Jess and Avi took center stage for their first dance. The whole wedding day leads up to the reception, when you can finally let go and relax and trust that the “scary” part is over. The music starts. I recognize the tune, but not the words. Is this guy singing in English? The answer to that question was a resounding “no.” For their first dance song, Jess and Avi chose “Life on Mars” as sung by Seu Jorge. In Portuguese. From The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou. Because that’s how they roll. And then they rolled right into the Hora. They spun, they twirled, they waved their hands in the air. Any nervousness from before the wedding had totally disappeared.
Jess & Avi’s family and friends played a huge part in creating their wedding day. Their fingerprints were all over everything, from the flowers to the veil to the chuppah to the favors. After the wedding, my second shooter Mark and I sat in my car and transferred images. My car happened to die and while we waited for a rescue, we watched people breaking down and loading up all the materials, the chuppah in particular. This is a family that rallied around this amazing couple and helped orchestrate their perfect wedding day, staying and helping to the very end. This is a couple that inspires that in other people. This is a couple who lists “Photo with photographer (you!)” on their list of required photos. This is a couple who breaks the glass together at the end of the wedding ceremony. Who giggles when everyone else is silent.
Here’s an excerpt from the email Jess sent me after she received her engagement photos: “I love these! I almost cried, I never thought we (mostly I) could look so good in a photo. They’re so nice and so us! You are right we can be kind of cute sometimes!!” Talk about the type of email I love finding in my inbox! And as you’ll soon see, I proved them wrong once again – they look adorable, beautiful, handsome, in love, silly, authentic, and real in their wedding photos. They look like two people so excited to start their lives together as husband and wife that they can barely contain it. It was such an honor to be part of their wedding day. Here’s a little list of all of the people who helped make it so one-of-a-kind and wonderful…
Flowers: Laurie Burdwood, family friend
Favors: Bride’s parents, brother, and Aunt Stevie
Chuppah: Bride’s parents, brother, Aunt Gail, and Uncle Steve
Officiant: Herb Daroff, family friend
Ceremony Musician: Tom Brown, family friend
Caterer (and cake!): Catering by Andrew
Caketoppers: Brooke, bridesmaid extraordinaire
Dress: J. Crew
Veil: handmade by the Groom’s mother
Hair & Make-up: Michelle/ Dellaria, Coolidge Corner
DJ/Photobooth: Party Excitement
Coordinator: Marcia, Stonehurst
A very big THANK YOU to Jess & Avi for making Mark and I feel like part of the family! We had so much fun capturing your wedding day. You guys rock!
