gwyneth colleen photography » portsmouth, nh wedding photographer

i am SUCH a lucky girl. i love what i do…and i get to meet great new people every week. granted, as a single girl it’s not really the best life strategy…ha!

i’m not sure if it’s ok to have favourites among clients, but…i do. halida and jeff are the cutest, most fun couple i think i’ve ever met. i’ve already gushed about them, but this is going to be one big post of virtual cotton candy.

they got married on june 16 at the inn at peak’s island in portland, me. the chic and organized liz @ cityside events kept everything running so smoothly. the entire day was perfect.

they started off w/ a chartered ferry ride around the harbour. they’re both from the midwest and had lots of out-of-town guests that loved the chance to see maine at its most charming.

(she was really peeking out the window…her room overlooked the ceremony site.)

my favourite thing about this image is halida’s face…she looks so happy and so, ‘yes, my friends. blow me kisses…i deserve them,’ (but in a completely non-bridezilla way, because she was the most laid-back bride i think i’ve ever encountered…and i’ve had some pretty relaxed brides!)

if i had a dollar for every photo i have of these two sharing a secret glance during the ceremony…i could probably fly to hawai’i.

i think this sums up halida perfectly.

she cares a lot about the environment, and asked for flowers that were both local and organic…

h&j with their WONDERFUL parents.

she did everything a little differently…rather than having a traditional bridal party, she had her girlfriends bring her flowers at the beginning of the ceremony to make up her entire bouquet.

the m-o-h…their friendship was so beautiful. at one point, she said, “i would do absolutely ANYTHING for halida, and i know she would for me, as well.”

the mother of the groom and her best friend. h&j’s family and friends were warm and welcoming…and after meeting them, it’s clear how they became the wonderful people that they are.

from their first dance. this is my favourite from the day.

h&j, i know i’ve told you this multiple times, but i’m SOOO glad it worked out for me to be a part of your day. i’d better stop while i’m ahead…this whole thing is way gushier than i like to be.

(see the rest of my favourites here.)

1. i watched “when a man loves a woman” (13 years after it came out…) last night, and OMG, it is SOOOO sad. i didn’t cry, because i do not cry at movies. or weddings. or…very many things at all, but my eyes were slightly prickly.

2. the harry potter book was tremendous. you should read it.

3. have you ever watched the series “i propose” on the style network? it is SOOOO cute. (though, most people who would find their way to this site are probably past that point. hehe.)

speaking of, a big CONGRATULATIONS to a fantastic photographer and my friend, rachel. she just got engaged in montreal.

alternate title: proof that commercials really work!

i just saw a commercial for nova scotia…and it reminded me HOW MUCH i want to go to halifax and prince edward island.

i LOOOVVEE to travel. (i’ve been to viet nam, singapore (coolest airport ever!), bolivia, mexico, colombia, philippines, UK (x3), indonesia, new zealand (FAVOURITE! x3), australia (x2), ireland…and…that might be it. wait! i almost forgot…i spent the night sleeping on the lawn in front of the airport in tahiti once. tahiti does NOT have the coolest airport ever. i don’t recommend overnight layovers at all.) in fact, 2006 was the first year since 1996 that i DIDN’T get a stamp in my passport. i tried valiantly to get my parents to go to nova scotia with me for christmas…it didn’t work out.

SO…someone needs to fulfill their anne of green gables fantasy and have a beachside wedding on prince edward island…and that person needs to hire me to shoot that canadian atlantic destination wedding. i’ll even give you a discount or something!

on June 9th I traveled down to Gloucester, MA (location of “the Perfect Storm“…which, if you ask me, was a perfectly depressing movie. and a perfect waste of two nearly-perfect specimens like Mark Wahlberg and George Clooney…that’s why I don’t like “true story” movies…happy endings, Hollywood! Happy endings! That’s what I’m paying you $9 per ticket for.) to second-shoot for the fabulous Rachel of Decent Urban Weddings.

Holly and Marc chose one of the coolest venues ever…the Ocean View Inn and Resort. I think Holly willed the rain to hold off so they could be married on the lawn just steps away from the dramatic rocky coast. and to that I say…way to go, Holly! The setting was truly spectacular and fostered good-will in everyone. (Right down to motivating a groomsman to give me my first marriage proposal at a wedding!! Um…I don’t think it’s going to work out. Ha!)

I’ve received emails from a few people who have stumbled upon this site and remarked on my sense of humor…that’s one of the greatest compliments I could receive, so…thanks guys! I see funny stuff every single day, and at weddings/on the job is no exception. I go so far as to include a small set of “funny” images from every wedding. Photos that make me just crack up while I’m processing them. This one may be my favourite funny image to date:

I loved these guests…I called them “rockstars”…because they were so COOL.

See Rachel’s favourites here, and the rest of mine here.

And then go get married on the coast and hire me to come photograph it!