Max and Christina's Wedding, Pelham House, Dennisport, MA

Max and Christina hosted their wedding this Labor Day weekend on the gorgeous lawn of the


Pelham House in Dennisport, MA; this condo resort is a true gem on cape cod, tucked away high above the oceanside. Waves could be heard below as the tide came in; sailboats were on the horizon as pleasure boaters enjoyed the perfectly sunny, breezy day. Max and Christina and their family and friends could not have had better weather for their wedding ceremony.

All wedding services are unique to the couple, and this service was no exception. To honor the traditional customs of their backgrounds, Max and Christina incorporated special touches into their service. Max performed the traditional "breaking of the glass", a Jewish wedding tradition whereby the groom steps on and shatters the glass as a reminder of the sanctity of marriage, and that the love of Christina and Max should last for as long as it would take to make the glass perfectly whole again. It also symbolizes the transforming experience that marriage creates, leaving the bride and groom forever changed.

Christina was absolutely stunning as she stood with Max and I and their bridal party. As in a traditional service, she stood with the veil covering her face until that moment when I declared that the groom may kiss the bride. And Max surprised us all (even me) when I happened to turn around to retrieve the bride's bouquet from the maid of honor; pictured here, Max sweeped his new wife into a passionate kiss, dramatically dipping her in an embrace. The crowd robustly laughed and applauded!

My wife, Lianne, captured the photos above of this special service by the sea in Dennisport. She was especially taken with the romanticism of Christina's veil blowing in the wind, as Max holds her hands lovingly. There's no chance of missing the joy Max and Christina showed when I completed the service by introducing the couple to their guests as "husband and wife".

All present were swept up in their enthusiasm with a round of applause, congratulations, and shouts of Mazel Tov!