7/27/21 7/27/21

Wythe Hotel Wedding : Hilary & Andrew : Brooklyn, NY

A wedding at the Wythe Hotel in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

Hilary and Andrew were married in an intimate summer wedding at Wythe Hotel, a gorgeous boutique property in Williamsburg. In fact, I believe it was one of the first of such hotels in Brooklyn. Its warm brick facade invites you in from the street while its stunning bi-level penthouse suites open up to sweeping views of the neighborhood as well as all of Manhattan. I love the way the outdoor event space at ground level feels almost like an indoor space since it's nearly entirely enclosed - yet you feel an actual breeze. Pretty cool. I'd say that it makes you feel almost like you're on the patio of someone's home rather than at a hotel. And, the food from Le Crocodile is amazing. Win win.

As this was a small wedding with less than 40 guests, I photographed this alone and got to spend a few minutes with Andrew as he finished his prep before heading up to Hilary's room. It was nice to get settled with him and his family before the day really got rolling. Both he and Hilary were pretty much squared away once I got started so getting ready flew by in a second before it was time to queue up for a first look on the roof. The bright afternoon sun was a true reflection of the overall mood of the day and made for a perfect setting for the bride and groom to see each other for the first time.

The great thing about the Wythe's location is that you really don't have to venture far at all to get some great street scenes for portraits. We took a tour of a one-block radius and then head inside to the stunning floral design by Bride & Blossom which framed the ceremony. The evening hummed along perfectly thanks to the great staff at the hotel and the guidance of Brittany Ward of Modern Rebel. I hadn't worked with Brittany before but it was great to get to know her as she kept things calm and collected for Hilary and Andrew.

As we get back into the swing of things here in 2021, I'm excited to share this wedding which is uncharacteristically one of the first of the year!

Photography: Brian Hatton
Event Planning: Brittany Ward, Modern Rebel
Venue & Catering: Wythe Hotel
Florist: Bride & Blossom
Stationery: Shine Wedding Invitations
Hair: White Rose Collective - Halie Kellagher
Makeup: Alexa Rae
Wedding Dress: Suzanne Neville
Bride's Shoes: Ted Baker
Groom's Tux: Armani

8/16/18 8/16/18

William Vale Wedding : Fay & Tom : Brooklyn, NY

Fay & Tom were married June 30, 2018 holding their wedding ceremony and reception at The William Vale hotel in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. When I first saw The William Vale I knew it'd be a great fit both for the bride & groom and for me. Clean lines, a grand placement overlooking Williamsburg, and sweeping views of Manhattan make this a truly stunning location for an event. I was indeed even more lucky to have a couple like Fay & Tom whose personal style took the venue to new heights. From the lighting of the ballroom, to decor choices throughout and the wise idea to skip the first look and take advantage of the pretty evening light, they put on a spectacular event for everyone.

Faymous ProductionsEvent Planning: Bjorn & CoFlority: Ivie Joy FlowersStationary: Go Go SnapHair: Katie GellMakeup: Kornelja SlunjskiOfficiant: Dr. Edward GreenyBand: Sound SocietyCinematography: Andreo StudioWedding Dress: Ersa AtelierBride's Shoes: Jimmy ChooBridesmaids' Dresses: Vera WangRings: Jordan Klein JewelryGroom's Attire: Craig Mack RobinsonLighting: NYC Wedding Lighting

5/10/17 5/10/17

Saint Jean Baptiste Catholic Church Wedding : Jessica and Kwame : New York, NY

Jessica and Kwame were married on April 8^th, with a ceremony at Saint Jean Baptiste Catholic Church in New York City and a reception at Giando on the Water in Brooklyn. I was particularly touched that Jessica had asked me to be her wedding photographer, because she has been the event director for years at one of my favorite wedding venues: Studio Square in Long Island City. With a job like that, she has to meet scores and scores of photographers, so I was honored that of everyone, she chose me for her own wedding. When I first met Jessica and Kwame, I instantly felt like a longtime friend. These two simply exude joy and love for everyone around them, and based on what everyone who spoke at their wedding said, my experience wasn’t unique, either—they are just like this. On the day of the wedding, Jessica got ready at Le Parker Meridien in Midtown Manhattan overlooking Central Park, while Kwame was with his family and best man nearby at the Renaissance New York Hotel 57. When Jessica was ready, she emerged in her dress to the cheers of a couple dozen members of her family, who had arrived to greet her and wish her well before they headed to the ceremony. As we rolled up in the Rolls Royce with Jessica and her father, I was taken aback by Saint Jean Baptiste, the ceremony location. The bright afternoon sun was hitting the venue in just the perfect way, showing off a stunning façade that looked like it was plucked out of Europe and dropped in New York City. I had never been to the striking church before, and I’ll never forget the special feeling of the place. Jessica and Kwame had opted not to have a first look, which is fairly typical of Catholic weddings. This is due in part to tradition, but it’s also a matter of the simple fact that most Masses are relatively early, which leaves ample time for pictures and other activities before cocktail hour. Whatever the case, I’m glad that they waited, because the moment Kwame saw Jessica walking down the aisle was so emotional and beautiful to capture. I wasn’t the only one who thought that moment was amazing. It was pretty cool to see tons of guests photographing Jessica walking down the aisle like a queen. There’s a trend toward more “unplugged” ceremonies recently, and I do think that’s appropriate for the more intimate weddings, but the excitement of all the guests wanting to get their own piece of the moment was too fun! After the ceremony, Jessica and Kwame moved over to Central Park with the bridal party and their families for portraits. The sun was low on the horizon, so it was the perfect time to be there for some stunning portraits. While we were shooting portraits, the guests had all been shuttled to Giando’s on the Water for cocktails, nestled on the Williamsburg waterfront with a commanding view of the Manhattan skyline. We made the trip over to Brooklyn with Jessica and Kwame for the reception—and I knew as soon as I saw MA Entertainment setting up an extensive system of moving lights above the dance floor that things were about to get really exciting. I wasn’t disappointed. As soon as the bridal party was introduced, there was an explosion of energy on the dance floor like almost nothing I have ever seen before. It went on for hours until I was done for the night, and I could still feel the music in my bones from the SIX enormous subwoofers the DJ brought long after I went home. In all that dancing and excitement, I was able to capture my favorite image of the day: just a glimpse of Jessica and Kwame dancing together with their friends. Even though most of the day is spent with the bride and groom front and center, I love it when I get the chance to show off a couple totally wrapped up in a moment and unaware of the photographer hiding nearby. Throughout the day, I also loved working with McKenzie Miller Films. McKenzie’s work is beautiful, yes, but she is also super professional and easy to work with, especially because she just understands the rhythm of the day—which makes teaming up with her nearly effortless! Be sure to check out her highlights film from this wedding here: http://mckenziemillerfilms.com/jessica-kwame/ Jessica & Kwame, thank you for asking me to be your wedding photographer! It was a true privilege to document the personalities that surround you as well as to experience the truth warmth and love that you pour out on all your friends and family. Saint Jean Baptiste Catholic-Church New York City Wedding Brian Hatton Photography Giando’s on the Water New York Wedding Recption Brian Hatton Photography