I had the pleasure of second shooting for the super talented Ali of Ali Rosa Photography this past fall for the wedding of two fashionable, foodie, and vinyl-record-loving brides in Rhode Island. I adore second shooting because I find it so exciting and energizing to look for second angles to photograph over the course of the wedding. Take this first image, for example, of the brides during their first dance. I crouched down low behind a table, framed the couple with two glasses of water, and used my fastest lens to open up the aperture wiiiiide to create the gorgeous and romantic orbs of light circling them as they danced…. I love the results!

Sometimes, a wedding is so deeply heartfelt that it’s difficult for me to choose which photos best convey the love surrounding a couple for those not there in person to witness it. Sarah and Jenny’s beautiful wedding ceremony on the Mills College Campus in Oakland, CA followed Quaker tradition; there was no fanfare or giving away of the brides, and no officiant. Instead, they walked together into the chapel, and their friends and family members sat in contemplative silence before rising one after another to testify to the strength of the couple’s relationship. The Mills College Chapel is in the round, and believe me, the love indeed circled them!

To make the day even more awesome, add in book-themed decor (both Sarah and Jenny are librarians!), a reception in the Reinhardt Alumnae House where past Mills College presidents looked on as Jenny’s talented cousin Mindy, a professional hair and makeup artist, helped them get ready, and the Spanish and modern architecture mash-up that is the Mills College campus. (Goodness, did I have fun during the portrait session with Sarah and Jenny!) And Portabella Mushroom Banh Mi- YUM!

I feel so honored and lucky that I was able to fly to Oakland to photograph Sarah and Jenny’s wedding!

P.S. You may remember from an earlier blog post (their engagement session here) that Sarah was a bridesmaid at my college friend Sara’s wedding that I photographed back in 2009, and three years later, I received the kind of e-mail that makes a photographer dance around the house with giddiness: “Ever since Sara and Devin’s wedding I’ve been waiting to send you an email like this! Jenny and I just looked over your website again and we loved what we saw.”

Friend referrals are THE BEST!

When you arrive at a wedding location to find the bride’s mother assembling local flowers from the market in vases, her baker cousin putting the finishing touches on mini cupcakes in the communal kitchen, her brother setting out the table cards, and his girlfriend hanging delicate Chinese paper art, you know you’ll be treated to a homespun, family centered affair that’s sure to be touching.

I’m not exaggerating when I say that my cheeks hurt at the end of the night from smiling so much as I photographed Moira & James’ wedding at Pioneer Valley Cohousing. Maytal Saltiel did a beautiful job officiating their heartfelt ceremony- they were both glowing, and their joy radiated out to the family and friends who gathered outside in the warm late afternoon light to see them exchange vows that they wrote themselves.

The food was delicious! Hillside Organic Catering out of Bernardston, MA provided mouth-watering dishes (Javanese salmon, chicken piccata, portabella and porcini cheese stuffed ravioli….mmm…). I’m going to recommend them to my future couples because I want seconds of everything they served. Moira’s cousin Loren from Simply Sharon’s made the delicious and adorable mini cupcakes that people gobbled up.

And the dancing! I cannot believe the spirit and stamina this group maintained all the way to the very last song, Closing Time by Semisonic. The photo of Moira’s brother suspended in the air behind her and James was not Photoshopped- he was airborne!

Moira & James, it was an honor!