Merlot on the Water

"Merlot on the Water" was the venue for Maria and Shawn's wedding, but also tells you a lot about the tone for the night - wine and music in a beautiful lakeside setting. 

I met Maria, her mother, and maid of honor in the bridal suite for prep.

Then we headed to the nearby Connecticut Trolley Museum for a first look and some posed photos. It was an awesome place to take photos and I definitely want to go back just to check out the exhibits.

We returned to Merlot for an outdoor ceremony overlooking the lake. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day.

After cocktails, Maria and Shawn were introduced with a wonderful choreographed first dance.

The rest of the night was full of good music, food, and dancing, with an elegant twist - many of Maria's family are ballroom dancers.

Congratulations, Maria and Shawn!

Palm Trees in Connecticut

When I posted a quick instagram photo from Kristen and James's wedding, a bunch of my friends thought I'd flown down south for a destination wedding!

Actually, it was just at the lovely Anthony's Ocean View in New Haven, a perfect spot for this beachy, fun wedding.

The weather was perfect as they said their vows next to the water, and there was tons of amazing food and drinks during cocktail hour and dinner.

There were speeches from friends, parent dances, and lots of great music to keep people out on the dance floor all night.

Congratulations, Kristen and James!

In Simsbury Inn

I met Anna and Stan at the Simsbury Inn to get photos of them getting ready with their friends and family.

They had a first look in the lobby, and then we piled into a few cars and went to the Pinchot Sycamore and the Flower Bridge, local photo hotspots, for some posed photos.

The ceremony was held on the patio, officiated by a friend and blessed with beautiful weather.

Their reception was a ton of fun! Great dances, traditional music, tasty food, and wedding games.

Congratulations, Anna and Stan!

"I Do" At The Zoo

Jenny and Joe only had to tell me one thing to convince me I had to do their wedding: it was going to be at Beardsley Zoo. I didn't even know you could get married at the zoo!

The day started elsewhere, though. Specifically Lucious & Co., where Jenny and her bridesmaids got hair and makeup done. The folks there did an amazing job!

Next we moved to the zoo, where the guys and the girls were getting dressed in the Hansen Building.

We went to the rainforest building for the first look. Joe and I were kept company by adorable little monkeys while waiting for the bride to walk in. When she did, though, Joe only had eyes for her.

Before doing more posed photos, we stopped to say high to the Howler Monkeys, who were really interested in Jenny (or maybe just wanted to eat her bouquet).

Their ceremony was officiated by Joe's dad, a talented speaker who added an amazing, personal touch and a great sense of humor.

Afterward, there was time for people to hit up the food truck and explore the zoo, which was empty except for wedding guests. (At the risk of sounding crotchety, a zoo with no kids? Amazing.)

The reception proper started with a big announcement from the couple - after years of snakes, geckos, and other little pets, this animal loving couple had adopted their first dog just days before the wedding. Geronimo was a little nervous about all the people and excitement, but so so cute!

After that was the first dance...

...and then a trip to the carousel.

The rest of the night was dessert, dancing, and hanging out with friends and family. And one quick late-night portrait session, because I can't let a good set of arches go to waste.

Congratulations, Jenny, Joe, and Geronimo!

Birchwood Wedding

After doing an engagement session with Angela and Jalen, I was so excited to see what they put together for their wedding day, and they did not disappoint!

My second shooter and I met them at a nearby hotel for prep, but pretty quickly we moved to Birchwood Banquets for first look and posed photos.

I loved their outfits - very classy and elegant without being stuffy.

The ceremony was held outside, and their vows were beautiful. Hardly a dry eye anywhere!

The reception was a blast! Everyone came ready to celebrate the new couple, and the mix of Ethiopian and American dance music kept things interesting all night.

The night ended with an Ethiopian tradition, where Angela and Jalen went along a line of family elders, giving thanks and receiving blessings. Easily the most emotional exit I've had the chance to photograph.

Congratulations, Angela and Jalen!

Kilts and Rainbows

I met Marina and Katie through my wife and have had the chance to get to know them better in the last couple years. I was so honored when they asked me to be their photographer... especially when they had to reschedule the wedding to accommodate my schedule! (Which is crazy but I'm glad they did.)

They had a very DIY wedding at Glen Island Park, with the ceremony tucked into a wooded glen under a castle. A fitting setting to Katie's Scottish family and friends, many of whom made the trip from Scotland to be there. (For the record, Katie is not the one in the kilt.)

The wedding was full of fun little details, most put together by their wonderful friends who arrived in drizzly, gusty weather to set up tents, heat up food, and set up a pride selfie booth.

Glen Island was a beautiful spot for photos, once I could get the guests to stop hugging Marina and Katie long enough for some pictures!

Not all serious photos, though. They've got too much of a sense of humor to be serious all the time.

Instead of cake, they had the biggest most ridiculous donuts I've ever seen (I'm still coming out of the sugar coma) which they smashed in each other's faces, as you do.

I'm usually not too sappy on this blog, even though I am a big softie when it comes to weddings... But with Marina and Katie, I can't resist a little sentimentality. Even in the little bit I've gotten to know them, it's so clear that they are a perfect match, and each other's best friends. If they approach married life with the same partnership and sense of humor as they approached the wedding, I know they will have a long, happy life together. The overwhelming love and support of their family and friends doesn't hurt, either.

Congratulations, Marina and Katie!

Orchard Vows

I met up with Morgan and Doug at Hyland Orchard for some afternoon posed photos out among the trees.

Then we had a little downtime as guests arrived and rode the hayride up the hill to the ceremony location.

The ceremony was beautiful, with Morgan's uncle officiating. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day, sunny and warm with fluffy clouds and lush trees.

The reception was great, with amazing music from the Boston Party Machine, great food, a roaring bonfire, and lots of dancing.

Plus... Hyland Orchard is home to Rapscallion Brewery. I normally don't drink at weddings, but this time I made an exception. The Belgian White was really good! The brewery made for a lovely backdrop too.

Congratulations, Morgan and Doug!

100!

This, just as a side note, was my 100th wedding as a photographer. That's a lot!

I met Jen and her bridesmaids at The Publick House for hair and makeup, plus a visit to Dylan and the guys across the property as they suited up.

We scurried to get outdoor posed photos done as rain threatened. The grounds were lovely and we got everything done pretty quickly so we could all pile back into the air conditioning.

Luckily, the rain held off not only through photos but through the ceremony as well, which was wonderful.

The reception was a lot of fun with great speeches, good food, and an amazing song one of their friends wrote about them!

Congratulations Jen and Dylan!