Well, that’s the day that Laurie Beth (LB!) and Nick got married.  A heat wave never looked so good.  It was nearly impossible for me to narrow down the shots for this post.  I wanted to share them all!

I arrived at Zorvino Vineyards and was greeted by these adorable custom signs!

 Then it was up to the bridal suite to find the girls. The stunning, gorgeous, fantastic girls.  I’m 100% sure LB could have a career as a Cover Girl model should her whole “being a lawyer” thing not pan out.

Trying to stay ahead of the heat wave!

 This little guy was so good all day. Even when he was frustrated and not interested in wearing that adorable tuxedo, he was still a trooper.

 If you do one thing for your wedding, I urge you to order or make a sweet hanger for your attire.  Etsy has a ton of them, starting in the $10–15 range, or you can make your own! (if you google DIY wedding hanger there are tons of results)

 LB — you take my breath away.  GORGEOUS!!!!

A card from her father left everyone in tears.

 LB & Nick chose to do a first look.  I’m so in love with this action — it’s full of jitters and anticipation — with instant gratification of being able to embrace each other immediately and tell the one you love exactly how you’re feeling with out having to wait out the duration of the ceremony.  Never once have I seen it lessen the look of awe and enchantment on each other’s faces the approach to the aisle/officiant commences after.

 Nick was so sweet though — and refused to kiss her on the lips until the ceremony.  The perfect combination of first look/not first look if you ask me!

 This quiet few minutes together gave them peace of mind and time to really take each other in before the craziness of the day began.

 And allowed us to get some of the “formalities” out of the way too — more time to party later!

 Here’s the whole gang– cutie patootie included.  He had no interest in standing and promptly plopped himself down on the ground.  I love it!  Kids have their own agendas and forcing them to do “the right thing” can just cause undue stress for everyone involved.  Let them march to their own drummer a little bit and the results can be adorable!   — Oh, and have I mentioned how hot it was?  Nick’s brother Alex was at the ready to keep his brother picture perfect all afternoon

 The other great thing about the first look was that we all had time to duck back inside Zorvino and cool down and hydrate.  I must say the staff there is always fantastic, but they were especially good about making sure everyone, myself included, had access to water!!

After a cool down it was time to get down to the business of marrying.

 Nick is Greek (you know, in case the hanger saying “Mrs. Pliakos” didn’t give it away)  They incorporated some Greek traditions in to the ceremony, including the Crowning Ceremony, performed by his Uncle (I think, sorry if I’m wrong guys!) and his brother.

 s|w|a|k!

 After the ceremony we took a few moments to wander the grounds at the vineyard and take some newly wedded photos!

These two should be catalog models. For real.

 This is probably one of my top ten memorable wedding happenings.  The day before the wedding I get an email from LB.. “OH and another thing– my little sister is 8, and she is the biggest tomboy ever, so she’s wearing a dress for the ceremony and then I got her a tux to change into for the reception, and she is SO excited. Can you try to get a couple cute pictures of her in it? That would be awesome ”  And photos we got!  And let me tell you, she rocked that tux all.night.long!

 The reception started off like most, entrance right into first dance surrounded by love and friends and family–

 I headed up to the balcony to get the bird’s eye view, and when I looked down, I saw all the love and friends and family — and the couple being showered with money!

 Like I said,I have a hard time narrowing down my favorites in this wedding, but this is definitely one of them.

 The cutest part?  Anytime there was money thrown at the couple, the kids had to run around and collect it for them.  My next wedding will be a Greek Wedding.. I mean, my name is Greek, so that’s close enough right?  (oh yes, Melissa Koren.. it means “honey bee, little girl” … thanks mom & dad)

A wedding’s not a wedding until Bumblebee & Optimus Prime show up.  True? True.  Plus, in order to get a picture of this handsome face, I had to give the Transformers their  closeups.

 I loved the simple, colorful centerpieces!

 And the vineyard themed cake!

 s|w|a|k (and frosting this time too!)

 And then the dancing began.

I love when other cultures are infused into “American” weddings. LOVE IT.  And with that, I have make a confession .. I can’t possible write this whole post without admitting how much I loved the movie “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”.  How I want to fix everything with Windex. And how this is also probably one of the top ten dance moments for me.  *dork much?* yes, yes I am.

 LB and Nick monopolized the dance floor all night long.  I know I’ve mentioned it before, but I can’t tell you how much I love it when the couple actually gets down at their wedding!

And speaking of getting down — remember how I said Julie rocked out in her tux?  Well she not only rocked out, but she threw down the dance gauntlet repeatedly. And won time after time!  Show ‘em how it’s done girl!

 Just before I was about to leave we tried to find a quiet corner to sign the marriage license.  Alex procured a makeshift desktop from out of nowhere!  He’s magic that one!

With the sun gone to bed for the evening, the air had cooled down a bit.  We snuck outside for a few final photos and I bid LB & Nick a fond farewell leaving them to their happily ever after and taking with me another chapter of phenomenal characters in the m|k|p story.

 LB & Nick took a moment to review me on WeddingWire.  And for that I am honored and humbled!  Thank you so much!

When we chose Melissa to be our wedding photographer, we had no idea that we would also be getting a seamstress/medic/extra bridesmaid extraordinaire! She was WONDERFUL and literally saved the day about 8 times. Example: when someone stepped on my gown and broke my bustle during the reception, she dropped her camera, whipped out a sewing kit, and sewed me a new bustle in 2 minutes flat. AMAZING. Throughout the day, she was calm, relaxed, and professional, but at the same time, she kept everything moving so that we could get inside and enjoy our reception. 

On top of being just all around awesome, Melissa took incredible photos; we literally sat at the computer crying and laughing out loud as we looked through them. Bottom line– anyone can take a picture, but it takes an artist to capture a moment, and Melissa does just that. We highly recommend her!

]]> http://melissakoren.com/2012/01/25/laurie-beth-nickmarried-07-23-11-zorvino-vineyards-wedding/feed/ 1 http://melissakoren.com/2011/12/15/chevelle-brodiemarried-07-16-11-durham-nh-wedding-photography/ http://melissakoren.com/2011/12/15/chevelle-brodiemarried-07-16-11-durham-nh-wedding-photography/#comments Thu, 15 Dec 2011 17:25:13 +0000 melissakoren http://melissakoren.com/?p=5125 Well — it was nice while it lasted — not being behind on blogs.  Alas, here it is, a day shy of Chevelle & Brodie’s 5 month anniversary and I’m just now telling you all about it.

Chevelle & Brodie are sweet as pie.  After their engagement session in Prescott Park last summer, I was sure that their wedding was going to be so.much.fun — and was it ever!

I arrived at Chevelle’s parents house to find this splendid setup — and all those hangers? Chevelle MADE them.  I think she should probably open her own shop on etsy; or at least open a MKP Prop shop for me!  Love them.

 I love the getting ready shots.  Everyone doing their own thing, all dolled up, usually in t-shirts and all working toward the common goal of getting the bride married!

This was the first time (but not the last time) I saw this new way of making sure your dress stays lined up — having your seamstress add velcro to your undergarments.  Just make sure it’s done well or it can backfire, but this was the crowning touch on making Chevelle’s dress fit like a glove!

 Mum helping her daughters with their final touches — included de-lipsticking the teeth!

 And dad… ready to fight a duel?  Watch out Brodie!

 I got to ride in the limo with the girls which is always SO much fun.  The subtle champagne & peach color scheme was so beautiful.

 When we arrived the girls hung out in the limo and I went in to check on Brodie.  He and his brother were holed up at the back of the church; trying to keep entertained.

 Then, it was time to get married!

 It was a wonderful ceremony full of light & love & foreverness.

 And FINALLY!  Married!

 There was such an timeless old-fashioned feel to their wedding.  It was all I could do to not post process the whole thing in black and white because I loved the story so much.   Thank goodness for digital though — best of both worlds! The gorgeous colors and the magical black and white!

 Remember what I just said about that ..timeless, old fashioned feeling?  Chevelle was going for that too, which is exactly why she booked the stretch hummer limo.  NOT!  There was a snafu with the limo company and this was all they had to send along for the day.  While she was a tiny bit put-off at first, we certainly laughed and made the best of it and had fun. We HAD to take a photo with it!!

 The grounds at The Oaks are gorgeous!

Then it was inside to start the party!  A delicate first dance.

 Adoring toasts by Chevelle’s sister and Brodie’s brother.

 priceless children full of personality and hilarity.

 And a surprise XBOX360 cake for Brodie!

 If you’d asked me to place a wager before hand I would have bet that there would be at least a little bit of cake flying about during cake cutting, but they were very delicate with each other.  (I’m pretty sure I heard Chevelle threaten to pummel him should he be anything less than gentle!)

 It’s readily evident that Chevelle & Brodie have amazing relationships with their families — who have amazing relationships with each other.  It was an honor to witness.

 love.is.sweet! and so are my favorite candies. pink starburst. YUM!

 I love how grownups charge the candy station more than the kids do!

This bunch were wild dancers.  I love.love.love when the bride and groom tear up the dance floor all night and these two had many a guest by their side!

 Brodie’s dad and brother had a show down.  It was a good fight.

 But I think Brodie’s brother gets the props for his mad skills.

 After what I can only describe as a fairy tale perfect event, the new Mr & Mrs Bazo headed off to their honeymoon a waft  in iridescent bubble beauty!

 My thanks to you both for having me be privy to your special day.  And many thanks for your kind words on WeddingWire!

Melissa is the best photographer EVER!!!! Not only is she talented, which can be seen through her BEAUTIFUL photographs, but she has such a great personality! She rode in the limo with us, danced with us, and still managed to take pictures at the same time! She was incredibly helpful with everything, including helping with my bustle and taking my veils out of my hair! I just can’t believe how great she is! 

She makes formals go by quickly and smoothly, and she made sure we got all of our must-have photos as well! I just can’t say enough good things about Melissa. She is the nicest and most talented photographer out there!!!! I am so glad we used her for our wedding!

Happy (almost) 5 month anniversary!!

After our initial meeting where their enthusiasm and love for each other, and musicals, won me over immediately — we had a fantastic rendezvous shooting their engagement photos.  As July approached I got more and more excited for their rendition of a mid-summer’s afternoon wedding.

The event was held at the NH Institute of Art in Manchester, NH (Manchvegas for those of you who are local) and the details of their day were beyond spectacular.  From the playbill & centerpieces to the leather bound journal holding their ceremony and fantastic wire bouquet — everything, including the building, suited them to a T.

When I arrived they were finishing up hair and other readying things.

And after they were perfected, they split up to dress separately and stay apart until the ceremony.

Lauren’s mother helped her girls with their bobbles,

While Kate and her mother got her into her spectacular gown.

Lauren’s gown was equally spectacular, but a little more intricate in the doing up — her MOH however did a fantastically speedy & skillful job at it!

Love notes.

And then, it was time for the ceremony — I found the officiant waiting in the wings, who knew stacked chairs could be so awesome.  Or maybe it’s the fantastic mask and crown..

The girls entered with their fathers simultaneously from each side, each preceded by a set of “bubble kids”! (LOVE IT!)

Their readings were, as everything else, heartfelt and representative of them as a couple, including Nat’s fabulous reading of A Lovely Love Story.  “Together they stand on the hill, telling each other stories and feeling the warmth of the sun on their backs. And that, my friends, is how it is with love.” –Edward Monkton

The stage/hall at NHIA is phenomenal — -

But no where near as phenomenal as Lauren & Kate’s “we’re married” curtsy & rock star action!

If I were to try and narrate this series, I would do it no justice!

And then — it was time to PARTY!

So many lovely things to say about these two amazing women.

Who listened intently, humbled and full of love.

Now here’s where I was really jealous.. They surprised their guests by performing a duet — I fantastic rendition of Rent’s I’ll Cover You.  It made me teary eyed!  I KNEW I should have performed at my wedding!

I really enjoyed how they did things at the same time, not putting one before the other, including the father daughter dance.  It signified so much equality and unity but didn’t lessen the importance or emotion.

I though my cheer & grumpy care-bear cake toppers were well suited to Nichole & I … but here we have Kate & Lauren’s Disney princess doppelgangers!

knife. sword. whatever.

And now, for some of the most amazing centerpieces I’ve ever (and I would wager, will ever) see(n).  Expertly executed by the Alyssa & crew at Apotheca Flowers — I’m in awe of them.  I’m also aching to get over to Goffstown and experience this tea/flower shoppe first hand!

I’ve come to learn, any wedding where they play the timewarp is awesome.  And this top right picture, is perhaps my most favorite, at least my favorite since Robyn & Chris’ timewarp! http://bit.ly/o4GMoF (hmm, they also used a sword to cut the cake!)

~Reach for the moon — even if you miss you’ll land among the stars~

Bouquet toss? Nay. — golden apple toss! hurray!

It was the perfect dream of an afternoon!

Thank you both for finding me and having me at such a great affair!

We chatted the evening away and parted ways excited for her wedding, and also sushi (but Chinese food for me!)

I arrived that the Lake Opechee Inn and found Niki in the final stages of getting ready.  She totally reminds me of a mix of Lauren Graham & Marissa Tomei — when I told her that at our meet-up she said — A lot of times people tell me I look like that drunken singer who used to beat her husband… you know..um,.. oh yeah, Liza Minnelli!  I laughed so hard I almost fell off the stool.   I much more prefer to think of her as Lorelei Gilmore

Niki & Everly! So much fun!

We went into another room to get dressed and she paused and said — I need pliers to get into my dress, this should be fun!

I’m not sure if fun is the word she meant.  Turns out, the pull on her zipper was so tiny and the zipper so poorly installed, they’d been getting her into it by using some pliers to hold the pull and zip her up.

 Worked like a charm — all the other times — this time, not so much.  After various attempts from everyone, the zipper went up! We’d made it past the rough spot and were an inch away from the top! Then, it busted open, from the top down. And then, while trying to get it to go back down and try again, the pull came off the zipper.  After a millisecond of silence where we in the back all silently gasped, we all la la la’d and said it’s awesome!  No worries!  I’ll just get something from my bag I say. My sewing kit. And then I sewed her right in to that dress and reinforced it with safety pins from behind. (I was more than relieved when I heard it stayed so well all night, her bridesmaid had to request scissors from the front desk to cut the stitching out at the end of the night!)

One of the bridesmaids decided that would be the perfect time to take my photo.  Thanks.

Problem solved! [Yet another benefit of planning for a first look/photos before hand– This process took a little bit, but we had scads of extra time because Niki had planned a good buffer of time for first look and photos.  We had all the time in the world to handle the unexpected and still rock out and look gorgeous before the ceremony!]

A few finishing touches from her mother and some loving from her daddy..

..and it was time for the first look.

Pure adoration, and yet, both of them with their hands in their pockets!  I called them out on it and they laughed and quickly embraced each other.

And then it was time for some of that looking gorgeous we still had time for  Niki told me she had two teenagers and I didn’t believe her, she didn’t look NEARLY old enough — and yet, here are these two beautiful children calling her mom!

Jamie was really hoping to get a shot in front of the lake. Even if we had to traipse through sloshy goose poop to to do it. Good call Jamie — I love this shot! You two are so bada$$.

Honestly this location was a dream — there was such a mix of grunge and grace all in the same place.  One side of the walkway was picturesque lake views, the other side was urban fantasticalness like these shots.

you two are STUNNING!

Then it was marrying time!

They incorporated so many personal, well thought out details into their reception.  Including the blessing of the rings by all their guests.  Placed in a small bag together, the rings are passed through the rows and everyone is asked to silently pass on their love, support and well wishes to these tangible symbols of marriage.  The ceremony continues, and after making the rounds, the newly blessed rings are exchanged.  Even though you keep the ceremony going, it really adds a moment for you to stop and look around your wedding — I thought it was a great touch.

They also partook in the wine box ceremony, which I LOVE.  Here’s an excerpt I found on weddingbee from an officiant, explaining the ceremony to the guests.

I have asked you as a couple, to find a strong wooden box that will hold one bottle of wine, and two wine glasses. In addition, I have asked each of you to write a letter to one another, expressing your thoughts about the good qualities that you have found in your future partner, as well as, your reasons for falling in love with each other. I requested that under no condition were you to read each other’s letter, and that you were to seal them in individual envelopes and put them in the box with the wine and glasses.

Should you ever find your marriage enduring serious difficulties, I am asking that before you make any irrational decisions, that you both, as a couple, open the box, drink some wine together, and then venture off into separates rooms to read the letters that you wrote to one another when you were united as a couple. By reading these love letters, you will reflect upon the reasons that you fell in love with each other in the first place. The hope here is, that there will never be a reason for you to open this box, unless of course, it is for your 10th year anniversary!”

I now ask that each of you take a nail, one at a time, and hammer the box shut.

Niki & Jamie asked each of their attendants to hammer a nail in, bolstering the box with their love and friendship as they do their relationship.

After the exchange of rings, Jamie made his own vows to Niki’s children.  There was not a dry eye in the house.

Then the kids were excused from front and center because it was time for the kiss!

We escaped outside for a few more fun, newly wed shots while the guests settled into the reception.

Details!  Table designation envelopes, with drink tickets inside.  Tears of joy tissue packets.  Guestbook Frame.  Niki left no detailed stone unturned!

And this. This I love.  Shortly before her wedding, on the MKPeeps facebook wall, I linked to Offbeat Brides “Unplugged Wedding”. The concept is simple.  Allow your photographer to take the photos and ask your guests to be present in the moment with you.  This is especially true at the ceremony.  It’s an amazing thing to take a moment and not see the world through and LCD screen and what better place to take that moment then in a declaration of love.  Niki loved the idea and implemented it right away, it worked like a charm!

They make each other laugh with their whole hearts. It’s what love should look like.

Jamie’s mum passed away some time ago — they honored her with a candle and photo in the reception and it was a lovely tribute.  Sometime later, I turned around to find Niki in tears.  Turns out, Jamie’s sister had gifted Niki with one of their mother’s rings as a ‘welcome to the family’ present.  I still get choked up thinking about it.

Toasted!

Oh Pam.  Pam was the jackie of all trades.  She’s picture above helping Niki with her hair, she’s a bridesmaid extraordinaire, and she made all.these.cupcakes. (all these amazingly tasty cupcakes mind you!)

I’m a daddy’s girl.  I didn’t quite catch the intensity of this shutter click until I was home and it came up on my computer screen.  Then I burst into tears. <3

Folks, let’s talk a minute about ‘up lighting’ — if your DJ offers it, and you have the means, DO.IT.  It adds such an amazing layer of dimension to inside & tented receptions.

I’m also a fan of fun colored dance floor action!

I was so sad to see my time with Niki & Jamie and their amazing crew come to an end.  Thank you both for permitting me to be part of your grand scheme!

Niki was sweet enough to gush about me on weddingwire.  Her review left me blushing!

Simply AMAZING!! When planning my wedding, booking my photographer was one of the most important pieces to me. I wanted to look at photos of people I didn’t know and feel the emotion of the moment, Melissa’s photos did that for me. When contacting her she was always prompt and helpful. She really makes booking her easy! Then the day of every brides worst nightmare… my zipper on my dress breaks. No worries with Melissa, she just breaks out her sewing kit, (complete with band-aids and shout wipes) and just sewed me right in all the while keeping me cool so I wouldn’t freak out! She did such a good job one of my bridesmaids had to get scissors from the front desk at our venue to cut me out! Not only this but she paid attention to every detail, she corralled our rowdy bunch and made our photos fun and fast. You are really getting way more than you pay for with Melissa! If you are smart you will book her now!

Much love m’dears! <3

The girls got ready together that morning, it was so sweet to watch them share in their nerves and preparations.

The Ash Street was so beautifully quaint — I loved the stained glass and the sitting rooms.

And their perfectly coordinated front porch!

It was just a short drive to the Currier Museum, where they were having their ceremony.  Amanda helped her brother with his flower -

Then her dad helped her with her tie — probably one of my most favorite moments, ever.

I loved how much relaxed time these two had for “portraits” and we took full advantage of the amazing museum!

Then it was time for the ceremony.  The girls were separated, if only for a moment, and Amanda came in with her father to take center stage

while waiting for Mandy to make her grand entrance across the balcony and down the beautiful staircase.

Even though they’d seen each other, gotten ready together, laughed together and loved each other already that day — the sanctity of that moment was still overwhelming and  sweet tears of amazement welled up in Amanda’s eyes. <3

I [heart] symmetry!

When two become one.  (I don’t know if it’s because my son has started middle school or if it’s just because I’m off my rocker, but I can’t help it with all these obscure references from that time of my life (cue dirty dancing))

After their intimate ceremony, we were allowed to take photos with a few of the exhibits in the gallery.  I was dumbstruck. — like a 4 year old in a candy store — oh. my. gosh.

And just when I thought it couldn’t get any better — we went OUTSIDE!  So amazing.  And these girls worked it out!

We headed to the Mills for their Fratello’s dinner — but not before taking advantage of the picture windows & fantabulous architecture!

Mandy & Amanda invited their guests to join them for a relaxed, TASTY private dinner.  A few toasts, some scrumptious Jacques cupcakes, and beautifully thought out details rounded out their cherished evening with their closest friends and family.

The bag sums it up — as it should be — it was all about love.

Thank you girls for asking me to witness your love first hand!

Let me tell you folks, it has been one stupendous event after another here at MKP and I’m so thrilled and privileged to be able to share these stories.  I just wish there were more hours in the day to document them for you!

And with that, back to Nicole & Shawn!

I met up with the girls as they were getting dressed and Nicole made a grand entrance into her beautiful gown.

Nicole, her 2 sisters, and her mum are full of personality and hilarity, but this particular moment while Casey pinned on her corsage, I think mum found herself reflecting on how her three little girls had grown into such amazing women.

I love the trend of  little personal touches being added to the bouquets — broaches, lockets, memories of loved ones you can hold on tight to!

We all took a school bus to the ceremony on the beach.  It was all fun and games until we got a little closer and the actuality of the day strated to set in. I don’t think Nicole expected to get quite so emotional <3

 The setting was absolutely picture perfect.

 And Shawn looked rightfully in awe when he at last saw Nicole making her way from the gazebo.

 one ringy dingy, two ringy dingy… S.W.A.K! (omg, do you remember that from middle school?!)

 And then this happened.  And it was awesome.

 I loved the subtle yellow of their dresses and Shawn’s snappy navy jacket!

 sweet faced girly!

 And then it was time for everyone to get back on the bus and head to the party!

 I wonder if they coordinated the color to the bus or if that was just coincidence Also — they get the award for best snarky favor ever: “Nicole & Shawn got married and all i got was this damn koozie” I got one and it lives on my desk in my office and holds my drinks as I edit photos.  I love it.

 After the ‘team’ signed the game ball -

 They made their grand entrance!

 And cheered on the newlyweds as they shared their first dance.

 And then THIS happened. And I laughed out loud — I have an almost identical wedding picture of my Nichole & I doing the same thing during OUR first dance.  It’s the 7th grade dance all over again!

 Then came the parent dances. Nicole and her dad had all of us, including themselves, in tears.

 And Shawn danced with his beautiful mother.

 If you haven’t figured it out by now, these two love to have fun, and love to just be silly.  It made for some fantastic photo ops

I really thought this one was going to be a smasher — but they were incredibly sweet with each other

 And then they danced the night away, hardcore.

 As I was photographing the dancing, someone came up to me and said, you know there’s a cake eating contest going on in the back corner, right?  Um, NO!? Thanks for the heads up!  I arrived to a table divided, each contestant with a piece of cake, in a down to the last crumb relay!

Who’s that? None other than Sarah & Jason!  Sarah was kind enough to refer me to her cousin, Nicole (and going back through their blog entry, I spied Casey on their dance floor)

 Basketball team is right — Nicole caught some serious air here!

 I’m 100% positive this crew partied into the middle of the night and probably for a few days more.

 Thank you to two for having me along for this fantastic ride.  I wish you all the best!

After meeting with Sara & Jordan for engagement photos last fall I knew that we were all going to have a wonderful time at their wedding.   What I didn’t quite expect was how much I was going to fall in love with the two of them during the day and how sad I would be to say goodbye that night.

Warm, welcoming, inviting, amazing, energetic, soulful, beautiful — these words don’t even begin to fully describe the loveliness that is Sara & Jordan as a individuals, and as a couple.

After an uneventful damp drive up to the Mountain View Grand I found the boys in their room putting the final touches on their stylish suits.  A loose button was no problem for Dad the Hero!

Sara & company were up in the salon, but I arrived at their room to find these treasures.  I have no idea what the story behind the alligator is (but I’d love to know!) The glass however says “I’m getting Married Bitches!”

Once they were all ready they were escorted through the back halls of the hotel to their secret stowaway place.  This face just sums it up. Let’s do this thing!

When I turned around and saw this look on Jordan’s face it was all I could do remember to keep shooting and not just melt into a pile of swooning for how much he loves her.

The grand ballroom there is so stunning; the rain may have kept them inside but this is certainly no shabby setup!

One of the groomsmen came up to put his drink down beside the others I’d placed while shooting this shot from up the top of the slope. When he stood up to go back to his place, he promptly started sliding down the hill in those fancy tux shoes.  Let me tell you — it was hilarious.  And he executed the whole slope with style not falling once!

So many stories, so little time

Reception!

So many amazing moments in this day — and their first dance was nothing short of breathtaking.  Not that it was choreographed or a spectacle, they were just so gentle to each other.

And then you see them with their parents and you know where they get it from

They opted to not do any sort of ceremonial caking; but when they saw me near as they were about to indulge in their decadence, they had some fun with it.   Sara has one of the most animated and fun expressive faces ever. I LOVE IT!

There was so much fun dancing!

It wasn’t originally the plan for me to hang around until the end. However, I was staying the next room over and we were all having so much fun, we decided I should stay. Now, I’ll be the first to say there’s no need for a photographer all the way through the last dance. It’s easier on the budget to let me go earlier. But I do love when I stay and then witness something AWESOME, like this.

Sara + Jordan, you have stolen a piece of my heart and run away with it.  You’re the sort of people they write fairy tales about and I hope for you both to live your “happily ever after”

]]> http://melissakoren.com/2011/07/29/sara-jordan-married-06-11-11-mountain-view-grand-wedding-photography/feed/ 1 http://melissakoren.com/2011/07/27/nathalie-danielle-eloped-06-07-11-portsmouth-nh-elopement-photographer/ http://melissakoren.com/2011/07/27/nathalie-danielle-eloped-06-07-11-portsmouth-nh-elopement-photographer/#comments Wed, 27 Jul 2011 19:07:06 +0000 melissakoren http://melissakoren.com/?p=4699 On or about the first of June, I’m driving home and get a call from Danielle asking if I’d be available to shoot their elopement — on Tuesday.  Um, YES!

I was so excited to meet these two and shoot my first elopement.  What I didn’t realize is that it would be such an amazing experience.

From the moment I arrived at the boat launch at Odiorne Point there was perfection every where I looked, and when Danielle and Nathalie arrived, and headed off all nymph like into the forest, only to arrive at the most serene beach, at sunset well — it was like our own private utopia.

The beach was not kind to their adorable shoes though; so they were quickly tossed to the side, a most excellent decision if I do say so myself.

Once they picked the spot it was time to begin -

The ceremony was so personal and emotional. It was impossible not to get caught up in the moment with them.

In a beautiful tradition they each picked 3 rocks representing their past, present & future and built them into a small stone wall together to represent the foundation of their union.

The sun behaved perfectly -

Then the marriage was sealed with a kiss!

Mazeltov!

We stole the last few moments as the sun hovered over the horizon to take a few portraits, but really they were just completely in love with each other and I was privileged to watch and capture it.

As we were heading back to the cars (the park closes at dusk!) a kind hearted woman approached.  She’d seen the whole ceremony from afar and wanted to wish her blessings on these two well deserving women.  It turns out they’re all healers — it couldn’t have been more kismet!

More kismet? No, just a lone shoe we spotted on the walk back.

A few more shots as the sun flitted away from us leaving the most amazing glow.

Or maybe that was just Danielle & Nathalie’s love. (I don’t care how cheesy that sounds, it’s entirely true.)

As I edited these photos; a song we once performed in high school popped into my head and sort of overwhelmed me.  It was the most amazing soundtrack for these two in their moment and in their lives.

Now I Walk in Beauty, traditional Hopi Prayer - Now I Walk in Beauty. Beauty is Above me. Beauty is behind me. Above and below me.

They’re truly fantastic JP, Jeanne, was a wonderful officiant — if you’re in need of a Justice of the Peace you can find her at Willowyn JP.  Her husband Richard snapped some photos also and snagged, and kindly shared, a few of me in action!

If only I could shoot all my weddings barefoot on the beach!

  I had so much fun at this private affair — I can’t wait to do more elopements!    Thank you all so much for such an awe-inspiring experience.  It was an absolute privilege to be a part of it!

My fretting was all for naught as everything about the day was as smooth as silk.

I first arrived at the hotel to find the girls just finishing up with their fabulous makeup artist.

 And then, Caitlin showed me her shoes. And I swooned, and wished desperately I could wear heels.

 Stunning.

 The flowers were all done by Tom’s mom — she owns a flower shop in Reading, MA — my original hometown!

 Once I arrived at the church, they stashed Tom up in the balcony so he wouldn’t accidentally sneak a peek of the bride arriving.

 But I wonder if he heard the chaos of the limo not being able to get close to the church and two of the groomsmen, who also happened to be Reading Police, stopping traffic so that the limo driver could very adeptly back in!

 Perfection!

 I love the old fashioned feel of the room where she signed the marriage license.  And the minister holding her flowers for her.

 And then, it was time to get married.  And Tom was smiling from ear to ear.

 The minister recounted the tale of the earlier traffic shenanigans, and how touched he was that the police department wasn’t going to send them a bill as part of their wedding gift.  While perhaps you had to be there to get the full effect, let me assure you it was hilarious.

 Those two in the middle — they’re the heroes.

A first for me — ringing the bell!

 Then it was off to Stage Fort Park for photos.  And I tell you, I was photographing this fun, laid back couple and I kept thinking — they look like they just fell off the pages of a catalog.   Come to find out — Caitlin works for a catalog and sometimes has to stand in as a model. Duhtown!  I know a natural when I see one!

 Ah! Look at that awesomeness!!

 hi.lar.i.ous.

 And breathtaking. All in the same minute.

 I don’t usually post these shots, but this one makes me laugh out loud every time I see it.  :-D

 Have I oohed and aaahed enough about the colors yet? Because it was like a technocolor dream world.

 After a fabulous time with the ‘formals’ (for the record, I hate that term — I’m nothing remotely close to formal when I shoot the group photos.. we have fun, we laugh, poses are often regarded with hilarity, and sometimes we’re even inappropriate. nope, nothing formal about it.) But anyway, whatever you call them, we finished them up, laughing the whole time and headed off to the reception!

Details!

 The Cruiseport was gorgeous, full of interest and LIGHT!

 A toast, complete with a few tears.

 And then one of the more crazy centerpiece giveaways.  I love when the group embraces the ridiculousness of the situation and RUNS AWAY WITH IT.

 Caitlin, you look gorgeous, but perhaps a little too knife happy.…

 And the dancing began -

I wish I could remember now, even though it’s only been a month, how long this amazing couple had been married. I want to say it was 54 years, but they don’t seem that they could be old enough for that!  I love the style of anniversary dance when the other couples who are “disqualified” don’t go back to their seats but simply continue to dance on the sidelines and the newlyweds stay on the floor the whole time.  This picture speaks volumes to me.  Love, support, past, present and future.   It was the perfect way to end my time with this crew, who I KNOW continued to dance the night away!

Thank you Caitlin & Tom for having me at your spectacular day.  I couldn’t have asked for a better kick off to the 2011 wedding season!

Hi Melissa,  I am SSOOO excited about the photos. They look fantastic! I get a little giddy when I flip through them. You really captured the day and the joy. I absolutely adore the slideshow! Thank you so much for being a part of our day. You were so fun to work with and help to make our day perfect. Tom and I couldn’t be happier with the photos and can’t wait to share them with everyone. Just so you know, I am SUCH a fan of your work and will continue to “stalk” your Web site. I feel like the people in your photos are my best friends and I love reading their stories. If anyone is looking for a photographer I will not hesitate to recommend you. You are so fantastic! Thanks again! Caitlin

I know this post has been a long one — but there’s something new on the MKP blog and I’m excited to share with you some info from the couples point of view on the big day!

 [scenes]

• Getting Ready | Rockport Inn & Suites
• Ceremony| First Parish Church, Manchester, MA
• Formals | Stage Fort Park
• Reception | Cruiseport Gloucester

[sounds]

• Processional | Trumpet Voluntary/Prince of Denmark (played on the organ) It took a while to pick a song. I wanted to do something completely non-traditional and contemporary, but then I decided that was too much to ask of the organist to learn a random song I selected (especially since the aisle was so short and he wouldn’t have to play it too long). So then I just picked a happy song that wasn’t Cannon in D or something the every bride uses. Actually, the song the moms walked down to was more important to me. I picked Sheep May Safely Graze because my mom and I both love the song. I would have used it …
• Recessional | Mendelssohn’s Wedding March. This was an easy one. They use it in every movie as the recessional. I guess i wanted it to feel like a movie! we wanted to be movie stars!
• Reception Introduction | Accidentally in Love by the Counting Crows It was happy and fun. Again, Tom and I wanted something a little different from every wedding we had been to, but a song people would know. This song actually took longer to pick than any other song we had to pick. Tom kept trying to pick songs that were too slow and I kept telling him that people needed to be happy to walk in happy to it. It’s not a funeral. Unfortunately, most of the songs we love are slower songs. But finally I suggested this song and we both agreed it worked.
• First Dance | “You and Me” by Dave Matthews Tom is a huge Dave Matthews fan and I’m a fan, too. This song came out while we were dating and we’d listen to it often in the car and we love it. We love the lyrics. Again, a running theme in our music selections.…we wanted something we hadn’t heard at any of the 12 weddings we’d been to in the last 3 years. I guess when you go to so many weddings (I’m sure you notice this too) you start hearing the same songs all the time.
• Parent Dances | Tom picked the Long and Winding Road for his dance with his mom. He was not aware that this was actually the same song she danced with his dad with at their wedding. His dad passed away when Tom was a baby, and it was really an emotional moment between Tom and his mom. I danced to My Little Girl by Steve Kirwan with my dad. After months of trying to get my dad to pick a song I finally sent him 5 songs to pick from. This was his favorite. I had hoped he’d pick it because it was a “my little girl” song without making it sound like I was still 10 years old.
• Last Dance | It’s a Love Thing by Keith Urban. My brother, Zach and Andrea used an upbeat song to end their wedding and it was really nice, so I thought I’d do the same thing. I like the message of the song…that we’re together because we love each other, and all the other things aren’t all that important. The wedding, our new shared name, and everything else is things we’ve chosen to do, but we love each other and that’s most important.

[support]

• Dress | David’s Bridal
• Wedding Party Attire | David’s Bridal in Horizon Blue
• Hair | Kate Amiro from Shear Action in Beverly
• Make-up | Brea from Make-up by Brea  She was so nice and did a great job!
• Cake | Andover Cakes Delicious!
• Caterer | Vinwood Catering (We were required to use them at Cruiseport. But we were very impressed and they actually made the shrimp dish per my request. The chicken dish was off their menu but was also delicious.)
• DJ/Band | Greg Gates
• Florist |  My Personal Florist — Tom’s Mom’s business. (and were they ever gorgeous!)

[sentiment]

• What was the most memorable moment from your day? | Entering the reception. It was so great listening as the wedding party was announced and then to round the corner and see everyone and everything.
• Any advice for future couples getting married? | Do as much as you can as early as possible. We were engaged for 14 months and managed to really spread the “workload” out across the entire engagement so when we got down to the last month or so before the wedding we weren’t stressed at all.
• Funniest moments from your day? | The kickline! Everyone was funny to watch.
• Where did you go on your honeymoon? | We started with 4 nights in Disney World then went on a Carnival cruise to Key West, Grand Cayman, and Jamaica. (It was fantastic!)

[story]

• Together since | February 2007. Our friend Sean (one of the groomsmen) introduced us. I went to high school with Sean, and Tom went to college with him. So Sean introduced us a few years after college when Tom and Sean moved in with each other.
• Engaged on | April 4, 2010
• Occupations | Caitlin is a buyer for NorthStyle catalog.  Tom runs the marketing department for a construction company.
• Proposal Story | It was Easter morning. We had slept over at my parent’s house. I had gone downstairs to get ready for church. When I went back upstairs to wake up Tom he had set up an Easter egg hunt in my childhood bedroom. The ring was in the very last Easter egg I found! We aren’t certain i even said “yes”.…I just ran out of the room and said “I have to show my mom!!!

Congratulations again!

When the time for CA was finally here, Bill & I headed out to the West Coast, leaving a very pregnant Jenn behind   It was my first time ever to CA and I was pretty excited (and tired) when we arrived at LAX.  We went straight to the tux shop for Bill’s fitting and then to the hotel to rest up before the rehearsal.

Hello’s as we waited for the building to be unlocked.

Or should I say, disarmed — I loved the main door and had taken a shot.  After standing around for a few too many minutes one of the groomsmen decided to check this door handle and found it unlocked, so he opened it.  And set off the alarm system.  And 20 minutes later campus police showed up to shut it down.

But after that we were ready to set up and practice!

And then it was off for some fabulous Italian food.

And wine -

Bill was thinking about accessorizing the tuxes.…

I don’t consider myself to be too cliche of a ‘girl’ — but I’m definitely enamored with a sea of red roses!

The Alumni House at Fullerton University was really beautiful.

So was Linda

I absolutely adored that Linda walked in on her own and Ron met her halfway, then they walked the rest of the way together.

I can’t quite remember how Ron & Linda know Scott, but I’m positive he’s a good person to know.  I’m grateful to him for squeezing me in at their table so I didn’t eat in the corner alone

They had fantastic vows — so many similarities and overlaps; but they swear that they wrote them independently and in secret.

Sealed with a kiss.

There’s something about California light — I’m not sure what it is or why it’s different here but,  yum.

Coolest thing ever — an avocado tree.  (I know, I know, poor uneducated east coast girl!)

Best props ever!!

Personalized to the hilt!

Their wedding had a route 66 theme inspired by their road trippin’

Including favors of Maple Syrup from Funks Grove along route 66.

Cameras & Roses & Typewriters telling stories. <3

And then it was on to their beautiful reception in the courtyard.

They were toasted by Ron’s brother (the brave survivor of the segway accident earlier that morning)

And Linda’s best friends.

It was a beautiful night following the HOT (and sort of humid) day — I was a little  jealous of my friends and family back in NH that were having their first perfect fall weather days while I was on the wrong side of warm.

But after the sun went down it was absolutely perfect

I was fixated with these flower/vine things falling over the tops of the walls.

Linda looks (rightfully) skeptical about giving Ron the knife

mmm, more roses!!

With the formalities over it was time to get down, literally!

A line up of all the married couples after the longevity dance <3

Ron’s parents were the sweetest, nicest, most lovely people.  With that positive influence, Ron & Linda will certainly go far.

Thank you Ron & Linda, my first trip to California was awesome.  It’s amazing the opportunities I’m afforded and I’m grateful for each and every one.

~melissakoren

Dear Melissa,

On behalf of Ron & myself, I’d like to extend to you another huge THANK YOU for the beautiful wedding photos. Ron shared the photography CDs with me this week, and now I have been having so much fun looking at the pictures and sorting through them so that I can start to put together our wedding album.

With best wishes,
Linda

After hanging out with the boys for a little bit Secret and the girls arrived.  She had one major request — that I take a photo of her pinning the boutonniere on her adorable son, Bailey.  check and mark!

Then Bailey walked his mother down the aisle to give her away.

And was received by Shawn with open arms at the end.  *cue tears!*

These three were so ready to make their family ‘official’!  It was very obvious throughout the day how important it was for them to be a unit.

After the ceremony we headed over to Greely Park in Nashua, NH for some wonderful bridal party shots:)

After that we headed to The Loft at The Brewery Exchange and Secret shared some special moments with her two special guys.

The loft is such a cool place, I love the lighting and the dance floor!

One of many toasts loving these two — I love weddings where you can really feel the love (oh Elton John, please get out of my head, yes, I can, I can feel the love tonight!)

Everyone was emotional when they started talking about how much Shawn loves Bailey <3

And of course how much they love each other.

More family time in the Photo Booth!

let them eat cake!

dancing and love from their parents

And then they danced the night away!

I loved how they took time to dance with each other’s parents too.  So sweet!

And a dance with their sibling

Have I mentioned how much I loved the lights?!

As the night wore on it was time for me to go.  I have no doubt this bunch partied ALL night long but it was time for me to take my leave.  Thank you Secret & Shawn for inviting me to your family affair!

~melissakoren

Melissa Shot our wedding In September of 2010. She was the first photographer we interviewed and after speaking with her, we canceled all our other appointments. Her artistic flare was evident from her website, but meeting with her in person to view her portfolios was an experience in and of itself. Each photograph my husband and I saw seemed to be alive with the atmosphere of the wedding. What impressed us the most was that no two pictures were alike – and no two wedding collections were the same. Melissa seemed to capture each couple’s individuality and allowed her pictures to tell their story. My husband and I were instantly impressed by this. Melissa herself spoke about her passion for her work and the joy of photographing weddings.
Everyone who has seen our photos is so impressed – each of them say that mine and Shawn’s personality jump off the page. If you never knew us, or how much we loved each other these pictures show that . Three months later, after looking at them millions of times, I still get emotional; and to me that is the mark of a great photograph – you never tire of it, and looking at it brings up so many memories. Melissa did this with each photograph, with each proof.
Being photographed by Melissa was a terrific experience. Not only was she fun to work with, but she was so excited to work with us. Again, this set her apart for me. I have been to so many weddings where the photographer treats it as a job – get in, take the picture, get out – but for Melissa, there is nothing monotonous or rigid about shooting a wedding. She walks into each “job” as a new and exciting experience. She leaves all expectations at the door and tries her best to capture the essence of the couple and their love for each other.
Her genuine love for her work, her passion, sense of adventure, and her easy going personality have made Melissa a true pleasure to work with. I would recommend Melissa Koren Photography to anyone and look forward to doing our family portraits with her for the years to come. ~ Shawn & Secret

The wedding and reception were held at Jessica’s parents house.  They had set up the chairs and her mum had worked all summer cultivating the plants and flowers to add to the aesthetics.  It was gorgeous.  The bridal party came out of the house and down the aisle but you couldn’t really see them until they were coming straight up towards the arbor.

And thats when Tim saw Jess, and started to well up with tears.  Which in turn caused me to well up with tears.

I think there were a lot of tears going around <3

See, Gorgeous!

Married, and quite pleased with themselves about it too.  Rightfully so.

And then they all danced down the aisle.  They all danced all night — but more on that later!

First it was time for some fun formals.

This crew makes flying look easy!

“ooo ooo ooo —  can we do a pyramid?”… “I don’t know, can you?”   I guess the answer is yes!

Then it was just the 3 of us.

These two are such a beautiful fit.

I loved the centerpieces, and that I could make their wedding date out of their table numbers

These two were toasted and roasted by their family with the utmost love and regard.

Just the simple act of holding hands and being in the moment with each other *sigh*

They infused themselves into ever detail and ever aspect of the wedding.  These film strip time line photos are too cute.

I love it when the couple makes their own toast.  Jess & Tim eloquently thanked everyone who had been with them through the journey that brought them to their wedding day.

this IS what love looks like.

Love and a few dance lessons

And then Jess & her dad had a lovely slow father daughter dance

That broke into some boogie woogie and brought the crowd to their feet!

I think Dad was relieved when it was over

Then Tim & his mother shared a lovely dance

I l.o.v.e. this photo

Remember what I said about the dancing?  This bunch danced all.night.long and they busted some serious moves

This was definitely a family affair!

When a sweet innocent cake feeding…

goes awry.…

Jess threatens revenge

So her dad steps in to keep Tim from being lonely

and then Jess steps in and Tim gets what’s coming to him!

She did try to run away, but he caught her and they made up

Just in time for the first lap dance/garter removal I’ve been witness to.

Too. freaking. funny.

A good old fashioned dollar dance

Soon after that it was the end of my time and they were stilllllllllllllllllll dancing!

And a good time was had by all.  Thank you so much for including me in that.

~melissakoren

I had been searching for a photographer for a few weeks when a neighbor referred us to Melissa. Being a “do-it yourself” bride, I was given a lot of advice on what I should pay, what I should look for, does she use a good digital camera…etc, etc. (I’m sure you get the picture-no pun intended.) My (now) husband and I met with her and immediately felt comfortable. She is fun and witty and knowledgeable about her field. Not to mention her prices are great if you’re on a budget like we were. Melissa made us WANT to get our pictures taken by her. We planned some engagement photos and had a really good time with her as we walked around. What I liked best about the session was that she was open for anything and took into account that they were OUR pictures. She wanted to make them mean something. And she did. We used them around our reception. On the day of our wedding though, she ROCKED, for lack of a better word. Not only did she take amazing pictures of everything and anything, she helped pin boutonnieres on the groomsmen and fathers, she preformed emergency surgery on my bustle when it kept dragging, and she made us laugh the whole time. Melissa is truly a great photographer because she knows the ins and outs of her trade and recognizes the importance of laughter and simplicity on a day you’ll remember for the rest of your life. We’ll be using her for years and years to come. We highly recommend her!  ~Jess and Tim

They’re all worth it though — more photos = more adventure + more love for everything I see!

As is the case with Melissa & Chad.

Mel is a great artist — when she initially contacted me about their wedding I immediately checked out her website and I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was a bit intimidated to take photographs for someone with such an amazing and talented gift!  I was more than thrilled when they asked me to shoot their wedding however.

I headed up to Dimond Hill Farm in Concord, NH for their late afternoon festivities.

This photo on the left reminds me of a wartime poster for some reason — I just love it!  I also love that Mel’s mum wore a stunning dress that required lacing.  A favor she’d have to repay a bit later

The rooms at Dimond Hill are beautiful.  So is Mel’s dress!

I love these two — when I up down, touch the ground…hehe

And the lacing favor repaid

A few gorgeous details

Walking to the ceremony

Being escorted down the aisle by her mum and brother. Melt  my heart!

And a beaming Chad waiting for them.

Not everyone can be as interested in the ceremony as I am.…  I’m sure he was just in it for the cake!

10 years in the making!

Husband & Wife!

In addition to the great rooms and the great farm stand at Dimond Hill there are some wonderfully fun places to shoot on the grounds too

best.cufflinks.ever

Well, they got the married part down so now it’s time for the eat & drink!

First dance — the first of many!

Awesome favors & reception details

Program!

Crossword!

And the cow jumped over the moon! (A guest pointed this out to me — how cool!)

This was my first (but hopefully not last) time with wishing lanterns it was such an awe inspiring moment.

I loved their take on the parent dance when Melissa danced with Chad’s dad and Chad danced with her mum.

And the last dance circle of love. <3

And that is the lengthy story of Melissa & Chad.  A story 10 years in the making takes way more photos than this but I pared it down to this tale.

Thank you for letting me have a place in your story!

~melissakoren

As I looked around their apartment I noticed this photo on the bookcase near the door.  What an amazing way to propose!

A few detail shots:

Their wedding was very 20’s themed and I loved the old windows and the trunk from her childhood that echoed the theme so well.

Finally she arrived, and the wait was well worth it — she looked stunning!

Then we hurried off to Fort Foster in Kittery, ME to meet Josh and commence their ocean side ceremony.  How dapper everyone looks!

Sam & her dad make their way down the path to meet up with Josh.

When they arrived at the gate it was opened and Sam & Josh were given their blessing by her father.

And they’re married!

Because of the time crunch in the beginning we did the formals in three parts, some quick shots of the great looking bridal party and some family before dinner, a few family after dinner, and then and adventure with Sam & Josh after the reception was over.

I said ok guys, Jump!  You’ve got to love her conviction though!

On the left is right after the ceremony, on the right is after the reception.  All the different nooks and crannies and trees made for great lighting all day!

It was really awesome to have a live band at this outdoor venue!

Sam’s gram (I think I’m remembering that correctly) made this amazing turretted castle cake!

And this cake topper couldn’t have been any more representative of how they interact with each other!

Well… except maybe when she throws cake at him

But here they are back at their first dance, so in love!

The pavilion at Fort Foster is a GREAT place for an event!

A dance with her daddy…

and an ever watchful mum.

Then some good ol’ letting loose!

A quick garter and bouquet toss off the balcony…

And the reception was done!  As I’d mentioned earlier I took this time to wander around the grounds with Sam & Josh and ensure that they had some time for photos of the two of them.  The more we explored, the more I was so thankful for our “happy accident” of not being able to take them right after the ceremony!

Samantha is exquisite and fearless.  Two qualities you don’t always find in the same place at the same time, but Josh certainly has hit the jackpot.

As much as I loved them together in the tree, when I asked Josh if he would mind stepping aside for a moment Sam positioned herself a big taller and left me with the most amazing shots!

And so it goes, the -

Wedding of Sam & Josh.

Thank you both for finding me and inviting me along for a glimpse of your lives.

~melissakoren

And Sam just posted a lovely review on weddingwire — thanks for taking the time Sam! Hope you’re well!

Melissa was nothing short of AMAZING! Even though I was running late on the day of the wedding, she had already photographed my dress and many other things before I got there to save time. She helped me calm down and kept her cool despite dealing with a very cranky and overtired bride (me). She even helped put on the groomsmen’s boutonnieres when we got to the venue. In our opinion (my husband and I), the best part and most fun part of the whole wedding was when she took us away to do our photos together.
Despite all this, the photos are incredible! Every time I look back at the pictures from the wedding, I see something new and think, “wow,” it’s like she was in ten places at the same time. I highly suggest Melissa to photograph your wedding.

I want that pebble rug.

Lisa’s mom made sure the planter boxes coordinated with the wedding, that’s advance planning!

I love the green & pink!

The ceremony took place at All Saints Parish Church in Haverhill, MA

And it was a tremendous church!  The sweet and precocious flower girl looked so wee bitty!

But Doug’s smile filled the church a thousand times over.

A smile precipitated by the stunning woman coming down the aisle to be his wife.

That’s right Lisa, make sure it gets all the way on!

no joke — tremendous!

Married & celebrating!

Then it was on to DiBurro’s Function Facility for a par-teh!

Green, or pink?!

Doug’s brother was full of expressions.

Speeches!

Hello bridal party!

best.speech.ever

…that must have been some good cake!

This is one of my favorite wedding games.  We played it at our wedding and it’s always a great time.

A family affair!

So good, so good, so good!

I love to see what my clients do with their photos

Oompah!

Followed by showers of money! Hoorah!

My favorite photos from the night!

Pink is my favorite color.…

Break it down. (I think from now on I shall only blog with song lyrics)

Can’t touch this.

The right stuff.

We are the champions..?

Ok ok enough of that.. bouquet toss!

..and garter. Interesting approach Doug…

I don’t always recommend to my clients that I stay the whole wedding.  I truly enjoy the receptions but sometimes if you’re looking to cut costs you can easily do with out a professional photographer for the last few hours of your reception.  However, when I am asked to stay I’m always overwhelmed by the last dance circle.  And this was a big one!

Lisa & Doug — thank you so much for inviting me to your beautiful wedding.  May you always remember the happiness you were surrounded with!

~MelissaKoren

I don’t have enough words to describe how happy I am with my wedding photos. Melissa did an AMAZING job. I was so suprised when I saw them. She was extremely unintrusive — I don’t even remember seeing her too much (although, it WAS a very overwhelming day), but she always seemed to pop out of nowhere whenever someone stepped on my bustle (which happened a LOT) to help fix it. She was so helpful before and during the wedding, through everything. When we had first met with photographers, we met with one that I loved her pictures, but she had absolutely no personality, and didn’t say boo when we met with her, and was kind of pricey to be able to get everything that we wanted. The second was much more in our budget, but came off to me like a used car salesman, and the pictures weren’t very good at all. (Why have an affordable all-inclusive package when the pictures look like crap?)…But Melissa was JUUUST right. She is very friendly and personable, and her pictures are amazing for a great price. We just got our pictures two days ago, and I am already trying to choose some for our album, and it is too hard when I love them all! I would HIGHLY recommend Melissa for yor wedding, and I think we will be calling her for pictures when we start our family! ~Lisa

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