So just how did I end up photographing J & Alex’s wedding in Maine this summer? Although I do take a few destination / travel weddings every year – this one is a bit more unique in it’s origins. When I was in my senior year of high school at Medina Senior high – I met my good friend J. A junior at the time, we spent the semester together in a television production class, creating ridiculously inappropriate 30 second commercials for class credit. In the years that followed, myself, J and a few others were part of a small group of tight knit friendships – and even though many of us lost touch when we split up for our separate colleges – our friendships remained.
So it was no surprise to me when J returned home last winter from Maryland – with Alex in hand – his fiance! It was so sweet having lunch with them, meeting the woman that had finally managed to capture my friends heart for good. After lunch with them and my wife – we chatted about the possibilities of me photographing their wedding in Freeport, Maine (home of a 24 hour LL Bean store!) and things were set! I was so excited about it over the winter – I wrote a quick blog entry on it – check it out here.
Colleen (my lovely wife) and I chose to make a little vacation out the week – and spent the week touring the New England area – with stops in Boston (awesome city!) and a few nights stay in a bed and breakfast on the coast. Personal adventures aside – let’s get down to business and talk about how awesome this wedding day was!
Like most wedding days – I started my day with Alex and the gals at the hair salon. As it turns out – hair salons in Maine aren’t too different at all from hair salons in good old cleveland, but Alex’s genuine smiles and caring attitude in the morning made it feel just like home. The girls were great, easy going, very relaxed – it complemented the feel of the entire day.
What makes a hair salon even more fun? Filling it with cutest little kids you can imagine. Check out the girls – they made the time a riot. Scooting around here and there on salon chairs, coloring together, laughing often, and bringing a real youth and innocence to the morning. One of them also asked me for my autograph – which made me feel really cool.
The blonde below is J’s sister Janet. I’m always impressed with her and J’s real friendship – they have a brother sister relationship like I’ve never seen before. Spending the week with them and watching them together made me realize over again how awesome family can be.
After spending the morning with the girls, and dropping in on J in his preperations – the two of them were introduced for the first time together, way before the official ceremony. I always think it’s fun when couples do this – it gives them a chance to take to spend a few private mintues together (with me stalking them from a far of course!) and helps get out any of the nerves of the day. Of course, with the help of a few friends (thanks Jen & Kurt!) we made their first few moments together special, and J’s face when he first saw his new bride was priceless.
I gave them a few minutes to just be together – often times a wedding day can be so rushed, that a couple don’t really get to enjoy eachother. I’m happy they had a few minutes – and I have some stellar shots of them flirting it up! Of course, once I pulled them apart 😉 we went off for our kickin’ creative session.
Our creative session was a beautiful time. J & Alex factored in just enough time for us to get comfy, and create some elegant (& fun) imagery together. Check out the little coastal shack we started out – tons of vintage beach fun here. I just love how quick these two were to smile and laugh – I’m not kidding – these two are uber in love – and I am so honored to have been there to snag some of these shots.
A nice little hammock was set up in the shack – whcih provided J & his lovely bride a few moments to rest, and allow me to be playful with some shots.
Of course – being out on the water, there were a ton of awesome docks and other sweet spots with tons of character – just begging for us to take advantage of. I love random inspiration and new places to shoot – it’s so fun being on a photo shoot with a couple, and just letting creativity and inspiration take control. What makes it more fun? Couples like J & Alex who embrace that thought – and run along with the photography. Shots like these are a direct result of us taking risks together (photographically of course!) and exploring the environment with an open mind.
As our time drew to an end, we found ourselves at the wedding field where J & Alex would soon be wed. We had a few candid moments in the late summer fields, and then got ready for the event to come.
Although I’m cautuious about bestowing the titel of “cutest flower girls ever” – this group is definitely in my top ten list. These girls were so cute – and were troopers in the August heat.
What could be more picturesque? The wedding field was amazing – overlooking the Atlantic ocean (or some sort of water inlet – I’m fairly geographically naive).
Actually – this is more picturesque – Alex and her father being pulled in by Alex’s gorgeous white horse – Labrynth. Labrynth is a georgeous horse – and it was breathtaking Watching her be pull into the field with Alex in tow. Stuff like this is right out of a storybook – and I couldn’t be more thrilled that I was there to capture it.
Check these two out – two of my very good friends – Nick & J. Nick’s a local web developer in the Cleveland area – and is one of the most loyal friends you’ll ever know. For that, and many other reasons, J asked Nick to be the sole man in his wedding party. I love it – what a pleasure it was working with my friends.
Meet the Bradleys – Jane & Ed – Alex’s amazing parents. I could author a blog entry alone on their incredible hospitality, generosity & kindness throughout the week leading up to the wedding. They’re a fantastic fam – and Jane makes killer Lobster Pasta 😉
Ed’s speech at his daughter’s wedding was epic – he brought the crowd through laughter & tears – and did it all with class. I couldn’t help but snag this “west-wing”-esque shot of him delivering his toast.
After some amazing speeches – we sat down to the most amazing wedding feast I’ve ever taken part in. Not only was I privileged to a fantastic fresh lobster bake (as fresh as it gets folks!) – but I was honored to be asked to sit at the head table with the bridal party. This was definitely a first for me as a photographer, to be asked into such an intimate seat – but a great honor that I was pleased to accept.
Of course – my awesome wife Colleen was full of fun with our new-found lobster friends. 🙂
After dinner – the live band kicked it up a notch, and I was lucky enough to snag some sweet first dance shots of the young couple. I’m pretty sure this dip shot is my favorite dance shot I’ve ever taken!
And the party doesn’t stop there folks – once the announcement was made to the truckload of children that there would be a pinata smashing – you couldn’t contain the excitement in the tent.
After about 20 or 30 chops from every kid there (I really wanted to give it a whack, but Colleen held me back) the pinata burst forth. A few bridesmaids and parents were nearly overtaken by the mob of children looking for a sugar-high.
As a way to cap off the evening and wish the bride and groom well – Ed & Jane gave brought out some Wishing Lanterns. Never heard of these? Again – something out of a storybook here – the guests wrote on each lantern wishes & prayers for the young couple’s lives – lit the lantern, and let the science of hot-air take these beautiful lights into summer sky. It was a sight to behold – about 10-20 of these lifting off, floating off slowly into the horizon. I wonder where they landed? 🙂
I had such a great time photographing J & Alex’s day – many congrat’s to my newlywed friends! I hope you enjoy the sneak peak of your pictures!
