Weddings were what got me into blogging at the beginning of my photographic career, and I always looked forward to the day when I would write about my own. Well, folks, today is that day!

I got married on June 18, 2021 to my boo of 6 years, Philip Morgan. Joy, love, sunshine, our family in from all over the country – it was truly lovely.

Our original wedding date was 6/19/2020 and had to be rescheduled, revamped, and replanned due to the pandemic. I do not recommend planning a wedding though a pandemic, it was seriously stressful at times. Thankfully most of our vendors were awesome about it and were available on our rescheduled date. As a photographer who used to shoot weddings, I had handpicked these vendors long before the planning even officially started, so we were grateful that we still got our top choices to reschedule so gracefully with us.

And even though I had shot weddings for almost a decade of my photographic career, being on the other side, as the bride and as a client, that’s a whole other ball game. Planning a wedding is not for the faint of heart and it is quite a beast. So all of you couples who are the planning stages, I see you – hire a planner if you can. That’s something I would have done if I had known what I know now.

The dress, the vows, my husband’s braids (he said if I was getting my hair done then he wanted to get his done, too. Which, touché, because his hair is even longer than mine), the fabric blowing in the wind, the beach, it was all so gorgeous. The day was beautiful, the weather perfect – thank the universe, because the entire event was outside. The getting ready locations were a vital part of the planning, and this is something I always advised my wedding couples to consider carefully (picking a gorgeous location with beautiful light), as the getting ready was always my favorite part of the day – the anticipation, the details, the emotions, the beauty of these things happening in an equally beautiful setting.

I got ready at my portrait studio, which has a hair and makeup station and 12′ ceiling with 8′ windows and amazing natural light, so that was a no brainer. And Philip got ready at the boutique hotel where he is the chef, Spicer Mansion, which has beautiful rooms with great light as well. It just happened that we both got to get ready where we both work, and the locations were perfect.

I love vintage and glam and we went with a formally dressed affair. My dress was seriously made for me and it is everything my wedding dress dreams were made of. My dress is from Pantora Bridal by owner and designer Andrea Pitter-Campbell in Brooklyn, NY. She makes the most beautiful gowns and it meant the world to me to have my dress made with love in Brooklyn, where I lived in my twenties. The rhinestone and tulle bodice with the crosshatch beading on the back, down into the mermaid style opening up to the tulle bottom, seriously gorgeous. It was the perfect dress for me.

I knew I had to have a rose for my hair, as I used to wear one all the time and Philip loved that, so I found this stunning Swarovski encrusted rose hairpiece at Bridal Styles Boutique, also in Brooklyn. I got my showstopper of a veil there as well. Phil, of course, wore a classic black tux, custom by J.Hilburn. We had to cut down the guest list, again because of covid, but we were celebrated by family and close close friends, and the day was amazing.

The photos and the video show it all, and I couldn’t be happier with the stunning visuals that my photographer and videographer captured. These artists were handpicked precisely because they are artists, and as an artist myself, this was incredibly important. Elizabeth Caron, owner and lead videographer at Elizabeth Eve Productions, is not a “wedding videographer” – she is a cinematographer and artist, and she is the first vendor we hired for our wedding. Watch the video and you will see why. Such talent and we’re over the moon with how it turned out. I cry every time I watch it.

Getting Parker was a more difficult task, as he (like me) no longer shoots weddings. Thankfully, our mutual friend, Anita Watkins, helped make the connection, and for that I am eternally grateful. I had followed Parker’s work since 2009, and I just love the timelessness and tactility of his photographic style – it is very in line with how I used to shoot weddings, and it was indeed a perfect match. The photos are breathtaking and we are just in love with them.

All of the vendors we chose are artists and the day turned out beautifully. The vendor list is below and I thank each and every one of them for their part in our special day.

Enjoy this stunning visual feast and be warned that you might need some tissues for the video 🙂

Photographer: Parker Pfister
Videographers: Elizabeth Caron & Creed, Elizabeth Eve Productions
Hair and Makeup: Miranda Lynn Hair & Beauty
His hair: Lisa Muckle, The Hair Company
Hair extensions: Luxy Hair
Nails: Annie McGuire, Nailed It Mystic
Getting ready robe: For Love & Lemons
Dress: Pantora Bridal by Andrea Pitter-Campbell
Veil & Swarovski Crystal Rose Hairpiece: Bridal Styles Boutique
Earrings: Pantora Bridal
Bracelet: Sara Gabriel Designs, The White Dress by The Shore
Shoes: Angela Nuran, The White Dress by The Shore
Purse: CloeNoel, Etsy
Perfume: Creme Bouquet by Stila
His Tux: custom by J Hilburn, His Hanger Boutique
His bow tie & pocket square: R. Hanauer
Suspenders: JJ Suspenders
His shoes: Allen Edmonds
Engagement ring: custom design by Matt Hopkins, The Goldsmiths and Silversmiths
Her wedding ring: platinum estate piece through The Goldsmiths and Silversmiths
His wedding ring: Lashbrook Designs, Northern Light Gems
Ring box: Hundred Hearts, Etsy
Floral & Event Decor: Deborah Dempsey, A Gala Affair
Mom bouquet charm: Designs by Tami, Etsy
Dance lessons: Thommy Huber, Fred Astaire Dance Studio
His & Her Vow Books: Ox & Pine, Etsy
Pashminas: PashminaScarf Gifts, Etsy
Dance Floor: WT rentals
Ceremony benches: Spin Enterprise
Officiant: Reverend Victoria Burdick, Authentic Ceremony
Ceremony music: Kat & Brad
Processional song: Sea of Love by Cat Power performed by Kat & Brad
Her getting ready location: Carrie Roseman Studios, Portrait studio, Stonington, CT
His getting ready location: Spicer Mansion, Mystic, CT
Ceremony venue: Stonecroft Country Inn, Ledyard, CT
Reception Venue: The Pavilion at Ocean Beach, New London, CT
Catering: The Port & Starboard
DJ: Frank Lo
First dance songs: Crazy In Love by Beyoncé and Baby, I Love You by Aretha Franklin
Transport: 1961 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud, Black Swan Limosine
Ceremony sign: TimelessAccessoryInc, Etsy
Sparklers: WeddingSparklerOutlet
Champagne: Dom Perignon, vintage 2010
His wedding gift to her: Coach purse
Her wedding gift to him: Portraits of her by Roza Sampolinska