Merrimack Valley Magazine

Call for Photo Submissions – 2021 Bridal Issue

September 3, 2020 by Digital Manager Leave a Comment

Did you get married recently? Despite the current pandemic, love goes on and we’re looking to feature some local couples in our annual bridal pictorial, which will appear inside the Jan/Feb 2021 issue of Merrimack Valley Magazine.

Any and all are welcome to submit their photos, we have just a few requests:

1. One member of the couple has some connection to the Merrimack Valley (i.e., you were born, raised, live or work here).
2. The photos are fairly recent (your wedding took place in 2019 or 2020).
3. Your photos haven’t been featured in other publications (nobody likes a copycat).
4. Photos were taken by a professional (Aunt Jane may think she’s a pro with her bedazzled cell phone … but she’s really not).

DEADLINE: Send 3-5 of your best wedding photos to portraits@mvmag.net before October 15, 2020.

Plus, tell us a bit about how you and your spouse:
1. What were your ages when you met as well as your ages when you married?
2. What are your backgrounds? Where did you go to school? What do you do for work? What are your hobbies?
3. Why did you choose this particular location for your ceremony/reception?
4. Did the pandemic affect your wedding plans?
5. Tell us about what your chose to wear to your wedding. Is there anything special? Family heirlooms? Other pieces of significance?

Feel free to tell us anything else you think MVM readers might want to know, but please keep it brief – something we can fit into a paragraph.

Love Will Find a Way

February 7, 2020 by Aaron Robinson

“Love will find a way” might sound like a cliche, but there’s truth in those words. Here are just a few stories from Merrimack Valley couples who defied the odds and found true love. While the images tell the tale, below you’ll learn more about these newlyweds — their stories may renew your faith in that timeless adage.

Colleen + Myke

Myke and Colleen met for the first time at Saint Anselm College in 2009. Ten years later, Myke, who grew up in Andover, and Colleen, who grew up in Wakefield, tied the knot at Middleton Place in Charleston, S.C., an area of the country that held a lot of significance for Colleen, who had family in the region. The venue boasted moss-draped, centuries-old oak trees and meticulously manicured gardens bursting with color. The couple now lives in Ipswich, Mass. with their one-year-old dog, Gus. Myke works for his family’s business, Air Filter Sales in Haverhill, and Colleen works as a nurse at Tufts Medical Center in Boston.

Photo by Emily Meeks Photography
EmilyMeeksPhoto.com

Aubrey + Alfred

When Aubrey graduated from Cairn University in 2017, she returned home to Londonderry, N.H., with a longing for connection. It wasn’t until she attended a church-oriented young adult group event in Lowell that she met Alfred. The two bonded immediately, sharing their love of religion, karaoke and playful competition, especially billiards. They dated for a year and were married four months after Alfred proposed, at the Alvirne Chapel in Hudson, N.H. The wedding incorporated Alfred’s Nigerian and Aubrey’s American wedding customs, blending cultures in a way that represented the backgrounds of both families in food, wardrobe and music. The two now live happily in Nashua, N.H.

Photo by The RH Photo
TheRHPhoto.com

Lindsay + Marc

Despite both growing up in Peabody and attending the same college (UMass Amherst), Marc and Lindsay didn’t meet until the school held an alumni weekend event shortly after the two of them had graduated. Their relationship flourished soon after, and Marc’s love of cooking rubbed off on Lindsay. The passing of Linday’s brother was a pivotal point in their relationship. Marc’s support for Lindsay during this tough time drew them closer, and made them realize they could get through anything together. A little over a year later, they were engaged. The wedding took place at the Cruiseport Gloucester, which features a grand ballroom with floor-to-ceiling windows, gorgeous chandeliers, and a romantic, oceanside atmosphere.

Photo by Audrey Cutler Photography
AudreyCutlerPhotography.com

Michaela + Christopher

For Michaela and Christopher, their relationship began when she boldly asked for his phone number while he was working as a bartender at Lowell’s historic Old Court after an evening of “awkwardly attempting” to flirt with him. Christopher nervously fumbled for a piece of paper and things blossomed from there. Christopher, who grew up in Lowell, and Michaela, who grew up in Windham, N.H., were married at Waterville Valley Resort in the White Mountains. Michaela and Christopher now live in Londonderry, N.H., where Christopher founded Horne Family Farms and grows produce for nearby communities. Michaela teaches at the Stoklosa Middle School in Lowell, and is also a field hockey and basketball coach. In the summer, they work together on the farm.

Photo by Arielle Unger Photography
ArielleUngerPhotography.com

Love Springs Eternal, Part 5: Jackie + Evan

February 15, 2019 by Sarah LaPorte Leave a Comment

For those seeking warmth, inspiration and romance, we present images of local couples on their special day. The stories of how they met, fell in love and were married take us from Plum Island to Punta Cana, but they all have something in common: the Merrimack Valley.

Jackie + Evan

Jackie and Evan were wed at Willowdale Estate in Topsfield, Mass. Evan was 19 and Jackie was 21 when they met through their jobs at Market Basket. Both graduated from UMass Lowell. Jackie now works at Fidelity Investments, while Evan works for American Science and Engineering in Billerica. On their special day, Jackie wore a Maggie Sottero dress and Evan donned his paternal grandfather’s handkerchief and carried his maternal grandfather’s ashes in a colored glass heart. The two enjoy participating in many of the same hobbies, including freshwater fishing, autocross, and jiu-jitsu.

Photos by Rachel McPherson, RaeEllen Photography

To see all our local couples, pick up the Jan/Feb ’19 issue of Merrimack Valley Magazine.

Love Springs Eternal, Part 4: Brittany + Jeffery

February 8, 2019 by Sarah LaPorte Leave a Comment

Brittany + Jeffery

Jeffery, hailing from Salem, N.H., and Brittany, from nearby Atkinson, met at The Mall at Rockingham Park. They were 18 years old when they started dating, and 31 when they married. The couple decided to have their wedding at the Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation in Waltham. They found everything from dinnerware to linens and candleholders at thrift stores. Since the museum occupies the same neighborhood as an old watch factory, a clock was placed on each table. “It truly turned out incredible, in part because of the beautiful venue, but mostly because of the love that surrounded us that day,” Brittany says. In their spare time, the couple bond over their passion for local music and operate an online store that sells vintage and thrift store goods.

Photos by Sasha Pedro Photography

Check back next week for another real-life MV love story…

Love Springs Eternal, Part 3: Margaret + Sarah

February 1, 2019 by Sarah LaPorte Leave a Comment

Margaret + Sarah

When Sarah was sitting through her freshmen orientation at St. Anselm College in Manchester, N.H., a professor told her that 75 percent of the school’s alumni end up marrying other alumni. “No way, not me,” she thought to herself. Six years later she married Margaret, who had graduated from the college two years before her. The brides held their wedding at Pats Peak ski resort in Henniker, N.H. Each chose an item of significance to wear on their special day. Sarah had part of her late grandfather’s shirt sewn into her dress, while Margaret wore her grandmother’s ring to honor her memory.

Photos by Nicole Tozier, Millyard Studios