Caroll and Jeremy didn’t date until a couple years after they graduated college. He is from Kentucky and she’s from New England. They had a baby girl, a VERY cute baby girl who’s going to be a heart breaker one day :) and Jeremy had been in Afghanistan since Caroll was 6 months pregnant. They’ve gone through a lot and I’m so glad that they’re having the much deserved happy ending… or I should say happy beginning as a family.

I’ve heard a lot of great things about Bumble Bee Landing but didn’t get to see their bouquets until the wedding day, they were GORGEOUS!

The ceremony alter was specially designed by the bride Caroll. It’s beautiful!

Can’t take credit for this. One of the many great moments Angie captured.

Caroll had two dresses. One for the ceremony and first dance and another one for the reception dance that she didn’t mind getting dirty. I think it was a great idea especially for brides who want to preserve their wedding dresses.

What was the most memorable moment of your wedding celebration?

Caroll: There were so many things that were memorable, and I wish I could live the day over and over :) Jeremy looked dashing, Olivia was so adorable in her own wedding dress, we had so much fun with all of our closest friends and family!

Jeremy: I can’t really pick out anything in particular, it was all so much fun.  

Any advice for future brides/grooms?

Caroll: Try not to let the little things get to you!

Jeremy: Just go with the flow and don’t sweat the small stuff.  

Funniest memory of the night?

Caroll: Hard to say! We had so much fun that day!  

Jeremy: OG asleep at the ceremony.  

Where are you going for honeymoon?

Caroll & Jeremy: Antigua!

Caroll and Jeremy, I hope you had a blast on your wedding day. Congratulations again for starting such a wonderful family.

In case anyone is interested, feel free to check out their engagement session in Lowell.

Find out everything you need to know about wedding photo booths.

I’ve compiled some of my favorite photos of Jenny & Ke’s photo booth. Check out their super fun wedding at the Lyman Estate as well as their Chinese tea ceremony.

This was a  test shot with the videographers of the wedding. Good times!

Such a cute first look.

Being a second photographer was actually really nice because I got to experiment with different angles. I thought how the guys formed a line walking down to the ceremony was pretty cool.

And then of course the father and the bride :)

Knowing the library was closed for the wedding, I was able to get to the balcony on the second floor to get this aerial shot. Normally the balcony is closed.

SUCH a pretty reception room!

LOVE this shot!

Thanks Shang Chen for letting me second shoot. I can’t tell you how much of a blast I had. You rock!!!

Primary photographer: Shang Chen Photography, assisted by Ze Liang Photography
Venue: The Boston Public Library, Boston, MA
Getting ready hotels: Boston Park Plaza, Revere Hotel, Boston, MA
Catering and Cake:  The Catered Affair, Boston, MA, with coordination provided by Erin Davies
Wedding dress: Monique Lhuillier, purchased at Kleinfeld, New York City, NY
Bridesmaid dresses: Alfred Sung
Rings: Tiffany & Co.
Tuxedo: Burberry London
Florist: Orchids n’ Blooms
Make-up: From Hair to Eternity, Malden, MA
Hair: Vanhphen Souvannarath
Ceremony music: Keros String Quartet, booked through Night Shift Entertainment
Band: Legit, booked through Night Shift Entertainment
Uplighting: Boston Uplights
Invitations and paper: Minted
Marshmallow wedding favors: Whimsy & Spice, Brooklyn, NY
Table numbers, paper roses, card catalog, wine box stamp: Etsy

Music:
“To Me, To You” (I’m really thankful these guys let me use their song. I’m totally obsessed with it. They have so much talent.)
Copyright 2012 Matthew Minigell. Performed by Left Hand Blue.
LeftHandBlueBand.com. Also on iTunes.

“Biodiesel Family” - Snowflake;  ”Love Dizzy” - VJ Memes

Allison and Ryan’s wedding is one of the MOST special ones to me because they were the very first client who booked me for wedding coverage, and I’m extremely grateful and honored that they have this incredible amount of trust in me. All of this wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t photographed the fashion show at my school and one of the runway model’s mom, Donna, was friends with Allison.  I feel like I’ve known Allison since forever. From the first time we met to their engagement session and now, it’s been almost 2 years.

Here’s the story about how Allison and Ryan met. When they were 16, still in high school, they went on a blind date set up by their friends. Not having a clue how it would unfold, they turned out to be the perfect match. I’ve always believed that opposites attract. Allison and Ryan were quite opposite from each other. Allison is like the party girl and Ryan would take some time for him to warm up. Despite the differences, they’ve been together ever since. Even in college, they made every effort to see each other. Allison went to UMass Amherst and Ryan went to Curry College. They would drive for 2.5 hours to see each other on a regular basis. This, my friend, is commitment and dedication.

Fast forward to May of 2010, while on a trip to Chicago, he finally put a ring on it. They tied the knot in 2012 at the beautiful Log Cabin in Holyoke. The mountain view is spectacular, words can not describe it, you have to see the pictures for yourself…

The bridesmaids were so fun, we had to do a series of individual portraits and and they look fab together.

I love how they were all serious, serious, serious… BAM, Derek worked it!

Ceremony started. As Allison walked down the aisle and they saw each other for the first time, it was emotional. I love capturing these moments that’ll help them remember the feeling. In this case, a picture is better than a thousand words.

Somebody tell me if she’s… smizing, as Tyra Banks said.

I can’t come up with a caption here without being totally inappropriate, somebody help?!

After so many years, they’re finally husband and wifey!!!

The guys were so dapper and the girls were gorj.

I love this picture by Brad. Nice dip!

Parents dance.

This is absolutely the cutest first dance ever!!!

I’m telling ya, I’m totally obsessed with Allison’s dance moves.

Work it girls!!!

I thought this was out of focus but upon closer inspection, this girl with the crazy flying hair was in focus and I LOVED it.

What was the most memorable moment of your wedding celebration?

There were so many memorable moments from the wedding day, it is hard to choose.  But I would have to say definitely the moment I walked down the aisle and first saw Ryan standing there is my absolute favorite.  I was so worried about all eyes on me walking down, but as soon as I saw Ryan my anxiety disappeared and it was like no one else was there.  

Any advice for future brides/grooms?

Just have fun and try to savor every moment because it does go by fast.  And if you are having fun, your guests are going to have fun.

Funniest memory of the night?

The dancing in general…from the worm to people on their backs during twist and shout, so memorable!

Where are you going for honeymoon?

Ireland in March 2013!  :)

Al and Ry, I had a blast documenting your love, and again, I can not be more grateful that you chose me to be a part of your special day. I hope that one day when you look back at these photos, you’ll be able to relive all the joy and happiness.

xoxo.

We discovered this hidden place inside the church with really pretty light so we had to do some portraits there.

Shining Tides, it overlooks the sea/beach and it was gorgeous.

Jess and Thilo, I had such a great time documenting your day and it was an honor to create these memories for you.

Thanks Angie for taking these awesome detail shots.

First look!!!

Did I mention she looks absolutely stunning?!

Marilyn Monroe style…

The parents’ speeches were really moving. Jenny’s dad actually choked up while giving his speech.

Jenny had two maid of honors. One was a best friend since childhood, and the other was a best friend since college.

Capturing moments that the bride/groom didn’t see on their wedding day is what I love most about photography. When you hug someone, you don’t always see their face; it makes these photographs priceless when a quick moment turns into timeless memory.

I love the creativity here. Instead of a traditional guest book, guests wrote messages on small note cards and tied them on the little tree. One of the notes said “Don’t forget to eat the street food in Thailand”, which is where they spend their honeymoon I’m assuming. There was also Jenny and Ke’s parents’ wedding photos. I just loved it.

These guys were hardcore break dancers.

Last dance!

The guys were smoking cigars outside and I had to grab this shot. I feel like this is the kind of photographs that would be hung on walls in the living room. It was a candid moment but still somewhat arranged. I’m obsessed with this shot.

What was the most memorable moment of your wedding celebration?

Jenny: There were so many moments to choose from…it’s difficult to choose just one. The most emotionally memorable moment was when my father was making his toast. I don’t think he anticipated tearing up, but the raw emotions of his speech touched everyone. I have never seen him that emotional in my entire life, and I know I will always cry every time I re-watch his toast. The best fun moment was when we managed to do that final lift in our dance perfectly. We have been practicing for weeks (since before you photographed some of those failed attempts at our engagement shoot), and at first we both thought it was because Ke wasn’t strong enough that we couldn’t do the lift. After many practices, we realized that it wasn’t so much Ke’s strength but rather the technique that counted. This involves jumping forward and pretending to dive over Ke’s head; then, Ke would lift me up, and I would lean downward until my feet point to the sky, higher than my head. The secret to all of this is trust–trust that he is going to hold me and trust that he would catch me if I fall.

Ke: Our first dance, and the cypher (break dancing in a circle).

Any advice for future brides/grooms?

Jenny: Don’t sweat about the little stuff–like the fact that floral arrangements are not in the exact place or that toasts didn’t end on time–no one will notice.  In the end, all eyes are on the bride and she will always look stunning. Brides and grooms, make sure to enjoy every second of the day, because it goes by so quickly!

Ke:  Grooms: let the bride do whatever she wants, no questions asked.  Bride: don’t be stressed, things will get done.

What was so emotional about the Chinese Tea Ceremony?

Jenny: During those moments, all I couldn’t think, only feel. I felt my parents’ love and their bitter sweet joy at my marriage — on the one hand, happy that I found the man of my dreams, and on the other hand, sad that I’ve grown up and will start my own family.  I felt loved and anxious to tell them that our relationship won’t really change, that I will always remain their daughter and that no matter what happens, I will always take care of them. 

Ke: How much I loved my parents (both sets), and how wonderful they are.

Funniest memory of the night?

Jenny: This is probably when they blasted gangnam on the dance floor and everyone broke out into the dance.

Ke: My best men’s speech, spilling all the stupid stuff I’ve done in college that my parents didn’t know about.

Traditionally, before the groom can see the bride, he has to overcome challenges and go through bridesmaids at the door. Ke’s challenge was to sing. Since he wasn’t a singer, he did an upside down walk, which was still impressive :D

Victory… almost

And the Chinese tea ceremony begins…

It went a bit emotional.

And they handed out invisible lucky money envelopes.

Check out more photos of Jenny & Ke’s western ceremony and reception at Lyman Estate.

Also, thanks to Angie for helping and taking some of these awesome photos.

We started off doing family portraits before guests arrived. It was really nice to have this relaxing moment to themselves.

I’m running out of words to describe how adorable this baby is. Any help?!

The cocktail hour was outdoors and people really enjoyed the beautiful weather.

Candy buffet!!!

These cute little cupcakes were a big hit. People loved them.

Guess who I saw… Christina and Dave!!! Another one of my favorite couples. Also, in this picture on the right below, in case you wonder what was going on, she was doing a victory dance after she pulled out her dress that was stuck in a chair.

Toasts… they were hilarious!

Good Will and Them Apples rocked the dance floor. It was also very nice to work with young wedding vendors around my age like these guys.

I loved seeing that they were having a blast.

Good thing they had a baby sitter so I was able to pull them away for 10 minutes to get these shots before the sky went completely dark.

I love how intimate and rock star mom and dad looked in this picture.

This expression is priceless.

What was the most memorable moment of your wedding celebration?

Lauren: I’m not sure there was one moment – it all went by so fast! The most memorable time for me was probably during cocktail hour, when all of a sudden I was surrounded by my family and friends who had come from all over the country – it was amazing! I was so happy I cried! The other moment was Steve and I dancing to Frank Sinatra – we are horrible dancers but it was so nice having a close moment with him. . .things have been so crazy with the baby that it was nice to be together like that!

Steve: Being surrounded by friends and family while our brothers toasted to our relationship. 

Any advice for future brides/grooms, especially those with a little one?

Lauren: Plan ahead! It is definitely challenging having a new baby and getting those last minute details done, but it is all worth it in the end!

Steve: Although it was stressful leading up to the event, we were happy that we were able to make some time before the reception started to take some photographs as a family. 

Talk to me about how you feel being a new parent.

Lauren: Being a parent is the best! Even when you are exhausted at 3am, seeing that little smile is the best feeling in the world!

Steve: It’s a tremendous responsibility and I am grateful that I have such a wonderful wife to share it with. 

Funniest memory of the night?

Lauren: My niece Paloma twirling around the dance floor!

Steve: Brian’s dance moves.

The day started with Melissa and Jan getting ready in their hotel rooms separately…

I’m so lucky to work with pretty brides like her.

… and handsome grooms like him.

This moment when Jan looks at Melissa as she walks down the isle with her father is so precious. You can FEEL the emotions going on here.

Do you call this luck or experience? She looked up at him for just a split second, and I’m so glad I caught it on camera.

It was quite an emotional wedding, especially for Melissa’s dad.

… and they’re happily married!

One of the reasons why I love this wedding so much was that we were able to take a little bit of time for sunset photos. A lot of the guests were from out of town and Melissa and Jan wanted to spend more time with them, so we took about 10 minutes to nail these shots.

I can’t pick a favorite out of these three, what do you think?

I loved that they put a photo from their Boston ICA engagement session on the place card table, it made it personal.

Father-daughter dance, so sweet!

What was the most memorable moment of your wedding day?

Groom: There were many memorable moments but I got to say that seeing Melissa walk down the aisle was very emotional. Luckily Sam and Bob were great and they captured the moment in one of the photos.

Bride: I’m happy we waited until the ceremony to see each other, that definitely made it very memorable, seeing Jan in his tuxedo for the first time!

Advice for future brides/grooms?

Groom: Just relax, enjoy the moment and take it all in. You only get one shot at this so might as well enjoy it completely. The stress that comes with planning a wedding is unavoidable but just remember that at the end of the day a wedding is just a big party with all the people you love and care for and they’re all there to celebrate love. 

Bride: Try to eat!  Or designate someone to make sure you eat/drink water.  I was starving at the end!

You got choked up a bit when the best man made his toast, what was going through your mind?

Groom: I really couldn’t believe that my cousin/best man knew me so well. He captured in his toast what Melissa and I are all about as a couple and at the same time I was thinking, “Man, this is beautiful but it’s going a little long. If we loose the light for the twilight photos Sam is going to kill me”. Hahahahahaha!!!!!!

Bride: I can’t believe he just insinuated that Jan hits me!!!  But seriously, it was a beautiful toast and so thoughtful.

Funniest memory on your wedding day?

Groom: There were two actually, the first one was during my best man’s toast, he was telling a story of how I hit him pretty hard when we were little and he follow that up with this pearl: “One thing you should know about Jan, he punches the people he loves”. Hahahahaha!!!!! Really???? The second one was during the reception, we were all dancing and the DJ played the FC Barcelona anthem (yes I’m a soccer freak) and I was singing and dancing and my father in law was standing next to me trying his hardest to sing along with me. It was interesting ’cause my father in law is from New Hampshire and the song was in Catalan. LOL!!!!!!

Bride: Jan and I played a practical joke on my mom a couple days before the wedding and convinced her that it was a Puerto Rican wedding tradition to have a clown at the wedding.  We didn’t let the joke go on for long though- she knew there wasn’t going to be a clown.  I told my aunts and cousin about the joke at dinner one night and they decided to play a practical joke on their own.  I totally forgot they were going to do it and was laughing so hard when they started dancing with clown noses!

This is the only behind the scene photo of me ACTUALLY working, taken by Megan (the bridesmaid)’s boyfriend, Matt – thank you!

But most importantly, thank you Melissa and Jan for choosing me to document the most important day of your lives. XOXO.