Crystal Lake Pavilion Middletown, CT Wedding
“Engage your core!!!” I was sweating, miserable, and definitely done with the workout. It seemed even more unfair that I was holding a wall sit for 45 seconds because my cat was watching me from my yoga mat. And Stacey was watching her iphone timer. 10 seconds left. I hated her. I hated this wall. I hated this stupid stupid stupid workout. “Done.”
Stacey had been kicking my butt for 2 years as my personal trainer. And when she got engaged, she hired me as her wedding photographer.
So guess what I yelled at her every time she slouched? “Engage your core!!” Which is easy for her, since, she’s got a billion muscles. And a billion multi-colored sneakers to go with her to the gym or her wedding. Either way.
Now sometimes you really can’t see where I’m going with something on a shoot. Like, why is Kelly having me run 1/4 a mile away from my venue? Why are we running because the light is perfect? Won’t it stay perfect even if we walk? But I knew Stacey and Megan. They trusted me. So when I said run, they ran. When I said let’s cross this weird gravel road because the light is epic in this random field in Connecticut? They did it. Amber, my second shooter, had her eyes bugging out from the light. The videographer was giving me high fives. I was dancing in the field as we were getting their couple shots. I mean, this was light I dream of in weird photographer dreams.
And we were able to get it because the vendors and the couple trusted me to lead them on this weird journey. Stacey was always like, “You’re the expert, do what you think is right.” And it made me feel so loved. Yes, loved. My trainer, turned really good friend, was being her. She was enjoying her wedding day and getting married to her wife and letting the vendors do their job. Cause she wanted to concentrate on her wife’s amazing dress (I always want to hug brides with dresses that have straps…sooooo classic and pretty and not worn enough anymore) and her wife’s special handshake at the end of the ceremony that surprised everyone and had us all laughing. Not on making sure the centerpieces were within the inch diameter in her spreadsheets…she just let the wedding professionals do their jobs. That’s love to me.
So yes, the Connecticut barn wedding had fields of gold for these two brides to dance in. And, being them, joke around in.
Venue Coordinator: The Pavilion on Crystal Lake // Florist: Terri Krisavage Floral Designs // DJ/Band: Rob Alberti’s Event Services // Hair: Captiva Salon
Videographer: Max Valverde // Cake: JCakes // Second Shooter: Amber Marlow // Makeup: Candace Spinelli Gebbia // Dresses: David’s Bridal and Mariellas
