Housing works Bookstore Wedding: New York, NY

This off the cuff New York City wedding was held at Housing Works Bookstore in SoHo. It rained and it poured and that was just fine.

My first wedding at Housingworks was many years (decade+) ago and I’ve always loved the vibe of the place. For a long while the bookstore was my go to spot for meetings. It was particularly fun to return here with a couple that was entirely focused on having a good time. With me dragging all my stuff and the bride in heels, we walked through pouring rain to a local dive by the name of 169 Bar to hang out for a few photos before kicking off the celebration. This type of day is what makes me grin when people ask what my favorite kind of wedding is because what I truly enjoy is the extreme variety I get to see here in NYC. The day before I was arranging a cathedral length veil for altar photos. It takes a totally different mindset and approach and being a bit of a photographic chameleon is right up my alley.

SECOND Floor NYC Wedding : Kevin & michael : New York, NY

Kevin and Michael tied the knot in early spring at SECOND Floor NYC, situated within the Eventi Hotel in Midtown Manhattan.

This unique venue combines the charm of an urban industrial loft in Brooklyn with all the amenities of a towering NYC hotel. The location is perfect as Madison Square Park is just a stone’s throw away, providing a stunning backdrop for couples portraits. During cocktail hour, the entire wall of windows surrounding the bar can be raised to create an indoor/outdoor ambiance, weather permitting. A distinctive feature is the massive Jumbotron screen, which projects a slideshow of images across a courtyard. The grooms chose to showcase their beloved cat, making it seem like he was present at the event. What really stood out to me about this particular wedding reception was the use of an amazing disco ball. I think all weddings should have these! When it comes on - people go nuts haha.

I'm thrilled to have had the opportunity to shoot at SECOND again, and the vibe was nothing short of fantastic.

Vendor Team:

Photographer: Brian Hatton Photography
Event Planning: The Union Studio
Cake: Lulu
Florist: Rosehip Social
Stationary: Bella Figura
Groom's’ Attire: Brooks Brothers
Grooming: Salon SCK
Lighting: Universal Light & Sound
Ceremony Music: Venus Ensembles
DJ: James Mulry
Rings: Tiffany

Park Hyatt Wedding : Ellena & Kevin : New York, NY

Ellena & Kevin were married at The Park Hyatt New York on Billionaire’s Row in New York City.

Walking in to this event at the beginning of the day, it became immediately apparent that the bride and groom had worked tirelessly to create a beautiful, unforgettable atmosphere for their family and friends. With two towering trees framing the ceremony, the height of the Onyx Room at the Park Hyatt was an amazing backdrop for what was a wedding that literally tantalized all the senses. A custom fragrance blend blanketed the space which set a luxurious mood but also served as a sensory memory to which the bride and groom could refer back to throughout their years together. Every last detail was customized to be one of a kind including the music Ellena walked down the aisle to.

Photographer: Brian Hatton
Videographer: 15 Minutes of Frame
Event Planning: Exquisite Affairs Productions
Cake: Ron Ben-Israel
Florist: Samantha Su, Sterling Design
Hair/MUA: VICKYC5
Wedding Gown: Elie Saab
Veil: Yuri Chang Bride

Tribeca Rooftop Wedding : Julia & Ezra : New York, nY

Julia & Ezra were married in late Summer at TriBeCa Rooftop in New York, NY.

I have been photographing weddings and events at TriBeCa Rooftop for a decade or more. I’m still continuously reminded of how unique it is as a wedding venue in NYC. There just aren’t many places out there with a rooftop so large that there is a completely separate and dedicated ceremony area from an equally (if not more) expansive outdoor space for cocktails. And then downstairs in the event space it’s just massive. Plenty of room to have a lounge set up for guests to wander over after dinner and hang out as well as plenty of room for a photo booth without being crammed into a corner. And then for portraits, you can either use the venue or go right outside for cobblestone covered streets and quintessential TriBeCa industrial facades. Pretty fantastic.

Supported by the fantastic Shay Castro of Runway Events, my day began with Julia at The Dominick Hotel on Spring Street located within reasonable walking distance of the venue. I photographed her final touches with Beautini’s Brittany Lo before we met up with Ezra on Staple Street for a first look with the iconic Staple Street Skybridge in the background. Making our way back to TriBeCa Rooftop, the bridal party met us at street level for some photos before we made our way upstairs to prepare for the ceremony. At this point for any wedding with a first look, it really feels like things are kicking into gear as all the staged photos are compete and guests begin to arrive. It’s fun to see the look on people’s faces as they step out onto the roof positively surrounded by the NYC skyline.

Cocktail hour here tends to be timed to coincide with sunset which sets the perfect stage for venturing down the main staircase to dinner. The steps and upper tier always make a perfect platform for getting the money shots during the hora and open dancing. Forever in Bloom’s design was stunning giving a classic yet modern feel to the space. While many loft spaces can be somewhat stark, TriBeCa Rooftop has a warmer feel and the florals work to complement this rather than pick up all the slack.

High line Hotel Wedding : Brittany & Ben : New York, NY

Brittany & Ben were married at The High Line Hotel downtown in Chelsea, New York, NY.

Getting married in the late fall and wintertime in Manhattan brings a special feeling to the event. Perhaps it suggests a large scale holiday bash in the form of a wedding. With the expert guidance of Sojourner Auguste of Erganic Design and the absolutely exquisite decor by Rebecca Shepherd, this wedding was a stunning event which was the sum of a unique choice in venue, an expanse private courtyard and towering ceilings which made the florals stand out like works of art. Glancing quickly through the photos just now I was reminded of a certain radiance to everything.

Joined by the great wedding cinematographer Ray Roman, we photographed Brittany’s and Ben’s final touches before a ceremony in the chapel of the on site seminary. A complimentary but separate entity to the High Line Hotel, the chapel is a short stroll down a stone path from the getting ready suite to the ceremony where the guests are positioned facing the aisle rather than the altar. This trains all the eyes on the bride in such a fashion that reminds you of a royal wedding.

Brittany looked stunning in Ellie Saab entering with her father as Ben in Tom Ford waited at the end of the aisle. It was a lovely ceremony followed by an outdoor cocktail hour while we photographed the family, bridal party and bride and groom. They made a grand entrance into the ballroom lit by Shades of Grey filled with their family and friends as Cool Rulers Band kept the songs rolling. The scene had this take your breath away feel to it which makes it a breeze to photograph. You can really focus on capturing real moments of guests interacting as the setting drapes everything in a moody gorgeousness.