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

It's really starting to feel like fall now; it's cooler in the evening, the leaves are just starting to change and I wore a sweater on the beach today when Paul and I took the dogs for a walk/swim.

So it only seems appropriate to start off this blog post about Stephanie & Tim's most excellent wedding ceremony at St Agnes Church in Arlington, MA and wedding reception at Hillview Country Club in North Reading, MA with a fall kind of photograph. I spotted these little acorns outside of Stephanie's parents home when I arrived for the getting ready and detail pictures. Oh and if you'd like to catch up on their engagement pictures in Boston you can click **here**:


As I carefully carried their rings back into the house I noticed that Stephanie's engagement and wedding ring fit exactly inside Tim's. So I couldn't resist one more, this time sitting on one of the stylish plates that the girls were eating their breakfast fruit and bagels from:


Gorgeous dress by Gianna's bridal in Stoneham, MA


I've recently been working on always trying to find a new way of seeing things. So much as I was happy with the above picture, I thought it might be even more interesting to shoot through the window inside, plus who doesn't love a shoe picture:


Of course to have a wedding, you need to invite your guests:


Fun with the macro lens, I love jewelry details and when you have earrings like these...


Stephanie's make up was done by her amazing bridesmaid Shaina:


Her sisters Jennifer and Allison, Matron and Maid of Honor helped Stephanie into her wedding dress and even niece Bella assisted with the shoes:


I usually head out 15-30 minutes before the bride to introduce myself to the officiant and get set up for the ceremony. If the location and time allow, I love to get a great wide-angle shot of the church and it was excellent timing as Tim and his groomsmen walked into the frame:

I usually do most of my blog posts on weekdays when internet traffic is higher but if you'd like me to post the preview pictures of the ceremony tomorrow just let me know in the comments....

Kimball Farms, Westford, MA :: Pre-wedding Photography :: Jennifer and Eric

I'm still working on the wedding reception pictures for Lori & Kris and so rather than have a blog day without an update, I thought I would share some favorites of a rather spectacular shoot I did recently - especially as Jenn has been waiting so patiently...

Yes, you read the title correctly. This was a pre-wedding shoot!

I'll often do a first look with couples before their ceremony:

- the bride and groom get to have a beautiful private moment before they get married

- the time spent together on the wedding day which is all about the two of you is longer

- hair and make up is fresh and you look awesome

- you can do all your wedding party and family pictures early

- we'll have more time for those epic couples portraits

- so you can enjoy the champagne and appetizers at cocktail hour

You can see some first look wedding pictures at the Hyatt Cambridge **here** or at the Winter Garden at the Seaport Hotel **here**

Anyway, this was the first time I have ever done a first look a few weeks before the wedding! But Jenn is not your average bride. She's pretty darn awesome. And Eric, her husband to be, is a lucky man and an absolute trooper for taking pictures on a steamy Thursday evening in August! We met up at Kimball Farms in Westford, MA. They will be providing the ice cream sundae bar at Jenn & Eric's wedding which is coming up very shortly.

Kimball Farm is also a great unusual wedding venue north of Boston. They offer New England Clambakes or All-America BBQ! Wedding party pictures on the bumper boats? Yes please!

#1 reason Jenn is awesome: She dyed her crinoline underskirt hot pink. With RustOleum. Yup, when her seamstress told her you couldn't dye that kind of fabric, Jenn just went ahead and 8 cans of hot pink RustOleum later she was all set.

#2 reason Jenn & Eric are awesome: they're having a candy-themed wedding. From candy invitations to different dessert tortes on each table and the ice cream sundae bar. It seemed only fitting that we should get a picture of Jenn with a giant lollipop:

Jake is Jenn's son and he's pretty cool too! Before Eric arrived, I took some pictures of him with Jenn and then on his own. All the more time to enjoy the ice cream at the wedding!


#3 reason Jenn is awesome: not only did she schedule her hair and make up trial for the pre-wedding shoot but she'd even ordered an extra bouquet! Love these pictures:


#4 reason Jenn & Eric are awesome. There are probably not that many brides who would come up with the idea of a pre-wedding shoot at Kimball Farm. And probably even fewer grooms who would put on their suit and dress shoes in 97 degree heat. But that's Jenn & Eric for you. They're kind of opposites but they go so well together:


Gotta love the random chickens at Kimball Farms. Almost as much as I love the mint choc chip ice cream with hot butterscotch sauce:


Also loving the old beat up truck we stumbled across:


A final few pictures of Jenn as it started to get dark:


I think people were a little bemused at the sight of a bride hanging out in the line for the grill and seafood but I think you are all aware of my obsession with twinkly lights by now...

Jenn & Eric - you guys are truly awesome (see above reasons) and I can't wait to photograph your wedding in a few weeks! And don't worry - Jenn gave me permission to post these pictures prior to the wedding :)

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Hyatt Regency Hotel, Cambridge, MA :: Boston Wedding Photographer :: Neeta + Rich (Part I)

Oh do I have a treat for you this week...it's the wedding of Neeta & Rich and what a wedding it was! Oh the bright colors, the most amazing first look ever, the touching self-written vows, the "dancing with the stars" style first dance, the best Indian food I have ever eaten and SO much more.

But first, if you'd like to hear about how Neeta and Rich met, check out their winter engagement shoot in Newburyport **here** or their spring engagement pictures in Boston **here**.

I arrived nice and early at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Cambridge, MA to take detail and getting ready pictures starting with the wedding invitation. I loved the bright colors at the wedding:


The room where the girls were getting ready was a blur of hair and makeup and nails and sandwiches so I stole away with Neeta's wedding dress and hot fushia pink shoes which I decided to photograph sitting at the top of the escalator. My creativity knows no bounds ;)


Hair was done by the super talented Kelly Bonica of Blondie Salon & Spa who gave Jill and Ruby the most comprehensive direction ever on how to remove Neeta's veil. Neeta was mostly smiling and laughing which is the best way to be on your wedding day. Actually other than the fact that she was marrying her best friend Rich, some of the smiling was probably due to having Christy Kahana from C.A.K.E Weddings as her wedding coordinator extraordinare.


Neeta and her bridesmaids had all had henna applied to their hands; Neeta explained that Indian tradition is to hide the initials or name of the future husband in the Mehndi design:


Speaking of Rich, he was in the next room getting ready with the groomsmen and his family, I'm loving his Mom and Sister helping him with his tie:


If you're a friend of Neeta & Rich or you read the previous blog posts, you'll be familiar with their pet Liger. I thought it was only appropriate to get a shot of Liger as acting CEO in the boardroom:


Love love love this picture of Neeta as she gets ready to put on her dress. Not sure if it's because of her little hand clap or the sparkle in her eyes. Flawless make up courtesy of Rose Ventura (rslb_ventura@yahoo.com 617-959-2778)


Neeta stood very still holding her veil in the air as three sets of hands laced up her beautiful Maggie Sottero gown:


And that, ladies and gentlemen is all for today. 17 images as a preview of the fun ahead, I know, I know, I'm so mean. But if I posted 100 images today then a) it would take forever for the blog to load and b) it would all be over now and you'd have nothing to look forward to tomorrow.

If you'd like to see their first look in the Empress ballroom you can click **here**

Feel free to leave some blog love in the comments for Neeta and Rich. Neeta is probably my #1 blog reader and I'm going to be sad when she leaves me once I finish the wedding pictures....


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