Posted by: ROB & KATHLEEN View More: NEWS It was spring of 2011 and we were stressed. We had moved our office twice - once from Connecticut to our apartment in NYC and then from our apartment to our new studio. Everything had finally gotten back into it's rightful place, but it still felt like something was missing. We needed something. Someone. It was time to find an intern. The resumes came in faster than we had expected. Apparently working in the wedding photography business was appealing to college students (who knew?). One e-mail stood out from the rest. It was a solid resume, of course, but there was something else attached to that e-mail. A photo. Not just any photo, one that we had actually taken. It was from the wedding we photographed on 10-10-10. The bride's younger sister, Kaitlyn, was an art major, loved photography and was interested in working with us. I remembered her right away when I saw that picture. It was a simple gesture, attaching the photo - giving a face to the name. But it was thoughtful. It showed drive and determination. Even more, it showed that Kaitlyn had an attention to detail that we both agreed was crucial in any intern. Since Kaitlyn was at college an eight hours drive away, we scheduled a phone interview right away. We hung up from that interview and looked at each other. I could tell from the look on Rob's face that we were in complete agreement. "We can't call back right away," I said trying my best to do what I thought a practical business-minded person would do. We shouldn't seem to eager, I thought. But we were. Looking at the stack of other resumes and remembering the other interviews we had done, we knew that our search was complete. Our decision was made. We waited all of about twenty minutes and we called her back. She cheered with delight when we told her that she had landed the position of our intern for the summer. What she didn't know is that we hung up the phone and did the exact same thing ourselves. Kaitlyn was exactly what we needed. She was excited, optimistic, eager to learn and thrilled to be a part of what we have been building. That summer, establishing ourselves in a new city, facing a busy wedding season and the upcoming birth of our son, I don't know how we would have done it without Kaitlyn. This summer Kaitlyn is a brand-new college graduate, one of the lucky ones that landed a job just a few days after graduation. But as lucky as she may be, we're even luckier because we snatched her up before any one else could. Kaitlyn has now gone from our intern to our studio manager. She's taken on a wide array of responsibilities and will also be accompanying us to weddings as she builds upon her already strong portfolio. Many of our couples probably remember her from the weddings and engagement sessions she assisted with last summer. But even if you don't know her already, she'll make you feel like you do right away. With a quick smile and cheery attitude, she is the perfect new addition to our team.

Posted by: ROB & KATHLEEN View More: WEDDINGS I've known Kelly for over a decade. We first met at Sacred Heart University where I was a student and she was a graduate assistant. Over the two years we were at the university at the same time, I got to know Kelly pretty well and we made an effort of keeping in touch once she graduated. She would fill me in on what she was up to - where she was working, who she was dating, and I would do the same. When we caught up again four years ago at Jacinda & Juan's wedding, Kelly told me about the new man in her life. She gave me the basic round down - he was a cop (just like her Dad), he was tall and he was handsome. But even from that short conversation, I could see that there was something more about this guy. She was excited. She smiled just talking about him. This guy was different. He was special. On the way home from that wedding I said to Rob, that's the guy that Kelly is going to marry. And I hadn't even met him yet. In the ten years I have known Kelly I had never seen her that happy before. Kelly and Tawrin went to high school together, but they didn't date back then. They met up again virtually at first, reconnecting via Facebook. A first date soon followed. Tawrin arrived as he usually does, traveling with his camera. He loves to take pictures and does so often. That night, after dinner, drinks and lots of talking, Tawrin took a picture of the two of them together. It's something they both cherish now, a photo of the night it all began. The night of their wedding I asked him, what made you take the picture? He had a simple answer. "I just knew," he said with a smile. He had never been that happy before. * * * Wedding Gown: Vintage (Gown Handmade by the bride's great grandmother and originally worn by the bride's grandmother in the 1940's) | Hair: 1940's finger waves done by the bride's best friend Karen | Make-up: Euphoria Salan & Spa in York Beach, Maine | Flowers: York Flower Shop in York Beach, Maine | Church: Union Congregational Church in York Beach, Maine | Venue: Union Bluff Meeting House at the Union Bluff Hotel in York Beach, Maine | Cake: French Cake's in Portland, Maine | DJ: Clark Sillery of Fred Pappalardo Disc Jockeys

Posted by: KATHLEEN View More: PLANNING & INSPIRATION Being invited to a wedding is an honor. After all, there are few days more significant, more personal, and the happy couple want you to be there to revel in their joy. You're a big part of their day after all. You are the smiling face they see when they're walking down the aisle, the person they run to hug during cocktail hour, the friend that encourages them to break out their signature move on the dance floor. You are their friends, their family, their co-workers. The people that made it onto that limited list of "must have" guests. But there are those rare times when a guest just might do something, unintentionally, that might detract from the couple's wedding day - in big ways or small. And it's understandable. As a guest at a wedding you're excited. Excited to be a part of such a big celebration, excited to talk to the bride and groom, to take their pictures and soak in the happiness of the day. But in the midst of all that excitement, sometimes a guest might not realize that something they are doing is taking away from the day in some way - taking away time from the bride and groom, hampering the joy of the day or adding a distraction that is unnecessary. This is a post I've been thinking about writing for a long time. The points I list below have been a cumulation of my observations from the many, many weddings we have worked and attended as guests ourselves. I was hesitant to write it because I didn't want to insult anyone. Because I get it, I totally do. We have been weddings guests and have found ourselves tempted to do some of the "don't"s listed below. But after attending/working nearly 200 weddings and being the bride and groom ourselves, we have seen what guests can do to enhance the day and what can take away from it. Knowing that guests have nothing but the best intentions, we have compiled the list below to be a go-to guide to be the best kind of wedding guest there is. DO Be in the Moment Picture this: you're in the church. The Maid of Honor has just finished walking down the aisle. The music changes. Heads turn to the back door of the church which slowly opens. The bride appears and walks forward, holding on to her father's arm. She locks eyes with the groom, looks at the guests as she walks past. And you? You smile. You tear up. You hold the hand of the person next to you. And you leave your camera in your purse or on the pew. You don't walk out into the aisle to take a picture with your camera or your phone. You do the same when you watch them say their vows, do their first dance, cut their cake. Instead of experiencing the moment from behind the camera, you watch them directly with your own two eyes. Of course you can take pictures throughout the night - snap shots, pictures of you and your date. But imagine how freeing it can be to just be a guest. And leave the majority of the picture taking to the professionals that bride and groom hired to do exactly that. An added bonus? Imagine how much more beautiful their professional images would be if you could actually see all the faces of the guests in the background, instead of just seeing a sea of people holding cameras. DO Be On Time to the Church The time listed on the invitation is the time the ceremony will (or should) begin, so be sure to get to the church/ceremony location at least ten minutes earlier. And hey - stuff happens. If you run late or hit traffic, it's not the end of the world. There is one catch to that, though. If you're late, you should make every effort to make sure you don't bump into the bride before she walks down the aisle. If you are outside the church and not sure if she has gone down the aisle yet, wait. Wait outside the doors until you hear the music and you're reasonably sure that she's already been escorted down. 'Cause here's the thing. She'll have absolutely no idea that you were late, but she'll definitely remember if she had to duck into a room to avoid having you see her if she's still at the back of the church when you enter. And if you time it wrong and end up walking past the bride anyway - stay to one side and walk quickly. Do not stop and talk to the bride or her father. You can tell her she looks beautiful after the ceremony. DO Keep it to Yourself (if the day/date/time of the wedding is inconvenient for you) Can't get off work for a Friday wedding? That's fine. Believe me, the bride and groom completely understand, that's why they usually even have the ceremony and/or reception start later in the day. If they don't or you still have to take the day off anyway, that's your choice. A choice the bride and groom will be completely grateful you made, but your choice nonetheless. It's an invitation, not a mandate - you're free to say no. So please don't make the couple feel bad. Or, worse, don't ask them if they had their wedding that day because it was "cheaper." DO Act As Though This is The Only Wedding… Ever Don't tell the bride or groom about things you have seen at other weddings. Don't ask them why they didn't do a candy station or chocolate fountain. Don't say that so-and-so's DJ/Band was better. For one day, let that bride be the only bride in the world and that wedding be the only one you can even think about. DON'T Hide in Pictures If the bride and groom ask you to be in a picture with them, please make sure that the photographer can see you. Don't try to hide behind someone tall, or duck a little in the back. The couple wants to be able to see you. If you hide, it makes the picture taking time a bit longer and the photographer will make you move so you can be seen anyway. A good rule of thumb - if you can't see the photographer, he/she can't see you. So stand tall and smile, please! DON'T Tell the Bride You got a flat tire on the way to the wedding? Your heels are sinking in the grass during the ceremony? The drummer for the band is running late (something that happened at our own wedding, actually)? Unless it's something crucial for the bride to know, don't tell her. She probably can't do anything about it, so let her bask in the joy of the day and the blissful ignorance of anything that may be going on around her. DO Keep an Eye on Your Kids If your children have been invited to share in the day's festivities, be sure to keep a close eye on them. Kids can be a great addition to the party and the bride and groom have asked you to bring them because they are special to them as well. But remember that weddings aren't exactly toddler/running kid friendly - there are waiters with trays of drinks and platters of hot food that are difficult enough to carry around a crowded room without having to look out for a five-year-old that is sliding around the dance floor in his socks. Kids understandably get bored at adult-friendly events like these, so bring along activities for them to do at the table (coloring books, small toys are a good way to go, things that don't make noise) so they aren't tempted to run around or distract you from the wedding activities.As parents ourselves, we understand that you're probably very excited to have a night out amongst fellow adults. If you would rather relax and not worry about your child shouting during the best man speech or accidentally tripping the grandmother of the bride, maybe it'd be best to have someone pick up your child before the reception. If there will be a lot of children in attendance, ask the bride or groom (well before the wedding day) if they will have a separate kids area or room - some couples even have babysitters so the kids can be entertained. (* Also, if your children aren't invited to the wedding, please don't bring them. If it's an out of town wedding, ask the bride and groom for babysitter recommendations.) DON'T Monopolize Their Time I know you're super excited to talk to the bride and groom. You may not have seen them in months or years and you're thrilled to get the chance to catch up with them. Unfortunately, the wedding day is not really the time to do that. Of course you should talk to them, but understand that they have a room full of 100+ people that are eager to talk to them as well. So, talk to them for a few minutes but please, please don't monopolize their time. DO Have Fun & Dance Hit the dance floor, enjoy the food, have some drinks and at the end of the night tell the bride and groom that this was the best wedding you have ever been to. Give them a hug, wish them well and thank them for inviting you.

Posted by: ROB & KATHLEEN View More: WEDDINGS Here's Part II of Alyssa & Justin's wedding - this time from Kathleen's perspective. (Part I was Rob's view of the day.) * * * Wedding Gown: Monique Lhuillier | Bridal Salon: The Wedding Shoppe in Wayne, Pennslyvania | Bridesmaid's Dresses: Dessy | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Hair: Kelly from Head Area Salon in Philadelphia, Pennslyvania | Make-up: Katya Kardonova | Flowers: MDS Floral Designs | Venue: The Ashford Estate in Allentown, New Jersey | Caterer: Merri Makers | Cake: The Bake Works in Northfield, New Jersey | Band: J Lamont Band from Hank Lane Productions * We're doing something a little different for this post. We'll be doing two posts for Alyssa & Justin's wedding. Part I will be Rob's view of the day - all of the photos in this post have been photographed by Rob. Part II will be Kathleen's view of the day - all of the photos in that post will be photographed by Kathleen. We thought this would be a great way for all of you to see our different perspectives and the advantage of having two photographers for your day. Plus, you get to see even more of Alyssa & Justin's gorgeous wedding - total bonus! *

Posted by: ROB & KATHLEEN View More: WEDDINGS Alyssa woke up that morning with butterflies in her stomach. Not the nervous kind, they were the excited butterflies. It was a day she had been thinking about for years. She had carefully selected the perfect gown after passing by countless others that just weren't the right fit. She knew right away with this gown, though. It was the same way when it came down to saying yes to that handsome man in the tuxedo that would be waiting for her in just a few hours. There were countless other guys out there, but none of them were like him. He was the perfect fit. Her mother helped her with the finishing touches of the dress, made sure everything was just right. When her father saw her in her dress, he had to fight back his tears. His little girl was so grown up, it was hard to believe the years had gone by so fast. But they both liked Justin a lot and knew that he would take good care of her. As she walked down the stairs to go meet Justin, Alyssa was beaming. It was a day she had been dreaming of and it had finally arrived. It was the day of her prom, and that night Justin became her boyfriend. Fast forward to the very same date, eight years later. Alyssa woke up that morning in her bedroom of her parent's house with those same excited butterflies. Another stunning gown was hanging in the room with her, this one even more beautiful than the one she had worn eight years before. Again, it had been carefully selected, picked out from the sea of white gowns. This was "the" dress. It looked like it was made for her. And every time she saw it, she was all the more confident that she had made the right decision. It was the same way with Justin. Over the course of the last eight years, they had survived a long distance relationship for the four years of college finally moving to the same place where Justin went to medical school and Alyssa pursued her own career. It wasn't always easy, but it was definitely always worth it. Every time Alyssa looked at him, she knew that being with him was the single best decision she had ever made. He was "the" one. It was like he was made for her. Once again, Alyssa's mother helped her daughter with the finishing touches to her dress. She made sure everything was was perfect, all the while having a hard time believing that this day had arrived. Her daughter was even more beautiful than she thought she would be, she wiped away tears as she watched her walk around in the gown. When her father saw her, the tears couldn't be fought this time. It didn't seem like it was that long ago when he would hold her hand as she was just taking her first steps, now he would take her arm and walk her down the aisle. They each took a moment that afternoon to stand back and admire Alyssa. They were so proud of the woman she had become and thrilled that she had found someone who loves her as much as they do. As Alyssa walked down the stairs to go meet that handsome man in the tuxedo once again, she couldn't contain her excitement. It was the day she had been dreaming of for years and it finally arrived. It was the day of her wedding, and Justin was about to become her husband. * * * Wedding Gown: Monique Lhuillier | Bridal Salon: The Wedding Shoppe in Wayne, Pennslyvania | Bridesmaid's Dresses: Dessy | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Hair: Kelly from Head Area Salon in Philadelphia, Pennslyvania | Make-up: Katya Kardonova | Flowers: MDS Floral Designs | Venue: The Ashford Estate in Allentown, New Jersey | Caterer: Merri Makers | Cake: The Bake Works in Northfield, New Jersey | Band: J Lamont Band from Hank Lane Productions * We're doing something a little different for this post. We'll be doing two posts for Alyssa & Justin's wedding. Part I will be Rob's view of the day - all of the photos in this post have been photographed by Rob. Part II will be Kathleen's view of the day - all of the photos in that post will be photographed by Kathleen. We thought this would be a great way for all of you to see our different perspectives and the advantage of having two photographers for your day. Plus, you get to see even more of Alyssa & Justin's gorgeous wedding - total bonus! *