Tara. Paul. Swan Cove Manor.

Swan Cove Manor ,Cambridge, Maryland, was the site of Tara + Paul’s casually elegant wedding celebration.  Bringing together two amazing families for the first time,  Tara and Paul flew in from Colorado on Wednesday, and got the party rolling.  Tara’s family has always vacationed on the Eastern Shore, and it holds special memories.  Surrounded by hundreds of acres of  woods, meadows,  farms, and an incredible waterfront, the families vacationed together, crabbing, boating, and enjoying the relaxed pace of life on the eastern shore.

So, by the time I arrived to shoot the wedding, everyone was in vacation mode. Tara and Paul had each claimed one of the three estate houses as wedding headquarters . . . so I literally went from door to door to document the wedding day. You may remember Tara and Paul and their daughter Haley from our engagement shoot this summer on the campus of St. John’s College and downtown Annapolis.  I knew it then . . . this is one special family.

This is how I came upon the day. Paul out on the dock with his nieces and nephew, catching Maryland blue crabs.

Meanwhile, Tara and her maid of honor, Haley, were next door, getting ready for the ceremony. The house was filled with lots of laughter . . . after all, Tara’s four sisters had come from far and near to live, once again, under the same roof. They nibbled on crabmeat, applied makeup and tied bows for each other and precious Haley got some coaching on “the princess walk.”

I remember thinking, at the engagement session, that Tara was just incredibly beautiful without a stitch of makeup on her face . . .  But for this day . . .  drop dead gorgeous.

When Paul called from next door, Tara sneaked off to the window to enjoy the excitement with him. They were minutes from seeing one another for the first time that day and their excitement was palpable.

A quick moment alone.

Time for the marriage of true minds.

One last love from Haley, the sweetest, most attentive maid of honor ever . . .

That’s one happy man.

Really. happy.

Guests’ arrival.

Glorious anticipation.

The “I Do’s”

With Haley right by their side . . .

And then the celebration . . .

Paul and Tara enjoyed the best of the Eastern Shore.

Hope you enjoyed this sneak peak.

Click here to view Tara + Paul. The Slideshow.