Boston Engagement Pictures in the Public Garden :: Claire + Kevin

Before we start today's blog post, I have a couple of definitions for you. As I went to school in the UK, we don't have the Greek system, I thought there might be others out there unfamiliar with the terms "Big" and "Little" but they're kind of critical to this romantic story so here you go:

“Big” A term assigned to the elders of a Greek organization. Becoming a “big brother” or “big sister” in a Greek organization denotes that you get to become a role model to a “New Member” or “Pledge”. As a big, you essentially become their advisor throughout initiation and during their time in college. The bond between big and little is very special, and often times a lifetime bond is forged.

“Little” In order to become a “big brother” or “big sister,” you have to become a “little brother” or “little sister” first, and pledge to join a fraternity or sorority. While this position isn’t an enviable one, especially when rushing, you get an older friend who can help you navigate the entire process of pledging.

Are you all caught up? OK, then let us begin. Once upon a time, at the University of Pennsylvania, there was a girl named Allie. Allie's Big was Claire. Allie was dating a boy named Bobby. Allie kept hinting about Bobby's Big to Claire:
- Oh, I think you'd really like Bobby's Big....
- Guess what? Bobby's Big looked you up on facebook and really liked what he saw!
At the same time, Allie was talking to Bobby's Big, Kevin:
- You should really meet my Big, I think you'd really get along
- My Big has a crush on you!
- Why don't you ask my Big to the formal dance?

Allie was particularly persistent and so Kevin texted Claire and asked her to formal. Claire said she gave in partially to placate Allie.


The morning of the formal, Kevin sent a quick text to Claire suggesting they meet for lunch before the big night out. Claire remembers running home after class to quickly do a little hair and make up and arriving a little flustered to lunch. Kevin just remembers Claire carrying a backpack almost as big as she was.

The "quick lunch" wasn't exactly quick. The Bigs found they had so much in common and the conversation just flowed. Kevin ended up completely missing his study group and Claire arrived late to class all starry-eyed. The formal no longer felt like an obligation and Claire and Kevin were pretty much inseparable after that except for Kevin's time studying abroad in Copenhagen. Visits to Nantucket and even a faux love of hockey (on Claire's behalf) brought them even closer together.


Fast forward to last December. Claire and Kevin were vacationing in Florida with Claire's family. Kevin suggested they take a trip to the beach to have a little time together and to exchange Christmas gifts. Claire had seen the gift box that Kevin had for her and it was far too large to be an engagement ring. The beach was quite the drive away and Kevin had a conference call for work so Claire was all "Let's just skip it and go another time."


What Claire didn't realize...the gift box was a DECOY. It was a deceptively large box holding that tell-tale ring-size box along with a photobook. Claire and Kevin had agreed to only exchange gifts they'd made themselves on this particular holiday and great minds think alike. Claire had made Kevin a scrapbook and Kevin had made the photobook. As Claire flicked through the pictures of them together over the years she said she could barely make out the words on the last page of the book through her tears. After she read, "Claire, will you marry me?" she looked up to find Kevin down on one knee with the ring.





Claire & Kevin, I hope you like this handful of pictures! I'm so excited to be your Wychmere wedding photographer next year!

Boston Engagement Pictures in the Public Garden :: Lea + Aidan

2 blog posts in one day? Whatever is the world coming to?

I have 4 more weddings in the editing room coming to you next but I thought I'd sneak in Lea & Aidan's Boston engagement picture session:

When is the best time for fall engagement pictures? It was this day. It was one of those ridiculously perfect autumn days - the kind that makes you glad to live in New England.

We wandered around the public gardens:

Lea and Aidan arrived with arms full of props from balloons, to hand painted signs, to umbrellas:

I couldn't hear the conversation as these two cuddled up underneath the willow trees but it looks fairly hilarious:

We were just about finished with the balloons when this happened:

After Aidan valiently saved Lea from floating away over Boston there was much laughter. Actually Lea and Aidan spent most of our session laughing, it was really awesome to see how much fun they have together.

And you probably want to know how these two met right? Lea was out in Boston with friends. Aidan was out in Boston with friends. Aidan said he saw Lea from across the room and couldn't take his eyes off her.

Aidan didn't want to be the random stranger chatting up women in a bar so he asked his buddy's girlfriend to go over and strike up a conversation to pave the way for Aidan to make his introductions. As luck would have it, some of Lea's guy friends actually knew Aidan and told her he was an OK guy :)

Lea and Aidan spent the whole night chatting. Aidan said his bar tab was getting higher and higher but it was worth every penny. Lea was telling Aidan all about her busy schedule but Aidan spotted a gap on Wednesday evening and convinced Lea to go on a date with him. The rest is history and these two will be getting married next year at the Boston Harbor Hotel (one of my very very very favorite wedding venues to photograph in Boston)

Look at these two Hotty McHotsters. I just made that up. It sounds better with a British accent I think?

If the weather complies next October, this is where Lea & Aidan will enjoy cocktail hour with their friends and family with the view of Boston Harbor:

We decided to wait it out for nightfall grabbing a glass of wine until it was dark enough to see the night skyline of Boston. Fun story - you know how you have those facebook friends that you've never actually met? They're like friends of friends but you feel like you kind of know them. After their initial meeting in that bar, Lea and Aidan discovered they were already facebook friends. Aidan admits to having seen Lea on one of his friend's fb feeds and friending her :)

Lea & Aidan - I hope you like these sneak peeks! Lots more to come! I'm super excited for your fall wedding next year :) Thanks for being so fabulous to photograph :)

Boston North End Engagement Pictures :: Julie + Jonathan

I always like to learn new things. Out with Julie and Jonathan for their North End engagement pictures I learned:
1)North End locals always walk in the street
2)The only pizza to eat is Pizzeria Regina
3)Julie and Jonathan make an awesome couple :)
Here's an example of the walking in the street:

But I'm getting ahead of myself! I met Julie and Jonathan for a martini in The Bar of Taj Boston where they often like to hang out and people watch. We walked over to the Boston Public Gardens to start their engagement shoot. I'm loving the pop of Julie's yellow skirt against the green :) 



Let's backtrack to 2007 when Julie and Jonathan first met in Newport through mutual friends. After a slightly bizarre initial conversation about Jonathan's crab-pattern swim shorts, the day improved with much chatting, laughing and pizza. Over the course of the next two years their paths would cross again and again and late night pizza became a recurrent theme.

Remember MySpace? Well these two started chatting on MySpace and then facebook and texting and as they continued to bump into one another at various Christmas and birthday parties they both felt a little spark:



Fast forward to February 2009 and over a late night dinner at Bricco (after yet another birthday party) Julie and Jonathan planned their perfect honeymoon in Italy. It's good to have a plan right?

Jonathan finally made his move :) He asked Julie to join him for dinner on a snowy Sunday evening at Lucca. Julie was wearing her rain boots but loved that Jonathan arrived to pick her up looking as smart as usual. Jonathan knew Julie was "the one" when she asked for Chianti and let him order a ton of yummy Italian food which she then helped him to eat. Julie ate the spicy mussels even though she doesn't like hot food (oh, the things we do for love!).

Julie had mentioned making a stop at Lucca for pictures and I loved that they ordered a bottle of Chianti again :)

After a quick outfit change it was time for a bite of the famous Regina pizza:

J+J just effortlessly styling here:

The proposal happened back in Newport where it all started. After a perfect weekend of dinners and family and wine festivals and walks and ice cream Jonathan got down on one knee and asked Julie to marry him. Yay!

Julie and Jonathan's wedding is coming up this fall at Turner Hill (one of my favorite New England wedding venues) and I can't wait! We finished our shoot with one almost-night time picture and then Julie and Jonathan returned to Lucca and I drove home thinking about the bread basket :)

Engagement Pictures :: Boston Public Gardens :: Elizabeth + AJ

Once upon a time Elizabeth went for a job interview. AJ was working in the very same office and he couldn't help but notice her. He says he remembers asking "Who's the blonde?!?" Elizabeth didn't remember AJ but when you're interviewing you're not really scoping out the office for cute guys ;)


Elizabeth got the job and as often happens at a new place of work she ate her lunch alone at her desk for the first few weeks. One day AJ asked her if she'd like to join him and a bunch of other people for lunch. Lunch led to friendship and friendship led to dating....

I pootled around the Boston public gardens with Elizabeth and AJ to take their engagement pictures, the light was dreamy:

So let's talk about the proposal because AJ had a plaaaaaaan (that sounds better in my head, all sort of dramatic). AJ told Elizabeth he'd made dinner reservations and they'd stay in Boston afterwards. When they opened the door to their room (AJ had snuck in earlier) there were candles and roses. AJ got down on one knee and asked Elizabeth to be his wife. Elizabeth said yes and immediately started calling friends and family to tell them the good news but no one was home. Booooo :(

AJ reminded Elizabeth that they had to get going as they had dinner plans. Elizabeth was bursting to share the news of their engagement and what do you know? When they arrived at the restaurant she found that AJ had invited their families to join them. I caught this image of Elizabeth as AJ was telling the story about the proposal and it's one of my favorites:

And that's it for today :) Oh well, maybe just one more. We had beautiful weather after days of rain but I saw a little rain puddle on the ground. This picture is entitled "Elizabeth + AJ in a Puddle"

How excited are you to see Elizabeth + AJ get married? Well, you'll have to wait until February 2013 when they'll hold their wedding at the fabulous Boston Harbor Hotel and I'll be there as their wedding photographer. Hoorah!