Happily Ever After

Although I have only been a wedding photographer for a couple of years, people who have known me for a long time know that my relationship with the wedding business goes way back. I fell in love with the bridal industry at the tender age of nineteen, when I landed a summer job as a sales consultant at a local bridal shop. From my very first day there, I knew that I had found something that made me feel more "me" than I had ever felt before. I thrived on helping brides find their perfect wedding gown, thrilled at designing window displays, and got giddy over taking part in choosing stock orders. I went on to work in four other bridal shops, one of them being a store that I co-owned with my aunt. At times it could be a very trying, emotional career, but I can truly say that every day I felt incredibly lucky to be even a small part of the most special day of people's lives.

It's been over a dozen years since I started on that path in the wedding world, and I am happy to say that my path has now evolved into being the photographer, the capturer of memories, for many couples on their wedding day. I still feel as much of a thrill when I hear from a new bride via email as I used to feel when a bride walked into the door of whatever shop I was working in at the time. I get excited when I meet with a client and we start discussing the special details of the wedding being planned. I get butterflies in my stomach the night before I shoot a wedding, and I have an adrenaline rush while the bride gets into her gown and I'm snapping away. Words cannot begin to express how thankful I am to have found a career that I love so very much.

So it is with great excitement that I announce that I am creating a new, bridal-focused photography business called Ever After. I will still be doing portraits and lifestyle sessions under the Sweet Events name, but all weddings/engagements/boudoir and beauty sessions will be under the new Ever After business. I debated over this decision for a long time, but I really want to create a brand and a focus that reflects my deep love for all things bridal. When I started Sweet Events, all I knew was that I wanted to be a photographer, and I was eager to get started. I've learned a lot along the way, and one of the most important things I have learned is that my work really shines when I let myself just be "me". And who is that "me"? Well, I'm a fairy-tale loving girl at heart, who just loves to be involved in weddings. If I lived in a more metropolitan area, I'd probably add wedding planner permanently to my resume as well. I'm detail-oriented, creative, and I thrive on the energy of other people. All this adds up to creating this new business, Ever After, so that I can fulfill my dream of having a successful photography studio in a rural area, and so I can put "me" out there for the world to see. 

My new website is still under construction, and I'll have a big unveiling when that is finished (be prepared for a stunning new logo custom designed by the amazing Jenny Woodward of NYC!). But for now, I hope you'll be happy with a few images from my recent Fairy Tale Photo shoot, designed and executed by me, assisted by the incredible Kerri Oakes of Simply Planned. I had so much support along the way from local vendors, and I can't thank them enough for participating in this dream photo session. My gorgeous model was my friend Rachael Anne, and I think she embodied everything you could expect from a fairy tale princess bride. Her hair was done by Tierney Routhier of the new Granite City Styles in Barre, and her gown and accessories came from K's Bridal and Formal Wear (the gown is "Belle" by Alfred Angelo for Disney Fairy Tale Weddings). That stunning peony bouquet was designed and made by Christina of The Pretty Petal - I was so in love with that bouquet! The adorable (and delicious!) cake was made by Maureen's Sweet Treats of Barre, and the table and gold Chiavari chairs came from Rain or Shine Events in Randolph. Our fairy tale location was The Lodge at Millstone Hill in East Barre - a hidden gem of a wedding location for sure! All of the styled elements came from me (such as the "ever after" banners on the chairs, the cake stand and cake toppers, and the vintage books) and from Kerri (such as the antique goblets and cake server). 

This special photo shoot was a dream come true for me, and I really hope to do many more in the future. The most exciting part of all, though?! Vermont Bride has chosen to feature some of my images from the session in their upcoming July Look Book! I am over the moon, and I could not have done it without the help from all the fabulous vendors and friends listed above. So without further ado, here is a little sneak preview of some of the images...

Keep checking back, I will certainly be letting everyone know when the new website is live, and when the full session is feature in Vermont Bride! And if you want to be one of the first to book an Ever After wedding, email me at everafterweddingsvt@gmail.com!