Vendor Spotlight :: Soirée, Andover :: Wedding Invitations, Stationery, Favors and more!

It's been a few months since my last Vendor Spotlight interview but I have a wonderful one for you to make up for it! Today I'm introducing you to Soirée in Andover - if you don't have your invitations and wedding stationery picked out yet you should make sure it's your next stop on the wedding planning tour!!!

I first became aware of Soirée when I photographed Alison & Matt's wedding at the Colonnade Hotel in Boston back in October of last year. I ask all of my brides for a list of their vendors so I know whether or not to mention on my blog post. Alison couldn't speak highly enough of her experience at Soirée and her wedding stationery was just beautiful:














Such elegant invitations, escort cards, programs and menus :)

So a few weeks ago I found myself in Andover, MA after getting my eyebrows waxed. I wasn't really paying attention to where I was as I wandered into this cute looking storefront thinking it would be a good time to look into some new notecards.


As I looked through all of the amazing notecard options it dawned on me that I was in Soirée! Home of Alison's lovely wedding stationery. I ended up laughing about the coincidence with Trish and Rebecca and they kindly forgave my angry looking eyebrows ;) I made an appointment to come back and interview them for the blog and here's my discussion with Trish Martini the proud owner of Soirée:

Leah: So Trish, tell me all about Soirée!
Trish: Well, I'd actually worked for the previous owner for 5 years when I had the opportunity to buy the store 3 years ago. We then moved to Main Street in Andover. Soirée offers unique invitations, fine stationery, exquisite favors and accents. We specialize in custom work to fit all budgets.
We do a lot of weddings but we also do invitations and stationery for all milestone events including Bat/Bar Mitzvahs, bridal showers, baby showers, birthdays and anniversaries.
I'm also a certified etiquette consultant so as part of our service we offer free etiquette advice to clients - everything from how to address an envelope correctly and wording the dress code to helping them get through sticky situations!

Leah: What are some of the things that sets Soirée apart from others?
Trish: We're a full service stationer which is really great for the busy bride. They can literally come in and with just one consultation we can design and order the stationery, package and mail it so the RSVPs magically appear in their mailbox with the minimum work! We also work with a lot of venues and planners and understand the wedding process intimately. [Leah's comment - this is AWESOME - if you haven't yet sent out your invitations you probably don't realize how much work it is to assemble, stuff envelopes, get them addressed, mail them out etc etc]

Leah: What about timelines for invitations?
Trish: The earlier a bride comes to see us the better! As soon as you have a date and venue it's a great time to come in to visit as we can help you plan your budget for wedding stationery. There are so many beautiful items you can think about such as programs, seating charts, favor boxes, menus and much more. Generally save the date cards are sent out 6-12 months before the date (err on the longer side if you have a holiday weekend) and invitations go out 6-8 weeks before with an RSVP deadline of one month.

Leah: How should a bride prepare for a visit to Soirée? Do they need to bring anything?
Trish: We're used to working with all sorts of brides. From the ones that arrive with a clean slate, no ideas and looking for a lot of help to the others that come armed with fabric swatches, color palettes and fonts. We love both! You can choose an invitation to fit with the feel and style of your event or some brides will even design their wedding around the invitation!
Your invitation helps set the tone of your wedding for your guests for example a black tie affair will likely have a more formal invitation and will make your guests aware of the dress code.

Leah: So Trish, my favorite part of these vendor spotlights are getting all sorts of tips and tricks from experienced wedding professionals to help my blog readers. What would you like to share when it comes to wedding stationery?
Trish: Well, first of all, putting your invitations together is fairly easy, it's seating charts that are one of the hardest tasks! And often the one that the couple leave until the last moment. I always advise creating a seating vision board which will show where everyone will be seated if they all confirm they are coming. You can then remove people if they decline which is MUCH easier than trying to start a seating chart from scratch 2 weeks before your wedding.

Be specific on your invitations. We offer all sorts of etiquette advice about how to work invitations if you would like to have an adult-only reception and how to deal with uninvited guests on the RSVP cards.

Leah: What are some of the mistakes that couples make when ordering their wedding stationery?
Trish: We always encourage our couples to make sure they order enough invitations/favor boxes and programs. Some items will have a long lead time and if you decide to increase your numbers then there might not be time to order additional.

Leah: Very helpful information - especially about the seating chart. I remember pulling my hair out trying to do ours maybe 2 nights before our wedding party! What do you most enjoy about owning Soirée?
Trish: I just love getting to know our customers. We really form a relationship as they're here to choose their designs, they may come in for save the date cards, and then to pick up their invitations. We get really excited to hear how the wedding goes. We have a lot of customers who will come back for birth announcements after the wedding for example. We've worked with couples to design die plates which they can then use on their personal stationery for the rest of their married life which is lovely.

Leah: I love it when I get to see my wedding couples for newborn picture too! Anything else you'd like to mention?
Trish: Brides are often surprised at what a one-stop-shop we are, from the full stationery service to all sorts of other delights like personalized cake serving sets, champagne flutes, favor boxes! I always advise our customers to really think about the details and make it their own wedding through personalization. We love to collaborate with couples and make this a wonderful stress free experience!

Thank you to Trish for being so awesome and sharing such great information. If you're not familiar with Andover, MA it's a real hot bed of wedding activity with the new bridal center that recently opened. Christina's Bridal is there (awesome dress store, it's where I got my wedding dress) and you should also check out Les Fleurs for the most divine flowers. In fact make a day of it and have lunch in one of the many little restaurants there too!

Here's the cornucopia of products that greet you when you enter:


A plethora of wedding stationery options:


An example of a beautiful custom wedding invitation with a silk ribbon detail:


And the lovely team of (from left) Rebecca, Trish and Jenna:


Here's the information you'll need:

Address: 13 Main St, Andover, MA, 01810.

Web site: http://www.soireeandover.com/
Phone : 978-474-6400
Fax : 978-474-9339
Email : info@soireeandover.com

Hours: Tue-Sat 10am - 5pm


And if you're new to the world of wedding planning then why not check out previous vendor spotlights:

The most stylish bridesmaid dresses for every shape and budget in every color under the rainbow at Flair Bridesmaid Boutique **here**
The wonders of professional make up and airbrushing with Joanne of Joya Beauty **here**
How lighting design can change the mood and feel of your wedding (plus make your pictures look even more awesome!) by Boston Uplights **here**

Eyelash extensions (seriously, the things I do for you guys!) at Interlocks Salon **here** (I so need to go and get these done again, although I've been using Latisse when I remember and it's making a difference, just a few more weeks and I'll look like Brooke Shields ;)

And if you'd like to be in the loop for new vendor spotlights and other fun stuff, why not hop on over to the Leah Haydock Photography page on facebook and hit "like"

Newburyport + Salisbury Beach Engagement Photos :: Katie + Dan

Good morning! It's a beautiful sunny Monday and I'm just back from the gym after prolonged break due to the longest lasting cold in the world which has now thankfully left my nose. Busy week coming up on the bloggity blog starting with Katie & Dan's engagement pictures which we took in Newburyport and on Salisbury beach.

Some couples bond over a love of music, others over a shared interest in sports, for some it's a favorite movie. Katie & Dan first got to talking in English class over their mutual skin disorders :)

Bear with me here people, Dan had tried a new laundry detergent that had caused him all sorts of itchiness and Katie was stressed out with school work and had come out in hives. I'm reminded of that episode of friends where Phoebe and her date both have oven gloves taped to their hands to stop them scratching their chicken pox ;) Anyway, this initial conversation led to a great friendship. Katie and Dan would hang out together all the time and then eventually this friendship grew into something more. And now they're getting married!!! Hoorah!

We met up in Newburyport. Although I have a strict no alcohol rule at weddings, I'll break the rules at engagement shoots so Katie and I had a little glass of wine and Dan had a beer while we caught up about their plans. And then we wandered around the downtown area:


Shall we all take a moment to agree on how adorable Katie is? Katie - if the school counselor career doesn't work out I think you have a bright future as a toothpaste or shampoo model!


On your wedding day I like to be as unobtrusive as I can be but on an engagement shoot it's kind of impossible when we're out for hour with the specific objective of taking pictures. So I made Katie & Dan lie in the grass and then stood on top of them. I have the best clients ever ;)


Hot afternoon sun on the harbor:


OK - this gentleman was HILARIOUS. We're in a little alleyway chasing the light and he walks past with his ice cream and asks what's happening. We explain it's an engagement shoot and he tells us he's been married for like 50 years. I ask him what the secret is. I'm expecting a cute answer like "Don't go to bed angry" or "Put each other first" and he launches into this full on lecture for Katie and Dan about how the husband has to be in charge and people today don't have enough respect....


And Katie and Dan held hands and giggled as he lectured:


Love those blue sky days:


Then we hopped into the car and drove to Salisbury Beach for some more pictures. This one was 100% Dan's idea ;) Saving the world one picture at a time...


Fun with the 14-24 lens:


Love's Dan's expression here:


Sweet moment:


If I were to name my pictures, this one would be called "Katie & Dan Underwater" I think:


Super excited to photograph Katie & Dan's wedding at The Ridge Club in Sandwich, MA next month. Katie - you're going to be such a gorgeous bride!


One last one of course....

And that's all from me for today folks. You can like just this post:

Or you can like the official Leah Haydock Photography page to get sneak peaks of upcoming engagement and wedding images including of course Katie & Dan's in just a few more weeks....


Or you can say hello in the comments and tell me all about your plans for the week :)

Boston Engagement Pictures :: Four Seasons + Public Garden :: Amanda + Joe

This time next week Amanda and Joe will be newlyweds!!! So it's time for you to see just a few images from their mini engagement shoot in Boston a few weeks ago. We did their main engagement shoot last fall on the beach, check it out **here** and it was fairly chilly. So we lucked out with much nicer weather this time.

I always enjoy it when a couple discover something new when we're taking pictures. It could be hidden dance moves, a talent for juggling or, as in the case of Amanda and Joe, finding out that your fiance is a secret nature fan. As we walked around the public gardens Joe was all "Oh, take a picture of the squirrels!"


I am so so so excited for their wedding next Saturday. It'll be especially fun because I'll have one of my 2010 couples there along with a future 2011 couple. Good times!


This was one of the very rare moments that Joe & Amanda weren't laughing hysterically at each other - you seriously have no idea how much these two laugh - it's awesome!


My in-laws came to visit recently and did some gardening while they were here. We now have an awesome "pom-pom" tree that needs regular clipping and cutting to keep it's shape. I am kind of tempted to shape the pom-poms into Mickey Mouse shape heads. I'm not really sure why I'm telling you this story other than the tree in the images below reminded me of my tree:


And then Joe was all "Oh! Look! Take a picture of the egg in the swan's nest!" And who am I to deny a man his nature pictures:


We stopped off at the Four Seasons where Joe & Amanda will have their wedding next Saturday for the quick outfit change:


And Amanda didn't disappoint with this awesome purple dress and killer heels. Joe was looking sharp too ;)


This is what I mean by the general hilarity and laughing:


At the beach engagement shoot I'd suggested that Joe spin Amanda (thinking like first dance style) and Joe instead put his finger on top of her head and "spun" Amanda his way ;) I thought it was so funny so they did it again:


And one last one as the sun went down in the Public Gardens.


How excited are you for next weekend? I bet you're not as excited as me! Well, unless you're Amanda or Joe. Then you're probably even a tiny bit more excited than me! But not much.....

Granite Links Golf Club Wedding Photographer :: Quincy, MA :: Lindsay + Matt (Part III)

I've been trying to get my wedding posts down from 4 or 5 installments to the more manageable number of 3. I mean, it sounds reasonable - one post for getting ready and any first look pictures, one for the ceremony and one for the reception. Heck - I hear there are photographers out there who just do one blog post for each wedding! How hard can it be? Obviously too hard for me - as I'm at a mammoth 18 images for this reception post. And within some of those pictures I've done little collages of 12 pictures to fit more in.

So go and get a nice cup of coffee or a cold glass of wine (if you're reading this later in the day) while the images load up and then prepare yourself for part III of Lindsay & Matt's wedding pictures at Granite Links Golf Club in Quincy, MA.

And if you missed getting ready you'll find it **here** and the wedding ceremony at St Francis of Assisi in Medford, MA **here**.

Granite Links is a BEAUTIFUL wedding venue with amazing views of the Boston skyline. It was a crazy hot hazy day that we were there and the sky was that kind of humid white that blocks any views but as it went dark you could see the city lights twinkling in the sky. The Granite Links team were awesome - super helpful and friendly - I'd highly recommend it as a wedding venue!

Lindsay and Matt chose to use the tent which was made beautiful by a) the gorgeous flowers from Dogwood Floral and b)Boston Uplights working their magic with pink and white hanging lanterns and uplighting - more on that later


And I just realised that I hadn't shared a picture of the beautiful bridesmaids so here they are followed by one of Matt and the groomsmen goofing around:



The late afternoon sun was pouring into the tent as Lindsay and Matt did their first dance to Adele's "Make you feel my love" you can listen to her sing it live by clicking **here** - in fact you should totally have it playing in another window while you read this blog post because it's the most beautiful song ever:


I almost feel like I'm intruding on a private moment here:


Amazing toasts from Lindsay's dad Link, Matt's brothers Michael and Sean, his sister Katie (Lindsay's Matron of Honor) and Katie (Lindsay's Maid of Honor and one of my September brides!):


Lindsay and Matt chose not to see each other before the ceremony so we had to be a little creative in finding a few minutes here and there to get some pictures of the two of them. But I think we did very well :)

I should just mention how much I adore the lighting concept by Boston Uplights in the tent. Tents are really cool for a wedding reception but if they're not properly lit they can look a little ho-hum in pictures - you basically just have white plastic walls as a background. But if you go and meet with Paul and the team at Boston Uplights, they can come up with all sorts of awesome lighting designs for you...


Time for parent dances. Lindsay danced with her dad...


...and got a little emotional:


Matt danced with his mom:


And then the dancefloor was officially open. Now you might look at this picture and think - well this looks like a very polite well behaved wedding...


...even the strawberries were wearing chocolate tuxedos:


But then the jump-rope came out :) and the crowd got crazy ;) I can't even begin to tell you how much I love a little jump-rope at a wedding! It's always so hilarious how you can see people literally counting themselves in:


Matt was singing his heart out and Lindsay showed off her mad dance skillz:



Another 2 minute break for some night time couples portraits, loving the tent as a backdrop. The blue lighting felt kind of moody and romantic:


If there was an award for most laid back bride ever it would probably go to Lindsay. She was so incredibly relaxed about everything. For example, some brides might have a fit if their beautiful bouquets were bashed around as dancing props but Lindsay was giggling away:


Nothing like a late night photo opportunity for all of your closest school friends :) I am always more than happy to take big group shots during your wedding reception but helpful tip - you need to put someone who knows the people in charge of gathering everyone together! The last thing you want to be doing is trying to gather up a bunch of people who've likely had a few drinks at this point - it's best to have a somewhat responsible friend gather everyone together (or maybe ask your DJ to announce it during a good time so you don't kill the dancing). Here's the St Anselm crew:


Lots more dancing and sweet moments for Lindsay and Matt:


And that Ladies & Gentlemen is the end of Lindsay & Matt's wedding at Granite Links :) Did you have fun? I did!

Useful info:
Ceremony: St Francis of Assisi, Medford, MA

Wedding Reception (in the tent with spectacular views of Boston): Granite Links Golf Club, Quincy, MA

Wedding Photography: Leah Haydock

Wedding Gown & Bridesmaid Dresses: Allegria Bridal
Wedding Stationary: Lynne Johnson of Inviting Company
Flowers: Theresa Arsenault of Dogwood Floral
Hair & Make Up: Blushing Brides
Rolls Royce & Limos: Christopher Limousine
Cake: Montillio’s Bakery
DJ: Chip McConney
Lighting: Boston Uplights

One last one then. I mentioned to the Boston Uplights guys that I was going to take Lindsay and Matt outside for another 2 minute photo break and they were all "Oh, cool, we have a couple of spare wireless uplights. Want us to light the gazebo for you?" Er - yes please!!!

Lindsay and Matt - congratulations! You were SO much fun to work with and I just loved how happy you both were on your wedding day. Wishing you a lifetime of love and laughter together and jump-rope dancing :)

Did you hop over and like my Leah Haydock Photography page on facebook yet? I'd be a happy bunny if you do :)


Coming up later today - yes - two posts in one day! Pictures from Amanda & Joe's mini engagement shoot....