The words ‘showered with love’ give new meaning for Jessica and Mike who shared a wonderful wedding day with their family and friends – albeit a rainy one.  No worries for this fun-loving couple, with all the love and attention they were showered with that day, no one paid any attention to what was happening outside.

Jess and Mike’s Wedding was made extra-special by these fine Wedding Professionals:

The Fireside Inn, Portland ME

David’s Bridal, So. Portland

European Bakery, Falmouth ME

And us of course, Will and Lucia, Focus Photography

When Courtney and John first told us about their plans for the big day, they said they wanted intimate and elegant, but they also wanted fun.  They certainly succeeded with all of those things…. but also managed to hit on a little note of ‘grandiose’  - have you seen the Landing at Pine Point ?  It’s got to be coastal Maine’s best kept secret!!  These are a few of our favorite images from their magnificent wedding.  And Courtney and John – we’re going to miss you when you move to Seattle!

Hats off to the professionals who made this great day shine:
The Landing at Pine Point, Scarborough ME
Minotts Flowers, Portland ME
DJ Jeff Rockwell, Portland ME
Madeleine’s Daughter, Portsmouth NH

Every once in a while, you get the extreme pleasure of meeting someone who opens their heart and soul to you and makes you feel like family.  This is the case with Donna.  A few years back we photographed Donna and her daughters on Peaks Island, and this year we were beyond thrilled to spend a few days in Boston with them when she and Bob decided to get married.  Bunker Hill, the USS Constitution, The Bond, Christopher Columbus Park, a horse drawn carriage and then the actual wedding on Boston’s Elite Yacht - can you say wow – ?!!

It’s hard to imagine a better place for a Maine wedding than at the fishermen’s huts at Willard Beach.  Casco bay and all it’s islands surrounds you, and the view is just tremendous.  This is what Jon and Amanda wanted their family to experience when they came to Maine, and it would have been impossible for anyone not to love it.  Combine that with Jon’s grandfather marrying them, and a cousin singing for them, and you’ve got the perfect family wedding.  We had a blast.

Here’s a gallery of our favorite images from one of the summer’s most enjoyable weddings.  If you’ve never been to Peaks’ Island, it’s hard to imagine that just taking a fifteen-minute ferry-ride could put Portland and the rest of Maine so far out of mind, but every time step onto the dock at Peaks, I feel as relaxed and content as though I were on vacation on the vineyard.  

That’s the feeling Brian and Liz wanted when they picked the Inn on Peaks, and Jason and Amanda did an incredible job ensuring they got it.  

 A few important vendors:

Reception – The Inn on Peaks – Jason and Amanda

Guitar Soloist – Dan Tonini

DJ – Brett Williams

Florist – Compositions

Cupcakes – Two Fat Cats (Delicious!!!)

Photography – Thats’ us – Focus Photography – Will and Lucia

What do an Air Force pilot, Lobster Boots, and Mitchell Field in Harpswell all have in common?  They’re all things that Laura loves.  The Pilot is Spencer, whom she married on a beautiful summer’s day, right out in the open at Mitchell Field, near her childhood home.  Our favorite moment of the day?  The bride putting on lobster boots to hike around the waters’ edge with us before her ceremony.  A gorgeous couple, a romantic ceremony, and a perfect day overall.  I hope you like the images as much as we do.

Here’s who made their day extra special:
Bowman Transportation, Brunswick ME
Andrea’s Bridal, Portland ME
Flowers Etc., Brunswick ME
The Eastland Park Hotel, Portland ME
The European Bakery, Falmouth ME
And of course, Will and I, Focus Photography Portland ME

Thanks for looking

Together with their families, Amy and Trent said ‘I do’ in a quaint little chapel, then celebrated the occasion with a lavish cocktail party at the Wentworth by the Sea.  It was warm, wonderful and a Wicked Good time!!

Cheers to all that made this day possible:
The Wentworth by the Sea, New Castle NH
Dianna Adams, Stratham NH
Jardinierre Florist, Portsmouth NH
The Music Man DJ’s, Kennebunk ME
And don’t forget us, Will and Lucia, Focus Photography, Portland ME

Oh what a fabulous day for Kristen and Bill!  Two of the nicest people you will ever meet – Kristen and Bill brought about twenty of their closest friends up from Pennsylvania to enjoy a Coastal Wedding with a Sea Coast flare – complete with huge lobsters for the entire bunch!

For Nicole and Keith, who live in Las Vegas, a beach-side ceremony was their true dream for their Wedding Ceremony.  So on a lovely summer day, together with their immediate families, they tied the knot while the sun was setting over the Atlantic.  They shared a wonderful day full of laughter and love.

As wedding photographers in Maine, we get to see a lot of great celebrations, but there’s something about the intimacy of a beach wedding that’s more romantic than any seaside resort.  I hope you like the images.

Special thanks to The Inn by the Sea, in Cape Elizabeth Maine, who made this day so special for Keith and Nicole.

And of course Will and I who really enjoyed documenting their event

A truly Grace-full day for Emily and Andy.  The weather was just perfect, and everything went as planned for this charmed couple.  Emily and Andy are Maine natives who live Oklahama (Andy is stationed there with the US Armed Forces) were treated to a fabulous day with an intimate ceremony followed by a fabulous reception at Grace restaurant in Downtown Portland.  

Special thanks to the Wedding Professionals who made their day so special:
Grace Restaurant, Portland ME
Madeline’s Daughter, Portsmouth NH
Down-East Flowers, Kennebunk ME
Baby Cakes, Wells ME
Custom Coach and Limousine, Gorham ME

Here are a few of my favorite images of Bethany, taken at the Harbor Crest Inn in York:

Jed didn’t get ready at the inn, but we needed him the for the first glance he and Bethany were doing, and when we took these images Bethany was safely hidden away inside.

When the bride and groom are seeing each other before the ceremony, we ask the groom to turn away, and wait for the bride to tap him on the shoulder:

The bride and groom, alone:

Here are a few of our favorite shots with the wedding party.  We also did many of the family portraits ahead of time, and they came out great, but these blog posts are long enough with just the couple and the wedding party.

As Bethany arrived at the York Tennis and Golf Club, everyone was eager to see her walk down the aisle, and her father performed the ceremony.

And then, there were toasts and dinner, dancing and cake.

It was a great wedding.  Fred Pappalardo DJ’ed a great event, the cake was courtesy of Let Them Eat Cake (Lucia loves this cake!), and Dan from the York Golf and Tennis Club made sure the event ran smoothly.  It was a beautiful wedding, and we were thrilled to be there.

Congratulations Bethany and Jed, and have a great honeymoon.  Everyone else – thanks for looking, and please tell us what you think -  Will

On Saturday, June 18th, the weather blessed Kim and Joe with a beautiful afternoon for their wedding on the coast of Maine.  Though it had stormed all morning, Kim really wanted her ceremony outdoors, and Will Clayton flipped a secret switch that the Samoset has that turned on the sunshine and produced a glorious summer afternoon.  Once everyone was inside for the dinner, he arranged for a brief lightning storm, and then finished the night with a rainbow that blazed just out the window from where people were dancing.

I don’t know why every wedding venue doesn’t have this kind of control over the weather, but the Samoset makes it work every time.

Here are a few of our favorite shots of Kim – a most beautiful bride!

Here are a few shots of the groom, Joe, and his dad, also Joe, and also a character.

The ceremony was held off the fifth tee, overlooking the breakwater and Penobscott Bay.

Here are a few of my favorite images of the bride and groom together:

Finally, here are some of the images from the terrific reception dinner Kim and Joe had for their families:

This was a beautiful and intimate wedding.  Will Clayton and his crew at the Samoset did an amazing job allowing the day to be as relaxed and enjoyable as Kim and Joe wanted.  Lucia and I would like to thank everyone in the Levesque and DeBilio families for making us feel so welcome at this special celebration.  Thanks for looking – Will

On a beautiful Saturday in what had been a rather rainy May, Ashley Peterson married Adam Davis.  Though they hail from Virginia, Ashley and Adam have spent a lot of time together on the Maine coast, and they invited all of their family and friends to come see Maine for themselves.

Their wedding was both simple and elegant, as all Harraseeket weddings are.  The gardens were blooming, the property immaculate, the staff friendly and attentive, and the food amazing.  These are a few of my favorite images from the day:

These are a few images from when Adam first saw Ashley in that amazing gown

A few of our favorite images with the wedding party, and Ashley’s daughters.

Finally, a few of the highlights from the reception

As you can see, it was a wonderful wedding day. Not perfect – there was a light shower in the afternoon - but everyone knows that’s good luck.

Lucia and I would like to thank Ashley and Adam for inviting us to share their wedding day, and allowing us to see how in love they are.  You’re a warm and welcoming couple, and we loved photographing your wedding.  Thank you to Melissa, Ruby, and the whole Harraseeket team for producing a tremendous wedding and reception; the wedding party for putting up with my jokes; and the Peterson and Davis clans for their help, assistance, and cooperation.

Thanks for looking – William von Wenzel

Here is the album that won the “Wedding Album of the Year” Award for Maine in 2011. The wedding was held at the Samoset Resort in Rockland, Maine. You can use the cursor keys to turn through the pages, and the fullscreen option to see the images larger. The press release for the award is here. Thanks for looking — Will

I also was elected to the MPPA’s court of honor for my third time, received my third Kodak Gallery Award, and received an award for the highest scoring print by a Certified Professional Photographer (but there’s only six Certified Professional Photographers in Maine, while there’s hundreds of wedding photographers). I’m happy about those awards too, but to win Album of the Year two years in a row – that’s an honor I’m giddy about!!!

Here’s the link to the 2011 Album of the Year, and the album that won in 2010 is posted here.

Camp Hammond - a Black Tie Catering Property

These are a few of our favorite images from an intimate wedding at Camp Hammond – a great little wedding property in Falmouth, Maine.  Debbie and Gary are a really sweet couple who were lucky enough to have their kids in their wedding party, and their friends and family around to share their ceremony.  I hope you like their images.

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. The Eastland Park Ballroom. And a gorgeous couple, totally in love with each other, having a perfect wedding.

After you check out the slideshow, press the gallery button on the left (it looks like polaroids) to see more images from throughout the day. And to see the complete collection (and to order prints), follow this link: www.focusweddingphotos.com.

I hope you like the images, and I’d love to hear your thoughts on the new blog format. Will

On a perfect Sunday during Labor Day weekend, Samantha Goyette married Justin Lerman, at the Samoset Resort in Rockport. As photographers, we had an amazing abundance of photographic opportunities that you’ll see in the slideshow. The bride and groom saw each other at a first glance ceremony. They signed their Ketubah to seal their covenant with God. Their son Grady was pulled in a wagon up the aisle. And then, they got married overlooking the ocean.

Will Clayton and his staff at the Samoset did an amazing job, and the entire wedding went off without a hitch. Greg from NorthEast DJs had the most aesthetically pleasing DJ booth I’ve ever seen, and then he packed the dance floor all night. And if you were wondering, both Samantha and Justin were carried aloft during the Hora dance.

I hope you enjoy the slideshow, and be sure to press the fullscreen button to see the images at their best. Thanks for looking – Will

Did you know there was a beach in Casco? It’s true, Point Sebago, a family friendly resort on Lake Sebago, has a real beach! Krystal and Joseph got married on the sand, with the lake just behind them, on a warm and beautiful Saturday this August. And wow, were they excited to marry each other! I hope you enjoy the images, and thanks for looking — WvW

Wow! Here are a few dozen of my favorite images from this elegant and intimate wedding. Look at how the ceremony fits on the patio in back of Sable Oaks’ pool patio. This was one of the hottest days of summer, but we were cool in the shade of the oak trees (go figure, shady oak trees at a Marriott named Sable Oaks), and fortunate to witness a beautiful ceremony. Meg and her staff handled all of the reception details flawlessly, so the night went off without a hitch.
Highlights to look for in the slideshow include a full panorama of the ballroom; the flower girl abandoning her flowers midway down the aisle; and the eligible men completely ignoring a garter falling in front of them. Thanks for looking – Will

I’m dying to tell you how awesome this wedding was, but first, I’ve got to tell you why it’s taken me so long to put this post up.  I usually put ten to twenty images up on the blog, just images in a column, but there were so many great moments at Jackie and Chris’ wedding, I knew I was going to want to put a lot up.  There’s a panorama of the ballroom that I created in this collection, and when I finished assembling it, I really wanted you to see these images in a bigger size than our usual blog posts.  Thus began my quest for the slideshow above, which resulted in too many nights writing ActionScript code in my pajamas.  I hope you enjoy the result By the way, if the full screen mode doesn’t work for your browser, this can be fixed by visiting adobe.com and downloading the newest version of flash.

If you’ve read any of my other wedding posts, you know that I get to work with the coolest brides and grooms on the planet.  I’m a geek who admits to writing computer code late at night, so I don’t really know how they pick me, but I’d guess it has something to do with my wife Lucia.  Anyways, Jackie and Chris, total rockstars.  We had so much fun on our first romantic session together that we offered them a second one up in Maine (look for those images – stunning!)  Lucia and I knew their wedding was going to be amazing, and if you look at the images above you’ll agree – it really was.

The ceremony was at a Greek Orthodox Catherdral in Manchester (Saint George), and the architecture of the cathedral was unlike any place I’ve ever been to.  It rained (which Lucia will tell you is good luck on a wedding), so we didn’t go to the beach before the reception, but when your reception is being held at the Wentworth by the Sea, who cares.  If the slideshow is running when you get to the ballroom panorama, pause it, and look at the beautiful  ballroom that Leslie Barbini and her team from the Wedding Belle created (yes, the Wentworth is always beautiful, but the uplights and decor really transform it!)

So how was the reception, you ask?  An off the hook combination of traditional Greek celebration (though no plates were broken) and a rocking fun wedding.  Surf and turf, both a band and a DJ, and dancing both in the ballroom, and out in the hallway.  Gina Damiano and her staff at the Wentworth made it all go off flawlessly, and the Christos Natsis band played until everyone had thrown all their money in the air.

I hope you have fun looking at the images – we had a blast producing them.   Now if you haven’t already done so, click the full screen button in the lower left corner of the slideshow.  Thanks for looking - Will

Vendors:

• Gown – Madeleine’s Daughter
• Jewelry – Barmakian Jewelers
• Flowers – Ambrosia Gardens
• Planning – Leslie Barbini, The Wedding Belle
• Invites and Stationary – Signed, Sealed, & Delivered (Lauren and Ellen)
• Makeup – Kathy from the Beleza salon in Chelmsford, MA
• Venue – The Wentworth By The Sea, New Castle, NH
• DJ – The Music Man
• Band – Christos Nastis
• Transportation – Grace Limousine
• Cake – Jaques Pastry
• The Focus Photography team – Will, Lucia, Ali, and Rob.

Jenny and Lucas couldn’t have had a more beautiful day for their wedding. The weather, the dresses, the bride, the bridesmaids – everything was beautiful. And with guests including an ex-governor and a sitting senator, it’s clear that this was a wedding to be at. The staff at the Wentworth was amazing as always, though sadly, this was Jenni Franco’s last wedding (coordinator extraordinaire) at the Wentworth. I hope you enjoy the images as much as we enjoyed this wedding!

Okay, let’s look at some pictures!  Here’s the bride embracing her father before the dress goes on:

These are the giftbags the the bridal party received, and below that, Jeff received a special card from Emily before the ceremony (and he wouldn’t say what was in it!)

The men clean up well.  I’m going to try not to comment on every image – I want to, but I know I’m just slowing you down from seeing their great wedding.  But look at the cute lobster flip flops that were in the giftbag….

Emily makes a gorgeous bride, doesn’t she???  Okay, off to the church.

The next few images are just a handful of the romantic images of the bride and groom from around the Samoset.  Will got us a couple of golf carts, and that means there were at least ten million great places we could go for pictures….

Inside, the Bob Charest band had the party dancing, even before the cocktail hour was over! 

We had a wonderful time!  Congratulations Emily and Jeff, and thank you for looking!

I’m also happy to tell you that I’m a member of the Maine Professional Photographers’ Association (MPPA), a great network of photographers.  Every year at the annual convention for the MPPA, we have a competition judged by 6 national judges from the Professional Photographers of America.  This year, out of 196 total competition entries, only one wedding album received a blue ribbon (albums are judged for excellence in image quality, story telling, and composition).  That album, submitted by me, was from an Eastland Park wedding posted here, and entered into the competition entitled “Downtown Wedding”.  The album pages are posted on this blog as well, here.

Guess what?  I won the Album of the Year award!  A unanimous choice by the judging committee!  This was the first wedding album I’ve ever submitted for competition, and the judges loved it.  I’m thrilled – I’m proud – and I’m grateful to my whole team for their help and support.

I also received my second Kodak Gallery Award, and was again nominated to the MPPA Court of Honor, but it’s the Album of the Year award that really has me excited.

Thanks for looking – Will

Here’s the text from the press release above (in case the image is too small):

This was from Kevin and Angela’s wedding at the Eastland Park in downtown Portland.  The church is the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, on Cumberland Avenue.  This album was designed by Alison & Lucia, and photographed by Will and the entourage.

I hope you enjoy it.