Ariana and Jackson’s gorgeous Winchester, MA backyard wedding was perfect in every way. The day started when I caught them sneaking food in the kitchen. I love when couples spend time together ahead of the ceremony; it tends to calm the nerves. Ariana is one of 6 children and I’ve photographed all of them. From family portraits when I worked in a studio, to senior portraits, and now to weddings, it’s such an honor.
One of the wonderful perks of hosting a small wedding is how much time you actually get to spend together and with your guests. This intimate Winchester, MA backyard wedding was held at Ariana’s childhood home. Ariana and Jackson’s immediate families were the only guests and their close friend officiated the ceremony. And there was one sassy Nonna on site to keep things interesting (you can see the reaction to her toast in the photos).
A second perk is flexibility. After the ceremony, we photographed the happy couple with their families, but then we went on our own portrait adventure. Winchester, MA has some beautiful locations for photos in the nooks and crannies of town. We started out behind the public library, then moved to the park where I crossed the bridge from being a Brownie to a Girl Scout, and then we ended at my favorite wall. I love all of the portraits we captured that day!
I met Ariana when she was little. She attended elementary through high school with my little sister. It was great getting to know Jackson through this process, but I also got to know Ariana as an adult. It’s definitely weird photographing the weddings of people you knew as kindergarteners, but it’s also really wonderful. Listening to everyone toast Ariana and Jackson really gave a glimpse into their life together. They had friends Zoom from all over the country, plus their parents, Ariana’s 5 siblings, and a bonus toast from Nonna. It was a joy to celebrate their wedding day with them!
