{Jose Villa}

Addison tells of spending his summer
clearing the farm his family has owned
since the revolutionary war
acres and acres of overgrown fields —
pastures and hayfields, hedgerows, forest growth —
a big enterprise for an ex-farm boy
turned minister in a flowing cassock
not handy for plowing. I’ve seen him lift
the bread and wine in pale hands above
the bowing heads of his parishioners.

And as he tells about his summer work
I see the chalice turn into a saw,
the handles darkened with his father’s sweat,
and before that, his grandfather’s, on down
the generations until the sad phrase
delivered in the garden comes to mind:
“sweat of your brow,” which now is Addison’s,
clearing the land so that we see the light
as it first shone on Adam, pruning turned
into a kind of hands-on ministry.

What did he see once the hedgerows were cleared?
The skies opening, divine light beaming down
on distant vistas of a promised land?
Salvation for God’s sweating minister?
But he saw only what was there to see —
rolling green hills such as a child might draw,
cars moving on a distant road like beads
on an abacus, a neighbor hanging wash:
the earth released and grown so luminous
that he was saved simply by seeing it.

–Julia Alvarez

P.S. Even though next week is Wedding Week, I’ll be popping in with a few pre-scheduled post… and maybe a few behind-the-scenes details from our preparations! Wish us luck!

…K + C’s wedding photographers! Last fall, as soon as we had decided on a place and an approximate date, it was time to think about a photographer. We went through a few emotional days with much gnashing of teeth as we compared the level of skill and style of work we (I) wanted, and the price necessary to hire said skill and style. Our budget meant New England big-hitters like Justin & Mary Marantz were out.

We were sad and stumped for a few days, until it dawned on me — Jenna! I had followed Jenna from her Weddingbee days to her personal blog That Wife, and was thrilled when she started her photography business. You know how wedding budget advice articles are always saying to hire an amazing up-and-comer? Well, we think we got her, and are beyond thrilled she’ll be joining us in Maine in just a few days. She’s currently based in Texas, but will be relocating to Chicago this fall.

Though I’ve never met Jenna, I feel like I already know her, and one of the things I’m most excited about is her personality — K + C are a bit photo-phobic, and I think she’ll put them right at ease. However, her work speaks for itself! A few of my favorites:

You can see more of Jenna’s work here, and read her hilarious and thought-provoking personal blog here.

We’re also thrilled to have Meredith from & Unlimited joining us as a second shooter! Meredith is a longtime P&P reader, and has been so supportive of all our ideas and projects for this wedding since we started planning. It only seems appropriate that she’ll be in attendance to help document the big day! I also love that she lives in Maine. A few of my favorites from her portfolio:

This one might be my favorite — it was just taken recently, on the way back from Meredith’s first-ever trip to our island! I couldn’t believe the coincidence.

You can see more of her work on her blog here.

I probably don’t need to say it again, but I will: we are thrilled that these ladies will be joining us next Saturday. We can’t wait to meet you both!

There’s only one other time I’ve seen paper decor look this elegant, and it was in this spread by Martha. Makes you stop and think, doesn’t it? It could go so wrong so easily, but here it’s so very right. Kudos to Elizabeth Demos for the event design and styling and Juliet Elizabeth for the photography. See more here!

Another classic, elegant stunner I recently revisited (just as pretty as last week’s, don’t you think?). Stephanie Williams is quickly becoming one of my favorite wedding photographers. Click here to see more!