I love Gloucester. I have fond memories of fishing there as a kid, with my grandfather, in the misty harbor that always smelled of salty sea air. So I was super excited when Saturday’s wedding brought me to the Gloucester of my youth - misty and romantic. Even more exciting, however, was getting to hang out with Jennifer and Devon, at all of the awesome locations that they selected!

We started out with Jennifer and her bridesmaids at the Captain’s House Bed and Breakfast in Rockport. We spent the first hour laughing, joking, and (oh yeah) taking photos of Jennifer and her bridesmaids getting ready. Then Devon and all of the family showed up for family photos. We planned a moment for Jennifer and Devon to see each other for the first time, then we climbed all over the rocks at the oceans edge getting photos of the adventurous bride and groom.

After photos, it was off to the Cruiseport in Gloucester for the ceremony (and reception). The Cruiseport is a beautiful venue located right on a wharf where the fishing boats dock. So after the ceremony, we headed right outside to the cool industrial buildings that surrounded the Cruiseport for some awesome photo locations. Because we’d done all of the family photos before the ceremony, we had lots of time to explore the location and create some really cool photos…and we still got Jennifer and Devon back in time to enjoy a bit of the cocktail hour!

Then it was dancing, and partying, and enjoying the awesome food that the Cruiseport served up!

Click here to see a few more photos: http://www.pbase.com/jamisonwexlerphoto/jendevon

Please join us in welcoming the newest member of our family!

Benjamin (Ben) Clifford Wexler
Born June 25, 2008, 5:57 PM
8lbs, 12oz, 21in

Melanie & Ben are recovering nicely at Framingham Union Hospital.

Caroline and Justin’s wedding was a bit of a nail biter for me. With baby #2 due on Saturday, I was a little scared that I would get the call to drive Melanie to the hospital in the middle of their ceremony. Fortunately, Andree Kehn (awesome photographer from Maine and a personal friend of mine) was on hand to back me up. And even more fortunately, the baby held off, so Caroline and Justin got the benefit of two photographers!

We started out with Caroline and her girls at her parents’ house in Northbridge where she was just finishing up with her makeup (”I look like a cat” she exclaimed with a happy smile), and getting dressed. After a few photos, we headed to the beautiful Trinity Lutheran Church in Worcester. In a region of old dark churches, Trinity was so bright and cheery! It was a beautiful venue.

After a quick receiving line and a few photos in the church, we headed to the reception at Zukas Hilltop Barn in Spencer. As soon as we drove up, I realized that I wanted to get the bride and groom into the hayfield for the photos. Despite our collective fear of ticks, and at least one fear of snakes in the group (I won’t divulge who was scared of the snakes!), Caroline and Justin traipsed through the waist high grass like troopers!

We made it out of the hay field without any bites, and went into the reception where the food was delicious, and music was thumping, and the crowd was ready to celebrate Caroline and Justin’s happy day!

Click here to see a few more photos: http://www.pbase.com/jamisonwexlerphoto/carolinejustin

Ceremony: Trinity Lutheran Church, Worcester, MA
Reception: Zukas Hilltop Barn, Spencer, MA
Makeup: Jess Mansfield from 126 Post Salon
Flowers: Holmes Shusas
Entertainment: Champagne Toast DJ

Also, a special thanks to Andree Kehn from Andree Kehn Wedding Photography for helping me out this weekend!

–Jamie Wexler
www.jamisonwexler.com

Summertime, and the photography’s easy…or at least easier…or at least there’s more light to work with. So I met Bri and Travis for their engagement session on a Wednesday evening after work. Little did we know the adventure that lay in store for us!

Since Bri and Travis live near one of my favorite settings for location portraits, I suggested we meet there. Normally this location is perfect because it is open to the public, and features many acres of waterfront, lush green forests, and a lovely garden surrounding an abandoned old mansion that’s straight out of “Clue”! After wandering around a few of my favorite spots, we ended up on the porch of the mansion. Out of curiosity, we peeked in the windows, and someone tried one of the doors. To our surprise, it opened.

What followed was probably the most daring engagement session that I have ever been a part of, as Bri and Travis sacrificed the cleanliness of their clothes to the decades of dirt in the mansion. As we explored every room, we took full advantage of the unique character of the location, from the old marble batthtub in an upstairs bathroom, to the dried up old flowers still in vases on the kitchen counter.

Kerry and Mark didn’t just throw a wedding, they planned an entertainment extravaganza that’s sure to be the talk of all of their friends for years to come. Don’t believe me? Let me quickly run through the events during the 13 hours that I spent with them:

The day started normally enough, with Joe (my co-photographer for the event) and I arriving at the Hilton Boston Financial district for the respective bridal/groomal preparations. While Joe went off with the guys, I hung out with Kerry and her bridesmaids during the makeup and dressing. After a few bridal portraits of Kerry, using the awesome art deco decor of the Hilton, I hopped in a limo with Kerry and her parents for the ride to Our Lady Help of Christians church in Newton.

The ceremony went off without a hitch, and Kerry and Mark vowed their eternal love for one another, and Kerry’s dad serenaded the crowd with a beautiful version of “The Love Song”. I now pronounce you…a receiving line…a few quick photos, and Joe and I were in the limo again for the ride back to Boston with the newly married couple. We took our time getting back, stopping for photos at Fenway Park and the Boston Public Garden, before meeting the family back at the hotel to finish the formals.

Then we all got on an amphibious Duck Boat and took a tour of the city, including a nice float on the Charles River. After the tour, the Duck Boat dropped us of in front of the New England Aquarium, where the guests were gathered outside, waiting to be admitted to the cocktail hour in the Aquarium. That’s when Mark put on a microphone, and began gathering the crowd in for a juggling show. That’s right, the groom and two of his friends put on a juggling show for all of their guests, complete with multiple stunts (including knocking a flower out of the brides mouth), and concluding with flaming batons!

But the night was just getting started. Excited from the juggling spectacle, everyone moved inside to enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeurves in the main aquarium, while the divers frolicked with the sharks and giant turtles in the tank. Very cool! Then everyone moved outside to the pavilion for the reception. That’s where I was greeted with the site of 7′ balloon sculptures of the bride and groom behind the head table! The reception was hopping, between the thumping music, the roast of the groom, and the balloon Kerry and Mark making it to the dance floor, it was a PARTY.

And while we were sad to see it end, it was awesome to have the chance to unwind a little with Kerry and Mark on the walk back to the hotel, and take some more fun (more fashiony) wedding photos with them featuring Boston at night.

Click here to see a few more photos: http://www.pbase.com/jamisonwexlerphoto/kerrimark

Also, a special thanks to Joe Ciarcia from Symphony Photography for co-shooting with me out this weekend!

Krisi and Tom couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day for their wedding in New Hampshire. The sun was out, the grass was green, and love was in the air.

The entire wedding day took place at the Atkinson Resort and Conference Center in Atkinson, New Hampshire. When I arrived, Krisi and her bridesmaids were finalizing their preparations in the bridal suite. As the emotion and anticipation started to well up, Krisi did something I’ve never seen a bride do before…she got out a guitar, and started playing the room a song…while her hair was still being styled! The song worked, because the ceremony went off without a hitch in the beautiful outdoor gazebo area of the resort. After the ceremony, we took a few minutes to walk around the grounds a bit and have some fun with the wedding day photos of the bride and groom. After some romantic shots at the fountain and in a little grove of trees, we found a motorcycle that someone had parked in the back…my kind of location!

Upon arriving back from our walk, the reception was ready to begin. The evening rocked out with the awesome sound of “The Boss” (not THAT one, the Boston based wedding band). As great as the Boss was, however, Krisi stole the show with her solo guitar and vocal performance to Tom halfway through the evening!

Click here to see a few more photos: http://www.pbase.com/jamisonwexlerphoto/krisitom

Ceremony/Reception: Atkinson Resort & Country Club
Hair/Makeup: Green Tangerine Spa & Salon and Dellaria Salon
Flowers: Suzanne’s Weddings
Entertainment: The Boss (band)

Also, a special thanks to Caty Morris from Catharine Morris Photography for helping me out this weekend!

–Jamie Wexler
www.jamisonwexler.com

I’ve recently signed up with a website that allows brides to review their wedding day vendors and help future brides pick the good ones…and I try really hard to be one of the good ones!

The website is www.weddingwire.com.

In addition to doing a public service for future brides, they will also give you stuff if you review 5 or more of your vendors. Gift certificates and stuff.

So if you’re a past bride of mine, and are reading this, I’d really appreciate it if you’d take a second to write a little note about your experiences with me as your photographer. Thanks so much!

Review Jamison Wexler - Photographer at WeddingWire

(and a special thanks to those of you that already have!)

–Jamie Wexler
www.jamisonwexler.com

I don’t do as many portrait sessions as I do weddings, but I always love it when I get a call to do the Devereaux family portraits! I’ve been capturing Ryan and Paige springing up for the past few years, but this session was extra special because Julie and Christine joined in for the first time!

We all met at Powder House Square Park in Somerville, where the kids instantly found the climbing rocks irresistible. Once the rocks had been climbed, we moved to the top of the hill to pay in the grass and sun, working in the rock tower where Julie and Christine were married. Then we got the family together for some shots. Finally we moved back down the hill to capture a photo that’s become an annual tradition. It was a great way to spend a beautiful Sunday morning!

Saturday’s wedding proves what a small world we live in. I received a referral from a photographer friend of mine in the area who was already booked for the date. Since Michelle and Nate were planning their wedding from out of state, we had a phone consultation, and we hit it off immediately. When she called to book me for her wedding, she mentioned that she had talked to one of my former brides, who her fiance was friends with. Turns out that Nate is from Lewisburg, PA, (my wife, Melanie’s home town), and that he was also friends with my sister-in-law in High School.

So I hadn’t met Michelle and Nate in person before Saturday, but they turned out to be just as cool as they sounded on the phone. We started the day at Michelle’s parents house in North Smithfied, RI. As I was driving up to the house, I noticed one of their neighbors had placed an old couch on the curb - of course that was too good of an opportunity to pass up! Next we headed to the American-French Genealogical Society in Woonsocket, RI for the ceremony. The AFGS was one of the coolest locations I’ve yet photographed. It’s a decommissioned church from early last century, that looks like it did when it was first built. Like taking a trip back in time. Between the old fashioned classroom and the upstairs gym/theatre, we made the most of the excellent location. But we weren’t done yet. Before heading to the reception, we stopped in downtown Woonsocket to grab some photos in front of the historic Stadium Theatre. Then it was off to the Coachmen’s Lodge in Bellingham, MA, for a fun evening of dinner and dancing!

Click here to see a few more photos: http://www.pbase.com/jamisonwexlerphoto/michellenate

Ceremony: American-French Geneological Society
Reception: Coachmen’s Lodge
Flowers: Park Square Florist
Entertainment: Ocean State Sound DJ’s

–Jamie Wexler
www.jamisonwexler.com

He did it! My 17 year old brother, Michael, put in all of the hard work and dedication necessary to earn his Eagle Scout badge.

So I loaded up Luke and Melanie, along with Wexler baby 1 3/4 (who seems to go with us everywhere now), and flew the friendly JetBlue skies down to my native town: the redneck paradise of Ocala, Florida.

It was great to see all of my family again. In addition to my Mom and Michael, my middle brother, Stephen, and his wife, Lisa, still live in Ocala as well. Joining us from MA was my Aunt Susan.

What a cool thing the Eagle Scout award is. I’ve heard of it, but I never realized what a big achievement it really is. Seems like everyone in the local, state, and national government was lining up to congratulate Michael. He received letters and certificates from the current and past Presidents’ Bush, congressman, and government agencies like the FBI and USDA, the armed forces, etc. There was a full album of them by the time I arrived. At the official ceremony, which took place at Grace Presbyterian Church, there were representatives from the city government, city police, sherrif’s department, fire department, school board and a few local civic clubs, all of whom spoke their congratulations and give Michael more plaques, certificates, proclamations, and awards. By the end of all of the celebration, I’ll bet he could cover every wall in his room with all of the items he was awarded. It was a very cool experience.

Then we vegged.

~Jamie Wexler
www.jamisonwexler.com