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
Cape Cod Backyard Wedding | Kaitlin & Noa
Will I ever tire of backyard weddings? Probably not. There’s something so special about the transformation of a home into a beautiful venue and about all of the family history and love that exists there. Kaitlin’s family home in Brewster, Massachusetts was the setting for this lovely, intimate summer wedding for Kaitlin and Noa.
A SUMMER WEDDING IN BREWSTER, MASSACHUSETTS
Will I ever tire of backyard weddings? Probably not. There’s something so special about the transformation of a home into a beautiful venue and about all of the family history and love that exists there. Kaitlin’s family home in Brewster, Massachusetts was the setting for this lovely, intimate summer wedding for Kaitlin and Noa. I had met the two brides during their winter Boston engagement session back in January at the Arnold Arboretum. They were so great and meeting them before the chaos of the wedding day made it feel like a fun reunion.
WEDDING DAY PREP AT HOME
This mid June Cape Cod wedding began with hair, makeup, and prep right on site for both Noa and for Kaitlin. The two got ready in the same space but chose to get dressed separately to maintain a bit of mystery for their first look. Kaitlin chose a gorgeous, off-the-shoulder bridal gown while Noa wore a fantastic teal custom suit that she had made in Brooklyn (yes she drove all the way there for fittings).
FIRST LOOK
Noa and Kaitlin opted for a first look before their ceremony; I always recommend first looks to couples for many reason - see my previous blog post about it here! The images from this part of the day are some of my favorite. You can see the joy and love so clearly in their expressions. It also served as a moment where the couple could take a breath and be together before their guests arrived and the ceremony began. After some couple photos (did I mention the property is also home to goats, a donkey and a horse who were all dressed for the occasion? We took photos with them too), we took family photos and wedding party photos to make sure that everybody would get to enjoy the amazing cocktails and delicious food** during cocktail hour.
**cocktails made by friends of the couple. Truly delicious and beautiful creations. Food from two local vendors that both blew me away. Check out my vendor list below for their info.
COVID WRENCH
Due to last minute Covid diagnoses, Noa’s parents who live in Israel could not fly to the U.S. This wrench in the plans was understandably upsetting for everyone, but Noa’s sister filled in beautifully for her missing family members. She walked Noa down the aisle, gave a speech, and the sisters had a very fun “Father Daughter” dance together. Noa’s extended family also helped by recording video and live streaming the entire day for those who could not be there.
CEREMONY
The brides’ close friend officiated the wedding and incorporated stories of the couple’s first dates and first love letters that made everyone laugh and cry. It made the ceremony really unique and special. Fun fact: Noa’s first date with Kaitlin was also her very first dating app date EVER. She literally downloaded the app, matched with Kaitlin, went on a date with her, and eventually married her. Such a great story.
RECEPTION UNDER THE TENT
After the ceremony & cocktail hour, the brides gave a welcome toast followed by toasts by Noa’s sister (in place of their father) and the maid of honor. The night continued with first dances, all with piano accompaniment by the brides’ friend and pianist, Yotam Ishay, and finally some fun and wild dancing to traditional Klezmer music played by The Klezwoods.
Congratulations to Kaitlin and Noa on their Cape Cod backyard wedding! It was a highlight of my 2022 wedding season so far and I’m excited to share some of my favorite highlights with you below!
Wedding Vendors:
Catering: @thechubbychickpea
Catering: @thehandsomeoysterco
Bar: @robolife823
Piano: @yotamishaymusic
Band: @klezwoods
Hair & Makeup: @lisa_george_hair_and_makeup
Lily and Rafet's Wedding (Mt. Tremper, NY)
Lily and Rafet’s wedding was one that was booked in early March of 2020 and ended up being altered a handful of times in order for it to happen when they wanted it to. Luckily for them, the plan all along had been to have the wedding in the backyard of Lily’s childhood home in Mt. Tremper, NY.
Lily and Rafet’s wedding was one that was booked in early March of 2020 and ended up being altered a handful of times in order for it to happen when they wanted it to. Luckily for them, the plan all along had been to have the wedding in the backyard of Lily’s childhood home in Mt. Tremper, NY. This allowed the venue to remain the same while the guest list had to be cut down to just 50 people. Lily got ready with her bridesmaids and mother at the house while Rafet and his groomsmen got dressed at nearby Hotel Kinsley. Lily’s mother’s home and backyard were absolutely gorgeous with lush green fields and a gorgeous black walnut tree that the ceremony took place beneath. The home’s artsy vibe and family home details like childhood photos on the fridge added so much to the images.
The family dog made sure he was a part of the big day by wildly running through the aisle during the ceremony (chased down by Lily’s brother) and attempting to steal some charcuterie goodness from the table during cocktail hour. The reception included wood fired pizzas made to order, emotional speeches, and some wild and crazy dancing under the tent. Congratulations, Lily and Rafet!
Vendor Details
Catering/Bar/Cake/Decor: DIY, Pizza: Itsa Pizza Truck
Floral: Samantha Brown @samanthafrappiedbrown , Gown: Theia , Tux: Todd Snyder
DJ: Renaissance Noiz (Sal Busciano), Makeup: Alex Leskevich Makeup , Hair: Caitlyn Rauh
Wedding Planner: Jeanne Starke, Hudson Valley Ceremonies
Hotel: Hotel Kinsley
JP and Tiffany's Wedding (Long Island, NY)
JP and Tiffany had their wedding this summer, and despite having to alter their guest list and reception location, they were able to have a beautiful wedding that was special to them and to their families.
JP and Tiffany had their wedding this summer, and despite having to alter their guest list and reception location, they were able to have a beautiful wedding that was special to them and to their families. Tiffany got ready at her childhood home while JP got ready at a nearby hotel. The ceremony took place at Soundview Caterers in Bayville, NY on a patio overlooking the sound that made for some gorgeous photos. The reception was in the backyard of Tiffany’s childhood home and included some beautiful speeches, first dances and some amazing gelato. Congratulations, JP and Tiffany!
Vendor List
Assistant Photographer: Matthew Turri
Venue & Ceremony Catering: Soundview Caterers, Reception Catering & Bar: Felico’s Catering
Gelato: Dolce & Gelato, Cake: Dortoni, Floral: Tim’s Florist, Pool Decor: Events by Maria Lo
Hair & Makeup: Mirror Mirror Salon, Gown: Lotus Bridal, Tux: Bonobos NYC
Ceremony Musicians: Liann Cline
