The Mansion on Turner Hill Wedding in Ipswich, MA
The Mansion on Turner Hill Wedding in Ipswich, MA
casey + joe
Love has a remarkable way of transcending boundaries, and for Casey and Joe, their journey led them from the picturesque landscapes of Germany to the historic charm of Ipswich, Massachusetts. Join us as we delve into the heartwarming story of a military couple whose love knows no borders, culminating in a December celebration at The Mansion on Turner Hill.
Across Oceans and Time Zones Casey and Joe's love story unfolded against the backdrop of a transcontinental romance. Joe, serving in the military, found himself stationed in Germany, where he crossed paths with Casey. Their connection grew stronger despite the miles that separated them, proving that love can thrive even in the face of distance.
The Proposal on Foreign Soil Joe's proposal was a moment of joy amidst the challenges of a military lifestyle. Against the backdrop of historic German architecture and the enchanting landscapes of the Black Forest, he asked Casey to be his forever. With a resounding 'yes,' the couple set their sights on a winter wedding in the bride's hometown of Ipswich.
A Winter Wonderland in Ipswich Choosing The Mansion on Turner Hill for their December celebration was a nod to Casey's roots and a dreamy winter setting. The mansion, with its rich history and classic elegance, provided the perfect venue for a celebration that bridged the gap between their life in Germany and their ties to Massachusetts.
Navigating Wedding Planning Across Continents Planning a wedding from overseas comes with its unique set of challenges, but Casey and Joe faced them with resilience and creativity. Virtual meetings, thoughtful collaborations with local vendors, and a supportive network of family and friends helped bring their vision to life.
Incorporating Military Traditions Joe's military service added a poignant touch to the wedding ceremony. The couple incorporated military traditions into their celebration, paying homage to Joe's commitment to service and the sacrifices made by military families around the world.
Embracing Winter Elegance Casey's bridal ensemble captured the essence of winter elegance, with a gown adorned with delicate lace reminiscent of snowflakes. Joe, in his military dress uniform, stood tall and proud as they exchanged vows in a ceremony that symbolized the merging of two worlds.
A Celebration of Love, Unity, and Homecoming As Casey and Joe danced under the glittering lights of The Mansion on Turner Hill, surrounded by the warmth of their loved ones, it became evident that love truly knows no borders. Their December wedding was not just a celebration of their union but also a homecoming, as they bridged the gap between two continents and embarked on a new chapter together.
Love's Resilience Casey and Joe's love story serves as a testament to the resilience of love, transcending geographical distances and military service. Their winter wedding at The Mansion on Turner Hill will forever be a cherished chapter in the book of their lives, reminding us all that love is a force that can overcome any obstacle, no matter how far-reaching. Cheers to Casey and Joe, a couple whose love story is as timeless as the winter landscapes of Ipswich, Massachusetts.
Ninety Acres Farm-To-Table Wedding Photography in Peapack, NJ
Sydney & Aniello’s Wedding | Ninety Acres Farm-To-Table Wedding Photography in Peapack, NJ | Backyard Wedding Ceremony | Apollo Fields
From the beginning, Sydney and Aniello had planned an intimate wedding in New Jersey and a bigger reception in Italy. Then, of course, COVID hit and their plans to wed in April were completely derailed. I remember talking to Sydney on the phone right at that time when Italy was getting hit really hard and the US had only begun to worry about the power of the virus. I could hear the shakiness in her voice, as all of Aniello’s family lives in Italy, and their wedding was supposed to be right on the horizon.
Luckily, this couple is both resilient and logical and they were truly able to make the best out of an unfortunate situation. In fact, the one word they used to describe their own relationship was “unwavering”, and I couldn’t agree more! They postponed both celebrations and waited for the dust to settle, but were still eager to get married.
Sydney and Aniello decided to continue with their intimate wedding in New Jersey on September 19th and the day was absolutely perfect. We had a gorgeous fall afternoon together while they got ready for their backyard ceremony at Sydney’s family home. The energy was quaint, but buzzing with positivity and love. One important element that was executed beautifully was digitizing the ceremony so Aniello’s Italian family could still watch and be as present as possible for their wedding. The couple even exchanged their vows in both English and Italian in order to include everyone.
I loved getting to know this couple more and learn more about the origins of their sweet relationship. I loved how Sydney described their first date in Italy: “I think when I first saw Aniello, I felt love at first sight because I got this weird nervous, inexplicably ecstatic feeling that I had never felt before! We had so much fun talking to each other that my mom and Sal felt quite excluded from the conversation, but were smiling at each other the whole time realizing they were witnessing something special.
“We never officially called it a date, but we dined al fresco and spent the rest of the evening meandering around town just talking. The food was actually quite terrible, but we were so engrossed in our conversation that we really didn't care. I remember when we left the restaurant and we started walking, he placed his hands on my shoulders and gently moved me inside so that he could walk on the side closest to the street. My thoughts were "Wow he is very chivalrous in an old-fashioned and charming way, which is something very rare!"
Aniello had a similarly adoring memory from that date, “My thought beforehand was that I was very lucky to be spending a beautiful night with a beautiful girl. During the date, I thought Sydney was gorgeous, as well as really witty and patient (I talk a lot and she listened intently!). I also thought that she was great company because she was had very good manners and was very entertaining to talk to which I don't find often with people; she also was very thoughtful as she gave me a little tour of the town and brought me to ice cream after dinner. After, I thought I wanted to spend more time with her and hoped to see her again soon”.
Sydney and Aniello love to travel and immerse themselves in culture and language, and look forward to being able to celebrate Part II of their wedding in Italy when the time comes! I was so lucky to have been able to be a part of their sentimental celebration in NJ and wish them all the best in their lives together!
Enjoy these sneak peeks from Sydney & Aniello’s wedding:
Vendors:
Photography: Apollo Fields
Florist: Jardiniere Fine Flowers
Cake: Cocoluxe Fine Pastries
Venue: Ninety Acres Farm-To-Table Restaurant
Wedding Dress: Galvan
Favors: Confetti Milano
New Jersey Family Photographer
Nikki & Leila | Family Photography | Fun and Sassy Toddler Session
We hate to play favorites, but sometimes we just can't help ourselves. Nikki has been a close friend for the past four years and we have been lucky enough to photograph her journey with motherhood, from her maternity session, to Leila's newborn session, and pretty much once or twice a year since this sweet and sassy wild child was born!
It's been so fun watching her grow up, both in person and from behind the camera. She is absolutely full of life and it makes it so easy to photograph her big personality. She is a little chatterbox, full of opinions and curiosities. Running all over the place and hardly stopping to catch her breath, she just fills any space with her huge persona.
Even though we specialize in weddings and don't see that changing any time soon, we do love finding the time to help our friends document the most important parts of parenthood and other special milestones.
The Importance of Capturing Your Family in Professional Photos
Kids grow up SO FAST. Almost faster than we can fathom. It's so important, especially in the first few years, to freeze these precious moments. We encourage you to photograph it all-- the messes, the tantrums, the baths, the playtime, and the snuggles. Looking back on those photos will bring you back to the memories, and is the absolute best way to honor your family.
Venue: Secor Farms | Mahwah, NJ
Lindsey & Jeff's Colorado Winter Engagement Photography at Lake Dillon
Lindsey & Jeff's Winter Engagement Session | Lake Dillon, Colorado | Mountain Engagement Photography | Adventure Couple | Dog Lovers | Apollo Photojournalism
Lindsey and Jeff are everything that I love about my Colorado couples: they are fun and easygoing, outdoor enthusiasts, dog lovers, and down to earth. Lindsey is bubbly and outgoing, and when I first met her she was planning a wedding while wrapping up her nursing degree. Jeff is composed and polite, and when they first met, it was only fitting that they hit a park together to take their dogs on a walk together.
They quickly connected over their love of dogs and nature, so we knew right away that we wanted the pups to be part of their engagement photos! They wanted those epic Colorado mountain landscapes and Lake Dillon was the perfect backdrop. It was a chilly Denver day, but the sun was out which made it surprisingly bearable. However, by the time we made it up the mountain and out to Lake Dillon, the wind had picked up and the elevation was doing us no favors. It was a balmy seven degrees Fahrenheit (are you picking up on the sarcasm yet)??? Oh my lord, it was FREEZING! With the wind chill coming off the lake, the "feels like" weather report was well into the negatives.
As soon as we stepped out of the car, I thought Lindsey and Jeff were going to want to reschedule. No way they were going to want to shoot in this weather, I thought to myself. But they just smiled and said, "Let's go!" I loved their can-do attitude, embracing the harsh Colorado sun that was bouncing off the pristine snow, and absolute chill that was running over the lake. We did take a few breaks to warm back up in the car and I kept having to warm my camera up in my jacket because it was struggling to keep up, but we got these awesome shots which made it SO WORTH IT!
Lindsey was so sweet because as we were headed back to Denver, she thought the pictures were going to be horrible. She said thought her face was all frozen and her eyes would be too squinty, but I sent her a sneak-peak that night and she was over the moon! This is one of my favorite parts about my job, when the conditions are less-than-ideal and we can turn around and make epic photos anyway. Any photographer can shoot beautiful pictures in optimal weather with diffused golden light, but I pride myself on being able to 'wow' my clients when it's freezing and we're only able to shoot in blaring direct sun, too!!
Colorado Engagement Photography: Erny Photo CO | Apollo Photo
Location: Lake Dillon, Colorado
Alex & Rae's International Wedding in New York State
Alex & Ragnhild's New York State Wedding | International Weddings | NYC Wedding Photography | Norwegian Dancers | Apollo Photojournlism
I met Alex on the Upper West Side in NYC at a restaurant. We got to chatting at the bar and I told him that I was a photographer, and as it turned out, he was engaged to his fiancé Ragnhild and looking for a wedding photographer. After talking a while longer, we realized that we had quite a few mutual friends from the neighborhood, and it all fell into place right after that.
Alex is a personal trainer and a former professional basketball player. He met Rae on the court, when her professional dancing career took her to one of his games. Rae and her daughter, Denise, were from Norway and literally packed up their lives to live in New York City with Alex. They have such a loving and playful relationship that made my job so easy!
Their wedding day kicked off with the guys hitting the basketball court, which was a fun alternative to traditional wedding mornings. Terrence was out there playing with the groomsmen, and it really reminded me of how much fun we have on our wedding days! The ceremony was officiated by a friend, who spoke of them so eloquently that it made me cry behind the camera. Yes, I still get emotional when I shoot!
The reception was one of my favorites to date. Rae's bridesmaids were all on her dancing squad and had planned a secret dance special for the couple. A room full of professional Norwegian dancers is just as much fun as it sounds. Oh my god they were talented! It was such a great party.
The importance of memories:
When you’re in a particular industry long enough, it’s easy to forget the importance of your job. You wake up on Monday, meet deadlines, schedule future goals, work through the drudgery, finish the week, and if you’re lucky, do it all over again on the following Monday. Wedding photojournalism is no exception.
Then, once in a while something happens, something that jars you out of your automatic work setting and you take a step back. Sometimes it’s good news like a family member is having a baby and other times it’s something tragic like someone has passed away. Whatever the case may be your life is drastically different than what it was just a few days before.
One of the defining things about wedding photojournalism is that we capture particular moments in our client’s lives where happiness and celebration are center stage. We have the luxury to see people at their best, laughing among their family and friends, assuming the roles they’ve carved out their who lives by sharing the stories that have made them into the persons they’ve become. When things inevitably change in their lives in the months or years that follow, we watch their stories unfold through the photos we’ve taken and we’re drawn right back to the happiness of that day.
Each story we relive is a jarring reminder of the unpredictability of life and the importance that weddings hold in bringing people together, rekindling relationships, and the celebration of love and happiness. From budding romances to lost love ones, our photos travel across time, telling our present selves the story of our past, hugging our hearts with tangible memories and familiar feelings. It’s borderline wizardry how our inanimate pens and lenses can animate our past so vividly.
As wedding photojournalists we professionally tell love stories, but it’s as friends that we remember our client’s personally. Connecting with you all is what makes us remember that our jobs are important and our happiness immemorial. Thank you for your love.
New York State Wedding Photographer: Apollo Photojournalism | Erny Photo CO