Boston barn wedding reception venues are highly sought after. After lea and mark hired me to photograph their New England barn wedding, i met with them for some engagement photos in downtown Chicago around springtime on the lakefront. They brought their black lab to include in some of the shots and we had a blast. since meeting them and working with them, lea has passed my name on to several brides. I am always so appreciative when clients pass my name along to others. Word of mouth is where i get most of my work. before i share some of Lea and Mark’s wedding photos, here are a handful of their engagement photos:

it was really so fun working with them during the engagement shoot, and i couldn’t wait for the wedding. after previously photographing a wedding at the barn at gibbet hill, i found that i really enjoyed non-traditional wedding venues. while i wasn’t contracted to bring a second shooter, i could tell lea was planning a very cool wedding that was going to be taking place at a historic church and a barn, so i decided to bring along another photographer to assist. i had a few phone conversations with lea before her wedding and could tell already that many well thought out details were being put into action for this wedding.  when we arrived, lea showed us that barack obama declined her wedding invitation. bummer it would have been cool to get some shots of lea dancing with the president!

during our communication over phone and email before the wedding, lea informed me that she would be wearing the groom’s grandmother’s necklace.

we talked about the couple’s wedding day time line and realized that with a church ceremony running from 4 o’clock until almost 5 o’clock, there would not be much time for any outdoor photos after the ceremony with the sun setting so early in the winter. lea and mark had a “first look” before heading a few blocks down the road to the sea for some creative photos.

its worth being a trooper and making time for outdoor photos even in the winter. this gave the bride and groom some time together during their wedding day before splitting time with all their friends and family.

while the bride and groom live in the chicago area, they brought the groom’s pastor in from nebraska to their new england wedding. while not all churches are flexible to allow use of their space with another officiant, the couple found a great church willing to allow an out of town pastor to perform the ceremony. congregational churches in this area have the sanctuary on the second floor.

when i think of new england, quaint white steepled churches are some of the first things that come to mind.

after the ceremony, everyone headed over to the historic red lion inn for the wedding reception. in a picturesque seaside town, a combination of country french and new england colonial styles provided perfect ambience in a wedding reception venue.

the barn at the red lion inn had an upstairs lofted wrap-around balcony that was used for cocktail hour.

a consistent, navy blue nautical theme was used for wedding. paper goods such as table numbers, menus, and escort cards were designed by the Etsy seller BuddyandBean.

after cocktail hour, the newlyweds descended upon the grand staircase of the barn and immediately began their scheduled first dance.

the cake was from the famed konditor meister bakery

toasts and parent dances followed.

Reception Venue: The Red Lion Inn Barn Cohasset, MA
Church: Second Congregational Church, Cohassett, MA
Ceremony Musicians: Brian Pierce, Organ and Piano
Jeff Marani and Jennifer Fearnley, Vocalists
Pat Stout, Trumpet
Cocktail Hour Musicians: Derek Van Slyck Jazz Combo
DJ: Aaron Topfer
Photographer: Heather Parker Photography
Flowers: The Candy Jar Pembroke, MA
Hair and Makeup: Charlotte Phinney
Bridesmaid Gowns: Watters & Watters via Netbride.com
Bridal Gown and Alterations: Eva’s Bridal Orland Park, Illinois
Custom Garter: Sew Unique Garters
Wedding Cake: Konditor Meister Bakery
Limousine: Brewster Coach Quincy, MA
Invitations: Paper Elegance
Bridal Earrings, Bracelet, and Brooch: The White Aisle