Yes, that´s right.  I´m writing an entire blog post about a single dress that I absolutely loved.  It belonged to Lauren who got married in January 2010 at The Wentworth By The Sea Hotel & Spa.  It was ultra glamorous and came from the exquisite Madeleine´s Daughter bridal boutique in Portsmouth.  That´s it.  Enjoy...

Ariel and Adam´s wedding day had all the elements of a beautiful Winter day...candlelight, warmth, snowflakes, romance.  Their palette was navy blue and warm ivory.  The entire soiree took place at The Red Barn in South Berwick Maine.  They even ran around outside in 15 degree weather for me!  And some as a result I took some of my favorite portraits of the season.  Joe Dionne of Dionne Entertainment kept the joint hopping with mostly a 1980´s vibe, as per requested from the bride and groom.  One of the funnest weddings I´ve ever been too!  They honeymooned in St Johns--can´t think of a more perfect spot.

ICE Bar 2010 | Portland Harbor Hotel from VideoDesign Films on Vimeo.

Lynne Valeri of Video Design and Geneve Hoffman Photography covered the 2010 Portland Harbor Hotel Ice Bar.  Every year the hotel features ice sculptures and bars made of ice in their festive outdoor plaza.  All proceeds from the sold out 3 night event benefit The Center for Grieving Children, Share our Strength and Junior Achievement.   We were happy to donate our time to the event! 

Wanted to do something a little different for this year´s Bridal Expo at The Stage Neck Inn in York Maine.  The event is put on each year by The Greater York Region Chamber of Commerce.  My inspiration came from Pink Pearl Images in Toronto Ontario.  I hired artist Bear Kirkpatrick to build the booth, and he and Ali Goodwin graciously helped set it up.  It was a big hit! All my new albums were in full view and the colors hint at the design of my brand new studio in York Village.  Thanks to all the brides and vendors at the expo for stopping by!  Visit my wedding website Geneve Hoffman Photography for more info...

I styled this shoot for my daughter, my neice, and our friends while they were up here for vacation in July 2009.  It´s an idea for our new "Day in the LIfe" portrait series at Lumina: life. documented.  We are all tea fanatics, and the idea of this shoot came from a song I had heard by Frances England, a children´s singer/songwriter.  The whole shoot just popped into my head, and I decided to make it happen.  The shoot can be styled professionally so that all you have to do is have fun!  It´s about creating and documenting real memories with your family. We have a brand new studio in downtown York Village, Maine--swing by and see albums of these sessions and lots of other fun stuff.  Check our blog often for more inspiring ideas.  Life is about love, let us document it!  All floral design for Summer Tea Party by Kate Martin at Beautiful Days, and all stationary by Sara O´Brien at Griffin-vites.  See the entire slideshow here:  Tea Party Slideshow.  Thanks!

Sneak peek at Red Barn wedding in South Berwick Maine.  Congratulations Ariel & Adam! 

Romantic Winter Wedding at Wentworth by the Sea in New Castle New Hampshire.  

Details...

Flowers:  Katherine´s Garden, York Maine (also Aunt of the Groom!)
Reception: York Harbor Inn, York Harbor, Maine
Ceremony: Hartley Mason Reserve, York Harbor, Maine
Dj/Entertainment: Clark Sillery of Fred Pappalardo Entertainment
Cake: Let Them Eat Cake, York Maine

This couple was one of the kindest, most gracious I´ve ever worked with.  Their wedding palette was a beautiful burnt orange palette.  It was a perfect, blue sky October Maine day.  Couple is from New York City, but chose York because the groom spent many Summers in York at his grandmother´s house (his connection to Kate Henderson of Katherine´s Garden--Stephen´s first cousin is Kate´s son...deep York ties!).  They are planning a separate reception in California as well for the bride´s family and friends.  Groom´s family has an interesting history...his paternal grandfather is I.M. Pei, who was in attendance.  Both sides of the family, and the couple, were a pleasure to document.  Looking forward to the album collaboration for many reasons, the least of which is the amazing crisp October light we had all day.  Best wishes to Elizabeth & Stephen!

I photographed a wedding at The Fells in August, and I was so awe inspired by the grounds.  There were sculptures of animals hidden throughout the extensive grounds.  And the grounds themselves were a botanists delight (no, I´m not a botanist, but sounded kind of artsy...lol).  I was literally overwhelmed with the beauty...it took me about 15 minutes just to pick a few spots in which to photograph the couple...I couldn´t decide where to put them!  Usually it´s the opposite at a venue...there only one or two obvious choices.  I could have photographed there all day...and actually, I think I will spend an entire day there next Summer just hiking the trails and photographing.

Here is the description from their website....

The Fells is one of New England´s finest examples of an early 20th-century summer estate. Stroll the length of the 100-foot Perennial Border, discover the Old Garden, hidden behind masses of rhododendron, and admire the view of Lake Sunapee from the formal Rose Terrace and hillside rock garden where a brook trickles to a Japanese water lily pool. The 22-room Colonial Revival mansion is open seasonally for historic guided tours and the nature and hiking trails are open year-round, dawn to dusk.

Details...

Wedding Coordinator...Abbie Ryan
Hair & Makeup...Head Games, Portland, Maine
Stationary...bride
Ceremony...Old Meeting House, Yarmouth, Maine
Ceremony Chaplain...Jon Settlemoir
Catering...Stacey Breault, Chefas, Portland Maine

 

Details...

Flag Hill Winery, Lee, New Hampshire

Rachel Swain (www.rachelswain.com) photographed Jessica, one of my favorite all time subjects, for her senior portrait.  Rachel has her own photo business, but sometimes shoots, helps me out at weddings, and edits for Geneve Hoffman Photography.  Thanks Rachel!

For more info...visit

Stephen King
Stephen King´s House

Details...

Ceremony Location: Washington Congregational, Washington, New Hampshire
Reception Location: The Fells, Newbury New Hampshire
Flowers: The Art of Nature, New London, New Hampshire
Entertainment: Elite Entertainent, Concord,  New Hampshire
Makeup:  Faces
Hair: Aesthetics, New London, New Hampshire
Caterer: Theresa Maier, Theresa´s, Henniker,  New Hampshire
Cake: Deb Moore
Tent: Lakes Region Tent, Concord, New Hampshire
 

Details...

Photographer:  Raluca Chase for Geneve Hoffman Photography
Ceremony:  St Helena, Belgrade Lakes, Maine
Reception:  Private Lakeside Byrne Home, Belgrade Lakes, Maine

 

Details...

Reception...Meeting House at Union Bluff, York Beach Maine
Ceremony...Rich Knight of First Parish Congregational Church, York Village Maine
Entertainment...Eye2Eye of Wilson Stevens Productions (they rocked out...very fun!)
 

Check out My Kate Parker Wedding Blog!

Wedding Day Formal Portraits by Geneve Hoffman Photography
10 Tips Every Bride Should Know

Modern brides should no longer have to choose between having great candids (wedding photojournalism/reportage) and having stunning portraits (fine art portraiture/traditional).   Today’s best wedding photographers will be trained in, and offer both.   Once you have found a quality photographer for your day, based on portfolio, price/service, philosophy, and compatibility, here are the top 10 ways to make the most of your wedding day formal portraits:

1. Take advantage of engagement sessions.   Win-win in many ways: practice being romantic in public for the big day, professional portraits of you as an engaged couple, build rapport with your shooter, use for guest books/websites/save the dates, see how gorgeous you really are! J
2. Leave room in your day, but not too much, for the formals.  Work closely with your photographer and planner to ensure that there is enough time, without rushing or lollygagging, for great portrait sessions throughout the day.
3.  Space formals throughout the day: each phase of wedding day presents unique portrait opportunities.  I like to do several 15-minute “mini” sessions as day unfolds to capture real time emotion and joy and to avoid “photo-fatigue” of long sets.
4.  Don’t do formals before the ceremony…unless you want to! Experienced photographers will honor that once in a lifetime “threshold” moment when the groom sees you at the ceremony for the first time and work closely on your timeline to ensure amazing portraits before AND after the ceremony.
5. Create a shot list…or don’t: great photographers will get the job done either way!   Each couple has different priorities, and photography is a service that should cater to your heart’s desire…you can’t give an experienced photographer too little or too much information.  
6. Sit back and enjoy your day: allow planners, assistants, or designated party to coordinate formals.   Photographers will have worked this out weeks before the wedding so that you don’t have to!
7. Keep family portraits to immediate family only when pressed for time.  Extended family shots, that may not even make the final album, can quickly eat up all your time allotted for the more important portraits of bride and groom and bridal party.   Remember, you are the center of attention for this one day!
8. Do family portraits right away at ceremony site, bridal party at reception site. This allows family to depart for cocktail hour to act as “hosts,” makes the best use of time, and keeps visual interest by changing backgrounds.
9. You chose this location…now make the most of it!  Creative photographers take advantage of every nook and cranny at your location…of course, it’s fun to go to a special spot like the beach or a lighthouse, just allow for the special transportation and extra time.  
10. Be spontaneous, be romantic, be goofy, PDA all the way!  This is truly a once in a lifetime day…have a glass of champagne and ham it up! Turns the photo session into a fun part of your day.  Hold hands, pucker up, jump up and down, run barefoot on the beach…relax and be marry! 
 

Spent the entire day with this couple, from getting ready to reception dancing, at the ultra swanky Beechwood Hotel in Worcester Massachusetts.  Stefanie designed her wedding around navy blues and ivory/white.  Everything was elegantly monogrammed...from the invite to the beautiful programs to the matchbooks.  Stefanie looked like a rock star all day, and appropriately, surprised Colin with a new electric guitar.  The candlelit ceremony was even in the hotel´s chapel...beautiful day!

Details...
 
Dress...Michelle Roth for Kleinfeld´s of New York...bought during the Running of the Brides in Boston!
Flowers...Holmes-Shusas, Worcester MA
Tux...Bonardi´s, Worcester MA
Minister...Kris Mineau, North Reading MA
Sinatra Impersonator...Patrick Tobin, Springfield MA (I highly recommend this!  Too fun!)
Invites...ETSY artist Tisacreations (if you´ve never heard of ETSY...check it out!)
Programs...DIY!  By bride and her parents (that´s impressive...they were beautiful)
Monogram...ETSY artist GEDesigns
DJ...DJ Big Rick, Worcester, MA
Rings...Bride...Shavarsh Jewelers, Worcester MA; Groom...Wexford House Irish Imports, West Boylston MA
Hair...Jessica Johnston (friend of bride)
Make up...Cynthia Klocek, Worcester, MA
Ceremony and Reception...Beechwood Hotel, Worcester MA
Coordinator...Emily Aghababian (one of the nicest and most accommodating I´ve ever worked with!)
 

Allison and Jody got hitched at Flag Hill Winery in Lee New Hampshire.   Their palette of grapes, greens, and ivory, along with the beautiful scenery of the vineyards, and the fun crowd, was a pleasure to document.  Both families were so accommodating and gracious. 

Details...

Dress...Pure Bliss, Newburyport, MA
Flowers...The Flower Kiosk, Portsmouth NH
Rings...Scontsas Jewelers, Nashua NH (diamond was Jody´s mothers!!)
Invites...by Allison & Jody
Hair Design...Matina Bishop, Matina´s, Nashua NH
Make Up...Catrina Blocker, friend of bride
Ceremony, Reception, Catering...Flag Hill Winery, Lee NH
Musicians...Lex & Joe, The NIghtlifes
 

I photographed Heather & Brian´s wedding a few years ago, and now have the privilege of doing the same for their beautiful daughter Fiona, otherwise known as F3 (f-cubed)!  Hmmm...wonder where the red hair came from?  She was such a cutie!  We hung out here and there and she slept, smiled, sun bathed, cried, fed, and we all had a great time!

Rachel and Matt spent some time with me on a beautiful evening at the beach documenting this exciting phase of their pregnancy.  They have the Watch Me Grow package, and I can´t wait to meet their little bundle.  Isn´t she glowing??!

On facebook!  Get sneak peeks at wedding and portrait photos before they are published, check out my favorite links, see what others are saying, share yourself!  Click facebook.com/genevehoffmanphotography to become a fan!

Be sure to check out all of The Children´s Museum of New Hampshire fun Summer programs!  Watch an entire slideshow of the event here.

Heather, Frank and gang over at Flag Hill WInery in Lee, NH asked me to edit some images from Allison & Jody´s June wedding for their latest weddings brochure.  It was hard to pick the best ones since it´s such a beautiful wedding, and such a beautiful setting.  But here they are!

Doesn´t this stationery make you want to get married all over again so you can hire Sara, owner and artist/designer at Griffin-vites??  Sara and I met at The York Bridal Expo a couple years back, and I just fell in love with her work.  I hired her to do my daughter´s 1st Year Birthday Party invites, and have since seen her work all over the place at weddings and other galas.  She contacted me to do new images of all her current work, and we had a great time styling all her beautiful work at her York village studio. 

Kate Martin at Beautiful Days created an elegant and swanky VIP tent for Share our Strength´s Taste of the Nation 2009 in Portsmouth.  The VIP gala was held at Strawbery Banke under a tent provided by Chris Housley and team over at Marshall Rentals.  Maine Photo Booth along with many local wine and spirits vendors made the night a huge success.  But it was Kate´s design and lighting that stole the show.  Every element was created by Kate and installed by her team lead by husband Daytes Garvin.  The entrance gave you a taste of things to come...gauzy tulle curtains and two floral sentries made with, appropriately enough for the event, artichokes and blackberries and assorted local greens.   Once inside there were two lounges of pristine white Adirondack chairs made by Scott Masi of Chairman of the Board Furniture, adorned with pillows hand made by Kate featuring azure blue coral, fish, and nature scenes.  The votives carried the coral theme, and every inviting table top had crisp white linen coral and mussel shell inspired floral arrangements.  There was also a modern black and white photograph display for VIP´s to peruse while sipping their Bombay Sapphire Elderflower Fizz signature cocktails.  The fact that every dollar donated, including Kate´s time, went to fight childhood hunger made the tent truly awe inspiring.  Check out the entire slideshow of the VIP tent here.

Kirsten & Tim had the picture perfect day at Clay Hill Farm.   All the elements of their wedding tied in with trees, leaves and harmony with nature.  They chose Clay Hill Farm because of it´s natural beauty and it´s unique status as one of the nation´s only Bird Sanctuary and award winning restaurant.  True to form, a chipmunk became a guest at the ceremony...check it out!  There were many friends and family singing and playing guitar and flutes during the ceremony.  Kate at Katherine´s Garden gave the couple a beautiful acorn ornament, which the bride loved!    Tim and Kirsten designed and produced every detail of the reception.  They fed the birds of the sanctuary for their send off and had guests toss birdseed at them.  Check out a slideshow of the day here!

Details...

Ceremony & Reception: Clay Hill Farm, Ogunquit, Maine
Flowers:  Katherine´s Garden, York, Maine
Cake: Gayle Forte, Let Them Eat Cake, York, Maine
Sound: Lindsay Sousa & Dave Farreh, friends of groom
Honeymoon: Ireland!

Kate Martin is the wedding designer and planner extraordinaire behind Beautiful Days. She approached me to do a custom designed portrait that showed off her fun, festive, creative style. We spent some time at Chauncey Creek Lobster Pier in Kittery Point and at the beach with her family. The shoot was so fun, and while her laid back, humorous attitude definitely comes through, so does her amazingly natural and beautiful approach to event design. Kate is the VIP designer for Share our Strength´s Taste of the Nation on June 24...plan on attending! It´s a wonderful cause that is trying to end childhood hunger in America.

Jae & Armand had many fun elements to their wedding...the red cowboy boots, the 10:18 ceremony time (which started exactly on time!), the Shaker songs during ceremony, the beautiful deep red & black thread, the romantic waltz on the beach, the Scenes of Old York Guest Book, the closeness of the couple throught the entire day...the list goes on!  Really enjoyed working with this couple.  Check out the entire slideshow of their wedding here.

Details...

Ceremony site:  First Parish Congregational, York Maine
Officiants: Rev. Robert Whittet of Bethany Church & Rev. Pamela Emslie of Wellesley Village Church
Music: Vocalist Lisa Korak Goldberg, Stephen Goldberg, Classical Period Flautist Prof Emeritus Dale Olsen, Piano Diane Olsen, Organist Wendell Purrington
Flowers: Katherine´s Garden, York, Maine
DJ: Fred Pappalardo
First Dance Song: Exactly Like You, Tony Bennett & KD Lang
Reception: York Harbor Inn, York Harbor Maine
Cake: Cakes By MaryAnn, Eliot Maine
Invitations: by bride and groom
Dress:  Jenny Yoo
Honeymoon: Boston!