Documentary Wedding Photography in Boston
Late this summer I traveled to Boston for Emily and Omar’s wedding. I love an adventure and am so grateful to Emily and Omar for inviting me to share in theirs! So here are the Boston documentary wedding photos from their big day:
Emily and Omar walk hand-in-hand on the path around the Cleveland Circle Reservoir. I love the challenge of photographing in new places. It really helps to have a plan so I’d scouted this location out the evening before the wedding.
A Little Backstory
This is probably a good time to tell you how this all came about. I’m grateful to my friend Kate for recommending me to Emily and Omar. They were looking for a documentary style wedding photographer. Kate, who is a wonderful photographer based in Boston, was already booked so she suggested they contact me.
Emily emailed me with some details about her wedding and I knew right away that this was a story I wanted to tell. Over a phone call a few days later they told me how they met. Emily is an Episcopal priest and Omar is a scientist. They met via a dating app and hit it off immediately. I’ll let the New York Times Vows section tell you the details, but we really hit it off on that phone call. I remember talking with both of them for a long time and after hanging up feeling so happy that I’d made a couple of new friends!
Getting Ready
Omar helps Emily’s brother Nolan with his tie.
Omar ties his bow tie in the mirror at the hotel bar. We did our best with this one. Good thing Omar thought ahead and brought a backup.
Emily got ready at her apartment with her friends.
Emily wore this beautiful maroon dress instead of a traditional gown. Her friend Laura and her mom Ann definitely liked the look.
Omar and his friends kept things light before heading to the church.
Such a good looking guy!
We did some photos on the lawn outside of Emily’s apartment building. Look at those gold boots!
I love that Emily chose to wear a dress that suited her personality and taste. White gowns aren’t for everybody, so heck yeah wear what you want!
Ceremony at the Church of the Redeemer
Omar has a great smile! Here’s the backup bow tie. This was when I got him set up for the first look. Then I went to find Emily.
I found her in the narthex (I love that word!) of the church. She was looking out of the leaded glass windows while listening to the choir rehearse for the ceremony. They were singing “Sing Joyfully” by William Byrd. I shot a few photos and then, not wanting to disturb the quiet more than necessary, I stood there with her for a few minutes taking in the peace and beauty of the moment.
The reactions during their first look tells you everything you need to know about how they feel about each other.
Emily’s brother-in-law plays his bagpipes outside of the Church of the Redeemer before the ceremony.
Emily and her dad Ron.
These crowns were a nice touch. If I’m remembering correctly they were Omar’s idea.
Their faith is very important to the couple. They carried rosaries from each of their families.
Emily is the Priest for Children and Families at the church. So they had a whole bunch of flower children.
Church rules were that I was to stay at the back and only photograph during a few key moments during the ceremony. We all knew this going in, so it was totally cool. But I’m glad to have been able to photograph this joyful moment.
So happy together!
The couple had a brief moment alone at the back of the church.
Then they were joined by their parents. I love this photo because of all of the things going on in it. Emily’s dad with his hand on Omar’s shoulder. Omar’s mom Binti looking at Emily while wiping a tear. All of this makes your eye travel around the frame – it’s a delight 😊
Portraits on the Way to the Reception
Emily and Omar rode to the reception in style in the back of a blue 1941 Lincoln Continental. Isn’t that blue leather interior great?
The other location I scouted was the Waterworks Museum in Cleveland Circle. Which prompted Emily and I to geek out a little on Richardsonian Romanesque architecture. Hopefully she’ll come to Pittsburgh some day and tour H.H. Richardson’s masterpiece: the Allegheny County Courthouse. Which is also a great venue for a wedding ceremony.
These two were having so much fun during portraits that we got some great moments!
Reception
Some Mexican beer (Garcia side) and Italian brews (De Paolis side), along with some paper cutout flags, and the most delicious porchetta sandwiches from Pennypackers😋
So there you have it. Emily and Omar’s Boston Documentary Wedding Photos. A special thanks to Emily and Omar for making me feel so welcome. And to all of their friends and family for singing “Happy Birthday” to me during the rehearsal dinner. It was a lovely moment ☺️
Filed under: Boston Documentary Wedding Photos