This wedding from a couple of months ago was one for the books for many reasons. My college roommate found a amazing man to marry and we got to celebrate it all week long in a simply beautiful location, St. Lucia!Matt and Cory really compliment each other (they BOTH hate tomatoes? so odd to me) and he fits so well into our group that we are all family. All week long there were countless adventures to go on: boat excursion to the Grand Pitons, volcano mud baths, jet skis, paddle-boarding and getting a tan. The drinks flowed as freely as smiles & laughter and it was pure joy!

Heather and Chris have been together 14 years and have waited a long time to make it "official." The bride got in touch with me last year for an fall wedding but decided spring is just as perfect. This couple from Ohio really welcomed me into their lives and it was a pleasure to capture. The intimacy of less than 10 people really made it all about their love and family. Nothing else is needed.

When your best friend gets engaged you take her pictures and when she has her first baby you take pictures! I was super excited to get to meet baby Cobbe.Heather and Mike chose not to know the gender which not many people do now a days. From the moment she texted me the ultrasound photo I guessed a boy which I had a 50/50 shot at!

The dates of late August to November are considered photographer's "busy" season; people have weddings, engagement sessions, mini theme sessions and of course Christmas photos. My first session of the season was a combo of engagement & family with Sara, Steve and Dallas.

One thing (out of many reasons) why I love photographing weddings is exploring new places. Teresa and Ryan are such a sweet and fun couple and we shot at two great locations. The fall weather was on point with a little bit of a crisp at Enders State Forest and Saville Dam.

2018 was another amazing year for me! This year brought continued business growth, beautiful detailed weddings, and spirited couples & families. I also had a variety of opportunities to photograph with repeat local photographers at their weddings and it affirms that I am doing good work and I thank them for the chance to practice and grow. My weddings took me to new and different venues from beach side to brewery and made my rustic heart happy.

Wow this year was really a great one! I saw steady growth in Mariel O. Photo and got to meet new people and gain new clientele. Its always hard to pick my favorite images from each session so I started logically - beginning to end. I got to check a lot off my photo bucket list -- January brought me two winter weddings, May a destination wedding (!) and June lovely lakeside nuptials.

Its that time of year.... HOLIDAY MINI SESSIONS! I put out a brief "hey is anyone interested" post on my personal Facebook and got some hits so for the first time I put together a 2017 mini-session package. I got to photograph some clients I hadn't in a while as well as friends and a local resident. Once I gained interest I had to find a location and there was only one place that came to mind, my favorite place, the Webb Barn. I couldn't beat the proximity as well as feeding my obsession of old rustic barns. I also made the trek to a new place, Comstock Bridge which was also super charming -- covered bridge on the water?! Yes please. I really loved doing this and for next year will put something together even more spectacular.

Christy got in touch with me about a month ago telling me all the details she had planned for her elopement style wedding in June. From the moment we spoke I knew she and her fiance Jason were "my people" Both are creative, sweet and smiley lovebirds.They wanted their engagement photos in their home and ensured me there was big beautiful window light (!) which is the stuff all photographers want (told you they got me).

Each wedding is unique and I really enjoy the personal touches each of my couples puts on their day. Alyssa & Sean are avid beer drinkers and chose The Hops Company brewery in Derby, CT to exchange their vows and become Mr. & Mrs! You can't beat autumn vibes in New England and you can check out their epic Castle engagement session here. I loved visited this brewery and the beer garden made for a unique location to get married.

Being a creative business owner I am always trying to improve by implementing new techniques and shooting different types of things. I have always wanted to put together a "styled shoot" which is where brides get all those Pinterest worthy inspo! It is so hard to get vendors together while having a unique vision, so when I found out about Heather Benge and her brilliance of travelling across America putting these shoots on, well ya I was all over it.

This session was my first after officially moving to Middletown so I couldn't wait to meet up on a relaxing Sunday evening to explore the beauty that is Wadsworth Mansion. Chris loves the grounds and building and is a big architecture buff and I enjoyed hearing about the history from someone who appreciates it. Sam is also one fun mama and these two just compliment each other.

Watching these two cuties get married at Maneely's Lodge in South Windsor was a dream! I have been so excited about their day since last fall (see their engagement session here) and it finally came together so perfectly. With rain and thunderstorms taking place all week the forecast finally cleared and the sun came out! So many other lucky things happened from the rain, a ladybug on the flowers, and the "blood" moon lunar phase.

Let me preface this post with Andrena and Tim are fantastic people but not technically my clients. As a photographer I am hired to work with other industry people as an associate so when one of my past lead shooters from last fall, Kellie Ryan Photography contacted me I was happy to do it. See the thing is Kellie followed her photography passion all the way to Kenya and wouldn't be back stateside until their wedding day this December.

This wedding at the Crystal Ballroom in Naugatuck, CT was one big party! This venue with its gorgeous chandeliers has been around for more than 30 years and where the groom's parents got married.

Alyssa and Sean were an adorable couple whose wedding I can't wait to photograph next October. They are big into the craft beer scene and brought along their favorite beverage to celebrate the session. I always encourage my couples to bring along something personal to add to their session. They love the craft scene so much that they will be married at the rad The Hops Company in Derby which is gonna be new!

This year my holiday sessions took place at Herzig Tree Farm in Durham, Connecticut. You can't get more classic New England with a great family photo in a tree farm. The weather is always crazy here but rainy and cloudy mornings turned into sunny afternoon and even wind!

This Riverview wedding in Simsbury, Connecticut had a packed dance floor all night long with Xiomara & Michael's family and friends. You could feel the love all day from the start at Simsbury Inn with the bridesmaids cozy together around the bride to the congregation erupting with applause and woo's at the first kiss at St. Catherine of Siena, and the party I did not want to leave! It was great fun to bop around the quaint town of Simsbury stopping at a bucket list location Drake Hill Flower Bridge.Congratulations again Mr. & Mrs. Urbinati!

One of my most favorite things about wedding photography is getting to visit new venues that I haven't before. Before I even thought about moving to Middletown, John & Victoria chose this venue on the water with its own little beach. I love anything rustic and woodsy and this location had it all. The rings were also a stunning combination considering the bride used to work at the jeweler.