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

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

Kerry and Mark didn’t just throw a wedding, they planned an entertainment extravaganza that’s sure to be the talk of all of their friends for years to come. Don’t believe me? Let me quickly run through the events during the 13 hours that I spent with them:

The day started normally enough, with Joe (my co-photographer for the event) and I arriving at the Hilton Boston Financial district for the respective bridal/groomal preparations. While Joe went off with the guys, I hung out with Kerry and her bridesmaids during the makeup and dressing. After a few bridal portraits of Kerry, using the awesome art deco decor of the Hilton, I hopped in a limo with Kerry and her parents for the ride to Our Lady Help of Christians church in Newton.

The ceremony went off without a hitch, and Kerry and Mark vowed their eternal love for one another, and Kerry’s dad serenaded the crowd with a beautiful version of “The Love Song”. I now pronounce you…a receiving line…a few quick photos, and Joe and I were in the limo again for the ride back to Boston with the newly married couple. We took our time getting back, stopping for photos at Fenway Park and the Boston Public Garden, before meeting the family back at the hotel to finish the formals.

Then we all got on an amphibious Duck Boat and took a tour of the city, including a nice float on the Charles River. After the tour, the Duck Boat dropped us of in front of the New England Aquarium, where the guests were gathered outside, waiting to be admitted to the cocktail hour in the Aquarium. That’s when Mark put on a microphone, and began gathering the crowd in for a juggling show. That’s right, the groom and two of his friends put on a juggling show for all of their guests, complete with multiple stunts (including knocking a flower out of the brides mouth), and concluding with flaming batons!

But the night was just getting started. Excited from the juggling spectacle, everyone moved inside to enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeurves in the main aquarium, while the divers frolicked with the sharks and giant turtles in the tank. Very cool! Then everyone moved outside to the pavilion for the reception. That’s where I was greeted with the site of 7′ balloon sculptures of the bride and groom behind the head table! The reception was hopping, between the thumping music, the roast of the groom, and the balloon Kerry and Mark making it to the dance floor, it was a PARTY.

And while we were sad to see it end, it was awesome to have the chance to unwind a little with Kerry and Mark on the walk back to the hotel, and take some more fun (more fashiony) wedding photos with them featuring Boston at night.

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

Also, a special thanks to Joe Ciarcia from Symphony Photography for co-shooting with me out this weekend!

Krisi and Tom couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day for their wedding in New Hampshire. The sun was out, the grass was green, and love was in the air.

The entire wedding day took place at the Atkinson Resort and Conference Center in Atkinson, New Hampshire. When I arrived, Krisi and her bridesmaids were finalizing their preparations in the bridal suite. As the emotion and anticipation started to well up, Krisi did something I’ve never seen a bride do before…she got out a guitar, and started playing the room a song…while her hair was still being styled! The song worked, because the ceremony went off without a hitch in the beautiful outdoor gazebo area of the resort. After the ceremony, we took a few minutes to walk around the grounds a bit and have some fun with the wedding day photos of the bride and groom. After some romantic shots at the fountain and in a little grove of trees, we found a motorcycle that someone had parked in the back…my kind of location!

Upon arriving back from our walk, the reception was ready to begin. The evening rocked out with the awesome sound of “The Boss” (not THAT one, the Boston based wedding band). As great as the Boss was, however, Krisi stole the show with her solo guitar and vocal performance to Tom halfway through the evening!

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

Ceremony/Reception: Atkinson Resort & Country Club
Hair/Makeup: Green Tangerine Spa & Salon and Dellaria Salon
Flowers: Suzanne’s Weddings
Entertainment: The Boss (band)

Also, a special thanks to Caty Morris from Catharine Morris Photography for helping me out this weekend!

–Jamie Wexler
www.jamisonwexler.com

Saturday’s wedding proves what a small world we live in. I received a referral from a photographer friend of mine in the area who was already booked for the date. Since Michelle and Nate were planning their wedding from out of state, we had a phone consultation, and we hit it off immediately. When she called to book me for her wedding, she mentioned that she had talked to one of my former brides, who her fiance was friends with. Turns out that Nate is from Lewisburg, PA, (my wife, Melanie’s home town), and that he was also friends with my sister-in-law in High School.

So I hadn’t met Michelle and Nate in person before Saturday, but they turned out to be just as cool as they sounded on the phone. We started the day at Michelle’s parents house in North Smithfied, RI. As I was driving up to the house, I noticed one of their neighbors had placed an old couch on the curb - of course that was too good of an opportunity to pass up! Next we headed to the American-French Genealogical Society in Woonsocket, RI for the ceremony. The AFGS was one of the coolest locations I’ve yet photographed. It’s a decommissioned church from early last century, that looks like it did when it was first built. Like taking a trip back in time. Between the old fashioned classroom and the upstairs gym/theatre, we made the most of the excellent location. But we weren’t done yet. Before heading to the reception, we stopped in downtown Woonsocket to grab some photos in front of the historic Stadium Theatre. Then it was off to the Coachmen’s Lodge in Bellingham, MA, for a fun evening of dinner and dancing!

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

Ceremony: American-French Geneological Society
Reception: Coachmen’s Lodge
Flowers: Park Square Florist
Entertainment: Ocean State Sound DJ’s

–Jamie Wexler
www.jamisonwexler.com

This weekend I had the privilege of capturing the multi-state wedding celebration of Becca and Sean.

We started in Norton, MA, at Becca’s parents home, where Becca’s natural beauty was accentuated with the help of makeup artist, Kristi Martin. Once Becca was dressed and ready, we stepped into the back yard to take a few photos. After a quick walk around, I found a cool green shed that Becca’s grandfather had built years ago, and decided to make it the backdrop for a few bridal portraits.

After the photos were done, we moved on to the Trinitarian Congregational Church of Norton, for a beautiful ceremony. Then it was into the cars for a drive to Lincoln, RI, where we all met up again at the Kirkbrae Country Club. During the cocktail hour, while all of the guests were warmly nestled in the country club, Becca and Sean’s family and wedding party braved the chilly evening temperatures for the sake of the photos. Even after their family and friends had gone inside, Becca and Sean, endured the elements to take advantage of the awesome outdoor locations that Kirkbrae offered.

We got them inside soon enough, though, and the rest of the evening was one giant party!

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

Ceremony: Trinitarian Congregational Church
Reception: Kirkbrae Country Club
Makeup: Kristi Martin
Flowers: Designs by Anne
Entertainment: DJ Kupah from Urban KINETIKS

Also, a special thanks to Michael Umansky from Reflections Photography in northern New Jersey for making the trek all the way up to help me out this weekend.

This weekend marked the season opener for my 2008 wedding season with Jennifer and John’s wedding at Cyprian Keyes Golf Club in Boylston, MA . I’ve been looking forward to Jennifer and John’s wedding ever since we did their engagement photos in Worcester this winter. They’re such a fun, laid-back couple…and talented to boot. Jennifer planned every detail of the wedding, and made most of the gorgeous decorations that festooned the ballroom, the ceremony room, and the grounds of the country club.

The day started in the bridal suite at the country club, with Jennifer getting her hair and makeup done with her mom. We then moved downstairs to the hardwood paneled Music Room for the intimate sunset ceremony. After the ceremony we rushed outside to take advantage of the waning light on the grounds. I gotta give a lot of credit to Jennifer for hiking over the muddy paths in her heels to get to the locations I selected for the portraits! After the photos, we headed in for the reception, eating a delicious dinner and dancing the night away. I even got to share the fun with Stacey Doyle, a good friend and one of my favorite photographers, who joined me for the day. It was a great start to the season!

Chick here to see a few more photos: http://www.pbase.com/jamisonwexlerphoto/jenniferjohn

Ceremony/Reception: Cyprian Keyes Golf Club
Makeup: Vicki & Ilana from Hey Good Look’n Salon
Flowers: Skaff Floral Creations
Entertainment: DJ Dave Wiley

–Jamie Wexler