http://www.robertandkathleen.com/blog/ Robert & Kathleen Photographers Blog en-us http://www.robertandkathleen.com/blog/index.cfm?postID=247 http://www.robertandkathleen.com/blog/index.cfm?postID=247 Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:41:00 GMT
Even though she hadn't lived there in years, for the weekend of the wedding Alison was back in the place she used to call home, her parents house in Naugatuck. The rehearsal dinner turned into a party similar to ones she would have in high school, with everyone gathered around in her parent's backyard laughing, joking and telling stories. That night Alison slept in her old bedroom with the knick knacks of her childhood side by side with her wedding dress. In the morning she would put it on with family and friends, both old and new, helping her in and holding back a few tears as they get ready to watch her marry the man of her dreams. The day would be a collision of old memories leading way to new ones. She would stand in her wedding dress beside the shed in her parents backyard, the one she had painted in college not too long before she had met Tony. She'd walk with her bridesmaids past the garden she had planted while in high school. They would all drive downtown to the green, a place she had been hundreds of times as a kid. These were all places that when she would look at before would make her think of the memories from years ago, but from this day forward the memories of this day will be the ones that flood by first.

Now when she and Tony return to Naugatuck to visit they'll drive past the green and remember standing there together just minutes after their wedding. When they go to that church they'll think about standing by at the altar and reciting vows to one another. Visits to her parents house will make her remember what it felt like to walk out the front door in her wedding dress knowing that in just a few minutes she was about to get married. Years from now, whenever Tony and Allison have a family of their own, anytime they see their own children standing by the shed or walking by the garden she planted they'll remember the day when it all began. And probably, remember exactly how they felt that day.

* * *
Alison and Tony's wedding was a little bit of a homecoming for Rob as well, who also grew up in Naugatuck. It was nice for him to see a familiar face or two that morning as we were with Alison and her girls getting ready. When we arrived Victoria Baron was just finishing up Alison's hair before Candice from Naomi Martinez Salon took over with the make-up. We took a few minutes to explore Alison's parent's beautiful backyard and decided it would be the perfect place to get some shots of her Casablanca Bridal gown. Once Alison's bridesmaids put on their cobalt blue gowns, it was time for Alison to get dressed. She had a help from all her girls who made sure she was zippered and buttoned and even helped her with her shoes. After we spent a few minutes outside with Alison and her girls, they headed back inside to get in the air conditioning (it was pretty hot) before heading over to St. Michael's in Naugatuck for the ceremony.

It was a traditional and emotional ceremony with Tony and Alison grinning widely at one another which made everyone else smile too - these two have dimples that could make even the crankiest person in the world smile. Plus, seeing two people clearly so in love just warms your heart. They walked out of the church with cheers and a cloud of bubbles. We spent a few minutes just steps away the church in the Naugatuck green with Alison, Tony and their bridal party. From there Alison and Tony hopped into their very own limo for the drive over to Cascade in Hamden for the reception. Alison and Tony tied the blue color scheme into the reception decor as well, with blue uplighting and beautiful centerpieces done by David Lawrence of Village Floristin Vermont. The reception kicked off right away with Heart Beat Dance Band keeping the dance floor crowded the whole night. Safe to say, there were a lot of amazing memories being made that night.

Alison and her bridesmaids all had their hair and make-up done right in her parent's house. It's such a great way to have a relaxing morning, without having to worry about traveling to and from the salon. Plus, it gives us the chance to get shots like this.

Both Alison's bouquet and shoes had glittery touches that picked up the details in her Casablanca Bridal gown.

We immediately fell in love with the weathered red shed in Alison's backyard. It was a great coincidence that Alison happened to have painted it years before.

The living room in Alison's parents house had french doors which Rob used to his advantage to capture this gorgeous shot of Alison putting her dress on.

Here's my shot of the girls helping Alison in from just a few minutes later.

Of course we had to get a few shots of Alison in front of that shed. Red weathered barns feel very New Englandy to me. (That's totally a word.)

Alison looked gorgeous even without make-up on and Candice from Naomi Martinez Salon did an amazing job playing up all of her natural beauty.

All the flowers from the day were done by David Lawrence of Village Floristin Vermont, a family member who did an amazing job capturing Alison's vision for the day.

We arrived at St. Michael's in Naugatuck, just in time to capture a few shots of Tony before he headed to the front of the church to wait for Alison.

I always love it when the front doors of the church are decorated, really sets the tone for the ceremony.

When Alison arrived at the church she already had a smile on her face. It was pretty much permanent for the rest of the day.

St. Michael's in Naugatuck is a pretty old church, filled with a lot of great architectural details.

Alison was walked down the aisle by her father.

Nearly every row of the church was filled with guests, friends and family that had traveled from several different states to be there to celebrate with Alison and Tony.

We always love catching these kinds of little smiles between couples while they're exchanging their vows or putting on their rings. Alison and Tony were filled with them.

The colors of the bridesmaids dressed and the bright red doors really pop against the bubbles and the brick of the church, all making their exit from the church that much better.

We usually recommend doing family photos right after the ceremony, when everyone is looking their best and still all in one place (it tends to get harder to gather everyone together once the reception begins). One of the biggest benefits? It leaves the bride and groom super relaxed once we start taking pictures of just the two of them because they know all that's left is pictures of them, their bridal party and then heading to the reception to party!

They were very happy to be able to spend some taking in what had just taken place. They were married now!

The Naugatuck green is the place where pretty much every large town event takes place, which made it a fun backdrop for photos of Alison, Tony and their bridal party.

See what I mean? Don't Alison and Tony just make you smile?

You might recognize this one from our preview post. Rob grabbed this shot right as Alison and Tony arrived at Cascade in Hamden.

The grounds at Cascade are really beautiful, tons of meticulously cared for hedges and flowers.

We gathered the wedding party together for one last shot before heading in for cocktail hour.

Alison and Tony selected a bright and sunny color scheme for their flowers, shades of blues, pinks and yellows all incorporated in their centerpieces.

The blue uplighting really emphasized the rest of the decor in the room and showed off their cake made by Creative Cakes by Donna.

Alison and Tony kicked off the dancing in style with their first dance - check out their impressive dance form.

Tony's best man offered up a speech all about growing up together as kids, then Alison's Maid and Matron of honor took their turn, gushing about how sweet she is.

A surprise treat for the bride and groom, one of Alison's family members sang a song he had written just for them. It was very sweet and super catchy. In fact, we've had in stuck in our heads the whole time we were working on this post!

Parent dances are almost always one of the most emotional parts of the day for me, something about seeing the joy in the parent's eyes gets to me. These two dances were no exception, very sweet moments.

Alison ... Tony, thank you so much for inviting us to capture your day! We had a wonderful time with both of you and your families! Hope you had an amazing time on your honeymoon. We'd love to catch up with you sometime soon!

]]> http://www.robertandkathleen.com/blog/index.cfm?postID=246 http://www.robertandkathleen.com/blog/index.cfm?postID=246 Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:56:00 GMT
As many of you know we were in New York City on Wednesday to photograph Molly ... Tim's engagement session. They are both from the city and we couldn't think of a better place to meet up with them than at Central Park. They came prepared with a couple outfits, Champagne and amazing energy. We can't wait to share their entire engagement story post with all of you but first we thought we would give you a couple of previews while you wait.

We hope you had a really great week and are looking forward to the weekend. What is everyone doing? We love hearing about great plans so be sure to share below in the comment section. If you have a great restaurant recommendation, a good movie you just saw or a weekend getaway location to love to go to, we want to hear about it! Happy Friday!

]]> http://www.robertandkathleen.com/blog/index.cfm?postID=245 http://www.robertandkathleen.com/blog/index.cfm?postID=245 Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:00:00 GMT
When I got to the computer this morning, I realized two things that pretty much blew my mind. The first was that this Sunday is August... ALREADY. I don't know about all of you but this year is flying by faster than any year in our recent memory.

The second thing I realized was it has been a week since we shared anything with all of you on our blog. Seriously, not cool on our part. We do have some really good excuses though! :) We have been all over the place capturing our couples truly amazing weddings and engagement sessions. We thought we would share a little of what to look forward to very soon on our blog. These preview images start off with Alison ... Tony's Wedding who had their wedding in my hometown of Naugatuck followed by their reception at Cascade in Hamden. Next we collaborated with the one and only Candice (and her team) from Jubilee Events for Saryn ... Dave's Wedding overlooking the shore at Guilford Yacht Club. We also got to enjoy an intimate ceremony at Edgerton Park in New Haven for Jennifer ... Joe's Wedding, followed by a Meghan ... Marc's Long Island Sound Wedding at the Wainright House in Rye, NY. Just this Saturday our good friend Meghan joined us to brave the heat of probably one of the hottest days we have photographed on for Sarah ... Ben's relaxed and fun wedding at Tunxis Plantation.

If all of these really wonderful weddings were not enough, Kathleen and I got to travel to Block Island for our first time yesterday to photograph Meghan ... Chris' Engagement Session. We wish we could share more images from all of these events today but we are charging up and getting ready to head into NYC to photograph another engagement session! Check back often, we definetely be sharing these stories and photos before you know it. In the meantime if you aren't already doing so, we would love for you to follow us on twitter. Follow me at @RobertKathleen and Kathleen at @Kaffiene. Happy Wednesday Everyone!

]]> http://www.robertandkathleen.com/blog/index.cfm?postID=244 http://www.robertandkathleen.com/blog/index.cfm?postID=244 Tue, 20 Jul 2010 22:14:00 GMT
Kimber's mother knocked on the door of Valerie's hotel room that morning with a special present in her hand to deliver. It was a framed letter from Kimber to Valerie, a message he wanted her to read the morning of their wedding day. "Read it now," his mother advised, knowing the inevitable tears that would follow. The letter told Valerie just how much she meant to him, not just on that day but all the other days that had proceeded it. From the moment he first saw her on a soccer field many years before to the day he proposed, he has always known in his heart that they were meant to be together. In just a few hours they would exchange the vows that would make them officially husband and wife, but in the meantime he wanted to remind her of that once again before she slipped on that dress and walked down to meet him. Of course, sending a special letter the morning of their wedding day is no surprise to anyone that knows Kimber, and, more specifically, knows how he feels about Valerie. From his elaborate multi-state proposal journey to the way he pulls her in close every time he's next to her, one thing is abundantly clear: he's completely in love with her.

Good thing, too, since Valerie very much feels the same way. She has a bit of a different way of showing it, a bit more shy than her other half, she shows Kimber how she feels about him in the way that she looks at him, the way she stands by him as he follows every dream and the way her eyes fill up with tears when she hears him say outloud all the very same feelings that she holds in her heart. He won her over all those years ago and she couldn't be happier that their paths had crossed all those years ago back at college. Because since that day, her life has been that much better because he has been by her side. And from the moment their wedding ceremony began, there was little Valerie could do to keep the tears at bay because she knew they were about to begin something even deeper than the relationship they had been building for the last several years. Knowing how great it has been up until that point, she could only imagine the wonderful things that were in store for them as husband and wife.

* * *
We started with Valerie at the Ethan Allen Hotel in Danbury where she was getting ready with her girls. Shortly before we arrived she had gotten the very sweet letter from Kimber, so she was just getting over the emotion of it all. Thankfully, she had already had her hair and make-up done by the crew over at Dawn's Pizzazz in Danbury. We took some time to photograph her beautiful accessories from her Paloma Blanca Gown and her Badgley Mischka shoes. Of course she did have a lot more incredible details, from her antique watch (which belonged to her mother) to her handkerchief which came from Europe. It was all filled with sentimental value, which made it all that much more romantic. Once Valerie's bridesmaids started pouring into the room we started to realize just how much attention to detail Valerie had. Her bridesmaids were all decked out in her version - from her J Crew dresses to their Anthropologie belts and their Bloomingdales necklaces it was all a part of Valerie's idea for the overall look of the day. After the flowers arrived from Floral Designs by Nancy, we spent some time with Valerie and her girls before we headed over to The Candlewood Inn in Brookfield where the ceremony and reception would take place.

The ceremony was a beautiful mix with Christian and Jewish elements and many sweet sentiments directly from Valerie ... Kimber themselves and spoken by their justice of the peace. Both Valerie and Kimber took their turns fighting back tear during the emotion filled ceremony and there were many times when guests were reaching for the tissues themselves. Once the glass was broken and the reception began, CT Party Pro's took over and invited everyone to relax, hit the dance floor and celebrate with Valerie ... Kimber. The floor was packed the rest of the night with everyone wanting their chance to crowd around the bride and groom and let them know just how happy they were for them as well.

I was totally in love with Valerie's Badgley Mischka shoes. Shoes with a bow? Love it! A nice compliment to the simple details on her Paloma Blanca Gown.

Valerie had a mix of old and new details - new Ralph Lauren Romance perfume, new earrings from J Crew and a watch, a gift her father had given to her mother for her 25th birthday.

Valerie had also gotten a Paloma's nest ring bowl for their rings.

The lace on Valerie's mantilla veil was the perfect compliment to her gown, picking up the lace detail on that as well.

A few more family heirlooms - all from either Valerie or Kimber's relatives. It's always nice when brides wear jewelry that has been passed down from one generation to another, it makes it all that much more sentimental.

Not only did the flowers of the day smell amazing, they also looked fantastic thanks to Floral Designs by Nancy.

All of the bridesmaids poured into the room right before Valerie put on her gown and stayed to help her with every little detail.

The light streaming into the window at the Ethan Allen Hotel gave us the perfect location to take some portraits of Valerie before heading outside.

It's always important to us to get a full-legnth shot, especially to include the cathedral length veil.

To get the shot on the right, Valerie was a total trouper, climbing onto the mulch in her five-inch heels. Thankfully it was worth it!

Valerie and her parents made the ride over to The Candlewood Inn in style - in an antique Rolls Royce.

When she arrived just minutes before the ceremony, Valerie couldn't keep the smile off her face, or get to the aisle soon enough.

Kimber was trying hard to fight back the tears when he saw Valerie appear at the end of the aisle. His brother, and best man, couldn't help but smile.

Not the first time Valerie had tears in her eyes that day, and definitely not the last. It was an emotion-filled day.

Kimber grinned at Valerie all throughout the ceremony.

Valerie ... Kimber chose to have their ceremony slightly off-center on the grounds of the Candlewood, a bit different than usual. We loved it because it gave us the chance to incorporate both the water and the trees on the grounds.

The ceremony included both Christian and Jewish traditions, not to mention some tears and even a few laughs.

Valerie's father watches on as his daughter gets ready to say her vows.

The exchanging of rings is always very emotional for the bride and groom and their parents looking on as well.

Valerie let out a few more laughs while Kimber stopped the glass at the end of the ceremony.

Right after he stomped on the glass, this was the look on Valerie's face. I think it says it all.

One more big thing before the walk down the aisle hand-in-hand - their first kiss as husband and wife!

The bridal party was tons of fun - a mix of family and friends Valerie ... Kimber had met when they were students together at Elmira College in NY.

We love photographing on the dock at the Candlewood, but it's not for the faint of heart. It's a little rocky, especially when their are boats whizzing by in the distance. Valerie and Kimber held onto one another and braved it for us.

Valerie and Kimber were really excited to have a few minutes to themselves to take in what had just taken place.

Kimber was very attentive, helping Valerie with her dress and veil. He got caught in it all once or twice, making Valerie laugh.

Back on solid ground, Valerie and Kimber got to snuggle into one another a bit before heading inside for the reception.

Some more beautiful flowers by Floral Designs by Nancy, the shades of ivory and pink created a very romantic setting.

Valerie ... Kimber gave their guests a double gift - these boxes filled with treats and a donation in their names to the American Cancer Society.

They were completed connected throughout the first dance, as close as they could get to one another.

When the time came for the hora, you could tell there both very excited and just a bit nervous about being hoisted up on the chairs.

All the guys lifted Kimber straight up in the air...and knocked his head on beam in the middle of the ceiling. Thankfully, he was OK. Safe to say, Valerie was a little stunned too.

Both of their parents made heart-felt speeches for the bride and groom.

Then the Matron of Honor and Best Man - Valerie's sister and Kimber's brother - had their turn giving toasts. Each of them talked about just how proud they are of their siblings.

Right after dinner, the dancing was kicked off when Valerie and Kimber danced with their parents.

At the end of the night, all of the guests gathered outside for a sparkler send off for Valerie and Kimber.

Valerie ... Kimber - we had such a great time with you both! Thank you for inviting us to be a part of your day! We hope you had an amazing time in Hawaii. Hope to catch up with you both sometime soon.

]]> http://www.robertandkathleen.com/blog/index.cfm?postID=243 http://www.robertandkathleen.com/blog/index.cfm?postID=243 Wed, 14 Jul 2010 15:30:00 GMT
Lee and Patrick knew they wanted to get married. They had even talked about getting engaged but ultimately decided it would be best to wait until Patrick finished Air Force boot camp down in Texas. Or at least that's what Lee thought they had decided. Patrick had something else in mind. He wanted to surprise Lee, and if you know Patrick, you know he doesn't do anything halfway. He wanted to ask Lee to marry him when she didn't see it coming in a memorable proposal totally worthy of the woman he loved.

So in the midst of all the training and excessive exercise in the first few weeks of boot camp, Patrick somehow found the time to develop a plan. With the help of a friend back home he picked out the perfect ring for Lee and even had it shipped down to him. He knew exactly when he was going to ask her too - the minute he got home for his first break during training. Not quite when it was complete when Lee thought it would be, but, really, what would have been the fun in that? Lee would be picking him up from the airport with his friends (including his helpful accomplice) and family, and never see it coming.

So when that break came around, Patrick boarded the plane with a ring in his pocket, two dozen roses in his arms and a plan to put into action. He promptly informed the flight attendant of his intentions and she was more than happy to help. Good thing too, because Patrick was going to enlist some of his fellow travelers to help him out with his proposal. He passed out a single rose to twenty-four people on board and asked them to each give them to Lee as they entered the baggage claim area, where she would be waiting for him. To ensure that all of the passengers would know exactly who to give the rose to, Patrick had his friend send him a picture on his phone of Lee earlier that day so they would know what she was wearing. Always prepared, Patrick even had his friend stand right next to Lee at the airport, wearing the brightest color shirt he owned so he could act as a landmark to ensure they would not be missed by any one bearing a rose for Lee.

When the first person off the plane came down to baggage claim and handed Lee a rose, she was a bit confused but thought it was just the kind gesture of a stranger. By rose number 5 she was suspicious. After the first dozen, she knew exactly what Patrick was up to. By the time all twenty-four roses were stacked up in her hands, she couldn't help but laugh. And when she saw Patrick walking toward her she was feeling too many emotions to describe. He was smiling back at her - so proud of himself that it all worked out, but even more excited to be asking her to be his wife. He got down on one knee right there in the middle of the baggage claim and said the words that had been rolling around in his head the entire flight. Of course Lee said yes, much to the joy of not only Patrick but all of the fellow travelers around them, cheering them on all the while.

* * *
We were finally able to meet Lee ... Patrick for their engagement session last month after many attempts to do so earlier - somehow on every day we had picked it had rained. Sometimes huge downpours. Now we're all up for doing a session in the rain, finding a cool indoor location and even shooting outside in the rain if possible, but Lee and Patrick wanted a session on the beach and in all reality - rain and the beach really don't mix. And that's a bonus of an engagement session, you have more control of what the weather conditions will be because if schedules allow, you can select another (non-downpouring) day for the session - not exactly something you can do on your wedding day.

We met at Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven, a beach location that offers quite a bit of variety - the lighthouse, rocky shoreline and, this time of year, lots of greenery and even some flowers. It was a laid back afternoon and we really enjoyed getting to know Patrick and Lee even better. They told us all about their wedding plans and their awesome proposal story which still makes Lee laugh. Not so unusual for her though, Patrick seems to make her laugh quite a bit especially during their session.

When we drove in we spotted this green field area on one side of the parking lot. We thought it would be the perfect place to start the session.

If you've been reading our blog for a long time, you know that we definitely have a thing for long grass. Patrick and Lee were more than happy to sit down and be surrounded by it.

Lee has awesome dimples - they come out pretty much every time Patrick gives her a kiss.

Just a few steps from that first field was this one with some wildflowers in bloom. Gotta love shooting in the spring!

We took a walk all the way to the other side of the park where our favorite beach area is - tons of dramatic rocks and even some more green grass.

Patrick and Lee were really having a good time together, talking and laughing almost the whole session.

It was definitely an odd weather day - super windy with dark storm clouds part of the time and then bright sunshine. All that changes in light was keeping us on our toes, but we love a challenge!

It was pretty obvious by even the beginning of the session that Patrick loves to make Lee laugh. Not just a little chuckle either, he loves to make her burst out laughing.

This is one of Rob's favorite shots from the day - the wind blowing her hair, the clouds behind them - just really beautiful.

This shot kinda feels like a movie poster to me. Not sure why.

After a quick outfit change, we decided we had to incorporate the new color of the sky. In just minutes it had gone from dark and cloudy to bright and sunny. In this shot, they're actually just standing in the parking lot, believe or not.

It's like sweetness overload when they're this close to one another! You can't help but smile.

At this point, I'm pretty sure Patrick said something that Lee thought was fresh. But she loved it!

Whenever we have a couple go over to sit on a bench, it's moments like these that we love to capture. Usually they hold hands until the very last minute and then break away like this. It seems really emotional on it's own somehow.

Rob was hiding in some beach grass at this point - paparazzi style.

This is my favorite shot of the day. I love the way Lee is holding onto Patrick's arms and he's all tangled around her. We were using the intense wind to our advantage (people pay big money for wind machines, you know?), and the windswept hair seems romantic to me.

One of our favorite things about Connecticut beaches is all the rocks, especially when the water comes up and breaks onto them.

Since it was starting to get increasingly super bright out, we snuck into the carousel house to get some shade. Once inside, we realized just how hot it had been outside, not something we noticed before then since it had been so windy.

All the windows in the carousel building create a very cool backdrop.

Seriously, how cute are these two?

There's those dimples again! See, every time Patrick is close they come out!

Special request for a piggy back ride, we were more than happy to oblige!

Lee ... Patrick, thanks for a fabulous day at the beach! We had a great time and can't wait to see you both again in September.

]]> http://www.robertandkathleen.com/blog/index.cfm?postID=242 http://www.robertandkathleen.com/blog/index.cfm?postID=242 Fri, 09 Jul 2010 00:23:00 GMT
In our line of work, it's not unusual to be completely surrounded by raw emotion at any given point during a wedding day. When the bridesmaids see the bride in her dress for the first time, the deep breathe the bride takes before she takes that first step down the aisle, the way the groom's voice cracks just a bit as he reads his vows. For us, it's one of the most amazing perks of our job, way better than any corner office ever could be. Of course, one of the occupational hazards is that every so often the emotion gets to us too. You can usually see it coming - when you have a couple whose connection is so evident that you feel it even before you see them together. You feel it in the energy in the room while they're each getting ready, in the excitement of the guests as they sit down for the ceremony. And as much as you prepare yourself, sometimes it just catches you off guard. There a little moments in every wedding that get to either one of us, but it's not often that the very same moment touches us both Rob and I at the very same time. Julia and Avi's wedding was the exception.

As a part of Jewish tradition, Julia and Avi spent the morning separated, each having an individual reception with the guests before the ceremony. These receptions, called the Tisch (for the groom) and the Bedeken (for the bride) are like mini cocktail hours, with the men gathering around Avi in the bar of the Wadsworth Mansion and the women surrounding Julia out in the rose garden. In the bar, Avi sat in a corner table with his father on one side and Julia's father on the other. All the men gather around him in a semi-circle as he regaled them with funny stories and anecdotes, occasionally interrupted when one of his brothers burst into song. Out in the rose garden was like a vision straight out of a perfume ad, with glamorous ladies walking around as the young girls twirled their dresses in the grass. In the center of the patio sat Julia with her mother on one side and Avi's grandmother on the other. She gushed (and blushed) as everyone came over to tell her just how gorgeous she looked. It was the most common statement of the morning, followed by just how much Avi was going to lose his mind when he saw her for the first time when the men led him out to the patio - marking the official end of the Tisch and the Bedeken.

Knowing the time was drawing near, a handful of friends and family held up branches of an archway that would lead Avi to his bride. In the bar, the men linked arms, formed a haphazard line and began to dance their way out to the garden, singing all the while. You couldn't miss the sound of the men as they approached and Julia reached out and held the hands of her mother and Avi's grandmother. The men led Avi through the center of the archway and suddenly the singing started to die down a bit. There was a definite shift in the energy of the room. Avi stared at Julia, at a complete loss for words. Sweat dripped down his face but he didn't wipe it away, and when drops got into his eyes he blinked them away as quickly as he could never wanting to take his eyes of our her for even a second. His eyes were glued on her, and all the rest of the eyes in the room were set on the two of them. It was as if everything stopped for those few minutes, everyone taking in what they were experiencing in that moment - actually seeing an expression of love in it's purest form.

Julia stood up and Avi placed her veil over her face, but not before he gave her a soft kiss on the cheek. Then all four of their parents stepped in to give the couple their blessing. The two sets of parents each made a small circle around their own child, holding them and whispering to them softly. Then they switched - Julia's parents giving their blessing to Avi and vice versa. It was a beautiful moment - seeing the love the parents had for not only their own child but the new child they would be welcoming into their family that day. I doubt there was a dry eye in the crowd. It was nearly time for the ceremony to begin, but there was one last tradition to perform, the Tena'im. The two mothers stepped forward, put one hand on the same plate (a piece that had belonged to Avi's grandmother) and smashed it to the ground. This symbolized the end of the life the children had lived up until that day, because as of that moment Julia and Avi were starting a new life - together. The crowd cheered, Julia and Avi held one another's hands tightly and I was thankful to have the camera in front of my face so no one could see just how choked up I was. Of course, there was one person who saw right through that; Rob, who came over and held my hand and squeezed it for a minute while we waited for the ceremony to begin. He didn't have to say it, but with that small action I knew Rob was just as moved as I was and without saying a word I knew we were both thinking the same thing: how amazing is it that this is our job and moments like this are all part of a day in the "office"?

* * *
We started the morning with Julia and her girls at a great little inn in New Haven that we were surprised we'd never been to before. Well, that's because it just opened a few weeks ago. It's the Austin Street Inn, a restored Victorian that is now a bed and breakfast, furnished with antiques and the perfect place to stay if you're in New Haven - especially if you happen to be getting married there. When we arrived we were greeted by New Haven local and our friend, the incredibly talented D.D. Nickel, who was somehow making Julia even more gorgeous than she already is. While she was getting her make-up done, we borrowed Julia's stunning Watters gown getting some shots of it while taking advantage of the fantastic front porch at the Inn. We also got to spend some quality time with her other accessories - namely her Kate Spade purple patent leather heels, which were the perfect match with her bridesmaid's dresses. Once all her girls were dressed, they had a little fun with us with a psuedo-Mad Men shot in the sitting room of the Inn before we all heading over to the Wadsworth Mansion so all the festivities could begin.

Avi was at the Mansion when we arrived, spending time with our associate Susan who was snapping away. Somehow Avi was also managing to oversee the set up while Margery Gussak Catering was putting everything into place. He had some help from Jen at Fleur De Lys Floral who was acting as a day-of coordinator as well. (We had seen Jen's work before at several wedding, but were delighted to finally meet her in person!) Time seemed to fly by at this point - Julia put on her gown, we spent some time with just her and her girls at the front of the mansion before they headed in for the Bedeken. We loved getting to see the juxtaposition between the Bedeken and the Tisch, and get to see the ritual in person since it was new to us.

After the ceremony, Julia and Avi were introduced into the reception and promptly entered two separate circles. The women danced with Julia, the men with Avi and the couple didn't met until they were both raised up in the chairs. It was easily the longest hora (and most energetic) we have ever seen - with the guys in Soulfarm keeping the crowd going the whole time. At one point, Julia and Avi were seated and several friends and family came over and danced for them - some even bringing props to entertain them. This definitely set the tone for the rest of the reception, which was quite lively - tons of dancing, two very touching (and funny) toasts and Julia and Avi even entertaining the crowd with their own signature dance moves. Definitely an evening everyone will be talking about for years to come.

The front porch at the Austin Street Inn was painstakingly restored; the level of care put into it definitely shows. It seemed like the perfect place for us to photograph Julia's Watters gown, especially the white painted wood really sets off the lace in her gown.

Only someone in as amazing shape as Julia could pull off these five-inch Kate Spade heels at a ceremony in the grass. Total balance control necessary.

We were excited when we knew D.D. Nickel was going to be doing Julia's make-up for two reasons: 1) she does amazing work and 2) we love getting to chat with her.

The bridesmaids totally got our "Mad Men" idea for this shot - didn't hurt that a couple of them were fans of the show as well. (Season four starts this month!)

The scene for the rest of the events of the day: the beautiful grounds of the Wadsworth Mansion.

All the flowers for the day were done by Jen at Fleur De Lys Floral in New Haven.

Julia's sister helped her into her gown up on the second level of the Mansion...

...and then helped her with her shoes as well. Check out how closely the colors match!

The last finishing touches: the jewelry.

Finally ready for the day to officially begin.

While we were shooting these bridals, all of Julia's bridesmaids were cheering her on and her hair stylist Frank DeMarco was on hand to fix any hair that went astray. We told him he could come along to every session we shoot!

Julia kept her look simple, a simple bun and pearls which really emphasized all of her natural beauty.

The Tisch was the men's reception before the ceremony. Avi sat in the corner with his father and Julia's father and the rest of the men surrounded them - laughing, singing and telling stories.

Outside in the rose garden was the Bedeken - Julia's reception with the women. She sat with her mother and Avi's grandmother, her bridesmaids behind her and the rest of the women surrounding her.

When the Tisch was over, the men all linked arms and danced Avi through the Mansion and out to the rose garden to see Julia for the first time that day.

The look on Avi's face when he saw Julia for the first time pretty much summed up everything he was feeling.

Pretty safe to say Julia was pretty excited to see Avi when he danced in as well.

Both of them were wiping away tears while the rabbi began the part of the ceremony where Avi would place the veil over Julia's face.

Avi had that look on his face every time he looked at Julia for the rest of the day.

Once the veiling was complete, each parent came in and had a quiet word with their own child and then with the child they would be welcoming into their family.

The rabbi passed the plate to the two mothers for them to break at the end of the ceremony.

The chuppah was decorated in the colors of the day - ivory and purple.

Members of the band Soulfarm played throughout the ceremony.

Julia waited with both of her parents before she walked down the aisle.

This was my shot from behind as Julia walked to meet Avi - I loved the way the wind caught Julia's veil.

Rob was in the front of the aisle, capturing Julia being escorted by her parents and Avi's reaction - just a few moments after seeing Julia for the first time, he was just as happy when he saw her walking down the aisle to him.

Once she reached him, Julia walked around Avi three times while her mother and Avi's mother held her veil.

Julia and Avi signed their Ketubah during the ceremony - at this point the Rabbi was reading it over to them, a part of the tradition.

The Rabbi joked as he signed the Connecticut Marriage license that he was being sure to do everything the proper legal way, especially since their happened to be a lawmaker in the crowd, Senator Leiberman and his wife.

Their stomping of the glass and the first kiss as husband and wife!

We were able to sneak Julia and Avi away to the front of the Mansion for a few pictures, just in time to catch this gorgeous sunlight.

When their first met, Julia and Avi went on a three-month bike ride across the country. His mother brought the tandem bike to their wedding to honor that first big trip together.

The rooms in the Wadsworth Mansion are all pretty much as beautiful as this one.

The picture on their menu cards (of the couple on the bicycle) was designed by one of Avi's sisters and was carried through in several details of the day.

They were introduced into the reception which marked the start of the hora...

...with Julia in one circle surrounded by the ladies, and Avi in another with the men before they were both lifted on chairs...

...and finally met again in the middle.

Once the chairs were put down on the ground, friends and family came over and danced for the bride and groom. Avi also took a turn - dancing for his wife.

Julia's mother was loving all the excitement of the reception.

After dinner, Julia's sister gave a toast explaining how a Shakespearean sonnet best summed up the love between Julia and Avi.

Avi's best man gave a toast very fitting of a big brother, saying how proud he was but not missing the chance to tell an embarrassing (and amusing) story or two.

As you can see by Julia's reaction, they were definitely some great stories.

Julia and Avi definitely kept their guests entertained with their first dance.

And Julia's father didn't disappoint with his moves as well when he took his turn to dance with her.

Julia ... Avi - clearly, we had an amazing time capturing your day. We hope that you have a fabulous time on your honeymoon, it sounds like the trip of a lifetime!

]]> http://www.robertandkathleen.com/blog/index.cfm?postID=241 http://www.robertandkathleen.com/blog/index.cfm?postID=241 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 23:02:00 GMT
Jeff was in Connecticut for one reason: to get his PhD. Once that was complete, he had no intention of staying in the state. He had nothing against Connecticut per se, just no reason to stay here. Until he found one. Or, more accurately, until he met Jen. It was a typical first date setting - dinner and a walk around New Haven. But what he felt from that very first meeting was far from typical. It was something he had never felt before and he knew that he had hit the jackpot - finding a gorgeous girl who was smart and sweet. Even more than that, in Jen he found someone who not only got his whacky sense of humor, but completely loved it. Pretty soon making her laugh became an even more important reason to be in Connecticut than simply getting his degree. And suddenly Jeff saw that building a life in the state seemed not only appealing, but completely necessary. Because the alternative - a life without Jen - was definitely not an option.

In fairness, Jen couldn't believe her luck either. She knew it was a rare thing to find someone like Jeff - a guy who was genuine in every sense of the word. He had no hesitation in showing her just how much he cared and made her smile more than she ever had in her life. Which is really saying something, because Jen has always smiled quite a bit. But never as much as since that first date and every night that followed. Especially one night in particular, when she returned home to her apartment. There was Jeff - a complete surprise since she had thought he was supposed to be home in his own apartment over an hour away. He had driven down to make her dinner and ask her a very important question. He asked if she would become part of his family and invite him to be a part of hers. If she would one day create a family of their own with him. If she would become his wife and they would build a life together. In Connecticut.

* * *
We met Jennifer and Jeff for the first time just a few weeks before their engagement session. They had booked us for their wedding before meeting us in person - spring was particularly busy for them, between travel, work and - you know, planning a wedding. We felt like we knew them before we had even met them and couldn't wait to finally hear about their plans in person. They told us about that first date in New Haven and decided that would be the perfect place for their engagement session. They were hoping that we may be able to spend some time inside the Yale Library, since they both love libraries. Of course we were delighted with this idea, since we, too, love libraries. Of course getting to shoot inside the library of Yale is not exactly an easy task, but Jeff worked a bit of his magic and got us into not only the main library but also the very cool rare book library as well.

We enjoyed our very our tour of the campus with some fun tidbits from Jen and Jeff about the special places where they would sit together and talk during those first weeks and months of dating. It was the perfect way to spend a June afternoon - getting to know the two of them even better and having tons of laughs along the way. Plus, it got us even more excited for their wedding in September. No doubt it will be a fun day - with sweet moments surrounded by the people that are most important to Jen and Jeff: their families.

It was very fitting that this archway was where we started the session - this happened to be the very spot were Jen and Jeff sat and talked on their first date.

You'll see a lot of Jen and Jeff laughing, making one another laugh out loud is one of the things they do best.

One of the things we really enjoy about shooting at Yale are the hallways with the dramatic arches and windows.

Jeff spent quite a bit of time in this lounge when he was a student at Yale. He felt right at home, which was great since we may have moved around a bit of furniture here and there. (We put it back, of course!)

This is the inside of the Rare Book Library. We had shot outside of it many times, but never had the chance to check out the inside before this session.

This middle section of the building is where all the rare books are held - completely temperature and light controlled. Also, it makes an awesome background for photos - probably not what they intended, but a total bonus.

First stop in the main library: card catalog. Not sure why, but I have a total soft spot for them. Maybe it's because my brothers made me watch Ghostbusters a lot as a kid.

Whatever Jeff whispered at this point made Jen laugh harder than at any other time in the session - a challenge since she had to stifle the laugh since we were in the library.

All the nooks in the main library have a very old school feel to them, something about those leather chairs. It seemed totally fitting for Jen and Jeff, they looked right at home among it all.

Clearly, we had to have some fun with the actual books.

This was a higher traffic area of the library, but Jen and Jeff were so into one another they didn't even seem notice anyone else.

A few more laughs in some of the stacks down on the bottom floor of the library. Seriously, Yale has so many books! Who knew?!

This is Rob's shot down from one end of the stacks, capturing a little Jen and Jeff snuggle time. (Get used to it, I'm totally loving the word snuggle.)

This is my shot at the same moment. One of the advantages of getting out of the way of Rob's shots - finding some great angles.

What's that?! Another cool hallway? Yale is filled with these things!

Jen ... Jeff thank you for spending your Flag Day with us! We couldn't have asked for a better time (or tour) in New Haven. We're very much looking forward to seeing you both again in less than two months!

]]> http://www.robertandkathleen.com/blog/index.cfm?postID=240 http://www.robertandkathleen.com/blog/index.cfm?postID=240 Tue, 06 Jul 2010 19:31:00 GMT
Brett had made the twelve-hour journey from Connecticut to Cincinnati so many times before he knew it by heart. He knew exactly what time to leave, where traffic would be heaviest and what to expect around any given turn. What he didn't know was that at the end of one such journey, just days before he would start his junior year of college he would pull into the driveway and meet someone that would change his life. Sitting on the front porch of his off-campus house was a girl he had never seen before whose smile caught his eye right away. Her name was Jenny. Luckily enough, she was intrigued by him right away as well, starting a conversation with him before he even made it inside the house.

That night they discovered that they were both juniors at Xavier and that for the past two years they had shared some of the same friends, walked around on the same campus, even lived in the same dorm freshman year but had not seemed to have crossed paths. That is, until that very moment when Jenny just happened to be sitting on Brett's front porch, the exact blast of energy he needed after his half-day long road trip. Anyone that knows Jenny knows that's exactly what she is - a source of endless energy. She's the type of person that loves life and is full of so much joy that she just makes you feel good being around her. She definitely did that for Brett, even in that very first meeting. She made him smile, he made her laugh and they both knew they had found something special in the other. They had their first date just a few days later and pretty soon they were inseparable. They finished out their last two years of college together side by side and after graduation, they headed out together on that very same journey that had led Brett to Jenny in the first place - this time traveling it in reverse heading from Cincinnati to Connecticut.

In the years that followed they were still quite a bit of traveling - Jenny living in Boston while Brett was in Connecticut, each making regular trips to see the other. This time the trips were shorter and worth it when they knew that at the end of each one would be what they wanted most - time together. During that time, they each pursued their careers - Jenny going into marketing while Brett became an attorney. Thankfully, they were soon together in the same state again and able to spend the weekends the way the preferred, with trips to some of their favorite places - New York City, Vermont and, of course, Newport - their favorite spot of all.

During one of these weekend trips, a winter getaway to Montauk, Brett caught Jenny by surprise. After a day of bundled up ferry rides around the Long Island Sound, wine tasting and exploring, he suggested they head out to one of the bluffs overlooking the Atlantic to sit under the stars and enjoy a glass of wine. Despite the very cold temperatures, Jenny agreed. With their warmest ski clothes on and a blanket in hand, they headed out to the bluff. They sat for a bit, enjoying the time alone together and just before Jenny was ready to run inside for some warmth - Brett unzipped his jacket to reveal that he had changed into a suit and tie. There, in the freezing cold, he got down on one knee and asked Jenny to marry him.

This August, after many years together and even more miles traveled, Jenny and Brett will start a new journey together. One that starts with becoming husband and wife and will no doubt take them even more amazing places they could never see coming.

* * *
When planning for their engagement session, Jenny and Brett knew right away where they wanted it to be. It had to be Newport, their favorite New England destination that also happens to be where they'll be getting married in August. It would give us all the chance to explore Newport together, with Jenny and Brett pointing out the spots that are particularly near and dear to their hearts, while we each got to have a fun afternoon together. As soon as Jenny and Brett pulled up, we remembered how much we liked talking with them back in their first meeting many months before. We spent the beginning of the session walking around the super cute streets of downtown Newport - the perfect compliment to Jenny's Vineyard Vinesdress - before heading down for a more casual feel on the sands of Second Beach. We spent any time not shooting talking about traveling (they're going on an amazing honeymoon to Croatia, how cool does that sound?), TV shows (Mad Men is coming back soon!) movies (they love Pixar too!) and pretty much anything else. It was the perfect laid back afternoon - very fitting for this sweet, relaxed couple.

When we arrived, the area down by the docks was unusually empty for a Saturday morning so we thought it would be the perfect place to start the session. We know that having your picture taken isn't something you do everyday and try to ease into it slowly - seeking out a more private area to start it off.

When Jenny smiles like that, you can tell what probably drew Brett to her in the first place.

And Jenny was afraid she'd be too nervous! She was totally bringing out her inner model.

We have no idea what they were saying to one another most of the day, but Jenny and Brett were almost constantly smiling and laughing.

One of our favorite things about Newport are the stone sidewalks and the white picket fences - nothing says classic New England shore town like those two things do.

We had spotted this cute antique store on one of our last trips to Newport it had tons of cars in front of it. We totally lucked out with a completely clear sidewalk this time around.

Especially since it gave Brett the chance to work his own model stance. By the end of the day, he was totally relaxed in front of the camera - even suggesting areas for pictures, which we totally loved.

We love walking around a place and finding unexpected places to sneak into and shoot. This white painted wall was part of some kind of factory-looking building, but we loved the textures around it.

Big thanks to whoever's front step this is! :) Gave Jenny ... Brett a place for just a little bit more snuggle time. (Yes, I'm an adult and I say snuggle time. It's like hammer time but so much better! :) )

Jenny and Brett told us that it had rained on nearly every trip to Newport (they call it their own mini-Ireland), so they were psyched to finally have a rain-free day at the beach.

The picture on the left really sums up Jenny ... Brett's interaction - they have these sweet little moments mixed with laugh out loud jokes between the two of them. Makes for a very special dynamic.

They told us that one of their favorite things to do at home is to dance in the kitchen while they're waiting for something to cook. Of course they showed us a few of their favorite moves.

We finished off the day with a trip over to the Newport Bridge - definitely had to take advantage of the rain-and-fog-free afternoon where you could actually see the bridge. This was when Brett was really loving the session - even suggesting the shot on the right.

Jenny ... Brett - thank you for a fabulous afternoon showing us around Newport. We are so glad that you had as much fun as we did! Can't wait to see you again in August. (We hope you loved Toy Story 3 as much as we did!)

]]> http://www.robertandkathleen.com/blog/index.cfm?postID=239 http://www.robertandkathleen.com/blog/index.cfm?postID=239 Tue, 06 Jul 2010 14:45:00 GMT
As I am writing this blog post, we are so insanely happy to be inside the coolness of our central air. Seriously I can't believe that the car said it is 105 degrees out today. It is really insane. We hope that you are all staying cool, be sure to check in on your elderly relatives and friends today to make sure they are doing well.

I wanted to write a quick post to let you all know that we didn't forget about any of you. It has been a whirlwind week of amazing weddings, engagements and of course the long holiday weekend. We are currently working on a great Newport engagement session that we will be sharing with you later today followed by all kinds of photo goodness from the amazing weddings that we have photographed recently.

On this past Sunday (July 4th) we were at the Guilford Yacht Club for Saryn ... Dave's Wedding. We just had to share this image below. There was an absolutely magnificent sunset that turned the sky all kinds of great colors. Many MANY more to come!! Again we hope that you are all staying cool.

]]> http://www.robertandkathleen.com/blog/index.cfm?postID=238 http://www.robertandkathleen.com/blog/index.cfm?postID=238 Mon, 28 Jun 2010 22:08:00 GMT
Everyone knows that in order for a tree to grow it needs one main thing: solid roots. I'm pretty sure that the same good be said for people most of the time too. In some ways, family roots can be deeper than even the oldest, biggest trees. Because families go back generation upon generation, spreading out even further than the largest forest. And it's those family members that make opportunities possible, create traditions and, quite literally, bring you into this world. More so, your immediate family members are the people that help shape you into who you become and stand by you as you find your way in the world. They are the roots that help you grow and remind of where (and who) you came from.

Nancy and John could never forget where they come from, it's part of who they are, integrated into everything they do. For Nancy, it's even a part of what she does. She's a dancer - something that was past down to her from her mother, who inherited it from her own mother as well, three generations of dancers. For both John and Nancy, family is the most important thing in their lives and the mutual understanding of that importance is one of the things that drew them to one another in the first place. Nancy says that one of the things she first loved about John was how much he cared about (and cared for) his parents. John was drawn to Nancy's passion and creativity, something she learned from her own parents.

That's not the only thing Nancy learned from her parents. She and John both learned from the solid examples of marriage they both saw on a daily basis growing up. Between both sets of parents, there is nearly 100 years of marriage. And it's clear that they are all still quite obviously in love. When being introduced at the reception, John's father took his wife's hand and gently kissed it as they walked into the room to joyous applause. Nancy's parents were tearing up the dance floor, swing dancing faster and with more energy than people half their age, smiling at one another all the while. Seeing the love between the two sets of parents makes it even more clear why Nancy and John's relationship is so strong, they were surrounded by love and examples of love all their lives.

Their love of family goes deeper as well, remembering not only the relatives they have around them currently, but the ones that came before, the ancestors that paved the way and set down those roots generations before. When beginning the planning process for their wedding, Nancy decided the best way to honor all of those relatives was to incorporate them into day itself having a "family tree" inspiration to their day. She carried that idea into nearly every aspect, as you'll see in the (many) photos below. My personal favorite had to be the favors Nancy and John gave to all of their guests, saplings - so they could go home and plant a tree of their own.

If any of those trees grow to be as strong as Nancy and John's love for one another, there will be many trees that share the very thing that makes Nancy and John's relationship so strong: solid roots.

* * *
We started the day at Nancy's house, excited knowing their would be a lot of great details and accessories to photograph. She had told us after their engagement session, that she was so happy that we had gotten so many shots of them by her favorite tree in Harkness, because it tied in to the theme of their wedding (she had even incorporated the tree into the invitations, which she had made herself). From that session, we had learned that Nancy wears red shoes for every special (photographed) occasion because that was what her mother would dress her in as a little girl, even on the day of her very first dance recital - a big event in her family. She showed us the red shoes first, and then all of accessories she had for the day. In lieu of a bouquet, Nancy carried the prayer book that all of the women in her family have carried (and signed) on their wedding day. On top of the book, she had a small bunch of flowers with locket-sized pictures of all four of her grandparents. She had a Paloma's Nest ring bowl engraved with "Happily Ever After" in Italian, a nod to John's heritage. We literally could have spent all day photographing all of the great details, but there was a wedding to get to. Nancy put on her beautiful Watters ... Watterswedding gown, we took a couple of pictures and then hopped into a Mini Cooper (another little theme of the day - Nancy loves Minis) and headed over to Rocky Neck State Park for the first look.

Much like Nancy and John, the first look was sweet and emotional - just a few moments for the two of them before meeting up with the bridal party and doing some shots around the park. We spent a while enjoying the sunshine and then the entire bridal party hopped into a series of Mini Coopers to head over to Saint Francis Summer Chapel in Niantic for the ceremony. Several of Nancy's dance students were in the back of the church, very excited to see their teacher get married. After the ceremony, we grabbed a group shot of all of them with the happy bride and groom.

From there we headed over to the Saltwater Farm Vineyard in Stonington for the reception. It was our first time there and we loved it - the grounds, the old-aiport-hanger-ness, it was gorgeous, especially on the sunny warm day that Nancy and John had. The tables were decked out with beautiful centerpieces done by Thames River Greenery in New London, and all of Nancy's special touches added to the atmosphere. The catering staff from a A Thyme to Cook outdid themselves with some seriously delicious food - the crab dip at cocktail was incredible, as was dinner. Thanks to DJ JD from Dawson Entertainment the dance floor was packed most of the night, no surprise considering there were many dancers in the crowd.

We ended the night with a sparkler send off, with Nancy and John walking through a row of their friends and family cheering them on as loud as they could. They headed out to their red Mini Cooper to the start of their life together as husband and wife.

We had a feeling Nancy would be wearing red shoes on her wedding day, a nod to her mother (a framed shot from her own wedding day on the right) who used to put them on her when she was a little girl. These Nine West ruffled heels were perfect.

We were having sensory overload with all of the great details - the Paloma's Nest ring bowl , the invites, the tree necklaces Nancy gave to each of her bridesmaids and the flowers that adorned Nancy's prayer book complete with small pictures of her grandparents.

Even Nancy's Watters ... Watters gown tied into the theme of the day, with the flowering leafy petals cascading down one side.

In place of a traditional bouquet, Nancy carried a prayer book - a tradition that each of the women in her family had done on the wedding day for generations. Before their wedding day, both Nancy and John signed the inside pages, just like the men and women before them had done years before.

Nancy's dad arrived and promptly told his daughter how beautiful she was before a quick kiss on the cheek.

Another tradition in Nancy's family - all of the women have had their picture taken on this couch on the wedding day, with a family mirror behind them. This was one of the last family mirrors they have left.

Nancy helped her day with his boutonniere as he gave her a sweet little smile.

Nancy jumped into a Mini Cooper to head over to Rocky Neck State Park to meet up with John for their "first look."

When looking for the location for their first look, we figured it had to be under the branches of a tree. Thankfully, Rocky Neck provided many great trees to work with and tons of little nooks for Nancy and John.

The best way to describe the dynamic between Nancy and John is that they have a sweet contentment about them - they just seem genuinely happy to be around one another, like within one another they have found some calming energy.

We headed to the beach for a few more shots of Nancy and John, enjoying the beautiful weather.

We saw this field on the way into the park - right at the entrance gate and we knew we had to use it for some shots to play up Nancy's veil.

After finishing up with Nancy and John, we headed over to Saint Francis Summer Chapel in Niantic for the ceremony.

John escorted both of his parents down the aisle at the start of the ceremony before the groomsmen pulled out the runner for Nancy and her bridesmaids.

Nancy and John had two ring barers, her two nephews, who were adorable.

Nancy shared one last moment with her Dad before heading down the aisle to meet John.

The first kiss as husband and wife!

Many of Nancy's dance students were in attendance at the ceremony, excited to watch her get married. We took a group shot of all of them all together.

We thought it would be important to get a shot of both Nancy and John's parents, since they are so special to them.

Nancy hopped back into the Mini (this time with John at the wheel) to head over to Saltwater Farm Vineyard for the reception.

Nancy loves Mini Coopers and had them to transport all of their wedding party. We have to say, they did look pretty cool all traveling together up the highway and then parked in the vineyard parking lot.

We really enjoyed being at Saltwater Farms - it's a beautiful place and we were even able to enjoy our own delicious dinner just steps away from the vines. Not too bad for a day's work, huh?

Before introductions, we spent a few minutes with Nancy and John in the vines.

A fun shot of the wedding party before heading into the reception.

One word about the food from A Thyme to Cook: Yummy!!

The reception room at the vineyard is beautiful on it's own, but the dramatic centerpieces done by Thames River Greenery in New London really added to the feel.

It probably goes without saying, but Nancy and John had a perfectly graceful first dance. Would you expect any less from a dance teacher?

Nothing but smiles while John danced with his mother.

Nancy danced with her dad to "On Daddy's Shoes" sung by one of her friends. Her father was so excited about the dance, he was humming it at the church while waiting for Nancy to arrive.

When we saw this tree lit up outside the vineyard after the sun went down, we knew this shot would be right up Nancy and John's alley.

Of course there had to be a joyous exit - surrounded by family and friends - sparkler was the perfect way to end the night.

And a kiss is always good too!

Nancy ... John - thank you SO much for choosing us to capture your day. We had a blast learning about your families and meeting them in person. Hope you had an amazing time on your whirlwind honeymoon.

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