Sarah & Alex – Backyard Scituate Wedding – xo, CoCo

© Krista Photography

I seriously don’t even know where to start with these two! I KNEW this day was going to be great, but I had no idea just how fun, gorgeous and crazy emotional it would be. I think it’s safe to say every single guest, right down to us photographers, have never felt so welcome and so emotionally attached to a couple! These two have something about them that is just magical, and it was only after I met and spent the day with their insanely supportive and insanely FUN families did I fully understand it. Just you wait.

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Sharon + Marty — North Reading Backyard Wedding – xo, CoCo

Backyard Tent Wedding

I thought I loved these two after their engagement session, little did I know how amazing they actually were. You see while their wedding day was beautiful, intimate, and fabulously fun, it also rained BUCKETS, for HOURS. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it! And these two were cool as a cucumber, more-so they enjoyed every minute of it! Just wait till you see how the humidity melted their cake… haha! I don’t think any of us would have asked for anything different, see for yourself!

My second shooter Cristen Farrell and I started with Sharon as she got ready with her beautiful daughters. Cristen grabbed this while I shot details.

Backyard Tent Wedding

Backyard Tent Wedding

I loved Sharon’s Maggie Sottero dress! It was perfect for her!

Backyard Tent Wedding

Backyard Tent Wedding

Sharon’s mom was so cute watching her get ready.Backyard Tent Wedding

Stunning Sharon!

Backyard Tent Wedding

Backyard Tent Wedding

Backyard Tent Wedding

The ceremony was held at their local church just down the road, Cristen grabbed this from above.

Backyard Tent Wedding

Backyard Tent Wedding

Their bridal party was entirely made up of their beautiful children.

Backyard Tent Wedding

Backyard Tent Wedding

These two just couldn’t keep their hands off each other!

Backyard Tent Wedding

Backyard Tent Wedding

We drove to nearby Ipswich River Park for portraits, how cute are these girls?!

Backyard Tent Wedding

Love those ombre dresses, and gorgeous grey and purple flowers!

Backyard Tent Wedding

I mean…

Backyard Tent Wedding

Backyard Tent Wedding

We could tell the sky was about to open up, but we had just enough time for some romantic portraits!

Backyard Tent Wedding

Backyard Tent Wedding

Cristen grabbed this.

Backyard Tent Wedding

Backyard Tent Wedding

Backyard Tent Wedding

Backyard Tent Wedding

Cristen shot this of me hiding out in the grass, gotta do what you gotta do!

Backyard Tent Wedding

Backyard Tent Wedding

Back at the house it was time to party!

Backyard Tent Wedding

Backyard Tent Wedding

And then this happened…

Backyard Tent Wedding

Backyard Tent Wedding

Haha! Good times…Backyard Tent Wedding

They cut the cake, and then it promptly smashed to the ground!

Backyard Tent Wedding

Backyard Tent Wedding

But nothing could keep this party down!

Backyard Tent Wedding

Backyard Tent Wedding

Yup, still raining.

Backyard Tent Wedding

Backyard Tent Wedding

Cristen found some cover for this shot, despite the downpour it really was a beautiful night!

Backyard Tent Wedding

These two danced the night away, not phased a bit.

Backyard Tent Wedding

Woohoo! Sharon and Marty, thank you for being so cool under pressure, and most importantly for having FUN at your wedding! It was such a pleasure working with you and your fabulous vendors, check out more on our Facebook page!

Bride’s dress: Christina’s Bridal

Cake: Cakes for Occasions

Catering: David’s Catering

DJ: DJ Phillip Carbone

Band: Greg Piccolo & Heavy Juice

Flowers: Martin’s Flowers

Ceremony: Trinity Evangelical Church

Photography: CoCo Boardman for Krista Photography

Second Shooter: Cristen Farrell

Kate + Reid – Surprise San Diego Wedding Details

Surprise wedding in San Diego

So you all know by now how small and intimate this wedding of my sister’s was. As you can see they were married in the front yard of our beach rental house on Ocean Boulevard in San Diego. Kate and Reid got everyone together the morning of the wedding, made pancakes and set everyone to work. Everyone had a little task to do to help bring the day together, nothing too hard though :) Reid’s mom made her famous carrot cake, Reid’s dad and sister grilled, my mom made cocktails, my dad and Reid’s sister strung up Kate’s paper cranes for decoration, Reid’s sister-in-law found a florist who specialized in last minute arrangements, it was really pretty wonderful. Kate and I went out to get our nails and hair done, the boys went to get a fresh shave and when we came back to the house, all the little details were coming together and for a change we got to be surprised!

Surprise Wedding in San Diego Details

 Kate folded these secretly for months…

Surprise Wedding in San Diego Details

There they are, hard at work :)

Surprise Wedding in San Diego Details

Mom doing her cocktail magic.

Surprise Wedding in San Diego Details

Yummmmm…

Surprise Wedding in San Diego Details

There were other cocktails involved too… ;)

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Donna and her amazing cake.

Surprise San Diego Wedding

Kate and Reid made these screen printed bags for everyone! That’s Kate’s dog “Pasta.”

Surprise Wedding in San Diego Details

I helped design these announcements and used pinholepress to print them ahead of time, Kate and Reid addressed them weeks before, and we all stuffed them the morning of and they were sent out the next day!

Surprise Wedding in San Diego Details

Now onto the good stuff! Here’s Kate’s amazing green amethyst ring from BHLDN. I try it on every time I see her…

Green amethyst ring on succulent in San Diego

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Reid’s wedding band, he’s an engineer, what can I say…

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Kate has nothing to worry about wearing heels around Reid, he’s 6’7″!

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Kate says that her only requirement for her dress was that she could ride a bike in it, so when she found the gorgeous tea length dresses on French Knot Couture she sent in her measurements ASAP!

Surprise wedding in San Diego

I did her makeup, in between fits of crying. At some point I seriously wasn’t sure if I could get any makeup to stay on her face!

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Allana enjoyed playing in Kate’s petticoat :)

Surprise wedding in San Diego

LOVE this from Allana.

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Kate and I found these earrings online about a week before, aren’t they cool?!

Surprise San Diego Wedding

I made her a little accent flower, she also wore a J.Crew neon sweater.

Surprise Wedding in San Diego Details

Reid had to do a little YouTube research on how to tie his bowtie.

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Love love LOVE this!

Surprise wedding in San Diego

The flowers were so bright and colorful.

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Yup, just 13 people all together!

Surprise wedding in San Diego

This was the view from our house. Killer!

Surprise Wedding in San Diego Details

Reid’s mom brought Kate a garter from Reid’s Aunt to wear as her something borrowed.  She had a little inkling that they might be surprising everyone that week :)

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Surprise wedding in San Diego

So cute!

Surprise wedding in San Diego

My mom set up some post-ceremony Limoncello for everyone.

Surprise Wedding in San Diego Details

Surprise wedding in San Diego

AAAwwwwwwwwww……

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Bride’s Hair: Grand Creation Salon

Bride’s dress and petticoat: French Knot Couture and Petticoat Junction

Bride’s cardigan:  J.Crew

Bride’s earrings: White Owl

“Bridesmaid” attire: Anthropologie and J.Crew

Groom’s fresh shave: Vince’s Barber Shop

Groom’s attire: J.Crew

Bowtie: CCA Design

Flowers: Impulsive Flowers

Bride’s rings: Alex Monroe for BHLDN 

Announcements: Designed by the bride and I, printed at PinholePress

Groom’s ring: Andys House

 Canvas Tote Bags: Sams Banners

Photography: Krista Guenin for Krista Photography

Second Shooter, dream team member: Allana Taranto

Kate + Reid — Surprise San Diego Wedding

Kate & Reid

Surprise wedding in San Diego

OK here we go folks! This is a big one!

On August 21, 2010 my husband Dan and I were married in a little town in Central New York. It was a strangely cloudy Summer day, it threatened to rain, but miraculously stayed dry until 2 am when the party was winding down and the kegs just got tapped. Friends and family of ours came from all over to celebrate with us in Dan’s parents’ giant red barn. On the morning of that amazing day, while I couldn’t wait to see my dad and my grandmother and my soon-to-be-husband, duh :), for some reason, I was insanely, I mean SO excited about seeing my good friend Reid from college. And low and behold, as I popped out of the car a few minutes before the ceremony, there he was across the road, grinning from ear to ear.  I have the picture in my head so clearly. Reid was not only at my wedding because he was a dear friend, I know now that Reid was there so that he could meet my sister. Gorgeous, tall, wearing a deep purple satin dress, she looked amazing, how could he resist?? And so it went. They danced the night away, emailed, texted, stalled, eventually visited each other in their respective cities, Kate not so subtlety uninvited me on a trip she and I had planned to go visit him over Christmas, hahaha…

Flash forward a year, my sister is really dating my best friend, WEIRD. But despite myself, I came to realize how amazing they were for each other.  The more I thought about it the more I realized there could be no one else better for my sister, and no one else better for such a dear friend. So when Kate and Reid sat Dan and I down and told us they were planning a surprise New Year’s Eve wedding, we were absolutely thrilled. I had been helping Reid find the perfect ring for months, but I had no idea what tricks they had up their sleeves.

So those of us in the inner circle (Kate, Reid, me, Dan, Reid’s sister Erica, and our other good friend Cam) started planning, but mostly started trying to convince our families that “Wouldn’t a family vacation in San Diego be so fun??” We would all get to meet each other, go surfing, relax, and at least for my family, be able to send Kate off to her new life in California in style. Krista soon jumped on board, as well as Allana Taranto, as soon as I told them that Kate originally wanted ME to shoot it. They had pity on me thankfully… So I continued to avoid my parents, plotting in the background with Kate and Krista, writing my speech and writing the ceremony. And after two days of torturous silence in San Diego, the love birds finally told everyone “Surprise! We set a date! It’s tomorrow! Oh and we brought photographers, too!”  So there is where we will start, I’ll hand it over to Krista now…

——————————————–

Could you love the idea of a surprise wedding in San Diego any more?!  Probably only if you live in New England :)  I was SO excited to be enjoying slightly warmer weather and some fabulous sunsets over the ocean!

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Surprise!!  The wedding is tomorrow!!  And p.s. Krista & Allana are lurking on the front porch, they’re going to photograph the whole weekend!  Hooray!  :)

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Everyone was so excited for them!!  A lot of families might have been upset or sad that they weren’t prepared, that they didn’t get to invite anyone else – but this family was just so thrilled to be there!  They knew full well that Kate & Reid could have just eloped all by themselves, and it was actually really sweet that they included their entire family in the fun!

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Rehearsal Dinner at Sushi Kuchi… Time for some Sake Bombs!!!

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Surprise wedding in San Diego

That would be CoCo’s Dan on the left… he’s totally my favorite part of this photo!

Surprise wedding in San Diego

After a bunch of Sake Bombs, and a good night’s sleep, it was time for the wedding!!   They pretty much did everything themselves, so CoCo was in charge of doing Kate’s make-up.  No sooner did she start, she began crying like a baby!  It was the sweetest moment!!!

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Meanwhile, Reid was working hard to finish writing his vows!  He’s thinking SO HARD!  The next few shots of the guys are by Allana.

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Once the vows were written it was time for beers, and fish tacos, and learning how to tie a bow tie on youtube…

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Meanwhile, with the girls…  It was time to get dressed!  I love this shot Allana captured – pure joy!

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Once they were dressed, it was time for the First Look!!

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Reid would totally not open his eyes until he kissed her!  He kept saying “I’m not going to look!”

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Once they’d had their First Look, we invited the family out to start the show!

Surprise wedding in San Diego

CoCo’s brother, Austin, was in charge of video!  [He’s studying film at RIT, and even made a film that won him & CoCo a trip to Sundance!!!  Super jealous…]

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Walking down the aisle, by Allana

Surprise wedding in San Diego

CoCo & Reid’s best bud, Cam were in charge of the ceremony – yes, Cam is wearing his graduation robe so he’ll look more ministerial…

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Mr. Coco rocking the shades :)

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Aw, CoCo’s crying again!

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Gorgeous shot by Allana!  Kate, you’re so beautiful!!!

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Reading the vows off the Droid… why not?!

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Love this series by Allana

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Surprise wedding in San Diego

CoCo’s reaction is PRICELESS!

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Surprise wedding in San Diego

This is what it looks like when your Best Friend marries your Sister and becomes your Brother, for real!

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Their location was so great, we just had to walk across the street for portraits!

Surprise wedding in San Diego

CoCo & Dan, our celebrity couple for the day.  [Now, we just spent the last five minutes coming up with a celebrity couple name for them…  Mr. & Mrs. CoCo, CoDan, DanCo, DoDo, The Boardmans…  what’s your pick?!]

Surprise wedding in San Diego

That’s one happy bunch of people!!!

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Sunset silhouette by Allana, loving Reid’s laugh!

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Surprise wedding in San Diego

LOVE these two!  The palm trees were making me so happy!

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Surprise wedding in San Diego

I keep telling my second shooters not to photograph my butt, but they keep doing it anyway… ;)

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Gorgeous sunlight!

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Totally a favorite!!!

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Had to shoot by the cranes some more!

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Then it was time for the Reception… EVERYONE gave a toast!  It was SO sweet!!!  There were SO many tears!!!

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Aw, Dad!

Surprise wedding in San Diego

“This is the reason we became friends!”  Such a sweet toast by CoCo!  I was crying…

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Dancin’ in the kitchen… love these cuties!

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Time to cut the cake!  I am loving those bibs you guys!

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Surprise wedding in San Diego

First Dance… pretty sure it was Beauty and a Beat, haha!!

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Get down!!  ow!

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Then they told me to put my camera down and enjoy the evening, but I HAD to shoot the silly string spectacular when the clock struck 12:00!  [well, when the clock struck 12:00 on the East Coast – we were all to tired to stay up til midnight West Coast time, haha!]

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Allana got this one – that’s me shooting photos and spraying silly string at the same time!  You’ve got to multi-task! ;)

Surprise wedding in San Diego

Happy New Year!!

Surprise wedding in San Diego

How much did I LOVE this wedding?!?!  Kate & Reid – thank you so much for bringing Allana and I out to San Diego to be a part of your fabulous surprise!!!  It was so great getting to know you and your families finally, after hearing CoCo talk about you all for so long!  I couldn’t be more excited for you two!!  xoxo – Krista

To see more of this gorgeous Southern California Wedding – check out their album on Facebook!