When I photographed J+D’s surprise proposal earlier this summer in Rockport, MA I sooo hoped that they would contact me to photograph their wedding. They were so adorable together (see them here the day they were engaged), and they couldn’t stop smiling! I knew their energy would be fantastic on their wedding day as well, and I was correct in my hunch.

J+D were married on a warm September day at Cambridge City Hall, a beautiful building that is a wonderful backdrop for an intimate wedding. I love the rich red color of the carpet and seats in the chamber where ceremonies often take place, and the stairways and large windows are awesome for portraits as couples wait their turn with the clerk.

I’ll start with a few of my favorite portraits (how romantic are they in the chamber seats?!) and then go back to the beginning when they arrived that morning. A few things to look for in the photos below:

1. If you’re getting married at Cambridge City Hall, BRING CASH!!!! There was a hilarious moment where J had to come back out to borrow the cash needed from his parents because they couldn’t take his credit card.
2. D has incredible style. I loved her polka dot dress and flower crown, and the bowtie she helped J get from Korea!
3. The hug finale is one of my favorite parts of photographing a wedding ceremony. J+D: there are probably a dozen more hug photos in your full gallery that will be delivered shortly!

Below: the most important $60 that J will ever borrow from his parents.

D’s father couldn’t join them in person, but he was able to see the ceremony in realtime from Korea thanks to video chat technology!

If you’re thinking of getting married at Cambridge City Hall, you can find more information about how to schedule an appointment here. And definitely reach out to me because photographing intimate weddings like these is such a pleasure for a wedding photographer. Congrats to J+D!!!

There are fabulous reasons to get married in all seasons. I love the newness of spring, the blooms of summer, and the colors of fall. But winter…winter inspires cozy indoor gatherings with drinks that warm you up, rich jewel tones, and dancing that doesn’t stop. H+O’s December Willowdale Estate wedding was simply stunning, and their style (that dress and that green jacket!!!) was so on point that I’ve even had inquires from people on Instagram asking where H found that exact shade of green for her bridesmaids’ dresses! (For the record, the dresses are by Birdy Grey in the shade of emerald.)

You’ll find other vendor details below, but now it’s time to share some of my favorites from this December wedding at my favorite historic venue on the North Shore!

Vendor details supplied by H+O:

Venue: Willowdale Estate in Topsfield, MA

Lead Photography by Danielle of Salty Raven Studio with Joseph Gonzalez-Dufresne second shooting

Flowers: Leiby’s Garden and Flower Shop

Make-up: To Make Beautiful

Hair: Tuan

Cake: Lyndell’s Bakery

Live Band: Entertainment Specialists

I’m absolutely going to bookmark this blog post so that when it’s the middle of winter and the sun is nowhere to be seen, I can be taken back to the warmth and joy found in abundance at A & N’s beautiful Willowdale Estate wedding!

I mean it when I say that every wedding I photograph is memorable, but when I meet a couple who smiles with their eyes and laughs together simply by exchanging a glance, it’s just such a rush to be a wedding photographer. Add to that my favorite venue on the North Shore, Willowdale Estate in Topsfield, MA (the stonework and wood carvings are a dream), and you have a wedding that I’d love to photograph again and again! Be sure to scroll down to the sunset photos and the twilight hour ones- I can’t get enough of  those twilight-blue skies and café lights.

Wishing you both a lifetime of love and happiness, A & N. It was such an honor photographing your sunny and heartfelt wedding celebration!

Immediately after the wedding, I get ready for the “Hugging Challenge!” to see how many hugs I can catch of the couple getting those first, emotion-filled, hugs from close family and friends. It’s so exhilarating because they’re happening like fireworks all around me!

Fab Vendor Team:

Venue: Willowdale Estate, https://www.willowdaleestate.com

Photography: Salty Raven Studio & Event Photography, https://www.saltyraven.com

Make-up and Hair: Pro Radiance Artistry, http://www.proradianceartistry.com

Cake: The Danish Pastry House, https://www.danishpastryhouse.com

Flowers: The bride!!! (the centerpieces were incredible!)

Dress and Tux: Maggie Sottero Noelle wedding dress, Hayley Paige bridesmaid dresses, and Black Tux for the groomsmen suits

DJ: E.C.F. Entertainment, http://www.ecfentertainment.com

Transportation: Michael’s Limousine Company, https://www.michaelslimousine.com

Abbey & Natalie’s wedding at Olbrich Botanical Gardens was simply magical- just look at how they glowed! And the gardens! They were like nothing I had ever seen- with every direction you turned, different botanical textures, colors, and patterns would lead your eye to the next gorgeous backdrop. I was absolutely giddy with the options, and because they chose to do a first look (a fabulous choice), we were able to explore the gardens a bit before the ceremony. The day started out *very* wet, but by late afternoon, the skies cleared, and everything was shiny and fresh for the ceremony to be held outside.

Along with the stunning garden setting, I also loved how involved their families and friends were in the wedding.

-That gorgeous ivory dress that Natalie wore with the lace on the top? It was Natalie’s mom’s wedding dress, and Abbey’s mom, a talented seamstress, modified it. Check out the before and after picture to see the remarkable transformation!

-The officiant was Abbey’s father (and he did a fantastic job!).

-The talented make-up artist was a close friend from college, the chauffeur was a brother, the day-of-coordinator was a sister, the DJ was a former roommate and friend….

…and they all knew exactly where to be and when using remarkably thorough Excel spreadsheets that the couple put together. My favorite spreadsheet title was “The Stuff and Who’s In Charge.” I wish I had been half as organized when I planned my own wedding!

Congratulations you two, and thank you so much for choosing Salty Raven to photograph your wedding; I loved getting to know you and your guests, and I hope to return to Madison someday very soon.    Venue: Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison, WI

Caterer: Blue Plate Catering

Cupcakes: Daisy Cafe and Cupcakery

Abbey’s Dress: BHLDN Wedding Dresses, Badgley Mischka

 

Audrey & Eric’s marriage was celebrated this fall in a gorgeous setting rich in family history near the Berkshire Mountains, just over the border into New York. With rolling fields, charming farm buildings from the 1800’s, and beautiful meadows of flowers and cattails, this wedding was a dream to photograph. And Audrey’s dress- amazing!!!

Perhaps because they were “officially” married in Cambridge City Hall earlier this year, they were able to enjoy a more relaxed gathering where the focus was on good food and drink, great company, and the beautiful surroundings. Their guests were greeted upon arrival with drinks and appetizers, an hour or so later everyone moved to the shade under a gorgeous tree for a brief ceremony honoring Audrey & Eric’s marriage, and then it was off to their lunch reception at Mario’s Restaurant in New Lebanon. A few guests returned to the farm afterward to play a generations-old family golf game with a tennis ball, dance, and soak up the late afternoon light.

It was a pleasure photographing this lovely celebration for Audrey & Eric!

If you want to choose an adorable coastal town to propose to your special someone, Rockport, MA is one of my favorite places on the North Shore. It’s quaint walkways, iconic “Motif Number 1” red fishing shack, and ocean views are a huge draw. Plus, how cool would it be to have a place like this to come back to on future anniversaries?

I had the pleasure of photographing the surprise proposal of J+D recently on Bearskin Neck, and I’m in love with photographing proposals like these where it’s just two people enjoying a beautiful view or special place together. The couple’s elation and emotions are simply amazing to witness as a photographer who loves capturing genuine moments.

Plus, the lead-up for me as I try to act like I’m totally interested in photographing the birds/boats/harbor can be quite comical. More on my running inner monologue as we go, but first, the big moment:

Backing up to earlier that morning, J texted me saying that they were on their way. The only trouble was that the parking lot (which is usually packed with people) was nearly empty! When a man commented about how hard it was to track swallows (a really fast bird that zooms in the air eating bugs), I figured out he was also a professional photographer and asked him to hang around for a few minutes and be my accomplice. When J+D arrived in the parking lot, I was “taking head shots” of him while they finished their tea before heading out on the walk.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the two of them set off on the walk to the end of the rock jetty.

And this is where it got tricky for me because…WHERE WERE THE OTHER TOURISTS?!?! I’ve never seen Bearskin Neck so quiet on a beautiful Saturday morning. Luckily, I have a 70-200 mm lens that I call my “paparazzi” lens, so I was able to stay far back and feign a lot of interest in the boats and view while grabbing a quick photo of the two of them when I dared to….

If you want to get your proposal photographer’s heart racing, getting down on one knee to take a cell phone photo will do it…..

And then… it happened!

Above, D is clued into the fact that I am there, and her reaction was awesome. I always take care to set expectations with the person doing the proposing ahead of time by saying, “If the person you’re proposing to would like to savor this time alone together, I will bid farewell immediately!” As it turns out, D was very excited I was there. In fact, she saw me in the parking lot earlier photographing the man, and she almost approached me to ask if I would take photos of her and J!!! She was absolutely elated that J had hired me and kept asking, “So she took photos of the proposal too?!?! I’m so excited!!!”

After we made it back to the parking area on Bearskin Neck, we walked around Rockport for a mini-engagement session downtown and at the iconic Motif Number 1. It turns out D’s favorite color is red, so the red walls of this fishing shack were a perfect backdrop. A few minutes later I said my goodbyes; they had a lot of people to call and share their happy news with!

Congratulations, J+D! It was wonderful meeting you and photographing this joyful moment in your lives together!

Many couples become a little wary when I bring up planning their Salem or Adventure Session (a.k.a. an “engagement session”). They envision awkward poses and forced emotions, but that isn’t at all my approach because….yuck! I explain that the point of an adventure together session is for us to have fun, get comfortable around each other, and for me to get to know them as a couple so I know how they connect and interact together naturally. When words don’t convince them, I offer examples, and this recent November session in Brooklyn is a perfect example of how dynamic Salty Raven adventure sessions can be- I know I had a blast!

Jenny and Ethan were married in Brooklyn, and their wedding day was as “them” as I had hoped it would be- we covered a good bit of ground in the DUMBO area of Brooklyn- see more here!

I absolutely love City Hall weddings. I’ve photographed one in NYC and lots at Boston City Hall, but this was my first wedding at Cambridge City Hall, and it was just lovely.

A merry band of close friends and family gathered in Cambridge that sunny day to celebrate S + A. Luckily, they were all able to witness the wedding because the weather cooperated, and their awesome city clerk was willing to perform the wedding outside on the lawn of City Hall!!! Were there a few interruptions by car horns and buses rumbling by? Of course. Did a stranger or two stop to watch for a moment? Sure, but as S + A said their vows, wiping away tears, the city noise and the passersby melted away.

But my favorite part of the day? I think maybe it was starting out in their apartment- the cozy home they would be saying goodbye to in a few short weeks when they moved abroad. When I asked them what they loved doing together in their apartment, they laughed and said that A enjoyed laying his head on S’s lap. “Then let’s do that!” I replied.

Or maybe my favorite part was stopping for a smoothie right after they were married. When they mentioned they loved Life Alive located directly across the street from City Hall (it’s a favorite of mine too), I insisted on treating them to a “Just Married Smoothie!”

Other things I will remember from this wedding:

• Visiting “their” bench in front of the Cambridge City Library on the way to their wedding.
• The welcome they got from their friends as they walked up to City Hall.
• They pointed out that Cambridge has the LONGEST walk signals of any city, and I believe them! We could have walked across the street and back a half dozen times before the blinking hand started.
• Those reactions during the speeches- there’s a good story behind them. Now, I was taking photos so I didn’t catch every detail, but there was a bananas tale about how S’s mother mistakenly sent a friend request to A on Facebook right after their first date!!! She panicked, thought she had fixed it, but….A *TOTALLY* noticed that the mother of the woman he had just shared a date with had friend requested him. He kept it a secret for a few years I think before fessing up and admitting that he took it as a very good sign!
  
  
  

Are you interested in getting married at Cambridge City Hall? You need an appointment, and there are indoor options too inside City Hall to have the wedding. Click here to be taken to their website that walks you through the process of getting an appointment, and then call Salty Raven to reserve your date!

I had the pleasure of photographing this beautiful wedding at the Gardens at Elm Bank with Zev Fisher Photography this past spring. Garden weddings are always stunning- even in the rain! In fact, I actually think rainy garden weddings are quite special, and not because everyone says “Ooh, rain on your wedding day is lucky!” My opinion is that: walking together under an umbrella forces you to get cozy (and sometimes also a little silly), rainy and reflective walkways are quite romantic, and the party goes later into the night because guests don’t want to leave their happy and dry cocoon!

“What are you waiting for?” a tourist asked, approaching me and my giant camera lens.
“Oh, nothing- I just love photographing birds!” I laughed…

Well, that wasn’t quite true, and I don’t think I’ve felt before-session jitters like this for years. I had to keep reminding myself that the person who hired me to photograph the moment when he proposed to his girlfriend was likely far more nervous.

The setting was scenic Rockport, MA just before sunset, and I stationed myself in the parking area at Bearskin Neck and waited for what felt like forever. I do love birds (hence the name Salty Raven), but when I could sense (and hear!) the couple only feet away from me, it was SO hard not to look!!!

Here are a few of my favorites from just after he spilled the beans on my presence. They were absolutely glowing!

And here is THE moment!

But before that, there were lots and lots of photos of boats and birds and dogs as I tried my hardest not to look out of place…

And here’s the gull I was SUPER focused on while they were just feet away from me!!!

Finally they started out on the walk, and I loved the suggestive message of this sign. Choosing a partner to share life’s adventures with really can feel risky at times, but when you “just know,” you go for it.

They stopped walking, and I looked for something to photograph lest she turn around and notice me and my camera. More gulls and more boats!

I’ll stop narrating now because at this point it became all about them and the moment. 🙂

It was such a pleasure, you two, and many congratulations for this next stop in your adventures together!

Goodnight, Rockport. Until next time…