Alyssa & Lee*
I have a lot of great memories from my time as a wedding photographer so far and, honestly, I wouldn't trade them for the world. One of the things I love is that, no matter how long I go between weddings at a particular venue, once I arrive, all of the memories of a past weddings come flooding back to me.
That's why, back in July when I second shot Alyssa and Lee's wedding at The Garden at Elm Bank in Wellesley, Massachusetts, I couldn't help but smile as I thought back to the one and only other time I've worked there: The day Keisha and Timothy said “I do” back in 2019.
And, much like Keisha and Timothy, Alyssa and Lee's wedding was beautiful, full of love and so, so, very much fun to shoot.
* These photos were taken as part of my work as a second photographer for Pretty Nerdy Photography.
and are presented here strictly for portfolio/display purposes.
I could tell from the moment I introduced myself to Lee, that he and Alyssa's wedding day was my kind of party. Not only was he in great spirits as he finished the last bit of his groom prep but the energy in the room and the venue as a whole was one of a go-with-the-flow, casual vibe and that would serve us well throughout the day.
Lee, in particular, seemed totally willing to just follow along with whatever direction he was pointed in and that was super helpful as we got him ready to walk down the aisle.
Lee and Alyssa were married at the end of July in what was quickly becoming one of the hottest summers I can remember but it didn't matter on this day. Sure, it was warm, but we had nice, overcast clouds all day long and the Garden at Elm Bank was absolutely breathtaking literally everywhere we looked for photo opportunities.
Case in point: Alyssa and Lee's wedding ceremony. The two were married in a meticulously landscaped area on the property and the only thing more beautiful than the grounds was the way Lee looked at his soon-to-be wife as she walked down the aisle with her father.
Alyssa and Lee had a super short but super meaningful ceremony. Multiple times, I saw both the bride and groom wipe away tears and who can blame them?
With deeply personal vows and intense looks that conveyed everything they were thinking, it was clear to anyone in attendance just how much this moment meant to this happy couple and, as they sealed their love with a kiss, I simply could not wait to see how they would interact once we started their portraits together.
Spoiler alert: It was adorable.
No, seriously. I didn't get a ton of time with Alyssa and Lee during their formal portraits as I had other obligations to shoot as a second shooter — namely cocktail hour — but once I made my way over to the newlyweds, everything I got to see and photograph was magic.
I mean, these two are too precious and I was just glad I had a chance to throw in a couple of poses before we headed inside to their reception.
And, yes, the mutual twirl between bride and groom was absolutely my idea … and they crushed it.
With their formal photos in the book, Alyssa and Lee got ready for the start of their reception and, I'll be honest, I was just as excited as they were to get into this room as it was absolutely gorgeous and impeccably decorated.
I think the only thing that looked nicer than the décor at Alyssa and Lee's reception was the bride and groom themselves as they shared their first dance together as husband and wife.
I'm a big fan of couples that kick off their reception with their first dance and this one showed why as Alyssa and Lee's beautifully-choreographed number really set a lovely tone for the evening.
Following their first dance, Alyssa and Lee rolled right through the formalities of the evening three meaningful toasts, a sweet cake cutting and two fun parent dances.
Of all the planned moments in Alyssa and Lee's reception, however, my favorite was still to come as the pair embraced Alyssa's Jewish heritage with a traditional Hora dance and, I've just got to say, this bride crushed it.
Talk about a fun moment I know she won't soon forget.
With the formal portion of the evening over, I honestly had no idea what to expect from the rest of the night for Alyssa and Lee but, to their friends and family members' credit, these folks came to party.
Even though this wedding took place on a Sunday night, you'd never know it from how much fun everyone in attendance had.
As I packed up my gear and prepared to walk aimless around the expansive property at the Garden at Elm Bank looking for my car, I couldn't help but think it's a venue I'd love to be at much more often.
While I certainly got my steps in at this wedding simply because of the giant size of the property, it was worth it to capture the beauty and sweetness of Alyssa and Lee's wedding as this bride and groom shined bright from the moment I arrived until the moment I headed home.
So thank you Alyssa and Lee for a lovely wedding day I know I'll be talking about for quite some time and I wish you well on this new and exciting chapter of your life together as husband and wife.