundae bar from Kimball Farms. I may have enjoyed a small bowl of Caramel Cashew Nut ice cream with marshmallow and hot butterscotch mmmmm:


    It would be remiss of me not to show you Jenn's party shoes:


    The flowers (A Whole Bunch Flower Market)were just spectacular with hot pink and red colors and little sparkles:


    You'd like to see more of the flowers? How about I use them as a backdrop for the rock-tastic blingety bling of the wedding rings:

    And that's just the beginning, the next post will have the relaxed family portraits, the first dance, toasts, a beautiful song by Jenn's sister Athena...

    Hillview Country Club, North Reading, MA :: Wedding Photographer :: Stephanie + Tim (Part V)

    Okey dokey, I'm back and what content I have for you over the next few days:

    - Stephanie & Tim's awesome wedding reception at Hillview Country Club, yes it's part V that you've been so patiently waiting for
    - Jenn & Eric's candy-themed wedding in North Chelmsford, it's looking like at least two posts of sugar-filled goodness
    - Hillary & Paul's engagement shoot in the North End & Boston Waterfront
    - Amanda & Joe's engagement shoot on the beach complete with the discover of a silver dollar
    - Jennifer & Wiktor's engagement shoot at the Wayside Inn
    - introducing baby Matthew, the first of many impending arrivals to my 2009 couples
    - the most amazing elopement to Maine with Tess & Allen's wedding ceremony at Nubble Light

    So that's at least 9 blog posts and everyone has been waiting so patiently that I am thinking I will break the rule of one posting per day. In fact, if I get enough comments that I don't feel like I'm writing to myself ;) then I'll double and even triple post...

    And with that scheduling information over, let's get back to Stephanie & Tim's wedding at Hillview Country Club. Last time we met, Stephanie & Tim were strolling over the rolling hills of the golf course so I think it's just about time to get the party started and introduce the new Mr & Mrs Reeve:


    I was torn between two favorite first dance pictures. So I though to heck with it, I'll show you both




    Loving the four parents watching their children dance:


    We had lovely toasts:


    Time for cake, which was very sweet (no pun intended) with very polite feeding of each other and proper use of napkins:


    Stephanie danced with her father who had a surprise waistcoat in her school colors:


    Tim danced with his mother:


    And then DJ Pat announced there would be some kind of prize for the most crazy table on the dancefloor which led to bridesmaids doing the wave, guests jumping on chairs, skipping and all sorts of fun:


    Even Stephanie's grandfather joined in:


    Too much fun altogether for this little guy:


    Time to sneak outside:


    Congratulations to Stephanie & Tim! What a seriously fun wedding! Wishing you a lifetime of love and happiness and an amazing honeymoon in January:


    Vendor list:
    Wedding Photographer: Leah Haydock
    My great second shooter/lighting assistant: Julia Snider
    Ceremony: St Agnes Church, Arlington, MA
    Reception Venue: Hillview Country Club
    Flowers: Cody Floral Designs, Arlington, MA

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    My website: http://www.leahhaydock.com/
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    I'm serious people...more blog comments = more posts...