It’s always such a treat working with my neighbors, and Courtney and Mike were the second couple searching for a “Jamaica Plain wedding photographer” who found me and later realized that we live on the same street in JP!

Mike and Courtney are one of the coolest couples I’ve ever met – she’s an urban farmer and he’s the trumpeter in Lake Street Dive, a phenomenal touring band – and yet they are also the sweetest, goofiest, most loved-up of nerdy types, and I fell in love with them immediately. I also loved the fact that they kept almost everything for their wedding within their close friendship circle, including Tres Gatos/Fatboy Secrets chef Jarred Randall providing the food (incredible), Jesse Dee band and DJ TJ Connelly providing the tunes (obviously superb), and Courtney’s mom providing the sweets.

The wedding day started on Burroughs St, of course; Courtney got ready with her gals at her and Mike’s sweet and funky home, and Mike and his band/best buddies got together with his parents at Taylor House, our local B&B. Taylor House also kindly provided us with a great space to use for the group photos as it was a typical April day – cool and breezy (and yes, I’m sharing these photos well over a year after the fact …) For portraits we took a little tour of some favorite spots around JP, including JP Pond, the Galway House bar, and Boomerangs.

Courtney and Mike chose such a unique space for their wedding: Spontaneous Celebrations in Jamaica Plain. The decor style was “Wes Anderson” and it was perfect. The ceremony was epic, beginning with Courtney and her dad (in fact the entire wedding party) dancing down the aisle, and there were tears flowing freely throughout. As well as sweet readings, there was a song, and the ceremony was followed by more dancing down the aisle.

Cocktail hour and dinner were followed by wonderful toasts then a special song by each member of Mike’s band (Lake Street Dive) while everyone danced. My favorite moment of the evening was when Mike got up on stage to dedicate a song to Courtney … and a few minutes after when they shared the sweetest moment on the dance floor, surrounded by family and friends.