The Crane Estate Wedding:
Caitlin & Eben
Tuesday, Feb 4, 2014
Weddings
WeddingsT
here are certain venues that for whatever reason, always feel extra special. The Crane Estate in Ipswich has always been one of these places for me. Maybe it's the endless rolling lawn looking out over the Atlantic, the mansion with its gorgeous stonework and architectural details, or the fact that every time I've worked here, even on days when it's poured rain, the space always seems to photograph so beautifully. For Caitlin & Eben, The Crane Estate holds a special place in their hearts as well. For over three generations their families have lived in the area, and The Crane Estate has served as a constant backdrop for family beach trips, picnics and boat rides around Annisquam. Because of this shared connection, when Eben proposed, they both knew exactly where they wanted to be married. Caitlin & Eben also worked to incorporate other family connections, heirlooms and mementos into the day. The groomsmen's ties (all 15 of them) were handmade by Eben's aunt with a special "be happy" label on the reverse side. For her something blue, Caitlin wore her mother's topaz earrings, and for something borrowed, she had a small piece of her grandmother's wedding dress sewn to the inside of her own. They also included a display of family photos as a nod to the generations past, and gave each guest a customized bag of candies from Tuck's of Rockport. Before their ceremony on the back lawn, Caitlin & Eben met in the garden for a first look and quick portrait session with their (30 person!) bridal party. After the ceremony, we walked around the property a bit more to capture a few portraits in the evening light while guests enjoyed a casual cocktail hour on the back patio with a perfect view of the sunset. Under the tent, Vinwood Caterers, Les Fleurs and Boston Uplights kept things looking (and tasting) classy, while the Night Shift Band rocked out...as they tend to do ;) There were a fair amount of moving parts to the day, so it was also great to have Best of Boston winner Paula Marrero and Courtney Graham from Marrero Events on site to keep things running smoothly. If you are planning a wedding and find yourself on the fence about whether or not to hire a coordinator, the difference this makes in the flow of the day is noticeably huge, to the point where I kind of wish I could work with Paula at every wedding I photograph. Last but not least, a huge thank-you goes out to my good friend and associate photographer Angie Rose for bringing her endless talent to the table on this one. Caitlin & Eben - thank you so much for having us there to capture the memories. I hope you and your families enjoy these photographs for many generations to come.
