Nicole and Brandon were married over a gorgeous Labor Day weekend on September 5th, with a ceremony at the Eastern Promenade in Portland, ME, followed by a reception at the Westin Portland Harborview hotel.
Nicole and Brandon live in Cleveland together, where they are both doctors, but most of Nicole’s family lives in Portland, so that’s where they decided to hold their wedding. I’m glad they did, because the venue was absolutely gorgeous!
On the day of the ceremony, my second shooter, Wayne Chinnock, met up with the guys while I hung out with the girls. We headed up to the Top of the East to grab some photos together before heading out to the ceremony on the Eastern Promenade, overlooking the ocean with sailboats in the distance. They had both written their own vows, which drew several tears from the crowd.
Often times, I convince the bride and groom to drive around with me during formals so we can hit a few different spots, and Nicole and Brandon were up for it when I suggested it. (Brandon may have regretted his decision to hitch a ride after he was wedged between two car seats and I kept forgetting to let him out of the car—I’m not used to those child locks yet!)
It was great to get to know them a little better as we drove around, especially because, at that point, they were so relaxed and comfortable with one another. The light was amazing and made for some great photos as we were exploring, and it was hard to stop taking photos. (I think I kept them out a little longer than I was supposed to!)
I think my favorite images are the ones that we took near the fish market. Of course, it was REALLY crowded in the old port on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend, so it was hard to get photos. We drove around for a bit trying to find a good spot until we stumbled into a parking lot near a fishing pier. It was the perfect spot for these two—very “Maine”—and there weren’t any tourists in the background! I love it when I find places like this.
Once we got to the reception, Nicole and Brandon pulled out the best first dance ever! They had choreographed the dance themselves to the song “You Make My Dreams Come True” by Hall and Oates—and it was UH-MAZING!
Thank you, Nicole & Brandon, for allowing me to be a part of your day! I wish you nothing but the best in your futures together!
