As I look back over my own career inthe financial services industry – where I spent ten years of my life before starting my own photography business – never did I think that my job would entail the buttoning-up of a bride’s wedding dress on her wedding day. But that’s exactly what I found myself doing at Michelle and Ryan’s wedding.
Michelle and Ryan were married this fall at the beautiful International Golf Club in Bolton, MA. Most people know this place for one reason – it’s fantastic golf course. It will always have a different meaning for Michelle and Ryan though. Both their ceremony and reception were on-site giving us ample opportunity to photograph the beautiful surroundings.
The day started with the ladies. George and I quickly got to work on all the details. A lobby in the conference center was full of windows and provided us with some wonderful light for all the details we hoped to capture. We finished that up and George headed off to find Ryan and the guys.
I stayed with Michelle and the ladies as they finished their preparations. The ladies were dressed and her mother and friends were helping Michelle finish putting her wedding dress on. Although she was zipped in and ready, the decorative buttons were posing a problem. As the ladies continued to work on them, I could see the anxiety on Michelle’s face. Ryan was outside waiting for her for their reveal and I knew she could hardly wait to see him. I decided to offer assistance and actually managed to get several buttons in place rather quickly. I guess seeing the process as many times as I had was actually helpful. I have since added a crochet needle to my emergency kit though…
Once Michelle was ready, she, Shannon (the coordinator and our cart driver) and I headed off to meet up with George and Ryan. George had placed Ryan in the center of an oak grove overlooking the golf course. As Michelle caught a glimpse of him for the first time at a distance, she choked up and her eyes welled with tears. Moments later, when she walked up behind Ryan, she smiled the most beautiful smile and he in turn, was grinning ear-to-ear. They embraced, admired each other, whispered in each other’s ears, smiled and laughed. It was a wonderful moment!
We spent the next hour zooming around the golf course and taking pictures of Michelle and Ryan everywhere we went. Shannon is also a photographer and took us to some of her favorite spots. She was SO helpful! We eventually rejoined the families and wedding party for a few more formals before the ceremony began. The ceremony was held outdoors behind the conference center on their patio. It was beautifully simple.
Following the ceremony, we finished up a few more large family formal photos right on the patio and then Russell Smithe of Mavid Productions and I spend a few more minutes with just Michelle and Ryan before they rode off to their cocktail hour.
Michelle and Ryan were ready to party and have a good time and set the tone accordingly. Each member of the wedding party was offered a shot to drink as they entered the room. Michelle and Ryan tipped theirs in and then took to the dance floor for their first dance.
The rest of the evening was filled with crazy dancing, rowdy firemen, wonderful conversation and a fantastic meal. And then, just when you thought the party was over, all the guests were invited back to the conference center for an after-party. Michelle and Ryan had even more food ready as well as a fantastic candy table ready to be enjoyed by all.
Michelle and Ryan – thank you so much for selecting us as your wedding photographers. We had such an amazing time celebrating with you and truly appreciate your willingness to give us that extra time on your wedding day to be creative. You rock! Many blessings to you both throughout the years ahead!
Vendors:
Dress Shop: Yolanda’s
Hair/Makeup: Eye 4 Beauty – Waltham, MA
Florist: Centre Piece Designs
Cake: Icing on the Cake – Newton, MA
Videographer: Russell Smithe of Mavid Productions – Derry, NH
DJ: Paul Manganelli – Waltham, MA
Venue: The International – Bolton, MA
To see a slide show of Michelle and Ryan’s wedding, click here.
Michelle’s gorgeous wedding dress.
Michelle brought the bling!
Michelle’s mom (right) had never worn a dress in her life. When I asked what she wore for her wedding, she promptly responded, “A t-shirt and blue jeans!” Love it!
Michelle sneaking a peek at Ryan…
The reveal…just before Ryan saw Michelle. I love their expressions in this image.
One of many fantastic photo locations on the golf course
We always seem to find the ferns in the woods…
Michelle was stunning…and her dad couldn’t be more proud.
Love it!
It’s hard to explain how many acorns there were on the property. Since Michelle had incorporated them into her centerpieces, we felt this was more than appropriate.
Sharing their first dance as Mr. and Mrs.
Having a laugh during the toasts.
A slightly different twilight shot.
Watching parents dance during a special dedication.
We did some portraits later in the evening with Michelle. Here she is cracking up!
One of the infamous Cunningham brothers…Matt. We shot his and Chrissy’s wedding last fall. He and his brother Joe are know for giving us some great photos on the dance floor thanks to their unique moves…
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