Stacy & Wayne’s wedding at Pleasantdale Chateau

This intimate wedding was so sweet to capture– Stacy was tearing up before we even got to the sunlit greenhouse hallway where she was to have her first look with Wayne. When he turned around and came to embrace her she sobbed such sweet tears of joy and he wiped them away for her and held her sweetly. Nobody likes rain on their wedding day but I knew Stacy and Wayne were particularly enamored with the exteriors of the venue, so I kept peeking outside to see if the misty rain had cleared up yet. Luckily the venue itself was quite lovely and expansive– so even though we didn’t get much time with them outside I was able to get some portraits in the pretty natural light of the plant-filled greenhouse, as well as a handful of other portraits I knew they’d love at various spots in the beautiful spaces we found there. After capturing the couple alone together and then with their wedding party and family groups, Stacy went up to the bridal suite to change into a long red gown she had chosen to wear for a traditional tea ceremony with their parents. Wayne got a 2nd “first look” with this dress as she came down the stairs, and they exchanged meaningful blessings with their parents in the privacy of a small elegant room as they served them tea and gracefully received wedding gifts in the traditional red envelopes. Right after the tea ceremony I noticed that the rain was much lighter (though still lightly sprinkling)– I suggested we step outside with one of my white shooting umbrellas and the couple was game! We quickly made some pictures with them outdoors and then it was back upstairs to change back into the white wedding dress as guests began arriving for the main ceremony with Father Jack Ryan. Much of the ceremony was translated so that guests from abroad could follow the events, but I dont’t think you’d need to know english to feel the emotions that came through in their wonderful vows to one another. After an relaxing cocktail hour where family and friends reconnected, Stacy and Wayne and their guests were invited into an elegant dining room for dinner and dancing. Everyone was delighted by the Tango they had learned for their first dance, and we were treated to a series of toasts that celebrated the couple’s history, accomplishments, and love for one another. Stacy and Wayne capped off the evening by cutting their wedding cake and giving a speech of thanks to their family and friends who had come to support them as they made their commitment to marriage. These two are off to a wonderful start– congratulations to Stacy and Wayne!

Vendor Information:
Wedding gown: Pronovias
Bride’s shoes: Nine west
Hair & Makeup: Jam’s Studio
Groom’s suit/tux:  Tom Ford
Officiant: Father Jack Ryan
Invitation Design:  Vera Wang
Floral Design: Flowerful Events
Rings: Tiffany

Mindy & Samuel’s Wedding at Indian Trail Club

Mindy and Sam have a great story– they met on a soup bus serving the poor and found they shared the same passion to love those who need it the most.  I was honored to document their beautiful marriage at Cornerstone Church in New Jersey on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in April.  From the excitement in Sam’s eyes as he got ready with his groomsmen to the tears that sprang from Mindy’s as she read a surprise letter from her groom, there couldn’t have been more sweetness between these two.  I started the day with the men at the venue and then headed to the church to a small room where the bride and her bridesmaids were putting the final touches on before the ceremony.  Mindy opted to wait and let Sam see her in her dress for the first time as she walked down the aisle toward him— always a romantic moment!  They have such a strong church community, the ceremony was very moving and full of song.  At one point Sam and Mindy were surrounded by their pastors and spiritual mentors, all laying hands on them to pray for their union.  There is no doubt this couple will have a world of support from their community as their journey unfolds!  After a round of family photos in the front of the church we made our way to Indian Trail Club and shot some portraits of the couple down by the water during cocktail hour.  After the reception kicked off with a sweet performance of ‘Blackbird’ by the bride’s brother on acoustic guitar, I was able to sneak them out again quickly around sunset when the sky was getting really pretty.  I just love this shot of them under a tree with the twilight sky over the lake behind them.  Another highlight was a surprise video presentation that had been made with sweet messages of congratulations from all the children that Mindy has taught over her years of service at her church’s Sunday school!  Mindy and Sam, you two are a match made in heaven and I couldn’t have been more delighted to capture this wonderful celebration!

VENDOR CREDITS
Getting Ready Location: Cornerstone
Church: Joy Church
Reception Venue:  Indian Trail ClubDebbie Pagerie
Wedding gown: Pronovias
Bride’s shoes:  Jimmy Choo
Hair & Makeup: Christie Lee Makeup
Bridesmaid dresses: Jenny Yoo NYC
Groom’s suit/tux: Menguin
Invitation Design:  Linda Park
Floral Design:  Peonia Atelier
Music: The Pros

Sally & Neil’s Wedding at The Paper Factory Hotel

Sally and Neil were married on a Saturday at The Paper Factory Hotel, a hip boutique hotel that used to be an actual paper factory.  Neil is an art director and novelist and Sally is an editor, so the fact that the venue has used books as a primary component of the decor was perfect for them!  As the day began it was clear that there would be rain, but of course I knew the hotel lobby and the reception space below their restaurant, Mundo, would provide a variety of cool looking options for my portraits of the couple, the wedding party, and family groups.  I went upstairs to shoot Sally’s preparation and she was freshly back from having her hair done at a nearby salon.  For the first look we brought the couple to a pretty sunlit room near the lobby that housed a fooseball table, and then I got to have fun shooting them in the cool spaces of the hotel– there was even a gorgeous red phonebooth, check it out!  And how could I resist using this amazing column of books in the stairwell of Mundo?  The ceremony that followed was a sweet Jewish ceremony, and the couple signed their Ketubah under the Chuppah with all the guests witnessing.  Afterwards I took a few minutes to shoot them signing their marriage certificate and got the opportunity to make a few portraits of them with the beautiful night sky and manhattan in the background–you wouldn’t know it but the just married portraits were shot inside their hotel room.  My favorite moment from this intimate celebration with close family and friends was the impromptu Hora dance complete with the couple being lifted on chairs.  Congratulations to Sally & Neil!

Vendor Details
Event Design & Day-of Coordination: Beauty and the Details
Wedding gown: J. Crew
Bride’s shoes:  Seychelles
Invitation Design: Neil Swaab (Neil Swaab, the groom, also designed the favor stickers.)
Floral Design:  fLorEsta
Catering: Mundo New York
Ketubah:  Susie Lubell
Bride Headpiece:  Halo, Justin & Taylor
Wedding Cake: Baked
Chuppah: Chuppah Studio

Alex & James’ Engagement Portraits in Central Park

Alex & James are to be married next month up at Fort Tryon Park and New Leaf, a wonderful restaurant I had the pleasure of shooting Laura & Joel’s wedding at not long ago. For their engagement session they selected Central Park, an ever-popular location that I never tire of! I was especially excited to shoot there this Sunday, as our wacky April winter-weather was finally lifting a bit, and the flowers were all finally popping throughout the park. It was even the first official event of the season for the Central Park Skate Dancers Association, which I always get a kick out of seeing in action!  We enjoyed a beautiful walk around the park to a bunch of favorite spots and as always I discovered a few new locations that I’ll have to remember for future visits.  Check out my favorites from our shoot!


MaryJane & Robert’s Wedding at Park Savoy Estate

MaryJane & Robert were married on a beautiful Saturday afternoon at St. Patrick Church, and celebrated with family and friends that evening at The Park Savoy Estate.  I started the day with MaryJane and her bridesmaids at the Short Hills Hilton— these gals were having a blast hanging out and MaryJane’s gown was just stunning— the look on her father’s face when he stepped into the room to see her says it all.  We drove to the church early to meet the men and capture them as they put on their boutennieres and got ready for the service, which was a beautiful catholic ceremony complete with mass.  I am always excited when I see there is a balcony level in a church like this and indeed my assistant got some nice wide shots from that perspective.  After the ceremony guests blew bubbles outside as the happy couple made their exit.  We shot some portraits and groups there at the church steps and then all headed to the Park Savoy, where we’d shoot the majority of the wedidng party and family pictures before cocktail hour started.  The food at this wedding was abundant and beautiful— the feast at cocktail hour was followed by a sit-down multi-course dinner and a viennese dessert hour after the couple cut their cake.  The couple and their guests had a marvelous time dancing the night away, and we got some really fun shots of the action.  I was also excited to shoot some outdoor night portraits behind the venue’s reception space as I noticed there were beautiful string lights twinkling in the trees out there and sure enough, the images came out wonderfully.  Congratulations to MaryJane & Robert on a fabulous wedding!


Vendor Credits:

Getting Ready Location Bride: The Short Hills Hilton

Getting Ready Location Groom: The Westin Governor Morris

Ceremony Location: St Patrick Church

Reception Venue: The Park Savoy Estate

Wedding Cake Designer: Palermo Bakery

Makeup: La Sorella Bridal

Bridesmaid dresses: Alfred Sung

Groom’s suit/tux: Baldwin Formal

Ceremony Musicians: Chrisopher Pinella

DJ: DJ Spyros

Videographer: Sands of Time