Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers Wedding : Shannon and Joe : New York, NY
Shannon and Joe were married on March 17th, with a ceremony and reception at the Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers.
I began with Shannon as she and the bridesmaids got ready at the New York Edition hotel, while my second shooter was with Joe at home. This was my first time shooting at the New York Edition, a contemporary new boutique hotel concept from Marriott right next to Madison Square Park. I immediately felt right at home shooting in this modern space. This new hotel is a great option for people having a Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers wedding since it’s close to both the venue and some iconic NYC scenes for portraits. The hotel itself is excellent—with airy hotel rooms and a kind staff who was very helpful setting up the first look for Shannon and Joe in one of their event spaces.
Joe and Shannon are a sweet couple, which made it so easy to run out into the cold air for some pictures in the afternoon light at The Lighthouse before guests began to arrive. Soon, the evening was underway, with their ceremony taking place just as the sun set. That stunning setting overlooking the Hudson River is the best part of getting married at the Lighthouse!
A signature Abigail Kirsch cocktail hour was followed quickly by dinner and dancing. Honoring their ties to New Orleans, Joe and Shannon struck up the brass band for a "second line" parade—to the great delight of all the guests and myself! I'd never seen such a thing! Plus, it was a lot of fun—and a great way to close out a great day.
Shannon & Joe, thank you for letting me be part of your joy!
University Club Wedding : Adina & Doug : New York, NY
Adina and Doug were married on February 18th, with a ceremony and reception at the University Club.
I always enjoy working at the University Club. You really feel like you’re at the center of New York City, right on 5th Avenue, across the street from the MoMa Museum, and steps from Central Park. In a city of glass towers, it’s a historic building with beautiful grandeur and has one of-- if not the most beautiful ballrooms in the city.
I started the day with Adina as she wrapped up getting ready with Once Upon a Bride and was impressed with her beverage of choice for a toast in the suite: a bottle of 2009 Dom Perignon and 2008 Veuve Clicquot. Nice. Very nice.
After she put on her beautiful Pronovias wedding gown, we went downstairs for a first look and slipped outside for pictures. Even though it was the middle of February, these two were game for braving the weather. Thanks to this adventurous couple, we were able to get some great photos highlighting New York City without venturing too far from the University Club.
After some formal family photos, we proceeded to a grand room in the rear of the club for the ceremony. The chuppah was dressed with flowers, and the space was bright and inviting.
There were several funny moments with kids at the wedding, including one young man who decided to make his delight of his candy lollipop known in the middle of the ceremony! And during the first dance, another little guy decided it was the perfect time to show the bride and groom the print he’d gotten from the photobooth. But the couple took it in their stride and even gave him a high five. It was a great moment.
Brooklyn Sound by Hank Lane led a spirited Hora and kept the dance floor alive all night. And I would be remiss if I didn’t praise Daniela at Vision Event Company. She’s a great planner who keeps things moving efficiently with her team and makes everything feel easy. I look forward to working with her again!
Doug & Adina, thank you for letting me be part of your adventures! Your wedding was a great day, a celebratory evening, and fun to photograph. I know I will always look back on many of these memories and images and smile.
St. Regis Wedding : Amanda & Ben : New York, NY
Amanda and Ben were married on February 10th, with a ceremony and reception at the St. Regis in New York City.
A Classic NYC Wedding at the St. Regis
It was a bit of a gray day in New York, with off and on rain, but that wasn’t about to stop Amanda and Ben from having a gorgeous wedding at the beautiful St. Regis. With its rich golden tones and classic New York ambiance, this was the perfect setting no matter the weather. This iconic New York venue is one of my favorites to photograph at, especially because you’re so well-taken care of, with everything you need all in one location.
I began by photographing Amanda as she finished up her hair and makeup and put on her dress with her mom. With some of her best friends around, the atmosphere of the Dior Suite was brimming with excitement.
After a first look in one of the event spaces, we took advantage of the covered entryway to the hotel for some portraits of Amanda and Ben together before their tisch and bedeken leading up to the ceremony with their family.
The ceremony room was lit in a blush color that set an intimate mood, with gorgeous arrangements by Putnam & Putnam flowers as well. Amanda’s vision was to bring the look of old Dutch still-lifes to the décor to complement the classic feel of the hotel, and I think she definitely accomplished that.
Ben and Amanda incorporated elements of traditional Jewish ceremonies into the wedding itself, with readings of the 7 blessings and an amazing cantor. They also added musical elements—which was particularly important to Amanda, who is herself a violinist.
That musical theme carried through into the cocktail hour, which had a live band setting the tone for the evening, before we went to the roof-level ballroom at the St. Regis, with its signature sky painted onto the ceiling, to celebrate.
Amanda & Ben, thank you for having me as part of your wedding. I wish you all the best and hope to run into you some time at Lincoln Center!
Vendors
Wedding Gown: Amsale
Bride's Shoes: Manolo Blahnik
Cake: Ron Ben Israel
Florist: Putnam & Putnam
Stationary: Dempsey & Carroll
Band: Hank Lane/Steve Delisi Band
Groom's Attire: Ralph Lauren
Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts : Karla & Greg : Philadelphia, PA
Karla and Greg were married on December 31st, with a ceremony and reception at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia. I don’t often find myself in Philadelphia for weddings, but I always enjoy the trip. It really isn’t that far away, and it’s a chance to get out of my usual element!
When this New Year’s Eve wedding rolled around, it was blisteringly cold—10 degrees Fahrenheit! Thankfully, when I arrived at the Ritz Carlton to photograph Karla putting on the finishing touches, I was grateful to see that the plans were to stay stowed away inside the warm and expansive museum.
I was more than happy with staying inside when the venue had so many opportunities for photography. The main building had a bit of the Old World feeling to it, with all the romance that it brings to live in the past in those surroundings. And then across the street at a different building, the feeling changed to a more modern one with plenty of contemporary art—the perfect backdrop for a great band and a party that went all the way to the stroke of midnight to ring in the new year.
And for as impressive as the museum itself was, I was even more impressed with Karla and Greg. From the first look to the bridal portraits, these two were nothing but stunning. I especially loved the pictures of the two of them on the grand staircase of the museum. I was able to get plenty of perspectives that highlight the expansiveness of the space as well as the grandeur that these two embodied.
I also loved that Karla and Greg knew how to take care of their guests. Everyone got a beverage in the gallery before they were ushered into the ceremony space, with gorgeous high ceilings—which meant all the guests were warm and happy.
And of course, I have to give a shout-out to my friends at Frank Ahm Films from New York. They were on top of all the action, as always, and I loved working with them.
Karla and Greg, thank you for choosing me to help capture your celebration. I loved ringing in 2018 with the two of you!
Vendors:
Wedding Dress: Pronovias
Caterer: Starr Catering
Cake: Night Kitchen
Florist: Robertsons
Band: EBE
Planning: Melissa Codkind, Initiatives Events
Videography: Frank Ahm Films
The Grove Wedding : Dora & Paul : Cedar Grove, NJ
Paul and Dora were married on November 11th, with a ceremony at the St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Clifton and a reception at the Grove in Cedar Grove, New Jersey.
It was a perfect fall day—my favorite time for shooting weddings—when I got to Dora’s parents’ home. It’s a big tradition in Greek weddings to zip up the dress and place the veil in her childhood bedroom, so I made sure to capture that moment. Greek weddings are always so colorful and include rituals that are beautiful both to witness and to photograph, so I always love being asked to do them.
When we got to the St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Clifton, the white church transported us to somewhere that felt far away. The gorgeous venue was illuminated by the afternoon sun, which only contributed to the feeling of majesty.
Just before the sun hit the horizon, I was able to whisk Paul and Dora away to Verona Park. This is the best possible time for outdoor photos, when the light is soft, flattering, warm and especially romantic. And in the autumn, the trees pick up the golden sunset. Even though we didn’t have a ton of time, these images were some of my favorites.
We arrived at the Grove, a venue I’d never had the pleasure of photographing before, and I immediately loved the spacious lobby and ballroom. There is nothing like a New Jersey cocktail hour, and the Grove was no exception. I would have been excited to have their cocktail hour as my own wedding reception!
Since there were many Greek family members in attendance at the reception, at the very first beat of a Greek song from the DJ, a circle of people spontaneously erupted upon the dance floor with great spirit. And toward the end of the night, I was highly entertained as people really started to let loose the closer we got to the final song. I had so many options for angles to cover this vibrant celebration thanks to the huge ballroom and staircase, and I enjoyed myself finding new ways to cover this party.
This wedding was also the inaugural event for our new photo booth offering. With a booth technician to keep things moving smoothly, Dora and Paul’s friends had a ton of fun with all the amazing props! It’s a great way to get silly pictures of your guests in addition to normal coverage—and for people to leave with their own prints in hand.
Dora & Paul, thank you for asking me to be part of your vivacious wedding. It’s so nice to work with such a warm couple, and I’m grateful that you were able to show me such beautiful locations.
My 2018 wedding season is already well underway, with weddings at the St. Regis and University Club coming up. I can’t wait to work with all the couples in this coming year. But first, I wanted to finish remembering last year’s—and Paul and Dora aren’t the last wedding. There’s still more to come!
Vendors
Florist - River Dell Flowers