Veronica & Andrew's Inn on Boltwood Wedding

I first met Veronica and Andrew at a wedding expo that I exhibited at shortly after I moved to Boston. They were super sweet and seemed interested in my documentary style wedding photography, so we continued to chat after the event. Once they had nailed down their wedding venue, they reached back out to book their engagement and wedding photography!

About a year before their wedding, we did a sunrise engagement session at the Boston Public Garden. It was such a good chance for us to get to know each other a bit better and for Veronica and Andrew to feel comfortable in front of the camera.

Veronica and Andrew's wedding at the Inn on Boltwood in Amherst, Massachusetts took place on a rainy late September day. The cozy interior of the Inn provided a romantic setting for their ceremony and the tent set up outside for the reception gave everyone space to dance and keep the (very fun) party going despite the weather.

Veronica chose to do first looks with two of the most important men in her life before her wedding; the first with her father and then out on the Inn’s front porch with Andrew.

The ceremony was beautiful and Veronica and Andrew both read personal vows they had written which included both touching sentiments and funny anecdotes that got the room laughing.

After a cocktail hour, guests made their way into the reception tent for dinner. Andrew’s grandfather gave a blessing and parents and close friends gave heartfelt, emotional speeches that brought tears to everyones eyes.

Veronica and Andrew's wedding day was filled with warmth, happiness, and ended with a packed, energetic dance floor.

Cheers to Veronica & Andrew!

Vendors

Venue: Inn on Boltwood

Photographer: Kayla Rice Photography

Second Photographer: Adam Pulzetti

Floral: Forget Me Not

Officiant: Julie-Ann Silberman-Bunn 

Hair & Makeup: Crystal Vazquez & Co. 

DJ: Marx Entertainment - DJ Alonzo

Dessert: Atkins Farm

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 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

Boston Engagement Session at the Boston Public Garden | Lia & Ryan

BOSTON ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS AT THE BOSTON PUBLIC GARDEN

Lia and Ryan won an engagement session with me back in February and were excited to take a trip up to Boston to explore the city and take some iconic Boston engagement photos.

The couple lives in New Jersey so they made their session into a weekend visit. This was Ryan’s first time in Boston, so we discussed the finer things like '“where on the north shore does one stop for the best roast beef sandwich?”. It was a beautiful evening and we had a great time wandering through the public garden and discovering all of the landmarks along our way.

For any couples looking to find some outfit ideas for their Boston engagement session, you can read my blog post about it or gather inspiration from Lia and Ryan. They coordinated their outfits beautifully with warm golds and blues which played nicely both together and with their warm summer sunset surroundings.

Here’s a little glimpse into Lia and Ryan’s Boston engagement photos at the Boston Public Garden.

Why the Boston Public Garden?

The golden hour light reflecting off of the pond mixed with the branches of the willow trees surrounding the water made for a gorgeous backdrop for Lia and Ryan. The Boston Public Garden is one of the best Boston engagement session locations for a reason. There is so much to explore in a relatively small space - from natural beauty to city streets all within a few steps. The trees, pond, bridge and flower installations make for a gorgeous natural landscape and if you want to mix in some city vibes, just walk outside the garden gates and over to the bustling Newbury street area.

A fun, unexpected element that we came upon during our session was these installments of tropical flowers and palm trees within the Boston Public Garden. I’m always looking for new, unique things like this to add some interesting flavors to my Boston engagement photo sessions and this absolutely fit the bill. When they made the trip to Boston, Lia and Ryan probably didn’t expect to end up with engagement photos that looked like they were on a Hawaiian vacation, but that’s what they got (along with lots of more typical “Boston” backdrops, of course)!

Congratulations, Lia & Ryan!

What to Wear to Your Portrait Session | Outfit Ideas and Styling Tips from a Boston Lifestyle Photographer

Choosing what to wear to your portrait session can be overwhelming. Whether that is your Boston engagement photos, family lifestyle photography session, or an in-home newborn photography session, there is a lot to consider.

While I’m not nearly as picky as some photographers can be, I do have a few preferences and suggestions for what to wear to your portrait session to make your photos look the best they can! Below, I list out a few dos and don’ts for you along with some assistance with how best to coordinate clothes and choose appropriate outfits based on the season. Hopefully this will eliminate some of that stress and help you to choose outfits that will look amazing in your photos.

What NOT to wear to your portrait session…

When deciding on what to wear to your portrait session, you want the focus to be on your faces, not on distracting clothing items. Here are some common clothing items to avoid:

• Clothing with large logos, pictures, or characters

• Flip flops

• Outfits that show bra straps or undergarments

• Hoodies

• Neon colors

• Transitional Lenses - if you typically wear glasses, wear them for your session. But if you have transitional lenses, consider taking them off. Dark glasses will cover your eyes in the photos.

• Short dresses & skirts – for maximum comfort over any other reason. Short skirts can make it difficult to comfortably pose, sit, and play. If you’re not sure if your skirt is long enough, test it out by seeing if you can sit and walk without having to adjust.

• Identical clothing – for example, everybody in the family wears jeans and white tops. When everybody matches, your photos will look very staged and posed. It will be obvious that you were dressing for a photo shoot. While I am not trying to hide the fact that you are participating in a photo shoot, the photos will turn out better of you are wearing coordinating but not matching outfits. More on that to follow…

How do I coordinate clothes for my portrait session? What colors should I wear?

Coordination can be a tricky balancing act. You don’t want everyone to wear the exact same thing, but the colors and styles should blend well together. My best advice is to start with one member of the family (or couple). Have that person choose an outfit that they love and feel great in. Pull colors from their outfit to dress everyone else. Stick with 2-3 colors from that first outfit and stick to those shades coordinated with neutrals as your palette. If you are buying new clothes, choose a palette to begin with. For example pastels (pinks and blues), primary colors (red and blue), earth tones (navy, tan, burgundy, or green) etc. (see one great example from this Boston engagement session). Find an outfit for each family member that has at least one predominant color in the palette and balance that with neutrals like tans, greys & cream. Once you think you have everyone’s outfits picked out, lay them out together and see if they look good! If not, replace whatever clashes.

Style by session type and season.

What to wear for your family lifestyle session or engagement session:

For both of these types of photo sessions, you should focus on coordinating complimentary colors with neutrals and choosing an in-season wardrobe. As you know, the weather during your Boston portrait session can vary greatly depending on the season. When in doubt, wear layers. For spring sessions, you may want to work in some pastels or florals to match your environment. For a fall session, consider jewel tones. You might select certain colors and style based on when you plan to share the images. A family holiday card, for example might call for different color choices than an engagement session for your beach wedding save the dates. As always, avoid large logos, clashing patterns, and neon colors.

What to wear for your senior session:

This session is all about celebrating you and your momentous occasion. Let your personal style shine! You can dress up or dress casually, but make sure that your style is at the peak of its game. Wear the very best outfit you have to show your personality - not necessarily just what you would wear every day.

What to wear for your maternity session:

Maternity photos are another case where you will want your personal style to shine, as well as your shape. Choose a dress or a shirt that will accentuate and show off your bump - that is the point of these photos after all! Prioritize your comfort and how beautiful you feel in your outfit over anything else.

What to wear for your in-home newborn session or in-home family session:

Think cozy but not TOO cozy. Keep your clothing neutral, soft, and comfortable but refrain from actually wearing pajamas (unless of course that’s the theme you’re going for). Babies can wear minimal clothing. Diaper covers, neutral-colored onesies and swaddle blankets are perfect.

The most important tip for what to wear to your portrait session: wear clothes you feel good in.

This is the most important tip! Wear what makes you feel good. While it’s important to put thought into what to wear for your portrait session, what matters most is creating an heirloom that your family will cherish for generations. You will never remember that you chose the grey shirt over the green. In the end, you’ll see past the clothing to your family laughing and holding each other close.