Non-pro pics
These are some of my favorite photos taken by friends & family.
Recap: Massachusetts bride married August 15th at the Crane Estate in Ipswich, MA. I am one of those super-organized people who likes things "just so" and I have to say - by and large everything was perfect in this oh-so-imperfect world. :) I had made a conscious decision that everything would be completed by Friday night and Saturday and Sunday morning would be about R&R - oh, and that I would NOT freak out about the little stuff. I was pretty zen the whole weekend. Thursday was my birthday and so Friday, after my aunt arrived from VA and two Venezuelan friends arrived (via Miami & Canada, where each now lives), we had an informal dinner at my Mom's house to catch up with family and celebrate my birthday.
My best friend (MOH) lives in France and she & her husband flew in for the wedding. We spent Saturday afternoon at my apartment having lunch and catching up. Later that night we picked up the out-of-towners and headed over to FMIL's for the rehearsal dinner. She did an incredible job - she has a beautiful home and she hired Woodman's to cater the rehearsal. We had originally wanted a beach wedding (which proved impossible although we were still ocean-view!) so we had a clambake rehearsal!
First pic - me & MOH's husband - he had never had a whole lobster and ate two!
My Mom and our friends from Venezuela:
The siblings!
back row: BIL (SIL's husband), my brother, DH, BIL. front row: nephew, SIL, me, BIL's GF, niece.
After the rehearsal my two 'maids and I headed up to Salem and just chilled in the hotel. We did face masks and talked and I went to bed first. But I couldn't sleep (dur!) and got up at 6:30am to go to the gym and walk off my nervous energy. We had breakfast in the hotel and then went for mani-pedis and to our hair appointments. By the time we got to the venue we were a little off-schedule, but not nearly as much as the men who were an hour and a half late! So - no cute pics of them in their ivy caps and cufflinks we got them, but whatever, the ceremony still started on time. :)
The beautiful, beautiful ceremony overlooking the ocean...
groomsman and bridesmaid...
ring bearer and flower girl (the ring pillow and headband were DIY projects)
with my father (MIL is in purple dress):
A private moment (and a good shot of my updo!)
We held hands the entire ceremony.
Exchanging vows
My handsome brother as a bridesman. He started choking up during his reading so I quietly stuck my tongue out at him! He started smiling and after everyone said, "we couldn't tell if you were laughing or crying!" He just smiled and said, "both." Considering that during the rehearsal he practiced his reading by saying, "the word of the lord - badda bing!" I was surprised and touched. Later, he got choked up again as he told me he wished our grandmother could have been there and I said "she is!" I wore her engagement ring on my right hand as my something borrowed and I gave DH an embroidered handkerchief of hers for his breast pocket because I wanted him, the most important person in my life who is here in body, to have something of the most important person in my life who is with me in spirit. I smiled every time I looked at him - she would have loved him. :)
MOH holding our bouquets
kissy-face!
So happy. As we hugged, right after this was taken, he picked me up and everyone cheered.
The wedding party:
my brother, my two friends, me & DH, nephew & niece, BIL, DH's two friends.
My Dad had started standing behind the photographer making monkey faces & gesturing to make the kids look & smile for pictures and then he couldn't stop. We were dying. :D
I love this picture - I imagine the conversation went something like this: "no, dude, uncle man, ya gotta give me back those rings. See, I got this pillow here, and I need them. C'mon, do me a solid, bro."
Or, maybe not, since he's, ya know... four. ;D
My mother and brother being introduced. Apparently there was a giant "hurrah" when my Mom was announced. People LOOOOVE my Mom. :D
The two Moms...
Father-daughter dance. Had my parents still been married, they would have celebrated their 40th anniversary on August 1st. It made me a little sad, but I'm glad they could be civil and work together for the wedding. The last time my Dad and I danced I was five years old and the flower girl at my babysitter's wedding and he was carrying me. :)
Our GORGEOUS reception! We had dinner on the side lawn, overlooking the ocean.
Listening to speeches - note Grammie's hanky in DH's pocket. Love!
Our food was amazing - this was the salad:
I loved our cake. LOVED IT! My Mom designed it based on my inspiration pictures and it came out just beyond my dreams!
Oh yeah, eating cake is so pretty. *eye roll* But it's tasty! :D Unfortunately, no one was actually HOLDING onto the box in the car on the way home and the top layer got smashed. My Mom saved it so I could see it and decide what I want to do with it. I think I'm just going to bring it to my brother's house on Friday night for the last dinner before my best friend goes back to France and we can all enjoy it together, ugly and smashed up. I'm not gonna lie, I'm pretty bummed about it, but what can ya do? Silver linings, right?
Having fun with the photobooth DH made!
We used our baby pictures on it, too. The square pic under me is him with his arm around his little brother at the beach. I have another of them walking like that toward the alter before the ceremony. I love it. :)
It's really true what everyone says - it goes by fast. Too fast. So fast. FAST. :) And no, you won't notice little things like programs or cocktail napkins. But you will notice big things like people not taking pics with your photobooth or leaving you comments for your guest book because it's down a hallway and in another room away from the dancing. Ahem. I *almost* said something to the staff at the venue to change it, and then I didn't because I didn't want to seem controlling but I kinda wish I had. Oh well. It pays to be organized, but not rigid and controlling - have a Plan B and roll with it or let it go and keep on enjoying yourself. I got a call from my brother on the way to the venue saying that the caterer and venue wanted to put dinner inside. I said, "look, if they are telling you they WON'T do dinner outside, fine. But my overwhelming preference is dinner outside." I decided I wasn't going to freak if it was inside. It ended up outside and it was AWESOME. Do make a list of what pics you want because your photographer isn't a mind reader and people will be pulling you in 8,000 directions. I didn't remember to get a pic with three of my closest friends and we ALWAYS take a group shot so I was bummed about that. So, slow down, take the time to enjoy the couple of days before and the couple of days after. And pack a journal so you can write down your special memories. My MOH gave this to me the day before and I wrote in it on our mini-moon on Cape Cod. But most of all - smile - someone is taking your picture - and it will help you to relax and have fun. :)
I can't WAIT for the pro-pics! :D
Recap: Massachusetts bride married August 15th at the Crane Estate in Ipswich, MA. I am one of those super-organized people who likes things "just so" and I have to say - by and large everything was perfect in this oh-so-imperfect world. :) I had made a conscious decision that everything would be completed by Friday night and Saturday and Sunday morning would be about R&R - oh, and that I would NOT freak out about the little stuff. I was pretty zen the whole weekend. Thursday was my birthday and so Friday, after my aunt arrived from VA and two Venezuelan friends arrived (via Miami & Canada, where each now lives), we had an informal dinner at my Mom's house to catch up with family and celebrate my birthday.
My best friend (MOH) lives in France and she & her husband flew in for the wedding. We spent Saturday afternoon at my apartment having lunch and catching up. Later that night we picked up the out-of-towners and headed over to FMIL's for the rehearsal dinner. She did an incredible job - she has a beautiful home and she hired Woodman's to cater the rehearsal. We had originally wanted a beach wedding (which proved impossible although we were still ocean-view!) so we had a clambake rehearsal!
First pic - me & MOH's husband - he had never had a whole lobster and ate two!
My Mom and our friends from Venezuela:
The siblings!
back row: BIL (SIL's husband), my brother, DH, BIL. front row: nephew, SIL, me, BIL's GF, niece.
After the rehearsal my two 'maids and I headed up to Salem and just chilled in the hotel. We did face masks and talked and I went to bed first. But I couldn't sleep (dur!) and got up at 6:30am to go to the gym and walk off my nervous energy. We had breakfast in the hotel and then went for mani-pedis and to our hair appointments. By the time we got to the venue we were a little off-schedule, but not nearly as much as the men who were an hour and a half late! So - no cute pics of them in their ivy caps and cufflinks we got them, but whatever, the ceremony still started on time. :)
The beautiful, beautiful ceremony overlooking the ocean...
groomsman and bridesmaid...
ring bearer and flower girl (the ring pillow and headband were DIY projects)
with my father (MIL is in purple dress):
A private moment (and a good shot of my updo!)
We held hands the entire ceremony.
Exchanging vows
My handsome brother as a bridesman. He started choking up during his reading so I quietly stuck my tongue out at him! He started smiling and after everyone said, "we couldn't tell if you were laughing or crying!" He just smiled and said, "both." Considering that during the rehearsal he practiced his reading by saying, "the word of the lord - badda bing!" I was surprised and touched. Later, he got choked up again as he told me he wished our grandmother could have been there and I said "she is!" I wore her engagement ring on my right hand as my something borrowed and I gave DH an embroidered handkerchief of hers for his breast pocket because I wanted him, the most important person in my life who is here in body, to have something of the most important person in my life who is with me in spirit. I smiled every time I looked at him - she would have loved him. :)
MOH holding our bouquets
kissy-face!
So happy. As we hugged, right after this was taken, he picked me up and everyone cheered.
The wedding party:
my brother, my two friends, me & DH, nephew & niece, BIL, DH's two friends.
My Dad had started standing behind the photographer making monkey faces & gesturing to make the kids look & smile for pictures and then he couldn't stop. We were dying. :D
I love this picture - I imagine the conversation went something like this: "no, dude, uncle man, ya gotta give me back those rings. See, I got this pillow here, and I need them. C'mon, do me a solid, bro."
Or, maybe not, since he's, ya know... four. ;D
My mother and brother being introduced. Apparently there was a giant "hurrah" when my Mom was announced. People LOOOOVE my Mom. :D
The two Moms...
Father-daughter dance. Had my parents still been married, they would have celebrated their 40th anniversary on August 1st. It made me a little sad, but I'm glad they could be civil and work together for the wedding. The last time my Dad and I danced I was five years old and the flower girl at my babysitter's wedding and he was carrying me. :)
Our GORGEOUS reception! We had dinner on the side lawn, overlooking the ocean.
Listening to speeches - note Grammie's hanky in DH's pocket. Love!
Our food was amazing - this was the salad:
I loved our cake. LOVED IT! My Mom designed it based on my inspiration pictures and it came out just beyond my dreams!
Oh yeah, eating cake is so pretty. *eye roll* But it's tasty! :D Unfortunately, no one was actually HOLDING onto the box in the car on the way home and the top layer got smashed. My Mom saved it so I could see it and decide what I want to do with it. I think I'm just going to bring it to my brother's house on Friday night for the last dinner before my best friend goes back to France and we can all enjoy it together, ugly and smashed up. I'm not gonna lie, I'm pretty bummed about it, but what can ya do? Silver linings, right?
Having fun with the photobooth DH made!
We used our baby pictures on it, too. The square pic under me is him with his arm around his little brother at the beach. I have another of them walking like that toward the alter before the ceremony. I love it. :)
It's really true what everyone says - it goes by fast. Too fast. So fast. FAST. :) And no, you won't notice little things like programs or cocktail napkins. But you will notice big things like people not taking pics with your photobooth or leaving you comments for your guest book because it's down a hallway and in another room away from the dancing. Ahem. I *almost* said something to the staff at the venue to change it, and then I didn't because I didn't want to seem controlling but I kinda wish I had. Oh well. It pays to be organized, but not rigid and controlling - have a Plan B and roll with it or let it go and keep on enjoying yourself. I got a call from my brother on the way to the venue saying that the caterer and venue wanted to put dinner inside. I said, "look, if they are telling you they WON'T do dinner outside, fine. But my overwhelming preference is dinner outside." I decided I wasn't going to freak if it was inside. It ended up outside and it was AWESOME. Do make a list of what pics you want because your photographer isn't a mind reader and people will be pulling you in 8,000 directions. I didn't remember to get a pic with three of my closest friends and we ALWAYS take a group shot so I was bummed about that. So, slow down, take the time to enjoy the couple of days before and the couple of days after. And pack a journal so you can write down your special memories. My MOH gave this to me the day before and I wrote in it on our mini-moon on Cape Cod. But most of all - smile - someone is taking your picture - and it will help you to relax and have fun. :)
I can't WAIT for the pro-pics! :D