Mara & James's Wedding, January 5, 2012

I had the privilege of photographing the wonderful wedding of Mara Adler and James O'Kelly last Saturday. Most weddings are celebrations of love and support; this one was a festival of them. Mara's eyes were filled with love for her new husband James, her best friend, the man she had known she was going to marry and bear children with almost from the moment they met. And she had told him early on. I can see why: Jim is a strong, funny, loving, very smart person. He's modest and supportive, and extremely capable in what he does—he's a lawyer, who once introduced himself to her as a vacuum cleaner salesman. I liked him immediately. Mara is the daughter of a dear friend of mine, Seth Adler, who raised her himself after the tragic death of his wife when Mara was still a baby. She has grown into a fine young woman, committed to her career in classical music and opera, and full of love and generosity. I couldn't do enough for this couple.

And their relatives and friends were wonderful, too. Seth's mother came from California, a wiry elderly woman of great presence and beauty, dressed with flare, including a metal sculpture necklace. I could see where Seth got his strength of character from and his commitment to social justice. Jim's parents were there, as was his grandfather, and it was a pleasure to meet them.

The wedding party were a spirited bunch, and we had some fun with their group portraits, including one where the groomsmen held the bride off the ground—despite her misgivings—and she loved it.

Since this was an interfaith wedding, the couple had the luxury of two excellent officiants, Rabbi Bill, and Rev. Paul Mayer, a former monk who went on to co-found "Children of War," a ministry to teenage youth in war zones world-wide.

I did a projection of the photos from the first half of the day during the meal on a large screen provided by the Atrium. Afterwards, I was very gratified that some of the guests came up to me to ask for individual portraits with their friends. Although one can't linger over these, it does give me a chance briefly to find out about some of the people who love Mara and James and their family, which adds to the pleasure of my job.

There's a gallery of photos posted on my Joel Simpson Photography Facebook page. Here are some highlights, as well as a link to the music-video slide show, that I include in all my packages.http://video214.com/play/LT20OMxmLyW5IlDpLH3O1A/s/dark

Isabel & Joe's Wedding, June 23, 2012

This past Saturday, June 23, 2012, I had the honor and opportunity to photograph the wedding of Isabel Wall and Joseph Speronza. After capturing Isabel and Joe at their respective preparation locations, I proceeded to the magnificent St. Matthew the Apostle Catholic Church in Randolph. This church is exceptionally beautifully designed, with a very open sanctuary with a distinctly modern feel, and presided over by the brilliant Father Dan Murphy, whose love-infused spirituality touches people of all faiths—I certainly found it very moving, as I had a year ago at Danielle and Matthew Swiss's wedding there. The music ministry of the church is directed by Matthew Swiss himself, whose rich piano and organ playing, as well as his vocals in duet with Isabel's twin sister, made the wedding ceremony and mass a profoundly moving experience.
Isabel and Joe were greeted by a torrent of bubbles and silver streamers as they emerged from the church, and after taking family portraits, they drove off in Joe's fire-engine red Corvette, which he had had newly painted for the occasion. The reception location, Perona Farms, was half an hour away in Andover, NJ, in beautiful Sussex County. It was my first time there—and what a discovery! It is a sophisticated banquet facility and restaurant situated in a completely bucolic setting, with an orchard, a small lake with two fountains, an island in the lake with a festive bridge leading to it, and a big barn and two silos. We made use of all these settings for our photographs of the couple and their wedding party. The Joe added the Corvette, and we played with it.
The food was fabulous, from the cocktail hour on, and the staff was extremely gracious. Music was provided by Principal Entertainment (mrren@aol.com) and centered on classic rock. The dancing was very energetic, especially by Isabel's brother Martin and the children present, but guests of all ages got down on the dance floor. I showed a slide show of the photos from earlier in the day during the dinner, which is always popular with the guests.

Legs—always a good investment.

Isabel and her dad leave the house after the bridesmaids have been dropped off.

Father Dan Murphy talks to the couple and the congregation.

The bridge to the island at Perona Farms

On the island at Perona Farms

Fun with the wedding party in the orchard at Perona Farms.

Alone at last (except that I'm there).

Isabel is a fine artist, so everything—but everything—was beautifully color coordinated.

Back on the island.

"Going my way?"

The bauble-head dolls that are portraits of Isabel & Joe.

First dance.

Danielle and Matt Swiss, whose wedding I photographed in the same church one year ago, and who sent me to Isabel and Joe. Matt is the music director of the church, St. Matthew the Apostle in Randolph.

Isabel and Joe had had a bauble-head double portrait made of them to top off their cake, which delighted everyone present. Thanks to them, their parents, and their wedding party for being such cooperative subjects and having fun with the photos we did in the orchard. And thanks to Perona Farms for such excellent food and service.