Lighthouse Chelsea Piers Wedding : Lauren & Chris : New York, NY
Lauren & Chris were married April 20, 2018 with a ceremony at Old St Patrick's Cathedral followed by dinner and dancing at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers. What seems like just a few months ago was the year 2016 when I met Lauren & Chris for the first time. It seemed like their 2018 wedding was so far away, but as it goes, the time flew by. Before long I found myself in a large suite at the Eventi Hotel as Lauren 's makeup artist was putting on the final touches. Dodging cyclists as they whizzed by, we were whisked into a waiting Rolls Royce Phantom which brought Lauren and her father to Old St Patrick's Cathedral in SoHo. 200 years ago, the Cathedral of the Archdiocese of New York was found in fact on the corner of Mott & Prince, not 5th Ave as it stands today. This was my first time in this space which is quite striking with tons of light streaming in and a large enclosed courtyard out front. After a beautiful ceremony, we stopped at Washington Square Park for some portraits before continuing on to The Lighthouse at Chelsea Pier 61. I'm here a few times this year much to my delight as I love the wide open space and proximity to the waterfront. As we arrived the sun was just beginning to touch the horizon which meant it was time to photograph the room and document the party. There's something about couples who choose The Lighthouse that always have a lively dancefloor and this evening was no exception. The night absolutely flew by with tons of activity and great speeches. Laurent & Chris, it was a great ride - getting absolutely poured on during engagement session #1, having a great shoot for #2, and finally getting to photograph all the moments of your day. Next step - the album! 
Park Hyatt Wedding : Peter & Chris : New York, NY
Peter & Chris were married April 21 at the Park Hyatt in New York City. On a perfect Spring day, I had the pleasure of capturing one of the most fun, lively weddings in one of my favorite venues in the city. It was a very New York guest list full of artists and Tony winners, with high energy entertainment that kept people on the dance floor throughout the night. Starting in one of the hotel's beautiful suites, we captured the grooms as they got ready with friends and family. Popping Ruinart champagne, everyone was having fun and I knew the day would fly by. Peter & Chris enjoyed a first look in the lobby before we went out on to the street to take some photos with the city and Carnegie Hall as a backdrop. When a couple has been together a long time like these two gentlemen, it's not his friends and his friends, but their friends. You could really sense that in the room as they said their vows surrounded by the towering illuminated onyx walls of the Park Hyatt's ballroom. Belle Fleur's Spring green and white decor perfectly complimented the space while Sugar Lane Band from Hank Lane got everyone in the festive spirit.
Cake: Ron Ben IsraelFlorist: Belle FleurStationary: MintedGrooms' Attire: Giorgio ArmaniBand: Sugar Lane Band/Hank LaneRings: Tiffany
NY Athletic Club Wedding : Alea & Matt : New York, NY
Alea & Matt were married April 7 with a wedding ceremony at Christ Church and reception following at the New York Athletic Club in New York City. The NY Athletic Club exudes a certain kind of understated elegance, unlike most any other NYC venue. Nestled on the Southern end of Central Park, the ballroom looks over the trees and out across the park with a vantage point that brings a peaceful feeling despite being in the middle of Manhattan. Beginning with Alea and her bridesmaids, I photographed the tail end of her preparation before capturing a first look with Matt on the club's rooftop. It was an unusually crisp April day with bright, clean sunlight. A perfect compliment to Alea's stunning Marchesa wedding gown. Although I find myself at St Ignatius Loyola frequently when shooting at NYAC, another beautiful space is Christ Church located nearby on Park Avenue. A United Methodist church, ceremonies are only 30-40 minutes and late in the day! This allows you to go straight from ceremony into cocktails. Doing just that, we went from first kiss to the venue in a matter of minutes. The ballroom of the club was decorated in cherry blossoms as the bride and groom entered for their first dance and live music by Silver Arrow Band. I loved photographing Alea & Matt's wedding. There was a positive, easy energy throughout the day that made it a breeze to document. Enjoy!
Venue: New York Athletic ClubFlorist: Rosa RosaStationary: Rosemont PressHair: Crystal TushinskyMakeup: Erica GonzalezOfficiant: Leslie Houseworth-FieldsBand: Silver Arrow BandWedding Gown: MarchesaBride's Shoes: Manolo BlahnikGroom's Attire: My Suit
Lafayette Grand Cafe Wedding : Jen & Eugene : New York, NY
Jen & Eugene were married March 31, 2018 at Lafayette Grand Cafe & Bakery in the NoHo neighborhood of New York City. When I met with Jen & Eugene for the first time, they asked me if I'd ever been to Lafayette. "Yes" I said. I had my own wedding reception there two years ago! I began with them at 11 Howard, a beautiful new hotel in SoHo where we jumped right in to a first look and portraits. We were fortunate that the hotel made their bar and common areas available to us. The clean, modern look was a great contrast to the outdoor and French wine cellar feel of the reception venue. Jen's gorgeous bouquet was created by Designs by Ahn. Walking outside, the light was bouncing around through the narrow streets which made for beautiful opportunities. The ambiance at Lafayette is so warm and intimate. For a moment, it whisks you away from New York as you settle in with a hand crafted cocktail or glass of Burgundy. The smell of Andrew Carmellini's cuisine comes wafting from the kitchen as serving plates are set down for guests family style. It's the perfect location for a wedding of 70 guests. Documenting someone's day in a space as special to me as Lafayette is so satisfying, and I am grateful to Jen & Eugene for including me as part of their wedding celebration. 
Gantry Plaza Wedding : Razia & Jashim : Long Island City, NY
Razia & Jashim were married March 10, 2018 in Queens, NY. Photographing the major life moment of another artist is always a huge honor. I was especially humbled to document the nuptials of my buddy Jashim who is a wonderful wedding photographer in his own right, and a genuinely great human being. I was lucky to be there when he proposed to his better half Razia just a handful of months ago and we met yet again on a cold March Saturday to make things official. We were extremely fortunate to be able to photograph Razia's getting ready in their new apartment which conveniently was completely empty! A dream to shoot in with grey walls and wide open space, this was the kind of luxury a photographer lends another photographer. I open this post with their touching first look which was followed by the reading of cards and a few pictures in the space before heading out. What a great to memorialize their new home and new beginning with each other. With still some time before the reception began, we made our way to Gantry Plaza State Park. It's an ideal spot for bride and groom portraits, so long as you pre-arrange and make sure you have a permit! From Manhattan, you'd know right away by the Long Island sign and long piers in to the water to identify Gantry Park. Razia & Jashim were troopers - braving what really was bitter cold in the name of getting great pictures. I really appreciated their perseverance. As guests gathered back at Elite Palace, we made our way back into the heart of Queens for a ring ceremony and delicious Bengali feast. It was a beautiful day and my absolute pleasure to be a part of it. 
