Colleen & Brandon’s Wedding

I revisited a wedding I did this past June.  I am not one to over-exaggerate my feelings for shooting someone's wedding, or rave about a couple just because it's the thing to do.  Too often in this field there is this inflated sense of shouting and praising a couple's love, their connection, how much they "rocked", etc.  Honestly, I think after saying that about the past fifteen weddings, people might start NOT believing those statements?   

However, when I think of Colleen & Brandon's wedding, I might just have to resort to speaking a little about them.  And their wedding.  The words that come to my mind are: commitment, understanding, passion and kindness.

In a nutshell, I was the winner for being able to shoot this wedding.  The images speak directly to those four words.  And that, in the end, is a complete success.  Why?  Because their photographs emulate their wedding day: the connections between friends and family and each other.   

And it just so happens, I shot one of my all time favorite images in my twenty-three years as a photographer.  I despise archetypes, but I am convinced this picture is like a modern day Last Supper.  The softness of the artificial light coming from the side, the dark shadows and the layers of people in their own groups conversing seem identical.  Sadly, a little bit like Rent too.

In the end, I truly felt honored to shoot their event.  Colleen's relationship with her mother, and the B&Gs relationship with their attendants, and their commitment to each other was spiritual.

Oh, did I mention I have never been thanked so many times in a day?  Colleen is gracious, and Brandon is generous.  They constantly wanted to make sure I was OK.

Thanks, guys.  

Colleen & Brandon Wedding

June 26, 2009
Ceremony: Colleen's mother's backyard in Lincoln Park
Reception: A New Leaf

Ceremony: Colleen's mother's backyard in Lincoln Park
Reception: A New Leaf
Wedding Planner: Debi Lilly of A Perfect Event
Caterer: Blue Plate
Flowers: A New Leaf
Makeup: Marla Del Angel
Officiant Colleen & brian's close friend Pattabi Seshadri
Deserts: Take the Cake
Invitations: The Paper Trail
Program and menus: William Arthur
Transportation: London Limos
Alcohol: Sam's
Dress & Designer:  Vera Wang boutique on Oak Street
Shoes: Manolo Blahnik
Suit: Formally Modern
Shirt & Tie: Formerly Modern