Brian Hatton 9/26/22 Brian Hatton 9/26/22

Westhampton Country Club Wedding : Allie & Lisa : Westhampton, NY

Lisa & Allie were married in June on the East End of Long Island at the lovely Westhampton Country Club. I seem to make it to The Hamptons or The North Fork at least once every year for a wedding and I really enjoy the change of pace.

With Allie at her family’s home and Lisa in an amazing nearby Airbnb, they got ready with their cherished friends and family before we head to Westhampton Beach for a first look. The fantastic Hamptons wedding planner Claire Bean knows Allie’s family intimately having arranged numerous events for them and was an indispensable part of making this day as perfect as it was. The beach was pretty quiet that day thankfully so we had the run of the place capturing portraits of the ladies, bridal party and their families. Once we made it to the ceremony, the rest of the day was just about being part of a great party. The sun was dancing in and out of the clouds while we were at the beach which gave us a lot of variety. The cloud cover makes for soft flattering images no matter what you do while the direct sun livens and adds tons of depth.

Moving over to the country club, Allie & Lisa’s dads gave their toasts mid ceremony which was a fun twist and personalized what can sometimes be a typical matter of going through the paces to get married. The golf course was a wide expansive setting for both the ceremony and cocktails and guests were free to drift under cover or out onto the green as they enjoyed a cocktail and bite to eat before settling down for the reception.

45 Riots was at the bandstand that night which always means a good time and they really turned up the heat. But nothing compared to the moment Lisa took the stage and performed a number with the band as confetti was thrust over the dance floor. Truly an amazing moment to be a part of! It can be bittersweet to reach the end of the night after spending months chatting with a couple, photographing their engagement session and then capturing the main event and that certainly was the case here. Congrats to the bride and bride!

5/29/18 5/29/18

Park Hyatt Wedding : Peter & Chris : New York, NY

Peter & Chris were married April 21 at the Park Hyatt in New York City. On a perfect Spring day, I had the pleasure of capturing one of the most fun, lively weddings in one of my favorite venues in the city. It was a very New York guest list full of artists and Tony winners, with high energy entertainment that kept people on the dance floor throughout the night. Starting in one of the hotel's beautiful suites, we captured the grooms as they got ready with friends and family. Popping Ruinart champagne, everyone was having fun and I knew the day would fly by. Peter & Chris enjoyed a first look in the lobby before we went out on to the street to take some photos with the city and Carnegie Hall as a backdrop. When a couple has been together a long time like these two gentlemen, it's not his friends and his friends, but their friends. You could really sense that in the room as they said their vows surrounded by the towering illuminated onyx walls of the Park Hyatt's ballroom. Belle Fleur's Spring green and white decor perfectly complimented the space while Sugar Lane Band from Hank Lane got everyone in the festive spirit.

Cake: Ron Ben IsraelFlorist: Belle FleurStationary: MintedGrooms' Attire: Giorgio ArmaniBand: Sugar Lane Band/Hank LaneRings: Tiffany

6/29/17 6/29/17

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!

10/21/14 10/21/14

The Pierre Hotel Wedding : 20 Years in the Making : New York, NY

6/19/12 6/19/12

The Plaza Hotel Wedding : Jay & Tony : New York, NY

Jay & Tony's wedding was the very first same sex wedding at The Plaza Hotel, New York City's iconic centerpiece at the base of Central Park and Fifth Avenue. Food Network star and master chef Ron Ben Israel personally presented a wedding cake. Platinum recording star Donna Lewis sang her hit "I Love You Always Forever" for the first dance. And most notably, the wedding was generously supporting and bringing awareness to the organization "It Gets Better" which assists struggling LGBT youth.

As excited as I was to capture all of these things, I was reminded upon entering the dressing room that like any wedding I would be telling a heartfelt story of family and new beginnings. Over the course of these images you will get to know our grooms, their families, and two children.

The tireless efforts of an all star cast of vendors and artists made this an overwhelming success. Check them out!.. they are the best at what they do:

Emily Reifel - manager for special events at The Plaza Hotel

Tantawan Bloom - floral design & event decor

Bentley Meeker - lighting design

Ron Ben Israel - wedding cake

Donna Lewis - recording artist

John Taylor - announcer/voice artist

NY Filmworks - cinematographers