We first met Andrea & Will last Thanksgiving. Like me and Andy, Andrea is American, originally from San Francisco, and Will is English (although unlike Andy he is also Scottish, on his mom’s side).
They had initially contacted us last year to see about doing a family portrait session here on the Cape. Andrea’s family has an amazing house on the beach in Woods Hole and they were all coming together to celebrate the holidays.
It was a bittersweet session for us. We instantly fell in love with Andrea & Will, who are as perfect a match as they come. And Andrea’s family is some of the warmest people you could ever hope to meet ~ her mom, Joan; dad, Ed; brother, Jamie and his wife, Monica, along with their adorable son, Maslen (he seemed to love the camera almost as much as the camera loved him!). Sadly, Joan was battling cancer, and this time, it appeared the cancer was winning. We immediately understood the importance of the photos for her family.
It was a cold day, but that didn’t stop everyone from bundling up and heading out to enjoy the beach that they had enjoyed together for so many years. The house, which has been in Ed’s family since 1926, had always been a haven for the family and was Joan’s favorite spot.
Sadly, Joan’s battle with cancer ended in January. Having lost my mom before my wedding I could relate to what Andrea must have been going through. My mom died a few years before Andy & I were married, but her absence on such a special day in our life was surely felt. And it was clear at Andrea’s wedding that her mom was never far from her thoughts.
Andrea wore the veil her mom wore when she married Ed some 30 years prior. The favors for guests were some of Joan’s favorite things…needlepoint and coconut haystacks. A beautiful needlepoint pillow with Andrea’s & Will’s initials that Joan had made in anticipation of the wedding was carried by Andrew, the ring bearer.
The day itself was perfect…warm and sunny. The ceremony took place at the quaint old stone Church of the Messiah in Woods Hole. And the reception was appropriately held at the family’s beautiful home.
Andrea worked closely with wedding planner Allison Liset of Elegant Engagements to create an elegant and playful setting for the party, and what a party it was!
There were lots of funny and moving speeches during dinner, along with a very funny song written for the happy couple by two of their friends. They also had a Scottish dance band that led the guests through some romping line dances.
The day was the perfect reflection of Andrea & Will and the love they share, both with each other and with the people closest to them. I admit, I got weepy more than once. It was an incredible day and I have no doubt, Joan was there enjoying every second.
Here are a few of our favorites from Andrea & Will’s amazing day:
Andrea’s gorgeous Jimmy Choo Shoes…simple, elegant, understated…totally droolable!
These beautiful earrings feature Andrea’s mom’s favorite stone….lovely!
I can’t say I’ve seen many men look so good wearing a skirt, but Will pulls it off and then some! Total hottie!
After their, “I do’s,” Andrea & Will enjoyed a quick car ride back to the house. We just love stealing these private moments.
When we did Andrea’s family portrait session back in November, there was a shot we got of Ed gently leading Joan through the bramble down to the beach. It was one of our favorites from the session, and Andrea’s too. This series is very reminiscent of that for us. The joy on their faces just makes my heart smile!
I just love how serene Andrea & Will look in this one. It’s like nothing else in the world matters, just being in each others arms!
A few more shots from the beach, including a couple of fun ones capitalizing on Joan’s beautiful veil Andrea wore in honor of her mom…I love these!
Bling, bling… Kind of a funny juxtaposition of these gorgeous rings (and all they symbolize) resting on a prickly beach rose bush.
Introducing the happy couple…
Andrea’s dad gave one of the most beautiful, and heart-felt speeches we’ve heard in a long time. It moved most people to tears, including yours truly…along with half of the catering staff. Ed spoke of his relationship with his lovely wife and how he wished the same for Andrea & Will. He got a standing ovation when he was done….
A little Scottish step dancing..
The perfect summer evening…
Ends with a kiss…
And here are just a few details from the day:
A great big thank you to Andrea & Will for entrusting us to capture such a special day in your lives and for being so much fun to work with. We have had such a great time getting to know you both over the past year, from that first family photo session through our engagement session in NYC to your incredible wedding day back here where it all began for us. We wish you much love and laughter as you continue to build your life together.
We’d also like to thank Andrea’s family and also Will’s family for welcoming us with such open arms. It has been both an honor and a privilege to get to know all of you. Watching you all together has been really special. You epitomize the word family and make it look effortless! With love and hugs to you all, Christine & Andy xo