Romantic Microwedding at The Mount (Lenox, MA)
Taylor and Sam’s romantic summer microwedding in the Berkshires was such a memorable day and introduced me to one of my favorite New England venues - The Mount.
Taylor and Sam’s summer microwedding in the Berkshires was such a memorable day and introduced me to one of my favorite venues - The Mount. This venue was one of the most unique, beautiful places that I’ve ever had the privilege of working at and it is now at the top of my list of my favorite New England venues (blog post on those to come!).
The Mount in Lenox, Massachusetts was once the home of celebrated author Edith Wharton. The historic estate was designed and built by Wharton in 1902.
The property includes over 50 acres of meticulously landscaped grounds and has lots of gorgeous options for ceremony and portrait spaces. Taylor and Sam chose to have their first look in the intimate Italian Garden, their ceremony in the Versailles-inspired French Garden, and their dinner in the linden tree-lined walkway between the two gardens known as the Lime Walk. They also used several rooms and spaces inside the house itself for getting ready and portraits.
My favorite part of their day was the intimate dinner they had at long tables surrounded by twinkly lights set up between the rows of trees in the Lime Walk (see below for photos of the details!). I photographed Taylor & Sam’s wedding day primarily with my digital cameras but was testing out my grandfather’s old Konica Minolta film camera for fun so I threw in a handful of film shots as well for them. See if you can spot them!
The Mount is a great option both for couples that are having smaller, intimate microweddings like Taylor and Sam’s and for those who are having a larger celebration with room for up to 250 guests. The space allows for so much flexibility! If you’re looking for a unique and historic wedding venue in a beautiful location like the Berkshires, I highly recommend that you check out The Mount!
Taylor & Sam’s Wedding Vendors
photography: Kayla Rice Photography // venue name: The Mount, Edith Wharton's Home, Lenox, MA // planning/catering/bar: Mezze Events // florals: Carolyn Valenti Flowers // hair stylist: Good Vibes Beauty Co // makeup artist: Liz O’Malley Makeup
Simone & Shawn's Intimate Wedding at the Four Seasons One Dalton
Simone and Shawn originally booked me for their Fall 2024 wedding at the beautiful Four Seasons One Dalton, but less than a month after booking I got an email from them telling me that plans had changed! The couple found out that they were expecting a baby so they decided to adjust their plans to have a much more intimate wedding with their closest family in May.
Simone and Shawn originally booked me for their Fall 2024 wedding at the beautiful Four Seasons One Dalton, but less than a month after booking I got an email from them telling me that plans had changed! The couple found out that they were expecting a baby so they decided to adjust their plans to have a much more intimate wedding with their closest family in May 2024. Luckily, I was available for their new date!
I got to know Simone and Shawn a bit better in March with an engagement session at their favorite neighborhood bar, park, and at their apartment. It’s really nice to be able to meet a couple in person before their wedding day so that we can get to know each other and have a “test run” for our wedding day portrait session. Typically I’ll meet couples through an engagement session, but a meetup can also be done at an in-person planning meeting, or a venue site visit.
Simone and Shawn were originally drawn to my work because of my documentary style. They wanted the photos from their more intimate wedding to feature candids of them with their close friends and family prominently.
On their wedding day, the couple got ready separately with family and friends, and then saw each other for the first time that day with a first look on the hotel’s balcony overlooking the neighboring Christian Science church and plaza. The first look was followed by some more portraits in the plaza with family. After portraits, the couple had a ketubah signing with their families followed by a wedding ceremony with some Jewish elements integrated (such as the chuppah and the breaking of the glass) which was officiated by a close friend. Simone and Shawn wanted to use their wedding photos as a pregnancy announcement, so we incorporated their ultrasound photo into some of their portraits which I thought was beautiful!
After the ceremony, the guests gathered in a small ballroom for a cocktail hour where dancing spontaneously began. Cocktail hour was followed by a dinner enjoyed at one long table with a beautiful toast given by the bride's father.
Congratulations to Simone & Shawn who welcomed their baby boy in October!
Vendors
Venue/Catering/Bar: Four Seasons One Dalton
Photographer: Kayla Rice Photography
Floral: Table & Tulip
Hair & Makeup: Charlotte Phinney
Ceremony/Reception Musician: RD King
Collette & Spencer's Equinox Resort Winter Wedding
Collette and Spencer tied the knot at The Equinox Resort in Manchester, Vermont, in a lovely winter wedding ceremony. With a deep appreciation for the beauty of the outdoors, the couple wanted to incorporate the surrounding natural beauty in their day as much as possible.
Collette and Spencer tied the knot at The Equinox Resort in Manchester, Vermont, in a lovely winter wedding ceremony. With a deep appreciation for the beauty of the outdoors, the couple wanted to incorporate the surrounding natural beauty in their day as much as possible.
Against the backdrop of snow-covered mountains, Collette and Spencer's day was filled with warmth and joy. The Equinox Resort provided the perfect setting for their celebration, blending rustic charm with elegant sophistication.
Collette and Spencer wanted their special day to be captured in a documentary style. They appreciated my moment-focused approach and wanted their day to be captured in a way that felt true to them.
The couple's commitment to genuine moments and authentic emotions shone through in every aspect of the day. From heartfelt vows exchanged in front of their friends and family to laughter shared during toasts with loved ones, every detail reflected their love for each other and those around them.
The choice of hiring a wedding photojournalist like me to capture their day was a testament to Collette and Spencer's desire to preserve the memories of their day in a way that truly reflected who they are as a couple.
After dinner, toasts, and parent dances concluded, the couple danced the night away surrounded by family and friends on a packed and fun-filled dance floor.
Congratulations to Collette & Spencer!
Vendors
Venue/Catering/Bar: Equinox Resort
Photographer: Kayla Rice Photography
Second Photographer: Josh Kuckens
Floral: Nancy Bishop Floral Design
Hair & Makeup: Crystal Vasquez & Company
Ceremony Musician: Samantha Barry (friend)
Officiant: Elizabeth Andersen (friend)
DJ: Foley Weddings
Cake/Dessert: Cake Gypsy
Emily & Alan's Backyard Massachusetts Wedding
When Emily and Alan first hired me, they told me about their vision for the day. “We love the flexibility that a backyard wedding will give us to make it our own and just have a big, fun party with our family and friends.”
Emily and Alan's love story is one that spans continents, transcending the distance between Ireland and the USA. The couple navigated time zones and thousands of miles to be together as Alan was living in Ireland and Emily in Montana throughout much of their relationship.
To compromise on a wedding location, Emily and Alan chose to get married in Bellingham, Massachusetts; the town that Emily grew up in.
I started the wedding day documenting Emily and her closest friends and family members getting ready at Emily’s childhood home. There’s nothing wrong with getting ready at a hotel room, but it’s always extra special to be in a place that has so much history. Family photos showing Emily as a child decorated the walls and Emily’s mother helped her get dressed in her bedroom.
Alan and his closest friends and family members were at a nearby hotel where my second shooter Nicki captured them getting ready and piling into the rented stretch Hummer (a rental that was orchestrated as a funny surprise for the groomsmen).
The couple got married in a traditional Catholic wedding ceremony at a beautiful local church covered in stain glass. We took family portraits outside the church and then brought the celebration to Emily’s parents' backyard for the rest of the night.
When Emily and Alan first hired me, they told me about their vision for the day. “We love the flexibility that a backyard wedding will give us to make it our own and just have a big, fun party with our family and friends.” The reception was exactly as they envisioned; a unique and special celebration with Irish and American traditions blending beautifully. The evening was full of heartfelt speeches, laughter, and lots of dancing. As a documentary wedding photographer, this sort of celebration is a ton of fun for me. I get to flex my photojournalistic muscles with moments that aren’t overly scripted and special DIY touches that are truly unique to the couple.
The weather got stormy at times and we had to shelter under the tent in the backyard briefly as a heavy rain storm passed through, but the rain stopped just in time for us to adventure out into the yard for some portraits before the sun set.
Cheers to Emily and Alan!
Vendors
Venue: Private Residence & St. Blaise Church (Bellingham, MA)
Photographer: Kayla Rice Photography
Second Photographer: Nicki Bursae Photography
Planner: Feathered Events
Officiant: Father Al Faretra
Catering: PJ’s Bar & Grill
Hair & Makeup: The Best of You Inc. (Brianna & Kristi)
Ceremony Musicians: Charles & Betheny Grenier
DJ: ECF Entertainment, Mike Berman
Dessert: Wright’s Dairy Farm
Rentals: Baystate Tent
Toilets: Flush LLC
Courtland & Matt's Backyard Wedding in Gloucester
When Courtland told me that she and Matt were planning their backyard wedding at Courtland’s parents’ home by the water in Gloucester, Massachusetts, I envisioned a picturesque setting but never imagined it to be quite as beautiful as it turned out to be in real life.
When Courtland told me that she and Matt were planning their backyard wedding at Courtland’s parents’ home in Gloucester, Massachusetts, I envisioned a picturesque setting but never imagined it to be quite as beautiful as it turned out to be in real life.
When I arrived, family and friends were helping to set up flowers in pink, orange, yellow, and cream hues around the lush green yard and down by the ceremony space that overlooked the water. Two floral pillars stood on a wooden platform by the docks, framing the spot where the couple would soon be married. The week had been an overcast and rainy one but the rain held off and we even saw some blue sky peeking through throughout Courtland & Matt’s wedding day.
Courtland and her bridesmaids got ready in a small guest house down the driveway. The couple shared a first look in a clearing in the woods overlooking the water away from the hustle and bustle of the wedding preparations closer to the house. We then gathered the wedding party and family members and took a few portraits before the ceremony followed by some portraits incorporating the scenic waterfront views with just Courtland & Matt.
Guests began to arrive, so the couple took a private break and prepared for the ceremony to begin. Friends and family mingled in the yard and then gradually took their seats down by the ceremony space. The processional music began (played by musician Ollella) and the couple and their wedding party processed from the house down through the yard and down the aisle. Courtland’s veil nearly escaped with a gust of wind as she and her parents walked down the aisle, but her mother was able to catch it just in time. As a wedding photojournalist, moments like this are gold to me. I’m always looking to capture the humorous, strange, and unexpected moments that weddings almost always are full of.
Courtland’s uncle (Uncle Pete) officiated the wedding, which added a nice personal touch to the ceremony. He performed a unity ceremony with the couple, told stories of Courtland’s youth, shared some beautiful words, and then handed over the microphone for each of them to share their vows before officially announcing them husband and wife. Guests threw rice in celebration as the couple recessed back down the aisle.
Right after the ceremony, Uncle Pete helped me announce a group photo and we had guests gather in the yard as I ran up to the top floor of the house to take the large group photo. Cocktail hour included an oyster station (served in a boat) hosted by Island Creek Oysters out of Duxbury. The couple mingled with their guests who stretched out over the yard, the deck, and into the tented reception space by the water.
After an hour or so of drinks and delicious food catered by local Gloucester restaurant Passports, the DJ asked guests to gather around the dance floor to welcome the newlyweds to their reception. The couple’s parents and wedding party made their grand entrance followed immediately by Courtland & Matt’s entrance and first dance; a fun and spunky choreographed dance to “Die Young” by Sylvan Esso (a personal favorite of mine). Lovely toasts by the father of the bride and the father of the groom followed shortly after, and a joint Mother/Son and Father/Daughter dance after that.
The sun set leaving a bright blue twilight sky over the reception tent where guests ate dinner and enjoyed each others company. After dinner, guests gathered once again by the dance floor to watch Courtland & Matt cut their wedding cake. It was clear that this day was incredibly special for the couple as they teared up expressing their gratitute for everyone that came to celebrate with them and helped to make their wedding day as beautiful as it was. After their thank yous, the dance floor opened up again for some fun, energetic dancing to end the night.
Here are some of my favorite photos from Courtland and Matt’s backyard Gloucester wedding. Enjoy!
Vendors
Venue: Private Residence
Catering & Bar: Passports Restaurant
Planner: Isabel Pett of Hēdon Event Planning
Photographer: Kayla Rice Photography
Officiant: Uncle Pete
Hair & Makeup: Talia Day
Ceremony Musician: Ellie Barber (Ollella)
DJ & Videography: South Shore Sound & Lighting
Rentals: The Event Company
Cake: Flourish Bake Shoppe
What is Wedding Photojournalism?
What makes me a “wedding photojournalist” and what is the difference between wedding photojournalism and any other type of wedding photography?
Photojournalism is a form of journalism which tells a story through photography. When you take a trained photojournalist like myself, and place her into the world of wedding photography, you end up with wedding photojournalism. I use my skills as a professional photojournalist and my years of experience documenting story and capturing real moments to tell the story of your wedding day in an authentic, captivating, beautiful way.
Why consider a wedding photojournalist?
Capturing the authentic story of your wedding day is important to you. You want a photographer that will capture the raw and real moments and emotion while still leaving you with beautiful, fine art quality photos. As a documentary wedding photographer or a wedding photojournalist, this is where I come in.
Photojournalism allows you to act naturally throughout your wedding day. On a day that’s already a bit hectic, it’s nice to have someone there who lays low and is not always jumping in to guide and pose you. A photojournalist is more inclined to capture sincere reactions because you won’t be thinking about them being around, interrupting the natural moments constantly. This approach is more likely to result in touching photos that elicit emotion.
Click the image above to see more of my award winning images from the Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA).
How do I know if a photographer is a photojournalist?
When you look through the photographer’s portfolio, you should see natural laughter or other intense emotional scenes (tears, hugs and goofy faces for example).
A photojournalist will look for unique angles and vantage points to create photos that make you feel like you were there in the moment. For example, I will often get down on the floor to be eye to eye with a child or I’ll jump in the middle of the dance floor during the reception.
If in their portfolio you see many photos of people looking directly into the lens or the portfolio consist of mostly detail shots (for example, of the rings, the flowers, etc.) they are most likely not a photojournalist.
Wedding photojournalists are first and foremost storytellers. They should tell the story of your wedding day in a way that will make you re-experience the feelings you felt on the day. You should see truth and real love in your photos the way that it really happened. Photojournalistic or documentary wedding photographers like me will tell the real story of your wedding day. We will not find the tidy, perfectly staged room with the most gorgeous light to prop you in front of for your getting ready photos. That would not be telling YOUR story. It would be telling MY understanding of what a wedding should look like. It’s also just recreating a worn-out, overdone wedding photography look that will leave you with wedding photos that look like everyone else’s.
What if I want portraits in addition to candid photos?
Just because I’m a wedding photojournalist who thrives in capturing candids does not mean that I shoot exclusively candid photos. Portraits are important too and I will always build in some time during your wedding day for both couple portraits and any other posed portraits you’d like with family and friends. Portraits are a normal and expected part of a wedding day and I would never suggest skipping them completely.
You’ll find that this is the only time throughout the day that I’ll give any explicit direction. Not everybody is a natural in front of the camera (myself included!) so I understand the need to have some direction while taking these pictures. Your mind will be in a million places throughout your wedding day and so it’s nice to have someone there with wedding experience to occasionally give a little guidance and direction.
As a wedding photojournalist, I want your wedding photos to feel alive. I want to piece together the story of your wedding day from the quiet getting ready moments through to the wild dance floor.
To help me to tell your story in the most complete way, my process involves getting to know you before the wedding a bit more than other photographers might ordinarily. Whenever you need to talk through anything for the wedding day, I’m available for a phone call or on Zoom. That way, I can build more and more information leading me to how I will want to approach your specific day. When we are about 2 months out from your date, you’ll get a questionnaire from me that will dive into the finer details of your wedding-day schedule and your family and friends that will be a part of it.
With wedding photojournalism, it’s not just about epic emotions. Sometimes it’s about the subtle bits of information included in an image’s composition that take it from an appealing or interesting photo to a meaningful, emotional capture.
When talking with Paige before her wedding, she told me that her wedding dress was the same exact gown that her mother, grandmother, and great grandmother all wore before her. I love being given details like this before the wedding because it allows me to use that knowledge to capture photos and craft compositions that I may have overlooked otherwise.
All of this allows me to better tell your unique story.
Wedding Photojournalism may or may not be for you and there is nothing wrong with that! Hopefully this all helps to clarify what true documentary wedding photography looks like and what it is all about.