Black Rock Country Club

1. What makes Black Rock Country Club in Hingham a great place to get married?

It's exclusive.  Your guests probably didn't know it was there, yet some local celebrities live on their property.  You feel less like "just another couple" and more like "We got permission".  That alone makes it special.  It's convenient to everything and they do a fantastic job.  

2. Where are the best places for wedding photos at Black Rock Country Club in Hingham?

The have a special spot down the road that they take couples to that's pretty unque and special.  Even without going to that spot, the back area of the venue has a perfect vantage point for sunset.  The design of the building itself actually offers variety with their rock walls, openings and arches as well as the clap-board entrance.  Plenty of variety for tons of great shots.

3. What's the best time of day for portraits at Black Rock Country Club in Hingham?

Family and wedding party pictures would typically occur either immedaitely following "First Look" or direclty after the ceremony during cocktail hour unless you built in a gap between a church ceremony and arriving on property.  

Regardless, at some point just before or near sunset I'll take just the two of you outside again for those soft-light intimate shots.  It should only take like 10 minutes but these are the shots you hire me for.  These are the jaw-dropping, tier enducing, OMG shots.  

That said, the sun can get pretty bright if you're out there too early.  Best time of day is always just before sunset, but that doesn't always line up with the timeline.  That's why you get a photographer that can master any lighting scene.  The sun will be coming hard from your right in pictures.  Without compensating with flash and proper angling it's easy for a less experienced photographer to botch it up here.  

4. Is a first look a good idea at Black Rock in Hingham?

Absolutely!  The first look gives you a chance to truly see each other.  Express your thoughts.  BE together for a moment - away from everyone else.  Now you get to enjoy your own cocktail hour.  Now it's not such a whirlwind.  You're not as rushed, so less anxiety.  Totally worth considering.  

For the traditional "I want to see her coming down the aisle", let me give some perspective.  First, when she gets there you need to just shut up and get married.  You can't stop and talk.  At a first look you can.  Second, that heart-fluttering HOLY CRAP feeling when all your guests stand and you realize this is real, this is happening!  That feeling doesn't go away just because you already saw each other.  It actually may be enhanced.

They usually do it up at the green where only the two of you go, so it's private and really kinda special.

5. What happens if it rains on your wedding day at Black Rock in Hingham?

In all my years, I've only had maybe a handful of weddings that were 100% completely washed out.  It's so rare it's not worth discussing.  Yeah, maybe the ceremony gets moved indoors.  Maybe the family and wedding party pics are on the dance floor but there will almost certainly be an opportunity between drops to run outside for a few pics of the two of you.

That said, I've never seen a rained out day at Black Rock.  They may push to just have the ceremony under the tent regardless because there's really no where to do it back at the reception building.  Consider that and ask them - you could be in a freaking hurriane under a tent shouting your "I Do's".  I'm imagining they'd be able to have you stand on the dance floor and guests at their tables as a last resort but your backdrop would be the DJ booth.  Not trying to scare you - I've never seen that done, but it's worth asking them.

6. How much time should we set aside for wedding photos?

I typically like an hour, but I'm SUPER efficient.  It really comes down to how large your group is.  How many in the wedding party?  How big is your family?  Are there divorces with step family?  Are there grandparents?  Do you want to include aunts, uncles, cousins?  The smaller the group the easier it is obviously.  

7. Can we stay on schedule without feeling rushed?

This is my super power.  You could be WAY behind schedule, then it comes time for the family and wedding party pics and poof, you're back on schedule.  I can be amazingly efficient to power through all those combinations so you can lower the anxiety and not lose any of your wedding.  

8. What's your favorite photo location at Black Rock in Hingham?

Honestly, it's simply the sunset out back.  Once the sun gets low, everyone is inside and we just step out to the back area, it's stunning.  I mean, gorgeous!  

9. Have you photographed weddings at Black Rock in Hingham before?

I wouldn't be talking about it otherwise - absolutely.  There's a benefit to knowing the flow of things.  Where you're allowed to go and where's off-limits.  Knowing where the shadows will fall and knowing what will be in bloom.  Even just knowing how the staff approaches the day and their personalities.  It all helps make the entire day run smoothly for you.  There's an unspoken "nod and wink" between me and the day-of coordinator keeping everything perfect so you get the most out of the day.

Now, just to be clear - the "members" rule.  I've had times where I'm told you're not allowed to even step on the bricks of the pathway in the back because that's for members and you (in your heals) need to stand on the grass and sink in.  I'm not trying to cast shade, but Black Rock exists for it's members, not their one-off brides.  It's usually not an problem, but it's real.

10. What should couples know before getting married at Black Rock Country Club in Hinham?

OK, let me elaborate on the above.  Members drop $100k+ on living in that exclusive community.  They cater to them first.  Where you're allowed to go and what your allowed to do is dictated by that dynamic.  They've got it down pretty well that it's not really a concern for you probably won't even be felt by you at all.  I just want to make sure you're aware, there could be weird things like stand in the wet grass instead of on the bricks because the bricks are for members.  

11. How many guests does Black Rock Country Club in Hingham work best for?

I wouldn't go crazy.  Anything over about 125 I'd ask to see a diagram of the room setup to see how it fits.  It's not huge.  You don't want people sitting back-to-back with no wiggle room.  

12. Is Black Rock Country Club in Hingham good for indoor and outdoor weddings?

The ceremony?  Not too much.  You're in a tent a quarter-mile from the reception.  For your pictures, no worries.  You've got an awning in the back so you can get the good backgrounds without a drop on you and the front entrance is covered so we can go out there and face the flowers/shrubs and get all the beautiful shots without getting wet.  It's a mixed bag.  It's not perfect, but it's also not a game-changer.  

13. Where do you usually take family photos?

In the back of the building by the firepit looking towards the golf course.  It makes for really nice pictures.  There aren't any distractions.  The lighting can be tricky so I often have to compensate with flash to really make them awesome because we're kinda at a weird angle with the sun so it's definitely important to get someone with my skill level to master it.  It's honeslty not an easy setup unless its overcast.

14. Is sunset really worth stepping away from the reception?

OMG Yes.  This venue has PERFECT sunsets, so absolutely no matter what, yes.  Now, gotta tell you, I had the venue so strict on the timeline that while the sky was exploding in color the event coordinator was screaming that we have to cut the cake.  They can get strict on such silliness.  We've got to just go out and get those shots no matter what is happening on your timeline.  It's SO worth it.

15. What makes photographing weddings at Black Rock Country Club in Hingham unique?

The architecture.  The rock walls at the bottom-back of the building offer some cool looks.  There's an area that looks like barn doors even though there's no barn.  The property just has a cool look to it that's unique and pretty.