A Weekend Worth Waiting For

I've been... busy. Weddings, yearbook photos, meetings, calls. I was out of town, living from my suitcase for the entire week before Trish and Ryan's wedding. I even got myself a hotel room the night before the wedding, to save a couple hours driving. 

So I hope you'll understand if I say I went in with a workmanlike, nose-to-the-grindstone attitude. Show up, do my job, go home. Sometimes that's how it goes.

That attitude lasted about ten minutes with the girls. Grooving to Beyoncé, cracking jokes - Trish had to be told, repeatedly, by her make-up artist to quit smiling so much.

Ten minutes in and this wedding wasn't work, it was a vacation.

"Quit smiling so much" was the refrain of the day. Trish and Ryan are one of those electric couples who can't seem to be in the same room without smiling. All through their ceremony I couldn't escape the feeling that they were alone up there in a world of their own.

Following the ceremony, we headed to the New Haven Lawn Club for posed photos and the reception.

As you'd expect, posed photos were a lot of fun, especially when it got down to just the couple, the videographer, and myself. Trish and Ryan didn't need a lot of encouragement to try fun stuff, and the Lawn Club made for a beautiful backdrop.

The reception was a blast - a cocktail hour full of good drinks and good food (those scallops!), and a reception that was low on formal events but full of amazing music from the live funk band, energetic dancing, and donuts and late-night sliders.

It was an amazing day, where everything seemed to come together just perfectly. 

Congratulations, Trish and Ryan! It was such a pleasure getting to work with you two.

Lifelong Friends in Love

On a beautiful autumn day (Tammy picked her date from the Farmer's Almanac), two friends committed to love each other forever.

The day began with prep for the girls at a local salon, followed by a ceremony at the beautiful Sacred Heart church in Torrington.

Before the reception, we stopped at Topsmead State Park for posed photos. It's a beautiful park that I will definitely return to for more photos, and probably just to explore myself. The other people enjoying the park were very considerate and seemed to enjoy the show.

The reception was held at the Litchfield Inn, and was as relaxed and fun as you'd expect with two families that have known each other for decades.

It was a really fun night, kept simple and relaxed.

Congratulations Tammy and Shane!

Fun on the Farm

Jesse and Colin were very clear when we met to discuss their wedding; they wanted to have fun.

The setting was Dudley Farm, a scenic, intimate little spot in Guilford. After a brief ceremony, we toured around the grounds for some beautiful posed photos.

The reception was casual and fun. Dinner came in the form of the New Haven Pizza Truck; possibly some of the best wedding food (and pizza) I've ever had! 

The night was full of dancing, fun conversation, drinks, and rounded out with a visit from an ice cream truck!

Incidentally, this was my 80th wedding! And I'll photograph my 90th before the year is out. I hope they're all just as fun!

An Officer and His Love

Kerry and Joe's wedding was on a beautiful, if hot, Saturday in the scenic west-Connecticut town of Washington. 

The first thing I noticed, obviously, was Joe's stunning uniform which, if my sleuthing is right, marks him as an Army Colonel. (Anyone who actually knows something about it, please correct me if I'm wrong.) It was clear that the military had played a major role in Joe's life, both indirectly leading him to meet Kerry, and as a family tradition - half his kids have followed his lead.

Family was a major theme of their laid-back reception - they both bring grown children to their new marriage, and jokingly refer to themselves as "the Brady Bunch". Their families were big, friendly, and boisterous, and the reception was a ton of fun. 

It was a real pleasure spending a summer afternoon with these two, and I wish them all the best.

Congratulations, Kerry and Joe!

A UConn Love Story

Last fall I did engagement photos for some fellow UConn alumni out on Horsebarn Hill. They must have liked those photos, because they had me come for their wedding too!

I met up with Anastasia and her bridesmaids yesterday at the hotel as Veronica put the finishing touches on their beautiful hair and makeup.

Across town, my second shooter was playing with their pup, Buckley, and catching the guys getting ready.

I went with the girls to West Wharf Beach in Madison for some posed photos...

...where I caught this amazing photo of her little brother. Sometimes things just work.

For the ceremony and reception we made our way to the Guilford Yacht Club. We couldn't have asked for more perfect weather for their short, beautiful ceremony on the south lawn.

The reception was a blast - good food, good music, a great crowd. Anastasia and Pearse's families are both amazingly fun and friendly.

I stayed through the end of the night for a special sendoff.

Altogether an amazing night - I expected nothing else from these two.

Congratulations, Anastasia and Pearse!

An Old Farm and a New Marriage

I headed over to the Avon Old Farms Hotel for Alex and Rachel's wedding. 

Due to the heat and truly appalling humidity, they decided to move inside (a move I was happy with since my lens kept fogging up every time I stepped outside).

It was a short gig for me - just the ceremony and a handful of posed photos. But I had time for a few shots of the reception, and stayed an extra few minutes to see their first dance.

Congratulations, Alex and Rachel!

And Your Little Dog, Too!

Sophy and Jeff's wedding day started with lots of detailed hair and makeup for the girls, and a trip to a diner for the guys. I'd argue the girls had it better, though, as we all got to play with their adorable doxie Hannah while getting ready.

It was an unusual treat for me, as Heather, my fiance, was also my second shooter. She's done a handful of weddings with me before, and it's always a good time. I think I can safely say "I taught her everything she knows"... At least, that's the explanation I like for why her pictures look so much like mine that I have trouble telling ours apart.

Before the ceremony, Sophy teased Jeff with a not-quite-first-look. It was a lot of fun. (Also, Sophy - I may have accidentally stolen your sleep mask. Sorry! I'll make sure it gets back to you.)

We also did some fun group photos with the wedding party.

The weather could not have been more perfect (and thankfully shady!), and the outdoor ceremony was beautiful. It was obvious that their families and group of friends are just brimming with love. (Also brimming: Jeff's eyes, with tears.)

Their reception, also at A Villa Bianca, was a blast. I'm not sure I've ever seen a wedding party put in so much work on the dance floor!

Sophy and Jeff, I hope your honeymoon in Europe is as amazing as your wedding day was, and I can't wait to see you later this month at Anastasia and Pearse's wedding!

A Friend's Wedding

I've been to a lot of weddings (76, actually), but most of those were just for work. Fun, moving, beautiful events, to be sure, but it's a special treat when the couple are people I know and care about personally, and rarer still when many of the guests are friends as well.

Faith and Vic's wedding was one of those really rare treats. They are good friends of mine, good enough that my fiance Heather was Faith's Maid of Honor. 

They make an amazing couple - no joke, they independently wrote practically identical vows - with an amazing sense of humor, apparent both in the details of their wedding decorations....

...and the people they surround themselves with.

Faith and Vic were glowing, something I hear often but I'm not sure I've ever said of someone before. 

It was such a pleasure and really an honor that my friends chose me to photograph their special day. It was a blast of a party filled with awesome people.

And it was a fun excuse to dance with my fiance in fancy clothes.

Oh, and I'm not saying there were lightsaber duels, but...

*totally not photoshopped

Congratulations, Faith and Vic! Love you guys.