I love living in New England. One of the many reasons, is that it is so easy to quickly drive from a beautiful little country town, to a thriving metropolis. Jennifer and Jason’s wedding day started in Jenn’s hometown of New Hartford, CT, a picturesque little town located on the banks of the Farmington River. I arrived in town a little early, and spent a few minutes watching a couple of men fly fishing in the river.

Before I could get too lost in the lazy summer afternoon, however, it was off to work for me. I arrived just as Jenn and her bridesmaids were trying to get a bite to eat before rushing upstairs to get dressed. I photographed the flurry of excitement as everyone was dressed and readied for the wedding. When time came for photos of the bride, so did a small rain shower, but with the help of Jena (a pro wedding photographer from WA, “taking the day off” to be a bridesmaid), a table lamp, and a couple of creative backgrounds (and, of course, a beautiful bride!), we were able to take some awesome indoor bridal photos.

Then it was off to the Immaculate Conception Church for a lovely ceremony, followed by a few photos outside the church, then a drive to (Old?)Hartford. Upon arriving in Hartford it was more photos…this time at a cool old arch near the state capital. Then up to the 11th floor to the spectacular Bond Ballroom, where the sun set outside the floor to ceiling windows as Jenn and Jay enjoyed their first dance.

Click here to see a few more photos: http://www.pbase.com/jamisonwexlerphoto/jennjay

Ceremony: Immaculate Conception Church
Reception: Bond Ballroom
Hair: Hair by Design
Flowers: The Harwington Florist
Entertainment: After Hours DJ

Jamie Wexler
www.jamisonwexler.com

Driving up to Danyel and Rich’s wedding at the Fruitlands Museum in Harvard, MA, I had a feeling that I was in for a spectacular location. As I turned down the road leading to the museum, I felt like I was on top of the world, instead of driving along the top of a very large hill. And I wasn’t disappointed…the view from the Fruitlands was stunning. And so were the soon-to-be-married couple!

I started the day with Danyel and her bridesmaids as they were made-up and hair-styled. Once everyone was dressed, we headed outside for a few photos before the ceremony. At this point the guests began to arrive, and with them, the dark, ominous clouds. The clouds were too slow, however, and the rain wasn’t able to get there in time to disrupt the beautiful ceremony at the top of the hill. We even made it through all of the family photos before the rain finally arrived and forced us indoors. That didn’t stop us from finding some great indoor locations to take the portraits of Danyel and Rich, however.

Then it was on to the reception, where we not only had a great band to entertain us, but also a pair of DJ’s. Needless to say, the music was fantastic, and the reception was a blast! We were even able to sneak out for a few minutes to take some photos in the beautiful light that appeared after the rain cleared out.

Click here to see a few more photos: http://www.pbase.com/jamisonwexlerphoto/danyelrich

Ceremony/Reception: Fruitlands Museum
Hair: Hey Good Look’n Salon
Flowers: Flourish in Groton
Entertainment: DJ Slipwax (DJ) and Onset (Band)

Jamie Wexler
www.jamisonwexler.com

With this being my busiest season for wedding photos, I am so behind posting (and taking) photos of my own beautiful family.  So, with apologies to my friends and families for the lateness of this posting, here are a few of Ben and Luke a couple of weeks ago.  Of course, Ben is now twice as old as he was in these photos!

Wednesday evening I had the privilege of meeting Ryanne and Ryan in Marblehead for their engagement portrait session.  Since their wedding is in January, we thought that summertime engagement portraits would be a welcome contrast.  We began the evening at Castle Rock, where Ryanne and Ryan braved the sharp rocks to get to the rocky beach so I could get photos of the waves crashing behind them.  From there, we moved a mile down the road to Chandler Hovey Park, where Ryan had proposed.   It was a great adventure, and I’m looking forward to their winter wedding!

If I had to describe Leilah and Jeff’s wedding in one word, it would be: ELEGANT. If I could use two words, I’d add: HOT! Not only was it the hottest day of the year, but Leilah and Jeff raised the temperatures another couple of degrees!

We started the day at the Harvard Club in Boston, where Leilah, her bridesmaids and her family were preparing for the wedding. After dressing, Leilah was ready for photos…and what a perfect location for a beautiful model. We took full advantage of the time we had with the bridal portraits of Leilah. Then it was off to Sacred Heart Parish for the lovely ceremony.

After a few photos at the ceremony we headed back to the Harvard Club for the reception. As elegant as the Harvard Club was, we decided to mix it up a little for the bride and groom photos. So we headed out back, to the alley…and we found the light (amidst the trash)! 30 minutes later we were back in the club, enjoying the music of Winiker, and bringing the house down!

Click here to see a few more: http://www.pbase.com/jamisonwexlerphoto/leilahjeff

Ceremony: Sacred Heart Parish
Reception: The Harvard Club
Makeup: Kimberly Fosher (I’ve worked with Kimberly several times - she’s the BEST!)
Video: Timothy Bakland
Entertainment: Winiker

- Jamie Wexler
www.jamisonwexler.com

The second half of my double header weekend, found me in Acton, MA, for beautiful the wedding of Jamie and Jared. We began at Jamie’s parents’ home, where the family was abuzz with the getting ready activities: Jamie doing her sister’s hair while the sister solved the biggest Rubic’s Cube I’ve ever seen, Dad helping her brother with his tux, bridesmaids crowding into the bathroom to do their makeup, and Mom making sure that everything went smoothly. It did…and on to Faith Evangelical Free Church we all headed.

The ceremony began like many others, with the bride being escorted down the aisle by her father. This time, however, the Jamie’s Dad’s job was just beginning. He is the pastor of Faith Evangelical Free Church, and his duties included performing the ceremony, along with Jared’s dad - also a pastor, and a longtime friend of the bride’s family. It was a very personal and moving ceremony!

Afterwards we headed down to the fellowship hall for a cake reception with the members of the church, then we took photos with the family and the couple, then they made a grand exit while the guests wished them well with hand-fulls of birdseed, then they drove off in dad’s jeep…and the reception hadn’t even started yet! Soon enough, however, we were all at the Holiday Inn in Boxborough enjoying the great food, loving company, and contra dance lessons taught by Jamie’s brother!

Click here to see a few more: http://www.pbase.com/jamisonwexlerphoto/jamiejared

And a special thanks to Brian Fendt from Reflections Photography in New Jersey for driving up to help me out!

How many couples can claim that their wedding started in a castle and ended in a barn?  I’m not sure of the exact number, but the couple featured first in my double header weekend will be able to tell their kids that story with a straight face!

I met Laurie and Adam about 2 hours before their ceremony when we all arrived at the Barn at Gibbett Hill in Groton, MA.  Before Adam had a chance to see her, Laurie slipped downstairs to put on her dress.  Once dressed, she met Adam in the field where they had a private moment together.  Then we all hiked up to the top of the hill, through the cow scented fields to the ruins of an old castle…the perfect location for romantic portraits of the two of them together.

Once the photos were done, we all hiked back down the hill and prepared for the ceremony.  And what a perfect day it was for a summer wedding!  The sky was blue, the field was green…It made my job very easy!  The ceremony went off without a hitch, then we moved on to a few photos with the family, followed by a reception in a barn full of happy dancing people.  You couldn’t ask for more out of a summer evening wedding!

Click here to see a few more:  http://www.pbase.com/jamisonwexlerphoto/laurieadam

I love Gloucester. I have fond memories of fishing there as a kid, with my grandfather, in the misty harbor that always smelled of salty sea air. So I was super excited when Saturday’s wedding brought me to the Gloucester of my youth - misty and romantic. Even more exciting, however, was getting to hang out with Jennifer and Devon, at all of the awesome locations that they selected!

We started out with Jennifer and her bridesmaids at the Captain’s House Bed and Breakfast in Rockport. We spent the first hour laughing, joking, and (oh yeah) taking photos of Jennifer and her bridesmaids getting ready. Then Devon and all of the family showed up for family photos. We planned a moment for Jennifer and Devon to see each other for the first time, then we climbed all over the rocks at the oceans edge getting photos of the adventurous bride and groom.

After photos, it was off to the Cruiseport in Gloucester for the ceremony (and reception). The Cruiseport is a beautiful venue located right on a wharf where the fishing boats dock. So after the ceremony, we headed right outside to the cool industrial buildings that surrounded the Cruiseport for some awesome photo locations. Because we’d done all of the family photos before the ceremony, we had lots of time to explore the location and create some really cool photos…and we still got Jennifer and Devon back in time to enjoy a bit of the cocktail hour!

Then it was dancing, and partying, and enjoying the awesome food that the Cruiseport served up!

Click here to see a few more photos: http://www.pbase.com/jamisonwexlerphoto/jendevon

Please join us in welcoming the newest member of our family!

Benjamin (Ben) Clifford Wexler
Born June 25, 2008, 5:57 PM
8lbs, 12oz, 21in

Melanie & Ben are recovering nicely at Framingham Union Hospital.

Caroline and Justin’s wedding was a bit of a nail biter for me. With baby #2 due on Saturday, I was a little scared that I would get the call to drive Melanie to the hospital in the middle of their ceremony. Fortunately, Andree Kehn (awesome photographer from Maine and a personal friend of mine) was on hand to back me up. And even more fortunately, the baby held off, so Caroline and Justin got the benefit of two photographers!

We started out with Caroline and her girls at her parents’ house in Northbridge where she was just finishing up with her makeup (”I look like a cat” she exclaimed with a happy smile), and getting dressed. After a few photos, we headed to the beautiful Trinity Lutheran Church in Worcester. In a region of old dark churches, Trinity was so bright and cheery! It was a beautiful venue.

After a quick receiving line and a few photos in the church, we headed to the reception at Zukas Hilltop Barn in Spencer. As soon as we drove up, I realized that I wanted to get the bride and groom into the hayfield for the photos. Despite our collective fear of ticks, and at least one fear of snakes in the group (I won’t divulge who was scared of the snakes!), Caroline and Justin traipsed through the waist high grass like troopers!

We made it out of the hay field without any bites, and went into the reception where the food was delicious, and music was thumping, and the crowd was ready to celebrate Caroline and Justin’s happy day!

Click here to see a few more photos: http://www.pbase.com/jamisonwexlerphoto/carolinejustin

Ceremony: Trinity Lutheran Church, Worcester, MA
Reception: Zukas Hilltop Barn, Spencer, MA
Makeup: Jess Mansfield from 126 Post Salon
Flowers: Holmes Shusas
Entertainment: Champagne Toast DJ

Also, a special thanks to Andree Kehn from Andree Kehn Wedding Photography for helping me out this weekend!

–Jamie Wexler
www.jamisonwexler.com