I recently had the opportunity to travel to Massachusetts to document a wonderful wedding out on Martha's Vineyard.  I had the opportunity to vacation on the island many many years ago and to return over a decade later to document a wedding was a real treat.  Little did I know, the island was expected to be hit by one of the largest snow storms in recent history.

I paid very close attention to the local weather reports, all of which forecasted anywhere from 2-4 inches of snow all the way up to as much as 2 feet!  I thought to myself, there is no way it is going to snow that much.  After all, in Portland, when snow is forecasted it is typically 45 degrees and rainy.  Well, in Massachusetts, when they say it is going to snow -- it is going to snow.

I woke early in the morning to dig the truck out of the snow.  It was quite the task and my only concern was the potential of getting stuck somewhere along the way.  A very valid concern.  So, I packed the truck full of gear and headed on my way.  I drove through a total Winter Wonderland with the streets bare of traffic and the tree limbs covered in snow and ice.  It was the most beautiful sight.

I arrived at the Mansion House in downtown Vineyard Haven to photograph the guys getting ready.  The snow was still coming down quite heavily and our original plan was to take formal pictures of the groom's side of the family on the hotel roof top.  When I checked in at the front desk, I was told that the roof top would not be accessible due to all the snow.  Well, when I went upstairs to check on things, someone had already shovelled the roof top.  Thanks Jonathan!!

From the Mansion House I then drove over to Erin's parent's house to document the women getting ready.  And the snow kept coming down.  Upon arrival, Erin made it really clear that no matter what, formal pictures were going to be taken outdoors.  She was so excited to have a winter wedding and I was absolutely determined to capture her out in the snow!

After the photo session at the house, we headed straight to the Grace Episcopal Church for the ceremony.  All the guests were chatting about the incredible snow storm and their adventures in taking the ferry from Massachusetts to Martha's Vineyard.  The day was an incredible experience for us all.

From the ceremony site, the wedding party and I went to the Black Dog Wharf for pictures in the snow!  Everyone's sheer determination paid off and we came away with some really lovely pictures.  A big thanks goes out to Erin & Jonathan for being so adventurous on their wedding day.

The reception at Lambert's Cove Inn was absolutely lovely.  Every bit of it reminded me of New England.  And it was nice to cozy up by the fireplace and defrost a bit after a day in the snow.  Erin & Jonathan's online gallery of images will be live this Friday.  In preparation for the launch, we wanted to send a sneak peek of images.

Congratulations Erin & Jonathan and thank you for creating such a memorable wedding.

Ever wonder what it looks like right after you get married?

Fall weddings are such a treat to photograph and Victoria & Brian's wedding was no exception.  The colors are always so beautiful and the temperature is just perfect.  Victoria & Brian staged their wedding day preparations at The Benson Hotel in downtown Portland where we were able to quite simply walk across the street for the ceremony and reception at The Treasury Historic Ballroom. 

Following the ceremony, as guests began taking their seats for dinner, I began hearing a bunch of popping noises.  There was a bunch of chatter amongst the guests followed by tremendous amounts of laughter.  The room became filled with laughter and jokes -- really, really bad jokes.  Such as:


You see, each table setting had its own individual Christmas Cracker.  Christmas crackers are an integral part of the Christmas celebrations in the United Kingdom and elsewhere (such as Victoria & Brian's wedding)!!  A cracker consists of a cardboard tube wrapped in a brightly decorated twist of paper, making it resemble an oversized sweet-wrapper. The cracker is pulled by two people, and, much in the manner of a wishbone, the cracker splits unevenly. The split is accompanied by a small bang - much like that from a cap gun.  In one version of the tradition the person with the larger portion of cracker empties the contents from the tube and keeps them.  Typically the contents are a paper hat or crown; a small toy or other trinket and a joke or piece of trivia on a small strip of paper.

As more and more Christmas Crackers were opened, the room began to fill with guests wearing the most amazing paper hats.  At one point, everyone in the room was wearing a paper hat and it reminded me of Max from Where the Wild Things Are.

Victoria & Brian's wedding was an absolute blast.  Guests had the time of their lives and the dance floor was exploding with all sorts of amazing dance moves and celebrations.  Congratulations to Victoria & Brian!

Tiffany & Aaron exchanged vows at the rustic Cooper Spur Mountain Resort on September 12, 2009.  I absolutely love photographing at locations like these that are so unique to the Northwest.  We originally met Tiffany & Aaron last year at the Bravo Tradeshow and were so excited to have been chosen to document their special day.  We have been in contact with the couple many times throughout the year in preparation for the big wedding day and it was so exciting to see everything come together.

The day flowed perfectly just as planned.  I met up with the women in Hood River at 5th Element Salon for hair and makeup.  I then met up with the guys to document their getting ready while Holly met up with the women at Cooper Spur.  We coordinated the formals session in such a way as to make sure that Tiffany & Aaron did not see each other prior to the ceremony.  The look on the couple's faces as they saw each other for the first time was so sweet.  Following the ceremony, we made sure to capture various portraits of the couple throughout the grounds of Cooper Spur.  There are so many great locations to photograph.

Congratulations to Tiffany & Aaron and thank you so much for the honor of being part of your wedding day.

   

Jennifer & Dennis exchanged vows at the Grace Memorial Episcopal Church on September 6, 2009.  With intermittent periods of light rain mixed with sunny skies, we made sure to take full advantage of the outdoors whenever possible.  The end result was a really nice blend of formals taken in the courtyard, up by the alter, and at Rocky Butte.

Jennifer hand crafted her bouquet along with all of the groomsmens' boutonnieres and her bridesmaids each individually made their own pieces as well.  I love creative touches like these to bring a more unique and personalized look to a wedding.  Congratulations to Jennifer & Dennis.

Kristin & Chad had a unique vision for their wedding photography - they wanted something that was absolutely different.  Never before have I had the opportunity to work with a couple that was so involved and willing to participate in the creative process.  Over an hour was set aside for photos with the entire wedding party throughout Portland.  We photographed throughout the streets of downtown Portland, boarded the Max Train, and met up for family pictures at Tanner Springs Park in the Pearl.  We took the city by storm (and have the photos to prove it)! 

High 5s to Kristin & Chad for re-inventing cool.  It was an absolute pleasure and honor to document your wedding day.  Thank you to Jackie with Abel Affairs for all of your assistance with the day.  Not only did you plan an amazing wedding but you also put together the most gorgeous floral arrangements.  Thank you also to Kate Kelly for all your amazing talents.  It is always a pleasure photographing with you.  Lastly, a special thanks to Andina Restaurant for the amazing food and cocktails.



 

Carol & Ed exchanged vows at their private residence amongst their closest friends and family.  Their intimate ceremony was immediately followed by a cocktail hour and reception that went well into the evening.  Food was prepared and served in the couple's beautiful kitchen and enjoyed out on the back deck with a sprawling view of the lake.  Congratulations to Carol and Ed and a special thanks goes out to Lily for doing such a wonderful job as the ring bearer.