Robin, Contracts Associate

Kevin, Client Manager

Wedding Date and Location:

August 7, 2009 at Springstep in Medford, Massachusetts: USA.

Photography and Medium:

Doug and Katherine of Helios Images / Douglas Despres Photography, Digital Capture, Black and White Film.

What made your wedding creative:

We weren’t afraid to not follow tradition.  We did the things that were important to us (exchange vows in front of our friends and family, drinks and dancing at the reception) and nixed the things that we would have been doing for the sake of doing (groomsmen/bridesmaids, cake cutting, bouquet toss, limo).  I think the most special thing to us that made our wedding a little more unique was we had Kevin’s dad officiate the ceremony.  Neither of us are particularly religous, and we weren’t jazzed about picking a JOP out of the phone book.  We did what made the most sense for us, and it was great.

Your biggest challenge:

How to be thrifty and not cheap.  I was laid off between getting engaged and our wedding so finances were definitely our biggest challenge. Be creative with resources you already have.  My brother did our invites for us.  He is a graphic designer.  The catering bill scared the bajeesus out of me.  I started working for them and literally worked off a good chunk of our tab.  By the time my wedding came around, I knew the entire catering staff, we definitely got VIP treatment, along with free upgrades, at a fraction of the price.

Your favorite moment:

Our first dance (Chuck Berry’s “You Never Can Tell”, completely stolen dance scene from Pulp Fiction with John Travolta and Uma Thurman). Close seconds: The impromptu dance off to “Bust a Move” tied with forced audience particiaption of  “I like Big Butts”

Advice to share:

Don’t waste time stressing about what other people think.  Your mother will get over it!  And stay away from theknot.com at all costs.  If budget is an issue, spend on things that matter – a great photographer, dress, whatever is important to YOU! The photos are what will last and how you and your friends/family will be able to remember details that would otherwise fade away over the years.  Skimp on things that you don’t care about (we nixed the favors as we couldn’t recall any wedding favors we kept or used at the 15 or so wedding we had been to).

Any favorite vendors / helpful tips?

Douglas Despres!!!!!.  Etsy.com was a great resource.  I got a super cute peacock clutch from there as well as peacock feather bouts / corsages.  Also a good “go to” for inspiration/ideas. Real Simple magazine has a great wedding planning issue and it isn’t filled with 300 pages of advertising of bridal gowns and brides maids dresses.

The Gallery!