October, 2009:

Kristofer and Michael’s wedding

Oct 30th, 2009

Michael and Kris are two of the most loveable men you could ever meet and their wedding was just beautiful–small, elegant and full of emotion. About 50 family members and friends gathered at the All Souls Interfaith Gathering in Shelburne (my new favorite place to shoot!) to support and honor this marriage and it couldnt have been a nicer evening.

The grooms were each escorted down the aisle by their mothers, who both gushed with pride and happiness for their sons. The service was short and lovely and then guests gathered for champagne and scrumptuous hor dourves by Lets Pretend Catering. From there, it was dinner and dancing to tunes played by DJ Rod Hill.

It was a night full of emotion, with lots of tears and lots of laughter! And, I’m sure, lots of wonderful memories.

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To see all 500+ photos from Mike and Kristofer’s wedding, please click HERE (you will need the password from the family to enter this gallery)

Jamie and Daisy’s wedding

Oct 21st, 2009

by kpikephoto.

3 comments

Jamie and Daisy are one of many couples celebrating the new Marriage Equality Law in Vermont. They were married last month at the Vermont Inn in Mendon under a bright blue sky and with a view of the mountains in the distance. Though Jamie and daisy live in the Rutland area, their friends and family traveled from across the country to spend the weekend with the couple and be part of the celebration.

The day began with the wedding party taking a gondola trip to the top of Killington mountain to take in the spectacular view of southern Vermont. Then, after checking out the local Hay Bale Sculptures, it was back to the inn to get ready for the ceremony.

The brides exchanged vows and completed a hand tying ceremony and were then pronounced “married”. From there, it was time to get the party started…

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To see all 500+photos from Daisy and Jamie’s day, please click HERE (you will need the password from the couple to enter the gallery).

To Life: A celebration of Vermont Jewish Women

Oct 21st, 2009

by kpikephoto.

7 comments

Last year, I was commissioned by two visionary women, Sandy Gartner and Ann Buffum to make portraits of 20 women who they interviewed for a project exploring the diversity of Vermont Jewish culture. The end result is a fabulous book by them, TO LIFE: A Celebration of Vermont Jewish Women, and a show now on exhibit at the Gallery At The Brick Box on Center Street in downtown Rutland.

About 200 people attended the Opening Reception on Sunday, October 11, including many of the extraordinary women who were subjects of this documentary-Gov. Madeleine Kunin, pianist Phyllis Isaacson, potter Susan Leader, physician Diane Rippa, organic farmer Sara Schlosser and 100-year-old June Salander (looking gorgeous, I might add!) and many others.

It was mostly an afternoon of oohs and ahhs, shmoozing, eating and just celebrating the completion of such a vast project. Also, Penina Glazier, Ph.D. of Hampshire College gave an amazing talk about the larger context of American and Jewish history.

So, if you’re interested in seeing this show, the exhibit is up until November 8. From there, I dont know where it will next travel, but I’ll keep you posted.

PS: Sunday, October 25, at 3 pm, there will also be a poetry reading at the gallery by one of the women, Judith Chalmer of Montpelier, whose work was inspired by her own quest to understand her family’s Holocaust history. She’ll talk about that history and read from her book, Out of History’s Junk Jar: Poems of a Mixed Inheritance.

L’Chaim!

THE WOMEN:

Potter Susan Leader of Andover:

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Gov. Madeline Kunin, Burlington:

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(100-yr-old) June Salander of Rutland:

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Antoinette Matlins of S. Woodstock (founder of Shir Shalom Jewish Community Center):

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VT State Senator Hinda Miller of Burlington:

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Zeesy Raskin of Burlington, wife of Lubovitch Rabbi Yitzchok Raskin:

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Organic farmer Sara Schlosser of Wolcott:

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Sylvia Willard of Rutland, a founding member of Actors’ Repertory Theater:

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Ellen David Friedman of East Montpelier (Activist, labor organizer):

Jewish Teens: Meara Jane Kinne of Ludlow, Marissa Farbman of Killington and Elora Silver of Windsor:

Dr. Diane Rippa of Essex Junction:

Artist/poet Judith Chalmer of Montpelier:

Rabbi Tobie Weisman of Montpelier:

Concert pianist Phyllis Isaacson of Brattleboro:

Rosalee Harris of St. Johnsbury, devotee of community service:

Secretary of State Deb Markowitz of Montpelier:

Ex school principal Semah Unterman of Belmont:

Daryl Bloom of Montpelier, member of the Sojourner Project, a diverse group of women exploring the different issues of the world through conversation to overcome prejudice:

The reception:

Ann Buffum, Penina Glazier and Sandy Gartner:

To see all the photos from both the reception and of the individual subjects, click here.

Kirk and Christa’s wedding

Oct 20th, 2009

by kpikephoto.

No comments yet

Kirk and Christa were married on a crisp (cold!) Friday evening in September at the beautiful inn, The Essex, Vermont’s culinary resort located in Essex, Vermont. Now, the inn itself is gorgeous, but everyone knows the real reason to get married there: The FOOD! Home of the Vermont Culinary Institute, Kirk and Christa picked the Essex for the 5 star buffet they wanted for their guests–and everything from the pear and gorgonzola salad to the Lobster Thermador to the Beef Tenderloin lived up to their “foody” desires.

It was an intimate gathering of about 70, mostly family and close friends and the couple both included touches of orange in their wedding attire– Kirk’s bright orange socks and Christa’s orange sandals made me smile. Kirk’s daughter served as the Flower girl and Christa’s sister Darla served as the MOH. As a side note, Darla is my dog Greta’s “kinda-godmother”, as it was her Miniature schnauzer who gave birth to Greta 5 years ago! See, definitely a family affair!

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To see all 500+ photos from Christa and Kirk’s celebration, click HERE (and be sure to get the password from the bridal couple to enter this gallery!)

Alice and Hunter’s Wedding

Oct 10th, 2009

by kpikephoto.

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I knew when I first met Hunter and Alice for their E session last Spring that theirs would be one of my favorite weddings of the year! They are so in love, so easy to be with and both of their smiles light up a room.

The wedding ceremony was held at the All Souls Interfaith Chapel in Shelburne, my new favorite chapel in Vermont to photograph. It is visually stunning, both inside and out and the view of Lake Champlain from the back terrace can take your breath away. After the portraits, we headed back to Alice’s parents’ home, which was equally as gorgeous.

Cocktails and hor dourves were served under the twilight sky followed by dinner and dancing in the most beautiful tent I have ever seen (Sperry Tent). It was perfectly decorated, with floral arrangements by In Full Bloom . The food was of course delicious, as it was provided by the amazing Let’s Pretend Catering and the band, the Detonators, kept everyone on the dancefloor throughout the night..

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If you would like to see all 600+ photos from Alice and Hunter’s wedding day, click here (you’ll need the password from the family to view this gallery).

PS…Your photo staff: Karen and Adam…

photogs

OUTRIGHT VT Youth Awards Dinner

Oct 5th, 2009

by kpikephoto.

No comments yet

Outright Vermont’s annual Youth Awards dinner was held last Thursday night, along with a great silent auction, at ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center. The dinner and auction raised about $8000 for the organization and six students from around Vermont were honored for their committed activism in the state.

Gov. Howard Dean received the William J. Lippert Jr. Leadership Award for his years of dedication to helping the LGTB community in Vemont. Governor Dean was a leader during our historic Civil Unions debate in 2000 and in 2009, again, championed equality for the LGBTQ community during our marriage equality debate and victory.

House Speaker Shap Smith accepted the award of Dean’s behalf.

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House Speaker Shap Smith chats up attendees at the dinner:

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Senator Peter Shumlin talks with students:

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Outright Vermont staff…

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Below, Robyn Bailey accepts her award. Robyn is sophomore at St. Michael’s College and she was a intern for the Sass Academy this summer. She also co-led the Youth Speak Out in Rutland in the Spring!

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Students from Rutland High Shool accept their award for their success in creating a GSA at their school:

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Kyle Giard-Chase was another award recepient…Heis a senior at South Burlington H.S. He is leading the statewide gender-neutral bathroom campaign, was a 2009 Press intern this summer, serves as a youth Board member and is a fall intern…

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Award recipient Ashley Gabbeitt, left, is a recent graduate from Rutland H.S. She was a leader in the Rutland GSA, also presented at (and helped plan) the Conference and led the Youth Pride March!!

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Executive Director Chris Neff listensto Ashley as she addresses the crowd…

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James Neiley is a senior at CVU H.S. He was a leading youth voice for marriage equality and testified before the VT legislature. James was a 2009 summer intern, serves on the Board and was featured in the Advocate magazine.

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During James’ acceptance, he thanked his mother for all of her support after he came out…

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Dave Kingsbury is a Senior at Burlington H.S. He was a presenter at the GSA Conference, a leader in the Gendertopia after-school program, an Education Intern this summer and helps coordinate our Speaker’s Bureau!!

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Timothy Williams is a freshman at Johnson State College. Tim helped found and develop the Queer Shuttle Program in 2008, was a 2009 summer intern, youth Board member and youth grant editor!!

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