6/24/18 6/24/18

Central Park Boathouse Wedding : Ally & Danny : New York, NY

Ally & Danny held their Spring wedding ceremony and reception at the Loeb Central Park Boathouse in New York, NY.If you happened to be following my blog last year, you might have seen Ally & Danny's engagement session in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. While the vibe of Williamsburg and Central Park are pretty different, I really wanted to tie both sessions together and give them a contemporary feel for the wedding as well - even on a rainy day in the park.Starting at The Parker Hotel (formerly Le Parker Meridien), we were lucky to be able to use the rooftop for their first look. The overcast sky actually helped out, keeping the light soft and flattering no matter where you turn. It's crazy how much building there has been recently along Central Park South. The skyline had changed substantially since I was last on The Parker's roof a couple years ago! With skyscrapers towering all around us it was a great place to highlight the two of them in the city.I semi-jokingly call Central Park my "office" with frequent visits to the Boathouse and vicinity for weddings and engagement sessions. The iconic 72nd St traverse of the park is just perfect with the unique architectural and natural elements that couldn't be anything but Central Park. The romance of this part of the park is what makes the Boathouse a major draw for many couples. You're whisked away from the city despite being literally in the very center of it.With a great band and end of the night bites from Valducci's Pizza, Ally & Danny's wedding was great fun for everyone, including me.

Florist: Lenox Hill FloristCake: Butterfly BakeshopBand: Live Music ProsVideography: Wellspun WeddingsWedding Dress: Reem AcraGroom's Attire: Knot Standard

5/31/17 5/31/17

Central Park Boathouse Wedding : Gillian & Cameron : New York, NY

Gillian and Cameron were married at Church of the Blessed Sacrament, followed by a reception at the Loeb Boathouse in Central Park. We got ready at the Nylo Hotel on Manhattan’s Upper West Side neighborhood, just a few blocks from the church. All that was required was a quick Uber ride off to the hidden gem that is the Church of the Blessed Sacrament. After the ceremony and some portraits at the altar, Gillian and Cameron took a tour with me of some of New York’s most iconic sites before we headed uptown. They were such good sports to go through the city even though the weather was inclement, and I think it was absolutely worth it. Taking couples out in to the streets of New York City is perhaps one of the biggest pluses of having your wedding here. Tourists feel like they’ve hit gold when they spot newlyweds out and about and make sure to treat the bride and groom like celebrities. Native New Yorkers, on the other hand, see couples all the time and let us do our thing -- never complaining if I need someone to move a little bit for a shot. While we were out, we visited Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center. If you’re visiting NYC, the roof deck is the place to be for the amazing views of the Empire State Building and the 1 World Trade Center (Freedom Tower). My favorite image of the night was up inside the Observation Deck. There’s something magical about that view, and I love how the picture window framed them up so nicely. We took a quick taxi ride to Times Square, then a ride on the Q train on the new 2^nd Avenue Line to the Upper East Side, taking a quick detour for a gondola ride right up to the Loeb Boathouse in Central Park, where 45 Riots was on hand to keep the dance floor packed non-stop. Out on the dance floor, Gillian and Cameron owned their first dance. Brides and grooms will often spice things up, but their tango took the cake. I felt like I was watching Dancing with the Stars! Gillian & Cameron, thank you for letting me be part of your day, and thank you especially for being such good sports about shooting outside despite the weather. It was wonderful to be able to showcase you in our wonderful city.

Church of the Blessed Sacrament Wedding, Brian Hatton Photography

Vendors

Cake: Cake AlchemyFlorist: Cress FlowersStationary: Bella Figura Hair: Emily CarcaramoMakeup: Michelle SternBand: 45 RiotsWedding Dress: LazaroBride's Shoes: Jimmy ChooRings: Weber GoldsmithGroom's Attire: The Black Tux

5/3/17 5/3/17

Central Park Boathouse Wedding : Kelli and Matt : New York, NY

Central Park Boathouse Wedding, Brian Hatton Photography

Kelli and Matt were married on March 31^st, with a ceremony at St. Ignatius Loyola and a reception at Central Park Boathouse.

I was particularly excited about this wedding because it is the first wedding of the season for me—and at one of my favorite venues! I’d spent the winter doing a bit of traveling and catching up on blogging, as well as shooting a few corporate assignments, so I was ready to get back into weddings. Stay tuned, because we’re going to be visiting amazing locations all across the tri-state area, and I’m so excited about this coming year! To get more updates, feel free to follow me on Instagram.

I started out at the Carlyle Hotel as Kelli and Matt were getting ready. This exclusive and classic New York City property is just steps away from Central Park, and it really is a sight to see. If you’ve been to the art deco Bemelman’s Bar with its 24-karat gold-covered ceilings, you’ve been to the Carlyle. It was the perfect place to stage a first look—right inside Kelli’s suite—and to grab a few pictures in the lobby and out front with the vintage taxi cab.

We headed to the grand Church of St. Ignatius Loyala on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. A wedding at this particular venue is one that guests never forget, with its limestone edifice, towering organ pipes, and Gothic design. The whole thing was completed in 1900 and is simply covered in European and African marbles, the perfect backdrop for family pictures at the altar.

From there, as we were on our way to the Central Park Boathouse to party the night away, I captured my favorite image of the day: Kelli and Matt exiting the church in the rain, walking down the steps toward their taxi with an umbrella. I love it, because it tells the story of their whole day in a single image: showing a bit of the church architecture, playing up the black-tie vibe, and including the vintage New York City taxi out front.

I know people want to have beautiful weather on their wedding day, but there is something especially romantic about a rainy New York City wedding. Between the vintage taxi and black umbrella, there is a certain mood that I love to capture, and I truly can’t get enough of the black and white that really sums up the classic feeling of the weather. Of course, the rain also led us to take pictures that we wouldn’t usually go for as we found ways to utilize the venue outside of the norm. Kelli and Matt took to it instantly, and we got some beautiful images.

When we got to the party after the ceremony, the folks from Red Hook Lobster Pound in Brooklyn had brought their truck to Central Park and were putting together the fresh, Maine-caught lobster rolls as everyone danced inside. There really is nothing your guests (and photographer) want more at the end of a long day than to step outside for a buttery roll filled to the brim with lobster!

Thank you, Kelli & Matt, for asking me to be part of your amazing wedding! Thanks also to Joan Schecher of Setting the Scene Wedding and Event Planning. I recently worked with Joan at Tarrytown House Estate, and this was yet another beautiful, seamless wedding with her!

Central Park Boathouse Wedding, Brian Hatton Photography