Mandarin Oriental New York Wedding : Stacy & Stan : New York, NY
Stacy and Stan were married on October 7th, with a ceremony and reception at the Mandarin Oriental New York.
The great thing about a wedding in a space like the Mandarin Oriental is that everything takes place on-site, and the facilities are gorgeous throughout. With an amazing space to work with, and with Andrea Freeman’s team keeping the day on track and stress-free, I was amazed at how beautiful this wedding was—in the main events and behind the scenes as well.
Stacy got ready in one of the spacious suites, while Stan got ready on another floor. Even though there was a lot of activity and plenty of people getting ready, we managed to slow down and keep one side clean so we could get some final “getting ready” images of Stacy in the wraparound light. The floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Central Park truly make for some stunning bridal pictures.
From there, we made our way to the hotel terrace for a first look, with the buildings of the Time Warner Center towering around us. The bridal party joined us as we made our way across the street to Central Park for some portraits before we headed back to the Mandarin for the ceremony itself.
Normally, the curtains are raised for ceremonies at the Mandarin, but I really liked the moody feel they created by keeping them lowered. It drew attention to the ceremony itself, not the surroundings. Of course, that just meant everyone had a perfect view of Stan’s reaction coming down the aisle at the end of the ceremony. You could tell he was excited and ready to celebrate—it was my favorite moment of the whole day.
I think the real heart of the day was the reception. Stacy and Stan and their families were in their element, and everyone in the room took part in the celebrations. It was high energy, nonstop.
At some weddings, the different sides of the event more or less keep to themselves—but not so with this reception. Here, everyone became one. Work friends, old friends, Russian family, Korean family—everyone was not only out on the dance floor but dancing around with each other. I especially loved to see the connection made between their siblings, with lots of love flowing both ways.
Stan & Stacy, thank you for trusting me to capture your wedding day. It was amazing to be part of such a wonderful celebration of joy and love.
Vendors:
Planning: Andrea Freeman Events
Cake: Fancy Cakes
Florist: Ariston Flowers
Stationary: East Six
Makeup: Kimara Ahnert
Officiant: Corey Kennedy
Lighting: Fusion Productions
Band: Kevin Osborne at Hank Lane
Videography: Clark Walter Studio
Wedding Dress: Wedding Salon of Manhasset
Bride's Shoes: Jimmy Choo
Groom's Suit: Enzo Custom
Park Hyatt New York Wedding : Rebecca & Thibault : New York, NY
Rebecca and Thibault were married on September 8th, with a ceremony and reception at the Park Hyatt New York.
I started out the day with Kaipo of 15 Minutes of Frame, with whom I work frequently, and Teal from LLG Events who kept the day running smoothly.
We photographed Rebecca’s bouquet as Stacey Weinstein of Once Upon a Bride finished preparing her, then took a few pictures of her in her gorgeous dress. After the bridal portraits we went downstairs for a first look at the base of the hotel’s entryway staircase. From there, we took some photos with the bridal party and family ahead of the ceremony in the Onyx Room. I especially liked the round, dynamic light piece in the lobby—it's such an interesting element for pictures.
After exactly 8 minutes, Rebecca and Thibault had been pronounced husband and wife—and the party could officially start. The guests rushed off to a cocktail party, while Tantawan Bloom worked hard to transform the room. It was an impressive reveal when we all returned, with high centerpieces draped in roses and white and pink cherry blossoms. The incomparable Golf Srithamrong can truly turn a space into such a wonderland, you forget where you are!
Rebecca, a former dancer, and Thibault, who I think will be a professional dancer in his next incarnation, took to the dance floor to dazzle their guests while the Onyx Room walls sparkled. I loved the elegance of their dance as well as the way we were able to position a light so that we could pop them right off the background. Once the party really got going, it was all fun and dancing, including some epic Bollywood dancing. Thibault happens to have a strong affinity for Bollywood, and some of the guests took to the dance floor to bring a little flavor. It wasn’t long at all before both Thibault and Rebecca joined in the fun.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t also mention Ron Ben Israel, who you might otherwise know from his Food Network Show, “Sweet Genius.” He designed the wedding cake, as he does for all weddings at the Park Hyatt, New York. His signature is the hand-molded sugar florals on the cake, and this time around, he had delicate, small flowers, giving the cake a whimsical feeling that still complemented the deco style of the space. Over the course of this past year, I’ve seen a wide range of his creations, and they never fail to impress.
Rebecca & Thibault, your wedding was stylish, freshly decorated, and full of so much character. It makes my job so fun to have a wedding like this, especially toward the end of the season, and I really appreciated being part of it. Thanks also especially to Tantawan Bloom for graciously referring me for this stunning wedding.
Vendors:
Dress: Monique Lhuillier
Florist: Tantawan Bloom
Shoes: Jimmy Choo
Video: 15 Minutes of Frame
Cake: Ron Ben Israel
Hair: Once Upon a Bride
Restaurant Daniel Wedding : JoAnn and Tim : New York City
JoAnn and Tim were married on July 22nd, with a ceremony at Christ Church and a reception at Daniel.
JoAnn and Tim got ready at Le Parker Meridien on 56th 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!
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
Bowery Hotel Wedding : Carolyn and Jonathan : New York, NY
Carolyn and Jonathan were married on November 18th, with a ceremony at the famous Daniel restaurant and a reception at the Bowery Hotel. It’s amazing being a wedding photographer in New York because there are so many different ways to throw a truly personalized event, and I seem to see them all! This particular wedding was unique because it was spread out over two days so that they could give attention to the ceremony with their closest friends and family and then spend the next evening dancing all night with literally every person they know. On day one, Carolyn got ready at the Bowery Hotel before traveling to the Upper East Side. The ceremony was held with just the bridal party and family in the private dining space at the 2-Michelin-Star Daniel restaurant. The space was intimate and dimly lit casting a romantic feeling as they read their vows. Carolyn’s 90-year-old grandma served as the flower girl, and her excitement just after the ceremony was adorable, exuberant, and contagious! We took a few pictures after the ceremony just out front and on Park Ave before Carolyn and Jonathan, itching to get back to the event, went back inside for toasts and dinner. On day two, we met up for a few more portraits inside the moody, character-filled Bowery Hotel. I loved having that extra time to focus on photography before 350 people showed up for the extended cocktail party and dancing. Carolyn and Jonathan made their grand entrance through the crowd of guests, and I stood on the stage to get an elevated view so I could capture that moment. After they arrived, video played of the previous day’s ceremony before the dancing truly began. Since the wedding really does fly by in a whirlwind, it was an emotional moment for the couple and their family to witness their ceremony just the day after thanks to a quick same-day edit. I have to shout out to the band, Vali. It’s by far one of the best in the NYC area, and I have been recommending them since I first heard them several years ago. Vali’s musicians are active independently of the band and bring this wealth of experience to wedding performances—and as someone with two conservatory degrees in music, I really appreciate that! Jonathan & Carolyn, thank you for letting me be a part of your unique days! Yours was a very New York wedding, and I love how you made this event wholly your own!
Vendors
Band: Vali
Wedding Dress: Pronovias
Bride's Shoes: Manolo Blahnik
Bridesmaids Dresses: Reformation
Groom's Attire: Polo Ralph Lauren
Roundhouse Beacon Falls Wedding : Lilly and Andy : Beacon, NY
Lilly and Andy were married on July 3rd, with a ceremony and reception at Roundhouse Beacon Falls. These days, wedding planning has shifted almost entirely online, so I don’t always get to meet the couple before the wedding day when I act as photographer. That was the case with Lilly and Andy, but even though we’d only spoke on the phone, these two and their family radiated warmth and positive energy, making me feel welcome and at home photographing them. On the day of the wedding, Lilly got ready on-site at the modern yet rustic Roundhouse—a beautiful escape from New York City with a quaint main street landmarked by the waterfall right in front of the venue. In fact, the bridal suite overlooks the waterfall, so there was tons of natural light to work with! From there, we headed off to the hollowed-out industrial loft for a first look. We then made our way to a local park for a quick change of scenery before we grabbed a few pictures together and headed to the Roundhouse. Since this was a traditional Jewish wedding, there was a tisch and bedeken. During the tisch, the bride and groom welcome guests in separate receptions with singing, dancing, and a prayer. The groom is then paraded with a lively klezmer band to the waiting bride and places a veil over her before he retreats and the guests make their way out for the beginning of the ceremony itself. During the ceremony, one of the most memorable moments was actually when Lilly walked down the aisle. Sometimes, when a couple chooses to do a first look, there is less emphasis on this moment—but that wasn’t the case with Lilly. She looked as if this were the first glimpse of the day! We were also able to place the second photographer in an elevated position for a unique aerial view.My favorite image of the whole night, though, was when the bride and groom entered the reception together. The Roundhouse has beautiful, tall windows and high ceilings that make for such an impressive entry! The whole day was particularly fun to photograph. There was a continuous, extroverted display of joy from everyone, but I was particularly impressed with the closeness between Lilly and her mother and sisters. I loved seeing Lilly’s mother look on at key moments, especially when she embraced Andy after she presented Lilly at the end of the aisle. Of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t note the amazing, organic, contemporary details that made this wedding beautiful. Vendors like Dark & Diamond (who rocked the floral design) came together to create this beautiful vision, and it was so amazing it was featured on Style Me Pretty here. Andy & Lilly, thank you so much for the opportunity to be part of your amazing day. Congratulations to you both! 
Vendors
Floral Design: Dark & Diamond
Video: 15 Minutes of Frame
Wedding Dress: Reem Acra
Stationary: Minted
Shoes: Badgley Mischka
Makeup: The Blushery
Hair: Giannetta Salon & Spa
DJ: Nestor Marsh/MD Music & Entertainment
Groom's Suit: Reiss
Klezmer Band: Shirim