Brooklyn Winery Wedding : Rebecca and Josh : Brooklyn, NY
Rebecca and Josh were married on August 5th, with a ceremony and reception at the Brooklyn Winery.
On the day of the wedding, Rebecca got ready at the Hotel Indigo on the Lower East Side in Manhattan, near their home, where Josh got ready. That way, we were able to use the balcony connected to the hotel room for a unique first look that turned out amazingly. From there, we headed out into the neighborhood, surrounded by the smell of pastrami from Katz’ Delicatessen, the mecca of meat on Houston Street. We got some pictures out front and, of course, next to their dumpsters before we hopped on a bus to Williamsburg, Brooklyn, for the ceremony itself. The venue, Brooklyn Winery, is an artisanal, urban winery that sources from New York State and Sonoma in California. The guests were all seated in the area that, during harvest, is filled with barrels and tanks, grapes and wine equipment—all of which had to be cleared out to make room for the wedding. It looked absolutely stunning, especially with beautiful weather outside casting the perfect soft light on the ceremony and easing into the warm glow of candlelight from the tall taper candles everywhere. Of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t also celebrate Molly Oliver, the florist, whose work helped to shape the atmosphere there. Her work is 100% local and sustainable, and she is an organic farmer herself who sometimes cuts her flowers mere hours before she puts them together for weddings. The whole vibe of the setup was warm and rustic—yet right in the middle of one of the coolest neighborhoods in Brooklyn! The smell of oak barrels was somehow relaxing, and the ambient light in the room allowed us to preserve that organic feel to the entire day. After the ceremony, it was time for a celebratory feast, where a family-style Southern menu was served. I get hungry just looking at the images of some of this food and remembering how amazing it was. Lots of venues in Brooklyn are leaning lately toward non-traditional wedding cuisine, and the guests just love it. Crispy fried chicken after saying “I do”? Yes, please. After dinner, the guests moved back into the bar area to meet up with the band and dance the night away. I particularly loved seeing Josh, who is a reserved guy, light up as they were lifted up in chairs during the hora part of the dancing! During the reception, Josh stopped to say ‘hi’ to his parents, and one of my favorite images was captured as they told him how proud they were of him and how amazing his wedding was. My favorite aspect of my job is the chance to see families join together and to see loved ones express their pride and joy, so I’m always touched by these little stolen moments. Rebecca & Josh, thank you for trusting me with your photography for this exciting time in your lives! It’s been so fun to get to know you more and more since the engagement shoot in your neighborhood and now coming full circle to your fun, rustic wedding!
Vendors
Venue – Brooklyn Winery
Florist - Molly Oliver
Cake – Nine Cakes
Band - Dexter's Lake Club Band
Museum of the Moving Image Wedding : Wendy and David : Astoria, NY
Wendy and David were married on July 11th, with a ceremony and reception at the Museum of the Moving Image. On the day of the wedding, I met up with Wendy as she got ready in the museum's bridal suite. It was a great way to kick off the day, with my favorite image coming from that getting-ready session. Most of the time, for getting ready shots, I’m trying to paint a soft, romantic image of the bride before she goes to see her groom. That day, a small shaft of light was sneaking into the room, giving us a gorgeous contrast to show off Wendy’s personality that also echoed the style of her dress. After Wendy was ready, we headed out for a first look and pictures outside. It was a bright mid-afternoon, but the punchy light added to the contemporary vibe and made all the architectural details pop. Wendy and David had met with me a year before the wedding and asked me for a wedding experience unencumbered by photography, so we carved out a concise block of time for formal portraits and family pictures to get those done without taking up the whole afternoon—that way we could keep the focus on the wedding itself and let them stay wrapped up in their day. Then, it was off to the ceremony at the museum. Every time I go to Astoria Queens for a wedding at the Museum of the Moving Image, I’ve loved the way they utilize a contemporary mold to customize the location for each couple. In this case, they put pink colored gels over the lights to create an edgy space for dining. It really feels like a step outside New York and into another world, with whimsical, interactive exhibits for the guests. Usually, weddings take place in the museum’s theater, but this time around, I was excited about photographing the ceremony out in the courtyard between the museum and Kaufman-Astoria studios. It absolutely fit the feel of the wedding and the style of the couple! Wendy and David had a separate Tisch where they greeted guests and had a prayer before David processed to Wendy for her veiling, or bedeken. After Wendy walked down the aisle, she circled David 7 times, signifying the commitment and unbreakable wall surrounding a bride and groom. In a Jewish ceremony, there is no kiss; instead, the groom steps on the glass, and the couple is immediately surrounded and escorted by singing and cheering guests off to a few private moments alone, while the rest of us went inside for dinner and dancing. Over the years, I’ve worked with a number of klezmer bands. One, Shirim, is more traditional in nature and is led by a klezmer clarinet virtuoso. But this one, Golem, is a more unorthodox orthodox ensemble. It’s unforgettable for its over-the-top energy and a hora like literally no other. If you want a hora that not only has people joyfully circling the dance floor but also adds a jolt of electricity that everyone can only attempt to keep up with, Golem will do that and more. Wearing a new dress, Wendy came out with David and entered the reception to cheers before the 45-minute (yes, 45!!) hora. Navigating all the moving people and jockeying for angles is one of the most challenging but most exciting parts of a Jewish wedding to photograph, and I love it! Thank you, Wendy & David, for letting me photograph this unique and quintessentially native New Yorker wedding.
Vendors
Events - Ashley Chamblin Events
Florist - Mindy Jacobowitz
Hair - Stacey Weinstein
Makeup - Jessica Rothschild
Officiant - Rabbi Simcha Krauss
Band - Golem
Videography - Well Spun Weddings
Wedding Dress - Tony Ward
Bride's Shoes - Christian Louboutin
Rings - Erica Weiner
Rutgers Gardens Wedding : Anna and Neal : New Brunswick, NJ
Anna and Neal were married on June 11th, with a ceremony at the Reformed Church of Highland Park and a reception in Rutgers Gardens in New Brunswick, NJ. These two met while studying at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City. Neal is from the West Coast, and Anna is from New Jersey and is the child of two opera singers. We had actually crossed paths in school, but it wasn’t until later that I started to get to know them, as they live near me and I always see them walking their dog through Fort Tryon Park. On the day of the wedding, I started out with Anna as she finished getting ready at the Heldrich Hotel in New Brunswick before we took a short ride to the church. They wanted an intimate, elegant, relaxed wedding, which is why they picked Rutgers Gardens, surrounded by tons of greenery and lush sunlight. Once we were at the church, we took some pictures of the guests arriving as well as a few group pictures with the bridal party and family. At the wedding, the amazing harpist Kristi Shade—a mutual friend of mine and Anna’s—added an ethereal touch to the whole day. She is one of the most popular wedding vendors in the New York City area in addition to being a recording artist and musician, and it was amazing to have her there! The weather was perfect, which meant the reception was completely open and in the outside air. I don’t often get to create pictures in NYC that include the twilight sky and guests partying below, so I enjoy shooting outside of the city when I get the chance so I can capture a more rustic feel. I loved that the guests were able to step outside to chat or look at the stars before going back in to dance. I was able to take Anna and Neal aside at just the perfect moment, where the sun was just kissing the treetops. That 5–10-minute span, followed by the soft wash of evening light, often produces the best images of the day. My favorite image was the black and white portrait of them standing in front of the venue during the party, and they must have agreed, because they chose it for their 8x12 studio print enlargement on a cotton rich, heavyweight art paper. It looks stunning! I look for shots like that all day to get that one special print that hangs on the wall forever. Sometimes you just know as it happens, and sometimes you discover it like an artifact when going through the images. Anna & Neal, thank you so much for letting me be part of your wedding! It’s not often that I get to shoot weddings for people I know, and I’m so lucky that you contacted me early and asked me to be there!
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Oheka Castle Wedding : Megan and Alex : Huntington, NY
Megan and Alex were married on June 4th, with a ceremony and reception at Oheka Castle in Huntington, NY. The entire event was held on the grounds of Oheka Castle, the famous Huntington venue on Long Island. I feel lucky every time I get the chance to visit the castle. Due to the sheer size of the estate, the opportunities for unique photography are vast! You could shoot multiple weddings and have completely different backdrops every time. In addition to the classic character of the castle, it can be decorated in so many ways, and every time people drive in for the first time, the reaction is always the same: “wow.” Even though it was a long day, with 12 hours of coverage, it really flew by. Every moment was filled with fun. While the women were getting their hair and makeup done, Alex and the men took over the estate playing sports, filming 360-degree video footage, and escaping up to Oheka’s “man club” in the tower. Megan looked so amazing in her Lee Petra Grebenau dress as she got ready in the instantly recognizable bridal suite overlooking the expansive, Versailles-esque gardens. This dress designer has quickly become one of Israel’s most prestigious fashion brands, known for its luxurious bridal and evening gowns, each of which is custom-made. This one was magical in the way it caught the light. After a touching first look in the tree-lined entryway leading up to the castle, we grabbed some pictures of the bride and groom as well as the family and bridal party before the ceremony. Thankfully, the weather held out for a beautiful outdoor ceremony overlooking the gardens before we came inside for the reception. Throughout the day, it was abundantly clear that Megan and Alex were incredibly close with so many friends and family, to the point where it didn’t feel like their guests were separate people from all walks of life but one big family getting together for a happy reunion! This was especially clear in watching both of them with their parents—they just genuinely have so much fun with each other and everyone around them. Although I was able to get the quintessential Oheka Castle image that you absolutely must get—the wide shot of the bridge walking down the aisle from above—my favorite shot from this wedding was actually one that my second photographer, Matt, got. It’s a close-up aerial shot that he captured just as the wind moved around Megan as she walked, and it was absolutely gorgeous! Thank you, Megan & Alex, for letting me be part of your amazing day! And a big thank you to Karyn Michael Events for helping to make sure such a large event went off so beautifully.
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Vendors
Wedding Gown: Lee Petra Grebenau
Florals: Pedestals Floral Decorators
Planner: Karyn Michael Events
Cinematography: Millimeter Photo
Bridesmaids Dresses: The Dessy Group
Makeup: Makeup by Marie-Therese
Shoes: Salvatore Ferragamo
Band: Elan Artists
Central Park Elopement : Ivan and Martina : New York, NY
Ivan and Martina eloped on September 20th at Central Park. I shoot a couple elopements every year, and it’s always so much fun to be part of the intimate feeling of the day! Martina and Ivan flew in from Montenegro with just a couple of their best friends to be witnesses. We started at a rented apartment in NoHo to prepare for capturing pictures around New York surrounded by its culture, tall buildings, and the iconic Central Park. I’m a big fan of renting an Airbnb or One Fine Stay for getting-ready photos because they often have so much more space than what hotels can offer and often cost significantly less money! If you can, find a place with large windows for natural light and plenty of room. After I arrived, a limousine pulled up and whisked us uptown to the West Side of Central park for their ceremony in the Ladies Pavilion, a unique little spot tucked away next to the lake which you can access from Central Park West near the Natural History Museum. It’s one of the spots in Central Park you have to make prior arrangements to use, but it’s worth it! To add to the New York flavor of the day, we got out of the limo a little early and took a pedicab the rest of the way. In my 15 years here, I’ve never ridden in one before, and I ended up loving the image of them rolling along as I rode behind! The weather was perfect as we arrived at the pavilion for the ceremony, and Ivan and Martina enjoyed a beautiful moment together to the cheers of onlooking New Yorkers. That was by far my favorite part of the day. For as stylish and cool as Ivan and Martina come across, they turned into butter for their vows! Because this was a last-minute elopement booking, I was totally surprised to see my buddy, Kaipo, from 15 Minutes of Frame, filming the ceremony as I rolled up. I was also startled to see two talented people I went to music school with, playing as we approached the Pavilion! You’d think I’d see people I know more often with as many weddings as I shoot, but it’s always a surprise when I do. After the ceremony, we walked around looking for opportunities to get some pictures around NYC. It’s always fun for me because people from overseas especially want to feature the city itself as prominently as possible in their pictures. I always try to give them an insider’s look of New York—not just Times Square or the Statue of Liberty but side streets far South of Midtown or casual strolls on the Upper West Side. I feel so honored when a couple comes to New York to elope and chooses me out of a sea of possibilities to photograph their wedding. Often, these photos of their NYC vows accompany them back to a more traditional party at home, so I know just how much of an impact the images will be when received by their family and friends who weren’t able to be there. Thank you, Ivan & Martina, for letting me be part of this amazing day! I hope you will always remember your adventures in New York!
