The day didn’t start in Boston for everyone though. Kate got ready with the help of her bridesmaids at her parent’s South Shore home.

Soon it was time to board the trolly and brave the traffic for the ride into Boston.

Meanwhile, Kevin and his groomsmen and parents got ready downtown at The Colonnade Hotel.

The historic St. Leonard Church in Boston’s North End provided an inspiring location for the wedding ceremony.

The ceremony was followed by an iconic North End scene. Bystanders cheered and offered congratulations to Kate and Kevin as they promenaded down narrow streets lined by red brick buildings and storefronts.

To incorporate another aspect of the city’s character, we took advantage of twilight colors along the waterfront as a backdrop for group photos and portraits.

This is probably a good time to mention the talented photographer who helped me that day. Maine wedding photographer, Andree Kehn created a number of gorgeous images including this fabulous one featuring Boston’s Custom House Tower.

Close your eyes and picture a city wedding. A dazzling ballroom decked with flowers and candles probably comes to mind. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if what you just pictured looked just like Kate and Kevin’s reception at the Colonnade Hotel.

Kevin is a die hard Red Sox fan and Kate surprised him with a special groom’s cake.

They also had a surprise for Kate’s grandmother–they used the same cake topper she had at her wedding.

Brick Park provided the soundtrack that kept the dance floor busy all night long.

Congratulations again, Kate and Kevin!

Another reason this wedding feels special to me is that my good friend Maine wedding photographer Andree Kehn actually has been friends with Kavi since high school. Andree was a guest at the wedding but she also lifted her camera to grab shots of the wedding day. These first two portraits are ones that Andree shot near the couple’s house that morning.

I met up with the Arielle and Kavi at the restaurant and we took a few quick portraits before the guests arrived.

The Renaissance flair of Arielle’s dress and shoes highlighted her deep connection with Italy.

Grace Restaurant in Portland is a converted church and an incredibly unique space. Every nook in the restaurant is adorned with stained glass, and elegant woodwork.

Branches were a major visual theme a the wedding. The processional was led and ended with people carrying branches and Arielle and Kavi were married in front of a forked birch tree. Even the floral arrangements incorporated the branch theme.

It was cocktails before the ceremony as the both levels of the restaurant filled with the couple’s friends and family .

Kavi’s brothers musically heralded Arielle and Kavi’s entrance, and the ceremony began.

When you have a lot of different religious traditions in your family history, you can pick and choose elements from any of them for your wedding. Hello Hora!

Arielle and Kavi love living in Portland because of all the great food, and so it’s no surprise that food was a big part of their night. There was chef’s station where a seemingly infinite variety of pasta dishes were made. Almost every other dish was made fresh in Grace’s open kitchen throughout the entire night and passed hors d’œuvre style.

And the dessert cupcakes by Two Fat Cats Bakery were an unqualified hit wit the guests.

After the evening’s rituals were over, DJ Dave Ragsdale got people moving.

Congratulations again, Arielle & Kavi!

Gail and her bridesmaids all got ready in one of the hotel’s suites.

While Matt and the Groomsmen prepared and waited on the other side of the hotel.

It was overcast in the morning but the weather cleared up treating us to a dramatic  display of clouds against the mountains for the ceremony.

The resort has some wonderful backdrops for taking photos, including this dark cave.

And I was lucky to have Maine wedding photographer, Andree Kehn along helping to create wonderful images including the gorgeous one below.

Carrie Sartor from Lyndsey Hamilton Events in NYC was the event’s planner, and you can see her attention to detail in these shots from the reception.

All of the toasts featured this trophy sized goblet.

Guests attending from out of the country shared some of their ‘local customs’ with the bride and groom.

The band was rocking and kept the guests on their toes until the last minute.

Can’t get enough? Check out more of my favorite photos from this wedding over on my Facebook page.

Congratulations again, Gail and Matt!

Suzanne and her attendants had their hair and makeup done high above the city in the Rotunda of the Boston Harbor Hotel.

There was no mistaking the joy on Suzanne’s dad’s face when he saw his little girl in her wedding dress.

Rick patiently waited downstairs with his back to the hotel until Suzanne came up behind him and tapped him on the shoulder. Then he turned and they saw each other for the first time on their wedding day.

A few quick portraits and Rick was off by trolly to the The Cathedral of the Holy Cross.

 
Suzanne followed soon behind in the limo with her parents.

The heartfelt service was officiated by their uncle Richard and throughout it, a smile was never far from Suzanne’s face.

I was blessed to have my good friend, Maine Wedding Photographer Andree Kehn shooting with me. This amazing shot of the couple leaving the cathedral is just one of the fabulous images Andree captured that day.

The limo whisked Rick and Suzanne back to the BHH, where the Wharf Room had been magically transformed through the coordinated effort of their event consultant, Michele Mottola, working with the BHH staff,  Suzanne B. Lowell Lighting Design, and Winston Flowers. 

Suzanne’s father sabered (yup that’s a sword!) off the top of a bottle of champagne to get the festivities started in dramatic fashion and everyone in attendance danced the night away.

Congratulations again Suzanne and Rick!

Andree moved in close enough to see the weathering of the old buoys and threw the couple out of focus in the background:

I shot the couple through a bush with a plastic lens, framing the them against the wall.

I think that having the same couple, the same setting, the same light, and two shots taken within seconds of each other, really illustrates how two photographers will visualize the same subject differently.

Vive la différence!

Here is the album design Andree presented to the couple, that showcases both our images equally!