My third wedding at the lovely Hyannisport Club on the Cape was an absolute stunner of a day – and there couldn’t be a more deserving couple. Sam and Julia are an incredibly kind, sweet couple, and I was thrilled that their day was so perfect.

I started at the girls’ rental on Squaw Island in Hyannis Port, where Julia was having her makeup finished in the most wonderful room with curved walls and wallpaper to die for! I captured a mix of candid getting ready photos, and pretty details, my favorite of which is the shot of her dress hanging in the magnificent entry hall.

After a quick Champagne toast, Julia and her mom headed up to the primary suite for some quiet dressing moments. Meanwhile, her dad was downstairs reading the card she had written for him. She then had a sweet first look with her dad, and soon after the girls got on the trolley to head to her first look with Sam. Another favorite photo is of Julia leaving the house – I love these sorts of transitionary photos which help to tell the story of the day by linking up the separate chapters.

The guys got ready at Sam & Julia’s home and I was delighted to see that a sweet old black lab was part of the crew (my previous two dogs were black labs, and they are the absolute best!) They then headed over to a friend’s spectacular oceanfront home where Sam shared a quiet moment with his best man, and read Julia’s letter to him.

We were so fortunate to have amazing shade available at the first look location, and we made a last minute change to stay there for the formal photos, so that we could avoid the squint-inducing bright midday sun! I am so grateful to planner extraordinaire Allison of Elegant Engagements, and to Julia and Sam’s families and friends, for being so accommodating; it is never ideal to throw a spanner in the works when everything has been so carefully planned, but I was so grateful for the beautiful soft light in these photos, and we were able to take advantage of the gorgeous vistas at the Hyannisport Club at sunset, when the light is much more forgiving. 🙂

The ceremony took place at St Andrew’s which is conveniently right next to the Club. They have very stringent photography rules there – usually no photography is allowed at all during the ceremony – however I was happy to be allowed to take a few photos from the very back in full silent mode (thank goodness for my Sony mirrorless cameras!)

After the ceremony, Sam and Julia took a private moment with the minister to say a prayer for his mom. He lost his mom just a couple of years ago. It was a very moving day for me, and I loved seeing how thoughtfully they had included her spirit in their celebrations. Her incredible art was visible throughout the day, including on the table numbers, above the escort (oyster shell) table and around the Club. It was also the front artwork for their beautiful invitation suite.

Cocktail hour was held on the deck, and prior to sunset Julia and Sam had their first dance and parent dances. Sam’s parent dance was with his godmother, a beautiful way to honor both his mom, and his godmother’s son whom she lost around 10 years ago. It was one of the most emotional dances I’ve witnessed, and I have some more intimate moments from this, and several other moments throughout the day, that I will share with Sam and Julia privately.

After some sunset portraits we went straight into toasts (thank you Allison for this amazing timeline that allowed us to take full advantage of the gorgeous early evening light!) then after dinner a fun cake cutting followed by dancing on the deck to Kahootz K2 band. What a day! Thank you to all of the fabulous vendors, and especially to Julia and Sam, and their friends and families, for making it the most amazing start to my 2023 summer season!

Wedding Planner: Allison & Sheri – Elegant Engagements | Florals: Bee & Blossom | Band: Kahootz Entertainment – K2 | Transportation: Cape Destinations | Reception: Hyannisport Club | Ceremony: St Andrews-By-the-Sea | Beauty: Leather & Lace | Bride & Bridesmaids’ Attire: New York Lace | Oyster Shells: Sue Butler | Rentals & Decor: Peak Event Services | Cake: Washashore Bakery