Julia and Eric are an incredibly sweet couple that I had the pleasure of working with for a while due to their family friendship with another one of my couples, Zach and Jessica. I’m so happy that Julia contacted me waaaaay in advance of their September 1, 2018 wedding to secure their date as that date was in such high demand. We had a lovely time getting to know each other one warm summer evening at Hamilton House for their engagement session.
One thing I loved about Julia and Eric’s wedding was the fact that it was totally centered around their hometown of Dover, NH. Not only was it held in Dover at an incredible private home, but they utilized all Dover vendors, with the exception of me, from the florist to the catering to the makeup. It was truly a hometown affair, and the talent level was sky-high.
Getting Ready
The day began for me at Julia’s parents’ home, with the girls getting ready in a perfect space for this: filled with natural light and with neutral floor and wall colors. You’ve heard me say this before: everything looks beautiful with lots of natural light.
The morning started with hair and makeup by InsideOut Studio. The girls were totally chilling out and looking fabulous in their matching robes. Julia was so organized that she had all her jewelry, accessories, and dresses all out so that I could begin photographing them immediately.
Once the girls’ hair and makeup was complete, we did a few fun shots of them together in their robes before it was time to get dressed. This is a very exciting part of the day, and things start moving very quickly at this point.
The moment that the bride gets into her dress is one of the most memorable of the day. Things start getting very real at that point, and all the months of planning come together with the pull of a zipper.
The below photo is very special, and it was a particular request of Julia’s. In her parent’s wedding album, there is a photo of her mom with her mother standing in front of this very same clock, so Julia wanted to recreate this photo with her mom. We did several shots like this, and Julia was so happy that we took these few seconds to capture this moment. It turned out beautifully!
Meanwhile, at the venue, my assistant Carey was busy capturing the guys getting ready. They all looked so handsome in their uniforms, and the property was absolutely stunning. Eric’s childhood friend’s parents loaned their home for the wedding and it was so special to them.
Dover, NH Private Home Wedding
This private residence, how can I even describe it? It was beyond incredible, to say the least. Julia and Eric brought in such amazing chairs and decor that really brought it to life. The sperry tent was stunning. One of the most beautiful touches, I thought, were the beautiful acrylic signs and glass centerpieces, all customized with a delicate handlettered calligraphy. Julia did this herself! She explained that she enjoys doing calligraphy and lettering, so it was a perfect way to personalize her wedding.
Just before the ceremony, we had a very few minutes to do some quick bridal portraits of Julia inside the house. We were keeping her hidden away from the guests, but we still wanted to capture a few photos of these moments of anticipation just before she walked down the aisle.
The Ceremony and Portraits
The ceremony, of course, was beautiful and moving. Julia’s uncle officiated, and there were so many laughs through tears of happiness. As high school sweethearts, Julia and Eric already had years of history between them, and their families were already so close.
Immediately after the ceremony we rolled right into bridal party photos. We had a lot to do in a very short period of time, but happily we got it all done and even had time for some goofing off as well.
Such a beautiful wedding party!
The Reception
The evening started up with a really fun introduction and it just kept going from there. The toasts were amazing, and even when they bordered on roasts, the guests were just rolling with laughter. It was a totally lighthearted night that was so much fun to photograph.
Julia and Eric know what people like, and that is pizza! Embers Bakery set up a portable woodfired oven right on site and prepared all the pizzas for dinner. All the guests were more than happy to line up for pizza and keep going back for more.
You know it’s a party when Ben & Jerry’s stops by!
Julia and Eric, it was such a pleasure to photograph your wedding and to witness such an amazing day between you which had been coming for a very long time!
Venue: Private Home, Dover NH
Photography: Erika Follansbee Photography
Videography: NH Pro Shot
Florist: The Flower Room
Catering: Mezzanine Catering, Embers Bakery, and Ben & Jerry’s
DJ: Sweep the Leg Entertainment
Bridal Salon: Madeleine’s Daughter
Wedding Dress: Maggie Sottero
Bridesmaid Dresses: Hayley Paige Occasions
Hair and Makeup: Insideout Beauty Studio
Tent and Rentals: Sperry Tents Seacoast
Acrylic Signage: DIY by the bride!
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