laura & joe

laura and joe got married on their 12 year anniversary of dating. i took a moment to think back to where i was may 8, 1998 when these two started dating... i'm almost positive i can trace it back to my first class and charter day at hamilton college and entirely too much fried dough and alcohol, hah.

fortunately for laura and joe, i have moved on from my college years, but as i thought about how much has happened in the years since that class and charter day- i realize how much laura and joe have also already been through. it was an honor to be the one chosen to photograph their wedding after all their years of commitment. i particularly liked what one of the groomsmen said in his toast...'they have never had a chance to know heartbreak.' that is something so special and rare. yay for laura and joe!

i love love love this picture below...so much laughter!

laura is so cool, she even coordinated her wedding to my blog...

quincy... cutie pie kitty cat...

the important part of this picture is laura's hands. coming from an italian family myself, i understand the need to speak with one's hands. here, laura is explaining to her bridesmaids how to button up the back of her dress... while using her hands.... that no one can see...love it!

below... not your typical 'on the porch' bridal portrait. the funny thing is while i was shooting this laura was telling me how she could never be a model. aside from basic editing, i did not retouch these images. this is how it was shot in camera... so laura....

you are wrong! you could totally be a model! you need less retouching than they do!

freaking gorgeous!

so cute. these girls have been friends since elementary school...

i love how laura's head was down... i can't quite explain that gesture, but it was super sweet. maybe you get it, maybe you don't. it's my blog, i don't have to explain everything.

finally.... husband and wife

laura and joe were awesome... they were willing to make their way into the woods for the shoot.

integrating the props from their photo booth...

first dance...

this is the 'i'm okay, i'm not gonna cry' hand signal. sometimes i wonder if people don't like me because i put pictures of them crying or about to cry on my blog, but i think it is beautiful. it warms my heart to watch a parent be moved to tears as their child enjoys their first dance as a married person...

laura and joe's parents enjoying the moment...

laughter from a toast... i love how joe has his head all the way down to the table!

this picture cracks me up because i felt like the girl in the pink was laughing because she knew that this groomsmen's silly behavior would be back to haunt him eventually... and she was right...

tequila face...

i don't know what this was... but it appeared to me like some sort of groomsmen ballet. i was quite impressed.

i've decided that laura should start a business coaching brides on how to 'just be' on their wedding day. laura was totally 'go with the flow' all day long. the only thing i heard her stress over was a tic-tac, which i know she eventually got because her breath smelled fabulous. thanks so much to laura, joe and their long time friends and family for letting me be a part of their day...