Bangkok Supper Club Wedding : Emily & Anthony : New York, NY

When the inquiry came in, I almost didn't answer it. A full day booking for a Monday in December has a certain too-good-to-be-true shape to it, and between the volume of blast emails photographers get, I've learned to be wary. I asked my wife if I should even bother responding. She told me to just answer the email. Good call — Emily and Anthony were about as real as it gets, contract signed months out, the usual back-and-forth about COIs and hotel room numbers, all of it leading to an actual wedding on an actual Monday.

Thirty guests, a wedding party of ten, and when I asked them to describe the vibe they wanted for the day, they wrote back two words: relaxed, intimate. That's exactly what it was, even with a cathedral in the mix.

The day started at the Plaza. Emily got ready in a suite with the kind of light that makes a hotel room worth getting married out of — floor-to-ceiling windows, the Midtown skyline doubled in the glass, her dress catching the last of the afternoon sun before anyone else was even dressed. Down the hall, Anthony was doing the same in a tux and bow tie. When they finally crossed paths by a dark wood armoire in the suite, both of them just lost it laughing. No trying to hold it together, no composed first-look face — genuine, doubled-over laughing.

I've photographed a handful of NYC churches over the years, but nothing quite prepares you for the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. It's the largest Gothic cathedral in the world, longer than two football fields, with a rose window that swallows the whole west facade. Thirty guests in a nave built for over a thousand makes for a strange and kind of wonderful scale — everyone huddled into a few rows of chairs under a ceiling that disappears into the dark, candles the only real light besides the stained glass. A string trio played them in. And at some point during portraits on the altar steps, Emily and Anthony's dog — a fluffy white Samoyed on a blue leash — got walked up to join them for a photo, completely unbothered by the size of the room.

Outside, the light was doing that low winter gold thing New York does so well in December, and the wedding party gathered on the cathedral's bronze doors for a group shot — twenty-some friends and family, someone in a yellow puffer coat off to the side still taking photos on his own phone, everybody cracking up about something I never got the full story on.

From there we went downtown to Bangkok Supper Club in the West Village, which is doing genuinely great work — they'd just picked up a Michelin Guide Exceptional Cocktails Award, and the trophy was sitting proudly on a shelf near the kitchen when I walked in. A chef was finishing the wedding cake tableside as guests started arriving, tucking fresh purple anemones and blue hyacinth into the base of the buttercream one stem at a time.

The food kept coming all night — uni tartlets nested in black rice, tuna tartare in butter lettuce cups over crushed ice, crispy wings, cocktails poured tableside under a glowing orange ceiling panel that lit up the whole bar. Guests took selfies with their drinks held high. The green velvet booths in the back room turned into an unofficial photo booth, Emily cracking up at something Anthony said, both of them completely unposed.

Cake got cut, more photos happened, and at some point Emily changed into a second dress — floral, tea-length, gold heels — before the group headed over to the Baccarat Hotel to keep the night going. Because why not have two great outfits in one night.

Congratulations, Emily and Anthony.

Vendor Credits:
Ceremony Venue: Cathedral of St. John the Divine
Reception Venue: Bangkok Supper Club
Getting Ready Location: The Plaza Hotel
After Party: The Baccarat Hotel
Cake: From Lucie
Hair: SKA Hair 
Bride's Shoes: Manolo Blahnik
Rings: Graff / Michael Herman Fine Jewelry
Groom's Attire: Reeves Bespoke Tailors

River Cafe Wedding : Ashley & Ben : Brooklyn, NY

 Ashley & Ben were married on May 13th, with a ceremony and reception at the River Café in Brooklyn, New York photographed by Brian Hatton Photography. I started off the day at the stylish new 1Hotel Brooklyn Bridge. I love shooting here because of all the backdrops and textures available for photography. Also, it’s not often that I get to experience a completely new property here in NYC! With its industrial, modern design, as well as its living walls and amazing rooftop, this hotel has instantly become a go-to “getting ready” spot for weddings in the Brooklyn Bridge Park area. Once Ashley was ready, we staged a first look at the hotel under the covered entryway, then hopped in an Uber to head around DUMBO for photos near Jane’s Carousel and under the Manhattan Bridge. Even though it was raining, the bride and groom were both good sports and ready to try anything. So, we kept right on—they had an umbrella, and I had fully-weather sealed cameras. I might have gotten a little wet, but we were good to go! Besides, I always find New York to be romantic in the rain. Their ceremony took place under the tent at the River Café with the Brooklyn Bridge towering above. One of my favorite moments was at the very end, once Ashley and Ben were married, when Ben threw his fist in the air to the cheers of their guests. He was too excited to hold his emotions in. That set the tone for the fun reception filled with off-the-cuff toasts and a no-holds-barred dance floor. Throughout the entire day, I enjoyed the opportunity to photograph every single person there. That is one of my favorite parts of shooting small weddings: every single person in attendance was important to Ashley and Ben, so I had a great time pursuing each moment and expression to capture those personal interactions. Ben caught some light-spirited flack from his best man over his new vegan lifestyle (thanks to his bride). But the River Café provided a beautiful dish to accommodate those meal preferences—one of the many benefits of having a wedding at a Michelin-starred restaurant. Of course, I must praise the talented ladies of Exquisite Affairs Productions once again. No matter how big or small the wedding, having an extra hand to help with the dress and move family around with an eye on the schedule goes a long way. This was two weekends in a row with these amazing women, and I love every second of that partnership. Thank you, Ben & Ashley, for having me photograph your intimate day. Congratulations to you both! 

Vendors:

Wedding Planner: Exquisite Affairs ProductionsFlorist: OpaliaBand: Elan Artists