Blog— Weddings — Massachusetts — 2019 —
Chamberlain Farm Wedding
Brittany & Alisa
Chamberlain Farm, Berkley, Massachusetts (Ceremony & Reception)
September 14th, 2019
I put a lot of stock in first impressions. Both in the ones I give off and the ones I receive.
Because of this, whenever I'm at a bridal expo, I can usually tell in moments whether I'm speaking to a couple who is a good fit for me and my style of wedding photography and nowhere was that more true than talking to Brittany and Alisa back in 2017, two full years before I would shoot their wedding.
Brittany and Alisa are the type of couple you dream of as a wedding photographer. Absolute sweethearts, the pair have an energy about them that just makes it so you can't help but smile when you're around them and I knew the instant they asked me to be their photographer that it would be an amazing wedding I wouldn't soon forget.
And it was. It really was.
Brittany and Alisa were married at Chamberlain Farm in Berkley, Massachusetts and to say it was one of the most fun weddings I've had this year is an understatement. These two brides had a picture perfect day from start to finish and their wedding is one I know they, and I, will remember for a very long time.
Brittany and Alisa's wedding day was unlike any I've shot this year and that was true from the moment my day with these two started as I was lucky enough to shoot not one but TWO bridal prep sessions.
And, much like the brides themselves, these prep sessions couldn't have been more different from one another.
My day began with Alisa and her bridesmaids, who were all wearing taco-themed t-shirts and relaxing as hair and makeup finished up. Alisa isn't an over-the-top girly girl and remarked how weird she felt having fully done-up hair, makeup and nails but if you're ever gonna glam it up, your wedding is the day to do it.
Alisa was a blast to work with and I genuinely spent a good chunk of my hour with her laughing and capturing the banter between her and her girls.
On the flip side, Brittany's bridal prep skewed more toward the traditional look and feel of what I'm used to from this part of a wedding day. Brittany is a super fun, positive and bubbly personality and I could tell she was feeling a bit nervous about everything going according to plan the closer we got to the big moments of the day.
That's not to say Brittany's bridal prep wasn't fun. It was. But I couldn't help but laugh when comparing the two brides and how nervous, or lack thereof, they appeared on their wedding day.
And while I wasn't with Alisa as she got dressed and ready for her and Alisa's first look, I could see that nervous excitement all over Alisa's face as we tried to shoo the rain away and get this bride finished and ready to stun her friends, family and, of course, her bride to be.
Of all the moments I loved during Brittany and Alisa's wedding day, my favorite by far was their first look inside an open barn across from where they would later say "I do."
Alisa chose the traditional groom role for this reveal and I'm so glad she did as it allowed us to build the excitement on the typically reserved bride's face as Brittany strolled up to her.
I absolutely adored the way these two ladies looked at each other when Alisa turned around and even though I couldn't hear what they said to each other, I didn't need to hear it. I could see the emotion on their faces, in the way they embraced and in the way Brittany wiped away tears as they saw each other in a way they'll never forget.
Following their first look, Brittany and Alisa snuck in some brief family formal photos and a few couple's portraits before rain put a temporary halt to our plans.
I'll admit, for a brief moment I worried the weather might derail what was shaping up to be a beautiful wedding ceremony outdoors at Chamberlain Farm but, almost on cue, the clouds passed right as it was slated to begin and, following a brief delay, everything proceeded as planned.
And thank goodness it did because Brittany and Alisa's wedding ceremony was super sweet and emotional. Whether it was each bride walking down the aisle with their mom AND dads or the way they stole glances at one another during their vows, this was a ceremony that really hammered home their love and respect for one another and you couldn't help but smile as they both tried and failed to contain their excitement following their first kiss.
With the ceremony out of the way, Brittany and Alisa had a brief number of family photos left but, thankfully, we had allotted a ton of time for their bride and bride portraits and I'm so happy we did as I could have photographed these two together for the rest of the night.
Brittany and Alisa have a wonderful chemistry when they're next to each other and being able to play off their relationship and find ways to capture the spark in the eyes they give to their spouse was an absolute delight.
And, of course, whenever you're on a property as beautiful as Chamberlain Farm, you never want to stop taking photos so maybe I went a little overboard but ... can you blame me?
With their formal photos out of the way, it was finally time for Brittany and Alisa to head into the tented area of Chamberlain Farm and, I've got to say, it was beautifully decorated.
Not that that's really a surprise. I had talked to Brittany about their planned decor a ton of times before the wedding, most notably during their super fun engagement photo session, and it was clear this couple spent A LOT of time perfecting every little detail that made their day that much more special.
As nice as the decorations inside the tent were for Brittany and Alisa's wedding, what I wanted to see the most were the big moments of their reception and, trust me, they did not disappoint.
The pair started their wedding reception off to a beautiful first dance as newlyweds -- set to the slow and touching song Wasn't Expecting That by Jamie Lawson -- and it just got better and better as the night progressed.
Whether it was a pair of lovely father-daughter dances, where you could see the love and appreciation both dads had for their little girls in every sway on the dance floor, three great toasts or a delightfully cute cake cutting, Brittany and Alisa delivered all the emotion and plenty of laughs during the signature moments of their reception.
And that brings us to the part of the night I was most curious about: the party.
Even though I've known Brittany and Alisa through our professional relationship for two years before their big day, I had no idea what kind of crowd they would attract and whether or not the dance floor would be packed once the formalities of the evening were over.
Thankfully, these brides both have some amazing people in their lives as Chamberlain Farm's tent was quickly transformed into a nightclub worthy dance scene the moment the lights went down and the party music came on.
I absolutely loved watching Brittany and Alisa dance the night away at their wedding reception but, more important than the fun candid moments we captured were the way the two had giant smiles on their faces from ear to ear all evening long.
Wedding planning is stressful business and, sometimes, it's easy to lose track of the purpose of the entire affair but Brittany and Alisa never did and I like to think their smiles were half for the fun they were having and half in celebration that their day turned out to be absolutely perfect.
I really can't describe how much fun working with these two brides was and, though I had to wait two years to document their wedding day, it was worth the wait and then some.
So congratulations Brittany and Alisa on an amazing wedding day and may this day be just the start of a lifetime of happiness, laughter and moments you'll never forget.
You're certainly off to a great start but, if anyone could top it, it would be you two.
-Paul J. Spetrini
Tags: Outdoor Weddings, Chamberlain Farm, Massachusetts Weddings, Berkley, Paul J. Spetrini Photography
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The Vendor List:
Photographer: Paul J. Spetrini, Paul J. Spetrini Photography; Videographer: Kim George, KL Photo & Video; Desserts: Aimee’s Bakin and Stephanie's Sweet Treats; Cake: Christina Costa; Photo Booth: Phantom Photo Booth.