Amanda Rose Photography

I had so much fun at Rachel and Dan’s engagement session this past summer, so I had no doubt that I would have a blast at their wedding in the gorgeous Society Room of Hartford! They are such a sweet couple and knew how to throw a great party to celebrate with their friends and family!

If you’ve ever considered doing a “First Look”, here are the benefits: We get to capture the moment you see each other for the first time face-to-face, You get tons of great portrait time, and it takes all of the pressure off “coming down the aisle” without losing the emotion, and you get to join your cocktail hour and start the party early with your guests!

I loved that Rachel and Dan decided to do a First Look! Once they saw each other, Dan’s smile and Rachel’s emotion was just priceless!

I was loving the icy blue, silver, and snowflake decor…perfect for a winter wedding!

Venue & Catering: Society Room of Hartford

Florist: Rose, Inc.

Hair and Makeup: Kaitlyn Calendrelli

DJ: Long Island Sound Entertainment

Cake: Creative Cakes by Donna

Thanks again to Rachel & Dan for a great time at their incredible day!! xo

With Valentine’s day around the corner, we can’t help but think about L-O-V-E! And nothing says love more than a couple on their wedding day gazing at each other and all you can feel is the vibes coming off of them! This is the case with Allison and Brian. When they look at each other, you can tell just how madly in love they really are! It is the sweetest thing!

I am mildly…ok that’s a lie…I am completely obsessed with these shoes!

It’s always so bitter-sweet, those moments when Dad has to give his daughter away. But I love the kiss on the cheek right before he hands her off to her soon-to-be hubby!

Remember what I said about being able to tell just how madly in love they are…look at those faces! Priceless!!

Luckily for me, Allison and Brian planned lots of time for photos in between their ceremony and reception, so we were able to make the best of the last bit of light for the day and wonder in downtown Collinsville/Canton to have a little fun!

How handsome are these fellas in their black and purple?! Loving the contrast and pop of color!

Then it was time to head back to the Simsbury Inn and get the party started! Allison and Brian kicked the night off right with their frist dance….wait for it….wait for it…

BAMMM! Half way through their slow dance, they broke out into this beyond awesome choreographed dance and completely surprised all of their guests! It was so great!!

Venue, Catering, Cake: Simsbury Inn

Florists: Harwington Florist

DJ: Tony Ramos of My Life Your Entertainment

Makeup and Hair: Teazd Salon

Thank you again to Allison & Brian for including me in their gorgeous winter wedding!! xo

I love Christine & Kyle! I can’t say that enough! They are the sweetest couple ever…and so madly in love with each other.

They have the cutest story EVER!! It all began at Hamden High School, where their romance blossomed from sweet puppy love into full-blown true love that has lasted the test of time! Now they have a sweet little doggie, Lexie, who is such a cutie pie! I was so disappointed that I didn’t get to see her at their house the morning of their wedding, but there was so much hustle and bustle with all of ladies around, I guess there was no room for a “fur baby” too.

Yes, that is a prom picture of our adorable couple…where it all began!

All of their details were so well thought out. I absolutely loved the burlap on the tables and the custom-made cake topper to look like Kyle and Christine with their doggie, Lexie! SO CUTE!!

Venue & Catering: Woodwinds

Makeup artist: Kaylie Dorsey

Hair: Brian Cummings

Cake: Petanino’s

DJ: Jock in the Box

Thank you so much to Kyle and Christine for letting me capture their big day! I had so much fun with them and all of their family and friends! To many more years of happiness and love!! xo

To say that Liz and Joe are one of my favorite couples of the year is an understatement. Every time I’ve worked with them, it’s been pure magic! It all started at our initial meeting where I knew it was a perfect fit, but continued on to their incredible country chic engagement session (which was one of my favorites of the year…shhh don’t tell anyone) which you can see here.

Now on to their wedding day…ahhh how gorgeous was Liz’s dress. It also might be one of my favorites for the year as well. Loved the voluminous layers of ruffles that just made it fun and flirty, yet elegant! I couldn’t decide which shot of her dress I liked best!

How gorgeous is Liz?? Seriously? I can’t love these two shots more!

This party was insane! People were getting lifted in the air, including the bride. People were dancing on their backs on the ground. The party was up, down, and all around. It was craziness from the start to the last second. Between the large brass horn (apparently a family tradition), and the foam hockey pucks that were tossed at the bride and groom as they were introduced, to the chanting and sing-alongs that were hysterical and mildly inappropriate lol…it was just pure madness in the best way possible! I loved every minute of it!

Venue, Catering & Cake: Simsbury Inn

Florist: The Growth Company

DJ: John “Cadillac” Saville

Makeup artist: Liz Cruz

Hair Stylist: Amy Bosquet

Thanks again Liz and Joe for throwing a phenomenal party and including me on such a special day!

You may remember how adorable Stephanie & Matt are from their cute and cuddly winery engagement session, which you can see here!  It was one of my favorite engagement shoots of the year. They were equally cute and cuddly on their wedding day! We lucked out and had the most gorgeous fall wedding day! Everything was perfect from the light, the colors, and the location!

I grabbed a quick shot of Stephanie & Matt as they snuck out of the church…and I just love the flower girl’s expression when she walks out and sees them smooching!! Then we headed down to the GORGEOUS Hartford City Hall! Oh how I love shooting there! I could probably shoot there all day and not feel guilty about it!

Back at the Avon Old Farms Hotel, we took advantage of the stunning light and bright leaves!! I love fall!!

Venue: Avon Old Farms Hotel

Florist: Scott’s Flowers

DJ: After Hours DJ Entertainment

Makeup artist: Kelly Nesdale

Hair: The Hair Company

Cake: Creative Cakes by Donna

Thanks again Steph & Matt!! Loved your wedding and love you guys! xo

This wedding was very special to me because it was the day I got to see my BEST FRIEND Kelly get married!! Not only was I lucky enough to be IN her wedding as one of her bridesmaids, and stand by her side as she said “I do” to Matt, but I was honored to SHOOT her wedding as well. Some people might wonder how this was even possible…well with a little magic, and a lot of help from a super talented team: Jennifer Dougan (my second half) and Shaun Daskam, we team-shot the entire wedding together and some how made it work!

I loved hanging out with the ladies in the morning! It was weird to have to worry about my own hair and makeup as well (for once), but Kelly hired a kick-butt team to make sure that there was nothing short of glamour going on! Hair was done by Jazna of Salon Massimo and makeup was done by Natalia of Naomi’s Studio & Salon

As you will see, both Kelly and Matt are huge sports fans…in particular Red Sox fans! They found the perfect balance of adding a Red Sox theme to their wedding day along with gorgeous fall details!!

This is why I say that Jen is my other half…we actually captured the exact same moment from opposite ends of the dance floor during Kelly & Matt’s first dance. I love both points of view so you can see the emotion in both of their faces!

Anyone that knows Kelly & Matt knows that they are each phenomenal athletes, both pitching for the Southern CT State University softball & baseball teams. They are each also coaches now teaching kids to love the game as much as they do. Sports is deep in their blood. Even during their cake cutting the all-star athlete in each of them came out. They didn’t plan to “pitch” their cupcake at each other, but apparently they were both thinking the same thing! The windup…

…and the smash!!

Venue: Wickham Park, Log Cabin

Catering: Country House Restaurant

DJ: Jock in the Box Entertainment 

Florist: Flowers by Amelia

Cupcakes: You’ve Been Cupcaked

Thanks again to Kelly & Matt for entrusting me to pull of shooting their wedding and being in the wedding party! I love you both to pieces!! I look forward to watching your love and relationship grow throughout your marriage! xo

Stephanie and Nick did an amazing job planning their wedding, especially since Stephanie planned it from North Carolina! Not only did they carry a long distance relationship, but long distance wedding planning is hard work!! I’m super impressed!! Needless to say, she completely pulled off a huge bash with their friends and family to celebrate the love that her and Nick have.

Can their little flower girl get any cuter? Can we say “HIRED!!” Look at the way she is getting low to get the perfect angle! She can call me in 15 years and I’ll have a job for her.

What perfect timing the wind has sometimes! Thanks for working in my favor this time!!

I was loving all of the gorgeous fall colors. Different tones of orange, yellow, and brown! So rich and was prefect for their day!

Venue & Catering: Tower Ridge Country Club

Florist: O’Rourke & Birch Florists

DJ: Entertainment Unlimited

Hair and Makeup: The Hair Loft

Cake: Susan Stone & Co.

Thanks again to Steph & Nick!!

The love and respect between Shaun and Ryan is beyond cute! They are a perfect couple!! I had such a good time at their wedding, for a few seconds I was caught up in all of the fun I forgot why I was there…to work! Ryan and I actually go back more years than I’d like to admit. We were friends in elementary school!! Ok, so now that I feel really old, let’s get back to Ryan and Shaun! Their day was extra special: all of their friends and family gathered together, perfect weather, some super yummy fall food & drinks, and a killer party that they continued even after their wedding was over!

Shaun and Ryan decided to see each other before their ceremony, so we were lucky enough to take full advantage of the downtown Hartford area before the craziness of the day began! It was super ideal!!

Shout out to all of the other awesome vendors that made Shaun and Ryan’s wedding day happen:

Venue & Catering: The Society Room

Bridesmaid’s Hair and Makeup: Devine Hair Design

Cake: Kim’s Cottage Confections

DJ: DJ Shenn

Thanks again Ryan and Shaun for being such a cool couple to work with! I loved every minute of your wedding! xo

Jimmy & Kristen are such a sweet couple! They are so in love, and aren’t afraid to be goofy with each other. They are lucky enough to already have a beautiful family, which meant that there were some SUPER CUTE kiddos in their wedding!!

Thanks to Jennifer, my associate photographer, for shooting and Kimberly for second shooting this gorgeous wedding and capturing some majorly beautiful moments!

While Mom & Dad were having their first dance, their little one was keeping a close watch…

…and then the real party began…kicked off by Jimmy & Jacob!

Thanks to all of the other wonderful vendors:

Venue: Country House

Videographer: Matt at MV Film Productions

Florist: Forget Me Not Florist

DJ: Sound Spectrum Entertainment

Makeup: Danielle Boutieller

Hair: Lisa at Bre Elle

Cake: Petonino’s

Big thanks again to Jimmy & Kristen for letting the Amanda Rose Photography team be a part of your special day!!