Connecticut Senior Portrait & Wedding Photographer

Abby & Andy | Rocky Neck State Park | Niantic, CT Engagement Photographer

Hello Again!

Tonight’s blog post features the September 1, 2016 engagement session of Abby & Andrew. We had quite a time trying to get their engagement session done.. first we had to postpone due to weather. Then, at the time of their session we had to change locations because I had gotten word that there were TONS of biting insects flying around the chosen spot. We moved their session to Rocky Neck State Park and I think it was the best choice EVER! They chose to have two different outfits for their session to give their photos some variety. We started the session at the Pavilion in their semi-formal attire and moved to the beach for some shots in the casual outfits.

The two of them met when they were each visiting good friends from college who happened to be siblings. When we met before their engagement session, they told me “their story”…. Andy had left a poem for Abby, telling her to come meet him for a special night, starting at Hammonnasset Park near Meigs Point. Once she arrived, he’d set up a blanket and had a gift for her; a home-made scrapbook about their lives together and all their adventures and accomplishments. The very last page asked “Will you marry me” and Andy was down on one knee! They celebrated with champagne and a wonderful dinner at Café Routier.

Their wedding date is set for June 23, 2017. Their ceremony will be held along the Connecticut River at the beautiful Riverfront Park in Glastonbury, CT and their reception will be at The Glastonbury Boathouse. Some of their decor for the wedding is going to be hand made, including the table numbers. They are using driftwood that they collected from Hammonnasset to make sailboats and the table numbers will be on the sails. Abby’s cousin will be putting together the flowers, and they are looking forward to the delicious food that will be provided by David Allen Catering.

They’re not just excited about the details, though. They’re also excited to spend the rest of their lives together. It’s so clear that this couple is head-over-heels for each other! You’ll see what I mean when you see the photos!

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Jen & Graham | Gillette Castle Engagement Session | CT Engagement Photographer

It’s me again blog readers!

Back in the fall, I met up with Jen & Graham for their engagement session at Gillette Castle State Park. These two lovebirds will be getting married on April 21, 2017. I can’t wait to share their wedding day with them!

They matched their outfits to the season PERFECTLY! Jen wore a tan pair of skinny jeans and an orange top, while Graham wore a brown button down and jeans. They were going for a comfortable, casual look and I’d say they nailed it!! The two of them met on Match.com and when it came time to propose, Graham had the sweetest plan to pop the question. Graham had made a cake for Jen’s birthday… not just any cake though, it was a NY Giants cake! While they were sitting by the fire in their jammies, Graham popped the question. She said it was perfect! Of course she said YES!! Her engagement ring is not like any other either… which makes it even more special!!

When I asked them what details they were most excited about their wedding, they said that the location (Bill Millers Castle), the music (played by DJ Rilan), and the PARTY!! They are custom creating their music playlist to include all the songs they love to be played.

I know it’s going to be a gorgeous wedding!

Wedding details aside, let’s get to the present: Jen and Graham’s session! These two are real naturals in front of the camera. Their good looks, fabulous outfit choices, a sublime location and their genuine love for each other made this photo shoot a breeze!

Here’s to many, many happy years together!

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Love Is In The Air — Kate & Jake are Engaged! | CT Engagement Photographer

Hello wonderful blog readers!

I recently photographed Kate & Jake for their engagement session at the Farmington Canal. They wanted a simple session on the bike path – not too many props or crazy poses. Just the greenery in the background, so that’s exactly what we did! They planned their wardrobe choice based on the location for the session and it worked out perfectly. Kate chose a simple (but super cute) white textured dress, and her handsome fiance sported a purple button down paired with jeans.

I had never been to the location before but immediately fell in love with its simplicity the minute I set foot on it. I always make it known to my clients when we are walking through “woodsy areas” that I have a small (okay large) fear of snakes. They both in unison assured me that there were no snakes where we were shooting. Then, immediately after that Kate said “except for that one over there!” Thankfully, he stayed in his area and let me work, then I decided to get just close enough to take a photo of the visitor since he was now a part of their story. Everyone… meet Fred 😉

After our run in with Fred, while we were walking along the path, I asked them to tell me the story of how Jake proposed… Kate said.. “We were discussing what kinds of rings I liked since I had never told him before, So I googled some images and showed him some examples. I was unaware that he had purchased a ring a few weeks back and it was hidden in the closet in the other room. After we were talking about rings, he got really quiet and I asked what was wrong. He said that he was nervous that I was expecting the proposal to be a certain way and he wouldn’t meet expectations. I told him that he couldn’t possibly disappoint me with it. I went along to texting or something on my phone and he went into the other room. When I turned around, he was on his knee and said ”so you wouldn’t mind it if I did it this way?” I screamed ”are you kidding me!?” and then he proposed!” Isn’t that the sweetest?

This soon-to-be wedded couple will be getting married on July 23, 2017 at the Riverview in Simsbury, CT. They are most excited about it every aspect of the wedding, especially the food and music. We had so much fun at their engagement session, and I just know it’s going to be a gorgeous wedding! For now… enjoy some more of my favorites from their session!

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Shawn & Liz | Wrights Mill Farm Wedding | CT Wedding Photographer

Hi All… Welcome Back!!

You might remember a blog post a little while ago of a super fun couple at Gillettes Castle State Park.. If not, check it out here: http://www.j-marie-photography.net/1947-2/

Well, they are now husband and wife and I am so happy to share their wedding with you!

I LOVE photographing weddings. There’s so much love in the air and the bride and groom spent so much time carefully planning all the details. It was not any different for Liz and Shawn’s wedding, either! The wedding and reception were held at Wrights Mill Farm, and was catered by the venue as well. They danced their first dance to “Come away with me” by Nora Jones, which was played by Pat and Mark from Upbeat DJ. Their wedding was even more perfect with the addition of beautiful flowers from Blue Butterfly Floral, a delicious cake made by the staff at Wrights Mill Farm, and of course that gorgeous dress that Liz found at Melissa Ashley!

When I asked Liz what her favorite part of the wedding was, she said: EVERYTHING! She especially remembers looking out from the alter to see her family and friends crying. You could tell they were really loving every minute of their special day surrounded by those who love them.

Okay, enough talk. Let’s move on to photos!

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Amanda & Ryan | Mystic, CT Engagement Session | CT Engagement Photography

Hi everyone!

It’s me again and today I am showing off one of the cutest couples on the planet: Amanda & Ryan

While we were strolling through downtown Mystic, CT for their session, Amanda told me all about how she and Ryan met through their roommates while they were both attending The University of Maryland for graduate school. I also got to hear the story of Ryan’s proposal, (which was so sweet btw 😉 ). Ryan and Amanda were getting ready to head out to their favorite breakfast spot in Mystic, CT when he asked if they could make a pit stop at Giants Neck Beach to take a look at the tide and enjoy the beach before the tourists arrived. It was there, at the edge of the rock wall, where he asked Amanda if he could trade the class ring she was wearing for an engagement ring!! Of course she said YES!!

We chose to do their session in Mystic by the drawbridge along with a little train station just around the corner. The area holds great meaning to them because after Ryan proposed, he whisked Amanda away for a surprise “staycation” there. Ryan is in the United States Coast Guard stationed in CT and Amanda is in Washington, DC for graduate school so it only made sense to include the train station since it is a integral part of their story.

Their wedding date is set for September 30th, 2017 and I am so honored that they asked me to photograph the next chapter in their story. They will be getting married at the beautiful Decatur House in Washington, DC! They are both excited to see all their family and friends in one place and celebrate, eat and drink with all of them. They’re not just excited about the details, though. They’re also excited to spend the rest of their lives together. It’s so clear that this couple is head-over-heels for each other!

You’ll see what I mean when you see the photos!