I was actually on my way back from Boston where I had flown in for Morgan & Jordan’s engagement session in mid-May when I first got the call about Jenn & Josh’s wedding. These two were putting the event together in just 6 weeks and could I jump on a plane back to photograph it? Well of course! I have known of Jenn Hudson for a number years through WPPI…where this incredibly talented photographer cleans up on awards night year after year. But it was actually at Mystic 6 that I actually met Jenn and (her) Josh for the first time when Jenn was scheduled to speak directly after me…we met during our AV check and these two immediately made an impression on me as a couple who were deeply and gloriously in love with one another.
So although it’s insanely nerve-racking to photograph the weddings of other photographers, it is also an incredible honor and a privilege. So I popped over to Boston once again to spend a beautiful weekend with Jenn & Josh and their lovely, lovely families and closest friends.
I’ll get more specifics from Jenn & Josh soon but this was pretty much an Etsy Wedding from head to toe, start to finish. Jenn’s vintage shoes, her headpiece, the bridesmaid dresses donned by Josh’s beautiful sisters, the boutonniere, even Olive’s “dress” were all purchased via Etsy shops. Jenn’s gown was one of the most incredible pieces of apparel art that I’ve ever seen. Hand-made on her the week before out of dozens of different pieces of vintage lace, it was absolutely perfect…and perfect on her. The ceremony and reception decor was designed by and executed by the incredibly talented Ashleigh, the window designer from the local Anthropologie store. And a huge thank you to Kristin Teig for shooting with me…visit Kristin’s blog to see all of the delicious details from this wedding.
This is Olive, one of the cutest dogs in the world. We got to be good friends after a slightly rocky start.
Jenn & Josh’s ceremony was officiated by Jenn’s dad and was held in the backyard of their brownstone under a canopy of purple, yellow and white ribbons.
The reception was right across the street at The Beehive.
Jenn & Josh, it was such a pleasure getting to you know you both, I look forward to a beautiful friendship with you and good luck with your move! xo
Can you believe that Michelle was my first redhead bride? At least as far back as I can remember. (My sincerest apologies if I photographed your wedding a gazillion years ago and you were then or are now a redhead.) But I must be in some sort of special club now because I have found that they are now coming out of the woodwork…redheads that is, or auburn if you prefer. 
Many many years ago, in a different century (this is true), I once got it in my own head that I would look great with red hair. The problems with that idea were thus: 1. Having freckles is not enough to offset having dark, Brooke Shields-esque (read: thick/ bushy) eyebrows, 2. I had previously decided to be a blonde, 3. I was in college therefore poor and decided to dye my own hair, and 4. I was just really really wrong in general. So to make a long story short, the beautiful fiery hair color I picked out at the store turned my dyed-blonde locks rather pink. Now I knew that I was not nearly cool enough to pull off pink hair. This was long before the days of fuchsia hair sported by the likes of Gwen Stefani, Pink, Tarina Tarantino, or my girl Kat, Rock ‘N Roll Bride. Mine was quite obviously a mistake. So off I go to find a more suitable, darker tone and I try again. This time my hair turns a not-so-lovely shade of cranberry. I remember lots & lots of tears and to quote my younger self “I just want a real human hair color.” It’s true, you don’t know what you’ve gone until it’s gone. So eventually after all of that, I went to the best salon I could find & paid big bucks to have all of the color stripped out of my hair. I remember parts of it breaking off in chunks. So finally after lifting what was left of my hair to a remotely decent shade of orange, I gave up and decided that hair color was just one of those things to leave to the professionals. Lesson learned.
A total tangent I realize but since I can not actually be a redhead myself, I figure the next best thing would be to photograph some. So when I met Michelle, with her big bright eyes and totally sparkly personality and Ben, her handsome, very cool, and might I say comparably rather serene counterpart, I knew they would be a blast to work with and their excitement was absolutely contagious. I adored these two right from the start and my admiration for them as individuals and as a couple only grew from there. Their wedding venue, the Sportsmen’s Lodge, a surprisingly cool and rather retro hotel (literally a mile from my home) was charmingly decorated with a color palette of purples, grays & silvers & lots of DIY details. Hello, you had me at Studio City…and red hair. Michelle & Ben, I do believe that a cocktail is sometime in our near future.
Wedding Coordinator: Monica McPartland
Florist: Starla Bork, Enchanted Fine Florals
Gown: Aalia Bridal Couture
Hair: Kelly Gappa
Makeup: Andrea Berman
