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
Williamsburg Engagement Session : Ally & Danny : Brooklyn, New York
I met up with Ally and Danny on October 18th for an engagement session in Williamsburg in Brooklyn, New York.
One of the greatest things about photographing engagement sessions in New York City is the wide variety of locations available. In this case, Ally and Danny wanted a completely different feeling from their upcoming wedding at the Central Park Boathouse in the spring. So, for their engagement session, the neighborhood of Williamsburg brought a totally distinct vibe.
We met up at the new Williams Vale Hotel, where we shot upstairs in the bar, relaxed, grabbed drinks, and looked around for interesting picture opportunities while the late afternoon sun streamed in. You never know what kind of things might pop up—like a photo op waiting for an elevator.
The hotel’s landscaped deck was one flight up from the street and was the perfect place to hang out and grab some Master Dips for a mid-session bite before we ventured out into the neighborhood. It was the perfect opportunity to find some quiet and for Ally and Danny to take a moment to get comfortable without a bunch of people around.
As the light began to dissipate, we wandered past the Wythe Hotel, looking for interesting backdrops. It was such a nice fall afternoon, and we were able to watch the sun go down at East River State Park in great moods after such a productive session.
One of the reasons I like to shoot so late in the day is that the light keeps changing, creating different moods as we go along. It doesn’t take a lot of time to get unique and varied looks. I especially love that, as we get up to the edge of how much light we’re able to shoot in, the session takes on a quiet, intimate feeling, perfect for engagement shoots.
I’m always busy in the fall with engagement sessions—I think I photographed four this week—but it’s my favorite season of the year. I love the chance to get to know my couples before their upcoming wedding and to give them some more casual pictures for save the dates, wedding websites, and invitations.
Danny & Ally, thank you for asking me to be your engagement photographer. I truly enjoyed spending the evening out with you.
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