Menesha + Josh - A Beautiful Private Backyard Wedding

A few months before I photographed Menesha and Josh, I came to visit Josh's childhood home, where their wedding was going to be held. They both live in San Francisco, but were in town to visit and I always love to meet my couples before the wedding. The house was buried deep in the neighborhood, down a gravel path through the woods at the dead end of a road. It was the middle of the summer, which I remember because I rode my motorcycle there and was embarrassingly sweaty when I took off my helmet. Stepping in to this home I was taken aback, it was honestly like nowhere I'd ever been. Each room was so thoughtfully designed, with every open space covered in books, plants, or a piece of history. Josh told me about how his parents had lived down the street from this house for 30 years, how it was their dream home, and as soon as it was finally for sale they bought it. It felt like it was always meant to be their home, as if they'd built it with their own hands.

Their wedding took place in the backyard, with a cocktail hour in the home, and a reception in the private dining room of Zahav. I tell new photographers all the time "not every wedding can be your favorite wedding you've ever photographed". But this one just might be that. The track below is by a band called MONO from Japan that I listened to while I was editing this. If I'm very lucky, maybe you'll feel what I was feeling.

Ceremony: The Newman House | Reception Venue: Zahav | Hair Stylist + Make Up Artist: Occasions by Diana | Catering: Zahav | Cake: Whipped Bakeshop | 

Lindsey + Chris - Weathering The Storm

In the song I've included below, a wonderful cover by Owen of the band Rainer Maria, the first lyrics are "Have faith in the blue lady". That couldn't be more fitting for Lindsey and Chris's wedding - if the blue lady is the ocean - or the tropical storm that morning =)

I drove to Bethany Beach that morning from Philadelphia in the pouring rain. I was shooting this one alone, in a place I'd never been, and by the time I got to the beach it was a straight-up monsoon. Parts of the road near Addy Sea were completely flooded, and I'm pretty sure I floated around one or two turns. But when I got to the venue - a spooky old (and very haunted) bed and breakfast right on the water - everyone was in the best of spirits. Bridesmaids were sitting on the floor drinking champagne, Drake was playing over the bluetooth speaker, and everyone was smiling like it was the sunniest day of the summer. And we all agreed "fuck it, we're gonna shoot in it anyway, whats a few sheets of rain between friends?" but just as we were ready to fare it, it stopped. Instead of a storm, we got to take a long walk down the streets of a sleepy off-season beach town and empty sand dunes with a perfect grey sky. 

Now press play on the track, scroll down slowly, and always have faith in the blue lady. 

Ceremony + Reception Venue: Addy Sea Bed & Breakfast |Event Planner: Maggie Verts | Wedding Gown:  BHLDN | Groom's Suit: Banana Republic | Hair Stylist + Make Up Artist: Nic Cirillo| Florist: Blossoms, Inc. | Rentals: Coastal Tented Events | Cake: Sweet Disposition | DJ: Tom Barrett Disc Jockeys