Without further ado, please rise for the bride. Jeff looks pretty happy...
....to see Eunis walk towards him on the arm of her proud father:
Eunis & Jeff's wedding ceremony at Church of the Covenant was amazing for so many reasons, not least the gospel choir. Best idea ever. Note Jeff's "You guys rock" acknowledgment to the choir:
Geek photographer moment. Church of the Covenant, like many of the historic Boston churches, is dark. Really dark. Like barely enough light to see your program dark. And although guests are allowed to use flash, professional photographers are not :( BUT thanks to my miraculous Nikon D3s I say "Take that dark church! You are no match for my camera at ISO 6400 and 8000!" I'm a big believer that it's not the equipment you have, it what you do with it, but this is one of those times that it really IS the equipment you have....
Vows, giggles, unity candle, the exchange of rings and unity candle:
Introducing the new Mr & Mrs (actually, Dr. & Dr.) Segnere:
I like to read wedding magazines as much as the next person :) but sometimes they have those "500 must-have wedding pictures" lists that are like kryptonite to a professional photographer (do you chase after picture #378 or shoot the real moment that's happening right in front of you?)
....to see Eunis walk towards him on the arm of her proud father:
Eunis & Jeff's wedding ceremony at Church of the Covenant was amazing for so many reasons, not least the gospel choir. Best idea ever. Note Jeff's "You guys rock" acknowledgment to the choir:
Geek photographer moment. Church of the Covenant, like many of the historic Boston churches, is dark. Really dark. Like barely enough light to see your program dark. And although guests are allowed to use flash, professional photographers are not :( BUT thanks to my miraculous Nikon D3s I say "Take that dark church! You are no match for my camera at ISO 6400 and 8000!" I'm a big believer that it's not the equipment you have, it what you do with it, but this is one of those times that it really IS the equipment you have....
Vows, giggles, unity candle, the exchange of rings and unity candle:
Introducing the new Mr & Mrs (actually, Dr. & Dr.) Segnere:
I like to read wedding magazines as much as the next person :) but sometimes they have those "500 must-have wedding pictures" lists that are like kryptonite to a professional photographer (do you chase after picture #378 or shoot the real moment that's happening right in front of you?)
I mention this as the lists often include "Picture of parents looking emotional during ceremony" which is near impossible:
1. At 9 out of 10 weddings (especially church weddings) you can't actually get into location for such pictures.
2. Let's say by some miracle you do have access from behind the officiant for a few seconds (um-hum), there's a good chance that one of the parents will blink/sneeze/look away/not be particularly emotional at that exact moment.
So when I show you the happy/proud pictures below (taken by the awesome Johnny Arguedas who was allowed to hide in the pulpit - a very rare occurrence!) please note that this not unusual:
I'm not sure who's winning the happiest award here:
Who doesn't love some relaxed yet mantel-worthy family pictures? The light on Commonwealth Avenue was rather delicious not to mention it's just a short stroll from Church of the Covenant to the Fairmont Copley:
And speaking of the Fairmont Copley Plaza Boston - we're back!!! Usually at this point it would be cocktail hour and then the wedding reception but hold your horses! We have a Korean Paebaek Wedding Ceremony first!
What is a Paebaek or Korean Wedding Ceremony? Answers coming right up...
[I'm stealing a lot of this info from the rather lovely little programs that Eunis & Jeff had available for their guests]
In Korean tradition, marriage represents the joining of two families rather than the joining of two individuals. The Paebaek ceremony was originally intended as a way for the bride to pay respects to the groom's family, with whom she traditionally lived following the ceremony:
Here are Jeff and Eunis getting ready for the Korean wedding ceremony that took place at the Fairmont Copley during cocktail hour. Middle left is my favorite image of practicing "The Bow", Jeff is most enthusiastic:
The set up for the Korean Paebaek wedding ceremony is simple but meaningful. The table itself is arranged with a variety of foods and rice wine called soju; the placement for each can be symbolically significant. Dates are placed on the east side of the table (where the sun first rises) imparting the newly married couple to rise early, work hard and be productive. Chestnuts are placed on the west side of the table to ward off evil spirits.
The bride and groom sit on one side at a low table and the groom's family followed by the bride's family take their turn sitting in front of the table to receive their bow from the couple:
I think this is my favorite picture. Eunis & Jeff giggled their way through the ceremony:
The groom's parents will throw the dates and chestnuts which the couple will attempt to catch with the bride's apron. Legend has it that the number of dates (representing girls) and chestnuts (boys) caught represent how many children they will bear. Jeff's father got into the throwing of the dates and chestnuts and then Jeff's mom started hurling handfuls - awesome!!!
Family members share words of wisdom with the newlyweds:
Just when you think it can't get any better...we have the piggyback ride! At the conclusion of the ceremony, the groom carries the bride on his back as a symbol of his preparedness to support her as a husband:
Are you still with me? Want to see more? How about the most beautiful wedding reception in the Oval ballroom of the Fairmont Copley? A choreographed wedding party dance? Flying flowergirls? Crazy photobooth fun? It's all coming up.....
1. At 9 out of 10 weddings (especially church weddings) you can't actually get into location for such pictures.
2. Let's say by some miracle you do have access from behind the officiant for a few seconds (um-hum), there's a good chance that one of the parents will blink/sneeze/look away/not be particularly emotional at that exact moment.
So when I show you the happy/proud pictures below (taken by the awesome Johnny Arguedas who was allowed to hide in the pulpit - a very rare occurrence!) please note that this not unusual:
I'm not sure who's winning the happiest award here:
Who doesn't love some relaxed yet mantel-worthy family pictures? The light on Commonwealth Avenue was rather delicious not to mention it's just a short stroll from Church of the Covenant to the Fairmont Copley:
And speaking of the Fairmont Copley Plaza Boston - we're back!!! Usually at this point it would be cocktail hour and then the wedding reception but hold your horses! We have a Korean Paebaek Wedding Ceremony first!
What is a Paebaek or Korean Wedding Ceremony? Answers coming right up...
[I'm stealing a lot of this info from the rather lovely little programs that Eunis & Jeff had available for their guests]
In Korean tradition, marriage represents the joining of two families rather than the joining of two individuals. The Paebaek ceremony was originally intended as a way for the bride to pay respects to the groom's family, with whom she traditionally lived following the ceremony:
Here are Jeff and Eunis getting ready for the Korean wedding ceremony that took place at the Fairmont Copley during cocktail hour. Middle left is my favorite image of practicing "The Bow", Jeff is most enthusiastic:
The set up for the Korean Paebaek wedding ceremony is simple but meaningful. The table itself is arranged with a variety of foods and rice wine called soju; the placement for each can be symbolically significant. Dates are placed on the east side of the table (where the sun first rises) imparting the newly married couple to rise early, work hard and be productive. Chestnuts are placed on the west side of the table to ward off evil spirits.
The bride and groom sit on one side at a low table and the groom's family followed by the bride's family take their turn sitting in front of the table to receive their bow from the couple:
I think this is my favorite picture. Eunis & Jeff giggled their way through the ceremony:
The groom's parents will throw the dates and chestnuts which the couple will attempt to catch with the bride's apron. Legend has it that the number of dates (representing girls) and chestnuts (boys) caught represent how many children they will bear. Jeff's father got into the throwing of the dates and chestnuts and then Jeff's mom started hurling handfuls - awesome!!!
Family members share words of wisdom with the newlyweds:
Just when you think it can't get any better...we have the piggyback ride! At the conclusion of the ceremony, the groom carries the bride on his back as a symbol of his preparedness to support her as a husband:
Are you still with me? Want to see more? How about the most beautiful wedding reception in the Oval ballroom of the Fairmont Copley? A choreographed wedding party dance? Flying flowergirls? Crazy photobooth fun? It's all coming up.....
Absolutely stunning!! That really must've have been wonderful to see such a wonderful cultural experience! Thanks for sharing & taking gorgeous shots so that I can feel as if I was there as well!
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