Brooklyn Botanic Wedding : Palm House : Brooklyn, NY
Scoring a wedding date at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens coinciding with the cherry blossom bloom period takes some serious planning! Margaretta & Jeff nailed it with a beautiful Spring wedding starting with getting ready at the always stunning 1Hotel Brooklyn Bridge and photos in Brooklyn Bridge Park. A wedding filled with such joy and a gorgeous venue literally photographs itself!
Photography: Brian Hatton
Caterer: Patina Events
Florist: Designs by Ahn
Hair: Amy Klewitz
Officiant: Father Thomas Brosnan
Lighting: Universal Light & Sound
Band: 74 Events
Videography: Well Spun Weddings
Transportation: M&V Limo, NY Trolley
Wedding Gown: Kleinfeld
Bride's Shoes: Jimmy Choo
Bridesmaids Dresses: Wtoo
Rings: Lauren B Jewelry
Brooklyn Botanic Garden Wedding : Ayana & Chris : Brooklyn, NY
Ayana and Chris were married on October 27th, 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!
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
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! 
Brooklyn Botanic Garden Wedding : Lena and David : Brooklyn, NY
Lena and David were married on May 6th, with a ceremony and reception at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. The day started out with a bang as Lena got ready at the Box House Hotel in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. She’d had to change her “getting ready” venue at the last minute, because the original hotel had flooded out the day before! I’m glad it all worked out, though, and the new venue perfectly complemented her and her stunning pair of gold and black titanium micro pavé wedding rings. We moved from there to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden so that Lena could finish getting dressed in their brand new bridal suite. The renovations—new carpets, walls, and chandelier—make a huge difference, and I loved photographing the new space. Once Lena was ready, we staged a first look and headed to the Cherry Esplanade. The iconic rows of cherry blossom trees had just dropped their blossoms a few days earlier, leaving the ground decorated in a soft pink. The whole first look was simply striking, in a sea of blooming purple. I found a spot in the distance to get low and capture a big, wide shot of the scene. As we headed back to the venue for the ceremony, I saw some of the guests coming in with large-brimmed hats and other Kentucky Derby-themed attire. After all, it was Derby Day, so Lena and David had encouraged their guests to dress the part. The ceremony itself took place outside under a beautiful chuppah as the sun came down and a guitar/cello duo, NY Ceremony Music, set the mood. My favorite image of the day was right at the end of the ceremony—when Lena and David gave each other a high five. That moment right after they are married is often when I get some of my most genuine expressions of the day. From there, it was off to the reception back inside the Palm House. They had a unique setup, with various themed food stations—an Asian food cart, Provencal cuisine, Moroccan food, and more. I love it when couples do something different for a nice change of pace like that! As a surprise to the guests, the Three Waiters blended in as catering staff—only to break out into operatic song to serenade the room! A number of ladies made no secret of their delight for these gentlemen when that happened. Once the dancing got started, I was pleasantly surprised by the crazy moves I was seeing out on the dance floor. It’s not often I see guests trying to disrobe the groom! LOL David was cool with it, though— amazing. It was clear these friends have a ton of fun together. This was yet another wedding courtesy of Exquisite Affairs Productions. We collaborate several times per year, and Christine, Tara, and Janine make my job so much easier as they keep all the moving parts together and pull out an awesome party for everyone involved. David & Lena, thank you for the chance to photograph your Brooklyn Botanic Garden wedding. You brought a totally different vibe to the classic gardens, like being at a fun dinner party, and I loved your unique spin on everything. Congratulations to both of you!
Vendors:
Catering: Patina Group Event Planners: Exquisite Affairs Productions Hair & Makeup: Sachiko Yanese Video: First Day Films DJ: 74 Evemts Florist: Rebecca Shepherd Photobooth: We Love Photobooths Transportation: Luxor Limo Buses: Brownin Transportation
