Kristin + Nick || McLoone’s Boathouse Wedding Reception
Kristin & Nick couldn’t have asked for a more PERFECT day to celebrate their wedding.
The month of October is undoubtedly our favorite month to photography celebrations. The fall weather is ideal for taking photos; the colors are stunning, the humidity in the air has long since departed, and the sun’s lowly angles gives way to magical lighting.
For Kristin & Nick, this day was years in the making. During their wedding reception welcome speech, Kristin confessed that she has had a crush on Nick’s warm smile (and kind heart) since their teens. Years of remaining friends, staying in touch, living in various parts of the country, and finally reconnecting a handful of years back has led us all to this day.
Surrounded by 80 plus friends and family, Nick & Kristin hosted an absolutely spectacular party to celebrate the start of a new chapter in their love story. Before their loved ones arrived at McLoone’s Boathouse, the newlyweds made sure to set apart some time for portraits. Late afternoon meant the best lighting that we could hope for, and we’re so thankful that we had this time to celebrate with just the two of them.
Make sure to check out their lovely reception details– the flowy, organic floral table centerpieces were the perfect compliment to the warmer wooden tones of the reception architecture. Our favorite moment of this intimate wedding event (besides their bride + groom portraits!) were the toasts. In particular, the quintet speech given by Kristin’s childhood friends was equal parts humor and fond memories, with a side order of gentle roasting. If you don’t believe us, well… you should have been there.
Danny + Sherry || NYC Central Park Engagements
This amazing couple met up with us on an early Sunday morning in Central Park. Although you cannot see it in the photos, it was a crowded mess in the park — 5k runs, loads of tourists, casual joggers, and food carts everywhere… another typical summer morning in NYC.
Easy-going, adventurous, and fun are a few of the words that come to mind when we think of this couple. Having first met at a football tailgating party, their love story has been built on their faith, shared love of adventure and the ability to get each other laughing (atleast that’s what we think). We appreciate Danny + Sherry’s desire for adventure, so we decided to approach this engagement session with our own sense of visual creativity. Can’t wait to celebrate marriage with you both later this year!
Lea + Dean || Hermann Park Wedding Portraits
For Dean + Lea, exchanging their vows was a really meaningful part in their wedding day celebration in downtown Houston. Having already done their civil ceremony a few days earlier, this vow exchange was purposed for just them two— no spectators, no distractions. The day before, we spent a few hours scouting the park for inspirational, logistical + creative purposes. During their vow exchange, we found a vine-covered trellis deep within Hermann Park, far from the crowds. Positioning our cameras some 75ft away allowed for our newlyweds to have complete privacy, as well as the freedom to enjoy these moments together, the expertise you hire for your wedding day will determine the quality of your photos, so be sure to engage with the best Wedding Photographer Newcastle has available.
With Lea + Dean, exploring Hermann Park was so much more fun. Not only did we get to hear a little bit more about their story (having first met while stationed in Nebraska a few years back), we also got to see the many different facets that encompassed this historic park: memorial statues, arid plants, a manmade waterfall, generously shaded pathways and sky-high hilltops. Following their portraits were more portraits (this time with family), then finally ending the evening with a cozy dinner reception at Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille.
We absolutely love intimate wedding celebrations like the one you are about to view. There is something truly special watching a couple exchange promises with nobody else around. Stepping away from the more traditional wedding day layout, we admire couples who craft a day that is void of lengthy checklists, instead embracing a more intimate setting that naturally gives way to some really amazing moments. Just as importantly, we are confident that you can feel the fun-loving, goofiness that embodies this couple as you peruse the images below… not to mention all the romance, honesty and love interwoven throughout those same images.
Portrait locations: Hermann Park
Reception Venue: Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille, Friendswood, TX
John + Meredith || Duportail House Wedding
Days before their wedding weekend, we had some slight concerns regarding the weather. The forecast was pretty dreary; thunderstorms and heavy rain were suppose to soak the Valley Forge area for the entirety of the wedding day. When we find ourselves in this kind of situation, the best we can do is develop a rain plan, and pray, pray, pray.
Come the wedding day, we were greeted with the hot and humid weather that was typical of May in our part of the country. We started with our couple at the nearby Embassy Suites, followed by their first look at the historic Duportail House. Built in 1740, the house + surrounding property are an amazing representation of colonial American history. Meredith + John had expressed to us how much they loved the architecture around Duportail House property, so we made sure to plan our portrait session around various parts of the estate.
By early afternoon, the sun was still out and the storm clouds were nowhere in sight… prayers answered! Our bride and groom ended up having an amazing outdoor ceremony, presided by their dear friend + pastor. At some point during the wedding ceremony, while singing along to the hymn “How Great Thou Art,” the storm clouds could be heard in the near distance. We kid you not; seconds after the crowd sang the verse, “…I see the stars… I hear the rolling thunder…Thy power throughout the universe displayed,” the sound of roaring thunder cracked through the sky. As soon as the ceremony concluded, the booming sound of canon went off from the nearby Valley Forge National Park— all in perfect timing. This series of unplanned event were definitely the most memorable for us that day.
The reception started just around the time the rain began (and the rain came down on us hard). We loved the intimate space that they planned for when planning their reception— an outdoor tented reception, a cozy first dance on the patio, followed by an evening of crazy dance movies + bellyaching laughter on the main dance floor. At one point on the dance floor, we spotted John lifted up his baby nephew into the air in very Lion King-like fashion. Meredith later reflected on this very moment, saying in an email to us that she was both laughing and terrified.
We reached out to Meredith + John the week after their wedding, while the wedding memories were still fresh on their minds. We asked them to send us a few of their favorite moments, and funny enough, their list pretty much aligned with the same set of teaser photos we posted the week after the wedding.
A very special thanks to Meredith + John for hosting an amazing marriage celebration, and we hope you all enjoy the photos that follow!