Tara and Dave’s wedding at the Waterview in Monroe, CT was the perfect day to say the least. Their one year anniversary just passed and it’s hard to believe that it’s been that long already. We had an amazing time getting to know these two. We did two seperate engagement shoots with them. One in NYC and one in Boston. We also had the honor of shooting a Wear it One More Time shoot with them about a month after their wedding. Here are their words describing some of the best moments from their day and the most vivid memories.
Q: Why did you have your wedding on that date? August 9th, 2008
A: We knew we wanted a summer celebration. We love the warm weather and that everything is in bloom. It was also a great time for our families to be able to travel in for the wedding.
Q: Where did you get your dress?
A: Cristina’s Bridal in Andover, MA
Q: Who was the designer?
A: Jenny Lee
Q: Who was the florist?
A: Flowers by Danielle
Q: Who did your makeup?
A: Tracey Masterson
Not sure what to even say about this photo… lol Anthony DeCarlo caught this while shooting the groom preparation.
Q: Who did your Hair?
A: Dana Bartone & Co.
Ring Bearer Pillow of flowers.
Watching the last guests walk into the church.
Q: What was the weather like?
A: The weather was absolutely perfect – sunny and 75 degrees. We couldn’t have imagined a better day.
One of my (Jerome) favorite detail shots of the day.
Q: Favorite photos?
A: Any of the photos of Ava and Logan (flower girl and ring bearer). They were just so cute together.
Q: What was the funniest thing that your remember happening?
A: David has large knuckles and leading up to the wedding I was concerned about getting the ring on his finger. The moment came and I could not get it on his finger. He helped me out and with a little effort we got it on. It was a funny moment that we all laughed about. Even Monsignor Shea made a little joke about it.
Q: What characteristics of the ceremony made your event most unique to you two as a couple?
A: During the ceremony, Monsignor Shea brought both our sides together in the middle of the church to signify David and I coming together. It was a special moment for both of us. I also put a lot of thought into the design of the wedding program and Monsignor Shea thought it was the best program he has ever seen. That made me feel really good.
Q: What do you remember most about the Ceremony?
A: When Monsignor Shea asked us to offer a sign of peace to one another we were able to go to our family and share a sign of peace with them. At that time my aunt brought my grandmother who is 92 up to us and she grabbed my face with both her hands and told me she loved me. She did the same to David and told him to be sure to take care of me. It was a very emotional moment for both of us and that lead to one of our favorite photos of David and I tearing up on the alter.
Q: What was your favorite part about the photographs and what ended up being your favorite photo?
A: Everything! They are so creative and truly captured the love and happiness we experienced that day. We have quite a few favorites such as the one of the bridal party hamming it up for the camera on the church steps.
Q:What made your reception personalized to your own unique vision and expectations?
A: I am an Event Planner so I had so many ideas running through my head and really tried to put a lot into the details at the reception. I created the GOBO that was projected on the wall which everyone loved.
In keeping with the modern look that Dave and I love I made menu cards that had a modern feel to it and inserted them into a pocket folded napkin with a cymbidium orchid.
Bridesmaids Dresses by Jenny Yoo
Suits by Calvin Klein
Bridesmaids Necklaces and Earings: My Mom made them.
A: I knew I wanted centerpieces that really stood out and loved our manzanita branch centerpieces.
My grandmother was so looking forward to our! wedding and she sadly passed away a few months before. For our favors we made a donation to the American Cancer Society in her honor and for her love of hummingbirds we gave everyone a glass hummingbird ornament.
One of our first dates was in NYC and we were engaged in Central Park. We love the city and wanted to incorporate it somehow. I created table numbers with photos that Jerome took on our engagement session in the city and inserted them into acrylic frames.
Lighting was also a necessary component as it adds so much ambiance to an event. We had uplighting around the room and a ceiling wash of color.
Lighting provided by Shindig Lighting
Q: What was your favorite part about the photographs and what ended up being your favorite photo?
A: Dave also loves the one of us about to enter the reception and I am looking over my shoulder. Being the planner that I am I loved all the photos of the details at the wedding.
Q:Besides the “getting married” part, what was the most vivid memory of your wedding day? (bride’s perspective)
A: One of my most vivid memories from our wedding day was during the reception when Dave surprised me by serenading me. He sang “Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Elvis Presley while playing his acoustic guitar and it was beautiful. That was truly a special moment.
Q:Besides the “getting married” part, what was the most vivid memory of your wedding day? (groom’s perspective)
A: The most vivid memory of the day was when I serenaded my bride at the reception. As planned, Vin, the DJ, brought over my acoustic guitar, which we had hidden behind his music console. I made a quick announcement to the crowd, and then I launched into “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” I know why those three minutes were so vivid – for the entire time my wife and I were locked in each others gaze. It was a very special moment!
Q: What was your favorite part about the photographs and what ended up being your favorite photo?
A: The photo of my Dad and I dancing where I am peaking over his shoulder.
Q:What regrets, (if any) do you have about the planning of your wedding and your decisions leading up to the day?
A: We really didn’t have any regrets. Everything went perfectly and couldn’t have been happier.
Q:What part of the day do you want to do again and why?
A: The reception was such a blast, we would love to be able to do it all over again, if for no other reason, to be able to stand back and take it all in.
Q: What was it like to have Jerome photograph your day?
A: We could not imagine anyone else photographing our wedding. Everyone loved him and when we are on one of our shoots it is like hanging out with an old friend. Jerome is fun, professional and extremely talented. We are very lucky to have found him.
Q: What was the most memorable part of your photography experience with Jerome? (From engagement all the way till now)
A: There are too many moments to choose just one, but one that definitely stands out was when he posed us on a railroad trestle about 70 feet in the air over a river with no railing for our Wear It One More Time shoot. That was pretty scary!
Q: Any advice to offer new brides and grooms to-be?
A: You hear it all the time but it is so true. Remember to take it all in because it goes by so fast. I wished I had another hour or two at the reception to mingle with our guests. We had so much fun that it seemed to have been over in the blink of an eye. My second bit of advice is to try not stress out about having the “perfect” wedding. Things may not go and probably won’t go perfectly and try not to get to hung up on that. I changed the location that the girls were getting ready at and thought I told everyone. I got a call from the videographer and he was at the hotel instead of coming to my parents house. I forgot to update him on the location. Unfortunately, it was too late to have him come to my parents so I missed out on video of us getting ready but at that point there was nothing I could do about it so why get all worked up about it. What may be a big deal to you will probably not even be noticed by your guests.
Who was the videographer? David Lammey
Who was the entertainment? Vin Scaramuzzo
Where did the guys get their suits/tuxes? Julie Allen Bridal in Newtown, CT
Where did you get your rings? Direct Diamond in Monroe, CT
Lighting provided by Shindig Lighting.
I can’t even put into words how amazing these photo’s are!! They truly capture the special moments and enhance all the small details!!
Such a beautiful wedding and these photos belong in every bridal magazine out there!! I can’t decide whie photo is my favorite! Tara, you and Dave are a GORGEOUS couple and you did such a great job putting it together!
I’m inspired!!!
P.S. Do you think you could get Dave to teach all men how to serenade their ladies?
Thanks! That was awesome