Hamilton Hall Wedding :: Salem, MA :: Arianne + Rogelio (Part III)

OK people, this will be a bit of an epic post so go get yourself a coffee or a glass of wine and get ready...

Were you on vacation? If you missed the getting ready fun you can catch up **here** and if you missed the first look and the ceremony it's **here**

We're back at Hamilton Hall in Salem, MA for the wedding reception of Arianne and Roger and there were so amazing details, surprises and thoughtful touches throughout the day. You may look at this image and wonder why the bottom left window is filled with pink light?


Well, that's because of the uplighting backdrop for the Mariachi band of course:


After enjoying a cocktail and all sorts of delicious little canapes, guests picked up their escort cards (designed by the amazing Christina of CMD Event Design):


Also displayed on the table were pictures of Arianne's wedding dress with a handwritten note by the dress designer James Clifford:


What? Your dress designer didn't handwrite a note to you?


As I walked up the stairs in Hamilton Hall I noticed the light falling on the amazing wedding cake:


This was the set up as the guests walked into the main ballroom of Hamilton Hall for the wedding reception. Kudos to the Hamilton Hall crew and the team from Pepperberry's Flowers for turning the room around from the ceremony set up in maybe 45 minutes....


I don't think I've ever seen centerpieces quite like this:


Pastor Greg did the blessing before dinner. Arianne and Roger met whilst volunteering and their faith is such an integral part of their lives so I just love this picture of them praying together:


Most excellent toasts from Eve and Juan followed by cutting of the cake:



Amazing details everywhere, this display of flowers was in the room with the bar:


After dinner, the guests were invited to enjoy dessert and Arianne changed into a surprise second dress. Her make up was touched-up by a bare lightbulb in the bridal dressing room:


If you have a second wedding dress it seems only polite to have a second pair of wedding shoes. Blue! Satin! Heels! With Peacock Feathers!


Arianne and Roger danced their first dance as a married couple:


These two can move:


Parent dances doesn't really cover it. Arianne danced with her father, then her brother and grandfather. Roger danced with his Mom and then his sisters. So much emotion:


Did I mention the "nightclub" room on the third floor? White leather furniture and blue uplighting galore!


I'll leave you with this one last picture which kind of sums up the whole day for me:


Here are just some of my favorite vendors from the day:

Getting ready hotel: Salem Waterfront Hotel, Salem, MA
Hair & Makeup: Special Event Beauty, Bridgewater, MA (617)488-3080 specialeventbeauty@comcast.net
Officiant: Pastor Greg Bishop (possibly my favorite officiant ever! So happy for Arianne and Roger)
Wedding Planner (extraordinaire - there are no words - run don't walk to your phone and just hire Christina please): Christina Doucette CMD Event Design
(789)789-5742 christina@cmdeventdesign.com (and Michele & Beth were amazing too!)
Salem, MA Wedding Venue: Hamilton Hall (978)744-0805 info@hamiltonhall.org
Wedding Photography: Leah Haydock Photography (603)571-5324 leah@leahhaydock.com
Flowers (crazy good flowers!!!): Pepperberries Flowers, Byfield, MA
Donna Fucalaro (978)499-8202 pepperberriesflowers@comcast.net

Catering: Capers Catering
Cake (possibly the most beautiful cake EVER): Montilio’s Bakery, Brockton, MA
Letterpress bilingual Invitations: Blush Design Studio, Elizabeth Bardwell, (910)367-7014 , blushdesignstudio@gmail.com
Wedding Day Paper (stunning programs, escort cards, drink stirrers and much more!): CMD Event Design

Next up we have a wedding at Tupper Manor, the Aquarium, the Four Seasons interspersed with all sorts of spectacular engagement shoots! Say hello in the comments if you like what you see :)

Boston North End and Battery Wharf Engagement Pictures :: Malinda + Danny

I've read recent reports that estimate 1 in 6 marriages start online and with the busy lives we all lead nowadays it pretty much makes sense. I know I've photographed a number of super happy weddings of couples that have met on Match, eHarmony and other popular dating sites.

Anyhoo, Malinda and Danny met online and like most sensible people they had a number of email and phone conversations before they met in person (in a safe public place!). I guess over the course of these conversations you really get to know one another and then the quandary arises - what if you meet for the first time and there's no chemistry? Well, Malinda had an idea. How about if they arranged to meet (in the busy Prudential Center in Boston) and before they could even say hello they'd kiss one another. And then they'd know.

So there they are, Malinda and Danny in the Prudential Center in Boston on a cold winter's day, they walk towards each other and kiss. And hoorah! There's something there. Something good. That inexplicable spark. That first date in the middle of a snow storm led to a great relationship and now they're getting married!

Danny and Malinda are very sweet together. Here is some evidence of that:


The day we met up in the North End to shoot their engagement photographs was crazy hot, like a gazillion degrees but the beautiful blue sky made up for it:


Malinda and Danny are getting married at Mamma Maria in the North End which coincidentally is my favorite Italian restaurant in Boston, not only is it absolutely beautiful inside but the food is awesome. You should totally go there...unless you're on a low carb diet.


We snuck inside one of the many espresso and gelato shops in the North End:


And I played paparazzo.


I'm very in the moment when I'm photographing, always looking at the light, the interaction and expressions of the couple and imaging how the final image will look. But I have absolutely no recollection of taking these two pictures. I don't believe I gave Malinda and Danny any direction, I don't even know exactly where we are. But I really like them :)


I see twinkly lights and I'm like a moth to the flame....


Do you see what I did here? Yes, I found the perfect patch of grass to match Malinda's beautiful eyes.


Dancing in the street. Listen to David Bowie people.


Oh Malinda you are going to be a stunning winter bride:


The End

I wrote the majority of this post on one computer whilst I have another one whirring away processing the final part of Arianne and Roger's wedding which will be with you shortly. Multitasking. You can't beat it. Heading into Boston now for a meeting with a super cute bride I randomly met in Tiffany & Co - how fun.

More? You can like my facebook page **here** or just like this post.

If you'd like your own dancing in the street pictures you should check out my website **here** or email me leah@leahhaydock.com or send me a telegram :) And feel free to say hello in the comments. Google Analytics tells me that 300 kind souls are checking in each day, don't be shy now...

Boston Engagement Pictures :: Christian Science + Public Gardens :: Jessica + Mark

Two blog posts in one day? What is the world coming to??? I told you I was sitting on some great stuff!

I met Jessica and Mark for a cold glass of wine on a super hot Sunday afternoon in Boston (engagement sessions are always on weekdays with weekends are reserved for weddings and time with Mr H. I obviously make exceptions for out-of-town couples) whilst they were in town for a reunion and wedding planning. Mark and Jessica live on the West Coast but will be getting married in September at the State Room.

As we headed out into the bright sunshine to shoot I mentioned that sometimes couples feel a little self-conscious at the beginning of the session but it soon fades. And Mark was all "Oh no, I'm totally into public displays of affection, I mean, look at Jessica, why wouldn't I want everyone to know I'm with her?"

How awesome is that?

Jessica laughed and told me about meeting Mark's mom for the first time and how Mark sat alongside her, totally relaxed and stroking her arm :)

When it comes to picking a location for your engagement pictures - I'm going to let you into a little secret here - the location isn't really that important. For real. There really is no need to go on some crazy hiking tour of the city :)

Joking aside, of course sometimes there'll be a place that has a lot of meaning to you both (the scene of your first date, your first kiss) and that's great. And if there isn't, my advice isn't to get too worried about the location - a beach is a beach, a park is a park - my focus is always on the two of you and your interaction with one another and finding beautiful light often in unexpected places.

Jessica and Mark were GREAT because they were like "Well, we thought maybe we could stop by the Public Gardens but we're pretty relaxed, wherever you think might be good." Hoorah! With the super bright sun and the fact that we met for a drink at the Colonnade hotel I thought we'd start by taking advantage of the shade offered by the Christian Science Plaza at Northeastern University in Boston.


It almost felt like we were in Italy:


Jessica and Mark met at grad school. Mark asked Jessica out and she told him she was busy. She was. So he asked again and this time she agreed :)


You know how some guys play games? Act a certain way when they're really not like that at all. Or maybe they have commitment issues and keep back certain stuff. Well not Mark. He explained how on their first date he just put it all out there. Was just himself but kind of magnified x10 figuring if Jessica agreed to another date then she must really like him! I think this is a pretty cool way to approach dating...and it obviously worked because these two are ridiculously happy together.


Then we left Italy and headed to France:


I figured if we were going to do engagement pictures in the Boston Public Gardens then we may as well go all out and get the swan boats in there:


And you can't beat a good weeping willow:


After a quick outfit change we continued on. Yes - that IS a Bruins shirt on the Washington Statue - it was the week of the Stanley Cup Victory. I normally advise my brides to avoid black in favor of a pop of color for engagement pictures but it so works on Jessica. I arrived home that evening and announced to Paul that I was thinking of dying my hair red. He laughed. He's probably right, it wouldn't look as gorgeous as Jessica's hair does :(


Jessica and Mark are not only fabulous and fun to hang out with (did you guess that I really like them? :) but they're pretty darn photogenic too. See these two pictures below - they're just straight out of the camera - not a single thing done to them - if only we could all look this cool and hip lying in the grass...


Usually when I'm shooting certain images I just know they belong in black and white. And other times I'll notice it when I'm editing. And then sometimes a whole shoot is wonderfully colorful and there are only a couple of obvious monochromatic images:


As we headed back to our cars I spotted the interesting interior lights of this store on Newbury Street (see what I mean about location being somewhat open to interpretation?) Mark had spent a fair portion of the afternoon picking Jess up, spinning her around, throwing her up on his shoulder and he broke out some mad dipping skillz. The leg action was all Jessica - no prompting from moi! Do you see where I was going with my hair envy? So want to be a red head right now.


Oh go on then, one more picture. It was a Sunday and so the Boston Public Library was closed but I love the drama of the steps and the lights:


And that ladies and gentlemen is all for today. Check back in September for Jessica & Mark's State Room wedding (but don't wait until September because there's WAY more good stuff coming up before then), if you want to keep up to date then slide your mouse on over to this link "Leah Haydock Photography Facebook Page" and when you get there click on "like" and you'll be all set. Thank you and goodnight.

Wedding Ceremony Photographs at Hamilton Hall:: Salem, MA :: Arianne + Rogelio (Part II)

Today for your viewing pleasure I have Arianne & Roger's first look and beautiful wedding ceremony pictures at Hamilton Hall in Salem, MA.

The original plan was to do all of the pictures outside along with the ceremony in the darling little private park across from Hamilton Hall but it had rained solidly all day and so the decision to move everything inside was made. I have to give it to Pepperberry's Flowers for bringing the outside inside with the flowers (and just wait until you see the wedding reception centerpieces!)

Roger waited patiently:


It was worth the wait as he was so happy to see and hold Arianne:


You have no idea how much I love this picture:


Love how Roger's totally checking Arianne out ;)


Quiet moment:


I thought you might like to meet the wedding party:


We did a ton of family pictures and then found a little time for Roger and Arianne to head up to the balcony in Hamilton Hall to check out the set up for the ceremony:


On the way back down the stairs I noticed the gorgeous wedding cake had arrived. Arianne & Roger were a little distracted ;)


Time for a quick make up retouch and then we've got a wedding to get to people!


Beautiful programs - each with a little crystal


I mentioned yesterday that Christina from CMD Event Design was the wedding planner for this spectacular wedding and I should point out that she was also responsible for all of the beautiful wedding paper products you'll see coming up in the next post. There was SO much attention to detail and making sure that guests were comfortable - like these gorgeous wooden fans handed out:


Guests entered the great hall to find a riot of color from the beautiful flowers and teeny tiny crystals falling from the flowered arch under which Arianne and Roger would say their wedding vows:


Sometimes I'm asked if seeing each other before takes away from the emotion of the ceremony and my answer is always based on feedback from previous couples. The emotion at the wedding ceremony comes from the fact you are standing together in front of your friends and families and making a lifelong commitment to each other not because you look awesome in your dress (although you do! and then you get to enjoy cocktail hour rather than photo hour!)


Arianne walked in on the arm of her proud father Arnoldo (earlier in the day Arnoldo had pulled out some small pieces of paper from his suit jacket and I had thought perhaps they were notes for a toast but they were pictures of Arianne as a baby and little girl. I loved that he wanted to carry them with him on her wedding day)


Pastor Greg Bishop conducted the ceremony and it was absolutely wonderful. It was deeply religious yet also extremely personal and filled with joy. It was so refreshing as I've had a number of wedding ceremonies recently with all kinds of crazy restrictions on where I can stand, how I can move, when I can take pictures and whether the couple can even kiss one another. I totally respect the rules and try to be as unobtrusive as possible during the ceremony but sometimes the restrictions seem a little bananas! I highly advise asking about photography and video restrictions before you choose your ceremony venue...


Lots of smiles and little glances:


Laughter...vows...rings...and by the power vested in me by the state of my blog I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss the bride:


Happy much? ;)


This was also probably one of the craziest recessionals - I'll show you the Maid of Honor and Bext Man, Parents and Flower Girls - the guests were all whooping, cheering and clapping - we should have more whooping!


Happy Newlyweds!


The wedding reception at Hamilton Hall is coming up shortly. You don't want to miss it! For bonus pictures and notice of blog posts you should head on over and LIKE the official Leah Haydock Photography page - that's where it's all going on!