Emily and Tom's Coastal Maine Engagement | Southern Maine Photography

On November 1st, Emily and Tom had a beautiful coastal engagement session in York, Maine. It was the perfect day with perfect light and the weather felt like a warm September day. We began at York Harbor's Wiggly Bridge, strolled along the coastline and out to the docks and finally, we finished up the session at Long Sands Beach.

I asked Emily to describe their relationship in more detail:

How did you two meet?

Tom and I met on Match! Tom had moved to New Jersey for work and decided to try match as a way to meet new people. After a few emails we exchanged phone numbers and talked for a few weeks before we met up in Morristown, NJ where we were living. We hung out twice and then stopped talking for a bit (to be honest I thought Tom was too short hah) after about another month we started talking again and things clicked perfectly. Within 6 months we were living together and then about a year into our relationship we moved to York, where Tom grew up.

Tom's mom had told him before he moved that she knew he would find a girl to marry when he moved to NJ... and she was right :)

What did you do on your first date?

Our first date was at Elysian Cafe in Hoboken, NJ. Tom was living in Hoboken at the time and I had agreed to go there after work to meet up for dinner. As I was parking, Tom was walking home from the train and we bumped into each other. What started as maybe just a friendly dinner turned into a long night of talking and laughing and realizing we had something special starting to grow. 

When and where did your engagement take place? Please describe the proposal.

Our engagement took place at our home in York, Saturday Sept 19th. The night before Tom had asked me if I wanted to wake up early to take a motorcycle ride and watch the sunrise. Thinking this might be coming, I woke up early, got ready and away we went on the bike to Long Sands Beach where we did watch the sunrise.... and then we went home! I was thinking that the proposal wasn't going to happen but Tom insisted we go out to breakfast. On the way out the door, Tom asked me to sit on the steps where we talked about our house and how our love has made it feel like a home and Tom popped the question, to which of course I said Yes!

What are some activities or hobbies that you love doing together?

Tom and I enjoy spending time together at home and with our dog Ralph. In the summer we enjoy taking Ralph to the beach, riding the motorcycle together, and trying new dinners at home. Friday nights we enjoy a dinner and a drink out. Emily enjoys going out for a run while Tom plays ice hockey throughout the year. This summer we played together on a co-ed softball team. We also like to ride our bikes together and even got a basket for our dog Ralph to come along. Recently we have been enjoying some home projects.

Also Tom and I travel a lot together, we have taken vacations to Key West, Nashville, Jamaica and also travel to  Florida and New Jersey often to visit my family. So we have gotten very good at making the most of long car rides and often never even turn on the radio, instead we take the time to talk, read to each other, and just enjoy some time alone. 

Is there anything else special or meaningful about your relationship that you'd like to share?

Tom and I are both the 3rd out of 4 children and share a bond having come from large and close knit families. We both would agree that we put our families first and look forward to our marriage as the foundation to build a family of our own. 

Sara and Jeremiah's Fall Engagement | Maine Photographer

Sara and Jeremiah envisioned a beautiful fall engagement session in their hometown of Portsmouth, NH. Shortly after booking me to photograph their September 30th, 2016 wedding, the couple started planning their engagement session and the idea arose to incorporate their date in the images by writing on pumpkins. It is such a cute idea to use for "save the date" cards to mail out to family and friends.

On October 23rd, I arrived in Portsmouth, NH to photograph Sara and Jeremiah for their engagement session. We met up at Prescott Park as the sun was setting. There were many beautiful locations in the area that made for some wonderful photos. We walked downtown and created images with more of an urban atmosphere, then we went to the property surrounding Strawbery Banke Museum. I absolutely love this location. The property is a historic village, celebrating heritages, cultures, communities and history that took place from the late 17th to the mid-20th century. The historic site not only capsules the houses from that time period, it also holds beautiful gardens, many of which have beautiful arbors and other architecture.

As the evening came to an end, Sara and Jeremiah went out to the docks that overlook the Piscataqua River. I photographed them during the last minutes of daylight. It was a spectacular view and a beautiful evening that will be remembered through these photographs.

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An interesting tidbit: Strawbery Bank was the location that I first used an SLR camera (yes, that's film!) back in 1998 on a job shadow in eighth grade for the Portsmouth Press Herald. This location has special meaning to me, as I also grew up visiting this area from Maine with my family.

I'm a Maine wedding photographer traveling throughout New England capturing love stories through timeless illustrative photography.

Are you recently engaged? Ask about a complimentary Engagement session, which is included in my Elegance and Luxury wedding photography collections.

Diana and Curt's Backyard Fall Maine Wedding

Diana and Curt were married on October 11th, 2015 on the beautiful residence of the Groom's parents' in Alna, Maine. The autumn leaves were in full peak, which made for a scenic backdrop for their ceremony and reception. When I arrived at the property the day of the wedding, I saw just how much thought was put into their special day. A reception tent was up in the large field of the property and the tables were decorated with potted plants, candles, and homemade jams for wedding favors. A fall color theme perfectly fit their scenic location.

Inside, Diana, her mother, maid of honor and flower girl were getting ready for the wedding. As I began photographing the details, I was amazed by the beautiful items that the bride had made herself. She had made a shall and a belt, as well as crocheted her wedding bouquet. Diana choose a stunning maroon dress, which I loved because this dress represented her independent, unique personality.

The guests gathered around the house and mingled as the ceremony was about to begin. The couple exchanged vows on the rooftop, overlooking all of their family and friends. Their vows were heartfelt, unique and humorous! I loved how they made the ceremony lighthearted and fun because that truly represented who they are. Once pronounced husband and wife, the family and wedding party made their way to a beautiful open area by an apple tree for their wedding formal portraits.

Everyone cheered as Diana and Curt greeted their guests at the reception tent and everyone enjoyed a home cooked buffet. Out on the field, the children had a lot of fun playing with a giant ball. Many guests also enjoyed playing volleyball. As the sun was setting, I took Diana and Curt over to a beautiful location by some trees to get a few more bride and groom portraits. The sun setting through the trees created a gorgeous sun flare!

When it came time to cut the cake, the couple was presented with a sword. It was hilarious to watch them cut the cake with it. Everyone was laughing as they each licked frosting off of the sword! As the night went on, the groom and many other wedding guests played a game of laser tag while people inside the tent were dancing and having a great time. The bride and groom shared a few dances together and were joined by lots of family and friends. All in all, it was a beautiful wedding, with unique touches that beautifully represented the couple's unique and fun loving personalities.

Nicole and Kyle's Southern Maine Wedding

With all the weddings I've been honored to photograph this year, I've been a bit behind on blogging. I wanted to take the time to write about Nicole and Kyle's intimate backyard wedding that took place on September 5th, 2015. It was clear to me from the beginning that their wedding wouldn't be full of fancy arrangements or decor. Instead, it would be simplistic and emphasize what I imagine to be what was most important to Nicole and Kyle: their family and friends.

For a little back-story on the wedding photography, the week I was hired to photograph their wedding, I sprained my wrist. A few days before the wedding, I could barely lift my camera. I quickly started asking around my network of Maine wedding photographers to see if anyone was available to help me out. I am so relieved and grateful that Angela from Life Portraits by Angela was available and willing to help me out last minute. While I did end up being able to photograph their day, I'm so glad Angela was there for me and captured some really beautiful photos.

Nicole and Kyle said their vows as all the family and friends watched on. They enjoyed dancing, cutting the wedding cake and the groom's cake and playing the shoe game. I loved how all of the kids at the wedding were playing out in the field during the reception. They had lots of games and everyone seemed to have a really fun experience. All in all, it was truly a wonderful fall wedding that celebrated family and love in the small town of South Berwick, Maine.

Vendors:

Second Photographer - Life Portraits By Angela

DJ - Derb of DJ Jodi Entertainment

Caterer - Chalet Caterers

Florist - Abby Chic

Hair - Jessica Todd Salon

Cake - Andrea Leslie

Officiant - Rheinhold Holton

Venue - Private residence in South Berwick, Maine

Jessica and Kyle's Maine Wedding at the Franco American Heritage Center

After meeting Jessica and Kyle and having the opportunity to photograph their engagement session, it became apparent just how much in love these two really are. The couple had been anticipating this day throughout their years together. September 12th, 2015 was eleven years in the making!

I arrived at Cassiel's Salon and Spa to photograph the bride, bridesmaids, and Jessica and Kyle's mothers getting ready for the special occasion. The ladies had lots of fun getting their nails, hair and makeup done. When we arrived at the Franco American Heritage Center, the ladies put on their dresses and prepared for the wedding ceremony.

The Franco Center is a performing arts organization which celebrates heritages from France, Quebec, and other French countries throughout the world. It is truly an amazing and beautiful wedding venue! Jessica and Kyle's wedding ceremony was unlike any other I have photographed to date. Large stained glass windows, theater-style seating, and exquisite decor made their wedding ceremony all the more wonderful. Jessica's parents built an arbor which sat atop the stage of which they would have their wedding ceremony. I couldn't believe to learn that they had built it in a day! Jessica and Kyle incorporated a ring warming into their ceremony — which is a special way to involve everyone in attendance. The wedding rings are passed around so that each person can give the couple with a blessing or prayer for the marriage. They exchanged heartfelt vows to one another and were then pronounced husband and wife.   

One of my favorite aspects of Jessica and Kyle's wedding was how their wedding details combined their individual styles, which appear to be quite different, and yet they fit together perfectly! Jessica came up with the term "Woodsy Sparkle" to describe the theme she envisioned for their wedding. To represent the couple's unique styles, the reception decor included sequin table runners, twinkle lights, and mercury glass for Jessica and deer antlers, pine cones and moss for Kyle. Many of the details were DIY projects which the couple and their family put together.

During the reception, speeches were given by Jessica's mother, as well as the Maid of Honor and Best Man. Jessica and Kyle shared a wonderful first dance to "My Best Friend" by Tim McGraw — a song that has special meaning to them, as it was playing when they got engaged at Kyle's sister's wedding. When the dance floor opened, everyone enjoyed a wonderful evening of dancing. Even "grammy" and "gramps" made their way to the dance floor and were the last ones on the floor during the anniversary dance — celebrating 67 years of marriage! As the night came to an end, a group of groomsmen and other gentlemen lifted Jessica up and tossed her in the air several times! I've never seen anything like it but I overheard it is a wedding tradition in their family. All in all, it was a beautiful day filled with happiness, laughter, and love.

I asked Jessica a few questions about her wedding:

What was your “perfect wedding” vision?

"Although we wanted everything to look perfect at the ceremony and reception, our main goal was to have a thoughtful, heartfelt ceremony and afun filled reception. I think we hit both nails on the head, it was perfect!"

What was the inspiration behind your wedding details?

"Kyle and I are very much opposites when it comes to things we think are "pretty". Although both of us have a strong appreciation for the beauty of the outdoors, Kyle is an extreme outdoorsman who loves hunting, fishing, etc. I am a kitchen designer who is very into colors, textures, trends etc. and I REALLY like anything with some sparkle to it.

I really tried to make our wedding decor an equal balance of both of us. Many of our guests commented on how well everything came together and how our decor really represented both of us. We had sequin table runners, twinkle lights, and mercury glass for me and we had deer antlers, pine cones and moss for Kyle."

What is your most memorable moment from your wedding?

"I would say it was the moment our officiant, Erika, pronounced us Mr and Mrs Enman. We have waited for that moment for over 11 years!"