Since so many of Lori & Damian’s friends & family were coming down to Bermuda for the wedding, I offered some Mini-Portrait Sessions to everyone! Because who doesn’t want some great family photos to remember such an awesome vacation?! Check out my favorites from our Mini Sessions at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo!
One of the benefits of traveling to a destination wedding via cruise ship is that I was “forced” to be on vacation for a few days! To make it SO much more awesome, one of my best friends since childhood came along! Marietta had visited Bermuda after her graduation from THE Ohio State University, um, a lot of years ago – so it was extra sweet to visit together again!
Bermuda, the first time… we definitely missed our friend Kara this time around!
And also, we look like babies. Skinny, drunk, babies…
Leaving Boston!
Fun times on the ship!
The view from our ship when we arrived in port… not a bad site to see when you wake up in the morning!
This is how WE enjoyed the Welcome Dinner…
Our day at CoCo Reef after the wedding…
My beautiful friend!
Making the most out of having an underwater camera on this trip – time for snorkeling!!
The next day we got to go on a Blue Water Divers’ snorkeling adventure through with the bride and a bunch of the guests!
SO FUN!
Exploring wreckage of ships beneath the sea
And then it was time for a relaxing voyage home! Bye bye Bermuda!
My favorite color! I could stare at the ocean for hours!
On our last night, Lori & Damian invited us to dinner with the rest of the party – so of course, I took a group photo!
I’ve known this lady for over 30 years!!!! It was such a treat getting to enjoy all of this with such a dear friend!
Lori & Damian’s wedding began with preparations in the morning, on the cruise ship!
Getting ready is a bit more complicated in a cruise ship cabin, with children & grandchildren around… ;)
A few portraits on the dock before heading to CoCo Reef!
One of my favorites from the day! I love how Damian loves his grandson!
CoCo Reef was a gorgeous place for a wedding!
I love this sweet moment between Lori & her daughter, Emma!
Time to get married!
Best backdrop for a wedding, EVER!
The happy new family!
Just a few moments alone…
The Reception
LOVED these wedding favors! (I use my beach bag all. the. time!)
After the delicious lunch, it was off to the beach to enjoy the day! Talk about a great wedding reception!!!
What an awesome day!
On the cruise back to Boston, we shot some more casual portraits all over the ship – it was so fun!
The Awesome Vendors that made this wedding possible:
Photography: Krista Guenin, Krista Photography
Wedding Venue: Coco Reef Bermuda
Invitations: RSVP Hingham
Wedding Dress: Country Weddings
Bridesmaid Dresses: Simply Bridal
Men’s Attire: Custom made
Favors: Towels
Boston to Bermuda Cruise: Norwegian Dawn
When Lori called me to discuss photographing her destination wedding, I was all ears! Then she told me that in order to do it all, I’d have to accompany them on their 7-day cruise from Boston to Bermuda, I was like YES PLEASE!! Sign me up! It was such a great opportunity to get to know Lori & Damian, and a lot of the friends & family since half of the wedding guests came on the cruise too. What a fun way to get married!
On our first day in port in Bermuda, Lori & Damian had a Welcome Dinner at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo. SO COOL! Everyone got entrance to the Zoo as part of the dinner, and had the chance to walk around and check out the wildlife and the views before the party started. The seals were my favorites!
A few portraits with the fishies before dinner… love these!
Dinner & drinks surrounded by tanks of fish on every side – it’s awe-inspiring!
Dark & Stormy anyone?
Much more to come… stay tuned!
I am excited to announce that we will be screening our documentary film UNTOUCHABLE: Children of God in Indianapolis on Thursday, July 16th! I was the still photographer on the film produced by Code Red Films, and I am from Indianapolis – so it’s doubly exciting for me to have my family and so many old friends able to view our work. If you’re in the Indianapolis area, please come check out our film – and invite a few friends along, share this link and help us spread the word!
Indianapolis screening of UNTOUCHABLE: Children of God
Thursday, July 16, 2015
7:30pm – 9:00pm
AMC Castleton Square 14
Following the film, there will be a live Q&A with Krista Guenin, still photographer for the project
Buy your tickets HERE!
Bonnie & Steve’s wedding was cheerfully decorated with bright blue & orange touches, and it totally added to the fun atmosphere of the entire day! Here are some of my favorite details & vendors who made it all come together…
Bonnie’s veil was so unique!
raindrops on the outdoor bar after the storm came through
Oh, I love me some succulents!
Special Thanks to all of the awesome vendors who helped make this wedding so great!
Photography: Krista Guenin, Krista Photography
Second Shooter: Peter Morse
Venue: LaBelle Winery
Rings: Barmakian
Catering: Fireside Catering
Flowers: Lyndsey Loring Design
Wedding Gown: Robert Bullock, purchased at Madeleine’s Daughter
Veil: Etsy designer, Melinda Rose
Shoes and earrings: Kate Spade
Bridesmaid Dresses: Alfred Sung, purchased at Madeleine’s Daughter
Hair: Cecilia Kingstad
Make-Up: Lauren Rogers
Men’s Attire: Men’s Wearhouse
Cake: Abigail Albee (friend of the bride)
DJ: Jimmy Certusi from Nu Image
Photobooth: Seacoast Events
Bonnie & Steve’s wedding at the LaBelle Winery in New Hampshire, was SO fun! It was sunny all morning and began threatening rain before the ceremony – but wouldn’t you know it, the rain held off until we finished family portraits outside! And then it POURED! That certainly didn’t stop the party going on inside… these guys enjoyed their reception to the fullest!! Check out some of my favorites from their day…
First Look in a open field in the noonday sun? no problem!
Steve cracks me up! He’s officially my first groom with a Go Pro and a selfie stick! How cute are they together?!
Gotta love a fun bridal party!
Time for the ceremony, and everyone got emotional! I love that even with a First Look that moment coming down the aisle still made Bonnie cry! There’s just nothing quite like it.
Peace out, little man!
So happy!
Reception Time! How much do you LOVE these ladies?!?!
More happy tears!
Tearing up the dance floor!
SUCH a great wedding!! Thank you Bonnie & Steve for having us there to document and enjoy the awesomeness! xoxo
And big thanks to my second shooter for the day, Peter Morse!
I had so much fun walking around Somerville with Bonnie & Steve during their engagement session! It was great to just get to know them both a little better, and enjoy their neighborhood. Engagement sessions are such a fun peek into my clients’ everyday lives – and I think that’s just as fun as being with them on the BIG days!
Home sweet home!
Five years ago, this fun, kind and talented lady came into my life – and changed it forever. CoCo moved to Boston and reached out to me about assisting, right when I needed help the most. She started interning and assisting at weddings, and before too long I had to hire her so she could help me out more days a week. I joked with her that I was basically hiring her to talk to me because it was so lonely working by myself all day. But for real, she became someone I could really talk to. Someone who I could bounce business ideas and problems around with, and someone I could share the life stuff with too. Plus, she was an awesome Photo Editor and jack-of-all-trades around here! Then, she got so good at assisting & shooting that I couldn’t bear to be without her at weddings… but I had to acknowledge that she was too awesome to keep just assisting me and second shooting all over town. She was ready to do it on her own. And I was SO glad she wanted to stick around and keep working as a team, and she became our Associate Photographer! And in so many ways, that turned out so great, and really saved both of us during a season when photographers were quitting left & right because bookings were so low. It’s been awesome to see how she’s grown as a photographer over the last couple years and how happy she’s made her couples (and how much they love her!). And now, she’s ready to spread her wings again, to try something new and grow some more.
Today is officially CoCo’s last day working in the office, and it’s crazy bittersweet!
It’s sweet because she’s off on new adventure working for a North Shore design company and she’s gonna learn so much and get to do so many new things!
It’s bitter because I won’t get to see her everyday!!!! I’ve spent more time with this woman over the last 5 years than almost anyone else in the world! There’s just gonna be a big gap in the office, and in my life, and it’s gonna be sad for a while.
But it’s also SWEET because she’s not leaving all together!!! She’s still shooting weddings as our Associate Photographer! She’ll still have to drop by every once in a while to drop off images, and do portfolio reviews, and help us find stuff, and to eat pad thai. She’s totally still gonna second shoot with me, and we’re still gonna have lots of Saturdays to spend together this year (and the year after that, and the year after that, and… you get it).
This is a GOOD change, and I’m so incredibly excited for her and just can’t wait to see what comes next for her!
I’m gonna miss her silliness…
…and the fun ways she makes me laugh…
…the ways she squeals while she edits…
…and her super-modelly ways.
I am NOT going to have to miss the way she keeps me smiling on wedding days!
And we’re certainly not going to have to miss her being an awesome photographer :)
And thank the Lord, I’m not going to have to miss the way she is like the glue that sticks this little team together! (or headlocks the team together…)
But even still, all of us in the office are basically just trying to get through the day without ugly crying! (and tooootalllly failing).
CoCo – we are all going to miss you SO MUCH! I am going to miss you SO MUCH! Life & work just won’t be the same without having you here with us each day! But change is good. And I know this is going to be a really incredible new chapter in your life!
I’m proud of you, I’m thankful for you, and I love you, my beautiful friend!
You come back and visit us ALL. THE. TIME. got it?!
I slept in on Saturday after shooting a wedding with CoCo the night before. I had a leisurely morning and then hopped on facebook, like I do pretty much every morning. And then I was shocked to see the news of a 7.8 magnitude earthquake outside Kathmandu pop up in my newsfeed. It was like Haiti all over again…
My first reaction was panic –
are my friends OK?! Are the girls OK?!
The faces of people I’ve grown to love began flashing through my mind, and all I could do was pray for them.
Oh God, please let them be OK, please let them be ALIVE!
Lord, please be their strength, protect them from fear, from the horror of all that’s happening around them.
Please help them to reach out and let us know what’s happening!
And then the updates started rolling in…
“Strong earthquake here in Kathmandu we are fine outside the building but it’s still shaking. The strongest I’ve ever faced!”
“About to die due to earthquake”
“experience a big earthquake in life thanks God keeping us safe and praying for all”
“[Pastor] and family are safe and hostels in KTM are safe. Children are well and safe. However some of the families and villages of the children may have been lost. Please keep up the prayers!”
OH, the RELIEF!! To know so many of my friends are safe and have survived! There are many people I’ve met along the way who I may never hear word about until I return to Nepal one day. I will keep praying for them all. But for now, I will REJOICE that my friends are safe and able to help others in need!
Even as I rejoiced, more updates kept coming and the situation became a lot more real to me…
1,000 dead.
“Thank you for all your prayers words and love. It’s 2:25am now and the ground still shakes from time to time. Please pray for those that lost their loved ones and homes as its cold outside and many don’t have much.”
“It’s been continuing from yesterday and it give another shake in 5:03 am… Can’t sleep whole night…”
2,000 dead.
“Cracked in our Asha Nepal and walls collapsed…!! No drinking water,no electricity, no sufficient food. Very depressing…”
“Drinking water tent and some food supply are the biggest problem now”
3,000 dead.
“We can’t get anything to eat from stores today and just now our friends who is policeman they brought us some food and tent…”
“Now our country is facing another problem.. It was really not enough with the earthquake but the heavy rain fall give us big problems… Can’t sleep even we’ve got tent now… And our tents have filled with water too…”
5,000 dead, and it could rise to as many as 10,000 as more bodies are found, and as hunger, thirst, and disease continue to spread. And the trafficking of vulnerable children increases drastically during natural disasters because so many more people become displaced.
My heart weeps for Nepal.
It’s too much, too terrible. And I feel so helpless.
There is no denying that Nepal needs the help of any and everyone willing to give it – and there ARE ways we can help!
Please PRAY for the people of Nepal as they struggle for the most basic needs, deal with staggering losses, and begin the long journey of rebuilding their lives.
Please consider GIVING to organizations that are working on the ground to help, especially those that employ locals!
To give directly to my friends who participated in our documentary film:
Asha Nepal via Shared Hope International
Lighthouse Nepal via Out of Ashes
These organizations are also doing great work on the ground in Nepal:
MountainChild.org
CARE
World Vision (or text NEPAL to 44888)
Thank you for caring about this beautiful country, and these people who I love!