6/28/17 6/28/17

Rockleigh Country Club : Ronni & Adam : Rockleigh, NJ

Rockleigh Country Club New Jersey Wedding Photographer Brian Hatton Photography

Ronni and Adam were married on May 14^th, with a ceremony and reception at the Rockleigh Country Club in New Jersey.

As a New York wedding photographer, I do love shooting in and around NYC over the course of the day. But every once in a while, it’s nice to be able to cross the George Washington Bridge into New Jersey, park at a venue, and stay there. Not only is the Rockleigh Country Club a pleasant ride from my home up Palisades Parkway, but the venue itself is beautiful. With its large areas to get ready, two ballroom options, a reflecting pool, and manicured grounds… you truly don’t have to go anywhere else to find what you’re looking for.

As is customary with most Jewish weddings, Ronni and Adam opted for a first look before the ceremony, and it was probably my favorite part of the day. They were filled to the brim with anticipation and clearly so happy to see each other. That positive energy carried right through into their portrait session which makes it a lot of fun for me. These two are the perfect reminders that great wedding portraits don’t require anything of a bride and groom except that they act like themselves.

While Ronni and Adam were getting their portraits done, the guests arrived at the Rockleigh with a welcome coupe of champagne before being escorted into the flower-draped room for the ceremony. Because the day of the wedding was also Mother’s Day, both Ronni and Adam’s mothers enjoyed special attention, especially during the ketubah signing. They both signed the marriage license—and Ronni and Adam were sure to shower their mothers with beautiful moments together ahead of the ceremony itself.

After the ceremony, the sky cleared a bit, allowing us to have the cocktail hour outside before we partied the rest of the night away to the Michael Hart band by Hank Lane.

Ronni and Adam has asked artist Katherine Gressel to create a live painting of the event—and it was the most amazing thing to watch. She arrived a few hours before the reception to choose a vantage point in the room and begin sketching out the location so that, by the end of a 4-hour reception, she had largely finished the painting with including the bride and groom. She’ll touch up the painting in her Brooklyn studio before sending it to Ronni & Adam, but it was amazing to watch the progression throughout the reception. This is a truly unique experience; in over 400 weddings, I think this was only the 2nd time I've seen this!

Adam & Ronnie, thank you for the opportunity to photograph your fairytale day. I’m especially appreciative of the trust you had in me as you planned your day from afar, and now that the wedding is through, I wish you all the best!

Vendors:

Band: Michael Hart Band by Hank Lane Music Florist: Dalsimer Spitz and Peck Bride's Shoes: Julia Haart Officiant: Rabbi Craig Scheff Hair & Makeup: Pin it Up and Pout

Rockleigh Country Club New Jersey Wedding Photographer Brian Hatton Photography

6/21/17 6/21/17

Liberty Warehouse Wedding: Allison and Alex: Brooklyn, NYC

Liberty Warehouse Brooklyn NY Wedding Brian Hatton Photography

Allison and Alex were married on May 20th, with a ceremony and reception at the Liberty Warehouse in Brooklyn, New York. I had photographed their engagement session last year and was delighted to be able to photograph their wedding.

On the day of the wedding, Alex got ready in Manhattan at the Andaz Wall Street, while Allison took advantage of Liberty Warehouse’s expansive bridal suite. Once she was ready, we got some photos with her sister and mom before setting up a first look downstairs. She and Alex then headed outside for some bride and groom portraits. By the time we’d wrapped up with the bridal party, their beautiful chuppah had been finished, so we were able to take photos there with the water and Statue of Liberty in the background.

Part of the reason I love the Liberty Warehouse is because it is the perfect setting for a variety of styles. Whether it’s a rustic, modern, or classic wedding, they all seem to fit nicely here. And with its sprawling patio, variety of spaces, and “small town” location-- it’s the perfect “destination wedding” for city couples looking to give their guests a unique experience. That’s just one of the many reasons that the Warehouse might just be my most frequented venue this season—which is fine by me!

Thanks to the mild spring afternoon, the ceremony was outside on the patio as the sun set over New Jersey. As is often the case, this was my favorite part of the day. There is something truly magical about the mood in the air being next to the water and tucked off in Red Hook. It feels like a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of NYC without ever leaving it. Not to mention, the rush of emotions that flow directly after the ceremony is always fun to capture, and I loved all the embraces being shared.

We headed back inside to the upper floor, where Rebecca Shepherd Floral Design out of Gowanus had done a spectacular job. The card table in particular stood out to me as well as the floating arrangement that Allison had asked for at the head table. And, of course, Mark Koslowe of Hank Lane got the party started right away with a spirited hora and dance meant to get all the guests out of their seats.

Allison and Alex spent plenty of time out on the dance floor, which I was glad to see. In some cases, the bride and groom only get a few moments together on the floor, so the photography and video teams have to get up in there to make sure we get that shot. Not so with these two—I was able to blend into the crowd and wait for small glimpses of them as they partied their hearts out.

Alex & Allison, thank you for letting me be part of your spectacular day. Congratulations to both of you!

Vendors:

Florist - Rebecca Shepherd Floral DesignStationary - Bella FiguraHair & Makeup - Facetime BeautyOfficiant - Rabbi Todd ChiznerLighting - Pegasus ProductionsBand - Mark Koslowe Band for Hank LaneWedding Dress - Custom Mon Cheri BridalsBride's Shoes - Stuart WeitzmanBridesmaids Dresses - Gather & GownRings - Diamond CastleGroom's Attire - Custom Xedo TuxedoCake - Cheryl Kleinman

6/14/17 6/14/17

River Cafe Wedding : Ashley & Ben : Brooklyn, NY

Ashley & Ben were married on May 13th, with a ceremony and reception at the River Café in Brooklyn, New York photographed by Brian Hatton Photography. I started off the day at the stylish new 1Hotel Brooklyn Bridge. I love shooting here because of all the backdrops and textures available for photography. Also, it’s not often that I get to experience a completely new property here in NYC! With its industrial, modern design, as well as its living walls and amazing rooftop, this hotel has instantly become a go-to “getting ready” spot for weddings in the Brooklyn Bridge Park area. Once Ashley was ready, we staged a first look at the hotel under the covered entryway, then hopped in an Uber to head around DUMBO for photos near Jane’s Carousel and under the Manhattan Bridge. Even though it was raining, the bride and groom were both good sports and ready to try anything. So, we kept right on—they had an umbrella, and I had fully-weather sealed cameras. I might have gotten a little wet, but we were good to go! Besides, I always find New York to be romantic in the rain. Their ceremony took place under the tent at the River Café with the Brooklyn Bridge towering above. One of my favorite moments was at the very end, once Ashley and Ben were married, when Ben threw his fist in the air to the cheers of their guests. He was too excited to hold his emotions in. That set the tone for the fun reception filled with off-the-cuff toasts and a no-holds-barred dance floor. Throughout the entire day, I enjoyed the opportunity to photograph every single person there. That is one of my favorite parts of shooting small weddings: every single person in attendance was important to Ashley and Ben, so I had a great time pursuing each moment and expression to capture those personal interactions. Ben caught some light-spirited flack from his best man over his new vegan lifestyle (thanks to his bride). But the River Café provided a beautiful dish to accommodate those meal preferences—one of the many benefits of having a wedding at a Michelin-starred restaurant. Of course, I must praise the talented ladies of Exquisite Affairs Productions once again. No matter how big or small the wedding, having an extra hand to help with the dress and move family around with an eye on the schedule goes a long way. This was two weekends in a row with these amazing women, and I love every second of that partnership. Thank you, Ben & Ashley, for having me photograph your intimate day. Congratulations to you both!

Vendors:

Wedding Planner: Exquisite Affairs ProductionsFlorist: OpaliaBand: Elan Artists

6/7/17 6/7/17

Brooklyn Botanic Garden Wedding : Lena and David : Brooklyn, NY

Lena and David were married on May 6^th, with a ceremony and reception at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. The day started out with a bang as Lena got ready at the Box House Hotel in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. She’d had to change her “getting ready” venue at the last minute, because the original hotel had flooded out the day before! I’m glad it all worked out, though, and the new venue perfectly complemented her and her stunning pair of gold and black titanium micro pavé wedding rings. We moved from there to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden so that Lena could finish getting dressed in their brand new bridal suite. The renovations—new carpets, walls, and chandelier—make a huge difference, and I loved photographing the new space. Once Lena was ready, we staged a first look and headed to the Cherry Esplanade. The iconic rows of cherry blossom trees had just dropped their blossoms a few days earlier, leaving the ground decorated in a soft pink. The whole first look was simply striking, in a sea of blooming purple. I found a spot in the distance to get low and capture a big, wide shot of the scene. As we headed back to the venue for the ceremony, I saw some of the guests coming in with large-brimmed hats and other Kentucky Derby-themed attire. After all, it was Derby Day, so Lena and David had encouraged their guests to dress the part. The ceremony itself took place outside under a beautiful chuppah as the sun came down and a guitar/cello duo, NY Ceremony Music, set the mood. My favorite image of the day was right at the end of the ceremony—when Lena and David gave each other a high five. That moment right after they are married is often when I get some of my most genuine expressions of the day. From there, it was off to the reception back inside the Palm House. They had a unique setup, with various themed food stations—an Asian food cart, Provencal cuisine, Moroccan food, and more. I love it when couples do something different for a nice change of pace like that! As a surprise to the guests, the Three Waiters blended in as catering staff—only to break out into operatic song to serenade the room! A number of ladies made no secret of their delight for these gentlemen when that happened. Once the dancing got started, I was pleasantly surprised by the crazy moves I was seeing out on the dance floor. It’s not often I see guests trying to disrobe the groom! LOL David was cool with it, though— amazing. It was clear these friends have a ton of fun together. This was yet another wedding courtesy of Exquisite Affairs Productions. We collaborate several times per year, and Christine, Tara, and Janine make my job so much easier as they keep all the moving parts together and pull out an awesome party for everyone involved. David & Lena, thank you for the chance to photograph your Brooklyn Botanic Garden wedding. You brought a totally different vibe to the classic gardens, like being at a fun dinner party, and I loved your unique spin on everything. Congratulations to both of you!

Vendors:

Catering: Patina Group Event Planners: Exquisite Affairs Productions Hair & Makeup: Sachiko Yanese Video: First Day Films DJ: 74 Evemts Florist: Rebecca Shepherd Photobooth: We Love Photobooths Transportation: Luxor Limo Buses: Brownin Transportation

5/31/17 5/31/17

Central Park Boathouse Wedding : Gillian & Cameron : New York, NY

Gillian and Cameron were married at Church of the Blessed Sacrament, followed by a reception at the Loeb Boathouse in Central Park. We got ready at the Nylo Hotel on Manhattan’s Upper West Side neighborhood, just a few blocks from the church. All that was required was a quick Uber ride off to the hidden gem that is the Church of the Blessed Sacrament. After the ceremony and some portraits at the altar, Gillian and Cameron took a tour with me of some of New York’s most iconic sites before we headed uptown. They were such good sports to go through the city even though the weather was inclement, and I think it was absolutely worth it. Taking couples out in to the streets of New York City is perhaps one of the biggest pluses of having your wedding here. Tourists feel like they’ve hit gold when they spot newlyweds out and about and make sure to treat the bride and groom like celebrities. Native New Yorkers, on the other hand, see couples all the time and let us do our thing -- never complaining if I need someone to move a little bit for a shot. While we were out, we visited Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center. If you’re visiting NYC, the roof deck is the place to be for the amazing views of the Empire State Building and the 1 World Trade Center (Freedom Tower). My favorite image of the night was up inside the Observation Deck. There’s something magical about that view, and I love how the picture window framed them up so nicely. We took a quick taxi ride to Times Square, then a ride on the Q train on the new 2^nd Avenue Line to the Upper East Side, taking a quick detour for a gondola ride right up to the Loeb Boathouse in Central Park, where 45 Riots was on hand to keep the dance floor packed non-stop. Out on the dance floor, Gillian and Cameron owned their first dance. Brides and grooms will often spice things up, but their tango took the cake. I felt like I was watching Dancing with the Stars! Gillian & Cameron, thank you for letting me be part of your day, and thank you especially for being such good sports about shooting outside despite the weather. It was wonderful to be able to showcase you in our wonderful city.