Sucharski Wedding | Traditional Polish American Catholic Wedding Photography | October 2023

They say it is important to be friends first.

We echo this sentiment.

Why? Well.. the roses will fade as the winters come, challenges will rise, and if you are friends first with your spouse, rather than just focused on romantic interests, you’re more likely to endure and rise, above. With that, you can of course expect more success to endure the trials together if God is at the center.

Afterall, no matter how beautiful a wedding day is, it is still just one day. The real commitment and life starts after the wedding day - as you continue to do life together. And we recall that it is best to find someone you are compatible with - someone you can suffer with in this life and endure. (“Compatible” come from the Latin term “Compati” which means “to suffer with”, thanks @JasonEvert for that important love and life tip!)

We were so honored to be the hired photography team to capture not just their Engagement session but also their Wedding Day, for the wonderful Mr. & Mrs. Sucharski. Their whole day was filled with joy, laughter, and true heart, as they were truly dialed in on the adventure of a lifetime: the sacrament of Holy Matrimony. We also were so honored to work with TeQoa of Blaq Pearl Photography as our second photographer for this long and fulfilling wedding day.

Their day started out at a private residence in Wilbraham and Ludlow, MA for bride and groom getting ready (so helpful to have a second photographer to capture both!). Then, we helped set up a “First Prayer” moment for them, where they could be together for a moment of prayer and offering the day to the Lord in thanks. The Love was so palpable and we all tried not to cry! Of course, then, the big moment— the Bride and Groom were married at the gorgeous Divine Mercy Parish in Three Rivers, MA, presided by Fr. Stefan Niemczyk (who was not only reverent but also very funny!!). Lastly, they celebrated this new chapter with friends and loved ones at Old Country Banquet in Enfield, CT.

Without further ado, here are some of our photography favorites from their traditional Polish American Catholic Wedding Day.

James + Victoria | Traditional Catholic Wedding | May 27, 2023

It was a beautiful day for a wedding and not just any wedding, but the holy matrimony of James and Victoria. May is the Month of Mary, and we also got married in May, and our son was born in May, so, we like to think it is very divinely timed whenever we get the opportunity to do this work during such an important month.  We are always so honored when we have the privilege to be your hired photography team, especially for such an occasion to be your Catholic wedding photographers here in our home state of Connecticut.

James and Victoria were wed at St. Pius X Parish in Fairfield, Connecticut, joined by the witness of their family and friends. Mass was presided by the notorious Fr. Samuel S. Kachuba (who I recently learned has his own amazing podcast, The Tangent, definitely worth a listen!) . The mass was beautiful, as expected at such a gorgeous parish. It was also extremely reverent and focused on the sacrament. We were grateful to also pray with this couple on their wedding day.

Working with James and Victoria was really such a blessing, from their engagement session, to planning in between, and to their one and only wedding day. From getting ready at Panache Salon, in Shelton, to the end of their reception at the beautiful Tashua Knolls Country Club in Trumbull, Connecticut. Their details were exceptional as well, including a DIY bridal bouquet from Ling’s Moments, and a very sentimental remembrance table in memory of all loved ones who’ve passed on. This was such a wonderful way to celebrate your wedding day while honoring the memories of beloved family members.

Interestingly enough, we were the busiest we’ve ever been in our personal lives, working two jobs each while being stay at home parents too, so delivering their wedding day gallery took a little longer than anticipated, but the results were worth it. One of my favorite moments from their wedding day was during the reception, when James and Victoria invited all their guests to pray together with them (wedding day prayer card pictured below). I am floored with the fact that we get to do this! Without further ado, here are some of my favorite images from their 2023 Traditional Catholic Wedding photography in Connecticut.

Brooklyn Wedding in December: Liz + Irvin

We cannot believe that we are rounding up and nearing the end of this tumultuous, adventurous year of 2020. Like many people across the world, we have had many highs and lows this year. We have had the safe haven of our families to share tears and joys with, regarding the things we experienced this year, including losses, new diagnoses and other changes, big moves with loved ones, and new life. We have had the gift of faith to keep us going through it all. Through honest prayer, our hearts continue to be with those who are struggling, suffering, and facing continued challenges. We are reminded that Love is truly the most important aspect of our lives, and that Love continues to be worth cultivating and celebrating.

There is no better time to celebrate Love and Life than during the Christmas season (we say ‘season’ because Christmas is not just one day!). This year also marks our second Christmas together in our home, and since it’s been such a tough year, we are putting up more decorations, keeping it simple, and planning for some lasting Christmas traditions of our own. We asked each other, What are some of your favorite childhood Christmas traditions?, and then slowly, are building on them, to create memories as we expand in our own growing family.

December also highlights a photography first for us: our first full day, solo wedding (Thanks Liz+Irvin for trusting us with such a special job!!). Last year, we were so nervous and so darn excited to be part of Liz+Irvin’s December wedding day. So, this also means that the lovely Liz+Irvin are coming up on their one year anniversary!! Congratulations you two!!

We are so excited to finally share some of our favorite images from their gorgeous December Wedding. They wedding was hosted at Deity in Brooklyn, New York, which is truly an amazing wedding venue that got us all in our romantic feels (we have some behind the scene images on our Instagram, in the ‘about us’ highlight reel if you want to see more). Without further ado, please enjoy some of our favorite images captured from their beautiful December wedding day here below.

Oh, P.S. We are so excited to see these two again soon for their maternity session, as they welcome a baby girl very very soon! Love is amazing like that. Please join us in keeping Liz+Irvin in our prayers, for continued health, blessings, and all the adventures Love will bring, for many years to come. Coronavirus is not canceling Love!!

1-Year Anniversary Wedding Portraits | Yale University, New Haven

We have been so blessed this year by all the couples we have photographed- some engaged, some newly married, some married for some time. It never fails to inspire us, when we see a couple, seeking marriage, and loving each other through the journey.

Marriage takes a lot of Grace—patience, forgiveness, and honesty, among many other important traits (like humor). You really need a sense of humor to love an imperfect person! When we had our initial consultation with T+C, we knew we were going to capture some very tender and meaningful moments. They had been married civilly, and wanted some Wedding Portraits to honor and celebrate their first year of marriage! (Now that we are married, we can definitely understand all the more how special this milestone is).

Now, they told us they were very shy, but we soon found out, just how funny they were, and how they made each other laugh so much! It was such a fun wedding portrait photography session, and we are so glad to share our favorites. Their photos were taken at Yale University and East Rock Park, in New Haven, Connecticut.

Please join us in praying for T+C as they continue on their journey of marriage.

Styled Bridal Portraits | The Library, Wallingford, Connecticut

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We recently had the crazy wonderful idea to put together a styled bridal shoot. We were partly influenced by our own amazing wedding photographer and partly influenced by the fact that we are getting closer every day to the start of our lifelong marriage! Perhaps in a later post we will write about 'How to plan a styled shoot,' but for now, we have some words of appreciation for the fantastic vendors we collaborated with.

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We have been immensely blessed by such an amazing and intentional team. We want to personally thank each of them for their willingness to work with us, to trust us to deliver images that matter, and for their time and talents. 

Thank you to Melissa from The Library Wine Bar and Bistro in Wallingford, Connecticut. This venue was the perfect place for our styled bridal shoot, offering gorgeous lighting and many wonderful locations for each of our brides. The private event space was particularly welcoming. The staff throughout the day were so helpful and we have immense gratitude for partaking in this shoot with such a high calibur venue and location. We recommended working with The Library's dedicated staff for your Wedding Day! 

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Thank you to Tammy Rose from The Wallingford Flower Shoppe, for the gorgeous bouquets and boutonniere, customized for our models. These flowers were beyond what we could have imagined. Tammy is incredibly talented at creating and tailoring the bouquets that are beyond your expectations, and Wallingford Flower Shoppe is a team of trusted and dedicated florists and artists. The wedding day bouquet is an opportunity to express so much in such a delicate way. Flowers as art, and they embodied just that. We are grateful.

Thank you to Bliss Bridal Connecticut, the unmatched bridal boutique in Cheshire, Connecticut. Jess and her team from Bliss Bridal was so great to work with, offering us stunning wedding gowns from such a great selection of wedding dresses. They ensured that we'd have the best gowns to choose from to make our dream bridal shoot a reality. Any bride would be so blessed to find her dream wedding dress here!

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Thank you to Averi, our amazing hair and make-up artist. She is incredible to work with, she brought our bridal beauty vision to life in each of our already stunning models. We are happy to hear, too, that she travels, so hopefully she will join us for our own wedding day next year (shameless plug haha).

And last but absolutely not least, to our wonderful models: Katelyn, Lauren, and Tristan. They were each a pleasure to work with, bringing their talents to shine forth in each image. They are also some of the nicest people we have met. We recommend working with them for your next photoshoot as well, and we look forward to working with them again if they will have us! 

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In all honesty, we could not have been more blessed with the fantastic team we were able to collaborate with. Thank you to all of you for saying "Yes," to being a part of this styled bridal photoshoot, a dream for us now a reality--and all thanks to you. (To see more images from this styled shoot, be sure to check out our portrait and couples gallery).

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Personal reflection: As you can tell, we have been overwhelmed in gratitude, for the opportunities that have come our way, as we continue to venture together.

We are #buildingwithgrace after all (referring to God's Grace, and Mercy of course). With that said, we are grateful to continue growing in our craft and in our relationship.

Please continue to pray for us during these trying times, that we (and you) can be encouraged in this way: whether through the fires or the storms, we know that God is good, and always with us. We believe that All things are possible through Christ, and we will continue to "pray, hope, and don't worry," trusting in the One who Loves us beyond all measure.  We are confident that the darkness will not overcome, and that Love will lead us through to the end. 

with scenescerity,

Tim+Steph