Mandarin Oriental Wedding : Lidia & Anthony : New York, NY
Lidia and Anthony were married on September 26th, with their wedding ceremony and reception at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York City. Anthony is a real estate developer, and he and Lidia got together when she was considering getting an apartment in one of his properties. He got wind of just who was coming by for a showing and insisted on giving the tour himself! The rest is history. The whole day took place at the Mandarin Oriental overlooking Columbus Circle in Manhattan. I love shooting in this spectacular space every year, not only for all the service and luxury of a 5-star hotel but also the unparalleled views from the ballroom and bridal suite. I got a shot of the room before everything was set up, and the transformation was amazing. Before the ceremony itself, Lidia and Anthony opted to do a first look just outside in the circle, and then we all hopped in Sprinter vans to head out for pictures at Lincoln Center. Then it was back to the Mandarin Oriental for the ceremony overlooking Central Park as the sun went down. They were surrounded by flowers and glamorous décor by Tantawan Bloom. I’ve loved them since I first worked with them at the Plaza Hotel! They even had differing but complementary bouquets for each of the bridesmaids. The whole day was simply filled with fine details and stunning visuals. The invitations were especially gorgeous, with each guest receiving a silk-covered bifold imprinted with gold leaf. After the ceremony, it was off to the party, where the name of the game was funny toasts. There was a running theme of everyone being hard on the groom because of the age gap, and I loved the picture of Lidia and Anthony sitting at the sweetheart table reacting to all the teasing. Anthony & Lidia, thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of your stunning vision! Your wedding was nothing short of beautiful, and I’m so grateful to have been part of it.
University Club Wedding : Syd & Adam : New York, NY
Syd and Adam were married on December 11th, with a ceremony and reception atThe University Clubin New York City.I arrived a few hours early for this event because I had no idea what was going to go down with all the nearby commotion surrounding a certain someone. Trump Tower is just a few blocks away, and right outside of the windows, we could see the first of the major protests marching down 5th Ave. Nevertheless, Syd was remarkably unfazed by the whole thing, and since all the guests made it to the club on time, we were able to proceed without a bit of interference thanks to the help of Polka Dot Events! In fact, we even ran out into the street for a picture with the protestors. There were plans to go to Central Park for portraits, but with all the activity outside, we decided to stay inside instead. That worked to our advantage with the classic New York touches in the University Club, which was erected in 1899 and has one of the most beautiful ballrooms in the city. But of course, we had to take a few portraits outside with their dog… arguably the most important guest of the night. The ceremony itself was especially beautiful, with romantic lighting and a moody old-world NYC feeling. I especially liked the epically-sized bouquet and the Chuppah from Xylem & Phloem. From there, it was time to party. The best part of the night was the toasts,because you could see the love they had for each other. Indeed my favorite image of the day was when Adam was glacing over at Syd as they listened to their loved ones gush. With all the formalities of the wedding now behind them, these were some of the first momentsthey had to relax and enjoy each other's company. 15 Minutes of Frame was the cinematographer for this event and with as many weddings as we shot with them this past year, we can predict each others' next move. It’s always fun, and easy, to work with Kaipo and the gang! Thank you, Syd & Adam,for entrusting me with documenting your day in such a beautiful space. I wish you both nothing but happiness. Congratulations!
Vendors:
Event Planner: Polka Dot Events
Cake: Mini Melanie
Florist: Xylem & Phloem
Stationary: Suite Paperie
Makeup and Hair: Vensette & Glamsquad
Band: Love Revival Orchestra
Lighting: SNS Staging & Lighting
Videography: 15 Minutes of Frame
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
