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.
Martina + Kirolous || Bernardsville, NJ Engagements
We are thrilled to be sharing images from our engagement session with this fun-loving couple. Both Martina and Kirolous were a riot to be around. Their laughters are incredibly contagious, and their ability to put each other at ease is something we noticed right away.
Out of all the potential locations we considered for their engagement, we really had our eyes on this garden. For generations this was a privately owned garden estate, complete with a stone water tower + 23 room private mansion. According to their website, the property’s history dates back to the turn of the 20th century. The estate was eventually acquired in the 1970s by the National Park Service, and opened to the public very recently. The garden has a lot of unique features, from wisteria-laced pergolas to a couple dozen flower varieties. Our favorite part of the garden was… the shaded areas, as it was pretty sunny during our time there… just kidding! It was actually the wriggly branch shrubs surrounding a pathway beside the mansion. We can’t remember what type of shrubs they were exactly, but they look pretty similar to the manzanita shrubs found all throughout Yosemite National Park.
Thank you Martina + Kirolous for your adventurous spirit, and for making us laugh throughout your session. We can’t wait to celebrate your marriage later this fall!
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
