I love winter weddings. I can’t imagine a better time of year to get married…although it is not always easy to pull off photographically here in the northeast (it gets dark 3:30pm)! Anna and Matt’s wedding at the stunning Bedford Village Inn was my last wedding of 2012, which is always bitter sweet for this photographer.

The inn was really a lovely backdrop for a warm, intimate feeling wedding.

Weddings are stressful…and this isn’t the first time I have seen this familiar pink bottle. When in doubt, skip the champagne and go right for the Pepto.

Anna and Matt chose to do a first look, which was wonderful considering the short amount of light we had available to us that day.

the.ceremony

The bridal party was such a great mix of friends and family that were SO much fun.

Anna and Matt:

photographer note: before this wedding, I purchased the new Canon 5D Mark III. Hands down, this camera saved the day with its high iso capabilities when getting ready took an hour longer than expected. These pictures were taken in near pitch black.

The Reception:

I rarely get a chance to eat the cake, but this prego mama was not about to turn down one of these cupcakes. They were JUST as yummy as they were beautiful.

With such a fun wedding party, the dancing was bound to be good!

Timing is so key in a wedding. You don’t even realize it until you are actually in the pocket of the day just how fast, and just how precious, every moment is.  From hair and make up, to traffic, to unanticipated (and wonderful) emotion at the ceremony, and unexpected greetings at the end of your nuptials…none of these time delays can be added up before your day begins. I would never ask a client to give up these unforgettable pieces of time in lieu of photographs, but I try to help every bride and groom create the potion for great pictures.

The best gift you can give your photographer, is time…

I am still convinced my grandmother was the original Emily Post, so I have the manners of any proper play room princess. It is impolite to keep your guests waiting too long at your reception while you take photographs, and not only that, after the months of planning and stress, you want to be able to enjoy your reception. I want that too.

I love these photographs of Christa and Nick taken back in July. We discussed timing for months. In the end, we decided to sneak away during a lull in the reception. Both of them were able to greet their guests, have their dinner, and then we were all more relaxed for these sunset shots on the beach.  We had captured their wedding party and group shots earlier in the day, so we were free to breathe and work on every pose in privacy. It wasn’t too rushed, and it was more intimate.

It is so liberating to hear my couples say that great photographs are on the top of their priority list. I encourage clients to make a MUST have list of photographs that include not only details and family and friends, but poses and ideas for couple shots as well. There is a wealth of online knowledge (it is overwhelming, really)…feel free to send me links and pictures, Pinterest pins, texts and tweets. The more communication you have with me (or with any photographer) the better.

Taking pictures is savoring life intensely, every hundredth of a second….Marc.Riboud

My favorite place, in all wedding locations, is the Mount Washinton Hotel. I am not sure what it is about this place…when I ride up the driveway, it as if you are transported to a completely different world. I remember my first wedding here: click.here, and it was so overwhelmingly dreamy. Taylor and Ben’s wedding was no different. This day, it was rain, and not subzero temps we were faced with. The hotel is just as beautiful in the rain. Nestled in between the New Hampshire mountain ranges, the fog wraps the grounds in beautiful haze.

My brides really know how to pick the perfect dress.

 Because of the rain, we were moved to the porch….this photographer was not a bit disappointed. How could you be with this amazing panoramic view.

This classic black dress was my favorite bridesmaids dresses all season. Long, flowing, and completely classic.

Ben and Taylor…

the umbrella was the perfect accessory for the day and much needed even on the wrap around veranda.

The reception was made complete by this GORGEOUS candy bar. Let me just say, I saw the classic Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory last week, and it didn’t seem the same after seeing Taylor’s candy spread.

The big thing now in wedding receptions is up-lighting….I LOVE IT. There is no better addition to your dance floor, especially in a big ball room were light can get lost in the tall ceiling. The purple/pinkish huge was the perfect addition to make these shots dynamic and fun. This was such a great croud of amazing dancers..I just love it when kiddos are included too. They danced just as long, and just as much as the adults.

 I couldn’t resist sharing this gorgeous proof box from Jeanna and Jason’s wedding, and Katie and Josh’s wedding album. Jeanna and Jason have over 400 fully edited images from their big day on Peaks Island, and I had a box custom created just for them to hold them all. The outside, adorned with luxurious suede in Midnight Blue to match their wedding colors, is so soft and delicate. On the inside: one of my favorite photos of this loving couple. To view their wedding day: click.here.

Kate and Josh decided to go with the 80 PAGE, lay-flat album for their wedding day. I spent so long feeling out fabrics for their cover, and decided to go with this amazing, imported silk in stunning, almost iridescent, green. Each page tells the complete story of their day from start to finish. My favorite part….the full page layouts of this beautiful couple. There are several throughout the book, showcasing not only their posed shots, but their priceless, spontaneous moments.

You can’t put them all on the wall or in an expensive album, but you know you want to print them and look at them often. That is why I love proof boxes. Your photos are stored in a beautiful linen box just ready for you to touch and reminisce at any time you want. Not only do I buy these for my clients, but I have purchased them for family and for myself! They are also included in EVERY wedding package I offer.