Kendra & Will

Kendra and Will met in college, and after spending the day with them it was easy to see how well they fit together. Kendra is soft and sweet, and she truly felt like royalty all day. Will is the happiest, most easygoing guy, and from the moment I met him that morning he was easy to work with. He kept checking that Kendra was happy and having the best day, and it was obvious how much he loves her.

They chose The Bradley Estate because of the gardens, which ended up being one of my favorite parts of the whole day. Their wedding colors were white, navy, pale blue, and green, and all of it looked beautiful against the greenery throughout the property. Kendra carried a calla lily bouquet from Poppy Flowers Co. that fit her perfectly.

Kendra and Will both got ready at The Bradley Estate, which made the morning feel relaxed. Kendra got ready upstairs in the bridal room with her mom, while Will spent the morning downstairs with his groomsmen, watching YouTube videos on how to tie a bow tie. It was a funny moment, and in case you were curious, it takes about three groomsmen and a groom to tie a bow tie. Kendra wore a beautiful gown with a hip-length veil, with hair by Blonding & Bridal and makeup by Looks by Layza.

One thing that mattered to Kendra and Will was not seeing each other before the ceremony. They skipped a first look because they wanted the first time they saw each other to be when Kendra walked down the aisle. I always love when couples decide based on what actually matters to them instead of letting the stress of the day make the choice, and it made their ceremony that much better.

The ceremony took place in the back gardens of The Bradley Estate. Kendra had a long walk down the aisle, down three sets of stairs and then along a grass path to meet Will. When he finally saw her, he was emotional. After getting to know him through the morning I knew how much he loved her, so my team and I made sure to pay extra attention to his reaction as she walked toward him. It was one of the sweetest moments of the day!

After the ceremony, we took about twenty minutes for a few more portraits of Kendra and Will. They had told me how important it was to them to enjoy cocktail hour with their guests, so we kept it short rather than keeping them away from everyone. We spent that time in the gardens, which were my favorite place to photograph them. The Bradley Estate has wildflower-style gardens full of different blooms, and they made a beautiful backdrop for their portraits.

One of my favorite photographs from the whole day is one of Kendra in the garden with a butterfly flying across the frame. It might sound cheesy, but that photo feels like Kendra to me. She has such soft features and reminds me of a butterfly, so seeing one fly through at that exact moment felt right.

Some of my other favorites from the day are the ones of Kendra and Will together after the ceremony. Seeing them finally react to each other, after waiting all day for that first look, was sweet. They are a beautiful couple, and I am grateful I got to be there to document their day.

During cocktail hour, Kendra and Will got to spend time with their guests while a live jazz band, Cameron Shave Music, played in the background. There is something about a jazz band at a summer New England wedding that just works. It made the whole hour feel relaxed and classic.

Their seating chart was set up in a meadow surrounded by green hydrangeas, another one of those details that felt perfectly New England. Everything was simple and beautiful without feeling overdone.

The reception was held under a beautiful tent, where guests enjoyed an open bar and passed hors d’oeuvres before dinner. Fireside Catering served a three-course plated dinner with a choice of salmon or chicken. I have to say, the salmon was one of the best vendor meals I have had as a wedding photographer!

One of the speeches that stood out to me was from Will’s sister. She talked about how Will didn’t just find his wife in Kendra: he found his best friend. I thought that was a beautiful way to describe them, because after spending the day with them it was clear how true it was.

Once the dance floor opened, the energy completely changed. DJ Pro Fenna was a huge part of the reception and delivered when Kendra and Will asked him to bring the vibes. Their first dance was sweet, and Will shared a dance with his mom before the floor really got going.

The dance floor was one of the highlights of the night. At one point Kendra and Will were lifted up by all of their guests, and it was honestly iconic. Everyone was having the best time, and it was a fun way to end the night.

Looking back at their wedding, the thing I remember most is how calm the whole day felt. Nothing was rushed, and Kendra and Will actually got to enjoy their wedding with the people they love. There is something about the slower pace of a New England wedding that I really love. They just know how to do it up there!