Natalie and Jamie’s the Boylston Rooms Wedding in Easthampton was truely spectacular! It was so emotional at the end of the ceremony when the kids ran up one by one to give the two of them a hug.

Let’s hear about the rest of their day from Natalie!

How did Jamie pop the question?

On Christmas, it was the last gift under our tree

What was your favorite moment(s) from the wedding?

I’m so excited we were able to get some nursing shots with my toddler (Lincoln) while getting ready, our ceremony was beautiful with some very genuine moments (Jamie crying and our children’s involvement in the ceremony)

How long have you been together?

Almost 6 years

How would you describe your overall wedding experience?

Dream-like. The day went beautifully with only some minor hiccups. I was honored our JOP (Jamie’s uncle) was able to be with us, he had to leave early due to ongoing health concerns. He was determined to be with us on our day and came all the way from CA to marry us. I have been in love with The Boylston Rooms since I first visited and it looked gorgeous with all the decorations that Erin and Katy assisted with.

What advice would you offer to other couples planning a wedding

Most people don’t even notice the tiny details, try and focus on the bigger picture. I also wish we had hired a videographer, we were trying to save some money but I regret not having everything caught on film.

What photography-related advice would you offer to a couple?

The photographers are there to take the pictures you and your SO want, not everyone else. You can’t please everyone!

Tell me about your dress. Where did you find it, how did you choose it, how did you know it was the one?

I loved loved loved my dress. I found it at Bridal Corner in Chicopee MA. It was the second or third dress I tried on and we all knew it was the one. I love classic looks so I went with a lace/beaded dress with a long train and veil.

How was your experience taking photos/working with me on your wedding day?

Great! I 100% trusted Greg and Leslie (who I’ve worked with before). Loved that Greg arrived early to check out the space since he was unfamiliar with it. We were both totally comfortable with their direction and just general conversation. Very very pleased with everything.

Did you see each other before the wedding? If not, did you like waiting or would you have rather done it differently? Tell me why or why not!

No we had not. I loved that the first time we saw each other was when I walked up the aisle. I think it was perfect to have our first look in front of all our family and friends. It was very special. It also gave us more time for getting ready photos which I was excited about.

Any tips on how to prepare for the wedding photos?

Make sure you are happy with your hair and make up team! All the vendors we used for the day were absolutely amazing. I also think paying the extra travel free to have hair and make up on site was key. Also make sure you know how you like to be photographed and express that to your photographer. I requested that I not be photographed until I started make up because I knew I wouldn’t be happy with any photos without it. Also, try and clean up your area before the photographers arrive! We scrambled to get the bridal suite cleaned up in time. You don’t want a mess in your background.

Any tips that you have about preparing your wedding party for the photos? What did you tell them, how did you get them to cooperate, what did you do or what would you have done differently?

Communication with my bridesmaids and I was great and they were all very receptive. The groomsmen were very squirly and we had to keep wrangling them back together. Make sure everyone knows where they need to be at what time so this doesn’t happen.

Any tips on what to bring?

I had every emergency item we could possibly need and we didn’t need any of them. It gave everyone peace of mind in case we did though. The Boylston Rooms also provided lots of these things in our bridal and groom suite.

We love to hear about vendors you love. List any vendors here and feel free to share your experience. Be sure to include the name of the vendor, their profession, city/state, site or Facebook page and how your experience was!

Hair – Craft Salon, South Hadley MA 01075, https://m.facebook.com/Craftsouthhadley/, IG: craft_, Shelley Truehart Paquette is a friend and amazing colorist/stylist. She kept me cool and calm all morning and worked with me to find the perfect style. Which was easy since she had already done an amazing job on my cut and color!

Make Up: Caitlin (Keeks) Bruscoe (413) 519-9592, Caitlin was recommended to me by my friend who is also a make up artist. I can’t say enough about Caitlin. We did a bridal trial weeks before the wedding which I think was absolutely necessary. It allowed me to figure out what I did and didn’t like for the day of. I highly recommend doing this if you aren’t used to wearing make up so you feel comfortable on your wedding day. Not only did she make all of my girls look beautiful she also helped me make decisions, gave her input on questions I had and even gave me her container of mints! We got so many compliments on all of our make up and my hair dresser even proposed a job offer to her because she was so impressed. It was worth every penny to have a make up artist on site. (Which also makes for great photos)

Cake: GILTE Phyl’s Bakery, Westfield, MA 01085,  (413) 454-4024. Phyllisa Phillips is a lifelong friend and amazing baker. She’s relatable, funny, receptive and always willing to try something new.

Food: Myer’s Catering: Easthampton,MA.  This was the in-house caterer at our venue (The Boylston Rooms). They’re also the owners of Riff’s Joint and The Hideaway Lounge which are two places I love. Communication with them was great and everyone was impressed with the food. My only recommendation would be to make sure you request that they bring your wedding party appetizers and drinks while you take your photos after the ceremony. I also wish we had done a tasting beforehand. They were very flexible with our choices and additions right up til the very end.

DJ: Kyle Nadeau of Architect Entertainment. Chicopee, MA. I can’t say enough about Kyle! I found him at The Bridal’ Expo in West Springfield MA. We immediately clicked so I got his information and booked the date. He was great at communicating with us and we had one in person meeting before the wedding to go over our schedule and selections. Not only was I impressed with the music but Kyle took care of our ceremony, cocktail hour and reception. He was great at wrangling our guests when it was time for things like cake-cutting etc. Kyle was very personable, reliable and funny. Highly recommend.

Did you find a store/site that had everything you were looking for? Use this space to talk about favorite shops. You can include where you got your dress, sites you got your veils/décor/accessories, etc

Most of my decor and accessories were from Marshall’s and Homegoods which are great places to visit if you don’t typically shop there. Also, our venue The Boylston Rooms had tons of items for rent for a reasonable price.

What were you most anxious, nervous or fearful about regarding your wedding day and what was the outcome?

I was most anxious about all 3 of our kids cooperating for the ceremony. They each had a role which most people know can be crazy with kids. Bringing them to rehearsal definitely prepared them for the day of. The ceremony itself went perfect and including our children was very important to us. I think all of our guests appreciated their roles in the wedding. It ended up working out perfect and even our 7 and 8 year olds were emotional that day.

 What’s one piece of advice you would give to other couples for planning their wedding?

Don’t have too many cooks in the kitchen. Friends and family members always want to share their opinions but make sure you do what makes you happy. Don’t wait too long to book your vendors, I felt good knowing I had all the biggest key parts of our wedding already booked in advance.