portland wedding at barn at walnut hill with carla ten eyck

I met Vanessa a few years back at one of the most amazing industry conferences there is, called Engage Luxury Wedding Summits. We circled around each other for a few conferences before really seeing what great friends we were going to become. You know how that is when you make friends in the industry, you try to maintain some level of professionalism and fanciness and do the square dance of .. professionalism and fanciness! Well, we do-si-do’d right into bestie country when she stepped in and designed and printed the beautiful prayer card for my good friend and employee Eric when he died suddenly. That was it for me. Game over. Friend for life.

So Vanessa called me one day when I was visiting my sister in Richmond and asked me if I would be interested in shooting her wedding (WHAT?) I was all nonchalant about it but my heart was beating irregularly because as humble and as much as Vanessa downplays what she does and who she is, I knew. I KNEW. Her wedding would be … amazing. Because, duh. She is amazing and she loves her some Anthro and some Free People and some fancy design people BS. But also that heart she has all snuggled in tight under that jean jacket and those seven dresses she wears is pure gold. And any woman she would have for her wife must be as amazing (if not more) than her. I crossed my fingers and prayed that when she picked that date I would be able to photograph her wedding… and as luck would have it, I was. OK, maybe she even asked me what dates I had free and maybe I died a little inside when she asked because I knew she wanted to work with me as badly as I wanted to work with her. But like, on a deeper, better, friend-polka-dance-level, where we work together but she and Lauren know I know them and love them, like. A ton.

And how amazing their wedding was…! And the weather was perfection, and the wind cooperated and the light was like it was brought in from a movie set and everyone was beyond happy and loving and emotional and huggy and it was perfect! So very, very perfect.

Little (but big) moments that will forever be stuck in my heart – that time when I broke down into a sobbing fit during their first look because I was just so happy for them both and I just got caught up in how much they love each other; when their son Landon broke down right after they walked down the aisle after the ceremony and snuggled his little face into Lauren; how the sun kissed their faces when we snuck off to a sun drenched field for some portraits; the look on Lauren’s face as she tenderly watched Vanessa and her Dad dance; the way Vanessa and Lauren both sang to me during their first dance (I mean… come ON!) These two. Their families. Their light. I am so honored to be in their circle of love.

Congratulations, best wishes, mazel tov, high-five, carpe diem and most importantly, EYEBALLS when you toast! I love you both so so much! Thank you for picking me to be in your life forever, because I am not going away! Ever.

Big thanks to this killer team who brought the thunder!!

venue: The Barn on Walnut Hill, Maine

catering; Eventide Oyster Co.

event planning: Jubilee Events

floral design: Flora Fauna

videography: I Do Films

stationery + calligraphy: Two Paper Dolls

music: Carte Blanche / DJ: Ray Jarrell

rentals: New England Country Rentals + Revolve Furniture

lighting: Ryan Designs

gowns: Anne Barge (Lauren) and Claire Pettibone (Vanessa)

hair: Catie & Amy

beauty: Diva Borrelli

custom fabrics: Spoon Flower