A Hampshire House Wedding on Beacon Hill: Ashton + Stephanie

When Ashton and Stephanie asked me to photograph their wedding at Hampshire House in Boston, I felt drawn to them right away. They were easy-going to plan with and easy to talk to. I also loved how carefully they thought about telling the story of their relationship, which is exactly what I care about most as a Boston wedding photographer.

Wedding details with a story behind every one

Ashton drew their invitations by hand. The save the dates showed where they met, their first house together, and Hampshire House, the Beacon Hill venue where they'd commit to each other. Each drawing marked a milestone in their relationship.

Everything was done with purpose. The florals matched in style, but each of their two bouquets had its own design.

Their rings came from Laura Preshong, a local jeweler who celebrates love of every kind with no limitations. (My husband and I got our rings there too!)

Planning a queer wedding in Boston without a template

As a queer couple, Ashton and Stephanie had no template for which wedding traditions to keep, and that was hard at times. In the end they went with what mattered most to them. They hired only LGBTQ+ affirming wedding vendors, and they spent their energy only on decisions that made a real difference. That's advice I'd give to any couple planning a Boston wedding.

The moments everyone expects

I could feel the love between them at every point in the day, and I'm not exaggerating. While I photographed it, I kept the big, expected moments in the back of my mind so I'd be ready for each one:

the tenderness on their faces during their first look
the two of them walking down the aisle together
their first kiss
their first dance
running through the streets of Beacon Hill for their portraits, a few steps from the Boston Public Garden
The moment I didn't expect

Late in the reception, after the vows and the cake cutting, Stephanie and Ashton were dancing with their friends and family. In the middle of all that happy chaos, I stopped to look at Stephanie's mom. She was leaning against the doorframe watching it all, with a smile playing on her lips. I remember thinking: wow, what presence of mind, to take all of this in with so much love while it's still happening.

Six months later, Stephanie reached out with the sad news that her mother had passed away and asked if I had any photos of her. That photo was the first one I thought of, and I sent it to her. I still wish I'd taken more of that one moment.

Why documentary wedding photography matters

It reminds me what your wedding day is really about. The small details still matter, and so does your color palette and your music. But how will you remember the day? Mostly through photographs. Photos that freeze your mom's smile as she watches you dance with the love of your life, surrounded by everyone you love and everyone who loves you.

Walking down the aisle, the first kiss, and those Beacon Hill portraits all still matter. But the photos we feel the most are the ones that freeze moments we didn't know would mean so much.