Tag Archive for 'Massachusetts'

Jacy & Steve: State Room Wedding, Boston, MA

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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.

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

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

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Jacy and her dad approach the altar as Steve waits.

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

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A moment of silence.

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

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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.

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Ceremony done!

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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.

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Beautiful bouquet.

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Jacy looked gorgeous.

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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.

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The State Room, Boston.

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Their wedding cake.

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

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Their first dance.

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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.

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

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

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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!

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

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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 & Siva: Traditional Western & Indian Wedding Ceremony

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.

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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!

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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.

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Flower girl’s basket of fresh flowers.

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

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The ducks of Stonover Farm

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The Hora… reluctantly.

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

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

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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.

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Day Two: Traditional Indian Ceremony preparations.

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

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

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Delicious fruity beverages know no cultural boundaries.

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The layers and layers of details were amazing.

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

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Siva’s mom during the Ganesha Puja

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

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

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Details, details, details….

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

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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