There is something about riding a train that I just love….a feeling of nostalgia and romance; of ending up in mysterious far away places, of meeting new & exciting people; and, the simple pleasure that comes from merely enjoying the ride.

A few years after graduating from college, I packed a backpack and headed off on a cross country adventure, via Amtrak. I had been working in human resources for one of the major banks…BORING with a capital B! Uncertain of where I wanted my life to go, but pretty certain that I didn’t like the current path I was on, I quit my job and headed out to “find myself” or at least find some adventure.

I planned out a route that led me from Boston to Denver, Denver to Santa Fe, Santa Fe to Phoenix and finally Phoenix to San Francisco. I met so many fabulous & interesting people riding the train those few weeks and saw such beautiful places and parts of the country I had never seen before. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life.

For Kim & Jamie, the train is where they found love….glorious, I-can’t-live-without-you LOVE! It all began when two unsuspecting people boarded a train bound for Connecticut. Kim was moving back home from New York after being laid off from her job in the city. Having to pick up her life and move meant lots of trips back and forth on the train.

One day while riding back to CT, a handsome young man sat in the seat next to her and they began to chat. Jamie had just got off work and was also on his way home to CT. For the next hour, they talked about everything.

As they shared stories, Kim felt a connection and wondered if he might ask for her phone number. Just as the ride was about to end, he did. Although, she wasn’t one to give out her number, something about Jamie made her reconsider.

“I just remember him being really charming and cute and funny, so I figured I’d give him a chance….and the rest is history,” Kim told us.

“At first sight, I knew that I would love to get to know this person,” Jamie explained. “As time went on, she continued to become everything that I was looking for in a partner. It wasn’t long before I realized how compatible we were for each other and just knew she was the one.”

Super cute, right?!

Andy & I just loved the story of how Kim & Jamie met and wanted to incorporate it into their love session…and what better way than with an old train car. Here are a few of our favorite moments from our time with these sweethearts, who will say, “I do!” this spring in Chatham.

AAAAALLLLL ABOARD!!

A little choo choo smoochin’…

Hey baby….ride this train often?

Happiness is….finding love in the most unexpected places!

Swoooooon…..Love the light, love Kim’s beautiful love-filled expression, love everything about this moment!

Seriously….are they cute or what?

Another delicious moment…just love Jamie’s seriously happy expression in this next one!

If you’ve visited this blog before, you’ve probably heard me say this (more than once)….There truly is no better place in the world, than in the arms of the one you love. Love, comfort, safe & secure…it’s all there in this embrace!

This one too….dreamy!!!

The look of love…

Okay, so they didn’t meet on the MASS trains, but still…pretty cute, no?

Love Kim’s expression & posture in this next one…so deliciously girl-in-love!

Fun, fun, fun…

S.e.x.y!!!!

Where two paths come together as one….so symbolically befitting!

After spending some time with the trains, we decided to mix things up a bit and headed off for some more fun with our sweethearts…

Couples who laugh together, stay together….

laugh & play….color me fun!

Sitting on the dock of the bay….no wastin’ time here…just snuggling goodness!

Kim & Jamie, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedules to come see us! Thank you too for sharing your beautiful story with us and for inviting us to be a part of this exciting time in your lives. We’ve had so much fun with you already and look forward, with great excitement, to being there with you as you embark on this next love-filled chapter in your lives! With love & hugs, Chris & Andy xo

It was nearly a year ago that we got our first e-mail from Rachel & Brian inquiring about our services for their Cape Cod wedding. It was pretty standard in that she provided us with general information about the dates they were considering and possible locations…they were still in the early stages of planning. But, the thing that really stood out was the personal note Rachel wrote in the comments box.

It read, “Hi! I adore you guys (I’ve been stalking your blog for ages now). Your work is beautiful, but you two just seem really fun too! Brian and I live in Annapolis, MD, but I grew up spending summers on the Cape. Cape Cod is my “happy place” and means so much to me. This weekend (Thanksgiving day, to be exact), Brian surprised me by flying up to the Cape (I thought he’d be in PA with his family, while I was on CC with mine) and proposed on Millway Beach in Barnstable, near our family house. We couldn’t be more excited! You are quite literally the first vendors of any type I am contacting. I wanted to see if you have any availability for Sept. of 2011. We haven’t nailed down a date or location yet, but I knew I loved your work and wanted to find out about possible dates and costs, etc. Sorry for sending the longest message ever, but I look forward to hearing back from you… Thanks so much! Rachel (& Brian)”

Immediately, I felt a warm, fuzzy feeling for this super sweet and flatteringly enthusiastic couple. We try to respond quickly to all inquiries, but with Rachel’s, I wrote back instantly. Being that excited about possibly working with us will get you everywhere with me…I’m shameless that way.

Rachel & I exchanged about six e-mails within just a couple of hours and like that….she had me at “Hello!”

Over the months that followed, Rachel & I wrote each other….a lot. Her messages were always filled with such love & goodness; just seeing her name in my inbox would put a smile on my face.

It’s amazing to me how Bello is about so much more than just taking pretty photos. The relationships we build with our fabulous couples & families not only make what we do infinitely more enjoyable for us…and hopefully for them, but ultimately it is because of these deep & often lasting relationships that our work elicits the kind of reaction Rachel expressed in her first message to us.

Unfortunately for us, Rachel & Brian live in Maryland, so we didn’t actually get to meet them in person until the week of their wedding. Right away, it was like getting together with old friends and we just knew that we were going to have a great time watching them say and celebrate two very big little words….”I do!”

As it should have been for this wonderful couple, it was a picture perfect day here on beautiful Cape Cod. Rachel was stunning. Brian was dapper. And love radiated all around them! Their wedding was over 7 years in the making and friends & family were visibly excited. Here are a few of our favorite moments from their very special day…

Like me, Rachel is mad for life’s little details….including this super cute hanger she got online. Loved this perspective from the window of the house Rachel & Brian rented for them and some friends to stay in the week of the wedding.

Shannon from Wedding Tresses works her magic on Rachel…who was beaming like this all day long!

I’m not sure what it is that I like so much about this next shot of Brian, except that it just feels so much like him…cool, calm & collected.

Some of Brian’s friends enjoy their time together while getting ready for the ceremony…

Rachel chose these super cute teal dangling earring to be her something blue. They also happened to match her teal & green wedding color scheme. Is she radiant or what?!!

Brian’s brother, Matt (left), and good friend, Pat, get ready….

Rachel heads out to see Brian for their “first look” moment…

Brian waits…Is he adorable or what?!

Love this next shot of Rachel….her body language and the excited/nervous look on her face as she peeks around the corner to see her soon-to-be hubby.

The first look….oh, how the love it did flow!

Same moment from another perspective…can you tell which one was taken by me and which was taken by Andy??

The look of love….

Again, another perspective from roughly the same time…

The gang’s all here! Rachel & Brian rented the Windmill House in Yarmouthport for them & some of their friends to stay in during the week of the wedding. It made for the perfect backdrop for photos. We absolutely LOVED this fun group of friends. They were up for anything and made our jobs an absolute blast! Thanks guys…you rock!

Besties…Brian’s brother, Matt, with Rachel’s MOH, Kim. And on the right, Sara….stand-in officiant extraordinaire with Brian’s good friend, Pat.

A close of up some of the gals (Val & Lauren) & their heart-shaped glasses…so fun & fabulous.

All of the girls…such beautiful ladies inside & out!

The guys with their main man, Brian.

Brian’s super sweet niece, Olivia, performed her flower girl duties like a champ. Love the expressions of the guests as they watch her make her way down the aisle. And, can we talk about the adorable banner Rachel & her ridiculously talented mom, Linda, made? AMAZING!

Brian’s good friend Matt (aka Hunter) was a great sport when it came to his role as adult ring bearer. Rachel’s  mom, Linda, hand made the super-sized pillow for him to carry. Again, love the guests reactions as Matt makes his way down the aisle, most especially the beaming smile on the face of Rachel’s super sweet Nana (in the back). She almost didn’t make it to the wedding because she wasn’t feeling well, but the love she obviously had for her granddaughter carried her through. Sadly, Nana passed away just a couple of weeks after the wedding. Our hearts go out to Rachel, her mom Linda and the whole family. (hugs!)

Love this next moment….can’t you feel the joy as Rachel recites her vows and Brian takes it all in? Lovely!

This next one really tugs at my heart-strings. It is such a beautifully emotional moment, standing in front of the person you love most in the world, pledging your heart and a lifetime of commitment to them, while your family & friends watch in support. Sometimes the emotions bubble to the surface in the most wonderful way! LOVE!

Rachel has a pretty nifty party trick…she can saber a champagne bottle. She showed off her skills at the end of the ceremony, sealing the deal and kicking off the celebration! Sooo fun!

We did it!

Some of Rachel & Brian’s fabulous details, including the bridesmaids’ beautiful bouquets by Petals by the Sea. The invitations were custom designed by Rachel with the help of Jessica Zwirble of Poundcake Press. And once again, mom, Linda, hit a home run with her hand-made bean bags for the cornhole board Brian built.

Following the ceremony, we took Rachel & Brian to the beach for a couple of quick photos just as the sun was setting. It was heavenly. Oh, and I’m a sucker for succulents in wedding flowers. Love, love, love!

Love is…being willing to walk in swampy beach grass barefoot for a photo!

Banded together…forever!

As they were heading out of the grass, Rachel let out a resounding “Whooo hooo!” Funny how that happens soon after the ceremony is over. It suddenly hits you….”I’m married and you & me are going to be together forever!” Yup, that’s Whoooo hooo worthy!

In the lifeguard chair for a couple of shots. Do you think Rachel & Brian are happy? Oh, yeah!

Bellisima….

Absolutely love the light in this next shot and the way Rachel & Brian are looking at each other. Delicious!

More deliciousness….

I realized while culling through the images looking for special ones for the blog that Rachel & Brian were looking at each other like this quite a lot. Maybe it’s having been together for so long or maybe it’s just being filled with such love & joy. Whatever the reason, there is something very sweet and very tender in their exchange and we just love that!

Some fabulous reception details…including the hand-made table runners by the fabulous Linda, the matching place card board and Hunter’s special pillow. Rachel & Brian didn’t opt for a traditional wedding cake, instead they got this super cute mini cake (love the pedestal and little banners made from the wedding fabric) for them to cut and then had the most scrumdelicious ice cream cupcakes (yes, you heard right…ice cream cupcakes…talk about a brilliant idea) from Stone Cold Creamery. The guests gobbled them up. Okay…I admit it, we indulged in one ourselves. Mmmmmmmm good!

The wedding was held in the backyard of Rachel’s aunt’s & uncle’s Yarmouthport home. We just loved the way Undercover Tent worked the family pool into the reception area. It was very pretty & provided a dramatic feel to the space. Fortunately, no one fell in.

Matt gives a very sweet, heartfelt and funny speech. Love Rachel & Brian’s reaction.

They also had a Cape Cod Photobooth for guests to take photos and put in a scrapbook. It was a big hit with the guests (and Rachel & Brian!). We also had fun pulling back the curtain for a sneak peek at folks enjoying themselves…

Thank you to all of the wonderful vendors who always make our work not feel like work…especially Sarah at The Casual Gourmet for taking such good care of us. A special thank you to Gordon Ryan for pitching in and giving us a hand when we really needed it! Thank you Ryan…you rock!

Rachel & Brian…what can we say to you? Your wedding was everything we knew it would be and more! We absolutely loved finally meeting you both in person and getting to know you, your wonderful families and friends. Thank you for entrusting us with documenting such an important time in your lives, especially having made that decision without having met us. Being there with you, sharing in your wedding, was such a treat and we hope these photos and the others soon to follow help keep the memories alive for many MANY happy years to come! Thank you too for being so much fun to photograph….”not photogenic.”???? You’re crazy!!! We adore you both and Rachel…I hope we still keep exchanging wonderful, love-filled e-mail! With big love & hugs, Chris & Andy xoxo

Earlier this summer, John & Julia took the weekend off from the Big Apple and headed to the sandy shores of Cape Cod for their super fun bello love session. And, boy was it a LOVE session. Andy & I were literally giddy with excitement over how Julia & John were together. They really are such amazing people…so sweet, tender, kind, joyful, and totally in love.

Normally, it can take our couples a while to warm up to the idea of being photographed, to let down their guard and just have fun with it. But, not Julia & John. They opened up immediately and gave us front row seats to who they are and how much they love each other. It was heavenly! Click HERE for a look.

When the session was over, we began counting down the days till their wedding, as we knew it was going to be something special. And indeed it was. Julia put a lot of care & thought into all of the details of the day and it all came together brilliantly. And, John…John was just itching to celebrate.

It’s always hard trying to summarize a fabulous day in just a few photos, but here are some of our favorite details and moments of love & fun…

Hope you’re wearing shades, because this bling shot is blinding…

John’s beautiful niece Brooke…

Julia is stunning and moves with such grace & elegance. Just love these next few moments as she slips into her gorgeous Selia Yang dress, then checks herself out in the bathroom mirror….swoooon!

And, can we talk about her fabulous hair, styled by the super talented Stacey Kuehn.

Julia gets some positive feedback from her beautiful friends, Helen (left) and Kristen (right).

The flowers by Lilac Florals were beautiful…though not quite as much as flower girl extraordinaire, Ashleigh, John’s other niece.

John’s best man, Michael, tying his tie…

The happy groom….John’s dad passed away several years ago from ALS and he wears this bracelet in memory of his dad.

Michael shares some snuggle time with his super cute daughter.

A little arm wrestling to pass the time…

Julia gave John this super cool watch as a wedding present.

Like a lot of our couples this year, Julia & John opted to see each other before the ceremony, so they could enjoy their cocktail hour with their family & friends….and also to help settle their nerves. Love this moment just before and just after seeing each other for the first time…

Can’t you just feel the love???

The guys do a little first look documenting with their phones…

Julia & her girls & John and his guys…

The gang’s all here…

We had a good chunk of time to do some photos with just Julia & John on their own, which was something we’d been looking forward to since their love session earlier this summer. And here’s why….

It really was THE perfect late September afternoon. The weather was spectacular and all felt right with the world…love the way Julia’s legs look in this next shot as we walk to the next location…tres sexy!

Delicious fall light…Mmmmmm, good!

Love, love, love…

Down to the water for some more snuggling in the yummy late day fall light…

These two laugh a lot together….and we love that!

They also do sexy really well too…

This next one is how I think of Julia & John when I think of them together…comfortable, sexy and always fun!

Bellisima…

Like John’s father, Julia’s dad also passed away a few years ago. So, she asked her Uncle Mehdie, her dad’s best friend, to stand in and walk her down the aisle. Mehdie looked proud as punch!

One more quick glance at his beautiful niece as they head down the aisle…love this perspective Andy caught of guests watching and documenting the moment…

The look of love….dreamy!

When Julia is really happy her whole face lights up and she scrunches her super cute nose…it’s hard to not smile when you see her do it!

Guests relishing the moment as well..

As do her girls…

Sand ceremonies have become a popular way for couples getting married here on the Cape’s sandy shores to mark the symbolism of two lives joining to become one….

After the ceremony, we stole Julia & John for a couple more quick photos….there’s something nice about having just a few minutes after the ceremony, now that the marriage is official. The joy is somehow more visible…don’t you think?

Mmmmmmmm….glorious love!

I’m a total sucker for love in all it’s glorious forms and this next shot just screams happy love to me!

Some more fabulous details. Julia & John selected all white arrangements for the table and brought in fabric and up-lighting to line the back wall and give the room more color, which changed from warm auburn during dinner to cooler pinks & blues later in the night. It’s amazing how adding colored lighting really changes the whole look & feel of a space…and it’s so fun to photograph.

Mingling during cocktail hour…

John & his beautiful momma, Jerri, during their first dance…..love the mother/son & father/daughter dances. They always get me.

Hey now….

Celebrate good times, come on!

This next one pretty much sums up the day…

Big thanks to Julia & John’s family & friends for being so much fun. Thanks too to all of the vendors who made our job not only easy, but also a pleasure. And, a special thanks to the fabulous Matt Grazier, for being such a good friend and for being there when we needed him. We love you Matty! And to Julia & John…hopefully by now there is no doubt about how crazy we are about you two and how much we loved being a part of your amazing wedding. You two are wonderful and we look forward to watching where life takes you as your share the adventure together! With big love & hugs, Chris & Andy xoxo