Ryan + Kirk — Essex Conference Center and Retreat Wedding Details – xo, CoCo

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Let’s just take a look at how beautiful this spot is. The Essex Conference Center and Retreat is a fabulous North Shore hidden gem, filled with fabulous scenery, outdoor sculptures, lily ponds, oh my! Not to mention all of the hard work Kirk and Ryan and their friends put into their amazingly colorful diy details, feast your eyes!

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

I can’t even handle this beautiful arbor covered in paper flowers.

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

They transformed the tent into a colorful oasis, filled with gummy bears, wild flowers and neon.

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

I brought along my Canonet QL17 35mm rangefinder and shot some snapshots on Fuji 400H color film.

Colorful Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

And you know Vince, my second shooter, and I had to test out the light a bit… Aren’t we pretty?

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Ok back to the good stuff! When we arrived, the boys were working on individual messages to each and every guest, including me and Vince., how sweet?! Also shot on Fuji 400H color 35mm film.

Colorful Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Details and portraits from Vince.

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Our mascots for the day.

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Shot on Fuji 400H color 35mm film during the most wonderful heartfelt ceremony ever.

Colorful Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

And a wide shot, such a beautiful scene!

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

A couple more details shot on Fuji 400H color 35mm film.

Colorful Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

This ketubah was handmade meticulously by one of their best friends, it was beautiful.

Colorful Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Not to mention their beautiful art deco rings designed by a family member!

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and RetreatColorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

One more on Fuji 400H film, don’t you love the “Summer Camp” feel?

Colorful Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Such a fabulous night!

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

And Vince and I got our own dance party with our favorite grooms! Hahaha!

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

And the boys rocked it in short shorts all night long.

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

We mostly have Ryan, Kirk, and their dedicated friends and family for all the fabulous details, but they did get some help from these fine folks:

Venue:  Essex Conference and Retreat Center

Pretzels:  Swiss Bakers

Ryan’s Bow Tie:  CCADesign

Kirk’s Bow Tie: Southern Gent Bow Ties

Dog Bow Ties and Leashes:  The Kozie Canine

Photography: CoCo Boardman for Krista Photography

Second shooter: Vince Schaefer

Check out more on Facebook if you dare!

Ryan + Kirk — Essex Conference Center and Retreat Wedding – xo, CoCo

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

 

Here we go folks, behold, the most adorable couple you have ever seen. Ryan, right, and Kirk, left, are two of the happiest most enjoyable people to be around I have ever known. True to form their wedding was insanely colorful, emotional, beautiful in more ways than I can count, and altogether amazing. I don’t know if I’ve ever cried so much in my life, except at my own sister’s wedding! But more on that later, let’s start out with the boys as they got ready, surrounded by their bridal party, consisting of their family members and best friends in the world.

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

As always, there was a bit of bow tie drama, but these guys know what they are doing.

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

The dogs weren’t impressed… where are the treats y’all?

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

I mean, those colors. Have you SEEN a better looking couple?!

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

We took a little tour of the grounds at the Essex Conference Center and Retreat, it was SUCH a gorgeous day, and this place is an amazing hidden gem, I LOVED shooting there.

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

The fabulous Vince Schaefer was my second shooter for the day, he grabbed this shot, so pretty!

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Vince also set the boys up over here by the firepit, killing me.

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Just can’t get over that light!

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Then it was time for the best group photos ever!

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Hurry up, finish your vows Ryan!

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Everyone needed a little liquid courage before the ceremony.

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Wait for it…

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

And away we go! To ABBA no less…

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Commence the best wedding ceremony ever, first Kirk sang Ryan a song.

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Then there were dramatic readings of their first emails to each other.

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Then a sweet surprise poem.

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Then the most beautiful vows ever.

Colorful Essex Conference Center and Retreat Wedding

And LOTS more crying.

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Ryan’s brother jumping, Vince shooting, I can’t even…

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Peekaboo!

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

The boys mingled for a while…

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

…then we snuck away for a few more portraits at golden hour. Can’t you just FEEL the happy?

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Goofs.

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

I could barely hold it together during their toasts.

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Then it was short shorts time. These guys know how to party.

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

 Little brother, All-star DJ.

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

Colorful Same Sex Wedding at Essex Conference Center and Retreat

 

Ryan and Kirk, you KILLED IT, guys. I’ve never felt so lucky to witness a wedding. Thank you for finding me, for choosing me, for being so honest, so happy, SO in love and wonderful and for having the best party EVER. I love ya! Stay tuned for their crazy colorful diy details and see even more on Facebook!

Beth & Steven’s Wedding in Newport, RI

Last season I had the chance to second shoot with a bunch of great photographers, but haven’t had a chance to share any of the images with you. Until now :)

This event was shot with my dear friend Erica Pelaccia. We drove down to Newport, RI for the beautiful wedding of Beth & Steve at The Officer’s Club at the Naval Station Newport. Here are a few of my favorite images from the day…


Beth & Steve got married outside by the water, with the sun getting ready to set behind them. It was a beautiful scene, and definitely a fun challenge to shoot!


After the ceremony and the family portraits, we got to spend a little time with just Beth & Steve and the golden sunset. It was gorgeous!!!


Erica working her magic :)


Their reception ended up being one of the funnest parties EVER! It started with a choreographed first dance…


Then the father-daughter dance


Then the best part was that the band was an 80s cover band!!!!! They even dressed up!!! Oh my gosh, they were SO AWESOME!


At first I was a little worried that the crowd wouldn’t be into an 80s band, but I was WRONG! This crowd ate it up!! Everyone from kids to 80 year-old grandparents were gettin’ down on the dance floor all night long. It was a AWESOME!!!


Erica, gettin’ down with her bad self! I love you, Erica ;)


The party was so fun that we closed the place down! On the way to the car, I saw this and just had to get a shot… Gorgeous!


Thank you Erica for inviting me to come shoot with you! It was lovely as always :) Thank you Beth & Steve for having me at your wedding – it was great to meet you guys and enjoy a night boogying with your friends & family! And thank you Fast Times for the best wedding music ever! You guys ROCK – I’ve got to make plans to come out for a show in Boston soooon!