Congratulations Emily and Steve | South Hamilton Wedding

May 13, 2011

Most photographers get booked 6months to 1+ year in advance depending on the situations. Ideally, once an engaged bride and groom and confirm their wedding date based on the availability of their wedding venue, they start booking a photographer. Dan and I, on the other hand contacted our wedding photographer before we were even engaged, and picked my wedding date based on their availability, but that’s just us~

Emily and Steve approached me a little later than the typical wedding photography inquiry. With less than 4 months to go, I was unclear about what was happening. Then Emily and Steve laid it on real thick and began to very sincerely “court” me. 🙂

It turns out over the years, I have photographed a number of their friends’ weddings. While their wedding planning wasn’t about being extravagant, they had decided that wedding photography was very important to them. They said to me that wedding photography was about being themselves, and not to look styled to fit in a photographer’s portfolio, and felt that I had captured their friends in their best light.

When we met in person to discuss details and go over questions together, I quickly learned that this was no ordinary wedding. Due to Steve and Emily’s line of work with youths, it was going to be a VERY large wedding. And due to the nature of their work, it was being organized and planned like a conference amongst a team of friend “coordinators” rather than a bride or groom calling the shots. After their engagement session, I got a better feel for how sweet and thoughtful Emily and Steve are as a couple.

When the wedding day came at the crisp edge of what felt like a cold spring day, I was in for a treat to experience a beautiful, and warm wedding overflowing with love.

The down to earth, sweet casual youth leader transformed into an elegant bride.

And the youth pastor turned groom was dashing in his custom suit…

The “First Look”

The “Tea Ceremony”

Mother and Daughter in some styling nude heels.

The bride entered from the balcony to the shock of the wedding guests.

Right after the first kiss~

Emily & Steve’s friend, a pastry chef, made the beautiful and delicious cake.

Guests filled out congratulation notes and tied to a tandem bike which are part of Steve and Emily’s love story.

Emily planned a surprise groom’s cake in acknowledgement of Steve’s sacrifice for missing the Red Sox’s Home Opener against the Yankee’s at Fenway Park.