Kate & Bartley ~ June 18, 2011

One year, around St. Patrick's Day, my daughter asked me if she was Irish. I told her she was about half, she asked if she'd be all Irish when she grew up. For some reason, my daughter and I are drawn to Irish people. I just love them, so does she,  stereotypically speaking of course. 

We moved into our house over 4 years ago and stepped into a pot of gold with the best neighbors you could ever imagine, Lynne, Rich, Emma and Isabelle. We spent so much time together that a 2 year friendship felt like a lifetime. With these neighbors came this magical family, the Flaherty's. The kind of family that makes you feel like your being hugged from the second you walk in the room. The kind of family that makes it impossible for you to be anything but genuine because you know they are genuine with you. 

So, the youngest Flaherty, Kate married Bartley Concannon who is equally Irish and just as much fun. What a day! 

Sometimes I have trouble with adjectives, I want to say something specific but can't find the right word, not this time. Kate looked absolutely angelic and the best part was that the bridesmaids made it clear.  They took a moment to step back and take Kate in and let her know how beautiful she looked instead of getting too caught up in the busyness. The day was peaceful, no extreme rushing, no scrambling, just peaceful. Watching Kate and Bartley's family and friends look at them with such pride and support was incredible. Watching their parents, who have been married for so many years, dance and smile at each other at their children's wedding was inspiring. Watching Kate and Bartley so gentle and relaxed with each other was just right. Just right sums it up. Thank you Kate and Bartley for including me in this day. Thank you to your family and friends for helping me preserve so many memories for you. I wish you all the very best of love and luck. Do you need to wish Irish people luck or is that a given? 

Jaclyn & Evan ~ June 10, 2011

A couple of years ago I photographed an amazing wedding for Donna and David. Donna and I have known each other since 7th grade. She has always been beautiful and sweet and easy to be around and I was honored to have the chance to photograph her wedding. On her wedding day, I got to meet her gorgeous sister Jaclyn and her equally gorgeous boyfriend Evan. Rumors hummed through the room that their wedding may be coming up soon, psst, psst, and maybe I'd be the photographer they chose too. 

Well, hallelujah, guess what! Jaclyn and Evan had a spectacular wedding at the Curtis Center and I was fortunate enough to work with them and their family again. 

Ok, so I watched them closely, their body language and their expressions, that's what I do. They looked at each other like they just discovered love at first site with someone they've known forever.  I asked Jaclyn how long they've been together because their relationship seemed so fresh but so comfortable. Not new fresh, but exciting fresh, compelling. She said 8 years and "yes it's always fresh". Jaclyn and Evan, may all of your days feel this way. Thank you so much for choosing me to spend such a perfect day with you. Thank you so much to my good friend T Alimario for documenting this day with me and helping me prove that Jaclyn and Evan look just as good at 1am as they do at 1pm! 

Megs & Matty ~ Take 2

Meghan + Matt = my day made. 

It seems like years ago we went to Stockton for Meg & Matt's engagement session...oh wait, it was.  In my opinion, ours was an instant friendship. We talked about music and work and hobbies and the strange things we happened upon off Stockton's trails. Their wedding was in June, 2 years ago, and this weekend, we got to celebrate their anniversary, dress up style. It was so much fun for me to see how much their relationship has grown over the past few years. They have a deep friendship with each other but have a certain way of pulling you into their circle, making you feel completely at ease, of value, loved. If you know them, and they don't make you feel this way, maybe they just love me a little more than they love you. Sorry. 

Megs and Matty, I hope we continue to be friends. I hope I have countless reasons to continue to celebrate with you and document at least a few pages of each of the many chapters to come. Happy Anniversary! 

Seton & Marc ~ June 4, 2011

I don't do much advertising, my business is primarily referral based. I often photograph weddings for former couple's bridesmaids, family members, friends, wedding guests, etc. Sometimes I forget how incredible that is and take it for granted. It's one thing to get a call from a girl who has happened upon my website, or from someone who was given my name from a coworker or acquaintance but a sister is an entirely different thing. A few years ago, I photographed a wedding for Deirdre and Kevin. I fell in love with the Dugan family, 4 brothers, 3 sisters, lots of love and Irishness. On June 4, I had the opportunity to photograph Seton's wedding, the youngest Dugan sister.  It was outstanding! There is an extra level of comfort when I get to work with the same family twice and I really felt it. Thank you so much to the entire Dugan family. I am so glad I was able to document another of your family's monumental events and hope to work with you 4 more times! 

Seton and Marc each exude confidence. They are self-assured and determined and intelligent people. When they stand alone, you can see their strength.  The thing that will make you catch your breath is that together, they melt into each other's arms, they just fit there, just right, like sand. 

Thank you Seton and Marc for choosing me to document this day for you, for giving me a chance to get to know your family even better and for being so much fun! I wish you all the very best. 

Robyn & Kevin ~ May 29, 2011

Fairy tale! Robyn and Kevin have been together for  9 years? If I have my facts straight, Robyn was just 14 when she met Kevin and they've been in love ever since. Kevin graduated medical school two weeks before the wedding, TWO WEEKS! I know what kind of stress is involved in planning a wedding, no matter how carefree you are and I know what kind of stress is involved in final exams and graduation. The thing is, I went to school for art, not saving peoples lives, so I would imagine you could multiply that stress by what, 8 billion? So, here are Kevin and Robyn, working, graduating, major life changing and planning a wedding all at the same time. You would think after all this time and change and stress, they might be tired of looking at each other. Instead, they had this smile that they reserved only for each other. It's my job to watch people interact, to focus on their expression and their reactions. These are two very friendly people, they have countless friends and family members who obviously love and support them. They made it clear that they love their family and friends just as much in return. But there was something different about the smile they gave each other. It was deeper, like there was a level of understanding more significant than most. These two grew up together, supported each other and made it through a monumental transition together gracefully and with gleaming smiles! Robyn and Kevin, I hope you always look at each other the way you did on your wedding day! Thank you for choosing me to be there to help you remember that look forever.