Samantha & Ryan's First Congregational Church UCC & Woodlands Club Wedding

I'm often asked by other photographers, "How do your couples find you?" Well, the majority of the time, they find me because they have friends and family that I've had the pleasure of working with before. In the seven years I've been photographing weddings, that is by far my biggest source of clients. That's how Samantha & Ryan found me more than a year before their July 2014 wedding (Thank you, Alyssa!). And now I have Samantha & Ryan to thank for one of my latest couples to book for 2016 (So excited, Jessica & Matt!). So I thought it would be only fitting to take a look back at Samantha & Ryan's wedding from just over a year ago as I continue to update this (relatively) new blog.

Samantha & Ryan... seriously, what is not to love about these two? I first met them for coffee in an old bank vault at an Aroma Joe's in Sanford, Maine. We spent forever talking about, well, everything that you could imagine and laughing our tails off. It really was like a coffee date with old friends. Their engagement session was much the same. Lots of love and laughter as we explored Two Lights State Park in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Samantha's bridal shower at the Salt Water Grille in South Portland was an afternoon spent celebrating. And then came their wedding day on a sweltering Saturday last July.

The love between Samantha & Ryan is the stuff that fairytales are made of. The way that Ryan melts when he looks at Samantha. Samantha's glowing smile and blushing cheeks when she talks of her love for Ryan. They are made for each other. And their wedding day was a testament to that love as well as the love they have for their families.

Samantha and her ladies got ready at the classic Regency in Portland's Old Port before their ceremony at the First Congregational Church UCC in South Portland, Maine. There may have been just a few tears of joy shed prior to the ceremony. And some of them may have been mine.

After their ceremony, we took off for Portland Headlight in Cape Elizabeth to take their bridal party portraits along the coast. Then it was time to head to The Woodlands Club to really celebrate the newlyweds well into the night.

I am so honored to have been there to see these get hitched and am already looking forward to seeing them at Jessica & Matt's wedding next summer. I dare say that is my favorite part about referrals from past couples. I get to see my old friends again!

Samantha & Ryan, thank you so much for having me with you on your wedding day. I hope that the past year has been filled with what we all know you for: lots of love and laughter. It certainly has flown by!

WeddingSusie SimmonsThe Woodlands ClubThe Regency, First Congregational Church UCC, The Woodlands Club, Madeleine's Daughter, Men's Wearhouse, Heather Caron, Maine's Premier Entertaiment, Two Fat Cats, Portland Headlight