It was nearly a year ago that we got our first e-mail from Rachel & Brian inquiring about our services for their Cape Cod wedding. It was pretty standard in that she provided us with general information about the dates they were considering and possible locations…they were still in the early stages of planning. But, the thing that really stood out was the personal note Rachel wrote in the comments box.
It read, “Hi! I adore you guys (I’ve been stalking your blog for ages now). Your work is beautiful, but you two just seem really fun too! 🙂 Brian and I live in Annapolis, MD, but I grew up spending summers on the Cape. Cape Cod is my “happy place” and means so much to me. This weekend (Thanksgiving day, to be exact), Brian surprised me by flying up to the Cape (I thought he’d be in PA with his family, while I was on CC with mine) and proposed on Millway Beach in Barnstable, near our family house. We couldn’t be more excited! You are quite literally the first vendors of any type I am contacting. I wanted to see if you have any availability for Sept. of 2011. We haven’t nailed down a date or location yet, but I knew I loved your work and wanted to find out about possible dates and costs, etc. Sorry for sending the longest message ever, but I look forward to hearing back from you… Thanks so much! Rachel (& Brian)”
Immediately, I felt a warm, fuzzy feeling for this super sweet and flatteringly enthusiastic couple. We try to respond quickly to all inquiries, but with Rachel’s, I wrote back instantly. Being that excited about possibly working with us will get you everywhere with me…I’m shameless that way.
Rachel & I exchanged about six e-mails within just a couple of hours and like that….she had me at “Hello!”
Over the months that followed, Rachel & I wrote each other….a lot. Her messages were always filled with such love & goodness; just seeing her name in my inbox would put a smile on my face.
It’s amazing to me how Bello is about so much more than just taking pretty photos. The relationships we build with our fabulous couples & families not only make what we do infinitely more enjoyable for us…and hopefully for them, but ultimately it is because of these deep & often lasting relationships that our work elicits the kind of reaction Rachel expressed in her first message to us.
Unfortunately for us, Rachel & Brian live in Maryland, so we didn’t actually get to meet them in person until the week of their wedding. Right away, it was like getting together with old friends and we just knew that we were going to have a great time watching them say and celebrate two very big little words….”I do!”
As it should have been for this wonderful couple, it was a picture perfect day here on beautiful Cape Cod. Rachel was stunning. Brian was dapper. And love radiated all around them! Their wedding was over 7 years in the making and friends & family were visibly excited. Here are a few of our favorite moments from their very special day…
Like me, Rachel is mad for life’s little details….including this super cute hanger she got online. Loved this perspective from the window of the house Rachel & Brian rented for them and some friends to stay in the week of the wedding.
Shannon from Wedding Tresses works her magic on Rachel…who was beaming like this all day long!
I’m not sure what it is that I like so much about this next shot of Brian, except that it just feels so much like him…cool, calm & collected.
Some of Brian’s friends enjoy their time together while getting ready for the ceremony…
Rachel chose these super cute teal dangling earring to be her something blue. They also happened to match her teal & green wedding color scheme. Is she radiant or what?!!
Brian’s brother, Matt (left), and good friend, Pat, get ready….
Rachel heads out to see Brian for their “first look” moment…
Brian waits…Is he adorable or what?!
Love this next shot of Rachel….her body language and the excited/nervous look on her face as she peeks around the corner to see her soon-to-be hubby.
The first look….oh, how the love it did flow!
Same moment from another perspective…can you tell which one was taken by me and which was taken by Andy??
The look of love….
Again, another perspective from roughly the same time…
The gang’s all here! Rachel & Brian rented the Windmill House in Yarmouthport for them & some of their friends to stay in during the week of the wedding. It made for the perfect backdrop for photos. We absolutely LOVED this fun group of friends. They were up for anything and made our jobs an absolute blast! Thanks guys…you rock!
Besties…Brian’s brother, Matt, with Rachel’s MOH, Kim. And on the right, Sara….stand-in officiant extraordinaire with Brian’s good friend, Pat.
A close of up some of the gals (Val & Lauren) & their heart-shaped glasses…so fun & fabulous.
All of the girls…such beautiful ladies inside & out!
The guys with their main man, Brian.
Brian’s super sweet niece, Olivia, performed her flower girl duties like a champ. Love the expressions of the guests as they watch her make her way down the aisle. And, can we talk about the adorable banner Rachel & her ridiculously talented mom, Linda, made? AMAZING!
Brian’s good friend Matt (aka Hunter) was a great sport when it came to his role as adult ring bearer. Rachel’s mom, Linda, hand made the super-sized pillow for him to carry. Again, love the guests reactions as Matt makes his way down the aisle, most especially the beaming smile on the face of Rachel’s super sweet Nana (in the back). She almost didn’t make it to the wedding because she wasn’t feeling well, but the love she obviously had for her granddaughter carried her through. Sadly, Nana passed away just a couple of weeks after the wedding. Our hearts go out to Rachel, her mom Linda and the whole family. (hugs!)
Love this next moment….can’t you feel the joy as Rachel recites her vows and Brian takes it all in? Lovely!
This next one really tugs at my heart-strings. It is such a beautifully emotional moment, standing in front of the person you love most in the world, pledging your heart and a lifetime of commitment to them, while your family & friends watch in support. Sometimes the emotions bubble to the surface in the most wonderful way! LOVE!
Rachel has a pretty nifty party trick…she can saber a champagne bottle. She showed off her skills at the end of the ceremony, sealing the deal and kicking off the celebration! Sooo fun!
We did it!
Some of Rachel & Brian’s fabulous details, including the bridesmaids’ beautiful bouquets by Petals by the Sea. The invitations were custom designed by Rachel with the help of Jessica Zwirble of Poundcake Press. And once again, mom, Linda, hit a home run with her hand-made bean bags for the cornhole board Brian built.
Following the ceremony, we took Rachel & Brian to the beach for a couple of quick photos just as the sun was setting. It was heavenly. Oh, and I’m a sucker for succulents in wedding flowers. Love, love, love!
Love is…being willing to walk in swampy beach grass barefoot for a photo!
Banded together…forever!
As they were heading out of the grass, Rachel let out a resounding “Whooo hooo!” Funny how that happens soon after the ceremony is over. It suddenly hits you….”I’m married and you & me are going to be together forever!” Yup, that’s Whoooo hooo worthy!
In the lifeguard chair for a couple of shots. Do you think Rachel & Brian are happy? Oh, yeah!
Bellisima….
Absolutely love the light in this next shot and the way Rachel & Brian are looking at each other. Delicious!
More deliciousness….
I realized while culling through the images looking for special ones for the blog that Rachel & Brian were looking at each other like this quite a lot. Maybe it’s having been together for so long or maybe it’s just being filled with such love & joy. Whatever the reason, there is something very sweet and very tender in their exchange and we just love that!
Some fabulous reception details…including the hand-made table runners by the fabulous Linda, the matching place card board and Hunter’s special pillow. Rachel & Brian didn’t opt for a traditional wedding cake, instead they got this super cute mini cake (love the pedestal and little banners made from the wedding fabric) for them to cut and then had the most scrumdelicious ice cream cupcakes (yes, you heard right…ice cream cupcakes…talk about a brilliant idea) from Stone Cold Creamery. The guests gobbled them up. Okay…I admit it, we indulged in one ourselves. Mmmmmmmm good!
The wedding was held in the backyard of Rachel’s aunt’s & uncle’s Yarmouthport home. We just loved the way Undercover Tent worked the family pool into the reception area. It was very pretty & provided a dramatic feel to the space. Fortunately, no one fell in.
Matt gives a very sweet, heartfelt and funny speech. Love Rachel & Brian’s reaction.
They also had a Cape Cod Photobooth for guests to take photos and put in a scrapbook. It was a big hit with the guests (and Rachel & Brian!). We also had fun pulling back the curtain for a sneak peek at folks enjoying themselves…
Thank you to all of the wonderful vendors who always make our work not feel like work…especially Sarah at The Casual Gourmet for taking such good care of us. A special thank you to Gordon Ryan for pitching in and giving us a hand when we really needed it! Thank you Ryan…you rock!
Rachel & Brian…what can we say to you? Your wedding was everything we knew it would be and more! We absolutely loved finally meeting you both in person and getting to know you, your wonderful families and friends. Thank you for entrusting us with documenting such an important time in your lives, especially having made that decision without having met us. Being there with you, sharing in your wedding, was such a treat and we hope these photos and the others soon to follow help keep the memories alive for many MANY happy years to come! Thank you too for being so much fun to photograph….”not photogenic.”???? You’re crazy!!! We adore you both and Rachel…I hope we still keep exchanging wonderful, love-filled e-mail! With big love & hugs, Chris & Andy xoxo