Justin Guarini: An Idol Wedding

From the aisle to the stage, this American Idol alum is making his hometown proud.
By Shannon McLaughlin

In September, American Idol’s Justin Guarini married the beautiful Reina Capodici in Doylestown. Guarini, 30, and his new bride Capodici, 27, first met in junior high school and reconnected in December 2007. Capodici’s adorable 4-year-old daughter, Lola, stood tall in joining the couple in their marriage.

The afternoon ceremony took place in the garden of a private estate overlooking the Delaware River in Guarini’s hometown of Doylestown. The reception was held nearby at Guarini’s parents’ estate, where guests dined and danced into the evening.

Steve Brown of Looking Glass Photography, a full service studio based out of Perkasie in Bucks County, provided the happy couple with breathtaking wedding photography that hit every note. “Reina saw images from a wedding I posted on Facebook,” said Brown. “She said after seeing those images, she decided she wanted me as the photographer at her wedding. I’ve known Reina and her family since she was a little girl. Our families have been connected for 20 some years now.”

The bride chose a peacock theme to carry throughout the wedding, which was perfectly accented with floral arrangements by Regina Frachios and artistic hair and makeup by Ashley Gadille.

“The energy at the wedding was so calm and inviting,” said Brown. “As soon as I stepped on the grounds, I knew I had to let go of any ideas I had about the imagery for this wedding and just follow the leading spirit of love. I know it sounds funny, ‘the spirit of love,’ but I was there and that’s just what was happening. One of my fondest memories was of Reina and her mother, Karen, embracing each other. Reina was telling her mother not to cry and the two of them, with tears running down their cheeks, kissed then told each other ‘I love you,’” said Brown.

Brown provides his wedding clients with a CD or a DVD with all color corrected images and a release to have prints made where they choose. What makes him even more unique as a wedding vendor is that Looking Glass Photography also offers video production by Sean McCleery of Sound and Motion Media, who is the video producer of Looking Glass Photography.

“I know what my role is at a wedding,” said Brown. “To create imagery that captures the day.” And that’s just what Brown did at the unforgettable, intimate wedding of Guarini and Capodici.

Recently, Guarini performed a post-nuptials performance at the Sellersville Theater with Drivetime, a Philadelphia-area smooth jazz group. Guarini performs Bobby Caldwell’s “What you Won’t do for Love” on Drivetime’s new album, “Reflections.” Although Guarini has occasionally sat in with Drivetime when they performed at Stephanie’s Sports Bar and Lounge in Doylestown, and sang with them at a release party for “Reflections” in July, the Sellersville Theater show was his first “concert” with Drivetime, including the band’s leader and percussionist, Bernie Capodici, father to Reina.

“I was blown away by the vocals and showmanship that Justin Guarini showered on the crowd at the Sellersville Theater in October,” said Brown. “Bernie Capodici was on point for every beat and magical note of the evening. They performed an unrehearsed rendition of ‘Birdland’ that moved the crowed to its feet,” Brown said of Drivetime, who has grown from a regional cover band to a national brand, captivating audiences for over ten years with high-energy performances.

Be sure to check out upcoming appearances by Justin Guarini at www.justinguarini.com. For more information on Looking Glass Photography, call (267) 987-0455 or visit www.lookingglass-photo.com or www.weddingwire.com.

Shannon McLaughlin is Bucks & Montgomery Living Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief.