Omni Parker House Wedding Documented On Film

Let’s get this out there—weddings hardly ever go as planned, and to be honest, that’s kind of what makes this one extra memorable for me. Emily and Ben’s Omni Parker House wedding wasn’t just a classic Boston wedding. It was a real-life example of rolling with everything the day threw at us and still ending up with photos they love that feel like their story, rain and all.

If you’ve never been to an Omni Parker House wedding, think vintage Boston vibes: fancy old hallways, big chandeliers, and a lobby that’s seen more stories than you can count. It’s the oldest hotel in the country (Benjamin Franklin literally stayed there!), and they invented the Boston Cream Pie—talk about a place with history. And on this particular day, with the rain coming down outside, Emily and Ben filled those old walls with their own story.

When the Timeline Bends (But Doesn’t Break)

So, about the weather: the forecast basically laughed at us. It rained, like real-deal Boston rain, and the whole timeline started slipping—not unusual, but yeah, a bit stressful. The dreamy outdoor portraits in the Public Garden? Out. (Thanks, New England!) 

For a lot of people, this is the panic moment. But for us? This is the creative moment.

We leaned into the historic charm of the Omni. Since we couldn’t go outside, we used the main reception space for family photos, framing the group against the rainy, gray Boston skyline through the windows. This Omni Parker House wedding was the ideal location for a rainy day.

When we finally got a break, we squeezed in a few couple photos on the balcony at the end of the night. The city was all rainy and sparkly, and the film grain made it that much more romantic. Turns out, Plan B photos sometimes end up being the best of the whole gallery.

The Boston Details (and All the Feels)

Emily is a third-grade teacher here in Boston, and she seriously brings her love of this city into everything she does. Their wedding had little Boston touches everywhere—like some sweet nods to “Make Way for Ducklings,” which is basically required reading if you grew up here.

When we first did Emily and Ben’s engagement shoot, they were clear on a couple of things—they didn’t want their day to look “posed,” and they definitely didn’t love being in front of the camera. Something we hear from lots of our couples. We came prepared with lots of prompts and guidance. We gave some extra help feeling comfortable and natural in front of the camera.

They basically handed me the reins and said, “Help us look and feel like ourselves,” and I think we did just that. 

Omni Parker House Wedding

The Details That Matter l Omni Parker House Wedding

While the timelines were shifting, the rest of the day was rolling on. Emily lost her mother to cancer years ago, but her presence was felt in every single corner of the day. Emily’s grandmother and aunt who are her mother figures, helped her get ready. There was a seat reserved for her at the ceremony—a sweet spot to honor her memory.

Ben’s mom hand-knit the huppah they stood beneath, wrapping them in warmth. The rabbi who married them was Emily’s rabbi from middle school. And when they drank the wine, they sipped from the same cups Emily’s parents used at their own wedding, their initials still etched into the silver.

Before the ceremony, Emily and her dad shared a private moment. He read a letter he’d written to her, just the two of them. It was such a sweet father-daughter moment before walking down the aisle.

Then, there was the gift exchange. Ben gave Emily classic diamond studs, while the bridesmaids surprised her with a box of letters while getting ready. One of my favorite shots is just the girls on the bed while Emily reads their letters to her.

Omni Parker House Wedding Photographer

We Lit Up The Night (Literally)

As we moved into the reception, we faced a technical challenge: lighting a dark, historic ballroom without killing the vibe with harsh flash. Instead of flooding the place with camera flashes, we set up spotlights to keep the vibe warm and glowing—just like they wanted.

They pulled off a flawless, choreographed first dance and built a champagne tower that—pro tip—used apple cider, so things didn’t get too sticky and saved lots of money.

Emily surprised everyone with a second look. She took her mother’s wedding dress and had it altered by her bridesmaid’s mom into a stunning party dress. She switched her hair to a half-up, half-down style and walked out to reveal it to Ben and her dad. Seeing her dad’s face light up at the sight of his late wife’s dress was such a sweet moment to photograph.

Pro tip incoming for all my brides – if your hair does not stay with hairspray and you plan on doing a half-up, half-down hairstyle, keep your hairstylist on for your second look. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen brides, bridesmaids, and even myself trying to fix the bride’s hair. Just trust me on this one!!

And since we didn’t have much time for portraits earlier, we made some last-minute magic happen on the balcony. Sometimes those impromptu moments—when you’re a bit tired, a little looser—are the very best ones.

Castillo Holliday Photo And Film Team

When Emily and Ben got their gallery, they didn’t see a timeline that ran late or a rainy afternoon. It was photographs on film that told their love story. A Beautiful Omni Parker House Wedding for two Bostonians. The kind of photos you’re still obsessed with twenty years from now.

So, here’s the real talk: Your wedding day isn’t a performance. Stuff WILL go off-track. You might get rained out, the timeline might run late, and someone might forget the rings (don’t worry, that didn’t happen here). But if you trust your photographer, roll with the weird moments, and just be present, you’ll end up with photos you absolutely love.

Love from Emily & Ben

“Dominique and Javi were the only ones for us as soon as I stumbled upon them. I had a hard time articulating what I wanted for wedding photography. I knew I wanted the photos, and the whole wedding, to evoke nostalgia, vintage style, and love. I wanted photos that would become family heirlooms. Dominique and Javi have a special approach that uses the incredible medium of film to create documentary-esque photos that also feel like intentional art.

From our first call, I felt like Dominique really shared my vision, and made me feel less anxious about the whole process. My now-husband and I definitely don’t feel very photogenic, and we were worried about being photographed all day long. We were amazed at just how good we could look on film – like ourselves, but through an artist’s eye.

Castillo Holliday has a gorgeous and unique approach to wedding photography, and admittedly, it’s not for everyone! But for anyone who is willing to invest in beautiful photos that capture the fleeting moments in a way that takes you right back, they are a great choice.

On the back end, Dominique works incredibly hard to make things run smoothly – creating a detailed timeline, having multiple touchpoints with us pre-wedding so we had a rapport before the big day, connecting with other vendors ahead of time, etc.

Thank you, Dominique and Javi! We will treasure our photos forever.”

Planning your wedding in Boston and a little nervous about how it’ll all go? Let’s chat. Rain or shine, timeline drama or not, we’ll make sure your story looks (and feels) like yours! Inquire here.

VENDOR CREDITS

Photographer: Photography: Castillo Holliday Photo + Film | @castillohollidayphotoandfilm 

Assists: Emilie Dumas @emme_dumas | Sunshine Shannon Photography @sunshineshannon | Artists in Alchemy Photo Co. @artistsinalchemyphoto

Video: @rickyhuynhs

Venue + Catering: Omni Parker House Boston | @omniparkerhouse

Coordinator: Bracken Events | @brackenevents

Cake: Montilio’s Baking Company | @montiliosweddings @montilios

DJ: The Glitter Boys | @theglitterboys

Florals: Petal Pushers | @petalpushersfloralstudio

Ceremony Officiant: Rabbi Rachel Saphire

Invitations + Signage: zazzle | @zazzle | Designed by: @emilypbernstein

Table Numbers: Second City Stationery | @secondcitystationery

Ketubah + Smash Glass:  Kolbo Fine Judaica Gallery @kolbogallery | Mickie Caspi @caspicards

Chuppah: Hand-knit and built by Deborah Foley

Rentals: Peak Event Services | @peakeventservices

BEAUTY + FASHION: 

Beauty: Veronica Nunes and Esthetics, LLC | @veronicanunes_mua

Hair: Aynsley Wright | @naturallyawright

Engagement Ring + Wedding Bands: Brilliant Earth | @brilliantearth

Bridal Gown: VOWS Bridal @vows_bridepower | Martina Liana Bridal Designs @martinalianabridal

Bridal Shoes: Dolce Vita Shoes | @dolcevita

Tux: Suitsupply | @suitsupply

Wedding Party Attire: Azazie @azaziebridal | The Black Tux @theblacktux 

RESOURCES

Castillo Holliday Photo + Film: Film Wedding Photography Investment Page

Castillo Holliday Photo + Film: Inquiry From