Lyman Estate Wedding || Charlie and Alison
Back at one of absolute favorite wedding venues for Charlie and Alison’s wedding at Lyman Estate! This was another wedding delayed due to 2020 - we actually got together for their wedding ceremony on their original wedding date in 2020 and they rescheduled everything else for 2021. So glad that I was available on their new date to be part of this amazing day! And they even re-did their ceremony - and I can tell you it was just as emotional as the first one, which was so sweet.
And for this Lyman Estate wedding, we were able to take some extra time in the greenhouse before it closed, which I was so excited about. I’ve only been able to shoot in there one other time (and we had about 5 minutes so it was quite the whirlwind). Charlie and Alison were so fun and relaxed and after all the 2020 craziness I think we were all just happy to be there!
Ceremony and Reception: Lyman Estate, Waltham, MA
I’ve asked the couple some questions about their story and wedding day, their answers are throughout in italics.
How did you meet your partner?
We met through a dating app, Hinge, and had our first date at Aeronaut brewery. We hit it off right away and, ~4 years later, served Aeronaut beer at our wedding reception!
What were your goals for your wedding day?
We wanted it to be fun, relaxing, and safe! Planning during the pandemic, safety become our most important consideration, which is why we moved our wedding back by 13 months and took several precautions to ensure the safety of our guests and vendors. After that, we focused on serving excellent and unique food and drinks, and a playlist with our favorite tunes that everyone would want to get on the dance floor to!
How did the day start?
The groom and groomsmen went to a high-end local barber to get stylish new ‘dos while enjoying local craft beer. The bridal party had their hair and makeup done in the bridal suite with champagne and bagels. Overall it was a pretty relaxing morning!
What were your first reactions to the photos?
We were so excited to see them — I immediately posted one of my favorites as my new profile picture, and sent them out to family and friends!
So excited to share this amazing wedding day at the Lyman Estate!
Loving these vibrant flowers from Boston Event Divas. Really gorgeous!
Of course Lyman has the most beautiful getting ready spaces - even if you only have a short time in them (as we did on this day since we were doing all the photos before the ceremony), it’s great to take a few moments and enjoy this amazing light!
As I said above, I was so excited to have an extended amount of time in the greenhouse for some photos of just Charlie and Alison. It was so fun and I love how Charlie was always making Alison laugh.
The photography experience felt very natural. Although we took literally thousands of photos, it never felt forced — we were able to relax and be ourselves, and many of the best photos were candid shots in front of beautifully-selected backdrops.
There are so many beautiful backdrops for wedding photos at Lyman Estate! I can’t choose just one, so we walked around a little.
What is one suggestion you have for other couples who are planning their weddings?
There are loads of wedding websites out there with suggestions, so I’ll try to share one that’s a little more unique. There are a thousand little details to think through when planning a wedding, and it’s easy to let the process take over your life and become stressful rather than fun. Come up with your list of to dos, and figure out who’s going to be on point for what — including pulling in family members or friends who are excited to help. Additionally, I would also recommend finding a day / time each week carved out for wedding planning as a couple so you can ‘confine’ your planning to that dedicated time, and combine it with dinner and a movie or some other fun activity as a ‘reward’ for your efforts. (We were not very consistent about this but I wish we had been as I think that would’ve really helped!)
It’s always so fun for me to get the details from all the different rooms at Lyman Estate. It’s always gorgeous! And then the fun drink station (below) for the guests arriving for the ceremony. It’s the little things, right?
Not a dry eye in the house! Even Alison’s uncle who officiated teared up a bit.
We were just so happy to have our family and friends with us after 2 years of planning and very few other social events during that window due to the pandemic. The event absolutely flew by!
Getting your photos done before the ceremony lets everyone have a chance to enjoy the cocktail hour, and for me to get lots of candid photos of the guests as well as more details of the reception set-up.
When it’s warm enough, Lyman Estate sets up the toasts outside on the porch, which is a great way for all the guests to be involved and still enjoy some cocktails before dinner.
We were especially excited for the cocktail hour and our MOH and best man speeches, and for everyone to get on the dance floor to our favorite tunes.
I always love working with DJ Deja, she keeps the party going all night!
The vendors that made this wedding at Lyman Estate a reality!
Florist: Boston Event Divas
Cake: Sweet Tooth Bakery in South Boston
DJ: DJ Deja Denise LaCarubba
Caterer: Tastings Catering
Officiant: Dennis Ringland (uncle)
Jeweler: DeScenza (bride), Long’s (groom), Catherine Canino (bridesmaid necklaces)
Bridal Shop: Precious Memories
Planner: Nicole Skarbek at Historic New England
Hair/Makeup: Eye 4 Beauty with Jaime Berkman
Suit/Tux: Bloomingdale’s
Want more weddings at historic estates? Check these out!
Mike and Ashley’s wedding at Glen Magna Farms