River Cafe Wedding : Ashley & Ben : Brooklyn, NY
Ashley & Ben were married on May 13th, with a ceremony and reception at the River Café in Brooklyn, New York photographed by Brian Hatton Photography. I started off the day at the stylish new 1Hotel Brooklyn Bridge. I love shooting here because of all the backdrops and textures available for photography. Also, it’s not often that I get to experience a completely new property here in NYC! With its industrial, modern design, as well as its living walls and amazing rooftop, this hotel has instantly become a go-to “getting ready” spot for weddings in the Brooklyn Bridge Park area. Once Ashley was ready, we staged a first look at the hotel under the covered entryway, then hopped in an Uber to head around DUMBO for photos near Jane’s Carousel and under the Manhattan Bridge. Even though it was raining, the bride and groom were both good sports and ready to try anything. So, we kept right on—they had an umbrella, and I had fully-weather sealed cameras. I might have gotten a little wet, but we were good to go! Besides, I always find New York to be romantic in the rain. Their ceremony took place under the tent at the River Café with the Brooklyn Bridge towering above. One of my favorite moments was at the very end, once Ashley and Ben were married, when Ben threw his fist in the air to the cheers of their guests. He was too excited to hold his emotions in. That set the tone for the fun reception filled with off-the-cuff toasts and a no-holds-barred dance floor. Throughout the entire day, I enjoyed the opportunity to photograph every single person there. That is one of my favorite parts of shooting small weddings: every single person in attendance was important to Ashley and Ben, so I had a great time pursuing each moment and expression to capture those personal interactions. Ben caught some light-spirited flack from his best man over his new vegan lifestyle (thanks to his bride). But the River Café provided a beautiful dish to accommodate those meal preferences—one of the many benefits of having a wedding at a Michelin-starred restaurant. Of course, I must praise the talented ladies of Exquisite Affairs Productions once again. No matter how big or small the wedding, having an extra hand to help with the dress and move family around with an eye on the schedule goes a long way. This was two weekends in a row with these amazing women, and I love every second of that partnership. Thank you, Ben & Ashley, for having me photograph your intimate day. Congratulations to you both!
Vendors:
Wedding Planner: Exquisite Affairs ProductionsFlorist: OpaliaBand: Elan Artists
Bowery Hotel Wedding : Carolyn and Jonathan : New York, NY
Carolyn and Jonathan were married on November 18th, with a ceremony at the famous Daniel restaurant and a reception at the Bowery Hotel. It’s amazing being a wedding photographer in New York because there are so many different ways to throw a truly personalized event, and I seem to see them all! This particular wedding was unique because it was spread out over two days so that they could give attention to the ceremony with their closest friends and family and then spend the next evening dancing all night with literally every person they know. On day one, Carolyn got ready at the Bowery Hotel before traveling to the Upper East Side. The ceremony was held with just the bridal party and family in the private dining space at the 2-Michelin-Star Daniel restaurant. The space was intimate and dimly lit casting a romantic feeling as they read their vows. Carolyn’s 90-year-old grandma served as the flower girl, and her excitement just after the ceremony was adorable, exuberant, and contagious! We took a few pictures after the ceremony just out front and on Park Ave before Carolyn and Jonathan, itching to get back to the event, went back inside for toasts and dinner. On day two, we met up for a few more portraits inside the moody, character-filled Bowery Hotel. I loved having that extra time to focus on photography before 350 people showed up for the extended cocktail party and dancing. Carolyn and Jonathan made their grand entrance through the crowd of guests, and I stood on the stage to get an elevated view so I could capture that moment. After they arrived, video played of the previous day’s ceremony before the dancing truly began. Since the wedding really does fly by in a whirlwind, it was an emotional moment for the couple and their family to witness their ceremony just the day after thanks to a quick same-day edit. I have to shout out to the band, Vali. It’s by far one of the best in the NYC area, and I have been recommending them since I first heard them several years ago. Vali’s musicians are active independently of the band and bring this wealth of experience to wedding performances—and as someone with two conservatory degrees in music, I really appreciate that! Jonathan & Carolyn, thank you for letting me be a part of your unique days! Yours was a very New York wedding, and I love how you made this event wholly your own!
Vendors
Band: Vali
Wedding Dress: Pronovias
Bride's Shoes: Manolo Blahnik
Bridesmaids Dresses: Reformation
Groom's Attire: Polo Ralph Lauren
Gramercy Tavern Wedding : Andrew & Kenneth : New York, NY
I love Gramercy Tavern. A New York institution originally co-founded in 1994 by Top Chef's Tom Colicchio along with Danny Meyer, it represents the steadfast epitome of new American cuisine in a city where restaurants come and go before you know it. When Andrew & Kenneth asked me to come and photograph their wedding with a handful of friends and family, I was thrilled. They snuck their wedding in between lunch and dinner service when the dining room would otherwise have been unoccupied and reaped the benefits of Michelin star cooking moments after saying "I do".
Check out Private Dining at Gramercy Tavern
Sneak Peek : Daniel & Mandy : A Voce Madison & Gramercy Park Hotel, New York, NY
My favorite moments at weddings, by far, are the ones that could happen any day.
