Massachusetts | Brian Wedge Photography Blog

Archive for the 'Massachusetts' Category

Mollie & Greg: Ocean View Inn Wedding, Gloucester, MA

Published by brianwedge on August 18, 2010 in Brian Wedge Photography, Destination Weddings, Massachusetts, New England, Uncategorized, Weddings and inspiration. 0 Comments

We first met Mollie about 3 years ago at her best friend’s wedding (Carolyn & Drew) on the coast of Maine. When Mollie and Greg contacted us to photograph their seaside wedding in Gloucester, Massachusetts, we jumped at the chance!

Greg and Mollie both went to Bates College in Maine, so it was no surprise that their ceremony combined their love of the outdoors, with thoughtful, introspective vows that they had written themselves. On the very first page of their wedding program, were the words of Goethe: “Nothing is worth more than this day.”

Mollie and Greg’s rings.

Mollie’s gorgeous dress.

Mollie’s bridesmaids were amazing. Through the flurry of activity, Mollie catches a quick glimpse of herself in the mirror.

Mollie and her bridesmaid watch as guests arrive.

Greg and his brother wait for their cue just moments before the ceremony begins.

Mollie and her dad start down the aisle.

Greg’s emotion and love is obvious.

Cape Ann is a beautiful setting for a ceremony.

After the kiss… Mollie is psyched!

Then the world’s smartest ice cream truck man arrives just after the ceremony.

Who could blame them for partaking in the frozen delicious treats of the ice cream truck? Nice work!

Mollie and Greg took a few minutes alone together following the ceremony.

A Friendship Sloop… much like the one we used to own sailed by.

Greg is 6′ 8″ and Mollie had no problem diving into his arms throughout the day. They were both so happy!

Walking over to Good Harbor Beach in Gloucester, an adorable little beachgoer inspects Mollie’s dress.

Meanwhile, back at The Ocean View Inn… the reception was just getting underway.

But thanks to Greg’s brother Dave… it didn’t take long before the reception kicked into high gear.

Sunset at The Ocean View Inn and Resort in Gloucester.

Now Greg is from my hometown, AND he went to Bates so I know he’s a smart, talented guy and all… but he almost gave a few of us a heart attack with his cake cutting skills.

In the middle of all the chaos of the reception, Mollie and Greg have one of many more dances together as husband and wife!

**************************************************************

The complete photos are all available online: just click here to see them!

Also, we’ve posted lots of photos on our Facebook Fan Page: just click here to join us and share them!

**************************************************************

Details/Vendor Links:

Ceremony/Reception: Ocean View Inn and Resort, Gloucester, MA

Caterer: Ocean View Inn and Resort, Gloucester, MA

Florist: Chapman’s Greenhouse, Beverly Farms, MA

Dress: Allegria Bridal, Belmont, MA

Band: Mirage

Justice of The Peace: Marie Watson (Beverly, MA)

Cupcakes: Cakes for Occassions, Danvers, MA

Videographer: Artistic Experessions, Somerset, NJ

Photography: Brian Wedge Photography

Share and Enjoy:

Growing…

Published by brianwedge on April 22, 2010 in Brian Wedge Photography, Destination Weddings, Life With Cancer, Maine, Massachusetts, New England, Photojournalism, Weddings, friends, fun, inspiration and livestrong. 4 Comments

THANK YOU for the emails and the calls making sure everything is going well. YES, things are going quite well; we’ve never been busier or happier, but I admit… the blog has taken a backseat as a result of all our adventures. We have been so swamped with work and creative projects for so long, that we decided to take the time recently to build some new creative alliances and “practice” our craft a bit. During the past few months we have pursued every opportunity to improve, learn and grow. Our time was not used in vain, as we’ve got lots of new photos to share… and stories to tell.

That being said, while we were traveling and shooting far away from the blogosphere, much occurred, and we will try to recap some of it here:

First up… my sister Lea and her husband Billy adopted an adorable baby boy! Henry is absolutely beautiful, and has a remarkably calm energy about him that is just amazing. Though we did miss the cranky-baby 2am diaper changes and feedings, we are quite certain that Henry is either high on baby formula… or just happy to be alive and have parents who adore and appreciate him so much.

Though we only stopped in for a few days during our return from Hawaii, one thing led to another… and of course an impromptu photo shoot occurred that resulted in baby Henry winding up in a salad bowl. Sorry Henry, but you just don’t know where creativity will lead you! Anyway, we wanted the whole world to know how proud we are to have him in our family!

And speaking of growing, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that we won a few more awards for our photography and we wanted to thank the sponsors for their encouragement and recognition. First up, we managed to sneak out a few awards from the prestigious Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA.com) once again. There are some truly incredible photographers that compete in their contests… so we are honored that we had NINE winning images in the past year.

Here are the two latest winners:

This image is from Matt & Ashley’s Hurricane Wedding at The Newagen Inn in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. The photo is a fun grab shot of the bridesmaid being “blown away” in the wind. The great news is that the bridesmaid holding the umbrella (Christine) is engaged to be married & in June we will be in Massachusetts to document their wedding for them! There is no greater honor than to get the opportunity to support the friends of great clients like Matt & Ashley. Don’t worry… we PROMISE… the weather will be better!

Next, from Heidi & Ross’ wedding at The Sebasco Harbor Resort, we won 4th place for dancing… but the true story is that the dancing started about 8 hours earlier, and the award should really be for the consistency and longevity of the dancing. If I remember correctly, this is Heidi’s brother… who started dancing before the ceremony and in my mind is probably dancing wherever he is right now. Congrats!

Last up, our favorite social media guru / Innkeeper Jason Schlosser (from The Newagen Inn in Boothbay Harbor) held a photography contest and self selected our entry because we were out of the country at the time (thanks Jason!!). By popular vote, we were lucky enough to win the contest in 2008, and we never expected that we would again in 2009, but as luck would have it, we did! The prize for winning the contest was a 2 night stay at The Newagen Inn, along with dinner.

In honor of all our good fortune, our great clients, and most of all… our precious new nephew Henry, we’ve decided that we are going to donate our two night stay at The Newagen Inn to raise money for LIVESTRONG and their continued fight on behalf of survivors like my sister in their battle against cancer. More details about the raffle will be coming tomorrow: we’ve got a donation page all setup with LIVESTRONG, and Jason at The Newagen Inn is psyched to host the prizewinner.

So for now, thanks for all the support, love and emails. We love hearing from everyone… and rest assured, we are back!! Spread the word about the contest… more details right here tomorrow!

Share and Enjoy:

Stacey & Drew: Eisenhower House Wedding, Newport, RI

Published by brianwedge on October 28, 2009 in Brian Wedge Photography, Destination Weddings, Massachusetts, New England and Weddings. 2 Comments

StaceyDrew101609-0752-0002

Stacey contacted us by phone last year FULL of excitement and enthusiasm about our photography, her wedding, her fiance and seemingly everything in between. We quickly setup a time to meet, and when she and Drew arrived at our studio I could see that their energy was boundless. They simply popped out of their car smiling and laughing even though they had driven just 2 hours from Boston.

I remember noticing a few things right away: the first was Drew’s towering six foot nine inch height and the second was watching how quickly these two reached for each other’s hands, how close they sat on our big couch and finally how effortlessly they finished each other’s sentences. It was if they had known one another their whole lives.

StaceyDrew101609-0083-0003

When we arrived at Stacey’s Newport, Rhode Island hotel room the weather was pretty awful, and I was worried that Stacey may be concerned about it. There was a full gail blowing, it was raining and there was a raw cold in the air that’s typically reserved for winter. I knew Stacey was a rough and tumble fellow Bowdoin alum (Go U Bears!), but even so, the weather was pretty nasty and she was allowed to freak out on her wedding day. But when I opened the door and saw Stacey’s same big smile, and heard her first joke about the weather, I knew we were going to have a great time regardless of the storms outside.

StaceyDrew101609-0032-0006

It also didn’t take us long to learn that our very first observations had been correct: Stacey and Drew’s relationship is FILLED with laughter, inside jokes and a connection that’s as obvious as it is strong. Drew calls Stacey “Ace” and had sent a dozen roses to her room that morning along with the above note written on an Ace of Hearts card. Creative!

StaceyDrew101609-0072-0001

Stacey and Drew also get an award for being the first of our clients to give out personalized beer coozies at their snazzy Newport wedding. Good to know that they have their priorities straight… hysterical!

StaceyDrew101609-0102-0004

Though the rain had stopped, the wind and cold was impressive. We had arranged to do a few formal shots in front of the (warm) lobby fireplace, but Stacey came down and spotted another bride who was getting ready at the hotel having photos outside. Not to be outdone she quickly marshaled her family/bridesmaids and charged outside. It was FREEZING and incredibly windy. But it was hilarious and she was unstoppable.

StaceyDrew101609-0206-0007

Stacey arrives at St. Lucy’s Church in Middletown, RI with her dad beside her.

StaceyDrew101609-0214-0008

Stacey’s grandmother spots her for the first time. I think the enthusiasm is hereditary!

StaceyDrew101609-0439-0010

Drew’s eyes fill with tears as he listens to a reading.

StaceyDrew101609-0375-0011

Drew leans down to put Stacey’s ring on her finger.

StaceyDrew101609-0409-0015

The kiss!

StaceyDrew101609-0400-0014

Immediately after their kiss they just looked at each other and began giggling. Classic Drew & Stacey!

StaceyDrew101609-0459-0016

Stacey and Drew had each written a letter to each other and saved them to be read aloud for the first time during the ceremony. Not a dry eye in the church.

StaceyDrew101609-0463-0017

Stacey’s bridesmaids react to Drew’s letter being read.

StaceyDrew101609-0485-0018

Finally married, Drew & Stacey pile into the back of their Bentley and are whisked off to the reception.

StaceyDrew101609-0585-0019

And what a reception it was! Despite the wind and cold, they had an amazing, warm, colorful tent setup on the lawn of The Eisenhower House in Fort Adams State Park.

StaceyDrew101609-0614-0020

Drew struts his stuff during the first dance.

StaceyDrew101609-0629-0022

The bridesmaids surround Stacey’s dad as Drew dips his bride.

StaceyDrew101609-0771-0024

One of the most tender moments of the night was Drew leaning down to hug his mom after their dance together. It’s such a genuine, gentle, loving image.

StaceyDrew101609-0792-0025

Ok, enough of the sentimental stuff… these guys know how to party!

StaceyDrew101609-0857-0026

Stacey getting low.

StaceyDrew101609-0872-0027

Getting lower.

StaceyDrew101609-0893-0028

Rocking the beer coozy. Nothing says “elegant, Newport fancy wedding” like a gold beer coozy.

StaceyDrew101609-0898-0029

Then the sunglasses came out.

StaceyDrew101609-0933-0030

Then the mustaches came out (of course!?) Apparently groomsmen ‘staches are a tradition amongst Drew’s friends and they hooked Stacey up with a mustache that would put Tom Selleck’s to shame.

StaceyDrew101609-0937-0032

Classic look on Drew’s face as he reacts to his first kiss from his beautiful bride and her new ‘stache.

StaceyDrew101609-0830-0033

Then the lifts, spins and hernias!

StaceyDrew101609-0967-0035

Amidst all the craziness, all the props, all the dancing, all the horrible weather and the 200+ people… in the center of it all, there were Stacey and Drew lost in each other’s arms. Never far from each other, they were still laughing and still hugging like they were on the very first day I met them.

What an honor it was to be there to support you both and to document your celebration amongst family and friends! Thanks for being so welcoming! We had a blast at your wedding and hope you’re having fun on your honeymoon in Australia!

*********************************************************************

Click here to see Stacey & Drew’s complete wedding photos!

*********************************************************************

Vendors:

Ceremony: St. Lucy’s Church

Reception: Eisenhower House, Fort Adams State Park

Caterer: Plantation Catering

Limo: Newport Limousine

Flowers: Ray’s Flower Shop

Paper: Unique Simchas

Tent: Tents for Rent

Band: Flipside

Cake: Mad Hatter

Photography: Brian Wedge Photography

Share and Enjoy:

Jacy & Steve: State Room Wedding, Boston, MA

Published by brianwedge on August 17, 2009 in Brian Wedge Photography, Massachusetts, New England and Weddings. 1 Comment

JacySteve8809-0419-0001

Boston is where I grew up and as a result, we find ourselves there both for work and for play quite often. Jacy & Steve contacted us through some old friends who were nice enough to pass along the good word about our work and we were happy to head south for Jacy & Steve’s Charlestown church ceremony, and their downtown Boston reception at The State Room.

JacySteve8809-0018-0003

St. Mary’s Church in Charlestown is a historic neighborhood icon and stunningly beautiful. The details in the church are incredible.

JacySteve8809-0013-0002

The rafters of St. Mary’s Church, Charlestown, MA.

JacySteve8809-0082-0006

Jacy and her dad approach the altar as Steve waits.

JacySteve8809-0091-0007

From polished floors to the ceiling above… such beautiful care is given to St. Mary’s.

JacySteve8809-0110-0008

A moment of silence.

JacySteve8809-0119-0009

For a moment, Jacy looks up at Steve. Got it!

JacySteve8809-0129-0010

This shot was taken with our 400mm lens. Our workshop students have seen us use this often for outdoor weddings, but it’s as indispensable for indoor ceremonies as well. To be unobtrusive in a large open church, we often need to stay further away. This lens helped us capture this image from the side as they listened to a reading from a family member.

JacySteve8809-0198-0011

Ceremony done!

JacySteve8809-0352-0012

The best part of my job is the fact that I get to support folks in the ways that make them happy even if I don’t fully comprehend their reasoning: it’s THEIR wedding day… and I’m willing to do whatever is creative and beautiful. That being said, there’s some significance to this little frog, though I was never told exactly what it was. All I know is that means a lot to the two of them, and we made sure to document it while I was there.

JacySteve8809-0367-0013

Beautiful bouquet.

JacySteve8809-0425-0017

Jacy looked gorgeous.

JacySteve8809-0409-0015

These images were all shot at their small, local neighborhood park minutes from the church and their home. Often folks see our images and think that we must have been on some remote location in a pristine forest or that we spend an exorbitant amount of time shooting. My guess is that we shot their entire series of portraits in about 10-15 minutes in a tiny park the size of a very small city block.

JacySteve8809-0475-0019

The State Room, Boston.

JacySteve8809-0500-0020

Their wedding cake.

JacySteve8809-0534-0021

I didn’t want to miss the details on the top of the cake… really exquisite work.

JacySteve8809-0511-0022

Their first dance.

JacySteve8809-0597-0023

Steve keeps it together as his brother gives an amazing toast. The amount of respect that Jacy & Steve’s friends and family have for them could not possibly be overstated. I can’t remember being at another wedding where people spoke so strongly about their loyalty and friendship. It says a lot about who they are.

JacySteve8809-0677-0025

The party raged on until midnight. My guess is that most folks danced for 3-4 hours!

JacySteve8809-0778-0027

New Boston band: “The Superband.” These guys were a lot of fun.

JacySteve8809-0745-0026

Steve’s dad bustin’ a move. He was amazing.

Thanks Jacy & Steve for having me at your wedding. It was truly an honor to be there, to meet all your wonderful friends and family and to support you both. Congratulations on your beautiful celebration and incredible relationship!

*****************************************************

Want to see the complete photos? Just click here or go to www.brianwedge.com

*****************************************************

Vendors:

Photos: Brian Wedge Photography

Ceremony: St. Mary’s Church, Charlestown, MA

Reception: The State Room at 60 State Street, Boston MA

Band: The Superband

Floral: Fino Fresh Floral (Melrose, MA)

Dress: Domo Adami from L’Elite of Newbury Street

Share and Enjoy:

Sharon & Siva: Traditional Western & Indian Wedding Ceremony

Published by brianwedge on June 17, 2009 in Brian Wedge Photography, Destination Weddings, Massachusetts, Photojournalism, Traditional Indian Wedding, Weddings and lakeside wedding. 8 Comments

This weekend we traveled to Lenox Massachusetts to support Sharon and Siva for their weekend long celebration at The Stonover Farm Bed and Breakfast. The Berkshires are one of our favorite locations, and Stonover Farm is literally just down the road from Tanglewood Music Center (the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra).. an incredible spot to be married.

0002-SharonSiva61309-0143

0021-SharonSiva61309-1050

Sharon had heard that I used to be a photojournalist and guide in India, Nepal and Tibet… and wanted someone with the range to comfortably photograph their quintessential New England wedding on Saturday, and all the details and nuances of their traditional Indian wedding on Sunday. The key was that they needed creativity and quality… but they really wanted all of that achieved as unobtrusively as possible. I absolutely love traditional Indian weddings, and have been lucky enough to photograph dozens of them over the years, so I was thrilled to be there!

0004-SharonSiva61309-0404

0009-SharonSiva61309-0659

Stonover Farm duck pond… before the rain.

Saturday’s Jewish wedding took place in front of Stonover Farm’s 110 year old barn. A gorgeous, classic setting in the shadow of the Berkshires. As luck would have it, the rain held off just long enough for the ceremony to end, and the cocktail hour was held inside the beautiful barn. The reception was held in a tent in a field across from the B&B, and the party went on for hours as it rained outside.

0003-SharonSiva61309-0247

Flower girl’s basket of fresh flowers.

0001-SharonSiva61309-0078

Check out the reflection of the bride’s sister jumping for joy after seeing her sister. Sisters are the best!

0010-SharonSiva61309-0797

The ducks of Stonover Farm

0006-SharonSiva61309-0613

The Hora… reluctantly.

0007-SharonSiva61309-0658

Yeah, I just wish she were a little cuter too…

0008-SharonSiva61309-0685

This facial distortion was actually part of a solo dance routine that lasted 20 minutes.

0011-SharonSiva61309-0764

This is classic: Sharon is rocking out and towing Siva around by the neck.

The next morning began early with the dressing of the bride… and the traditional Indian wedding ceremony held facing East. I think the families were a little astounded that a 6’4″ blond haired, blue eyed kid like me understood the intricacies of the Indian ceremony. I don’t blame them at all for being surprised… but after spending so much time in India and having photographed lots of Indian weddings, I really enjoy learning all the subtleties of the ceremony that mean so much to the couple and their families.

0014-SharonSiva61309-0813

Day Two: Traditional Indian Ceremony preparations.

0013-SharonSiva61309-0803

The Mangalasutra… gorgeous. Want to know more about the mangalasutra? Wikipedia explains it here.

0015-SharonSiva61309-0817

One of Sharon’s seven helpers… Siva’s mom adding necessary details.

0016-SharonSiva61309-0833

Delicious fruity beverages know no cultural boundaries.

0017-SharonSiva61309-0851

The layers and layers of details were amazing.

0018-SharonSiva61309-0859

I think that there are 20 bangles on this arm alone.

0019-SharonSiva61309-0922

Siva’s mom during the Ganesha Puja

0020-SharonSiva61309-1026

Sharon’s Mangalasutra is tied around her neck as rice is thrown on them by the families.

0022-SharonSiva61309-1057

Sira puts the methi on Sharon’s feet. The granite symbolizes the strength of their relationship.

0023-SharonSiva61309-1077

Details, details, details….

0024-SharonSiva61309-1086

Lajja Homan: Sharon offers puffed rice to the fire signifying her acceptance of her inlaws.

0025-SharonSiva61309-1156

The mangalasutra finally on Sharon’s neck.

What a wonderful weekend! I felt lucky to get to know Sharon, Siva and their families/friends. I enjoyed both ceremonies so much, and the Indian ceremony and foods took me back to my days in India. I miss it so much, and loved documenting all the thoughtful details that made both days so fantastic.

Want to see the complete set of photos?? Just click here: Brian Wedge Photography: Siva & Sharon Wedding

Vendors who did such a great job:

Location: Stonover Farm (Tom and Suki Werner… two of the nicest people… go visit them, they’ll take good care of you!)

Caterer (Saturday): Mezze Catering (Linda Stripp and Nancy Thomas)

Caterer (Sunday): Dosa Temple

Mandap & Priest: Still working on getting their info… email me directly if you need it.

Florist: Mount Williams Greenhouses (North Adams, MA)

DJ: JTD Productions

Tent: Classical Tents and Party Goods

Share and Enjoy: