I’m going to work on embarrassing Ali Gemelli for a minute: when we had our first booking phone call, I hung up the phone thinking I think I just met my new best friend—and it could totally be true. When I met her and Jon for some pre-wedding planning drinks at the York Harbor Inn, that feeling just got stronger. Ali is the kind of woman who makes friends with everyone she meets, and everyone wants to be her friend. I watched her hug Patti Gregoire from Flowers by the Sea goodbye as if they’d been friends for years—I’m telling you Ali’s amazing. She has an infectiously happy spirit, and that carried through the entire day. She was game for anything, including my first full-out champagne pop—resulting in some of my all-time favorite wedding captures.

This is a woman who can rock the aisle-walk even when her entrance music unexpectedly cuts out, think nothing of hunkering down on the grass in a giant fluffy white dress to hug her adorable niece and nephew, and never ever lose her cool no matter what the day throws at her. I’m ridiculously happy I was able to be a part of hers and Jon’s day—and now with this blog, you can be, too.

xoxo

The Details:

• The Venue and Coordinator: York Harbor Inn; Cheyenne Wright (Cheyenne was AMAZING: her passion for her work clearly shows, AND she's so so awesome to work with. I can't say enough great things about how much we loved her! Greg was great, too: very professional and quick to make sure the small details were covered.)

• The Florist: Flowers by the Sea, Patti Gregoire

• The Cake Artist: Let Them Eat Cake, Gayle Forte

• The Makeup/Hair Squad: Bliss Studio, Samantha Clark

• The DJ: TM Productions, Ted Maher

• The Chair Rental: Exeter Events and Tents, Makaylah Johnson

• The Dress: Ve'Lace Bridal Shop, Designer: Eddy K.

• Second Shooter Extraordinaire: Jessica Harris