“We’re getting married and figured it was a good excuse to throw a party for our friends and family!” this is what Bonnie and Jeff told me when i asked about their wedding. they were having a non-traditional wedding at boston’s quintessential luxury hotel, the taj boston (formerly Ritz Carlton Hotel). steeped in history, the hotel was the first Ritz Carlton, and the first hotel to offer private baths in guest rooms. what a luxury.
The wedding day coincided with the five surviving presidents and other dignitaries in town, though Bonnie wasn’t going to be outshined! with potential traffic from some heavy rain and dignitaries’ security, i arrived early at the salon on Newbury Street and photographed Bonnie getting ready. we headed next door to the hotel for her to get into her dress and have a “first look” with Jeff before the ceremony. the couple had a simple ceremony in the lavish tea room. their officiant was a close friend of the bride’s who got the JP for a day certification. friends and family filled the room with laughter when Jeff’s young son muttered “are they getting MARRIED?!” as the bride and groom stood face to face under the handmade chuppah. after the ceremony, everyone headed up to The Roof Top at the Taj for a fun celebration surrounded by friends, family, and fantastic views of Boston city lights.
Boston Wedding Vendors:
Ceremony venue and reception venue: Taj Boston Hotel
Wedding Florist: Winston Flowers
Boston Wedding Photographer: Heather Parker Photography
Wedding Hairstylist and Wedding Makeup Artist: Avanti Salon 11 Newbury St Boston, MA
i have photographed many jewish weddings and many christian/jewish “combo” weddings. this particular wedding brought together a catholic bride and jewish groom. it is always interesting to see friends and familiy being introduced to new traditions, especially the horah.
update august 24, 2009, the bride jill writes:
“Heather photographed our wedding in July, and we were really happy with the results. Her photographs truly captured the day, from makeup application to dancing. In looking for a photographer, we wanted someone who would document everything beautifully, but we didn’t want to pay an arm and a leg. We were also looking for a little style and creativity; we didn’t want just stuffy posed shots. Heather and her assistant were the perfect choice for us. Their style is modern, fun, creative, but they also do the group shots that you want.
Since we received the link to the online gallery, we’ve been getting rave reviews of the photos from family and friends. My uncle, in particular, was really impressed. He emailed me: “Without question those are the best pictures of a wedding I have ever seen. Incredible job.” One of my friends thought the photos looked like those you’d find in a magazine. It was the perfect ending to our wedding experience to get such amazing photos to reflect our day.
We were also really happy with our communication with Heather prior to the wedding. Since we live on the west coast, we were unable to meet with her before the big day. She tended to be super fast at replying to our emails, though, which comforted us and made us more confident that we were being listened to and were being taken care of.”
just a few weeks ago i photographed sandra and tim’s wedding at the brookfield zoo, where karen was a bridesmaid. today it was karen’s own wedding in chicago, and this time sandra was a bridesmaid. before sandra’s wedding, i spent time photographing today’s bride and groom during an engagement shoot on some abandoned railroad tracks. this wedding drew people from all corners of the country incluing matt’s childhood rabbi flying in from new jersey and karen’s sister / maid of honor flying in from boston. i arrived several hours before the wedding ceremony to document the ladies getting their hair done by stylists kristina and toni at the ruby room, in which CNN calls it “the nation’s first spiritual spa.” after getting ready, we headed over to the west loop’s black walnut gallery where the ceremony and reception were held. friends and family assisted in pulling together last-minute details including filling tall vases from CB2 with lemons, oranges, and limes which led the theme for their citrus-inspired colorful spring wedding. the bridesmaids wore yellow dresses of varying shades. the black walnut gallery accommodates up to 125 guests inside, although today’s fantastic weather allowed the couple hold their ceremony in the beautiful courtyard. i shot reportage style, documenting many jewish wedding traditions such has dancing carrying the bride and groom on chairs, stomping on a champagne glass ending the ceremony, and some unfamiliar orthodox traditions.
i met with matt & karen for an engagement shoot last night. they chose to have an abandoned elevated track as the location for the shoot. we had a great time exploring the area the tracks ran above, and later went to shoot near some great public art. in addition to photographing matt and karen’s wedding later this month, i will be photographing karen’s good friend’s wedding this saturday. gotta love referrals! the remainder of matt and karen’s shoot can be viewed here.
http://heatherparker.com wedding photography by Heather Parker Photography
with a translator on hand, guests from both sides of the pond celebrated both italian and jewish traditions. the ceremony and reception took place in the pavilion at galleria marchetti, one of the winners of the 2009 planners’ choice award for best wedding places. everyone put their language barriers aside and celebrated at one of the most energetic, fun wedding i have ever photographed.
