Blog— Weddings — Massachusetts — 2022 —
Danversport Wedding Photos
Ida & Justin
Danversport, Danvers, Massachusetts
July 3rd, 2022
I'm a big believer in the first impressions. I think you have to be as a wedding photographer because, many times, you only get a minute or two to sell yourself and your vision of wedding photography to a prospective bride and groom and you want to leave the best impression possible right from the start.
But it works both ways. At the same time a prospective client is getting to know you, you're getting to know them and that's why I knew within two minutes of talking to Ida and Justin at a bridal expo earlier this year that I needed to shoot their July wedding at Danversport in Danvers, Massachusetts.
Ida and Justin are two of the most fun people I've had the pleasure of working with as a wedding photographer. Super upbeat and funny, these two have an amazing vibe and leave you feeling better for having interacted with them and their July wedding was the very same way as it was one of the hottest, but most rowdy and hilarious, weddings I've shot in quite some time.
More importantly, their wedding was THEM and I mean that in the best way possible.
If I could point to one disappointing trend in weddings this year, it's that I've worked with a LOT of brides who decide to delay my coverage until their hair and makeup is already finished. I get it, the more exciting stuff is later in the evening but I really do love shooting bridal prep and Ida's preparation is a perfect example of why.
I knew from the minute I walked into the room Ida and her girls were getting ready in that we were in for a fun day as the bride was in good spirits and already looked stunning ... before she even put her dress on.
I especially loved the set-up Ida and Justin chose for their respective preparations as Ida was in the upstairs level of the home they were getting ready in and Justin was downstairs, which meant I could bounce from one to the other effortlessly. It made for some of my favorite prep shots of the year and set a great tone right off the bat.
What I really loved about working with Ida and Justin was how much the couple trusted me when it came to putting together their timeline. That helped in a big way as bridal prep got a bit away from us at the end but we still had plenty to time to easily roll right into a super sweet and emotional first look for the soon-to-be newlyweds while getting them to their ceremony right on time.
I hate rushing through big moments and I knew this first look would be a great one for Ida and Justin. They didn't disappoint.
The one and only thing I would change about Ida and Justin's wedding day if I could would be the weather. Choosing to get married on Fourth of July weekend in New England is always a risk but we had a SWELTERING hot day with oppressive sunshine and heat.
I adore Ida and Justin for staying positive despite the humidity, however, and while their ceremony was a tough one for everyone to get through — it was in the red hot sun with no shade whatsoever — it was worth it to see two lovely people have a moment I know they'll never forget.
Credit to the bride for keeping her cool in that elegant but I'm sure heavy wedding dress though. I know that must not have been easy.
What Ida and Justin's wedding ceremony lacked in shade, it made up for in emotion. I loved seeing these two exchange vows and look into one another's eyes as they became husband and wife. It was so obvious just from looking at the way they embraced this moment how much it meant for them and I'm happy I was there to document it for them ... even if I lost three pounds in sweat in the process.
I said earlier how appreciative I was that Justin and Ida trusted me so much with the timeline of their day and I mean it. Because of the weather conditions, we had to be extra smart in how we handled formal photos and that meant rolling with the punches when the sun wouldn't cooperate.
Ida and Justin broke their formal photos into three batches spread throughout the day and I think that was the perfect solution to warm weather that made waiting outside difficult. Impressively, these newlyweds never got sick of posing for photos and for that I'm extra thankful because we captured some really nice photos of their friends and family members despite some of the tougher conditions a photographer can face on a wedding day.
Because of the heat, Ida and Justin cut their bride and groom portraits short — with the intention to go back outside when the sun came down a bit — and I'm glad they did as that gave me some time to get inside and capture their beautiful details before guests got to the tables.
I love how elegant and personal Ida and Justin's wedding decor was — In fact, Ida's mother was STILL tweaking things during cocktail hour just to make sure everything was perfect — and it fit the Danversport room so well.
As much fun as shooting Ida and Justin's wedding day had been through cocktail hour, I knew the real magic was still to come and I was right.
I could tell this was a couple whose big day would be defined by the party and any doubts I had about that melted the minute they walked into the room and were introduced as husband and wife.
Ida and Justin set a great tone to the start of their reception and their first dance, set to "Dancing in the moonlight" perfectly set expectations for how great a night this would be.
One of the coolest parts of Ida and Justin's reception, to me anyway, was how laid back there were about the big moments. Sure, they had a huge wedding cake but they didn't make their cake cutting a big thing. They had a couple of nice toasts from their best man and maid of honor but they were casual about it.
And after their sweet parent dances, they actually took time to honor a special day for two of their closest friends by surprising the pair with THEIR wedding song to commemorate THEIR wedding anniversary.
It was little touches like that that made for such a fun feeling in the Danversport reception hall and I knew this would lead to a room full of guests who were all ready to have a great time once the party really popped off.
Before we could get to the party, though, I had to try one last time for some nice, non-brutally sunny formal photos and, thankfully, the sun finally came down enough for us to get the photos I'd been trying all day to capture.
I absolutely LOVED Ida and Justin's wedding party and it was so much fun to see them let loose a bit and be silly now that the temperature had come down a bit. Talk about a fun group.
What I was really looking forward to, though, were the sunset photos of the bride and groom themselves. I waited all day long to get Ida and Justin by themselves for couples portraits and, man, the wait was so worth it.
Not only were these two super sweet to work with but they're super photogenic and easy to pose.
That, coupled with the gorgeous location they had their reception at, made for some of my favorite bride and groom portraits in quite some time. I especially love the shots we were able to get with the faux lighthouse in the back as the sun came down for good that evening.
As we headed back inside, I don't know who was more excited with what we captured, the newlyweds or me.
With bride and groom portraits successfully 'in the bag' as it were, the only thing left for Ida and Justin to do was party the night away and, boy, did they ever.
I can genuinely say these newlyweds made the most out of every minute of their wedding reception and had more fun than almost every couple I've ever worked with. This was one hell of a night and they were at the center of every laugh, shot, smile and joke.
And I loved that for them.
As I got ready to head home from Ida and Justin's reception, I noticed the two were stuck waiting on an Uber to pick them up and take them to their hotel for an afterparty. Naturally, I couldn't help but offer a ride to them because, let's be honest, I had as much fun if not more than they did.
Ida and Justin are an amazing couple and a blast to be around and I'm just glad I was able to play a small part in capturing this truly magical day for them.
So congratulations Ida and Justin. I wish you a long life of memories and laughter together and know if your wedding day is any indication, you've already started on a path of happily ever after.
-Paul J. Spetrini
