When I was a teenager, my dad took me to the Crane Estate on Castle Hill in Ipswich for a July 4 picnic. Or was it a concert? It was a million years ago, so I don’t fully remember the details, but what I never forgot was how struck I was by the majestic quality of the place. It was like a Disney Castle come to life, with spectacular gardens and a giant grassy lawn that rolled all the way down to the ocean. Everything about the place conjured images of a real life fairytale.

I remember saying to my dad at the time, “This is where I want to get married,” like dreamy-eyed teenagers do…having no real sense of what’s involved in marriage or a wedding.  Fast forward to my actual wedding and Andy & I ended up saying, “I do!” closer to home, at a super sweet property with fields, stone walls, and a beautiful old barn/house overlooking a pond. It was perfect. Though I always hoped I’d at least get to photograph a wedding at the Crane Estate.

So you can imagine how excited I was when the lovely Sybil & Josh said “I do!” there just a few weeks ago. Just as I expected as a young girl…this place provided the most magical backdrop for a wedding, especially between two people so perfectly connected and elegant as Sybil & Josh.

We first met Sybil years ago, when Andy & I photographed the Cape Cod wedding of her sister, Lauren back in 2007…pre Bello Blog…it was yet another incredibly beautiful day of love and joyful celebration. Over the years, we connected again with Sybil at family photo sessions at her father’s home in Chatham.  This has been a family Andy & I have grown to love and care deeply for and we feel very grateful that they have kept us close.

But, it wasn’t until 2019, when we photographed Sybil & Josh’s engagement that we first got them….and their adorable fur baby Cyrus….all to ourselves. Click HERE for a peek. We had so much fun with them and our time together felt more like friendship than work, which is absolutely how we prefer it.

It’s been 21 years since Andy & I photographed our first Bello wedding together and this is likely to be our last. Andy will be focusing on his other job as a Research Scientist for NOAA and I will continue photographing family sessions and small events on my own, while also exploring interior design and fine art photography. So, ending at the first place that ever made me think about weddings, with a family with whom we have shared an enduring and cherished relationship felt like a beautifully appropriate, full circle moment. And, their incredible wedding and the images we were able to capture….a big, juicy cherry on top of what was a wonderful decades-long journey.

I had a ridiculously hard time narrowing down the 1500+ images we captured from this wedding to just a few for the blog, so please excuse this indulgent over-sharing….and know that this really doesn’t even scratch the surface of all of the love & goodness captured that day. First, I’ll start with a few beautiful details….

Sybil is getting her PhD in History of Art and Architecture and she loves all of those things….history, art and architecture. So, truly, there was no better place for her to get married. She and her bridal party got ready at a super cute centuries-old house turned airBNB in Salem. I found a lace tablecloth in the livingroom and (insider’s details on how the magic is made) I moved it to a table in one of the bathrooms, which had great window light. And…..ta daaaaa.

Getting buttoned in to her crazy beautiful wedding gown by Pnina Tornai with the help of her bestie and MOH, Annikka.

Meanwhile, across town, Josh and his besties, including his younger brothers, Sam & Josh, get dressed and ready.

Like looking back in time, to a Victorian Age wedding….Annikka puts a borrowed vintage watch bracelet on Sybil, as her lovely mom, Kim, looks on. And on the right….a portrait of a classic beauty. She takes my breath away and I absolutely love photographing Sybil. She just knows how to work a camera. I just sit back and happily click away.

Getting some help from his bestie, Les, Josh puts on his cufflinks.

Moments like these……I will miss.

Pocket square placed, thanks to the help of groomsman, Sean, while brother, Sam, and best man, Les, look on. Josh wore the crap out of his Ralph Lauren tux.

Beauties….

Like almost all of our couples these days, Sybil & Josh chose to have a first look, which allowed them to do all of their family & bridal party photos before the ceremony, so they could enjoy their cocktail hour. Just love Josh’s face as he waits for Sybil to make her way down to him…can’t you feel the building excitement?

Hey you!! Hey you, yourself!!!

If James Bond married Grace Kelly…..this is what it would look like.

See what I mean about a fairytale come to life?

Having fun, despite the million photographs….love you guys for letting us have at it!

Side by side, hand in hand…..this is my wish for you two…forever!

A leafy tunnel to love….

Sometimes, we find little spots or perspectives that might easily be overlooked with so much beauty all around to use as a backdrop, but I just love this grassy path, with the ocean in the background and the way some of the wrought iron could look like a heart-shaped frame in a certain angle.

LOOOOVEEE the way they are looking at each other in this next one. To me….that’s better than any pretty backdrop anywhere. Love is always where the magic truly lives.

Some people just know how to move in front of a camera….me…I’m like a sloth or an oaf-like panda that somehow manages to be positioned in exactly the perfect way so as to show all of my worst angles. These two…..Yeah, not so much. They’re naturals, who don’t even need direction.

See what I mean? Naturals….

The great lawn, splendidly rolling all the way to the ocean, lined with aged statutes and balconies to sit and ponder. Add in two beauties…and it’s a home run!

Sybil & Josh with their lovely mommas, Kim and Debbie.

The bridal party….these were just some of the nicest peeps. I’m so glad we got to end with all of them! Thanks guys!!! You rocked it!!

The fellas…from left to right (Eric, Sam, Tim, Josh, Les, Eddie, and Sean.) Dashing….

Some of the lovely ladies in a candid moment…Annikka, Lillie and former Bello bride, Lauren.

Josh, Les and Eddie…laughing it up.

With family & bridal party photos all done, the group heads up to the Castle, in anticipation of Sybil & Josh soon saying, “I do!”

It was as scorcher of a day, and so refreshing drinks helped cool guests off as they waited for the ceremony to begin.

The bridal party lines up and makes their way down the aisle, including ring bearer extraordinaire and junior bridesmaid, Lauren’s kiddos…Oliver and Julia.

Here comes the groom, on the arm of his lovely mom..love the look on their beautiful faces.

Sadly, Sybil’s sweet dad, Tony, passed away back in 2020, when Sybil & Josh initially had planned to wed. As if that wasn’t heartbreaking enough, Covid happened and Sybil & Josh had to move their date….twice, before they finally made their way down the aisle. Tony’s cousin, Ivan, walked Sybil down the aisle and I could absolutely feel Tony’s loving presence.

The taaaa daaaaa moment….

When the months…or in their case….years of planning all come together in this moment. Where love, expectation and excitement all meet in a moment of bliss…

….And all of that gets shared with everyone you love most in the world, sitting on the sidelines, cheering you on and lifting you up. It’s such a special thing.

Moved to happy tears….LOVE. And can we talk about sweet Les’s lovely face? Adorable!

So much love & goodness.

And….away we go….Let’s do this!

Like I said before, Tony’s presence was all around…in the butterflies that pollenated all of the beautiful Italian Garden flowers, in the birds and bees and every living thing there. I think Kim could feel it too…..

Josh’s sweet Uncle Bob performed the ceremony…which he layered with such heart and warmth. Love this cute photo of Sybil taking in his sweet words.

If ever there was a perfect setting for a ceremony to commit to lives and hearts to one another….surely this is it!!

Josh’s dear friend and groomsman, Sean, did a wonderful job with his reading…peppering it with humor and heartfelt emotion and affection for these two special people, who clearly appreciated his efforts.

Like sneaking in to a fairytale wedding…peering through the golden gates.

Josh getting teary reading his beautiful vows to Sybil.

It was a hard act to follow, but Sybil didn’t disappoint with her equally beautiful vows.

Love this perspective of some of the guests’ reaction to the new Mr. & Mrs. as captured by my talented hubby. This is a photo I imagine Sybil & Josh will really appreciate, as it all feels like a dream when you’re in the moment. It’s hard to have a really rooted awareness, because there’s just soooo much going on. But, look at some of these super happy faces….just wonderful!

They did it….three years later…but they did it! And man, was it worth the wait!!! Love these two.

Sybil & Josh didn’t miss a beat in planning this incredible wedding, including hiring a magician who walked around and entertained guests with card tricks. Here Sybil & Josh learn the trick behind the magic….so fun.

The cocktail hour spread was off the hook.

It included lots of cheeeeeezeeeee. lol. I couldn’t resist.

Josh’s Grandpa enjoys cocktail hour with family & friends.

Sexy selfies….

Hey Joe…can you believe this view? No, Ralph…I really can’t!

Some of the stunning details from the reception…

Just before dinner, Sybil & Josh were told by Castle Hill staff that they just must go sneak up to the roof for a view that is out of this world….gotta say, even the trip up was worth the trip….can we talk about that staircase??

The way down wasn’t too bad either….

Head table…

Taking in all of the love & adoration during toasts…

Momma bird, looking at her baby with such pride and I imagine, remembering her own wedding. This circle of life…it is a beautiful, bittersweet, painful, wonderful, exciting, love-fueled ride. How lucky are we to get to take it?

Blessed.

Bestie and her blessings for the happy couple.

Met with love and gratitude.

And just like that…a family grows.

I like to think this sunset was gifted by Tony. My mom gave me a very similar one on my wedding day. And, I’ll never forget the feeling of knowing she was there with me.

Sybil & Josh taking it in…

More toasts after dinner….so much love being showered on these two lovely people.

Bestie Les offering his blessing…

Josh’s super sweet sissie, Abigail, even sang a little ditty for the happy couple. Adorable and lovely…just like her!

Sybil’s big brother, Adam, bestowing his “brief” blessings for the happy couple. (My “brief” reference is an inside joke….You see, Adam can talk. Not in a bad way. He’s got lots of good stuff to say. But, knowing his proclivity for long-windedness, he was apparently instructed to keep it brief. And he did….short, sweet, and full of love for his sister and her wonderful partner. This man has got a beautiful heart! )

So much love…

Dancing under the stars and a slice of sweetness….it was all there.

The band rocked it.

And fun was had…

Kim dancing with her lovely new Beau, Winston. Yaaay Kim for finding love again!! Love this for you!!! And I believe Tony would too. 🙂

Uncle Bob and his lovely wife, Beth, enjoying a boogie.

Lauren & Oliver getting down on it!

Sybil & Josh….thank you soooooo much…truly, from the bottom of our very full hearts, for choosing to share this incredible day with us. You two are lovely and we’re just so happy you found each other and wanted us to be the ones to document this wedding journey for you….from your engagement session through to your afternoon sail in P-town to today….it’s been such a wonderful ride, and the absolutely best way to end our wedding journey. We love you and your families and hope these photos bring you all endless happiness for many, many happy years to come!!

With such big love, Andy & Christine xoxoxo

A big thank you too to all of the wonderful vendors who helped make this day not only come together so perfectly, but who also made our job much more enjoyable. And a special shout out to our pals Nick Cannella and Nachaat Taban from Stop Go Love. As photographers, working with videographers can be super challenging…basically we’re trying to do more or less the same job and somehow not get in each other’s way. But, like every team we’ve worked with from this studio…these two guys are awesome. Like, just some of the nicest guys around and super respectful & supportive of the job we have to do. Please join me in wishing Nick and his beautiful bride-to-be, Danielle, a very special wedding week this week. Much love to you both. xx

Venue: Crane Estate at Castle Hill

Caterer: Fireside Catering

Planner: Hummingbird Events & Design

Flowers: Table & Tulip

Rentals: Peak Rentals

Music: King of Hearts

Hair & Make Up: Lynne Avalone

Video: Stop Go Love