Thank you Michelle and Ed for including us on your wedding day!  It was truly lovely, you and your families were wonderful to meet and work with — and of course, the smoking car added some excitement and now makes for a great story!   Thank you for being up for anything photography-wise too – I LOVED our late night shoot on the settee.

The day started at Michelle’s parents’ home.  We shot the details while Michelle was having her hair done:

Michelle and the girls all got their make-up done at the house:

I loved both of these shots…Michelle’s mom helping her get ready…

…and I thought her sister Becca looked really beautiful here:

Meanwhile, the guys were having a toast at Grants with second shooter Caroline:

Some window portraits of Michelle:

 

Michelle’s mom and dad helping her into the antique car:

Michelle’s dad saving her from the now smoking antique car on the side of the road!  Luckily the girls’ limo was not far behind and Michelle and her dad hitched a ride to the church!

The ceremony was at St. James Episcopal in West Hartford.  This is why I love to use a second shooter (and to have them shoot from the choir loft if there is one!)–thanks Caroline!:

The church portrait:

Bride, Groom and Best Man laughing on their way to the reception:

The cocktail party started at The Bond  and meanwhile we went on our urban/nature/Capitol walk-a-bout photography session with Ed and Michelle and the bridal party:

 

What are the chances…

and back to The Bond to start the party with the first dance. 

Ed’s dance with his mom:

The tables were decorated with wedding cake cookies:

It was a pleasure to work with Marcin and his wife again from Digital Ink Wedding Videography – nicest guys to work with and also are into a contemporary and creative look.  The DJ was Boppers DJs and they were great – professional, fun, in the moment:

If I haven’t raved about The Bond enough for it’s lighting, please take note of how the natural light changes throughout the reception – it’s really beautiful – and the views of the capitol building and the skyline at night are fantastic!

The girls at dinner at sunset:

Both the cookies and the cake were done by Creative Cakes by Donna .  The cake with it’s amazing fondant:

Downtown Hartford skyline:

 

I really liked the off-camera flash lighting on this picture done by second-shooter Caroline – it feels like a dark fashion shoot to me…

One word for my experimentation:  Lens Baby!

I’ll just say that only a few know what was going on in the ladies room that night (including MOB) but it’s my job as the photographer to document and expose it! 

Back to the dance floor, I loved this moment between Michelle and Ed:

My favorite shot of the day from our late night 10-minute portrait session:

Goodnight between father and daughter:

Off for a little nightcap in Hartford:

There is a reason Michelle is being kissed by Mayor Mike but only the bridal party knows!

Thanks guys for a really great wedding and for being so enjoyable to work with!