she asked him: “what kind of wedding would  you want?” he replied: “the one that would make you my wife”. (whomcwhat)

i have been editing for the last 5 days strait and my fingers are morphing into arthritic old person hands that curve in the shape of a computer mouse, so i will keep my words short and let the pictures tell the story. i am so lucky that a lot of my couples have stood the test of time and made it through the changes and challenges that life  has put in front of them…Erica and Dylan are just such a couple. they have been together since high school, have melted into each others families and friends, and getting married to them was about love, and being with the people they loved for one single day.

don’t i get the most amazingly gorgeous brides….

love that this couple opted for the first look. it was so great to capture those reactions right up close.

the wedding party was a mix of lifelong friends and family…just LOVE the colors.

Erica and Dylan

the.ceremony

did i say this wedding was about love? well it was. but it was also about dancing. Dylan choreographed a Michael Jackson montage for the entire wedding party. this was not a little undertaking, clearly, as it lasted almost 10 minutes. just one of those times that being a videographer seemed more cool than being a photographer….

the.end.

1. 9 months feels like the blink of an eye and forever all at the same time…. 2. no matter how uncomfortable you feel with your body, you will miss being pregnant later…. 3. feeling your baby kick for the first time is similar to your first kiss….all butterflies and smiles… 4. pillows are sent from heaven and can help you get a few comfortable moments in bed  every night…. 5. a glass of wine every now and then is really okay…. 6. nap whenever the feelings come over you, when your little one arrives you can only rest when they do… 7. rub oils and lotions on your body all the time, even if it cannot prevent stretch marks, it sure feels nice…. 8. chocolate is a critically important food group…. 9. appreciate your breasts, nursing will change them forever…. 10. pregnancy is as sexy as you want it to be, so wear your sexy nightgown and love every bit of your amble curves.

(elizabeth.messina)

It is rare that I get to photograph a wedding so close to home. The week before Molly’s wedding, I packed up the girls and headed up to the Loon Lodge, nestled in a hidden little spot on Rangely Lake in the western Maine Mountains. The second we all jumped out of the car, all of us were in awe of this gorgeous location. Not only was it picturesque, but the staff was so accommodating right from the start, I almost didn’t want to leave. (I had to bribe the girls with candy to get in the car, and they never looked so dissatisfied with skittles in their life as we drove away).

But other than the location, as perfect as it is, Molly, Mike, and her family is what made this day just a treasure to photograph. Every detail was exquisite…from the shoes to the flowers…as you can see. The wedding guests, made up of life long friends and family, were all involved in the day and happily attending to whatever needed to be done. Everyone was glowing and laid back and inviting. It is rare that you see  owners of a venue on the premises, but they were …both chipping in to make the day a success.  And after meeting Molly and Mike, you can see why everyone was so happy to take part…they truly are two of the most amazing people.

The wedding itself took place in the quaint Oquossoc Church, and then Mike and Molly opted for a boat ride on the Oquossoc Lady {captained that day by owner Kevin}, back to the Lodge to have some time just to themselves (oh and me). The lake was beautiful and the light was streaming in from both sides of the covered boat. It felt like something out of a movie really…the whole day.

and they lived happily ever after….

daily mantra: a life with love will have some thorns, but a life without love will have no roses. {unknown}

daily mantra: be with someone who knows what they have when they have you.

i am so blessed that 99% of my clients are repeat clients i have had since the beginning. i met Anna during my very first year shooting professionally, and it was so great to go back this year and meet her little brother Eli. this amazing family has come together through the miracle of international adoption, and seeing their long road complete with little Eli just makes my heart melt.