May 31 2013

Michelle & Dan’s Wedding at Lyndhurst Mansion

All I can say is WOW! What a gorgeous wedding this was, such a joy to shoot! The weather cooperated beautifully and everything fell right into place for the day that Michelle and Dan so thoughtfully planned for guests to enjoy their amazing venue, The Lyndhurst Mansion in Tarrytown, NY! We started the day shooting getting ready shots with Michelle and Dan separately and then bringing them together behind the mansion for their first look. I had scouted the grounds upon arriving and picked out a handful of beautiful spots so I walked them around and made couple portraits with them until it was time to meet up with their wedding party, whom we did some really fun group portraits with (though no photoshopping of dinosaurs, though this group was so fun I bet they would have been up for it if I had had this idea myself!) before breaking into the family group shots. One highlight for me was taking the wedding party underneath this huge tree canopy– it felt like a secret cave or something, though you wouldn’t know from the pictures how hidden this spot was from the outside of the trees… After signing their Ketubah the couple had their ceremony in a beautiful rose garden, and then went with their guests to the cocktail hour on the veranda around the side and back of the Mansion. For the reception we moved to a pretty tented area complete with a fantastic band and dance floor, and these guests didn’t waste any time getting into the groove. I swear one of their ringbearers is going to be a professional dancer one day, he was totally amazing. I was especially moved by the toasts at this reception. Toward the end of the night Michelle surprised Dan with a groom’s cake based on a meal from Shake Shack, site of their first date and one of their favorite places to eat. After cutting the cake they gave a beautiful thank you speech that had a slew of folks tearing up. As always I loved capturing the emotions. I was so honored to shoot this beautiful wedding and I wish Michelle & Dan all the happiness in the world!