8/23/17 8/23/17

Restaurant Daniel Wedding : JoAnn and Tim : New York City

Christ Church New York City Wedding Brian Hatton Photography

JoAnn and Tim were married on July 22^nd, with a ceremony at Christ Church and a reception at Daniel.

JoAnn and Tim got ready at Le Parker Meridien on 56^th Street in Manhattan. They had a beautiful room overlooking Central Park, which was only 3 blocks away. That made it for us to have a first look in the hotel and then walk over to the park for some portraits.

The wedding itself was in the morning, and while it was an early start to the day, I fully enjoyed the chance to get out around Central Park in the early hours. The park was almost completely empty, which was such a luxury. It was so much easier to choose spots for pictures without having to work around a crowd.

The ceremony was held in the chapel at Christ Church, which is one of the few United Methodist churches in NYC. The sanctuary here was beautiful, with rich hues echoing some of the more ornate Greek Orthodox churches in New York. Add to that the flowers and ceremony décor provided by Designs by Ahn, and it was simply stunning. The flowers perfectly complemented the clean, airy, classic feeling of the day.

I really enjoyed the intimacy of their ceremony, with JoAnn’s brother singing—to the great delight of their nieces and nephews. I think you can tell they were enjoying themselves by the pictures.

After some family photos at the church, we made our way to the renowned restaurant, Daniel, which closed down just for the reception. The benefits of holding a wedding at a Michelin-starred restaurant are numerous, with the exceptional service and delectable cuisine at the top of the list. The same servers setting out slices of wedding cake would be pouring 30-year-old bottles of rare champagne at the next dinner service. And with its beautiful décor and elegant ambiance, Daniel is a perfect choice for a reception.

JoAnn & Tim, I loved photographing your beautiful ceremony and reception, and I wish you the best!

Christ Church New York City Wedding Brian Hatton Photography

Vendors

Ceremony Florist: Designs by Ahn

Reception Florist: L'Olivier Floral Atelier

Stationary: Chez la Mariée

Hair: Weejae Joung

Wedding Dress: Martina Liana

Bride's Shoes: Stuart Weitzman

Veil: Bhldn

Groom's Attire: Suit Supply

8/10/17 8/10/17

Liberty Warehouse : Carly & Jeff : New York, NY

Liberty Warehouse Brooklyn NY Wedding Brian Hatton Photography

Carly and Jeff were married on June 4th, with a ceremony and reception at Liberty Warehouse.

At the beginning of the day, Carly and Jeff got ready at the boutique hotel, 1Hotel Brooklyn Bridge. This amazing new property on the waterfront overlooks Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge. In addition to its large suites with tons of natural light, the hotel has plenty of spaces perfect for wedding photography. We were able to take some stellar first look pictures out on the roof deck overlooking the city.

The first look was my favorite part of the whole day. Jeff was so excited to see Carly, and this was one of the most stunning spots I’d seen in a while. We had so much fun exploring the venue and taking portraits afterward. It was the perfect way to start their big day.

After we had our fill of the 1Hotel, we made our way to the industrial, former port, neighborhood of Red Hook, where Liberty Warehouse is located. Once again, this was a perfect wedding venue choice. This was the third time in a month that I had been to Liberty Warehouse, and I have loved shooting there every time. It’s so close to the water, and it has beautiful, sweeping views of the Statue of Liberty.

The décor also added a fresh vibe to the industrial space, while still keeping some of that urban feel. I particularly liked the large, lit, metal “LOVE” sign.

Carly and Jeff held their cocktail hour at sunset before they entered the reception like true champions, showing everyone this was not going to be a low-key evening. And, true to form, they had one of most fun dance floors I had ever seen. Everyone was absolutely going for it, with a constant surge of energy from the large bridal party and groups of family and friends. Navigating through the crowd to take pictures was a challenge, but it was so much fun. The fun and action happening around me provided constant opportunity to capture unique moments. Thank you, Carly & Jeff, for letting me be a part of your super fun, grand wedding in Brooklyn!

Vendors:

Cake: Caked Up! Cafe, NYCFlorist: Stefan's Florist NY Stationary: Belle FiguraHair: Erica WrightMakeup: Dunique WonderlandOfficiant: Rabbi Greg WeitzmanLighting: PegasusBand: Hank Lane, Michael Hart BandWedding Dress: AmsaleBride's Shoes: Jimmy ChooBridesmaids Dresses: AmsaleRings: Esthers JewelryGroom's Attire: Beckenstein Bespoke

8/2/17 8/2/17

Lotte New York Palace Wedding : Amanda & Frank : New York, NY

New New York Palace Wedding NYC Brian Hatton Photography Wedding Photographer Amanda and Frank were married on July 1^st in a ceremony at the Church of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Franklin Lakes, N.J., with a reception following at Lotte New York Palace. I had been Amanda and Frank’s engagement photographer prior to the wedding, and loved their unique session at the Jane Hotel in the Meatpacking District. So, I knew this wedding was going to be just as amazing, and a true pleasure to photograph. At the beginning of the day, Amanda got ready at her parents’ home, while Frank was at the Sheraton Mahwah in New Jersey, just a short drive away from the church. Tropical decorations in the “elegant Cuban” theme filled the church. One of my favorite images of the whole day was when Amanda was waiting at the front door of her home and the vintage Rolls Royce rolled up. Some weddings lend themselves beautifully to black and white, and this wedding was one of them—I truly enjoyed how much the wedding came alive in these images. I loved how personal the ceremony was, with its roots reaching back all the way to how these two met in high school. Their principal from their high school days is now the priest at the church where they were married. That was just one of the many reasons they held the ceremony in New Jersey at Amanda’s home parish. The couple truly wanted to pay homage to their families and beginnings. Mother Nature kept us on our toes all day, with the rains coming and going. But, as the ceremony ended, the skies cleared for us and we made our way to New York City in a vintage Rolls Royce where we took photos in Central Park. From there, we headed to the New York Palace Hotel, where we went straight to the rooftop to take advantage of the expansive city views. I love working at the New York Palace because it offers the classic feel of a historic New York venue, with the balance of a modern-feeling hotel upstairs. I also love the feeling of the outdoor space and the grandeur of St. Patrick’s Cathedral towering over us right across the street. At the reception, the band, Cubanoson, lit up the dance floor immediately with clave, which set the tone for a really fun evening of toasts and dancing. The cake was also a highlight, made by Ron Ben Israel, who you may recognize from the Food Network show “Sweet Genius.” Many cakes are decorated with live flowers, but not many cakes are topped with a stunning bouquet of flowers made entirely from sugar—and made entirely by hand as well. To cap off the night of fun, we went to the historic and beautiful courtyard of the New York Palace and sent off the happy couple with sparklers. Frank & Amanda, I have loved being your photographer, not only for this wedding but for your engagement session. You two both truly know how to have fun, and I’ve loved being swept up in the excitement with you!

Vendors:

Cake: Ron Ben Israel

Planner: Polka Dot Events

Wedding Dress: Vera Wang

Bridesmaids Dresses: Monique Lhuillier

Groom's Attire: Ralph Lauren

Band: Cubanoson

7/26/17 7/26/17

Coney Island Engagement : Isabelle & Jonathan : Brooklyn, NY

Coney Island New York City Engagement Brian Hatton Photography

I met up with Isabelle and Jonathan on July 10th for an engagement session out on Coney Island one windy, blustery afternoon. I want to give my couples the best possible weather for the engagement session. So, if it happens to be raining on the date we choose, I'm more than happy to reschedule. That was the case with Jonathan and Isabelle—this was the second date we aimed for. I’m glad we waited, because it was a beautiful July afternoon. The wind does present its own challenges when it comes to keeping hair under control, but some of my favorite images actually came from the times we were able to take advantage of this. I particularly liked the pictures of the two of them out by the pier as the sun went down. The serenity and soft colors that the late sky offers are such a nice complement to the horizon over the ocean. It's been a few years since I shot an engagement session out by Luna Park and its iconic Cyclone rollercoaster. It was so easy to get caught back up in the fun, positive energy of the park as families enjoyed the late afternoon by the beach. Coney Island is also a place of personal significance for Jonathan and Isabelle, since they live close by. I love when my couples have an added connection to their venues and locations. We began by walking along the boardwalk, past the famous Nathan’s Hotdogs. Then, we strolled through the amusement park and stopped to play some carnival games and hang out near some iconic attractions. Overall, the relaxed setting set the tone for the whole session, and we ended up having a blast while getting some great photographs. Jonathan & Isabelle, I'm looking forward to photographing your upcoming wedding and had a great time exploring Coney Island with you!

7/19/17 7/19/17

Sunset Terrace Wedding : Lindsay & Kolby : New York, NY

Sunset Terrace Wedding Church of St Francis Xavier NewYork New York Wedding Photographer Brian Hatton Photography Lindsay and Kolby were married on May 27^th, with a ceremony at the Church of St. Francis Xavier and a reception at the Sunset Terrace Wedding at Chelsea Piers NYC. Both the bride and groom got ready at the Renaissance New York Midtown Hotel, and I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the venue. This unassuming hotel is set on a side street behind Penn Station and had spacious rooms with tons of light, not to mention the beautifully-designed lobby where we had free range for our photographs. I love hidden gems like this. We staged a first look before heading over to Gramercy Park for their portraits. During this time, I could really see how genuine and fun Lindsay and Kolby are—and so expressive. They share a love of the higher echelons of both academics and faith, and that passion carried over into everything they did in preparation for their ceremony and beyond. Kolby’s sister is a minister herself, so they were lucky enough to have her officiate over their beautiful ceremony. This personal touch made the ceremony that much more intimate, and it truly showed the love everyone present had for these two. We made our way to Chelsea Piers for the reception under a dramatic and rapidly changing sky, and to this day, I am convinced that the groom must have called in some kind of heavenly favor for their reception. As Kolby got up to give his speech, the sun descended into such a spot that only he and Lindsay, who was across the room, were illuminated—at the precise moment that he started to gush about her. I doubt anyone else in the room even noticed, but as a photographer, I was having a moment! I’ve seen a lot of weddings at the Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers, and that’s certainly the venue that most people have heard of. But the Sunset Terrace is a lesser-known gem that I adore. With elevated, panoramic views of the Hudson River and the ability to open the doors in the entire space, you feel one with the outside. It is a perfect, peaceful alternative for weddings that don’t need to accommodate too much space for 200 guests. Lindsay & Kolby, being a part of your New York City wedding was a delight. I loved being part of your celebrations as you both singlehandedly kept up the most amazing energy, nonstop, all night long. I wish you all the best.