We are pleased to announce that our wedding calendar for the 2010 season is now full and we are happily accepting reservations for 2011. Thank you to all of the wonderful couples who have entrusted us with documenting their special day. Wishing you all much love, laughter, and all things happy.

Christine & Andy

This was our second year photographing Terri and her wonderful family during their annual pilgrimage to the picturesque Wequassett Inn resort in Chatham. Last year, Terri initially reached out to us about possibly photographing the wedding of her son, Ryan. The twist was that Ryan hadn’t yet proposed. Gotta love a mom who’s on top of the situation!

The plan was that Ryan would pop the question to his girlfriend, Anette, while the family vacationed here on the Cape over the July 4th weekend. As expected, Anette happily said, “Yes!” And, Terri decided she wanted to celebrate the occasion with a family portrait session. So, Andy & I drove down and spent the afternoon with everyone.

We had a blast and instantly fell in love with Terri, her husband, Alan, and their kids, Leigh, Randi and Ryan….and the soon-to-be newest member of the family, Anette!

This year, we got together again, for an abbreviated, though equally fun, family session. We followed up the family photos with an engagement session featuring our happy couple.

Ryan & Anette will pledge their love & lives to one another, surrounded by their wonderful families & friends later this summer at Wequassett. It is sure to be a total love fest and we can’t wait!

Here are a few of our favorite photos from the family session, starting with the entire gang:

Terri & Alan cozy up….

Last year, we did a really fun shot with the family, where we had everyone jump down the side of a small hill. It was an awesome photo and the family used it for their holiday card. So, the pressure was on to do something as as silly, fun and spirited as these wonderful people. Not sure we hit the mark with this next one, but we all had fun trying…

Siblings…do Terri & Alan make them good lookin’ or what? Seriously!!! Oh, and they’re also all incredibly smart and talented…it’s kind of ridiculous!! Ryan owns his own business and is a techy genius! Leigh is going to MIT for her MBA and Randi just graduated college and is already an uber talented fashion designer…keep an eye out for her!

Giving the happy couple some family squeeze time.

They really are ALL STARS!!

Are those some gorgeous smiles or what?

Sisters…

Hanging out…

The whole gang…

Thank you Terri, Alan, Leigh, Randi, Ryan & Anette for once again making us feel like part of the family! You really do have an incredible family and we hope to get to see all of you every year!!! We’re already thinking about what our “fun” pose will be next year!  See you all later this summer! Can’t wait!

Big love, Christine & Andy xoxo

Back in April, we had the pleasure of photographing Kirsten & Dennis’s love session in Cotuit, near Kristen’s family’s summer home. We instantly hit it off these two international sweethearts! They’re fun, smart, generous, sweet, loving, and like so many of our couples….BEAUTIFUL people. And, all of those wonderful characteristics came shining through in our session together. We got some really great photos (if I do say so myself) that seemed to perfectly capture their individual spirits and the relaxed easiness of their amazing relationship.

We often tell our couples that the complimentary engagement session we include in all of our album packages is a great way for us to all get to know each other better before their wedding. And, if our couples are at all nervous about being photographed, the sessions help work those kinks out and hopefully get them really excited about what we’ll be able to do for them on their big day. Our sessions are also really great for us! Not only are they they a super fun time out with our couples, but when everything falls into place perfectly….as our session did with Kirsten & Dennis…we get giddy with excitement about the upcoming wedding.

So, when Kirsten & Dennis’s big day had finally arrived, the anticipation had built to record levels! Knowing how good they are together, how important their friends & families are to them and how much effort they put into their special day, we had no doubt that Kirsten & Dennis’s wedding would be an incredible celebration of love, with lots of wonderful moments waiting to be photographed.

And, as predicted, they didn’t disappoint! The ceremony, which was held at the grand Christ the King parish  in Mashpee, was followed by a fabulous party at the waterside Nauticus Marina in Osterville. Family & friends from all over this country, Dennis’s home country of Holland, and the couple’s current home in Spain, came out to join in the celebration. Here are a few of our favorite moments from their incredible day:

A very relaxed and happy Kirsten shares a laugh with friends while riding on the trolley to the church!

Dennis & his groomsmen share a toast. Awesome perspective, no? I love this shot…nice one honey! (I generally go with the bride for getting ready photos and Andy goes with the groom…we’re a well oiled shooting machine!)

Kirsten & Dennis had all of the children closest to them (at least those who could walk) participate in the ceremony. It was slightly chaotic getting them all down the aisle…but seriously precious!!! I just love how the oldest, Aidan, Kirsten’s nephew, is helping lead the little ones! So sweet!

Here comes the bride (the benefits of having two photographers…two fun, but different perspectives.)

There is that moment, when you stand before those who love you most, pledging your life to the one you love most, and all is right with the world. Ahhh!

Adding to the joy and significance of the ceremony, Kirsten’s very sweet dad, David, sang a beautiful rendition of Ave Maria (the hard version!). I love Kirsten’s face as she watches her dad…almost as much as I love how he looks to the heavens for help in keeping his emotions together (at least that’s what I like to think…I’m not sure why he was looking up, but it was a very cool moment.). So sweet!

I like this little exchange between Kirsten & Dennis and then as they look out to the congregation and take it all in. These are the moments to savor!

The happy Mr. & Mrs. surrounded by love & bubbles!

Stealing a minute alone before family photos! Can’t you just feel the joy?

Dennis’ very sweet and incredibly chic mom, Sylvia (right), exchanges an excited, “He did it!” with a friend after the ceremony.

Kirsten’s adorable niece, Carys, looks like she wants in on the big girls’ photo!

Are they a sexy, happy couple, or what? And I just love Dennis’s traditional tux and tails! Very dapper!

Sealed with a kiss…

Kirsten & Dennis used a lot of green & blue in their wedding details…right down to Dennis’s argyle socks and Kirsten’s fabulous Stuart Weitzman shoes….So fun!!!

Some more blue & green…

Dennis works for Heineken International, so it was fitting that their wedding colors involved green and that the Dutch beer was a featured beverage during their weekend festivities. Andy calls this one “sweethearts.” So cute…and clever!

And because their reception was by the water, knots played a large roll in the details too, including the invitations, which featured a sketch by Kirsten’s very talented sister, Anik, a children’s book illustrator.

Kirsten put so much thought and effort into the details of her wedding, there was oodles of great stuff to photograph…here’s more of the special touches that peppered her & Dennis’s incredible wedding:

Their first dance was playfully fun and romantically sweet at the same time…just like Kirsten & Dennis!

I don’t know why, but I just love this photo…there’s so much going on and it really tells a story to me. I also love the way Kirsten’s niece, Dagny, with dolly & crayon in hand, looks suspiciously at Andy as he snaps the photo.

Taking a break from all of the excitement, Dennis & Kirsten steal a moment in Nauticus’ lighthouse. I grabbed this shot from inside the lighthouse, looking out at them…love the perspective through the window, no?

Friends of Kirsten & Dennis filmed their wedding weekend and quickly put a 5 minute video together that they showed on the tent ceiling at the end of the night. I love the expressions on Kirsten & Dennis’s faces as they watch the show! Dennis, like Andy, is a big softie! I just love that in a man!

The night ended with Kirsten & Dennis sailing off into the quickly fading sunset….the perfect ending to a perfect day!

Thanks, as always, to the incredibly talented, incredibly organized Olive Chase of The Casual Gourmet for making the day run so smoothly!!! You rock Olive! Thanks also go out to Ken Gault at Nauticus for providing such a gorgeous setting for photos, and to the talented folks at Flowersticks in Osterville for creating some beautiful centerpieces (love those peonies!), to Concetta and the First Class Band for rocking the party and to Meredith’s Bridal, for Kirsten’s STUNNING dress!

But, our biggest thanks go out to the families of Kirsten & Dennis and to the happy couple. THANK YOU, THANK YOU…for welcoming us into your lives with such open arms and open hearts! You made our job easy and we loved being a part of this special time in your lives! Kirsten & Dennis…you are wonderful and your love is inspiring…thank you for trusting us to capture that love for you in photos. We hope they serve as wonderful reminders of your perfect day!

With love & hugs, Christine & Andy xoxo

I’m not a huge sports fan. And, I certainly wouldn’t lose sleep if the Yankees pulled ahead of the Sox in the standings. But, I have to admit, my heart did skip a beat when I heard that Andy & I were going to get to shoot our engagement session with Red Sox super fans Laurie & Joe at an empty Fenway Park.

Built in 1912, Fenway is the country’s oldest baseball stadium and though generations have come and gone, the park remains much as it did when its doors first opened. Today, there is something magical about being in the middle of that empty stadium. It feels as if the dreams of countless young men linger in the dugout and the echos of legendary players loom like the great Green Monster itself.

I hadn’t been to Fenway Park in a very long time, probably since I was in high school or maybe it was college. It’s been a while, anyway!

My strongest memory of Fenway was an afternoon spent there with my sisters, my dad, and my grandfather. I was just a little girl, but, I’ll never forget the wide-eyed wonder I felt walking into Fenway for the first time or the thrill of seeing my dad & my grandfather stretching over the balcony to catch a foul ball. Oh, the excitement in their eyes when my dad pulled the white-stitched cowhide ball into his bare hands. They hugged, jumping up and down, happily accepting the pats on the back from nearby fans.

I’m not a big sports fan, but when a game can bring a father & a son together in a moment of such unbridled joy, it’s hard not to feel the magic.

The magic was there again during our love session with Laurie & Joe. Like so many of our couples, Laurie & Joe were a little nervous about being photographed. As we walked into the Fenway offices and were led into the stadium, nervousness was replaced by awe….at least for Laurie & Joe. For me, the awesomeness of Fenway was a little intimidating. How do we photograph this incredible place and these incredible people in a way that pays proper tribute to them both?

I hadn’t expected to feel nervous, but I did. This really was one of the coolest places we’ve ever got to shoot! And, I wanted so badly for it to be perfect, mostly for Laurie & Joe!

It didn’t take long for my nerves to calm and for the excitement to take hold once again. It helped that Laurie & Joe are such warm, wonderful, totally fun, down-to-Earth people. They made it so easy! And, together, we all got to enjoy an incredible afternoon in a truly historic place! Below are a few of our favorite moments from their (and our) special day:

Vintage Red Sox….what better place to start than with this very cool old sign?

Heading to the green monster….can’t you just hear the roar of the crowd? Love it!!

Andy & I were totally obsessed with all the little elements that make Fenway so special and so unique…like this vintage-inspired Coca Cola sign above last year’s newly installed Coca Cola corner. I gotta be honest…these seats were a little scary if you have even the slightest fear of heights! But what a view!!!!

Pennant banners in the background serve as additional reminders of the history and charm that is this special park! Oh, and how about the two hotties in the foreground….cute right?!!!

I love the humor and appropriateness of this next one….Laurie & Joe….for life!

Sitting on top of the world!

We found a section of old wooden chairs in a section of number 19 seats and a little Photoshop helped make this next one extra fun. Laurie & Joe will say, “I do,” here on the Cape on September 19th.

This one makes me smile too, since it looks like they’re about to get a big hat on the head!

Our access was somewhat limited during our visit because Sox owner, John Henry, was having his wedding reception in the park outfield a few days after our session. The dugouts had recently been painted, which prevented us from getting up on them for some cool shots, but this next one worked out very nicely just the same! I know I say it a lot, but all the pretty or cool backdrops in the world can’t do to a photo what love and genuine affection can!

Do they look happy to be here or what??? So fun!

A Sox smooch!

It was so much fun photographing Laurie & Joe with so much going on around them…it really was hard to know where to go next…we were like kids in a candy store!

Another slightly unsettling vantage point….theses seats above the green monster had incredible views, but my stomach kept doing flips! It doesn’t seem to be bothering Laurie & Joe!!!

A vivid reminder of the greatness Ted Williams bestowed upon the Red Sox is this red seat that stands out amongst its many green counterparts in the right field bleachers. The seat is to commemorate Williams 1946 splintering blast off of Detroit pitcher, Fred Hutchinson, for the longest home run ever hit into the Fenway bleachers.

Joe & Laurie cozy up on the right field roof deck, near where the retired numbers of Sox legends, Bobby Doerr (1), Joe Cronin (4), Johnny Pesky (6), Carl Yastrezemski (8), Ted Williams (9), Carlton Fisk (27), and Jackie Robinson (42) proudly take center stage.

Fenway’s food stalls certainly look a lot different with no one around, and make for a very cool backdrop for this next photo!

Leaving the Sox offices, we took one last photo in front of the “wall of fame,” a very cool display of all of the magazine covers of Red Sox Magazine, the official magazine of the Boston Red Sox.

A big thanks to the Red Sox for letting us take our time and really soak in all Fenway has to offer. And an even bigger thank you to Laurie & Joe for making it happen and for being so much fun!!! We had such a blast hanging out with you guys at Fenway! It really was such an incredible treat for us and we wouldn’t have wanted to share it with anyone else!! You guys rocked it out!! Can’t wait to be there with you, sharing an even more special day, on 9-19-09!! Big love, Christine & Andy xo

Ingrid has been waiting for months; waiting for the government to give its stamp of approval on her pending marriage to Simon, her bit o’ English stuff. I remember what it was like waiting for Andy to get his visa to come live & work here in the States. And, I can tell you, it can be a long, anxious, exciting, frustrating, thrilling, scary, nail-biting process.

Like Ingrid, we had been waiting too; waiting to hear when Simon would come back over so we could take photos of these two international love birds. Well, a couple of weeks ago, we got the call.

Heeee’s heeerrrre!

I swear, I was almost as excited as Ingrid. Their story sent memories of my own bubbling back up to the surface. (For those of you who don’t know, Andy…my better half…is English. We got married almost 8 years ago, after the government also gave our nuptials a shining stamp of approval.)

Like Andy & I, Ingrid & Simon met in another country. Unlike us (we met in Spain, doing nothing terribly good or productive), Ingrid & Simon met in Fiji, where they were doing some volunteer work, namely surveying coral reefs, for Coral Cay Conservation.

“We lived on a desert island and when I first saw her, I looked at her, walked past the window she was in and then turned around and did the same thing another 2 times,” Simon told us. “I tried to be Mr. Cool, and after about three weeks of seeing each other, I told her I was going to New Zealand and would she like to come.  I had no intention of going there until I met Ingrid…just could not leave her, I guess, and now look!  It was the most amazing few months.  I think I fell in love with her in a couple of minutes, literally.”

“When I first saw Simon he was so cute, all tan and bleached blond from the Fiji sun,” Ingrid remembered. “When I first got there, all the new people had to stay in the room that no one wanted to be in. It was dark, hot, cramped. There was one bed left in the nice room, his room. He made sure I got that bed. He really knows how to get what he wants….including me.”

After Fiji, and then New Zealand, Ingrid & Simon spent two years together in London. But, eventually, Ingrid moved back to the states and the relationship ended….at least temporarily.

They kept in touch and about a year ago, Simon invited Ingrid to come over and join him at the Royal Air Force Summer Ball.

We had not seen each other in two years, but I figured…(it’s) now or never,” Ingrid said. “When I got there, we had a great time. It was like we had never separated. That was the weekend that we got engaged. The rest is history.”

Because Simon was in the Royal Air Force and he & Ingrid love to travel, we thought it might be fun to shoot their engagement session at a tiny, and totally adorable, airport not far from us. This was our first meeting with Simon, and he pretty quickly told us he didn’t like having his photo taken. We were skeptical, especially when after 2 minutes of shooting he confessed that he thought it would be cool to be a model and seemed pretty keen on taking off his shirt. (Sorry, Simon, but the truth hurts!….I only feel comfortable poking fun at Simon because he has that classic British sense of humor, which I love SO much! Oh, and just for the record Simon…you could totally be a model!)

Thunder clouds loomed overhead the entire shoot and eventually the skies cast down buckets of rain. But, we had an absolute blast and got some amazing photos. Check out a few of our faves! Enjoy!

We thought we’d loosen them up with a little jumping. It doesn’t seem right, but Ingrid even looks gorgeous jumping…what’s up with that? And, Simon struck the classic Bruce Forsyth pose for his jump. Unless you’re British, this won’t mean anything to you, but it cracked Andy & Simon up.

I played around with Photoshop on this image to give it an old photo look….somehow it just seemed a cool contradiction for such an informal “pose.” What do you think?

Flying high on love….awww!

Seriously, are they cute or what?

Snuggle time…

I just love the colorful planes in the background.

But, it’s Ingrid’s sweet, heart-felt expression that make this next one a fave!

Sasssssy!

A pilot at the air field needed to log in some practice time, so he did a couple of fly overs for us….very fun!

Andy has a wonderful way of using layering in his photos…I just love this next one…peeking through the wings of a plane!

And, I’m a big fan of the blurry stuff in the foreground…tall grass is a favorite of mine! But, again, real…joyful expressions always make a photo sing!

totally sweet…

Something tells me these two will live long, happy lives laughing as much as they do!

This could be my favorite of the day….the contentment in their faces makes my heart smile! And, as I often say…there is no place better in the world to be than in the arms of the one who loves you. Perfection!

Playing Mr. Cool again!

Is this an ad for Ralph Lauren or what?

Simon had us cracking up the whole session…..this was just a completely candid moment walking away at the end of the session and I just love it. To me, it sums up Ingrid & Simon’s relationship and our afternoon with them!

Big thanks Ingrid & Simon for taking time out of your brief visit together to spend a couple of hours with us. We had such a blast with you two and can’t wait to be there with you when you walk down the aisle next month. Something tell us it’s going to be a wonderful celebration of love, laughter and all things happy! Thank you again for choosing us to document this special time for you! Big hugs, Christine & Andy xo

So, we went out to our mailbox the other day, and inside waiting for us was the latest issue of Boston Magazine’s Elegant Weddings. And, what to our wondering eyes lay inside the Real Weddings section, but the fabulous wedding of Cape Cod cuties Emily & Larry.

We photographed Emily & Larry’s super fun wedding last September. It was the perfect mix of casual elegance and oodles of love. Emily & Larry said, “I do” at their favorite local eatery, Clancy’s Fish n’ Chips, in Dennis. One of our favorite elements of their special day was the raffle they put together, giving away some of their favorite things, including tickets to the Red Sox. The best part was that the winners got to enjoy the activities they won with Emily & Larry. So fun!

Their sweet wedding apparently struck a chord with the magazine’s editors too. We were contacted by Editor Donna Garlough back in April, after she spotted the blog post we did on Emily & Larry’s wedding. We were of course excited to have our work featured, but we were more excited for Emily & Larry. They worked really hard putting all of the special details in place that really made their wedding unique. We were just so happy that they were going to get a little attention for all of their efforts! Plus, it’s sweet that Boston gets a sneak peek into the their very special love!

The cover…Sweet right!

Photos by Bello…yipeee!

The feature:

Big thanks to Donna and the talented crew at Elegant Weddings for choosing Emily & Larry’s wedding to highlight. (The article, written by Mia Gant, is fun & playful and definitely worth a read if you want to pick up a copy of the magazine.) And, a very special thank you to Emily & Larry for sharing their love in such a generous way! You guys rock!!! xoxo Chris & Andy

A couple of weeks ago, on one of those rare June days when the sun actually poked its head out for a bit, Canadian cuties, Victoria & Mike, said “I do!” Surrounded by friends and family from near and far, Victoria & Mike’s  ceremony & reception were held at the ever-elegant Wequassett Inn in Chatham. Wequassett itself had received quite a facelift over the winter, making an already stunning property even more picturesque!

Victoria & Mike put a lot of thought into all of the details for their special day, giving us a boatload of fabulous photo opportunities, but none so enjoyable as being able to photograph these two quietly unassuming, yet perfectly matched sweethearts alone together. If ever two people were made for one another, it is Victoria & Mike.

Here are a few of our favorite moments and details from their incredible day:

Victoria’s CRAZY beautiful dress by Monique Lhuillier. I looooove this dress!!!

Victoria’s & Mike’s mothers (Victoria’s step-mom included) added their own flavor of love to the day by baking some family favorite cookies for the guests’ gift baskets. So sweet!!!

The stationary used for Victoria & Mike’s invitations, announcements, menus etc. were adorable with a capital A! Created by Dauphine Press & Laura Hooper Calligraphy, they were both playful and elegant, which completely represented the happy couple and their approach to their wedding!

Victoria takes a peek at the back of her dress. We just love the way Victoria completely wears her emotions on her face!

Mike seemed a bit more nervous at the start of the day. He couldn’t stop pacing. Here he seems to enjoy a quiet moment of reflection.

A lot of our couples are opting to forgo tradition and see each other before the ceremony, which we LOVE LOVE LOVE! Not only does it make their day last longer and allows them to be a part of their cocktail hour, but generally we find if planned properly, there’s more time for photos and it’s a lot more relaxed for everyone. Here Mike & Victoria see each other for the first time….love the expressions!!

Victoria was so eager to show Mike her finished look…..what do you think honey?!!! Gorgeous!

The happy couple…

A smooch…

Mike looks a lot more relaxed now that he’s seen his bride-to-be. True love really does have a calming effect! Ahhhhh…..

Victoria really was stunning in her gown….I love the curves in this next shot….whoooo hooo!

Victoria & Mike’s flower girl Isabel was a photographer’s dream! Love this sequence as she joins Victoria for a photo.

Victoria and her sisters relax before the ceremony starts….I love the light in this shot and the lines of all of their bodies…so perfectly girlie!

Mike & Victoria beam with bride as Mike’s niece, Brianna, shares a reading. I love the minister’s happy expression too!

This is always a highlight of the day for us…when the new Mr. & Mrs. make their way down the aisle together. The joy on their faces is always contagious and the moment itself creates a perfect photo every time!

Victoria had Ormonde Productions drape sheer fabric across the back wall of the ballroom, and used lighting to create a dramatic and elegant effect. LOVED LOVED LOVED THIS!!!! Well placed lighting can really change the look and feel of a space, add in some sheer fabric and the drama-meter goes off the charts!

Huge thanks to the Wequassett’s Kalson Pang for once again making sure things ran perfectly, to the uber-creative Karen at Lilac Florals for providing more gorgeous flowers for us to photograph, and to the incredibly talented members of Night Shift, who made sure folks were groovin’ for some great dance floor shots! You all rock and make our jobs easy!

But, our biggest thanks, goes to Victoria & Mike, who right from the beginning put their trust in us. You two are wonderful and we thoroughly enjoyed being a part of such a special time in your lives. Your wedding day was picture perfect and the love you share is a sweet reminder of how lucky we are when we find our soul mate! Thanks you two! Big love & hugs, Christine & Andy xo

Kara & Jamie first met in the Physician Assistant Program at Northeastern University. Jamie remembers Kara from their very first interview at the school. “(She) was the only one to bring her mother with her,” he told us.

On first glance, Kara didn’t know what to make of Jamie. “He had frosted tips and really bizarre facial hair, sideburns that he called his ‘chops’,” she said.  But, after two years in a class of just 30 students, they formed a friendship that, while on a trip to Vegas, eventually blossomed into something more. “What happens in Vegas does not always stay in Vegas,” they joked.

From our first meeting with Kara & Jamie, it instantly felt like we had known them for ages. We all seemed to just click. They truly are two of THE sweetest people you could hope to meet. They’re fun and funny, caring and kind, and just genuinely good people. Oh, and they’re crazy beautiful to boot! So, it came as quite a surprise when they told us how nervous they were about their love session.

“We trust your opinion, because each and every photo shoot you guys have done is absolutely unbelievable…We are just nervous we are not going to look as perfect as all those people do,” Kara said in an e-mail before our session on Saturday.

WHAAAAT?!!! I mean seriously you two!!

They were a little nervous in the beginning, but they quickly found their groove and mainly just had fun together, which really is the key ingredient to fabulous photos.

I admit, I may have inadvertently added to their stress about the session by providing a really obscure description of one of the spots we suggested might be a fun stop for photos. In an e-mail, I called it a “wooden structure,” which, now in hindsight, I can see why it would have created quite the little mystery. Apparently, they had more than a few conversations about what the wooden structure could possibly be….a statue, a big billboard, a boat, a wall of wood, Trojan horse…what?

Andy suggested I should have called them wood sheds, which is probably a more accurate description. Basically, they’re old, stable-like open outdoor garages connected in a small row. But, at the time, I thought that saying we wanted to go to a garage to take some photos might give them the wrong idea, since they were hoping for something classically Cape Cod. Saying that, we are not opposed to photographing in garages…it’s actually somewhere we’ve been wanting to go shoot for a while. We’ve even spied one out in Boston that would be perfect! Any takers?

Anyway, here are a few of our favorite moments from our evening with the lovely Kara & Jamie:

Here they are in the wooden structure! LOL!

It’s cool right? We love the wooden structure….almost as much as we love Kara & Jamie. I mean really, does it get much cuter than these two?

I love their expressions in this next one!

Inside the wooden structure…oooooh, it gets better? Yes, it does!!! The wooden structure is a magical place.

Love this perspective! Nice bling!!!!

I can’t help smiling when I look at this next photo and think that these two were nervous about not looking perfect! Really?

Playing with lines….

Hopefully, by now your love for the wooden structure runs as deep as ours….hee hee!!! But, really, it’s a cute spot for photos of two cuties, right?

Moving on…we moved around a little and found this next cute spot, where Kara & Jamie continued to share their adorableness with us!

Love how their hands are just barely touching each other in this next one….awwww!

As the sun was getting lower, we wanted to play with light a little and found this great field of wild grass. At this point, Kara & Jamie were totally relaxed and having a lot of fun together. We just love watching that progression happen with our nervous couples. It really does signal to us that we’re going to have an absolute blast together at the wedding!

I LOVE this one!

And this one!!!

One of the things Kara & Jamie said they thought would be fun for their session together is to incorporate a lighthouse into the photos. They love all things beachy, so we took them to Nobska Lighthouse in Falmouth for sunset! It’s an incredibly quaint and picturesque lighthouse.

Kara & Jamie….we don’t know what the heck you were worried about!! You guys were incredible! The way you were together was so sweet and natural and the perfect inspiration for a fabulous session!!! Thanks for a great night!! We can’t wait to be there with you when you say, “I do!” later this fall!!! You think we’ll be able to find another wooden structure in NH? Big love, Chris & Andy xo

Jill & John’s wedding at the ocean-side Popponesset Inn in Mashpee, was one of those joyous celebrations of love that leave both Andy & me feeling like we want to get married again, and again!

Everyone at the wedding was just so happy to be there, fully ready to cheer on Jill & John as they pledged their love and their lives to one another. And, as for Jill & John…well, let’s just say it’s easy to see why everyone was so darned happy. These two really adore each other and are absolutely committed to their relationship. They put cotton candy to shame when it comes to the sweet meter.

It started out an overcast day, but we always tell our couples overcast is actually really good for photos. I’m pretty sure our couples think we’re just snowing them when we say this….like with that good old expression about it being good luck when it rains on your wedding day. Maybe that’s true, I’m not really sure. But, an overcast day really does provide some great even light for outdoor photography…especially on an open beach!

Here are a few of our favorites from Jill & John’s special day:

John’s sisters, Jacque & Madeline, make some last minute alterations as they prepare for the big day. I just love the lines their bodies make in this shot…it’s just so feminine! You rocked it girls!

Lovely Jill & her equally sassy sister, Ashley, struggle to pop open the champagne. This was actually quite funny. They struggled for a while before called in their Uncle Keith to save the day.

Jill gets help putting on her dress from sis, Ashley. I love Jill’s playful expression in this one!

John cracks up at his good friend & groomsman, Samir’s, lame attempt to tie a tie. Sorry Samir, but it is pretty pitiful!

John and his boys…Hey there McDreamy!!!

I absolutely love this next series. Jill & John’s seriously adorable flower girl, Megan, was so shy coming down the aisle. She hunched her shoulders as if to hide inside herself. It was PRICELESS!

Jill was absolutely beaming standing across the altar from John!!!

Welcome to the world Mr & Mrs….

“Can you believe it? We’re married!!!” How cute are the expressions on Jill & John’s face as they make their way down the aisle.

The girls decided they wanted to lift John up for a photo….it took a little more doing than they thought, which just made everyone crack up! Andy thought this was a fun perspective to highlight their efforts. I couldn’t agree more!

“The way you make..a me feeel!!!” I can’t help but think of that song when I look at this next photo!

Having a little moment…Jill & John style! If you’ve had your picture taken with us before, you’ll really appreciate this next one! LOVE IT!!!

See what I mean about overcast? Who needs blue skies when you get this kind of dramatic light! And how cool does the water look?

Jill didn’t tell us she was changing to a bird cage veil for the reception, but ooohhh do we love that she did….too cute for words!!! This shot was taken while the adorable best man, Casey, was giving his speech! Well done Casey! You rocked it out!!!

And just a few details from their fabulous day! We don’t usually help ourselves to cake at a wedding…feels a bit cheeky. But, we just couldn’t say no to the sweet temptation of Cupcake Charlie’s scrumptious creations. I’m pretty sure they made Hostess with the Mostess just for me!

We’d like to give a shout out to Judy Fligg at All About Flowers for putting together some lovely arrangements for us to photograph, and to DJ Danny Walsh for knowing how to get the crowd jumping…You rock Danny and always get us some great dancing pictures. We’d also like to thank the always professional, ever sweet, Jen Perry at Popponesset for being such a pleasure to work with! Thank you all very much!

And our biggest thanks go out to Jill & John and your wonderful families for welcoming us into your lives with such open arms and open hearts! We have truly loved getting to know all of you and feel really honored to have been there with you during such a special time!!! Love & hugs, Christine & Andy xo

Andy & I belong to the Professional Photographers of Cape Cod, a group of some 50-75 photographers living and working here on beautiful Cape Cod. We joined PPOCC, as it is affectionately known, our first year in business…hoping to learn as much as we could about what it means to be a professional photographer! We wouldn’t be where we are today without PPOCC and all of the incredible photographers we’ve met through the group!

Although it started out more as a social club, PPOCC has grown over the years and now offers its members educational workshops, classes and a fabulous network of professionals, who do still enjoy socializing.

Last Monday, several members of PPOCC gathered in Provincetown for a little photography safari. We had done this a similar trip a few years ago to Martha’s Vineyard.

Andy & I decided to head down to P-town on Sunday evening to make a little “weekend” out of it. Typical summer weekends don’t really exist for wedding photographers, so you take what days off you can get and make the most of them. And, that we did!!

We got to P-town and checked into the lovely Crowne Point Inn just as the hotel’s wine & cheese happy hour was kicking off. Don’t you just love when that happens! We settled in by the pool and lounged the evening away. Instantly, the stress melted off of us. It was heavenly!

The next day, we got up early, enjoyed a yummy breakfast of blueberry pancakes and bacon (this really is a fabulous inn if you ever find yourself wanting to stay in P-town) sunned ourselves by the pool and then headed out in the afternoon to meet our photographer friends. Unfortunately, the meeting time rubbed a little too closely with our wine & cheese happy hour, so we didn’t really take too many photos before heading back. Pathetic, I know! But, we felt so pampered and it was such a fun treat for us…we just couldn’t resist.

We met back up with everyone later that night at Race Point Beach, where we watched the sunset and had a great night of conversation by bonfire. Unfortunately, it was a little too cloudy for the presentation on photographing stars & the night sky that our friend, Chris Cook, was going to make. Fortunately, there were s’mores to cushion the disappointment.

Here are just a few snapshots we took earlier that day:

I just loved the character oozing off this sweet little woman sifting through what looks like her art supplies. Or maybe it’s recycling and trash. But, I just thought her aura screamed, “I’m an eccentric painter lady,” so I like to think they’re her art supplies.

Being goofballs!

Beautification underway…

Talk about eccentric. Some nutball had broken ceramic lining his/her driveway. There must have been tons of it, not to mention a whole yard full of trash. It was kind of crazy. We of course all stopped to take photos. And, in true Andy fashion, he decided to lay on the ground for this cool perspective. Unfortunately, he cut his arms in the process. Broken ceramic driveway? Really?

Pilgrim Tower as seen from our balcony….sweet!!!

Ever get an e-mail that just makes your day? We got one of those today.

The message came from Amy & Ryan, a super-sweet Virginia-based couple, who had contacted us a couple of weeks ago about photographing their wedding next summer in Chatham. We had some really nice exchanges with Ryan, but because he & Amy live in VA, we haven’t had the chance to meet yet.

Amy & Ryan found their way to us through their friends ~ Kara & TJ, one of our fabulous couples getting married later this summer, so we had no doubt we would find them equally as wonderful. Amy’s e-mail today confirmed it and now, we can’t wait to meet these two cuties!

Here’s what she wrote:

“Hi Christine and Andy:

I am the Amy of the “Ryan and Amy” (nice to meet you). Ryan and I absolutely love your work and we are so excited to be working with you for our wedding. We have discussed photographers at length, and once you realize that the photographs aren’t just for you, they’re for your parents, and your children and their children, it really helps put the importance of the photographer(s) into perspective.

In that vein, we have poured over your website and various links that you have sent us and we agree unequivocally that we would like to work with you…

We’ll be on the Cape for the 4th of July…and we’d love to stop by and introduce ourselves if you are around.

All the best,  Amy”

Seriously?!!! Is that so sweet or what? It’s that kind of glowing endorsement that humbles us and reminds us how special our jobs are, and how lucky we are to get to do what we love.

We started Bello seven years ago, after a disappointing experience with our own wedding. Until then, we had never seriously considered photography as a possible profession, but our personal experience made us take a closer look, particularly at wedding photography. It’s just such a special day and the memories are too precious to not be captured in a  way that preserves them with love and care. We felt strongly that we could do that for other couples. And knowing that people like Amy & Ryan trust us to do that without even having met us….well, let’s just say we feel really honored.

Getting to work with such incredible couples, who value photography and are excited about what we do is just the BEST thing and it confirms over and over again that the decision we made seven years ago was the right one.

Yes, it’s a lot of work, and we’ve had to make some sacrifices along the way, but it’s been totally worth it and heart-felt messages like Amy’s make it even more so and keep us excited about doing what we do! So, thank you Amy & Ryan and all of our wonderful couples for being a bright spot on this rainy day!!!

Big hugs,

Chris & Andy

Meet Amy & Ryan (they provided us this photo….are they adorable or what?!!) Can’t wait to meet you both in person!!!!!