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!

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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

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

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

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

The kiss!

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

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.

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

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

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.

Drew struts his stuff during the first dance.

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

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.

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

Stacey getting low.

Getting lower.

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

Then the sunglasses came out.

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.

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

Then the lifts, spins and hernias!

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

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.

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

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

Jacy and her dad approach the altar as Steve waits.

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

A moment of silence.

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

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.

Ceremony done!

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.

Beautiful bouquet.

Jacy looked gorgeous.

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.

The State Room, Boston.

Their wedding cake.

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

Their first dance.

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.

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

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

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

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!

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.

Flower girl’s basket of fresh flowers.

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

The ducks of Stonover Farm

The Hora… reluctantly.

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

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

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.

Day Two: Traditional Indian Ceremony preparations.

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

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

Delicious fruity beverages know no cultural boundaries.

The layers and layers of details were amazing.

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

Siva’s mom during the Ganesha Puja

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

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

Details, details, details….

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

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