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