As for this Fresh 48, I photographed the welcoming of Reese. Reese is the 3rd addition of my dear friend, Jess, and her husband, Justin, who have a set of 4 year-old twins (Cole’s buddies ). Jess had me come hours after she got out of recovery from her planned c-section so I could be there when the twins met Reese for the first time. I was also fortunate to be there when a few grandparents visited, too.

Photographing these incredibly sweet moments of becoming a family or adding one to the family is as special and fleeting as it looks. And, trust me when I say fleeting because if you haven’t been through it yet it is a blink! It’s one minute you’re all preggo and then, BAM! Hi, fragile new person! And, then there are the honorable mentions of: hormones, sleeplessness, nurses constantly doing checkups, and visitors. It’s a whirlwind and before you know it, you’re home having to adjust to a new norm. So, all of that to say is this is certainly worthy of being documented, so it can be remembered and treasured forever.

It was such a pleasure documenting their day, which was filled with lots of heart and lots of fun! 

I spent a couple of hours with them as they caught up in person, snuggling, playing with and watching the kids. And, with the exception of taking some quick portraits at the end, I spent the whole time documenting without any posing, just letting the visit naturally unfold. 4 generations under one roof – it doesn’t get much better than that!

“Joy comes to us in the ordinary moments. We risk missing out when we’re too busy chasing down the extraordinary.” –Brene Brown

Their engagement session took place at a park near their home and these two couldn’t be more delightful. I loved getting to know them better while we walked around photographing. It has made me all the more excited for the beautiful wedding they’re planning with William Parkinson Events at The Branford House this next year.

Emma + Ben got married on one of the hottest days in September at Barberry Hill Farm in Madison. Their wedding was epic and if you know me I never use that word since it’s so overplayed, but it truly was epic! It was quirky, having a “magic yourself” station at the ceremony and small, plastic toy dinosaurs hidden along the walking path, (I mean, not every bride and groom have a mutual love of dinosaurs and incorporate said love into their wedding). It was rustic, with chickens running around the working organic farm, and, it was beyond thoughtful, with every detail, blessing and toast having intentional meaning behind it that either made you well with tears from the sentiment or brought you to laughter from the joy. 

In what my words lack I hope my images make up for, but I am also pleased to share Emma + Ben’s words below, which I believe will also help bring their images to life:

When Emma and Ben decided they wanted to get married, they agreed on a few things first: they wanted Emma to walk down the aisle to the theme of “Jurassic Park”, they wanted to have pie for dessert instead of cake, and they wanted to make sure their guests had a good time. Those agreements led the couple through their planning process which was at times fun, at times confusing, and at times exhausting, but it all paid off in the end. Emma tied 400 streamers to line the outside of our tent, Ben tried 400 songs before he found just the right one to walk down the aisle to, and then everything was ready to go! (This makes it sound like we both did the same amount of work planning the wedding, when actually Ben did very little and Emma did very much, but since, I, Ben, wrote this post so I get to decide how things sound. Haha!)  

Things could not have gone smoother the day of.  The weather was cool and clear, the farm looked great, and the chickens crowed at just the right moments. Emma’s friend read a letter written by her late sister on the day of Emma’s birth, Ben’s brother wrote and performed a song for the couple, and Emma’s father sang a song that Emma had requested he sing at her wedding when she was 12 years old.  There was not a dry eye in the house, except for Ben’s because he doesn’t ever cry, but he felt very emotional on the inside.

On a beautiful September day at the Milford Yacht Club, Amanda + Chris, read the vows they wrote for each other. Hearing the words Chris spoke for the first time where he sited specific details, times and even calculated distances Amanda smiled from ear-to-ear. It wasn’t just the beautiful pledge he made to her and their blended family, but it was that unbeknownst to each other they practically wrote the same thing.

Personally, I believe that there is more than just one person out there for everyone and I believe that love is work and love is choice. With that said, I also believe in soul mates and some people are lucky to find theirs. It couldn’t have been more clear to me that Amanda + Chris not only choose love, but they have something extra special—they are each other’s soul mates.

Amanda + Chris, you have a beautiful family; I loved getting to know you all better. Thank you for having me document your day.

The Valima is a reception thrown by the groom’s family and the conclusion of Hania + Zahan’s 3-day Pakistani wedding.

The Valima took place in Rhode Island where Zahan’s family is from. The evening began with his family standing by to welcome Hania’s family by showering them with rose petals as they entered together. Shortly after, Hania + Zahan arrived making their first appearance as husband and wife. They, too, were showered with rose petals by Zahan’s family as they made their way to another platform sitting area. Then, toasts were given, dinner served and copious group photos were taken with the newly married couple as congratulations were extended.

It was an amazing 3-day event, which gave me a new appreciation for tradition, wedding planning and coordinating. I mean, not to take away from traditional American weddings, but Hania and Zahan’s felt like a detailed marathon in comparison. First of all, it was 3 days, that right there is crazy. It took place in 3 different locations, had 3 different garments, a guest list that grew each day, vendors to coordinate, and I could go on, but you get the picture. And then, as if that wasn’t it enough, making it all the more meaningful was that this was a wedding that had some odds stacked against it, but love prevailed! For that reason alone I consider myself lucky to have been able to document it all for them.

Thank you, Hania + Zahan, for having me. I am forever grateful.

Day 2 of Hania + Zahan’s Pakistani wedding: The Shaadi, also known as, the wedding.

In Pakistani weddings the groom, Zahan, stays with his family about a week before the wedding (remember the day before, the Mehndi, was just for the bride). For the Shaadi, there are no rehearsals or hotel reservations close to the venue the night before. Instead, the groom travels from his home, and in Zahan’s case, that was Rhode Island, with his family in a grand procession to the ceremony. Usually music is played as they make their entrance together with the bride’s family waiting to welcome them by showering them with rose petals. Zahan then moves to a stage eagerly anticipating Hania’s entrance where she is escorted by her dearest uncle and father to be presented to him. Standing and then eventually sitting, Hania and Zahan are greeted and congratulated by their guests before proceeding with customary traditions.

Toasts were given by family and friends, they cut the cake and there was a playful custom where Hania’s sister and cousins stole Zahan’s shoes for a ransom, which is negotiated back and forth with the groom’s family. In between these traditions family and friends took various arrangements of group photos with Hania and Zahan on the stage and they were also able to sneak away for some portraits with me.

Finally, the day ends in a collective send off. Their family escorts them out while the Quran is held over Hania’s head, a representation of God being with them, as they leave as husband and wife. Hania prepared me that this is usually an emotional affair, and it was, as Hania’s family lovingly gives her away to Zahan as they now embark on life as a married couple. 

I was incredibly honored to be a part their day, their culture and document their beautiful wedding, the Shaadi.

Since this was my first Pakistani wedding I needed to be schooled on each day’s order of events. So, I met with Hania and Zahan and Hania’s sister a week prior to the wedding where they shared with me about their customs, its names, and we went over the timelines so I would know what to expect. I even acquired a tiny history lesson, (did you know that Pakistan separated from India just 69 short years ago? If you’re like me and didn’t know, now you know).

In preparation for  the 3-day wedding, Hania began with her henna application, selectively choosing Sarah from Breath of Henna out of Toronto. It was a 6-7 hour process of applying the beautifully intricate design on Hania’s feet, forearms and hands. Afterwards, Hania was able to invite a handful of friends to join her in getting a design on their finger and down their hand. Hania graciously included me in that experience and I loved it, like fleetingly contemplated getting a tattoo of it, loved it. 

Next, and the first day of the 3-day wedding, was the Mehndi, also known as the Henna ceremony. The Mehndi is the pre-ceremony celebration. It’s a lively and colorful party, where the groom doesn’t participate. The bride’s entrance is elaborate, which follows girls carrying tea light candles leading Hania to a platform area where she was greeted by guests, served sweets by married couples and takes group photos. Then, there are several choreographed dances performed, followed by group dancing. And finally, the fun filled night ends with her family singing songs with a drum on a seating area.

The opening ceremonies started off with a bang and it was everything I expected and more. Enjoy my favorites from the Henna to the Mehndi, with day 2 and 3 to follow!