Last Valentines I launched a Facebook contest that was probably the slowest starting competition ever. The idea was quite simple: enter a photo of yourselves (an unmarried couple about to wed), taken by yourselves and get all your friends to vote for you. The grand prize was a free wedding shoot with all the trimmings. 

Well, with a couple of months after launching and only few couples entered (and an already signed couple way out in the lead) I was thinking that the marketing plan hadn't quite worked as planned....

... Then came Jess and Rich. As late entrants to the race they were neck and neck with their opponents in the last two weeks and stormed ahead to win the contest by 563 unique votes! One year later and after a highly successful engagement shoot in Boston last summer I was eagerly looking forward to their big day. Their engagement photos never made the blog, so here they are for good measure...



Jess and Rich had settled into the cozy Highrock Church in Arlington with their friends for their preparations as I took photos of Jess' beautiful dresses. I was touched by their extremely welcoming friends and family who were all so grateful for the competition running - I think everyone who was looking on during their lovely ceremony had probably voted. The day could have not been more perfect for them, save for maybe a 30 degree increase in temperature outdoors! After getting most of our photos completed in the church following the ceremony to save everyone from the bitter winds, we headed straight over the road to Arlington Town Hall for their reception where their excellent band, the Night Shift rocked their party into the night.



Congrats to Jess and Rich for becoming man and wife - I wish you all the best and hope we stay in touch. You couldn't have been more deserving, kind and gracious to win this.

Their slideshow is below. To view all of their images and for online print ordering, head to the following link: http://photo.brownphotographic.com/jessrichwedding

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It seems like an eon since Scott got down on one knee and proposed to Jenn in Beacon Hill (directly in front of me). I think they hold the record as my most photographed couple, with that engagement shoot, followed by another this summer and then their wedding.

Fortunately for me, they both have strong Medford roots so a short drive down the road took me to Jenn's family home while Doug hung out with Scott for his preparations on the other side of town. We headed over to St Raphael's in West Medford, where a bagpiper was welcoming friends and family into the colourfully lit church for their ceremony. We then sped off to the Boston Public Gardens for photos before a fun filled reception at the Hyatt in the theatre district.

All the best to you both and I'm sure I'll be seeing you both soon for another shoot!

To view all of the images, go here: http://photo.brownphotographic.com/jennscottwedding



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Kim and Kevin's wedding in Manchester NH was a sight to behold. Not only was their ceremony in one of my favourite chapels (at St Anselm College), but with 11 groomsmen and 12 bridesmaids there was enough of a wedding party for a full scale footie (soccer) match on the grounds. I'm pretty sure they would have been up for it too; they weren't exactly the shy and retiring bunch. 

Anyhow, in all seriousness, I was really looking forward to this one. I was introduced to Kim through her big brother Rob, a close school friend of my wife. After attending Rob and Erika's wedding a couple of years ago and witnessing the family traditions shenanigans I was quite sure we were in for a treat. 

Ned graced me with his talented presence on the way up to Manchester and we met with the girls in one of the lovely bridal suites at the Radisson in Manchester. With some pretty incredible light coming in through the giant softbox windows we covered the prep, with the babble of the many bridesmaids in the background and a few quiet moments with Kim's parents.

Following a lovely ceremony at St Anselm, we took the group photos in front of the University buildings before heading back over to the hotel. With some great speeches, including some post it notes messages to Kim's mum and dad from yesteryear, the party got swinging. Half way through the dancing, Kim was stolen away (a family tradition) by her family and brought down the street to a bar for a couple of shots! It looks like she enjoyed the experience and came through smiling. The evening rounded out with a surprise for Kim - perhaps one of Kevin's traditions?

Thanks to Rob and Erika for the recommendation!

All of the photos can be viewed HERE.

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