Maja & Ari's Wedding -- Fruitlands Museum, Harvard, MA

We've heard it said by other professional wedding photographers that editing the hundreds of images they've captured at a wedding (the "post-production edits" as we call them) can be a drag.  A chore.  Nuh-uh! Nope! No way! For us it's a real joy because we get to re-live the fun and the love.  Again and again.  All the while smiling while we make a "nip" here and a "tuck" there to optimize what we've captured in camera.

Take the recent wedding of Maja + Ari, whose reception was held at the Fruitlands Museum in bucolic Harvard, Massachusetts.  Need we say more?  Who wouldn't smile at the sheer joy of expression in the following images?!

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts Maja, Ari, and family!  You were a true joy to work with, and we're so pleased everyone felt comfortable enough in front of our lenses to just be themselves.

Fondly ~  Chris and Vickie

p.s.  And if you were in attendance, do stay in touch with the couple as we'll soon be sending them the secure code for online image ordering from this fantastic day!

Ceremony:       St. Patrick Parish, Stoneham, MA
Reception:        Fruitlands Museum, Harvard, MA
Catering:          Fireside Catering, Burlington, MA
Music:              Get Down Tonight Entertainment, Salem, NH
Photographer:   Wakeen Photography, Grafton, MA
Cake:                Konditor Meister, Braintree, MA
Flowers:            AFloral.com
Beauty:             Juliana's Salon, Stoneham, MA
Bride's Gown:    James Clifford Collection
Bridesmaids:     Best Bridal Prices
Menswear:        Jason Anthony's Formalwear, Medford, MA

Sneak Peek ~ Lindsay & Adam

Lindsay and Adam met at the end of their high school days at the Worcester Academy and they've been an "item" ever since.  When Adam joined the Air Force and was moved to Oklahoma, Lindsay moved too so they wouldn't have to be apart.  And now finally, just before Adam earns his A.F. wings, family, friends and colleagues gathered together at the Harding-Allen Estate in Barre to celebrate their marriage!

This wedding was such a joy to photograph and we cannot WAIT for the big reveal, but in the meantime, here are a few of our favorites from the day.  The bride was gorgeous in her Paloma Blanca dress (this is the first bridal gown we've seen with pockets - what a concept!)  Coordinating bridesmaids dresses by Ann Taylor also had pockets, so all the gals could carry a lip gloss or a tissue, should some happy 'lil tears arise.

The wedding cake was created by the Harding-Allen's in-house designer, as were the stunning bouquets of blue hydrangea, white roses and white lilies.  DJ services provided by Bob Solano were ultra-optimized as Bob's saxophone accompaniment added a totally live music sound to the festivities.

Lindsay and Adam, may you share many years together full of blessings and good fortune!  It was our immense honor to share in your day!

Va-Va Venues!

    On a road trip to Boston the other day, we decided to pass the time by recounting all the locales where we've had the pleasure of creating couples' wedding photography.  Knowing there would be a lot, we still didn't expect to come up with over 130 different venues!  And the list keeps growing.

Harding-Allen Estate

If you're planning a wedding and would like any input from a photographer's perspective, be sure to give us a call (774-262-5332).  Naturally some of these venues we've been to many times, some perhaps only once.  We'd be happy to show you our "library" of wedding images covering a variety of reception venues.  And to think we haven't even listed the churches, cathedrals or synagogues!

Alpine Grove - Hollis, NH	Lakeside Ballroom - Worcester, MA
AMVETS - Natick, MA	Lakeview Pavillion - Foxboro, MA
Andover Country Club - Andover, MA	Lashaway Inn - East Brookfield, MA
Asa Waters Mansion Millbury, MA	Leo's Ristorante - Worcester, MA
Beechwood Inn Worcester, MA	Lord Thompson Manor - Thompson, CT
Belltower - Milford, MA	Luciano's at Lake Pearl - Wrentham, MA
Best Western Royal Plaza - Marlborough, MA	Maironis Park - Shrewsbury, MA
Black Orchid - Shrewsbury, MA	Masonic Estates - Charlton, MA
Blissful Meadows Golf Club _ Uxbridge, MA	Maxwell Silverman's Tool House - Worcester, MA
Boston Harbor Hotel - Boston, MA	Mechanics Hall - Worcester, MA
Boston-Newton Marriot Hotel - Newton, MA	Milan Banquet Room - Shrewsbury, MA
Brookstone Ballroom and Event Center - Derry, NH	Minuteman Club - Hanscome AFB
Butternut Farm - Stow, MA	Nashoba Valley Winery - Bolton, MA
Cathedral of the Pines - Rindge, NH	Naval Station Officers Club - Newport, RI
Centrum Center - Worcester, MA	Oakham Golf Club - Oakham, MA
Charles Hotel - Cambridge, MA	Oakhill Country Club - Fitchburg, MA
Charter Oak Country Club - Hudson, MA	Old Sturbridge Village - Sturbridge, MA
Chocksett Inn - Sterling, MA	Omni Parker House - Boston, MA
Christina's - Foxboro, MA	Periwinkles Garden Court - Oxford, MA
Club Maxine at Maxwell Silverman's - Worcester, MA	Pipinell's - Franklin, MA
Coachman Lodge - Bellingham, MA	Pleasant Valley Country Club - Sutton, MA
Cochituate Country Club - Wayland, MA	Point Breeze - Webster, MA
Cocke 'n Kettle - Uxbridge, MA	Pond House Café at Elizabeth Park - West Hartford, CT
Cohasse Country Club - Southbridge, MA	Primavera - Millis, MA
Coldbrook Country Club - Barre, MA	Promises To Keep - Derry, NH
College of the Holy Cross Hogan Center - Worcester, MA	Publick House - Sturbridge, MA
Colonial Hotel - Gardner, MA	Quail Hollow Country Club - Oakham, MA
Colonial Inn - Concord, MA	Quincy Neighborhood Club - Quincy, MA
Commandant’s House Charlestown Navy Yard - Boston, MA	Raddison Hotel - Marlborough, MA
Copley Plaza Hotel - Boston, MA	Raffael's Banquet Facility - Walpole, MA
Crowne Plaza - Boston, MA	Ramada Inn - Auburn, MA
Crowne Plaza - Natick, MA	Royal Sonesta - Cambridge, MA
Crowne Plaza - Worcester, MA	Rufus-Putnam House - Rutland, MA
Cyprian Keyes CC - Sterling, MA	Salem Cross Inn - West Brookfield, MA
Devens Inn & Conference Center - Devens, MA	Saphire Manor - Sharon, MA
Dino's Restaurant - Worcester, MA	Seaport Hotel & Conference Center - Boston, MA
Doubletree Hotel - Westborough, MA	Sheraton Tara - Framingham, MA
Elks Lodge - Auburn, MA	Spencer Country Inn - Spencer, MA
Elks Lodge - Shrewsbury, MA	Sterling Country Club - Sterling, MA
Fenway Park 406 Club - Boston, MA	Steven's Farm B & B - Barre, MA
Fort Devens Officer's Club - Devens, MA	Stowe Acres Country Club - Stow, MA
Four Points Hotel - Fitchburg, MA	Sturbridge Host Hotel - Sturbridge, MA
Franklin Country Club - Franklin, MA	Sturbridge Isle - Sturbridge, MA
Fruitlands Museum - Harvard, MA	The Barn at Gibbet Hill - Groton, MA
Gamble Mansion - Boston, MA	The Manor - West Boylston, MA
Grafton Inn - Grafton, MA	The Tavern at OSV - Sturbridge, MA
Hanscom Field Officer's Club - Lexington, MA	Thomas Henry Hearthstone Inn - Sturbridge, MA
Harding-Allen Estate - Barre, MA	Tilton Hall Clark University - Worcester, MA
Harrington Farm - Princeton, MA	Tower Hill Botanic Garden - Boylston, MA
Hawthorne Hotel - Salem, MA	Tribeca - Worcester, MA
Higgins Armory - Worcester, MA	Tuckerman Hall - Worcester, MA
Higgins House at WPI - Worcester, MA	Union Station - Worcester, MA
Hilltop Steakhouse - Saugus, MA	Veronique Ballroom - Brookline, MA
Holden Hills Golf Club - Holden, MA	Wachusett Country Club - West Boylston, MA
Holiday Inn - Boxborough, MA	Wachusett Mountain - Princeton, MA
Holiday Inn - Mansfield, MA	Wachusett Village Inn - Westminster, MA
Holiday Inn - Worcester, MA	Warren Conference Center - Hopkinton, MA
Hopkinton Country Club - Hopkinton, MA	Wayside Inn - Sudbury, MA
Hudson Elks - Hudson, MA	Wedgewood Pines Country Club - Stow, MA
Indian Meadows - Westborough, MA	Westin Hotel - Waltham, MA
Inn at Woodstock Hill - Woodstock, CT	Westin Hotel Copley Place - Boston, MA
Interlaken Inn - Lakeville, CT	White Cliffs - Northborough, MA
Italian Social Club - Worcester, MA	White's of Westport - Westport, MA
Jimmie's Allenhurst - Danvers, MA	Worcester Art Museum - Worcester, MA
Kirkbrae Country Club - Lincoln, RI	Worcester Country Club - Worcester, MA
Knights of Columbus - Leominster, MA	Wyndham Hotel  - Billerica, MA
Knights of Columbus - Westborough, MA	Wyndham Hotel  - Westborough, MA
Knights of Columbus - Worcester, MA	Zukas Hilltop Barn - Spencer, MA

Worcester Art Museum

Spencer Country Inn

Recharging Our Batteries and READY to Rock!

Even though the winter months are the slow season for wedding and on-location portraiture here in New England, we've gotta say we totally LOVE this time of year as it affords us more opportunity to plan and prioritize.  We can refocus and reaffirm for ourselves what we love about this business - what our strengths are (and how we can capitalize on them) and where our weaknesses may be (where we should step outside our comfort zone and aim to grow).

While reviewing our packages for 2012, we decided to revamp our price lists in order to offer more album selections and a variety of à la carte products.  We saw that we could actually reduce our photo reprint pricing too!  Just after we received our new marketing materials, we happened to attend a Boston wedding expo (the first of the year in this area), and man, were we pleased to find that we're extremely competitive in our pricing and when push comes to shove, we can offer more value for the dollar, more bang for the buck.  In all honesty, the pricing plans we saw at the expo were well over $3000, and we offer several options well below that.

I guess part of our "secret" (if there were one)  is that we keep our overhead expenses low.  Working from our home studio and office allows us the freedom to go "on the road" for weddings and on-location portraits, without having to rent  studio space with all the added expense that entails.  We essentially carry the studio with us when a client wants a formalized background, as is often the case in a baby session at the client's home, or for a high school senior portrait.  And this year we plan to expand our selection of indoor backgrounds.

{at our home studio where we meet with clients}

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The other day we bid a fond adieu to our dear comrade "Larry, the Large Format" ... if you didn't know, Chris buys and sells camera gear and knows the stuff like the back of his hand.  Larry, as we liked to call him, sort of fell into our laps when Chris purchased a large collection of gear from an amateur photographer who no longer had the photo "bug".  After some tender loving care, Larry was good as new and looked totally cool with our interior décor, if I do say so myself!

With the proceeds of the sale we were able to snag a lens that we've had our eye on for our Nikon D700 - a Nikkor AF-S 16-35mm f/4 G ED VR.  The image of our living room (above) is the first from this new lens, and we can see it's totally gonna rock at our next wedding this February!

Vanessa & Rich ~ August 20, 2011

The day had finally arrived!  We'd been looking forward to Vanessa and Rich's wedding for what seemed like soooo long.  Having photographed their E-session back in April, we were quite excited to handle the photography for their special day - we knew the wedding would be a blast for us!

Keeping with Massachusetts' summers as we know them, the day was quite warm and humid, and even tho thunder storms were forecast, we all lucked out with sunshine and dry weather!

The couple exchanged vows at the N.E. Dream Center (a gorgeous, scaled-down replica of Paris' Notre Dame), and the ceremony was presided over by Reverend Will Bard.  A reception following was held at Cyprian Keyes, on one of the most gorgeous golf courses in New England.  In fact, as we photographed the wedding party and family groupings before dinner, the couple was nearly creamed by a renegade golf ball as someone shouted 'fore'!!!  (a little something amusing to share with their grand kids one day, we hope!)

Vanessa had long prepared for what would make her wedding day a perfect reflection of her style.  The sequined bodess of her wedding gown (provided by Loren's Bridal of Sturbridge, MA) was absolutely stunning as you can see (click on image to enlarge).

Vanessa's matron of honor and bridesmaids were so beautiful in lilac-colored dresses by designer Justin Alexander, and the coordinating bouquets by Perro's Flowers were a perfect match of calla lilies, roses and hydrangea.  The groom and groomsmen wore very distinguished looking tuxedos from Men's Warehouse in black with pale blue vests and white boutonnieres.  The groom's niece served as flower girl, and there were two handsome young ring bearers as well.
 

The three-tiered wedding cake was beautifully adorned with coordinating white frosting with decorative swirls, lavender ribbon and roses of pale blue, provided by Gerardo's Bakery.

I (Vickie) personally fell in LOVE with the glass charger plates of Cyprian Keyes' table settings ... just love the beaded glass around the edges ~ very classy!  Everything looked just beautiful.

Special touches included having the guests sign-in on a drum head (cool!) rather than the typical guest book.  So appropriate since Rich is drum virtuoso for the band Shiver (formerly Ever Fading).  The lively dance music was provided by DJ icon Kevin Whitney, and videographer Tim Ethier was on board to document the festivities, "moving-picture style."  Super fun for us as Chris has worked with both Kevin and Tim at many weddings over the years!

So, Vanessa and Rich (and your wonderful families), we're Ever Grateful to you for a day we won't soon forget and we can't wait to show you the remainder of your images in the weeks to come!

All the best for many years of happiness, and best of wishes in your new condominium!

                                                      ~ Vickie and Chris

Central MA Wedding Locales-- Part II

Happy Daylight Savings Time! This means that wedding season here in New England cannot be far behind! For those of you who haven't been immersed in the wedding industry the way Wakeen Photography is, we thought we'd continue with Part 2 of our pictoral review of much-loved reception sites in our area.

There are way too many to mention (it would have been interesting if Chris had kept a count all these years of how many places he's shot weddings), but here are a few that we frequent most often ... it's going to be great getting back to these places after a cold, snowy winter!

Pictured above is a beautiful table setting at White Cliffs in Northborough; the "sweetheart" table is seen in the background. They do a wonderful, high-class presentation. Ann Marie, you're the best!



In the bridal suite at the Beechwood Hotel in Worcester, Chris grabs an impromptu shot of this beautiful bride primping before meeting her groom. The Beechwood recently received a Four-Diamond rating in the hotel industry. Congratulations!

This mirrored shot is actually the headboard behind the bed. Mirrors make great photographic props. This shot (below) is one of Chris' favorites.








When searching for a unique venue for your wedding reception, don't overlook places you may not have initially considered. The Worcester Art Museum offers truly exquisite surroundings with an artistic flair ... your guests may appreciate the opportunity to do something in addition to the expected dining and dancing -- a docent-led tour of selected galleries. We just love this photo (below) of the Renaissance Court with its incredible mosaic flooring, its impressive columns and its golden light.


For all you Red Sox fans out there, why not consider having your wedding photos taken at Fenway Park! If your ceremony is in Boston, there's no reason not to look into this option if the bride and groom share a passion for our Sox!


And if you're really not into the urban setting, why not consider a country or pastoral atmosphere? Zukas Hilltop Barn in Spencer, MA (below) offers a gorgeous setting for outdoor tent weddings (offered May thru October) and is a personal favorite of Vic's (considering Spencer her ol' hometown where her daughter was born). They also offer a beautiful indoor reception November thru April, accommodating up to 150 people.

For 2011 you'll find us in Sterling at the Chocksett Inn, in Boylston at Cyprian Keyes, in Spencer at the Spencer Country Inn, and in Sturbridge at the Publick House, among other places.

Well, this concludes our review of some of the gorgeous venues we are blessed to frequent as wedding photographers!