1/11/18 1/11/18

Brooklyn Botanic Garden Wedding : Ayana & Chris : Brooklyn, NY

St Mark Episcopal Wedding Brian Hatton Photogarphy

Ayana and Chris were married on October 27^th, with a ceremony at the Church of St. Mark’s Episcopal and a reception at the Palm House at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

I started out the day with Ayana at the Nu Hotel as she got ready before the first look. There was a great spirit in the room already, so I knew I was in for a fun day. It wasn’t long before we made our way to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden for the first look and portraits, where we met up with Christopher. I always love shooting around the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, especially around the staircase that seems to lead up into the sky.

From there, we made our way to the beautiful Church of St. Mark’s Episcopal for a rousing ceremony, filled with laughter and well-wishes. The intimacy of the space created a tight community atmosphere, and the colorful sermon had everyone excited and responsive, which is always fun to photograph. This was definitely my favorite part of the whole day.

When we got to the Palm House for the reception, I was stunned by all of the renovations they’d made! The space has a clean, airy feel with all of the new fixtures, carpets, and walls. And the dance floor lit up immediately with Caribbean music, highlighting the background of the bride and groom.

Of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the fact that this wedding allowed me to work with some of my favorite people in the area. Christine & Tara from Exquisite Affairs Productions split up to manage the flow of the day and make sure we all made it on time to the church. And John and the team from First Day Films are always easy to work with; I’ve had the pleasure of doing weddings with them for years.

Thank you, Ayana & Christopher for having me as part of your wedding day. I can't wait to put together your beautiful album!

St Mark Episcopal Wedding Brian Hatton Photogarphy

Vendors

Planner: Exquisite Affairs Productions

Caterer: Patina Restaurant Group at BBG

Cake: Patina

Stationary: Type and Love Paperie

Florist: Atlas Floral Decorators

Hair & Makeup: Mia Farah Beautique

DJ: DJ Trauma

Videography: First Day Films

Transportation: Silver Star, Brownin & Luxor

8/10/17 8/10/17

Liberty Warehouse : Carly & Jeff : New York, NY

Liberty Warehouse Brooklyn NY Wedding Brian Hatton Photography

Carly and Jeff were married on June 4th, with a ceremony and reception at Liberty Warehouse.

At the beginning of the day, Carly and Jeff got ready at the boutique hotel, 1Hotel Brooklyn Bridge. This amazing new property on the waterfront overlooks Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge. In addition to its large suites with tons of natural light, the hotel has plenty of spaces perfect for wedding photography. We were able to take some stellar first look pictures out on the roof deck overlooking the city.

The first look was my favorite part of the whole day. Jeff was so excited to see Carly, and this was one of the most stunning spots I’d seen in a while. We had so much fun exploring the venue and taking portraits afterward. It was the perfect way to start their big day.

After we had our fill of the 1Hotel, we made our way to the industrial, former port, neighborhood of Red Hook, where Liberty Warehouse is located. Once again, this was a perfect wedding venue choice. This was the third time in a month that I had been to Liberty Warehouse, and I have loved shooting there every time. It’s so close to the water, and it has beautiful, sweeping views of the Statue of Liberty.

The décor also added a fresh vibe to the industrial space, while still keeping some of that urban feel. I particularly liked the large, lit, metal “LOVE” sign.

Carly and Jeff held their cocktail hour at sunset before they entered the reception like true champions, showing everyone this was not going to be a low-key evening. And, true to form, they had one of most fun dance floors I had ever seen. Everyone was absolutely going for it, with a constant surge of energy from the large bridal party and groups of family and friends. Navigating through the crowd to take pictures was a challenge, but it was so much fun. The fun and action happening around me provided constant opportunity to capture unique moments. Thank you, Carly & Jeff, for letting me be a part of your super fun, grand wedding in Brooklyn!

Vendors:

Cake: Caked Up! Cafe, NYCFlorist: Stefan's Florist NY Stationary: Belle FiguraHair: Erica WrightMakeup: Dunique WonderlandOfficiant: Rabbi Greg WeitzmanLighting: PegasusBand: Hank Lane, Michael Hart BandWedding Dress: AmsaleBride's Shoes: Jimmy ChooBridesmaids Dresses: AmsaleRings: Esthers JewelryGroom's Attire: Beckenstein Bespoke

6/29/17 6/29/17

Brooklyn Botanic Garden Wedding : Beth & Courtney : Brooklyn, NY

Beth & Courtney were married on May 27th, with a ceremony and reception at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden & Palm House in Brooklyn, NY. This year, it just so happened that I was at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden for an engagement session and a couple weddings over the course of May. It's pretty amazing how the gardens evolve over that period of time! Late in May for Beth & Courtney's wedding, the foliage was a deep, vibrant green and the color pops right out of the images. Beth & Courtney got ready together at the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge where I caught the tail end of Beth's prep. Courtney took advantage of the Palm House's brand new bridal suite to put on her Oscar de la Renta gown. Once Courtney was dressed, we ventured in to the gardens for a first look and some portraits before guests began to arrive. Fortunately, the Botanic Garden provides a golf cart to get around so we were able to visit some of their notable spots. This was the first time I photographed a ceremony in this particular location on the grounds and I think it might be my favorite! An enormous shade tree frames the ceremony area and the guests are flanked on either side by even more greenery. It's really a perfect, idyllic spot for a wedding. Following the reception, guests gathered outside the Palm House for what I think is one of the best parts of having your wedding here - the outdoor cocktail hour. Courtney & Beth's guests were a spirited group, including some mutual friends of my own! There was no shortage of excitement as the brides entered the Palm House for their reception. This was one of my favorite moments of the day, followed closely by their first dance. As the sun came down, a soft blue glow filtered down through the glass ceiling as their loved ones gave toasts. There are a handful of venues across the City of New York that make you forget where you are - and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden is one of them. If you live in the city, you really should make a point to visit the garden every season to observe all the changes. Many thanks to the brides for including me - it was a pleasure photographing your engagement photos in DUMBO and tying it all up with the wedding!

6/21/17 6/21/17

Liberty Warehouse Wedding: Allison and Alex: Brooklyn, NYC

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!