Meet Lindsay & Mike: Quirky, funny, Delightful, and Down to Clown
Lindsay and Mike found me through a friend, which made working with them feel like we were already friends from the start. They were so much fun, and they had a clear vision for a wedding that felt like them.
There was a fortune-telling machine that Mike designed and built himself (think Zoltar from Big), tarot cards naming the tables: The Sun, The Star, The Empress, and gorgeous autumnal colors.
You Tried to Get Rid of the Witches. Look What Happened
One thing about Salem that will never be lost on me is that the horrible acts of killing people accused of witchcraft in the 1690s ended up enshrining Salem as a witchy haven. In trying to eradicate something, they made it part of the town’s story. And I love that. A real testament to the you can’t get rid of us spirit.
Of course, Salem is more than witch museums and shrines to spookiness. But when you get married here in September, just as spooky season is getting underway, you might as well lean into a little of that magic.
Salem Shenanigans and a Little Autumn Romance
Lindsay and Mike had a few spots they knew they wanted for portraits, including a corner shop and a first look on the Salem Common bandstand. We made sure to build those into the day, alongside the places I knew I wanted to photograph — including plenty of time inside Rockafellas itself, because the venue is iconic.
The bandstand first look was particularly fun. Some friends happened to walk by while we were taking photos and called out something along the lines of, “Oh my gosh, now it's you up there taking your wedding photos!” Apparently, it's a Salem must. Who am I to argue?
One of the things I love about photographing weddings is finding that balance between the photos that matter most to the couple and the moments and locations I know will make for great images. We had a plan, we hit the spots they were excited about, and we left room for the fun to happen along the way, including portraits with everyones favorite movie horror villain Michael Myers.
Inside Rockafellas, I loved seeing what Lindsay and Mike had done with the space. The dark wood, dramatic windows, and historic details gave me so much to play with, and their thoughtful decor felt right at home. Between the tarot tables, autumnal colors, and that incredible fortune teller, there was something fun to photograph everywhere I looked.
The result was a wedding gallery full of personality: portraits that were completely them, a venue that practically demanded to be photographed, and the little candid moments I’m always looking to catch.
A little spooky, a little romantic, and never taking itself too seriously. Just as a Salem wedding should be.
The Venue: Dark Wood, Dramatic Windows, and a Little Magic
Colonial Hall at Rockafellas has a past, just like Salem. The building has served as a bank, a church, and a jewelry store before becoming the restaurant and wedding venue it is today.
The space is impressive: soaring ceilings, gorgeous historic details, dark wood, and a massive Gothic windows overlooking the room. Light streams through the big windows during the day, and as the afternoon goes on, the whole place takes on an even moodier, more dramatic feel.
It's a dream to photograph, especially when a couple brings in details that feel so at home in the space.
Honestly, if you're planning a slightly spooky, tarot-loving, astrology-curious wedding, like Linday and Mike this place makes a pretty compelling case for itself.
Are you haunted and want to flaunt it at your wedding?
Do you envision a fortune teller and taro reading on your special day? Are you a Salem couple planning a very Salem wedding? I’d love to hear about it.