Makenzie and Kristian’s wedding at Hyatt Regency was just outside of Boston in Cambridge. The hotel sits along the Charles River with a gorgeous view of Boston. For being outside of the hustle of downtown, these are some of the best views of the skyline I’ve seen photographing weddings in the Boston area!

Their wedding was an absolutely beautiful celebration of their long romance, so there was a real warmth to document on their day. There were also high fashion editorial moments that were captured in the atrium of the Hyatt Regency Cambridge. The modern design, open spaces and glass elevators made for some of my favorite wedding portraits of all time! 

Whether we were outside or inside, Boston skyline in the background or stunning architecture surrounding them in the atrium, Makenzie and Kristian’s Cambridge wedding day was a real joy to document.

A Space You Can Make Your Own

The ceremony was held under a draped tent with beautiful florals and a floral arch by Love, Emmie Co. The space was decorated with an elegant and timeless design.

The Hyatt Regency Cambridge does an amazing job setting everything up for your wedding day and giving you everything you need to make the space your own. It really makes for a beautiful canvas to add personal touches and design elements that match your vision. Also, the team there is more than willing to do what it takes to help bring your dream wedding to life. They are very meticulous, and provide really personal care for the wedding couple, which made them wonderful to work with.

Boston Skyline + Charles River Views from Cambridge

One of my favorite parts of the Hyatt Regency Cambridge is that it’s directly across the river from Boston. It’s just a really cool location. Outside, we captured couples portraits with Boston in the distance. Some of my favorite images from this part of the day are of the two of them, the river, and the skyline behind them. I love that you can plan your wedding here and still have that Boston vibe and incredible views of the city, minus the difficult parts of having a busy city wedding. 

If you’re planning a wedding in the Boston area, you can see more of my Boston and New England wedding photography in my portfolio and read my 100+ five star reviews.

Wedding Photos At The Hyatt Regency Cambridge

Staying at the venue for portraits and group photos worked beautifully at the Hyatt. We used the courtyard for portraits of Makenzie and Kristian and their wedding party. The greenery and softer backgrounds gave those photographs a different feel from the city views in their couples portraits. The front steps were especially great for capturing larger groups of friends and family.

There were also incredible places for photos throughout the hotel, which was the perfect opportunity for editorial style wedding portraits. The atrium in the center of the hotel has really clean lines and a fun modern design.

Another benefit of having the Boston skyline behind them was that we were easily able to step away during the reception and grab some couples photos with the city lighting up the night. They stepped away for a few minutes, danced on the balcony, and enjoyed a quiet moment together before heading back inside. With the Boston city lights dancing on the Charles River, it was a great addition to their night and their gallery.

You can see more of the best wedding venues in Boston and New England as featured on the blog. 

Iconic Glass Elevator Portraits in the Atrium

The glass elevators were my favorite part of the hotel, and together with Makenzie and Kristian we created some incredible images. Normally, a spot like this would be incredibly difficult to coordinate without guests wandering through. But the team at the Hyatt Regency Cambridge go out of their way to help couples and make this spot available for portraits. The venue coordinator gives you a specific time that’s set aside to use the atrium and the elevators for portraits. Because we had that planned time and no other guests were coming in and out, we were able to create intentional, gorgeous images without rushing. So shoutout to the amazing Hyatt team!

The lines, walls of glass, and warm light give a high end, editorial vibe to the portraits. Makenzie and Kristian look like they belong on the cover of a bridal fashion magazine. 

My background before wedding photography was in fashion and editorial work, so spaces like this are where I really get excited for portraits. Paying attention to the little things, things like posture, hands, reflections, composition, and light, I love to craft images like these for my couples. It’s always my goal on wedding days to provide the direction and guidance you need to create that timeless moment to look back on and cherish forever. 

Shots like these are also why I love to have a little breathing room built into the timeline for portraits. The wedding timeline should never feel like it’s revolving around photographs, but having time for intentional portraits together is something that you’ll always be glad that you did.

See more of the details from Makenzie and Kristian’s day on Instagram and follow along to see my latest wedding work.

The Party!

Makenzie and Kristian’s wedding reception was in the Charles View Ballroom, where the windows open up to the Charles River and city skyline. The room was full of natural light during the reception, which gave it a really nice bright and open feel. The reception design felt cohesive and complementary to the ceremony, with white florals, candles, and the city visible through the windows. I’m very grateful to be a Boston wedding photographer, and to work with such amazing couples at the coolest venues.

My Approach to Wedding Portraits in Boston

When it comes to wedding portraits, I like to give a lot of care and attention. Most of the time, they’re what couples look forward to seeing the most, and are their favorite images from the day. It’s my aim that your portraits look gorgeous, but you also get to feel comfortable while we’re taking them.

I like to put my couples at ease, and then provide them with any guidance they need for posing. I’ll adjust posture, hand placement, hair, clothing, and angles to make sure we get the absolute best shots. Even if you don’t feel like you know what to do in front of the camera, you have nothing to worry about since I’ll make sure to direct you.  

At the same time, I don’t want every photograph to feel posed. Some of my favorite images happen between the more directed portraits. A moment dancing, walking together, laughing, or just being with your people. That balance of creating something intentionally and documenting what’s naturally happening is what really lets you relive the beauty and joy of your day when you look back at your wedding gallery.

You can see more about my approach and questions couples ask about my wedding experience here.

FAQ

Do we have to get married in downtown Boston to have a view of the city skyline or the Charles River?

Not at all! The Hyatt Regency Cambridge sits across the Charles River from Boston, so you can still have the skyline be featured in your photos. This makes it easy to stay at the venue for portraits and not have to build time in for travel downtown.

Does the Hyatt Regency in Cambridge have good spots for wedding photos on site?

Yes, there’s so many beautiful photo spots at the venue! For this wedding, I photographed portraits in the courtyard, on the front steps, on the balcony with the river in the background, at the river with the Boston skyline, and in the atrium with the glass elevators.

Do we need special permission to use the elevators at the Hyatt Regency Cambridge for wedding photos?

Wedding couples are absolutely allowed to get photos in the atrium and on the glass elevators. The venue coordinator will set aside a specific time to use the elevators and make sure that you have the space to yourself. I would highly recommend mentioning this to your planner and the venue ahead of time to make sure you have dedicated time in your timeline for it.

Boston Wedding Photography with Love By The Ocean Co.

Makenzie and Kristian’s wedding was a gorgeous day in Boston. Being able to document the moments of their day as well as create gorgeous moments with them for portraits made it one of my favorite weddings in recent memory. If you’re looking for that perfect balance of editorial and candid for your New England wedding, I’d love to talk more. Reach out to chat about your wedding day and see if we’re a good fit.

Vendors

Photography: Love By The Ocean Co. @lovebytheoceanco // Venue: Hyatt Regency Boston / Cambridge @hyattcambridgeweddings // Flower Arch: Love, Emmie Co. @loveemmie.co // Hair: Cori Alexandra Hair & Makeup Artistry @unapologeticallyyoubeauty // Makeup: S.R. Pulling Makeup Artistry @s.r.pullingmua // Dress: Bella Sera Bridal @shopbellasera // Tux: Birdy Grey Suits @birdygreysuits // Cake & Dessert: The Icing On The Cake @icing__onthecake // DJ: The 617 Event Group / 617 Weddings @the617eventgroup @stamz617weddings // Decor: Moment Made @yourmomentmade