After a couple decides they trust us enough to want us to photograph their wedding, we push that trust a little further and send them a survey that asks a series of somewhat personal questions. Their answers help us get a better feeling for who they are and what is important to them. And, if all goes well, that personal connection makes them feel more relaxed with us, which, in turn, paves the way for fabulous photos!

When we asked college sweethearts, MaryHelen and Kurt what their favorite things to do together were, they replied, “Dancing, anything that involves the ocean, and eating.” This was a good sign, since Andy & I also love dancing, anything that involves the ocean and eating….though not necessarily in that order. And when their answer to the question, “What would be unique about your wedding,” was, “The quantity of dance offs at the reception,” we knew for certain that we were going to have some fun with these two.

Still, MaryHelen & Kurt caught us off guard when they glided onto the dance floor for their first dance and then proceeded to boogie on down to Huey Lewis’s 80s classic, “The Power of Love.”

This wasn’t your typical first dance. There were no rehearsed steps, no holding tightly to one another in an emotional embrace. Instead, it was as if there was no one else in the room…just two people who know how to completely strip themselves of inhibitions and really have a good time. It was as if we were getting a private glimpse into what a Sunday morning might be like in their house….dancing in the kitchen in their pajamas as their favorite song unexpectedly plays on the radio.

It was wonderful and their family & friends ate it up, especially when Kurt pulled back his jacket and slid across the floor to MaryHelen’s feet.

We really are so very fortunate to get to see how differently love manifests in different couples. There is no right or wrong way to love, but when you love without limits and trust that your heart is safe in the hands of the one you give it to, well, I’m pretty sure there is nothing better in the world than that.

And, so was the feeling of MaryHelen’s & Kurt’s wedding a few weeks ago at the lovely Hyannisport Club. The sun was shining, the air was warm but crisp, and happiness danced on the falling leaves and in everything around them!

Here are just a few of our favorite moments from MaryHelen & Kurt’s amazing wedding…

MaryHelen in her super sweet Priscilla of Boston eyelet gown….she was radiant!!

I love the way MaryHelen’s niece and flowergirl, Katherine, watches with wide-eyed wonder as her aunt checks her make up, looking very much like the perfect princess.

This next one feels very Grace Kelly to me…

Sugar and spice and everything nice…

Riding in the limo with the girls on the way to the church, I looked down the long stretch of lovely ladies and saw MaryHelen gazing out the window and my heart stopped for a second, captivated by the beauty of the moment and by the sweet sentiment as I imagined what her thoughts must have been in that moment.

Meanwhile, a little while earlier and across town, Kurt enjoys some time with his friends as he gets ready for one of the biggest days of his life…

Kurt & his mates! I love this shot and how cool is that old Colony Park? Super sweet ride boys!!!

Outside  Our Lady of Victory Church, MaryHelen’s sister, JoHanna, has a moment with her son and ring bearer, Thomas, before they both head down the aisle.

I absolutely love this kiss….I love the way MaryHelen is holding onto Kurt and the absolutely beaming look on her face! It’s moments like this that make life so sweet!

The new Mr. & Mrs….

This could be one of my favorite shots of the day…I absolutely love the expressions on both MaryHelen’s and Kurt’s faces as they get ready to drive away from the church with friends and family happily gathered in the background! Love it!!

YeeeeeHawwwww!!!

We stopped for photos at MaryHelen’s mom’s house, where we first photographed the happy couple for their super fun love session one year ago almost to the day.

Kurt & his dad are big into building boats and houses and fixing up antique cars, like this super sexy Rambler…

I love the light in this next one and how about that super cool moss that covered the pathway to the marsh? It’s so Enchanted Forest!

The boat on the left is Kurt’s. It’s the first one he ever built, thanks to a little help from his dad.

Having two amazing sisters myself, whom I adore more than words could ever express, this next photo of MaryHelen and her sister, JoHannah, makes my heart smile BIG!

Grrrrrrrrrr….sexy!

This is also a contender for favorite photo of the day. These two love each other with hearts wide open and it’s a beautiful thing to be around!

We had such fun photographing these two with this very cool car!

I absolutely love the easy breezy feeling in this next one as the Just Married signs blow in the wind & MaryHelen hangs her arm out catching the breeze and taking in all the happiness of the day!

A girl and a boy + a cool car and a ton of love = PERFECTION!

Add a little sun flare and perfection just got a little bit better!

Some amazing details by the ridiculously talented Shama Klee.

Some more fabulous details from the day, including the nautical inspired cake by Delicious Desserts.

This post wouldn’t be complete without a quick look at the promised (and certainly delivered) hilarious dance offs that carried through much of the night’s party. Here, Kurt & his mates do a little move I call the Boys’ Joy Ride. I don’t know what they actually call it, but Kurt starts out and his mates quickly jump in as if they’re all getting in a car and going for a ride…it ends with them on the floor…hysterical!!!!

We’d like to thank Tasha Bracken of The Simple Details for helping make sure MaryHelen & Kurt’s day went off without a hitch…great finally working with you Tasha! Thanks to Shama Klee for giving us some seriously delicious eye candy at the reception. Shama, the designs you & MaryHelen put together for the tables were absolutely GORGEOUS. Even the smell of the honeycomb candles added to the perfect ambiance! I’ve never seen the Hyannisport Club look so elegant!!! Amazing job! Thanks to Scott & Roseann at the Hyannisport Club for always making our jobs so easy! You guys rock! Thanks too to the talented Night Rhythm for keeping everyone dancing so we could get some amazing pictures! Thanks to all the amazing vendors who helped make MaryHelen & Kurt’s wedding perfect!

But our biggest thanks go out to the families of MaryHelen & Kurt and to the happy couple themselves for trusting us to capture such an important time in all of your lives. MH & Kurt…you two are wonderful! The easiness of your love is so sweet to be around. It is obvious that you two are best friends first and foremost and that truly is a gift! We LOVED being a part of your incredible wedding and we hope these photos (and the others very soon to follow) will forever keep the memories of your day alive in your hearts for many happy years to come! With love & hugs, Christine & Andy xoxo

I know the heading for this post is, at first glance, odd. But, if you follow this blog, you might remember our super fun love session with Kara & Jamie, which was entitled “Love in a Wooden Structure”. Having had such a great time in our wooden structure, we decided we had to find something equally as funky to take photos for Kara & Jamie’s amazing New Hampshire wedding…and we did! We found THE perfect place in an old abandoned fort on the Jackson seashore.

We drove up to NH the day before their wedding to check out some spots. The sun was shining and it was a glorious day. We knew this spot would be perfect. Unfortunately, Mother Nature was feeling a tad crabby the follow day and it rained pretty heavily for most of Kara & Jamie’s wedding.

But, a little rain wasn’t going to dampen spirits and spoil all the fun! Heck, no! After their ceremony at the stunning Immaculate Conception Parish in Newburyport, MA, we had a couple of hours to get back to the Wentworth By The Sea Country Club. We were debating whether to just head back to the club and do photos inside or around the tent. But, Kara, Jamie & their bridal party were all game for getting a little wet in the name of fabulous photos.  So we stuck to the original plan and headed for the fort. How much do we love when couples give us that kind of creative freedom? Totally LOVE LOVE LOVE that!!!

It was still a little drizzly at the fort, but we were able to get some great shots and hopefully they think it was worth a battered pair of Jimmy Choos!

The entire day was an incredible celebration of the beautiful love Kara & Jamie share, both with each other, with their families and with their amazing friends. Getting to be there with them on such a special day was truly an honor and a pleasure! Yes, they are beautiful outside for sure, but it is their inner beauty that really lit up the day with magic!

Here are some of our favorite moments from the day! Enjoy!

The sacrificial Jimmy Choos and some other fabulous wedding details….

Getting a little help from good friend, Bridget, Kara puts on her earrings after having her hair & make up done by the very talented Ashely & Candice at Daryl Christopher Salon in Waltham….she’s so beautiful it just takes your breath away, doesn’t it!? And I absolutely LOVE her hair down! GaGaGorgeous!!!

With a little help from her friends, Kara slips in to her crazy beautiful Anne Barge gown from L’Elite Boston. So different and the neckline on her was fabulous!!! And can we talk about her hair and the rose/feather accent? LOVE IT!!!

Two little rings symbolize a commitment packed with such love & meaning…

Jamie putting on the finishing touches….isn’t he handsome?

I love this next shot of Jamie getting in the Hummer limo….talk about riding in style.

Our handsome groom at the church. It was raining, but that didn’t stop Andy & Jamie from getting outside to get a couple of quick shots by this very cool door!

This photo is going to come as quite a surprise to Kara & Jamie! And we can’t wait to hear their reactions! Apparently, Jamie’s groomsmen were a bit hungry so they had a quick pizza delivered to the back of the church without anyone knowing. Here the guys shove their faces in the rain. Love it!!!

Swedish Invasion! Relatives of Kara’s dad, who sadly passed away when Kara was just 19, made the long trip from Sweden to see Kara say, “I do!” I just love this perspective.

Not even pouring rain could dampen Kara’s excitement as she heads into the church to marry the man of her dreams! Love it!!!

It was an emotional moment as Kara’s mom, Anne, walked her daughter down the aisle.

Immaculate Conception is a beautiful parish and the alter provided a stunning backdrop to Kara & Jamie’s exchanging of vows.

During communion, Kara gives her mom and good friend, Bridget, a quick smile….this is one of my favorite times of the Catholic wedding ceremonies because it gives couples a chance to take it all in and look around and see all of the people there to love & support them.

Jamie & his friends made a quick stop to pick up beer for the trolley ride back to New Hampshire and as a little gift for his friends, Jamie bought everyone a Mega Millions ticket. Unfortunately, this one wasn’t the winning ticket. Shucks!

Jamie bought all of his groomsmen these super fly chocolate brown & white kicks to match their very stylish beige Seersucker suits.

Kara’s beautiful sister, Kristen, and her hubby, Marc (left) with Best Man Fill-In Extraordinaire, Marshall. Marshall wins huge points for being a last minute fill in for Jamie’s friend, Ryan, who couldn’t make the wedding because he & his wife were due to have their first baby. Marshall’s speech was AMAZING…apparently he’d been preparing for the fact that he might have to fill in. Way to go Marshall! BTW…Kristen & Mark also recently had a baby, little Taylor, who is a total lovebug!

Love in a cement (looks like some brick too) structure! Ducking out of the rain for a bit, we took Jamie & Kara in part of the fort that looked like it might have housed munitions. There’s something so fun to me about taking beautiful people in beautiful clothes and putting them in a really rough and tumble location. I just love the polarity of the situation. I also like the symbolism of an old building…you could say marriage, if you’re lucky and work hard at it, is like this cement structure. It’s worn and some spots are battered, while others still appear new. And yet through it all, it has stood the test of time.

Having a moment…bello style

I LOVE this next one! The joy on Kara’s face makes my heart smile! Another great example of the benefits of having two photographers. While I was inside the structure getting the above shot, Andy was outside capturing this fabulous moment!

Again, two photographers…two unique perspectives (mine is on the left and Andy’s is on the right)

This is where Kara’s shoes took the biggest beating….but what a cool shot, no?

Love is…..this moment!

The lovely Kara….

The day before the wedding, while scouting out the area for photos, I found this very cool heart-shaped rock and gave it to Kara & Jamie as a little good luck charm. I think a few of the guys thought I just carried heart-shaped rocks around with me for cool photos. Not a bad idea, but I didn’t….this one was all thanks to serendipity!

Braving the rain and seriously slippery rocks, Kara’s friends rallied to get this cool portrait! Thanks guys…you totally ROCK!!!

I love this next shot! I always prefer those in between moments either right before or right after a kiss. For me, there is just such a feeling of anticipation…love it!

Some of the amazing details of Kara & Jamie’s day…

Their first dance was as sweet, fun and playful as Kara & Jamie are themselves.

They say it’s good luck if it rains on your wedding day. Perhaps that is true, but something tells me these two don’t need much luck. They’ve already got all the key ingredients for a happy, lasting marriage!

Okay, so Jamie’s family apparently has a strange tradition of doing somersaults at every wedding. It was pretty tricky business capturing this fast moving chaos, but talk about fun!!! Even Kara went for it with Jamie’s sister, Nicole. And, that’s Jamie’s mom in the middle, with I think one of the cousins. I’m not exactly sure what they’re doing, but it looked like some sort of surfing move, with the cousin shimmying backwards across the dance floor…talk about hysterical!!! BRILLIANT!

Thank you Kara & Jamie for instantly welcoming us into your lives with such open hearts! We had a blast being there with you at the rehearsal dinner, getting to meet some of your friends and family and then again, at your wonderful, love-filled wedding celebration! You two are such warm, happy, genuine, loveable people and our lives are richer for knowing you! We hope these photos bring you as much joy as being around you both has brought us! And like our cement structure, we know your love will stand the test of time. Big love & hugs, Christine & Andy xoxo

Stefania & Justin have known each other for more than 10 years. And in that time, they have been through much together, including the tragic passing of Justin’s dad when Justin was just a sophomore in high school. Having lost my mom too soon, I know what it means to have someone there by your side, a best friend to lean on when the hard days come and the tears flow without sign they will ever stop. When you go through something like that with another person, an amazing thing happens….a foundation surer than that of any fortress is laid and roots, stronger than the oldest tree, begin to dig in. And, you know….this person will catch you if you fall, they will cheer you on when you succeed and be there…in good times and in bad.

Love grabs hold and the only thing to do is to promise your heart to that person. To give yourself to them as completely as they have done to you. And that’s exactly what Stephania & Justin did on a perfect September afternoon by the salty water on picturesque Cape Cod, surrounded by their families and dearest friends.

Here are just a few of our favorite moments from their spectacular Nauticus Marina wedding…

Stefania’s crazy beautiful dress and super cute shoes.

Stefania checks out progress on her hair and make up by the talented ladies at Beyond Beauty in Hyannis….beautiful!

Stefania’s bridemaids, including her cousin and sister, help get the dress ready…

I remember that feeling when I put on my dress the day of my wedding day….suddenly the fairytale felt real. Oh the joy!!!

Justin hands out gifts to his groomsmen, including this very cool poker chips set for his brother Scott….

One more quick check in the mirror before heading out to say, “I do!”…..Lookin’ good Justin!!! Lookin’ GOOD!

I love this next one of Stefania and her dad, Max, heading into the church….so cute!!! (Stefania reminds me of a young Sophia Loren….Che bella!

Another very cool moment….

Officially Mr. & Mrs., Justin & Stefania jump in this super cool Rolls Royce and head to their party….but not before a quick kiss and a toast. Awwwww…..

During cocktail hour, we stole Stefania & Justin away for a few photos around the marina….

I love this perspective with Stefania’s ga-ga gorgeous bouquet of white orchids (one of my favorite flowers) by Karen at Lilac Florals.

The look of love……I love how the boat in the background says Angel!

Sometimes all you need are some steel doors for a cool backdrop….

Oh, and a super cute couple having fun with each other doesn’t hurt either…..love it!

Karen put together some AMAZING flower arrangements for Stefania & Justin’s wedding, including this super cool white tree wrapped in orchids that stood above the guest’s placecards. Very dramatic!

Announcing the happy couple….love their expressions, love the lighting!

Their families and friend made an arch for them to come under during introductions and it provided a super cool perspective for some candid photos.

After watching her Uncle Justin dance with her new Auntie Stefania, too-cute-for-words Jaclyn steals a quick kiss. I just love this photo!!!

Stefania’s cousin, Lea, gave an amazing speech and looks on in this next photo as Justin’s brother delivers an equally funny and heart-felt speech.

In the lighthouse….

Dusk at Nauticus…..BEAUTIFUL!

And here are a few of the incredible details from Stefania & Justin’s wedding….

We’d like to thank all of the wonderful vendors who helped make Stefania’s & Justin’s day run perfectly and who provided beautiful eye candy for us to photograph including Olive Chase & the fabulous staff at The Casual Gourmet and florist extraordinaire Karen Taddei of Lilac Florals.

We’d also like to thank Stefania’s & Justin’s super sweet families for welcoming us with open arms. But, as always, our biggest thanks go out to Stefania & Justin for trusting us to document such a special day for you! We have loved getting to know you both over the past year. It is obvious that the love you have for each other runs deep and we feel truly honored that you asked us to be a part of starting this new chapter in your lives together! We hope these photos (and the others soon to follow) will help to keep the memories of your BEAUTIFUL wedding day alive for many happy years to come!

Big love & hugs, Christine & Andy xoxo

It was a perfect fall afternoon for Laurie & Joe’s Willowbend Country Club wedding a few weeks ago. The weather was warm, the sun was shining and all felt right with the world.

Laurie & Joe put a lot of time & effort into all of the special little details that gave their wedding their own unique signature look and getting to be there with them to record all of those details, and more importantly, document all the moments of love was not only an honor, but truly a pleasure. It was hard to narrow down the photos to just a few, but here are some of our favorites that together tell the story of their special day…

Laurie’s super cute shoes wrapped in ribbon & bling along with her stunning wedding dress.

Laurie getting buttoned in as her mom, Nancy, looks on proudly.

I love this photo of Laurie in the limo on the way to the church. Her mom, Nancy was telling Laurie how much she loves her and how proud she is of her, as her dad, Steve, looks at his baby girl and just beams with pride. Such a sweet moment!

The boys getting ready…

Joe and his mates….

Laurie & her girls as they head into the church….is she stunning or what?!

Left alone for a moment outside the church just before the ceremony starts. We love this moment with our grooms….the nerves suddenly go into overdrive as you prepare to commit your life to your best friend. Love it!

Here comes the bride….I just love how Laurie & her dad look at each other right before heading down the aisle to Joe.

I don’t know why, but I really like this next shot. I think it’s the drama the organ chimes provide in the backdrop mixed with the serious expressions on the faces of Laurie, Joe and their BM, Mark and MOH, Marisa. While love is certainly the main theme of a wedding; it’s also a serious commitment and seeing two people pledge their lives to one another is a beautiful thing…

I just love the way Joe is looking at Laurie in this next one. Laurie is definitely the more timid of the two, especially in front of a crowd, and I just love how Joe is holding her in his gaze……lovely!!

With vows & rings now exchanged, the nerves settle down and the celebrating begins….

This next one makes me smile! I love the color, the composition and the story it tells as the congregation raises their hands to send blessings to the happy couple…

The receiving line can be a great opportunity for candid photos like this next one. Laurie & Joe built enough time into their schedule to allow for it and still have plenty of time for photos. We LOVE that!!!

The new Mr. & Mrs.

Yeah…we did it!!!!

It was an unseasonably warm late September afternoon and so there were a few people on the beach, but we just had Laurie & Joe take a little stroll with their friends for some more candid “formals.”

Love this perspective….

And this one as Laurie & Joe head back to the limo….

Back at Willowbend, and after the family pics, we still had some time for a few photos of Laurie & Joe out by the club’s super cool red barn. The sun was setting, providing some dramatic lighting for this fun perspective…

And this one…Love that sun flare!

The barn…taaaadaaaaah….so dramatic and so fun!

And a different perspective telling a different story of that same moment….again, two photographers is always better than one!!!

And here are some of our favorite details from Laurie & Joe’s amazing wedding….

We’d like to thank all of the wonderful vendors who helped make Laurie & Joe’s day perfect…including Randy van Tasel & the fabulous staff at Willowbend Country Club; cake queen Lisa Raffael at Delicious Desserts, Concetta Gordon and the always-fun First Class Band, florist Kate Farrington of Gatherings in Duxbury and the talented Tessa Gonzalez Vasak of Evenstar Paperie.

We’d also like to thank Laurie & Joe’s super sweet families for welcoming us with open arms. But, as always, our biggest thanks go out to Laurie & Joe for inviting us to share in such a special day in your lives. The fun began with our wickedly-fun love session at Fenway Park….thank you again for such a great afternoon. You two are so sweet together and we have loved getting to know you both over the past year! Being there with you when you said, “I do,” was both an honor and a privilege and we hope these photos (and the others soon to follow) help keep the memories of your AMAZING wedding day alive for many happy years to come!

Big love & hugs, Christine & Andy xoxo

When a man really loves a woman it is easy to see. It’s in his eyes when he looks at her. It’s in his touch when he gently reaches out to her. His face lights up at the very sight of her. And you just know that he would do anything for her, anything to keep her safe, keep her happy and keep her close to him.

It’s a beautiful thing when a man really loves a woman. It gives us hope and reminds us how lucky we are that such love exists in the world. It sounds a bit corny, I know, but it’s true. And, the amazing September 6th Wequassett wedding of San Francisco sweeties, Ryan & Anette, is one of those love stories.

Andy & I first saw proof of their love when we photographed them with Ryan’s family last summer, and then again at their love session with us this past July. But, something happens on a couple’s wedding day. Some special magic lingers in the air and emotions reach a happy crescendo that makes even the most beautiful love shine brighter than the brightest star in a clear October sky.

Words don’t really do justice to that kind of love, so we’ll let the photos do the talking….

This could be one of my all-time favorite ring shots we’ve done. When we first arrived for some getting ready photos, Ryan’s mom, Terri, gave me a bag of these Hersey’s kisses, which had Ryan & Anette’s names & wedding date on the bottoms and had been put in the guests’ gift baskets. I just loved the idea of kisses and thought they’d be great to use for a ring shot with the invite. I don’t know why, but I just love this shot.

Anette is unquestionably beautiful. She’s got a sweet, warm, natural grace about her and I just love this shot of her getting her lipstick applied.

I remember feeling exactly this way on my wedding day….all of a sudden it just hits you that all of the pieces you’ve spent the past year finalizing are finally coming together and you’re about to marry your best friend! Such a great feeling!!!!

Sweet, handsome, lovely Ryan…..

Ryan with his mates….

Anette is being led by her mom & dad, as Ryan closes his eyes in anticipation of the moment he catches his first glimpse of his lovely bride-to-be.

I love this shot…I love how the veins on Ryan’s forehead are bulging because he’s trying to hold back the flood of emotions. I love how tightly they’re holding each other and I love that Anette’s dad is in the foreground, watching as his baby girl leaves his embrace to embark on this new adventure!!!

The look of love….

While I was up on the hill shooting down to catch that first glimpse moment, Andy was in the thick of it and I absolutely LOVE this shot….I love they way they are holding each others’ hands with such love & intensity! And, could two expressions ever speak of more joy than these? Making the moment even richer are the expressions of their friends and family, who seem to be enjoying the moment almost as much as Anette & Ryan!

Down to the dock for a few shots of our love birds. Getting to do the photos before the ceremony really is so much more relaxing and less stressful for us and for our couples, who then get to enjoy their cocktail hour uninterrupted.

There is no place better in the world…than in the arms of your soul mate!

Celebrating with friends & family!

Then off to the Ketubah signing. I just love this stolen moment as Anette & Ryan soak in the meaning of the commitment they’re making to each other.

Signing on the dotted line…

After they signed the marriage contract, family & friends each offered wishes of love and happy hopes for their future. Here Ryan & Anette react to all the love.

Ryan was walked down the aisle by both his mom and dad and I just love this shot of Terri giving her son a big hug. Watching my sisters become moms and seeing the love their have for their babies makes me appreciate this moment so much more.

Similarly….I love this series. Look at Terri watching her son as he watches Anette make her way down the hill to him. LOVE it!!!

Beaming….

Again, Terri’s face in this next one makes my heart smile! She looks so proud of her son and so happy for the love he has found in Anette.

These two looked like this pretty much the whole ceremony. It really is wonderful to get to be around this kind of love on a regular basis!

It was unseasonably chilly during the ceremony and one of Anette & Ryan’s ring bearers, Charlie, get a little snuggle time to help keep warm.

Sealed with a kiss…

The moment after the kiss, from a different perspective! This could be my favorite photo of the day. I just love their expressions. They both look so over-the-moon happy!

Having two photographers really does make a difference when it comes to capturing different moments and perspectives. Because right after I caught that last image, Anette & Ryan headed down the aisle together for this moment, which Andy was able to capture. And, if there weren’t two of us, one of these moments would have been lost.

The happy couple…

Some details from their incredible day!

Ryan’s sister, Leigh, gets down during the reception. What I love most about this shot is how Reese, one of the flower girls, is looking up at her with such adoration.

The band, Radiance, rocked the house.

The clouds were moving fast in the night sky, which was illuminated by the moon, as some brave guests weathered the cool evening temps.

Ryan & Anette’s wedding was everything we had hoped it would be and so much more!!! We were really fortunate to have had the chance to spend more time with them than we do with most of our couples and we really became invested in them and making sure their wedding day was captured with the love, care and respect they deserved and they so willingly share with each other. Big thanks to Terri & Alan for having such faith in us from the very beginning (even before the engagement was official!) and to your whole family for welcoming us with such open arms and open hearts!!! We look forward to being a part of your family’s annual tradition here on the Cape for many years to come!!

But, our biggest thanks go out to Anette & Ryan for sharing such a special time in your lives with us and for inspiring us with your beautiful love!! Getting to be there with you both on your wedding day was not only an honor and a privilege, but it was truly a joy!!! We wish you both much love and hope these photos serve as happy reminder of your incredible wedding day for MANY happy years to come!!

With big love & hugs, Christine & Andy xoxo

Kate & Ryan’s story began at work, which is kind of fitting because relationships, well, let’s be honest…they take some work. But, if you’re very lucky, all the hard work pays off with lots of love, laughter and a best friend at your side through the good times and the bad.

Their wedding, held earlier this month at the elegant Ocean Edge Resort, was a wonderful celebration of Kate & Ryan’s commitment to one another, to their son, Nicholas, and of all the love they are blessed to have in their lives.

Kate & Ryan’s families were very much at the heart of the day’s celebrations. These two lucky people come from very loving families. Kate’s brother,  and five of her first cousins were all in the wedding party, as was Ryan’s older brother, Ken, who served as best man, and Ken’s wife, Tracy and their 3 boys, Jared, Brady & Drew.

Both Kate & Ryan’s parents are still married and both families have had to overcome challenges in life. And, sometimes, it is those challenges that make us see more clearly how blessed we are and how important it is to live fully and love with your heart wide open.

The party that followed their exchanging of, “I do’s,” was one of those parties where it’s clear that everyone was living fully, loving with their hearts wide open and celebrating in a big way! Andy & I had such a blast watching and documenting all the fun. Here are just a few of our favorite love-filled moments from the day. Enjoy!

Kate’s cousin Amy helps button Kate into her gorgeous dress…

Beautiful Kate! From our first meeting, I’ve thought Kate was a prettier version of Alicia Silverstone…don’t you think?

Heading to the chapel….and sheeeee’s gonna get maaaaried!

I love the photos of the guys getting ready. Andy definitely has a more challenging job than me when it comes to the getting ready photos because guys normally wait till the very last minute and then it’s chaos. But, Andy has a way of making everyone feel comfortable and can capture some wonderful moments, like this one of Ryan putting on his cufflinks.

On the trolley with Ryan & his mates in all their manliness! Love it! If RayBans needs a new ad campaign this could be it!

This is that moment, when it suddenly hits you, “I’m getting married today, and here comes my wife.” The emotion can be overwhelming, in the best kind of way!

And, then the rings go on and it’s official….

I love this perspective of Kate’s parents in the foreground and Ryan’s parents in the background as the priest asks family & friends to raise their hands and send blessings to the happy couple.

A sign of peace….and LOVE glorious love!

more signs of peace & love…

Usually during communion at Catholic ceremonies, the happy couple gets a moment to soak in what’s just happened, and as is often the case, they look to their rings. Ryan was pretty chuffed with his and decided to show it off to our cameras. Love it!

Although the day was all smiles and happy tears, Kate joined Ryan’s family to take a brief pause and remember Ryan’s brother, Craig, who died from a brain tumor when he was just 27. A commemorative brick behind Our Lady of the Cape, where Kate & Ryan got married, stands in loving memory of Craig.

I love this shot of the family gathered by the brick. I love the sun flare and the composition, but mostly I love the emotion it evokes. Somehow I feel Craig’s presence in this image. Life is raw….it is hard and sweet and beauty can be found in the happiest and saddest of times and I love that about life.

Kate & her cousins…are they adorable or what? Good genes in that family!

Kate’s super cute mom, Sue, and super sweet, Dad, Dan, sure seem happy about their new son in law! Dan is a 20-year survivor of brain cancer, an ironic coincidence Kate & Ryan’s families share.

Kate & Ryan with their uber delicious son, Nicholas.

I call this one, “Flock of birds.” Andy is English and a slang English term for girls is birds, but you probably already knew that.

The guys…

It was a gorgeous September afternoon and Ocean Edge’s private beach was unseasonably crowded, so we just had the group parade the beach and have some fun….which they did!

Our happy couple takes a moment…

The new roof deck at Ocean Edge is a sweet spot for cocktail hour…

Ryan’s mom, Louise gets a little lovin’ during cocktail hour.

Kate’s dad’s cousin, Charlene, sang Kate & Ryan’s first dance, “Songbird,” by Fleetwood Mac. She did an A-M-A-Z-I-N-G job! It was a beautiful moment!!!

As was Kate’s first dance with her dad…

And Ryan’s with his mom…

And then the party really got underway with a little Michael Jackson’s thriller….nice moves ladies!

Kate stretched her pipes and helped out Eye2Eye’s lead singer, Penny Lane.

Big thanks to Erik & the wonderful crew at Ocean Edge, to Meredith Fancy at Fancy Flowers, Cape Destinations and Eye2Eye for all being so good at what you do and for making our job not just easy, but super fun! Thank you too to Ryan & Kate’s wonderful families for making us instantly feel welcomed and especially to Kate & Ryan, for inviting us to be a part of this special time in your lives. We hope these photos serve as happy reminders of your AMAZING wedding for many happy years to come!!!

Big hugs & love, Christine & Andy  xo

Kara & TJ’s romantic Cape Cod wedding was like something out of the movies. Kara looked stunning and the ever-handsome TJ was bursting with pride. Surrounded by their closest friends and family, it was as a wedding should be….packed with love, laughter and life’s richest and most joyful emotions.

Our Virginia lovebirds said, “I do,” at Our Lady of Victory, where Father Mark once again led a poignant service. Andy & I are not terribly religious, spiritual for sure, but, I admit, it takes a lot to move us during a church service and Father Mark always seems to make it happen. He is thoughtful, real, sincere and full of love….the perfect person to lead Kara & TJ into marriage.

Their elegant, yet super fun, reception followed at the New Seabury Country Club in Mashpee. All in all, it was a wonderful celebration of a special kind of love. Here are our some of our favorite moments and photos from their fun-filled day. Enjoy!

Kara’s garter held a miniature version of TJ’s plane. He is a pilot in the Navy. I liked this perspective and the fact that Kara’s shoes say “Grace,” which just seemed appropriate to me.

Getting tied into her dress, Kara reacts as her girlfriends lace her up. Isn’t she gorgeous?

TJ with his medals. And his & Kara’s wedding bands. I wish we’d had time on the wedding day to really ask TJ about what each of those medals represented. But, I did notice that he had a lot more hardware than many of his friends.

Love this persepctive…very Officer and a Gentleman to me!

Getting off the party bus with her dad and friends, Kara heads to the ceremony….think she’s excited to marry TJ? Uuuuhhhh, yeah!!

Beaming with pride, TJ watches as Kara heads down the aisle, on her way to become his wife. Everyone on the ends of the pews had cameras up and ready to capture the moment, so this struck me as a fun perspective of a classic Here Comes the Bride shot. What do you think?

Catching a private moment during the ceremony…

Facing their friends & family as the new Mr. & Mrs.

As a special and impromptu moment for his couples, Father Mark now calls their parents up to the altar and asks them all to join together to bless the happy couple and I just LOVE how Kara & TJ are looking at each other with such love, commitment and respect. Adding to the moment are Kara’s & TJ’s mom’s hands, supporting their children in their commitment to one another. Love….it is a beautiful thing!

My favorite shot of the day caught by my incredibly talented, soft-hearted husband. Andy really has a way of breaking down a moment and finding the sub-moments that tell a story all their own. I think he is able to do this so well because he is so passionate about people and because he loves with his heart wide-open. I know this post isn’t about Andy, but I just had to share this about him because I am constantly amazed and inspired by this incredible man I have married…..oh lucky are we who find true love.

TJ’s friends and mates from the Navy & Marines performed a special sword ceremony for TJ & Kara. We’ve never seen this done before. It was full of tradition, honor, and respect, with a dash of playfulness, so we thought we’d share a few images from this very cool ceremony.

I love the way Kara is beaming with pride as she looks at TJ and how you can tell by his expression how much TJ is loving this moment. LOVE IT!!!

A kiss is required to pass through each arch….

Kara gets a little good luck tap on the butt as she passes through the final arch…

TJ jokingly orders his mates, “At ease,” as friends & family snap away to capture the moment…love this perspective.

Again, Andy finds a way to capture this moment from a fabulous perspective. To me this image just tells such a wonderful story. I love it!!!

And another favorite moment from the day. Knowing the kind of trust these brave men put in each other on a daily basis and seeing the love, respect, and joy in his friend’s eyes….my heart just melts with this photo.

Having a little fun!!

This image just screams Cape Cod to me….with the sea grass, the rambling Rosa Rugosa, the sailboat in the background. I just love it!

A perfectly storybook moment….

LOVE this one…I love TJ’s strong, confident posture and Kara’s supportive, loving reaction to her honey. To me this photo perfectly depicts the sentiment, “Behind every great man is a great woman.”

I think I was commenting on how studly TJ was looking in the pose he was striking and this next one is his reaction to that….so cute!

We love these two….

Ga ga gorgeous!!!!….Kara has such amazing eyes and in this one she just looks so happy and content….

Lost in the moment as the world moves on around them….love it!!!

TJ’s best man, John, may just be one of the sweetest, most sincere, down-to-Earth guys you could ever hope to meet. And, his toast to his best friend was perfection!!! These two young men have been best friends since childhood and their bond runs deep. I’ve always said that the best man has the toughest job of the wedding day, delivering a speech that conveys true feeling in a witty, funny and at the same time heart-felt way…not an easy task. But, John’s speech hit all the right notes. Both Andy & I found ourselves laughing and welling up as we were snapping away. And like all great men, the women flocked to John. I watched with delight as the ladies swooned after his speech. I had to hold myself back from doing this same! Well done, John! Well done!!

Kara & TJ’s cake by the fabulous Lisa Raffael of Delicious Desserts was as sweet to look at as it no doubt was to taste. The cake was decorated with words highlighting all of the couple’s favorite things. So cute and so unique! And, the way they cut their cake was equally unusual! Can’t be easy cutting a cake with a sword!

I love the rock star quality to this next photo of Kara’s nephew, Jared, as he busts some serious moves to Mr. Roboto….it was priceless!!! Rock on Jared, Rock on little buddy!!!

Big thanks to Aaron Brochu at New Seabury and all of the fabulous professionals who helped make our job not only a cinch, but a pleasure. Thanks too to Kara & TJ’s wonderful families and friends, who instantly made us feel welcome and a part of the celebration! But, our biggest thanks go to Kara & TJ. You two have a wonderful relationship that both inspires us and warms our hearts! Thank you for inviting us to share in this special time in your lives. We hope these photos serve as happy reminders of your incredible wedding day for many happy years to come! We adore you and look forward to seeing what the future holds in store for you both! With love & hugs, Christine & Andy xoxo

Six years ago, Elizabeth & Brendan met briefly through a mutual friend….just a quick hello, nothing more. But, as fate would have it, their paths crossed again a few months later on Cape Cod and life as they had known it changed forever.

Elizabeth, who was living in New Jersey and working in NYC at the time, decided to move back to Boston and get her masters. It was that decision that changed the course of her life and landed her in the arms of Brendan, the man she would eventually marry on the place that brought them together!

Their wedding was a celebration of their inspiring relationship and of the strong relationships they have with their wonderful families and friends. All of the details, including the music, flowers, and colorful M&Ms favors, were a reflection of their sweet, funny, happy personalities. If ever there was a successful wedding, this was it! Here are a few of our favorite moments from Elizabeth & Brendan’s special day!

We thought we’d take advantage of Elizabeth’s shoes, and the super cute clips she added to jazz them up, to highlight her and Brendan’s wedding bands…

Elizabeth has one of those infectiously bubbly personalities that just pulls you in and makes you feel super good! And her smile….it really can light up a room!!! Here’s lovely Liz….

Lovely Liz and her gal pals…pretty in pink!

Having fun on the trolley ride to the church, Elizabeth waves to passersby. (From now on in this post, I’m going to stick with calling her Elizabeth, because she’s trying to transition away from Liz, but it’s hard because she is so funny and open-hearted and Liz just feels right to me.)

Brendan & his mates put on their super cute ties from Vineyard vines. The cufflinks are a wedding gift from Elizabeth….Awwww so sweet. The design mimics a necklace Brendan had given Elizabeth on their anniversary.

Brendan and his boys…lookin’ very cool!!!

Brendan and his mate, JP, carry stuff to the trolley in preparation for the ceremony. I just love the story this shot tells….the sign helps…but still, there’s just something about this image that makes me feel happy.

Taaaadaaaaa….Here comes the bride. I just love Brendan’s face as he watches Liz come down the aisle with her dad! So sweet!

The new Mr. & Mrs. serenaded by bubbles! Oh the joy!

More delicious joy!!!! I absolutely LOVE their faces in this next one!! And, the big bubbles right in front of the lens just turns up the dial on the happy meter for me….so fun!!!

Wedding day excitement at its best….the bubbly is being poured as the bridal party departs from the church in the super cute Trolley by Tess.

Love is…laughing in the arms of the one with whom you have entrusted your whole heart!!!!

This next shot I really like for its composition and color, but I also love the concentration on Elizabeth’s & Brendan’s faces as they walk down the boardwalk to the beach. Look how he’s helping her!!! So sweet!! Brendan is a TRUE gentleman!!! He still opens doors for Elizabeth! Seriously!?! During our love session with them, I kept noting to Andy how Brendan would open the car door for Elizabeth. He did it once for me….that was about it. LOL!

I love those in between moments in life, like right before or right after a kiss. There is magic in those moments and when it’s captured in photographs you can almost feel it!

Don’t get me wrong….I love the kisses too….yummy! What I love most about this moment is the way Elizabeth so gently holds Brendan’s head in her hands. Perfection!

Like the world could stop for a minute and these two could care less…..

“Having a moment!” If you’ve ever been photographed by us, you know exactly what this means!

Another picture perfect moment as shot through beach fencing by my very talented and sniper-esque hubby….love it!!!!

As if on cue, a seagull flies overhead as Elizabeth & Brendan head to the beach for a few more shots.

I love this shot….giddy girls at cocktail hour. Fun fun!

The whole party gathers for a shot on Wychmere’s dock. It’s a classic Wychmere shot, and everyone seems to love it!

And just a few details from Elizabeth’s & Brendan’s picture perfect Cape Cod wedding!!!

As always, thanks to Karen Rood and the incredible staff at the Wychmere Harbor Beach & Tennis Club for making our jobs a cinch, and to the super sweet DJ Keith Lemire for keeping the crowd jumping for some super fun dancing shots, and to the talented Katie McConnell of Wild Bunch Studios for creating some gorgeous floral eye candy for us to photograph. We also want to send a shout out to Montilio’s Bakery for the super simple, super chic cake, which, like so many of the details of the day, was so fun to photograph!

But the biggest and most heart-felt thanks go to Elizabeth & Brendan! Thank you guys for sharing such a special time in your lives with us. Thank you for opening up and letting us in and for allowing us to document some of life’s most memorable moments in a way that will hopefully keep your incredible wedding day alive for many happy years to come! You guys are super sweet and a perfect match!!! We’ve had such fun getting to know you both and look forward to seeing what life has in store for you!! With lots of love & big hugs, Christine & Andy xoxo

With hundreds of weddings taking place here on the picturesque shores of Cape Cod, we’ve got plenty to keep us busy. But, a few times each summer, we are asked to cross the canal to photograph a beautiful off Cape wedding. Shooting in a new location and getting out of our comfort zone is always a fun challenge for us.

Although we like to think our style has a distinctive look, we’re constantly pushing ourselves to keep our images fresh, to try new things, and still provide our clients with the Bello experience and fun, emotional photos they’ve come to expect. That’s not always easy, particularly when we end up shooting at the same gorgeous locations. Don’t get me wrong….we’ve got it soooooo good here on the Cape! There is nowhere else we’d rather be. But, it can also be exciting for us when we get to shoot somewhere new. The creative juices really get flowing and we end up seeing things with new eyes. Such was the case at Stacia & Colin’s fabulous August 1st wedding.

Our happy couple said, “I do,” at the elegant and historic St. Gregory’s Parish in Dorchester. Built in 1844, St. Gregory’s is a fine example of Romanesque Revival. Its beautiful stained glass windows, arching columns, wooden ceiling and grand marble altar provided a stunning backdrop for Stacia & Colin to exchange their vows.

Equally as elegant was Stacia & Colin’s fabulous reception, which was held at the prestigious Country Club in Chestnut Hill. Founded in 1882, The Country Club is the oldest country club in the entire United States, and one that holds an important place in golf history.

The club was originally established as the country’s first private club formed exclusively for outdoor activities, with its primary focus on horseback-riding. The golf course itself was not built until 1893, starting with just six holes laid out by three club members. The course expanded to nine holes later that summer and to a full 18 holes the following year, after the acquisition of more land.

There have been 3 U.S Open tournaments held at The Country Club, including the first, held in 1913, just 7 years after the very first U.S. Open  was held in Newport, RI. The club has also played host to the Ryder Cup and to several national amateur championships, including three U.S. Women’s Amateur Championships and the U.S. Junior Amateur Championships.

Walking into the beautiful old clubhouse, you can almost feel the history hanging from the walls. Overlooking the 18th hole, the clubhouse offers gorgeous views and I couldn’t help but think of the novel The Great Gatsby when the guests mingled on the lawn during cocktail hour.

It was a beautiful day and a wonderful celebration of Stacia & Colin’s love and commitment to one another. There were so many incredible details and wonderful moments captured that it was hard to choose just a few, but here are some of our favorites from the day:

Stacia’s hair & make up was done by the very talented ladies from Charles David Salon. Gorgeous!

Getting dressed with a little help from her sister, Amanda, and friends Courtney & Sarah. Lookin’ good ladies!

This next photo was taken right after Stacia’s veil was put on….she was just beaming! I love this shot!

With her AMAZING Vera Wang gown, Stacia takes a moment to soak it all in…

Va va va voom….

We love the details. Colin’s cufflinks and shoes….

Wanting to do something a little different, Colin decided to get a real bow tie for himself, while his groomsmen opted for the easier clip on. Unfortunately, Colin didn’t figure out how to tie it before his big day, so he & his groomsmen spent the better part of the morning researching how to tie a traditional bow tie online…hysterical!!!

Even a how to video didn’t seem to help much….

Colin certainly gets points for persistence!

Unfortunately, the bow tie won the battle and a defeated Colin was forced to go back to the shop to get a clip on. Note to grooms: Sort this stuff out before the big day, guys!!! Come on!!! Try on your suit, shoes, etc. and make sure you can tie your tie!! LOL!

With her blusher down, Stacia is escorted into the church by her dad, Dan, her gorgeous mom, Stephanie and stepdad, Norman.

First glance….It’s that special moment when you see your honey across the aisle. The butterflies zoom into overdrive and your heart beats to love’s special tune. Such a great feeling!!!

The grand inside of St. Gregory’s…

And two become one….

Colin’s niece, Fiona, enjoys the spotlight for a moment during the ceremony…..so cute!

The happy couple exits the church….

And jump into the antique limousine for a toast before heading to The Country Club.

Stacia & Colin wanted to open the top flap on the limo for a fun perspective outside the club….cute, no?

Colin gets a serious smooch from niece, Lily. I just love how her one arm is wrapped around her uncle, while the other hand gentle brings his face to hers. Kids are just the best!!! So sweet!!! (Lily nearly knocked over her sister cousin trying to get at her uncle….see the other set of feet, that’s Fiona)

Colin & his guys, including his brother, Kirk (second from right).

Stacia & her girls, including sis, Amanda (directly next to Stacia). Can we talk about how sassy the girl look in their Vera Wang Maids dresses from L’Elite? So sweet!

I love the perspective and sun flare in this next one as Stacia & Colin head off to join their cocktail hour.

Ahhhhh……

We just loved this funky corner where two sections of the club meet. The cool windows and the bright yellow exterior made for a cool backdrop for these two cuties!

Classic bello moment….

The whole party……..

We say goodnight with a quick photo on the terrace…(quick shout out to Jason at TPG Videography for using his video light to help us make this shot rock! Thanks Jason!)

Big thanks to Megan at Tangorra Wedding Planning and Scott at The Country Club for being so wonderful to work with and for making our jobs such a breeze! Thank you too to the super sweet Jenny of Jenny’s Wedding Cakes and the talented folks at Winston Flowers for giving us lots of fabulous eye candy to photograph!

But our biggest thanks go out to Stacia & Colin for inviting us to share such a special time in your lives with you. You two are so sweet and we had such fun with you both! Your families and friends are wonderful and everyone made us feel incredibly welcome. So thank you, thank you, thank you!!! We hope you had a blast in Bora Bora and we can’t wait to see you both again when you get back! Big hugs, Christine & Andy xo

It wasn’t that long ago that we got to hang out with Ingrid & Simon for their super fun love session here on the Cape. Simon was only in the country for a short time and had to rush back to England to get his visa sorted before the wedding. So, we felt very grateful that they shared their limited time together before the wedding with us.

They are fun, sweet, smart, sexy, subtly reserved, yet completely funny. They are a perfect pair and we knew after our afternoon together that we were going to have a blast at their wedding. And, as expected, we weren’t disappointed!

Ingrid & Simon’s wedding at the Wequassett Resort in Chatham two weeks ago was picture perfect! The sun was shining, it was pleasantly warm, Ingrid & Simon looked amazing, and all the details they had worked so hard on over the past year came together perfectly! It was a photographer’s dream!

Here are a few of our favorites from their special day…

Ingrid is pretty tall, so she chose these super cute flats to accompany her stunning Jenny Packham gown.

Putting on her earrings…

A slightly different perspective. Check out Ingrid’s killer bling! Love it!!!

Simply gorgeous! I just love her adorable headband…so different and very Ingrid. Her hair, which came out INCREDIBLE was done by the talented Yasmin Kfoury.

Ingrid & her girls, including sis, Isabel (to Ingrid’s right)…

Simon, a fellow Brit like Andy, ties what looks like a Windsor knot…love the Windsor knots!

Hello handsome….

Simon’s adorable nephew, Oliver, (left) seems excited about the wedding! And Ingrid’s beautiful mom, Jill, gets ushered down the aisle by Ingrid’s cousin, James.

Ingrid is beaming as she’s led down the aisle by her dad, Richard (is he proud as punch, or what?). I love the big hug he gives Simon. Very sweet…and even sweeter when you know that Simon is apparently slightly intimidated by Ingrid’s dad. Richard is really just a big softie; I don’t know what Simon is worried about!

Excited to be saying, “I do!”

Simon, like my sweet Andy, had a hard time holding it together during the ceremony. It was the sweetest thing! He would look at Ingrid and have to look away before he lost it.

Their kiss was so sweet….loving and tender…and they just lingered there taking it all in. Lovely!

After walking down the aisle together, Simon had to duck behind the bushes for a minute to let all the emotion out. Ingrid left him to work it out. Very cute!!

This is one of our favorite shots of the day. With all the hustle & bustle around them immediately after the ceremony, in this moment it is as if there is no one else in the world.

Ingrid gets a congratulatory embrace from her 95-year-old grandfather….so sweet!

Taking a moment alone, Ingrid & Simon head to the water for some photos.

Gorgeous!

I love this one…..the perspective, the way they’re looking at each other, the late afternoon light. It all comes together for a snapshot of a perfect moment!

Simon has that classic English wit…he’s very funny. But, he’s also a boyishly bashful and I really see that in this next photo. To me, this next one really depicts Ingrid & Simon’s relationship.

Gorgeous centerpieces by the uber talented Karen of Lilac Florals combined white orchids and green & blue hydrangeas, which set of the linens perfectly!

Welcome the newly married and completely beaming couple…

There really is NO better place than in the arms of the one who loves you!

Thank you Ingrid & Simon for inviting us to be a part of such a special time in your lives. Simon, we’re VERY happy your visa came through in time. And, Ingrid, the elegant touches you put together for the wedding were so much fun to photograph! Thank you both for being so much fun to be around! The love you share is a beautiful thing and we look forward to seeing what the future holds in store for you both!

With love & hugs, Christine & Andy xo