Naomi, of GENERATIONS videostories in Boston, is guest blogging today about some of her favorite weddings…and it’s so much fun to hear from someone behind the lens!
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I first heard about Rachelle and Josh when Rachelle’s mom, Patrice, contacted me from NYC, to tell me that she, her daughter, and her soon-to-be son-in-law all loved our “videostories” and asked if we were available for a June 7 wedding in Newport at the Belle Mer. As film makers, we LOVE the Belle Mer: With its white walls, floating white sheer drapes, rolling green lawn, and light-strung bridge arching across the Narragansett Bay, it reminds me of a mansion straight out of the Great Gatsby. After filming a few weddings there, I realized what a wonderful backdrop the site is for decor – there are so many different-feeling spaces at the site, and all of them feel open and flow effortlessly into one another.
I met Rachelle and Josh only a few weeks before their wedding and they struck me as like one of the happiest, most giggling couples I had ever known. When I showed up to film on the day of the wedding, Rachelle and her “girls” were full of smiles and giggles while getting ready. Truly, they were as sunny as the golden-yellow, flowing chiffon evening gowns they wore as maids of honor. In seeing how classic and gorgeous those gowns looked on all of the girls, I wondered why more brides didn’t try the evening gown department of their favorite stores for attendant’s dresses instead of limiting themselves to bridal shops. Mom, Patrice, wore a stunning, turquoise chiffon gown that was couture designed and made in Paris, and the bride looked (but didn’t act!) like a princess in her off-white ball gown and diamond accessories.
Mom escorted Rachelle down the aisle where the couple exchanged simple vows under an arbor made of two, white- blossomed trees arching toward one another. The bride and bridesmaids all carried golden calla lilies. The ballroom was filled with tall, fragrant floral arrangements and the band was lit with cobalt blue and fuchsia LED lights which were a joy to capture on film. What was most wonderful about this wedding was the profound love shared by the couple and their families. You can see the passion between Rachelle and Josh most clearly in their first dance, but the warmth and closeness of family surrounded the couple throughout the night.
As the wedding season slows down, I am reminded what a privilege it is to be invited into these most intimate moments of a family’s life. Not only do I get the opportunity to see amazing weddings, but I can also immerse myself in some of the most loving experiences anyone could possibly want to have. Every wedding is a blessing.