Boston Wedding Photographers | Bethany & Dan Photography's Blog

First Names: Emma & Tate

Hometowns: E: Norwich, VT & T: Wayzata, MN (twin cities suburbs)

Occupations: E: PhD Student in Environmental Health @ Boston University, T: Consultant @ PTC

Wedding Date: July 13, 2013

Location: Hanover, NH – Dartmouth College Campus

Colors: Teal & Chartreuse

Vibe you are going for: Romantic, classic New England, summer garden, (with a side of Dartmouth – of course)

Let’s hear your love story! We were in the same freshman calculus class at Dartmouth, but didn’t even notice each other. Tate ended up acing it while Emma… let’s just say it wasn’t her best performance. We didn’t cross paths again until the winter of our senior year, when Emma’s friend, Calvo, dragged Emma to Tate’s fraternity (Phi Delt) to meet her friends who rarely left their house except for classes and food. We met and spent the next few days following each other around like awkward, but cute, puppies. Tate used the new Phi Delt golden retriever puppy, Dennis, to his advantage, setting up puppy study break dates together. By the middle of the spring semester it was clear that we were in love and inseparable. After Dartmouth we spent another year in Hanover/Norwich while Tate finished his Bachelors in Engineering and worked nearby, and Emma worked and applied to graduate schools. Emma was living with her parents in Norwich, VT and Tate was quickly indoctrinated into her the clan and her Dad began Tate’s necessary training in all things Grateful Dead related. After that Emma moved to Atlanta to get her MPH at Emory University, while Tate stayed at Dartmouth to finish up a masters and then headed back to Minnesota to start working, but we visited each other every weekend we could spare. Oh, and whoever invented Skype… GENIUS!

How did you/he pop the question? After a big, late dinner on the first night of vacation in Nassau, Emma wondered why Tate had ordered coffee and dessert, when all She wanted to do was have another glass of wine and sleep! After dinner, Tate wanted to walk along the beautifully lit boardwalk over the water away from the hotel, but a tired and slightly cranky Emma didn’t want to walk in the slightly weedier location, Tate asked and Emma said yes! Afterwards, they wandered back to the boardwalk and played the oversized outdoor board games near the beach. Emma didn’t even mind that Tate won every game!

Who was the first person you told about your engagement? We called our parents from the hotel phone but when the international dialing was too complicated for someone (Emma) to figure out, Tate stepped in and saved the day!

How did you decide where you wanted to get married? Emma grew up across the river from Hanover, NH in Norwich, VT and went to both middle school and high school in Hanover. Emma’s father is a professor of Environmental Studies at Dartmouth College, and both Tate’s Mom, Chris, and Dad, Tate Sr., went to Dartmouth’s business school, Tuck. Dartmouth has been an important aspect in the lives of both families. We met at Dartmouth in our senior winter and it seemed only natural to invite family and friends back to the scene of the crime to celebrate the birthplace of their life together as well as to get a glimpse of where Emma grew up.

What has been your favorite part of wedding planning? Our favorite part of wedding planning has been getting to know many of amazing people, like Bethany & Dan, who help to make each couple’s wedding day so special and unique. Hearing about all of the different ways people have celebrated their love and started their new lives together has made planning ours even more exciting.

Let’s hear a little bit about your vision, the unique details that you are adding to the day! We want it to be a celebration of love, family, past experiences, and new adventures. The location of the wedding itself is a celebration of the community that Emma grew up in and where we both spent many happy years growing, learning, and finding each other. We want to share the wonderful and unique feeling of summer in New England with people who have never experienced it before, and with those who love it as much as we do. We’ve tried to incorporate as much of our families and ourselves   as we can into our day. Tate’s aunt, Rev. Frances Preston, will be our officiant and Tate’s brother Henry Shea S.J. will be saying a blessing before dinner. Above all else we want it to be an opportunity for all of our friends and family to come together and celebrate with us and with each other. For the rehearsal dinner, we are having our families come out to Emma’s parents’ house in Norwich for a chance to get to know each other better and to experience the wonder and beauty that is rural VT in the summer and see where Emma grew up. It will also be an opportunity for our very spoiled and very loved golden retriever, Winston, to get all the attention and pets he craves!

Is there anything that you are making yourself for the wedding? My Mom and I spent last summer picking local blueberries and making mini-jars of jam for favors. I embroidered personalized handkerchiefs for our parents for the ceremony and am painting a special guest tree canvas for guests’ fingerprints at the reception. We’ll also make the decorations aside from the flowers, like candleholders, the card box, table numbers, etc. Our niece, Amelia, will be our little flower girl (with the help of her Dad) and I’m going to attempt to make her a teal tutu to match the bridesmaids, but mostly because who doesn’t love a tutu – if they were acceptable attire in daily life I would have one on at all time! For the rehearsal dinner Tate is brewing a special Wedding beer batch! Our golden retriever Winston will be sporting a homemade bowtie, which will likely survive a total of 5 minutes.

What are you honeymoon plans? Tate is the mastermind behind the honeymoon plans. Outside of the broad destinations and general vibe of the trip, it is going to be a surprise for Emma! We are going for two weeks, flying into Paris and heading to the south of France, then on to  Germany for some castle touring, and ending in northern Italy.

Anything else you think our readers would like to know? Tate’s aunt, Rev. Frances Preston, will be officiating our ceremony. She has officiated multiple weddings in the family. Having family not only attending but also performing the ceremony will make our vows that much more meaningful to us.

What do you look forward to the most about being married? Getting to know each other inside and out and all our weird quirks. Getting to plan our lives and grow and change together as soulmates. Always being able to laugh and find humor in our lives together. Being able to spend the rest of our lives together and having many wonderful adventures along the way.