Tag portsmouth

Have I men­tio­ned recently how much I love my job? If not, I’ve been remiss. I get to meet the most ama­zingly won­der­ful, kind hear­ted, hila­rious peo­ple. Some­ti­mes, I get to pho­to­graph wed­dings for ama­zingly won­der­ful, kind hear­ted, hila­rious peo­ple I already know. Enter: Liz & Brian. I was SO exci­ted when Brian called me to tell me that he and Liz were plan­ning their wed­ding, and even more exci­ted when the day finally came. The rain clea­red, the tem­pe­ra­ture was per­fect (a miracle for mid-​august in new england) and Liz was STUNNING!

With the recep­tion plan­ned for the newly built Ports­mouth Har­bor Events Cen­ter, it only made sense to get ready at the chic new Resi­dence Inn that’s right next door! And how nice of them to have cur­tains that coör­di­na­ted with Liz’s spec­ta­cu­lar! spec­ta­cu­lar! shoes.

And the gor­geous details of the dress!

One of my favo­rite get­ting ready moments was when the little flo­wer girls came in and saw Liz in her gown. I was in a few wed­dings as a little girl and it’s such a won­drous thing to see this woman you’ve known in the every­day gla­mo­rous and in love.

This is pro­bably one of my favo­rite shots from the whole day.

While Liz was get­ting help with her shoes and final touches, Brian was downs­tairs teaching the grooms­men how to tie their new adi­das snea­kers. SO much bet­ter than uncom­for­ta­ble tux shoes!

After everyone’s foot­wear was secure, it was time for the first look. Brian and I hea­ded out to find “the spot” and then he called Liz and told her where to meet us. While we wai­ted I made him work on his GQ model action. He did a pretty good job, though that’s easy for someone so dapper.

Then it was time. Liz’s MOH hel­ped her to the path and then retrea­ted back indoors.

I love this part. I can feel the anti­ci­pa­tion in the air. I told Brian to look at me, but didn’t inc­lude that he could turn around when she arri­ved, so she just put her arms around him and hug­ged him from the back, all the while he’s trying to follow my ins­truc­tion and sneak a peek at the same time.

I finally rea­li­zed he was wai­ting for my com­mand and told him he could turn around and fully take her in. I think he was pleased.

very very pleased.

After they loo­ked and saw, it was time to board the tro­lley and head off to Great Island Com­mon to get the ‘for­mals’ knoc­ked out and off the list before the cere­mony (and oh yeah, THE PARTY!)

I love the bright blue and the ocean and sky. And oh, remem­ber when the grass was green and the trees were lush? (soon it will return!)

We still had some time before the cere­mony so we drop­ped the troops off at the hotel and zip­ped over to Pres­cott Park to take advan­tage of a change of sce­nery. Those gar­dens are such a sight to behold!

If I had a stu­dio, this would be a big can­vas on the wall.

What? Marr­ying time!? Let’s get it done. This was an extra spe­cial cere­mony for me. It was held at the North Church in Ports­mouth, which is not only my emplo­yer for the past 9 years, but also, where we had OUR wed­ding ceremony.

Tra­di­tio­nally, most New England churches are not equip­ped with a ‘cen­ter aisle’ so you have to get crea­tive when you want head on pho­tos

Ah! SO CUTE! I love the bub­ble hem­li­nes on the flo­wer girl dresses.

S.W.A.K!

What now? I don’t even know what’s going on here, but it’s com­ple­tely and utterly the epi­tome of the two of them. ado­ra­ble, fan­ta­blous, and silly as all get out.

Brian and Liz saved plenty of time for pho­tos together. After the cere­mony we took our time wal­king back to the the recep­tion hall and duc­king in and out of a few pla­ces for shots along the way.

Pro­bably one of my favo­rite ring shots to date.

And then the time had come. The time to get down and cele­brate at the afo­re­men­tio­ned newly built, com­ple­tely swanky, Har­bor Events Cen­ter in Ports­mouth.

It was a beau­ti­ful cake, but the little blond hea­ded beau­ties com­ple­tely, and right­fully, ups­ta­ged it

All of Liz’s friends crow­ded around her to see the bling and con­gra­tuate her. While Brian, did this.

But then he did this too. They make ele­gant look easy.

I loved that before the speeches and din­ner began, they took a moment to whole-​heartedly thank their friends, and family, for sup­por­ting them and cele­bra­ting with them.

Then they were toas­ted. Or in Brian’s case, roasted.

Both of them come from ama­zing families.

Shake it like a pola­roid picture!

Or, wha­te­ver this is…

I would have dan­ced all night with this crew, but with another wed­ding the next day I bid them fare­well and slip­ped off into the night.

Thank you, my friends, for such a high honor.

Til we cavort again!