Brian Hatton 4/2/24 Brian Hatton 4/2/24

Maritime Parc Wedding : Jersey City, NJ

Kaitlyn & Javier were married in Jersey City at St Mary of the Immaculate Conception followed by dinner and dancing at Maritime Parc in Liberty State Park.

Kicking off my 2024 season in the best way, I had a truly fun time photographing this wedding celebration in March. As the summer changes in New York I’m seeing my season shift somewhat towards an earlier start in Spring and later wind down in the winter time. It was cool but not frigid on this day allowing for plenty of outdoor photos. As sometimes happens at weddings, a slight delay in the form of a twice as long as anticipated ceremony didn’t trip us up giving us an opportunity to take some photos in the street and around Liberty State Park before Kaitlyn & Javier made their way inside to party with friends and family.

We began the day with some getting ready photos at the lovely Canopy by Hilton Hotel Jersey City before making the short walk to the church. Brit Pooler of “Plan with BP” kept us all on target making for a stress free day. More and more I’m seeing an informal approach to a wedding party and on this day friends of Kaitlyn and Javier joined towards the end of getting ready for a toast. I really like this approach.

At the wedding reception Kaitlyn & Javier kept me around after the last dance to photograph their “hora loca” which really took things up a notch. Kaitlyn changed into a literally electric dress and all the guests were outfitted with all sorts of glow in the dark paraphernalia. It was a good time.

Brian Hatton 1/18/24 Brian Hatton 1/18/24

Liberty House Wedding : Jersey City, NJ

Gina & Ari held their wedding at Liberty House nestled in Liberty State Park overlooking the most spectacular lower Manhattan skyline view there ever could be.

Getting ready at the nearby Hyatt Regency Jersey City, Gina and Ari spent time with their closest friends within eyeshot of he venue a few piers down. We had a glorious, clear July day which was warm but perfect. They enjoyed a first look by the water before the bridal party joined us in the old train station for a bit of a respite from the sun.

It was soon time to return to Liberty House for one of their iconic back patio ceremonies followed by dinner and dancing upstairs. Through the wall of massive picture windows we all enjoyed the evening as the progression of sunset shimmered off the buildings of NYC just across the water.

9/3/18 9/3/18

Liberty House Wedding : Maxi & Rory : Jersey City, NJ

Maxi & Rory were married July 28, 2018 with a ceremony and reception at Liberty House located in Liberty State Park of Jersey City, NJ. Is there a better way to cap off a summer wedding than with a firepit s'more cookout? I think not. Maxi & Rory got ready at the nearby Westin Jersey City before making their way to Liberty State Park for a first look. The weather kept us on our toes that day with one of those cloudless sky downpours... but thankfully everything calmed down by the time their ceremony was underway. Which, is a very good thing, considering there are hardly any more spectacular views of Manhattan than that from the back porch of The Liberty House, with its endless views of lower Manhattan.

1/16/18 1/16/18

Newark Museum Wedding : Tracey & John : Newark, NJ

bethany baptist church wedding brain hatton photo

Tracey and John were married on November 11^th, with a ceremony at Bethany Baptist Church and a reception at the Newark Museum in New Jersey.

I began with Tracey and the ladies at the Element Hotel in Harrison, New Jersey, while the guys finished their final preparations at the Hilton Newark Penn Station. Tracey finished up by reading a touching letter from her soon-to-be husband before we caravanned over to Liberty State Park, where they would see each other for the first time.

I hadn’t had the chance to meet the bride and groom before the wedding, so the first time I saw them together was the first look. Immediately, their magnetism was evident, and we quickly forgot about the blistering cold out by the waterfront. Actually, the weather even worked to our advantage, because the park was completely empty, and the sky was crisp and colorful. The images of the first look were my favorite because of the power of the moment as well as the low, flattering afternoon light that added such warmth to the pictures. As the sun set, we made our way into Newark for the ceremony at the Bethany Baptist Church. Now, there are parts of every wedding that are the most memorable. Sometimes it’s the party, and sometimes it’s the portraits. But for this wedding, it was by far that ceremony. The sanctuary was packed full of friends there to cheer them on, and I loved the atmosphere. Their loved ones performed music, and they wrote personal vows that had everyone clutching a tissue.

From there, we made our way to the Newark Museum, where the reception was set in a grand space with high ceilings that made it feel like a society event in a movie. John sang with members of an acapella choir from his alma mater along with his best man—a beautiful moment that added a personal touch to the reception by uniting John’s past with his new life with Tracey.

John & Tracey, thank you for letting me be part of your love story. It was an amazing experience!

bethany baptist church wedding brain hatton photo