Brian & Ashley *
The hardest part about being a second photographer is finding someway to bond with a couple who you're just meeting for the first time on their wedding day, photographing their most intimate moments and then likely never seeing them again.
That's why, when I second shoot, I try my hardest to find some sort of interest or quirk the couple has that we can chat about to put them at ease. Turns out I didn't even need to do that for Brian and Ashley's wedding back at May at Independence Harbor in Assonet, Massachusetts because when it comes to being totally in their own zone and comfortable, these two were perfect in every way.
Brian and Ashley said "I do" on a beautiful summer day at Independence Harbor and to say it was a fun afternoon is an understatement. From silly groomsmen photos to an emotional ceremony and a super chill vibe reception, Brian and Ashley's wedding was perfect for them, and for those lucky enough to witness it. Or, in my case, lucky enough to help document it.
* 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.
My time with Brian and Ashley started in a very familiar location for me when it comes to weddings at Independence Harbor: the Courtyard by Marriott in Raynham, Massachusetts. I can't think of any weddings I've shot at this particular venue that didn't start at this hotel and with good reason: It's just about the only one nearby.
That being said, I walked into Brian's groomsmen suite looking to see how the vibes would be for this wedding and knew, right away, this was going to be a fun day.
Not only did this groom tuck eight beefy dudes into a small room but they were all fun and having a great time when I arrived. Naturally, I didn't want to break the energy and Brian and I rolled quickly through some groom prep photos before heading out to his ceremony.
As a second photographer, I knew heading into Brian and Ashley's wedding that my main goal was to follow the groom and his guys around but — in this case — I also knew the bride specifically requested a ton of pre-ceremony formals from the guys once they arrived at Independence Harbor.
This type of requests usually makes me roll my eyes a little because, shockingly, most groomsmen just want to relax and maybe drink a bit before a wedding ceremony but Brian and his guys were exceptional and among my favorite groups of dudes this year.
And once I found out they, like me, loved professional wrestling? Oh, we were off and running with the fun photos.
With Brian's groom and groomsmen photos in the books, it was just about time for the man of the hour to walk down the aisle and get married.
I wasn't sure what to expect from Brian and Ashley's wedding ceremony, particularly because I still hadn't met the bride before said ceremony, but I knew from watching the expression on her face as she walked down the aisle that this would be an emotional wedding ceremony and, boy, was it ever.
One of the reasons I loved Brian and Ashley's wedding ceremony was that, unlike the last I don't even know how many weddings I've attempted to photograph at Independence Harbor, we actually were able to have said ceremony outdoors AND got nice weather to boot.
I don't take this for granted. Independence Harbor has one of the nicest outdoor ceremony spaces I've shot at and it was perfect for Brian and Ashley's nuptials, which were short and sweet but touching nonetheless.
After they officially became husband and wife, Brian and Ashley made their way over to their formal family and wedding party photos and my task was clear: Head inside and get photos of all the details. Lucky for me, I had time to grab some before the ceremony because there were a TON of little touches Brian and Ashley put on their special day and all popped crazy well with their vibrant pink and blue naval theme.
After making my rounds through all of Brian and Ashley's details and capturing tons of photos of their friends and family members during cocktail hour, I slowly made my way over to the newlyweds to see if I could grab some nice bride and groom portraits before the pair headed inside and I'm glad I did because Brian and Ashley were a lot of fun to work with.
After finishing their formal photos, it was time for Brian and Ashley to head inside for their reception. Now, I'll be honest. I have a love/hate relationship with Independence Harbor when it comes to wedding receptions. As pretty as the site is outdoors, its indoor facilities is one of the more challenging to shoot in as it has CRAZY low ceilings and a tiny dance floor that it difficult to light.
Thankfully, the venue is set to undergo a renovation soon but, on Brian and Ashley's wedding day, my task was to make lemonade out of lemons in terms of backdrops.
Of course, it didn't really matter much as the bride and groom at the center of this day would have looked adorable regardless of where we are and their first dance really set that tone for the entire night.
In keeping with the theme of Brian and Ashley's wedding, which rotated nicely between fun and emotional, following their first dance, the newlyweds took their seats for a pair of toasts from the maid of honor and best man and ... as you might expect ... tears were flowing.
After dinner, Brian and Ashley were clearly ready to cut loose and relax but that didn't stop them by spending the necessary time making sure to savor every moment of their reception formalities. The pair started with a sweet cake cutting and then proceeded to dance with their parents to show their appreciation for the folks who raised them.
Almost immediately after Brian's mother-son dance with his mom, it was time for this party to start and while Brian and Ashley's reception dance floor was one of the more relaxed I've seen this year, when it was popping, it was POPPING.
I loved that for this couple as the two spend just as much time on the dance floor as they did off it hanging out with their guests and, ya know what? Sometimes that's just the vibe of the night.
My time with Brian and Ashley came to an end with some nice bride and groom photos of them in their photo booth and with helping my friend Becky, their main photographer, capture nighttime portraits and I can think of no more fitting way to have capped off this wedding.
Brian and Ashley's wedding was the kind of wedding you love to see couples have: the type where you know they're enjoying each and every moment the way they always envisioned and that's one of the best complements I can pay to a bride and groom.
So congratulations Brian and Ashley on a lovely wedding day. I wish you all the best as you start this new chapter of your life together as husband and wife.