Susanna & Josh *
Private Residence, Westport, Massachusetts (Ceremony & Reception)
June 7th, 2025
It might sound strange to say this but I've come to accept that wedding photography is roughly 85 percent mental, 15 percent physical.
What do I mean by that? Like any job, even in the best of conditions, if you're not mentally locked and loaded on a wedding day — whether it's because of the weather or a couple that isn't into having photos taken or the party is nonexistent — your photos simply won't be as good as they can be.
Conversely, every now and again, you come across a couple that is so incredibly fun to work with that even in the crappiest of conditions, you are doing some of the best work you'll do all year.
And that's Susanna and Josh's wedding at a private resident in Westport, Massachusetts became not only one of my favorite weddings of 2025 so far but arguably the best wedding I've ever been to as a second shooter.
Susanna and Josh were BEYOND adorable and I knew we were in the midst of a special day when I looked over at my dear friend Becky MacDonald of Pretty Nerdy Photography — who I was shooting this wedding for — and we both had the same look on our faces.
“This wedding is amazing, right?” I telepathically said to her.
“Hell yeah it is,” she said back.
And it was. It really was.
* 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 have to be honest: I walked into Susanna and Josh's wedding day feeling pretty down. In what has been a non-stop trend this wedding season: Susanna and Josh's big day was cloudy, overcast and we had bouts of rain.
As much as I try to enter every wedding enthusiastic about how much fun things are going to be, the rain this season has really been wearing on me. It's just happened time and time again, so much so that Susanna and Josh's wedding was the NINTH time this year I've had rain on a wedding day.
But a funny thing happened as I started my coverage of their big day: I realized it didn't matter.
My first task? Shooting the absolutely adorable cat-themed decorations they put around their reception tent. How can you be grumpy shooting cat themed centerpieces? I don't think it's possible.
One of my biggest worries about Susanna and Josh's wedding was whether or a break in the rain would hold up long enough for the bride and groom to have the outdoor ceremony they planned.
While it was a bit dicey, Susanna and Josh knocked out a first look and their formal photos with Becky before I arrived so there was really no rush to start at any particular time, which worked in our favor as the pair waited a few extra minutes before walking down the aisle.
Still, I won't lie. I was sweating the radar when the soon-to-be newlyweds called their friends and family members over to the ceremony site and intended to get this show on the road.
My worries were quickly set aside, though, when I realized Susanna and Josh's didn't get if they got a little wet as they said “I do.” This was a moment they waited a lifetime for and they were determined to do it right.
Susanna and Josh were married in a beautiful backyard that felt every bit like a public park, complete with a lovely stone wall and everything. I dug this setting so much for how simple and casual it was but that was just a sliver of how authentic this ceremony would be.
Before they said “I do,” Becky told me the bride only had one request from us during this ceremony: Capture as many photos of the guests as possible. That's when I knew where Susanna and Josh's true cares rested: They were more concerned with how their friends and family members were feeling during their special moment than their own needs.
And that was a theme throughout this ceremony, one where both the bride and groom poured their hearts out for one another and spoke about how much their love enriches their lives.
I was actually grateful at times for the occasional rain drop during this ceremony. It was the perfect cover to hide the tears their beautiful words brought out of everyone, myself included.
One of my favorite parts about Susanna and Josh's wedding was how personal it all felt. The pair had their siblings serve big roles during their ceremony, giving speeches about how much they love the bride and groom and how important this day was.
And the vows Josh and Susanna said to one another? Breathtakingly beautiful.
Of course, that's not much of a surprise for a couple who fell in love in large measure of their shared admiration for crossword puzzles.
Still, as Susanna and Josh sealed their love with a kiss and celebrated becoming husband and wife, it was VERY clear to everyone in attendance how special the moment we all just watched truly was.
With their ceremony in the books, Susanna and Josh took a few minutes for themselves before heading into a few more bride and groom portraits inside a beautiful floral cove on this property and I'm glad because it allowed me to take just a handful of photos of the two of them before we headed back to the tent for the reception.
I'll be honest though: I was hoping we'd have more time for some other bride and groom photos. Thankfully, Mother Nature would help us out there later.
Susanna and Josh started their reception off with their first dance and I don't know what I expected from these two for this moment but the reality was much sweeter and while the dance itself didn't last too long (likely because these newlyweds don't feel like the center-of-attention type) it did make for some adorable photos.
After their first dance, Susanna and Josh took their seats for dinner and relaxed with guests but then, in an absolutely SHOCKING moment, the sun suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
As I've said, this is a rare sight this year.
To their credit, Susanna and Josh immediately got out of their seats to go hunt for a rainbow and that impromptu, spur of the moment decision led to both Becky and me deciding we simply HAD to get some more photos of these newlyweds now that we finally had some weather that felt as bright, sunny and vibrant as their love story.
I'm not exaggerating when I say these photos were some of the most fun and whimsical I've taken in 2025 and they filled my heart with such joy that I can't even begin to describe how happy I was.
Following dinner, the love for Susanna and Josh as a couple went into overdrive, first with a half dozen speeches from friends and family members about how much these two are loved. Then, the newlyweds kick started the party portion of their evening with a sweet dance between Susanna and her father.
After the father/daughter dance, it was time to open the dance floor and I'm not sure what I was expecting from Susanna and Josh's crowd but the moment the 80s music kicked in, the dance floor was PACKED and the crowd made sure to soak up every moment of this reception.
I always feel weird saying goodbye to a couple when I second shoot their wedding because, typically, I have barely met or spoken to them but Susanna and Josh felt like old friends by the time I headed out of their tent reception.
I guess that's an experience most people have meeting these two beautiful souls and I'm so glad I was able to play a small part in helping document their special day for them to relive and enjoy for the rest of their lives.
So, thank you Susanna and Josh for a beautiful reminder that even on rainy days, the chance for sunshine to pop through is never far away and for a special celebration I won't soon forget. Best of luck!