8/2/17 8/2/17

Lotte New York Palace Wedding : Amanda & Frank : New York, NY

New New York Palace Wedding NYC Brian Hatton Photography Wedding Photographer Amanda and Frank were married on July 1^st in a ceremony at the Church of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Franklin Lakes, N.J., with a reception following at Lotte New York Palace. I had been Amanda and Frank’s engagement photographer prior to the wedding, and loved their unique session at the Jane Hotel in the Meatpacking District. So, I knew this wedding was going to be just as amazing, and a true pleasure to photograph. At the beginning of the day, Amanda got ready at her parents’ home, while Frank was at the Sheraton Mahwah in New Jersey, just a short drive away from the church. Tropical decorations in the “elegant Cuban” theme filled the church. One of my favorite images of the whole day was when Amanda was waiting at the front door of her home and the vintage Rolls Royce rolled up. Some weddings lend themselves beautifully to black and white, and this wedding was one of them—I truly enjoyed how much the wedding came alive in these images. I loved how personal the ceremony was, with its roots reaching back all the way to how these two met in high school. Their principal from their high school days is now the priest at the church where they were married. That was just one of the many reasons they held the ceremony in New Jersey at Amanda’s home parish. The couple truly wanted to pay homage to their families and beginnings. Mother Nature kept us on our toes all day, with the rains coming and going. But, as the ceremony ended, the skies cleared for us and we made our way to New York City in a vintage Rolls Royce where we took photos in Central Park. From there, we headed to the New York Palace Hotel, where we went straight to the rooftop to take advantage of the expansive city views. I love working at the New York Palace because it offers the classic feel of a historic New York venue, with the balance of a modern-feeling hotel upstairs. I also love the feeling of the outdoor space and the grandeur of St. Patrick’s Cathedral towering over us right across the street. At the reception, the band, Cubanoson, lit up the dance floor immediately with clave, which set the tone for a really fun evening of toasts and dancing. The cake was also a highlight, made by Ron Ben Israel, who you may recognize from the Food Network show “Sweet Genius.” Many cakes are decorated with live flowers, but not many cakes are topped with a stunning bouquet of flowers made entirely from sugar—and made entirely by hand as well. To cap off the night of fun, we went to the historic and beautiful courtyard of the New York Palace and sent off the happy couple with sparklers. Frank & Amanda, I have loved being your photographer, not only for this wedding but for your engagement session. You two both truly know how to have fun, and I’ve loved being swept up in the excitement with you!