I have had to honor of capturing wedding photos at many places around not only New England but the world. One location that has eluded me thus far was the zoo. Suffice it to say I was elated when Amy and Todd asked me to capture their special day at my all time favorite zoo Southwick's in Mendon, MA. It's a place my family frequents often and is a source of laughter and joy.

What was truly the most unique thing of all about this day was the ever-present focus on family values. Todd's first look with his daughter was a special one. I love it when I can capture a dad gushing over his kid. Nothing beats that (ok maybe when the dads cry during the first dance). 

The private third floor suite above Galliford's Restaurant, was the perfect place for Amy and her girls to get ready. The evening sun coming through the balcony door made for a warm beautiful light that really captured this groups warm and bright personalities. 

The rustic wooden accents of the room made for a great spot to capture all those intimate details while getting ready, including the sliding wooden doors. It made for the perfect place to stage Amy's beautiful wedding dress. 

When a girl walks her mom down the aisle, that is saying something truly special about the marriage about to take place, and the kind of man she's walking her too. What a truly spectacular moment when Amy's daughter walked her through the Deer Forest and down the aisle to Todd.I think the expressions on their faces say it all. 

The white chairs were set delicately among the tall trees and down a dirt path, while deer and elk roamed around the couple as they shared their vows. 

They also made a point of stepping into our group shots for a few quick cameos. No one was upset about the fuzzy company that joined us. 

The highlight is that their special day was also during the festival of lights! Not only were we able to capture some truly fabulous shots during their ceremony in the Deer Forest, but we were also able to take full advantage of the Festival of Lights displays. Night-time photography is one of my favorites! I was able to use 100% ambient light from the displays and capture this silhouetted shot of Amy and Todd against the wall of flowers. 

The Daniel's Room was set beautifully for their intimate reception, and of course dancing not just with each other, but their daughters wrapped up the day in style and grace. 

Bramble and Bleu did a fabulous job on their three tier wedding cake, with a rustic birch heart and fresh flowers similar to the bridal bouquet.