Brian Hatton 9/2/23 Brian Hatton 9/2/23

Central Park Boathouse Wedding : Olivia & Daryoush : New York, NY

It’s back. Olivia & Daryoush were wed at the iconic and elegant Loeb Boathouse in the heart of Central Park. Closed for a time, the Central Park Boathouse is under new management and I cannot wait to get back to shooting in what I call, my office. Although ultimately the bride and groom were lucky to be graced with a picture perfect day, I felt like the lucky one with the kind of scene setting weather that wedding photographers cross their fingers for every weekend.

The day began at the luxurious Park Lane Hotel located just across from the park on 59th Street. I arrived as hair & makeup were making their final touches and Olivia was preparing for the first of the first looks of the day… with her dad. I love when dads light up and Olivia’s father most certainly did. The moments kept rolling as we brought Olivia to Daryoush for his first look followed by some photos on the street in front of a vintage taxi courtesy of Film Cars. It’s pretty fun when you’re taking photos and each image that flashes through the viewfinder looks like it’s from a magazine.

As it tends to do, time slipped away and I switched gears from my role directing the photo session to disappearing into the event as guests began entering the front gate of the boathouse.

Behind every fantastic wedding is a superb team of vendors and this wedding certainly followed suit:

Event Design: The Bride
Photography: Brian Hatton
Cinema: Frank Ahn Films
Wedding Gown: Monique Lhuillier
Bride’s Shoes: Stuart Weitzman
Groom’s Attire: Suit Supply
Bridesmaids’ Dresses: BHLDN
Rings: Spring Lake Jewelers
Cake: A Simple Cake
Day of Planner: Exquisite Affairs Productions
Florist: Eros Flowers
Stationary: Binvited
Hair: Salon Yoshiko (Kenji Ishimoto) Bergdorf Goodman
Makeup: Alexa Rae Makeup
Officiant: Louis Olivieri
Band: Elegant Music Group - Neon Transit
Transportation: Film Cars & NY Trolley Company

11/2/18 11/2/18

Central Park Boathouse Wedding : Paris & Nick : New York, NY

Paris & Nick were married in late Summer holding their wedding ceremony and reception at the Loeb Boathouse in Central Park.The boathouse has become to many one of the most iconic of NYC venues. You’re quite literally in the center of the park and all of Manhattan. Paris & Nick selected the equally notable Lotte New York Palace to get ready in and it really set the tone for the rest of the day. You’ll see I was particularly inspired with this couple to incorporate a lot of black and white giving them a sleek New York feel.

Photographer: Brian Hatton

Event Planner: Modern Kicks

Beauty: Maria Seccia & Glam Squad

Cake: Magnolia Bakery

Ice Cream Truck: Mister Softee

Cinema: Now As One Films

Band: 45 Riots

Florals: Lenox Hill

Photo Booth: Shake & Share Media

Chuppah: Chuppah Studio

Transportation: Top Class Limousine

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

5/3/17 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