Nick + Brendan had such a wonderful wedding in Provincetown, Massachusetts on a glorious weekend in mid-September. The town is one of their favorites and and site of their engagement. And I just loved being there to document it for them.

Brendan and I go back almost five years and when we first met when he was my daughter’s high school ceramics teacher and just slightly more important, her first high school coach. I could go on and on about Brendan and how special he is as a teacher and a mentor to so many kids and how much my daughter loves him and how she insisted I take her along as an assistant to their Lincoln Memorial engagement session last fall. I was so happy to know Nick as well and to see how sweet they are as a couple.

As much as I like a wedding day first look, I really enjoy it when the couple gets ready in the same space. So many tender moments happen, like a kiss in the mirror or laughing/crying as they exchange gifts and even helping tie and tie or tuck in a shirt.

For the wedding portraits, I found a lush patch of green grass and flowers adjacent to the beach just outside the house they were staying; it turned out to be wonderful for photos (in other words the sun was in just the right place). A top priority for portraits for the couple was our trip to Pilgrim Monument, the exact spot where they became engaged more than a year before. For the history buffs, it’s also the spot where the Mayflower landed in 1620.

We then headed to the wedding and reception location, The Crown and Anchor, right in the heart of Provincetown on Commercial Street. The wedding took place on the sand just behind the inn and as the photos show, there were few dry eyes on the beach as the couple said their vows. Their nautical theme was perfect for their wedding ceremony and reception and the tiniest details, including their dog Juliet’s wedding outfit printed with whales, were not overlooked. Those details also include the rings (Brendan made Nick’s engagement ring!) and the ceramic vases (also Brendan-made) filled with white flowers that the women in the wedding party carried down the aisle.

Take a look at my other nautical-themed September destination wedding and stay tuned for more portraits and the reception photos from Nick + Brendan’s wedding coming on Wednesday!

Wedding and reception The Crown and Anchor

Flowers The New Provincetown Florist 

Cake Far Land Provisions

Rings Nijiko Designs

Signage New Columbia Sign Company