Rachel and Dina were married on the Island of Marthas Vineyard on a beautiful September day. Having the honor of photographing this wedding was a dream come true for me. Not only is the ocean my church, but I hold Marthas Vineyard dear to my heart with so many childhood memories. I decided to spend a couple of days, and chose a cool AirBnB in West Tisbury. I rented a car, and during the day, drove from one end of the island to the other, and explored all of the places that I remembered so vividly as a child and teenager while we summered on our family boat. The island was quiet in September, with most of the tourists gone and seeing it in that light was new to me. I loved it. I got seafood at a tiny fish shack in Menemsha and ate it on the beach, remembering how I watched a man walk on the moon for the first time here – on a tiny b&w TV set with my family. I sat on the sand at South Beach where we spent many a time being pummeled by the intense surf. Calling it getting “wiped out” when you were beaten down by enormous waves until you felt that moment of panic wondering if you were going to come to the surface. But we always did. I have the most beautiful wall portrait of the Aquinnah, Gay Head cliffs in my dining room as a result of this life-changing trip. I walked up one side of Circuit Avenue in Oak Bluffs and down the other side, visiting all of the shops and did the same in Vineyard Haven and Edgartown. And in-between all of this, I photographed Rachel and Dina’s beautiful wedding.
There is something about the journey that the LGBTQ+ community has had to travel to get to a place in time where they can marry, that brings a unique and special kind of joy to their wedding day. A journey that for so many is so tumultuous, I cannot even relate – can only imagine. I only get to see the end of their journey as “single people”, and capture the story of a new journey that they will have together – married. I am an ally of the LGBTQ+ community and believe that love is love and I support in any way that I can by proudly waving my inclusivity flag.
Rachel and Dina had also rented an AirBnB on the island and they got ready in separate wings of the home, so it was easy and fun to go back and forth from one bride’s room to the other and photograph their dresses together, and all of the special details that they had chosen – beach shoes, jewelry, etc. We met at Rachel’s grandfather’s family home where she, too, had so so many childhood/teen/young adult memories of spending time in Edgartown. They had converted the boathouse/barn into a stunning venue for their reception celebration, and the decor was amazing.
Their ceremony overlooked Edgartown Harbor, high up on a hill next to the family home and it was breathtaking. Their vows and readings were full of meaning, smiles, laughs and love. I had so much fun photographing these women and their wedding party down on the docks below using a beloved boathouse as a backdrop along with the harbor and beach.
Check out the bowling alley photos – her grandfather had a bowling alley in his home!!!! – can you imagine the fun of that? So many crazy cool photo ops!
It wouldn’t be an Edgartown, Marthas Vineyard wedding without a clambake style dinner of lobster, steamers and corn on the cob. Friends and family danced the night away along with this newly married couple. So much fun and love weaved it’s way through every moment of this very special wedding day. It was a one of a kind experience for me and I treasured every moment. I wish Rachel and Dina so much joy in their new life together. Congratulations and thank you for welcoming me into your amazing wedding celebration.
