Welcome to the Blog!
I’ve had the privilege to be part of so many incredible days and here you’ll find a collection of them as well as some tips and suggestions for making your best day ever come true — with a few personal posts sprinkled in every now and then too! Take a look around and find inspiration for your best day!
location guides
Classic & Quaint New England Engagement Photos
When Ally and Colin were dating they used to walk in the Stony Creek area, and if you haven’t had a chance to visit the Branford Trolley Trail I suggest you add it to your list! Connecticut has so many unique coastal areas to experience and this is definitely a new favorite of mine. They had sent me a lot of information before our time together (they know how much I love details!) and this level of preparation always helps for us to make the most of our time together, especially when visiting a new place for photos. After stopping at a few of the landmarks on the trail and seeing the scenery, we finished our time together in the downtown area - which has much more of a small seaside village vibe than a downtown, it’s perfection - and the light at sunset was, dare I say it, completely dreamy. They even indulged my request for a few photos on the swings, and I’m loving all of the different vibes we achieved in the course of a little over an hour: elegant and poised, playful and fun, and a romantic sunset walk on the beach.
Evening Engagement Session Stamford, Connecticut
Aside from Taylor and Andrew being two of the sweetest humans (I mean it, they were an absolute blast to hang out with) it turns out Stamford is a place I’ll be going back to often because it’s so cute. Views of the water and Long Island Sound, great restaurants and bakeries, swings, a play area with sand for the kids, gorgeous parks and modern architecture - and, bonus, from everything I saw it’s a superrrrr clean city. This downtown area was quiet and serene and it really turned out to be such a perfect evening. The sunset colors even showed off for us and we concluded the night dancing on the dock with a pink-sky-backdrop as Taylor twirled around in the most beautiful floral dress.
Classic NYC Central Park Couple's Portraits
I must say, every day since this session I’ve had a moment after waking up back in Connecticut that I think, “I wish I was waking up to sunrise in Central Park.”
Central Park is a classic piece of the New York City experience and there is just something about NYC with the springtime glow, a gorgeous couple in love (getting married this Fall and I cannot wait to be there to photograph their wedding day - eeeeeek!) and exploring this stunning park perfectly placed in Manhattan.
Classic New England Church & Backyard Wedding
Working with Kelly and Stephen to document this day amidst a global pandemic had it’s ups and downs in planning, but I think after everything we can say that their wedding plans worked out exactly as they were supposed to.
We held to their original plan of a church ceremony in Branford, but the reception that followed took place at Kelly’s childhood home. Now, her home is not in just any neighborhood - it’s one of those neighborhoods they make shows about. All the kids grew up together, the parents are all friends, it seems the neighbors collectively raised each other’s children (giving a whole new meaning and depth to the phrase “it takes a village”), the group even had their favorite song that brought everyone out on the dance floor at once. I don’t know all of the details of the many years of friendships that have developed in this neighborhood, but I do know from experiencing the level of community on display for just one night, this is they type of community and we should all be fighting for these days. It was so beautiful to watch Kelly and Stephen have all of their closest people celebrating with them in a place with such history for them.
Elegant Connecticut Countryside Summer Wedding
And then Courtney began to walk towards Ryan and the sun came out. I could hear gasps of excitement from their guests, it was that noticeable. An undeniable sparkle and warmth from a sun we hadn’t seen all day. I’m telling you, I’m crying as I’m writing this, because it was one of the most redemptive moments of 2020 so far and I was there with a front row seat to witness.
Congratulations, Courtney and Ryan! I can’t thank you enough for trusting me in this season and allowing me to capture some of your most precious memories.
Possibly my favorite moment from their day were the two separate moments (both captured with photos you can see below) where shortly after they had exchanged rings, shared a kiss, both Courtney and Ryan looked down at their hands with the sweetest expressions, visibly realizing that the hand they were holding was now, without question, there’s to hold forever.
Intimate Backyard Connecticut Wedding
Joe & Tori’s wedding plans, along with so many other of my couples this year, were affected by the global pandemic. They moved their original wedding date from June to August and ultimately had to push their larger celebration until 2021. But that didn’t stop these two from saying “I Do.”
In fact they didn’t just face a pandemic, in addition to COVID-19 they also had a tornado touch down in their town the night before their ceremony (yes, we are still talking about Connecticut). The neighborhood where they were married was greatly impacted, so much so that Joe spent the morning cutting and clearing trees from the place where they were to officially tie the knot. I honestly couldn’t believe the destruction from the tornado when I was driving in to photograph their wedding. A date change, canceled rehearsal dinner, a downed cell tower that resulted in communication with their loved ones being difficult, a broken wedding dress strap (from Tori sharing a tight hug her dad at the end of the aisle - the best possible reason for a slight wardrobe malfunction) and a power outage - these two truly faced just about all of the obstacles in their wedding planning.
But on a Friday afternoon in August these two spoke words of truth, standing back to back, as they read their vows in a quiet moment before the ceremony. They tied the knot with their closest friends and family there to witness and they kept one another grounded in the things that they know to be true.
5 Date Ideas for the Engaged Couple During COVID-19
Are you recently engaged? Did you get engaged before the global pandemic, began planning a wedding and are now looking around wondering what the next year will hold?
I have a lot of feelings about this season, and I can’t imagine as an engaged couple all of the feelings you are working through, but I hope no matter where you are in life, if you are next to the one you love, you are supported and encouraged that in the chaos of the moment we become stronger. Stronger as individuals, stronger in our relationships - increasingly aware of the things that really matter in this life.
Awhile back I’d posted “5 Date Ideas for the Engaged Couple,” but I realized that I should maybe revisit and modify this list for those of you engaged during this season and looking for inspiration to lean into joy and dedicate time your significant other. So here goes!
Spring Engagement Photos Harkness Park
This Engagement Session actually happened last May. Whoa. I can’t believe I’m just now sharing this gorgeousness, but when I photographed these sweethearts I was actually about 8 months pregnant, and well, that was a pretty crazy season of life - I’m kind of loving revisiting these images just a few weeks before their celebration with friends and family.
I began working with Whitney and Dylan back in 2018, if you can believe it. I still remember sitting at Starbucks chatting about the dreams they had for their wedding day (plans that were ultimately altered a bit by COVID-19). Well, I’m happy to say, not only did these two have an intimate ceremony and still get married on the original day they had planned, although they had to postpone their larger celebration, the party will be happening THIS month and we’re all pretty excited.
Since I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know them they’ve bought a house, added fur babies to their pack, and actually gotten married - it feels like a lot of life has happened since we met and I couldn’t be more excited to stand with them in celebration as they are able to have their closest friends and family witness their commitment to all of life’s changes and challenges ahead.
How to Lovingly Un-Invite Wedding Guests
I’ve spent countless hours on the phone with my existing couples and inquiring couples and, understandably, everyone is feeling a lot of emotions. I don’t know how many times I can say I’m grateful for the people I get to work with, but I don’t think I’ll ever stop shouting it from the rooftops or writing it on every little corner of the social media world that will listen, but it’s true. Because of this job of capturing some of the sweetest New England love stories I have also seen and experienced endless kindness, compassion, and grace. I am a firm believer that the “worst of times” can show the best of people. And I think that’s what this pandemic has done in several ways.
Standing on the foundation of conversation that there are a lot of serious things happening in the world, I also believe that we are all allowed to feel all the feels and we should all have a community of people who allow us to do this and don’t immediately tell us that there are worse things happening than having to reschedule a wedding. Are there worse things happening? Absolutely. Is it also a bummer that you have to make adjustments to the wedding day you had originally envisioned? Also definitely yes.
OK, so let’s jump into one of the things I’ve found to be causing couples stress (on top of everything else). What about the amazing people who have already invited (because you want them to be there celebrating with you) that because of state and local guidelines you now have the dreaded task of choosing who you will need to ask to stay home - essentially the dreaded un-invitation?!
Destination Engagement Session - Portsmouth, New Hampshire | Amanda & Kevin
When Amanda first asked about making their Engagement Session a bit of a mini destination getaway to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, I was all about it. There is nothing I love more than exploring fun and unique locations with my couples, and their love for Portsmouth, combined with the fact that I grew up in New Hampshire, made for one very fun evening and a nostalgic little road trip!
We spent the few days before keeping a close eye on the weather (New England seems to have gifted us this year with an extra dose of random thunder storms), but ultimately we made the call to make the trip and I’m glad we didn’t decide to wait. An intense fog rolled in during our time together and we dealt with a light shower, but honestly I think the ambiance and few umbrella photos added a beautiful level of romance and there’s something about a little rain that brings couples even closer together that I appreciate. Pair that with a gorgeous dock on the New Hampshire coast, vibrant flowers filling every garden we visited (plus a hidden rose garden with an epic archway I had discovered while scouting), adorable rain soaked streets and urban brick buildings, cute restaurants with bistro lights… and a surprise building painting they agreed to take a goofy photo in front of - These two are so sweet and up for any adventure in any weather.
Engagement Session - Stonington Borough | Tiffany & Patrick
One of my absolute favorite things about photographing in New England are the amazing and vibrant colors you can find on the coast - in the landscape and the architecture. Tiffany and Patrick’s Engagement Session was no exception with a beautiful sunset and so many gorgeous flowers in bloom. These two will be getting married this Fall and were ahead of the planning process, choosing an intimate wedding celebration long before COVID-19 changed the world (and with it, the way we can currently gather).
It’s been encouraging to watch their plans fall into place and have a chance to catch up as we walked around exploring this stunning coastal town - making this location even more meaningful is the fact that Patrick proposed here!
Yale New Haven, Connecticut Winter Wedding | Michelle & Johnny
Michelle and Johnny’s December wedding day was truly stunning; however, it was the emotion woven through the entire day that had in me in tears at least 3 times while editing their galleryl. There were so many touching and heartfelt interactions between the beautiful new Mr. & Mrs. and their friends and family.
I met up with these two to walk around Yale University a few weeks before the event to scope out the perfect spot for some photos. Let’s just say - I’m glad we took the time to do so because the weather cooperated and we got some seriously lovely photos of them snuggling together with incredible architecture as the backdrop for their love story. Fitting, as Yale is where they first met. These two were rockstars bearing the cold and I’d say it was worth it!
Christmas Tree Farm | Couple's Session
Christmas Tree Farm session - the perfect setting for Christmas card photos!
The Stonington Meadows - Mystic, Connecticut Wedding | Meghan & Timothy
Meghan and Timothy are incredibly sweet and classy people - there’s really no other way to put it. In addition to this, boy, do they know how to break. it. down. on the dance floor. I’ve truly never attended a wedding where two people along with all of their friends and family knew every word to every song for an entire evening. At the close of the night, I’m pretty sure the dance floor was just as packed as when the night began - the true sign of a really good party.
They met in Boston while in college, and as they say, the rest was history. Timothy planned an elaborate surprise when he proposed and had brought their friends and family together to celebrate.
Their wedding day was full of beautiful moments (and heartfelt vows) displaying their history of falling more in love over the last 5 years and it was an honor to capture this next part of their story.
Congratulations, Meghan and Timothy!
Downtown Mystic, Connecticut | Engagement Session - Taylor & Sean
Remember these two cuties from their Lighthouse Point session a while back with their precious pups?
They’re back…and cuter than ever (if that’s even possible)!
Taylor and Sean are a bit unique because they will be tying the knot where my husband and I had our wedding reception! We’ve had a special bond from the very beginning just because of that and I couldn’t be more excited to capture their day.
Counting down the days until they say “I do” in Mystic.