“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass…It’s about learning to dance in the rain.” – Vivian Green
As I sat in the car waiting for the torrential downpour to pass, feverishly refreshing the radar screen to confirm that it was the last cell to pass for the afternoon, I had no idea of the delightfulness that awaited me inside the Hotel Portsmouth. What a spectacular place! I could have taken photos in and around this amazingly restored hotel all day, but as soon as I said hello we scurried off to Prescott Park in a very light drizzle that stopped just about the same time the limo lapped back around with the stunning bride!
The clouds were pretty impressive in their dreary ominousness. Quite the great contrast to the gorgeous sexy Flower Kiosk bouquet.
The family was already assembled in the garden when we arrived. Ellen’s sister made those wellies look like runway shoes!
Once they were safely out of the limo Ellen, her sister, and their father walked them to the ceremony area. 
Being that there were only a few friends and family in attendance, the ceremony was heavily filmed & broadcast in real time for some dear, but not so near folks to be there too. 
Isn’t it beautiful!? I’m so glad that they chose to ‘dance in the rain’ and take advantage of the stunning color and bloom at the Prescott Park Gardens.
Watching their babies take the next step in their lives together. So bittersweet. 
The Rev. Mary Westfall performed a beautiful service. Her demeanor is simply lovely! And her stole is absolutely gorgeous. 
Ellen and her sister had matching charm bracelets. In my day, a charm jewelry looked like this and the purple baby bottle with bell, was my favorite! These charm bracelets were simply gorgeous and told the most wonderful stories. Stories sisters share. 
With this ring.. 
SWAK! ..another flashback reference… These kids and their texting acronyms these days have no idea what they’re missing out on. 
The whole wedding! 
Ellen had a matching pair of Wellies, and although the rain had stopped and the sun was starting to work it’s way through, we found a puddle to splash in anyway. 
Then, I kicked everyone back to the Hotel Portsmouth to wait and have a drink at their super cool speakeasy basement bar, while Ellen and Derek and I roamed through the park to capture their newly wedded bliss!
yes. yes. yes. a million times yes. 
And then, the sun came out and made for the most stupendous light. And they danced. 
For real. This happened. The sun just came out to bask them in all their love. And left a hazy fog of awe for all to see.
As the clouds finished clearing out the sky shone a beautiful bright blue. 
This picture is so them. Ellen and Derek have such a lovely, calm, inner peace about them. 
And what’s fall in Portsmouth without a little help from Pumpkin Head Man and the gorgeous foliage!
The Hotel Portsmouth has a great red phone booth in their hall – we jumped in to snap a few photos … Ellen is STUNNING – just look at the sparkle in her eyes!
And Derek’s looking pretty dapper himself. The next Clark Kent perhaps?
We finished our adventure in the front sitting room. That couch?! The yellow phone!? Like I said, I could wander around here for days and never stop finding places I wanted to take photos!
Thank you thank you thank you Ellen & Derek for finding me and asking me to photograph your perfectly YOU micro-wedding!
All the best.
~xoxo mk
