New York Athletic Club Wedding : Katherine & Brian : New York, NY

Katherine & Brian were married in July with a ceremony at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church followed by a reception at New York Athletic Club on Central Park South in NYC.

I’m always impressed by the expression of elegance that a NYAC wedding exudes. Katherine and Brian’s looked poised throughout and their beautifully decorated ballroom set a beautiful yet relaxed tone for their guests. Katherine and Brian got ready in suites at the club and met for a first look on the rooftop with the expansive view of the Central Park below. Fortunately, 7th ave and the Southern edge of the park offer plenty to work with for portraits and we were able to dot across the street quickly before the rain.

The Kirkland Chapel at 5th Ave Pres is stunning and perfectly suited for a typical NYC wedding with a size and shape that allows the pews to fill nicely. In addition to the scope of the space, I find the clergy here to conduct a ceremony that feels especially warm and personal. With family and friends congregated, we photographed their vows and then finished up with some family photos at the altar before heading back to New York Athletic Club.

Rainbow Room Wedding : Morgan & Shawn : New York, NY

Morgan & Shawn were married on a lovely summer afternoon in New York City at The Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center.

There’s something about the Rainbow Room. Perched high above everything with the Empire State Building not just in view but seemingly a guest at the party, I can’t think of any other place that gives this “gala” feel quite the same way. This wedding was a study in iconic NYC locations with getting ready at the Lotte New York Palace, a ceremony at the stunning St Ignatius of Loyola, portraits in Central Park and then of course the reception at the penthouse of Rock Center. I was joined by my colleagues of Frank Ahn Films to document this day which enjoyed the likes of LLG Events, House of Flowers, Ron Ben-Israel Cakes and Soulsystem Orchestra to make it a one of a kind evening.

TriBeCa Rooftop Wedding : Hillary & Ryan : New York, NY

A Summer Wedding at TriBeCa Rooftop in New York, NY

Hillary & Ryan were married on a bright summer afternoon surrounded by the awe inspiring skyline of lower Manhattan. The daughter of a dance studio owner, Hillary married a Broadway dancer and this set the stage (literally lol) for one of the most spirited dance floors I've photographed!

After getting ready at the Soho Grande Hotel, these two had a first look on the roof at the venue before their ceremony. The wedding was decorated spectacularly by Fern Botanica adorning every square inch with their amazing floral design. The deconstructed arch was super cool and added a modern nudge to the typical ceremony setup.

A common thread throughout the day was the close father/daughter relationship between Hillary and her dad. Just another element that made this event a joy to photograph. I remember the time just flying by. My job is especially fulfilling when you have the opportunity to capture so many organic moments and that was definitely the sense I had that day.

Photography: Brian Hatton
Venue: TriBeCa Rooftop
Cake: Audrey's Fine Baked Goods
Florist: Fern Botanica
Hair: Rachel McCants
Makeup: Steve Schepis
Officiant: Ramone Owens
Lighting: A/V Workshop
Band: Cafe Wha
Wedding Gown: Morilee
Rings: Susie B Jewelry
Groom's Attire: Suit Supply

Metropolitan Club Wedding : Allison & Ethan : New York, NY

A Winter Wedding at The Metropolitan Club in New York, NY

Allison & Ethan were married on the day of the biggest snowstorm in the NYC area this year which I am certain was nerve wracking - but by the time the ceremony began the sidewalks had been cleared and they had a full compliment of guests. The gold metal certainly goes to Allison who braved truly frigid temperatures and snowy conditions in a wedding dress to take some photos outside.

Allison made some amazing choices in decor with vivid color and tons of candlelight which set the tone for a stunning evening. I love how it gave a fun, energetic vibe to the stately and elegant club off Central Park. The party really ratcheted up a notch after the cake had been cut as Sticky's Finger Joint, Katz's Delicatessen and Chip City Cookies set up to offer a quintessential NYC food hall. Lit batons passed around the dance floor as the band drove an amazing experience for the guests. My second shooter and I remarked how this would be an amazing party to attend ourselves. That's how you know we're having fun.

Photographer: Brian Hatton Photography

Cinematographer: Frank Ahn Films

Rabbi: Rachel Ain, Sutton Place Synagogue

Florist: Forever in Bloom

Cake: Lulus

Lighting: Frost Lighting

Band: Brooklyn Sound, Hank Lane

Hair & Makeup: FaceTime Beauty

Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier

Bride's Shoes: Jimmy Choo

Jewelry: Nuha Jewelers

Groom's Attire: Enzo Custom

Crystal Plaza Wedding : Kristen & Cory : Livingston, NJ

A Wedding at the Crystal Plaza in Livingston, NJ

Kristen & Cory were married on a gorgeous summer afternoon at the Crystal Plaza, a distinctive venue in suburban NJ which just underwent major renovations. This was my first time in the building since it was updated and I was shocked to see the new ceremony space which is literally like standing inside a crystal. Running the length of the room along the ceiling is essentially an inverted runway which bathes the room in light. What used to be the ceremony space is now the largest bridal getting ready suite I've perhaps ever witnessed. There's no better place for a large bridal party to get ready.

One of the quintessential ingredients of a NJ or Long Island venue is the manicured outdoor garden space for photos and I'd say Crystal Plaza pulls this off in the least "marble columns" type of way. It's elegant and has many nooks and crannies that give photographers the ability to shoot it creatively in different ways. Sometimes you show up at these places and they're just the one option and angle - but that's absolutely not the case here.

Alongside my longtime videography colleagues "15 Minutes of Frame", we photographed Kristen in the glorious bridal suite as she put on her Justin Alexander gown and then met Cory for a first look. Before long, Chevy Chevis Entertainment was warming up the room with music and guests started to stream in.

Photos: Brian Hatton Photography
Venue: Crystal Plaza
Florist: Dalsimer Spitz & Peck
Hair: Marissa Molnar
Makeup: Jenielle Jensen
Video: 15 Minutes of Frame
Wedding Gown: Justin Alexander
Band: Chevy Chevis Entertainment