Emily nailed every aspect of being a laid back bride, from doing her hair and make-up herself to choosing a wedding dress WITH POCKETS and that could hide Wellies underneath it for splashing in puddles. She toasted with her bridesmaids with dinosaur cups over home-made shortbread and even found some time to have a totally impromptu pillow fight with them all (I am told this is a fantasy for straight men?). We organized a first look at the ceremony spot and I have literally never seen a more honest outpouring of love and excitement. Get tissues, cause I still cry going through these shots. From then on it was a perfect mix of serious commitment to each other and ear-to-ear smiles (funny how having a professional comic actor around helps with that?) during portraits, ceremony and reception.

They threw the definition of Fall Wedding #Goals while keeping things low key and fun, despite an unseasonable chill and drizzle.

I love a wedding with a Gilmore Girls reference.

These ladies were ready to party from the minute I arrived.

I love when just Mom helps out with the dress, such a sweet and intimate moment.

But seriously, these bridesmaids knew how to react. I was have the same happy cries, thankfully my camera covers my face!

I am still absolutely shocked and honored I get to witness and document such honest moments of emotion. LOOK AT THESE TWO. Don’t you want to marry them? It’s too late, they’re taken, but still.

You know those “Get someone who looks at you they way my brother looks at ketchup” memes? Jim found that person.

I didn’t even need to provide any direction to these guys besides “can you go over there?” and “just cuddle!” which is basically the best possible thing for my job. Everything that followed was sweet and silly.

Jim had custom cufflinks made of his parents wedding photo! What a gorgeous way to honor them?

These wedding parties were so delightfully sassy and super attractive too.

Double the flower girls, double the fun!

One of my favorite things a couple can do is to have a dear friend sing a very meaningful song during the ceremony. I may or may not be doing the exact same thing for my wedding, but i don’t know if my friends will be as good as Chris Coogan.

To say Emily looked etherial during her vows just doesn’t quite cut it.

Jim was able to keep his inner ham tamed during the ceremony, but it may have snuck out recessing down the aisle.

When you have such an extraordinary couple paired with an equally astounding spot to take make some portraits, all you can really do to start is just let them take in the moment and explore.

Jim’s goofball eventually caught up with us again, but thankfully he is an attractive goofball!

I love being able to make a timeless portrait and also silly memories. Emily and Jim could do both in a matter of seconds. Is this a thing at evert Connecticut fall wedding? I think I was just lucky.

So we may have technically not supposed to have been on this part of the reservoir, but Jim and Emily showed them how they felt about that. And then immediately had some karma in the form of strong gusts.

Did I mention it was threatening to drizzle basically this entire time? Nobody gave any fucks and just wanted to make sure Emily and Jim had the best possible time.

This nailed the fall wedding rustic glam vibes.

Everyone was extra feisty this cocktail hour and that is the best thing.

When first dances become everyone on the dance floor you get all sorts of warm fuzzies.

Pardon me while I melt over these ADORBS parent dances.

Were you expecting all these guys to slay the dance floor? because you should have been.

I don’t usually steal things from couples posts, but I love that Emily wrote for Jim’s birthday “Remember that time we got married in outer space? That was great but you are greater.” I agree this off camera flash was stellar, but I think they’re equally the greatest.

—-

DRESS: Oleg Cassini
BRIDESMAID DRESSES: Assorted Badgley Mischka and Christian Siriano
FLOWER GIRL DRESSES: Sweet Valentina
SHOES: Bella Belle from BHLDN
SUIT: Custom made by Born to Tailor
TIES: Custom by Cyberoptix
CATERING: Cinch Foods
FLORALS: The Flowerfall of Westport
OFFICIANT: Rev. Jonathan Hammond
CEREMONY: The Unitarian Church of Westport
CEREMONY MUSICIAN: Chris Coogan
PORTRAIT LOCAITON: Aspetuck Reservoir
RINGS: Kristin Coffin Jewelry
DJ: DJ Scottso
TENT AND RECEPTION LIGHTING: Durkin Tents
CAKES: Cafe Expresso
COOKIES: Teresa D’Amico

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Their entire wedding felt like I was attending a friend’s party, and it will go down as one of my all time faves. Dexter’s vivacious friends and Aggies (he’s a very proud North Carolina alum) and Kevin’s artsy buds joined for happy crying during their vows, amazing laughs at cocktail hour, and absolutely amazing dance moves that tore up the dance floor. They capped off the night with an exit as bright as them, with friends creating a corridor of sparklers to send them off. Basically it was a perfect night. Also, how sweet is it that these cuties got married on Pride!?

The first full weekend of summer, the greenery at their wedding and all throughout Cranbury Park was ON POINT.

The best wedding parties both look great and act a fool.

Both families were all about hugs.

I still can’t get over the lighting over this century old weeping willow on the Gallaher Mansion grounds.

Tip 1 to make sure your photographer happy/ugly sobs all through your wedding: have a friend officiate so they can speak personally about you.

Tip 2 to make sure your photographer happy/ugly sobs all through your wedding: have heartfelt moments with your parents.

Tip 3 to make sure your photographer happy/ugly sobs all through your wedding: tie the knot in an amazing garden that smells like grass and sunshine.

Tip 4 to make sure your photographer happy/ugly sobs all through your wedding: wipe away your boo’s tears.

Tip 5 to make sure your photographer happy/ugly sobs all through your wedding: celebrate marriage equality and your beautiful union on Pride with happy tears of your own like a fucking boss.

The Gallaher Mansion’s patio at cocktail hour is .

If your officiant can also serenade you for your first dance, then you have made the right decision.

I love during parent dances when a couple swaps halfway through. I especially like it here because Kevin’s mom looks so happy to boogie with her new son.

I wasn’t kidding when I said these folks knew how to dance. and drink. and party. and laugh. and can they come to my wedding?

Good friends cheer when you kiss your new spouse. Great friends then give you a group hug.

VENUE: Gallaher Mansion at Cranbury Park
SUITS: Men’s Wearhouse
FLORALS: Sam’s Club
OFFICIANT: Will Saunders
CATERING: Fitzgerald’s Fine Catering

The post Gallaher Mansion and Cranbury Park Wedding | Dexter + Kevin appeared first on Justin McCallum Photography.

No. Don’t actually. That never works for a good photo, in my experience.

Tickle attacks, evil laughing, talking about your first kiss, syncing your breathing, celebrating, and whispering sweet nothings into each others’ ears. Those are the coaching techniques I like to use while making portraits of couples and their wedding parties. Mixing those little suggestions with documentary photography lets me find amazing moments with my couples without getting posey. The hour or so I get to spend with the happy couple and their closest friends is always my favorite part of the day, so narrowing down the best moments was difficult but also so nostalgic and sweet.

I love when a couple can look badass and intimate at the same time!

An adventurous wedding party can make all the difference in a portrait session. Nicole and Bobby’s happily climbed up on this bluff for an epic shot!

Jean and Maddie’s nuptials were especially meaningful for me as I got to document the wedding of my childhood best friend. I cry a lot at weddings that I photograph, but that was at a whole other level.

Reid Castle at Manhattanville College is one of my all time favorite venues since there are literally endless places for portraits.

Brides being dope on rooftops is my favorite thing about 2016, and it better continue for years to come.

Flower girls can be total divas, but also have moments of being adorable, too.

The street art game in Brooklyn is always on point, so it is easily my favorite backdrop to have couples play around in front of.

I really don’t like bright, mid-day lighting. But I’ll make exceptions for Maggie’s brighter-than-sunshine smile, sparkly dances between Sara and her bridesmaids, and a little lens flare during a little stroll with Justin and Danny.

Brides are always gorgeous, but I especially love those in between moments.

As much as I can, I try to let my clients do their own thing so I can tap into my photojournalism training. Above are my two favorite 100% genuine moments from 2016. Ben just groovin with his Mom was so absolutely cozy and sweet, while Emily and Jim’s first look is so filled with emotion my heart swelled more than the Grinch’s.

Group shots with your wedding party can be a bit of a pain, but the effort can surround you in love. 

Even between two husbands, I love finding the individual quirks and personalities of subjects to highlight them in their portraits.

A hearty laugh is the most attractive thing in the world.

Mother Nature can be a pretty kickass backdrop. I love the simplicity in nature as Dexter and Kevin walk out of a weeping willow, and also the spark you can create with some well placed flash, a drizzle of rain, and lovebirds like Ian and Saba.

The subway > Limos.

No matter what I do, it’s just great to work with couples who are definitely star crossed lovers. (Without the whole double suicide thing.)

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