Central Park Elopement : Ivan and Martina : New York, NY
Ivan and Martina eloped on September 20th at Central Park. I shoot a couple elopements every year, and it’s always so much fun to be part of the intimate feeling of the day! Martina and Ivan flew in from Montenegro with just a couple of their best friends to be witnesses. We started at a rented apartment in NoHo to prepare for capturing pictures around New York surrounded by its culture, tall buildings, and the iconic Central Park. I’m a big fan of renting an Airbnb or One Fine Stay for getting-ready photos because they often have so much more space than what hotels can offer and often cost significantly less money! If you can, find a place with large windows for natural light and plenty of room. After I arrived, a limousine pulled up and whisked us uptown to the West Side of Central park for their ceremony in the Ladies Pavilion, a unique little spot tucked away next to the lake which you can access from Central Park West near the Natural History Museum. It’s one of the spots in Central Park you have to make prior arrangements to use, but it’s worth it! To add to the New York flavor of the day, we got out of the limo a little early and took a pedicab the rest of the way. In my 15 years here, I’ve never ridden in one before, and I ended up loving the image of them rolling along as I rode behind! The weather was perfect as we arrived at the pavilion for the ceremony, and Ivan and Martina enjoyed a beautiful moment together to the cheers of onlooking New Yorkers. That was by far my favorite part of the day. For as stylish and cool as Ivan and Martina come across, they turned into butter for their vows! Because this was a last-minute elopement booking, I was totally surprised to see my buddy, Kaipo, from 15 Minutes of Frame, filming the ceremony as I rolled up. I was also startled to see two talented people I went to music school with, playing as we approached the Pavilion! You’d think I’d see people I know more often with as many weddings as I shoot, but it’s always a surprise when I do. After the ceremony, we walked around looking for opportunities to get some pictures around NYC. It’s always fun for me because people from overseas especially want to feature the city itself as prominently as possible in their pictures. I always try to give them an insider’s look of New York—not just Times Square or the Statue of Liberty but side streets far South of Midtown or casual strolls on the Upper West Side. I feel so honored when a couple comes to New York to elope and chooses me out of a sea of possibilities to photograph their wedding. Often, these photos of their NYC vows accompany them back to a more traditional party at home, so I know just how much of an impact the images will be when received by their family and friends who weren’t able to be there. Thank you, Ivan & Martina, for letting me be part of this amazing day! I hope you will always remember your adventures in New York!
