1/11/18 1/11/18

Brooklyn Botanic Garden Wedding : Ayana & Chris : Brooklyn, NY

St Mark Episcopal Wedding Brian Hatton Photogarphy

Ayana and Chris were married on October 27^th, with a ceremony at the Church of St. Mark’s Episcopal and a reception at the Palm House at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

I started out the day with Ayana at the Nu Hotel as she got ready before the first look. There was a great spirit in the room already, so I knew I was in for a fun day. It wasn’t long before we made our way to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden for the first look and portraits, where we met up with Christopher. I always love shooting around the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, especially around the staircase that seems to lead up into the sky.

From there, we made our way to the beautiful Church of St. Mark’s Episcopal for a rousing ceremony, filled with laughter and well-wishes. The intimacy of the space created a tight community atmosphere, and the colorful sermon had everyone excited and responsive, which is always fun to photograph. This was definitely my favorite part of the whole day.

When we got to the Palm House for the reception, I was stunned by all of the renovations they’d made! The space has a clean, airy feel with all of the new fixtures, carpets, and walls. And the dance floor lit up immediately with Caribbean music, highlighting the background of the bride and groom.

Of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the fact that this wedding allowed me to work with some of my favorite people in the area. Christine & Tara from Exquisite Affairs Productions split up to manage the flow of the day and make sure we all made it on time to the church. And John and the team from First Day Films are always easy to work with; I’ve had the pleasure of doing weddings with them for years.

Thank you, Ayana & Christopher for having me as part of your wedding day. I can't wait to put together your beautiful album!

St Mark Episcopal Wedding Brian Hatton Photogarphy

Vendors

Planner: Exquisite Affairs Productions

Caterer: Patina Restaurant Group at BBG

Cake: Patina

Stationary: Type and Love Paperie

Florist: Atlas Floral Decorators

Hair & Makeup: Mia Farah Beautique

DJ: DJ Trauma

Videography: First Day Films

Transportation: Silver Star, Brownin & Luxor

11/29/17 11/29/17

Studio 450 Wedding : Isabelle & Jonathan : New York, NY

studio 450 loft wedding brian hatton photography

Isabelle and Jonathan were married on October 13^th, with a ceremony and reception at Studio 450.

After photographing their engagement session at Coney Island, when I arrived at the Dream Hotel in Midtown to do some getting ready pictures for Isabelle, I was so excited to see them tie the knot. Jon was getting ready at the Kimpton Ink48 nearby. Both venues have a modern vibe that perfectly fit their sensibilities.

Their first look location was a first for me: the James A. Farley Post Office Building, right across from Penn Station. I loved this idea of Isabelle’s not only because it was centrally located between the hotels and the venue but because it was a totally unique place for a first look. The columns added a dramatic flair and it was easy to forget we were standing in the middle of New York City.

A short walk later, we were at Studio 450 for a rooftop ceremony surrounded by the skyscrapers of Manhattan with the Empire State Building in view. This is one of my favorite venues. Between the rooftop view and the wraparound windows, you can see that stunning horizon from anywhere inside as the sun goes down. It’s also totally unassuming—you’d never know just walking down the street that one of the coolest NYC loft wedding venues is upstairs.

After a traditional Chinese tea ceremony to honor family members, it was time for hilarious speeches, dancing, and plenty of fun all around. I was particularly entertained by the fact that Isabelle and Jonathan had given their dog free rein throughout the night! He’d run around, say hello to some guests, and then plop down right on top of Isabelle’s dress while she danced. It was hilarious. LOL

I also had the pleasure of running into some musicians that I went to school with 10 years ago. Bianchi Musica Productions is a professional ensemble that reads music from iPads, so there’s no fumbling around with paper music, which was perfect to keep the focus on Isabelle and Jonathan during their ceremony. I can’t believe it took over 500 weddings to run in to a few people I know! I have to give Blue Smoke Catering a shout too because they added the perfect personal touch to the reception. What’s better than getting married and then chowing down on your favorite BBQ comfort food?

Jon & Isabelle, I thoroughly enjoyed documenting your story, from engagement to wedding. Thank you for trusting me with these important moments in your lives!

studio 450 loft wedding brian hatton photography

Vendors:

Caterer: Blue Smoke

Cake: Ovenly

Florist: Rachel Cho

Makeup & Hair: NY Bridal Beauty

DJ: Scratch Weddings

Wedding Dress: Karen Willis Holmes

Bride's Shoes: Jimmy Choo

Groom's Attire: The Black Tux

Ceremony Music: Bianchi Musica

11/16/17 11/16/17

Mandarin Oriental New York Wedding : Stacy & Stan : New York, NY

Stacy and Stan were married on October 7^th, with a ceremony and reception at the Mandarin Oriental New York.

The great thing about a wedding in a space like the Mandarin Oriental is that everything takes place on-site, and the facilities are gorgeous throughout. With an amazing space to work with, and with Andrea Freeman’s team keeping the day on track and stress-free, I was amazed at how beautiful this wedding was—in the main events and behind the scenes as well.

Stacy got ready in one of the spacious suites, while Stan got ready on another floor. Even though there was a lot of activity and plenty of people getting ready, we managed to slow down and keep one side clean so we could get some final “getting ready” images of Stacy in the wraparound light. The floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Central Park truly make for some stunning bridal pictures.

From there, we made our way to the hotel terrace for a first look, with the buildings of the Time Warner Center towering around us. The bridal party joined us as we made our way across the street to Central Park for some portraits before we headed back to the Mandarin for the ceremony itself.

Normally, the curtains are raised for ceremonies at the Mandarin, but I really liked the moody feel they created by keeping them lowered. It drew attention to the ceremony itself, not the surroundings. Of course, that just meant everyone had a perfect view of Stan’s reaction coming down the aisle at the end of the ceremony. You could tell he was excited and ready to celebrate—it was my favorite moment of the whole day.

I think the real heart of the day was the reception. Stacy and Stan and their families were in their element, and everyone in the room took part in the celebrations. It was high energy, nonstop.

At some weddings, the different sides of the event more or less keep to themselves—but not so with this reception. Here, everyone became one. Work friends, old friends, Russian family, Korean family—everyone was not only out on the dance floor but dancing around with each other. I especially loved to see the connection made between their siblings, with lots of love flowing both ways.

Stan & Stacy, thank you for trusting me to capture your wedding day. It was amazing to be part of such a wonderful celebration of joy and love.

mandarin oriental new york wedding brian hatton photo

Vendors:

Planning: Andrea Freeman Events

Cake: Fancy Cakes

Florist: Ariston Flowers

Stationary: East Six

Makeup: Kimara Ahnert

Officiant: Corey Kennedy

Lighting: Fusion Productions

Band: Kevin Osborne at Hank Lane

Videography: Clark Walter Studio

Wedding Dress: Wedding Salon of Manhasset

Bride's Shoes: Jimmy Choo

Groom's Suit: Enzo Custom

11/11/17 11/11/17

Oheka Castle Wedding : Nichole & Michael : Huntington, NY

oheka castle wedding brian hatton photo

Nichole and Michael were married on September 30^th, with a ceremony and reception at the Oheka Castle in Huntington, New York. I was particularly honored to be chosen for this wedding, because Michael is a photographer himself, and whenever a fellow creative trusts me to capture these important moments, I take that trust seriously. And it turned out to be the perfect match of a couple, a venue, and the weather, too. Even though rain is one of those things that no one really wants on their wedding day, to say that the clouds passing over Oheka that day were dramatic would be an understatement. They added a whole new dimension to the famous castle that perfectly suited Michael, since he loves landscapes and travel. As the clouds rolled in, Nichole got ready in the bridal suite, while Michael and the guys put on the final touches downstairs. Nichole looked stunning in her Monique Lhuillier wedding gown—elegant and soft, complementing the atmosphere of the wedding perfectly. Just as we set up our first look, almost on cue, the rain came to a stop, and we were able to go outside. I tend to tread lightly in situations like this, because I completely understand if a bride isn’t up for being outside in her dress moments after a storm has passed, but Nichole didn’t even flinch as we marched outside onto the wet grounds for some amazing photos all the same. Soon after that, the guests began to arrive for the ceremony, and once again, the skies parted just enough for this moment. The sun shone through, illuminating Nichole and almost nothing else as she stood with Michael during the ceremony. Those pictures are not altered—that’s what it really looked like. After the ceremony ended, I couldn’t help but steal Nichole and Michael for a few more photos as the drama in the sky continued to unfold. One of my favorite photos of the whole day was the one of the two of them as Nichole’s veil blew in the wind. I loved how clean and smooth this looks in black and white, with the action of the veil completing the look. Now that I’d sated my dramatic photographer needs, it was time for the reception. The speeches were touching, and there was plenty of laughter and good times to go around. I was even thrilled to see that a former couple of mine got out on the dance floor. Nichole & Michael, I had so much fun shooting for you. I look forward to following your travels through the years to come on Instagram! oheka castle wedding brian hatton photo

Vendors:

Florist: Flowers by Brian

Stationary: Ceci New York, Bella Figura, EAST SIX

Hair & Makeup: VickyC5

Lighting: Ambient Events

Band: Hank Lane Music

Cinema: 15 Minutes of Frame

Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier

Bride's Shoes: Jimmy Choo

Bridesmaids Dresses: Amsale

Groom's Attire: Sebastien Grey Clothiers

Strings: Highline String Quartet

Photobooth: Sweet Booths

10/25/17 10/25/17

Glen Oaks Club Wedding : Hailey & David : Old Westbury, NY

Glen Oaks Club Wedding Brian Hatton Photo

Hailey and David were married on September 9th, with a ceremony and reception at the Glen Oaks Club in Old Westbury, NY.

These two were referred to me by a former bride of mine, Katharine Gray, who has also referred many of her other friends. As a wedding photographer, it’s the nicest compliment to know that she appreciates my work and trusts me with her friends’ pictures. And, of course, I sincerely appreciate it.

I met up with Hailey in the locker room of the beautiful Glen Oaks Club after she had gotten her hair done at a local salon. There, she got her makeup done and got into her dress, while David was nearby getting ready at the Viana Hotel in Westbury. We staged a first look on the golf course, followed by some photos with the bridal party on the back patio of the club before going inside for some family pictures.

The Glen Oaks golf course is one of the heralded treasures of the area. In fact, while we were taking pictures for the wedding, we saw preparations getting underway throughout the grounds for an upcoming US Open. It was a warm, familiar space for Hailey, too, because many people in her family are longtime members of the club.

The sunlight was just beginning to dim when we finished with our pictures, which set the stage for the ceremony, beautifully decorated by Atlas Florals. The stunning chuppah was just a preview of what was to come, as the ballroom was absolutely overflowing with flowers. It took three full days to load everything in and set up—with great emphasis on the jaw-dropping ceiling arrangement.

I really enjoyed photographing Hailey & David's ceremony. Cantor Schwartz brought some beautiful, glistening qualities to the wedding that had some excited guests in the back on their feet with delight. And yet they never lost that intimate feeling during the ceremony—which is especially impressive when you have a room full of a couple hundred other people.

Thank you, Hailey & David, for allowing me to be part of your love story. It was a pleasure to come to your home for your engagement session, and I enjoyed photographing your spirited, absolutely beautiful wedding.