Wedding at the Roundhouse Beacon Falls : Veronica and Louis : Beacon, NY
Veronica and Louis were married on July 9th, with a ceremony and reception at Roundhouse Beacon Falls. Veronica was actually the sister of one of my old brides—Jennifer, who was married back in 2011 at Tappan Hill Mansion in Tarrytown, NY. It was an honor to be asked to photograph their family again, not to mention a joy to see Jennifer and Korey again, with not just one by two kids in tow! Watching couples expand from a family of two to three or more is one of the best parts of the job.
I was also excited about shooting at the Roundhouse, since I’ve wanted to visit it for years. I love the little town of Beacon, tucked about an hour up the Hudson River Valley from Manhattan, not to mention the venue itself. The ballroom has been made to feel rustic and industrial despite being a modern construction, and the bridal suite is stunning, with a large patio overlooking the waterfall just out front.
On the day of the wedding, Veronica got ready at the bridal suite with her young nieces. I loved how curious they were about the whole thing, and I’m sure they’ll remember looking on in awe as their aunt got ready! Veronica and Louis had opted not to have a first look as they wanted to preserve that moment of walking down the aisle. But that didn't mean Veronica wouldn't have a moment with her father as he came outside to see her all dressed up for the first time. That was my favorite image of the day, especially because you could see Veronica’s reflection in the window so that you can see both of their expressions.
The weather called for rain, so the ceremony was held inside in front of the expansive, floor-to-ceiling windows that pulled the outside in. As the sun came down, guests made their way outside for cocktail hour, and by the time they re-entered the ballroom, it was transformed for dinner!
The greatest thing about documenting this particular wedding was seeing the close family bonds that they share. There were so many grandparents as well as deep, loving relationships between parents and their children, and it was touching to witness.
Louis & Veronica, thank you for honoring me by letting me be part of your celebrations. And thank you to the Delahoz family for inviting me to photograph another family wedding.
Vendors
Caterer: Roundhouse
Florist: Frank's House of Flowers
DJ: Josh Torres
Cinematography: Frank Ahn Films
Wedding Gown: Rosa Clara
Bride's Shoes: Jimmy Choo
Bridesmaids Dresses: Adrianna Pappell and Jenny Yoo
Makeup & Hair: Britt & Ellie
Wedding at The Garrison : Kim and Jason : Garrison, NY
Kim and Jason were married on October 15th, with a ceremony and reception at The Garrison in the Hudson Valley. I had been excited about shooting at The Garrison since Kim & Jason approached me about shooting their wedding back in 2015. Not only are the views magnificent, but one of my great joys in life is driving up the Hudson River in October. Though, honestly, the view isn’t my favorite thing about the venue—it’s Todd, the venue manager, who is on top of everything and so easy to work with.
On the day of the wedding, my great friend, Diane Stredicke, came with me to help me capture the whole day. We started out with Kim and Jason as they got ready, with Kim at the Garrison and Jason at the Hyatt House in Fishkill, NY, before we met up for a first look on the Garrison grounds.
After the first look, we hopped in the golf cart to tour the grounds for some pictures before the ceremony. Driving the golf cart is sort of one of my favorite things ever, and we had a blast together! As the sun nestled down in the perfect spot for the ceremony overlooking the Hudson River Valley, guests started to file in. Then, the ceremony itself was so touching and personal. There wasn’t a dry eye in the place—even mine! I do 40 weddings a year, and I need a tissue from time to time! They shared their first kiss, and then I ushered them away for a few pictures of the newlyweds as the sunset slipped away to dusk. I love those moments immediately after the ceremony when a couple has just become husband and wife. There is a closeness and nearness that is special—especially when paired with the golden light of the end of the day. The décor at this wedding was simply beautiful and made for the best pictures. It’s so easy to get carried away with the fall themes, but Kim’s choices were so tasteful, with fall colors and berries, mixed with greens and subtle flower varieties in orange. From there, it was on to the reception, where I didn’t fully anticipate the energy that would ensue on the dance floor. It was so easy to get caught up in the fun and excitement—and before I knew it, it was over far too soon! Kim & Jason, it was a joy shooting your wedding in the most gorgeous spot upstate in autumn. Thank you for the opportunity to document your day. And thank you also to 15 Minutes of Frame for helping us to capture that in video and record those memories.
Brooklyn Winery Wedding : Rebecca and Josh : Brooklyn, NY
Rebecca and Josh were married on August 5th, with a ceremony and reception at the Brooklyn Winery.
On the day of the wedding, Rebecca got ready at the Hotel Indigo on the Lower East Side in Manhattan, near their home, where Josh got ready. That way, we were able to use the balcony connected to the hotel room for a unique first look that turned out amazingly. From there, we headed out into the neighborhood, surrounded by the smell of pastrami from Katz’ Delicatessen, the mecca of meat on Houston Street. We got some pictures out front and, of course, next to their dumpsters before we hopped on a bus to Williamsburg, Brooklyn, for the ceremony itself. The venue, Brooklyn Winery, is an artisanal, urban winery that sources from New York State and Sonoma in California. The guests were all seated in the area that, during harvest, is filled with barrels and tanks, grapes and wine equipment—all of which had to be cleared out to make room for the wedding. It looked absolutely stunning, especially with beautiful weather outside casting the perfect soft light on the ceremony and easing into the warm glow of candlelight from the tall taper candles everywhere. Of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t also celebrate Molly Oliver, the florist, whose work helped to shape the atmosphere there. Her work is 100% local and sustainable, and she is an organic farmer herself who sometimes cuts her flowers mere hours before she puts them together for weddings. The whole vibe of the setup was warm and rustic—yet right in the middle of one of the coolest neighborhoods in Brooklyn! The smell of oak barrels was somehow relaxing, and the ambient light in the room allowed us to preserve that organic feel to the entire day. After the ceremony, it was time for a celebratory feast, where a family-style Southern menu was served. I get hungry just looking at the images of some of this food and remembering how amazing it was. Lots of venues in Brooklyn are leaning lately toward non-traditional wedding cuisine, and the guests just love it. Crispy fried chicken after saying “I do”? Yes, please. After dinner, the guests moved back into the bar area to meet up with the band and dance the night away. I particularly loved seeing Josh, who is a reserved guy, light up as they were lifted up in chairs during the hora part of the dancing! During the reception, Josh stopped to say ‘hi’ to his parents, and one of my favorite images was captured as they told him how proud they were of him and how amazing his wedding was. My favorite aspect of my job is the chance to see families join together and to see loved ones express their pride and joy, so I’m always touched by these little stolen moments. Rebecca & Josh, thank you for trusting me with your photography for this exciting time in your lives! It’s been so fun to get to know you more and more since the engagement shoot in your neighborhood and now coming full circle to your fun, rustic wedding!
Vendors
Venue – Brooklyn Winery
Florist - Molly Oliver
Cake – Nine Cakes
Band - Dexter's Lake Club Band
Museum of the Moving Image Wedding : Wendy and David : Astoria, NY
Wendy and David were married on July 11th, with a ceremony and reception at the Museum of the Moving Image. On the day of the wedding, I met up with Wendy as she got ready in the museum's bridal suite. It was a great way to kick off the day, with my favorite image coming from that getting-ready session. Most of the time, for getting ready shots, I’m trying to paint a soft, romantic image of the bride before she goes to see her groom. That day, a small shaft of light was sneaking into the room, giving us a gorgeous contrast to show off Wendy’s personality that also echoed the style of her dress. After Wendy was ready, we headed out for a first look and pictures outside. It was a bright mid-afternoon, but the punchy light added to the contemporary vibe and made all the architectural details pop. Wendy and David had met with me a year before the wedding and asked me for a wedding experience unencumbered by photography, so we carved out a concise block of time for formal portraits and family pictures to get those done without taking up the whole afternoon—that way we could keep the focus on the wedding itself and let them stay wrapped up in their day. Then, it was off to the ceremony at the museum. Every time I go to Astoria Queens for a wedding at the Museum of the Moving Image, I’ve loved the way they utilize a contemporary mold to customize the location for each couple. In this case, they put pink colored gels over the lights to create an edgy space for dining. It really feels like a step outside New York and into another world, with whimsical, interactive exhibits for the guests. Usually, weddings take place in the museum’s theater, but this time around, I was excited about photographing the ceremony out in the courtyard between the museum and Kaufman-Astoria studios. It absolutely fit the feel of the wedding and the style of the couple! Wendy and David had a separate Tisch where they greeted guests and had a prayer before David processed to Wendy for her veiling, or bedeken. After Wendy walked down the aisle, she circled David 7 times, signifying the commitment and unbreakable wall surrounding a bride and groom. In a Jewish ceremony, there is no kiss; instead, the groom steps on the glass, and the couple is immediately surrounded and escorted by singing and cheering guests off to a few private moments alone, while the rest of us went inside for dinner and dancing. Over the years, I’ve worked with a number of klezmer bands. One, Shirim, is more traditional in nature and is led by a klezmer clarinet virtuoso. But this one, Golem, is a more unorthodox orthodox ensemble. It’s unforgettable for its over-the-top energy and a hora like literally no other. If you want a hora that not only has people joyfully circling the dance floor but also adds a jolt of electricity that everyone can only attempt to keep up with, Golem will do that and more. Wearing a new dress, Wendy came out with David and entered the reception to cheers before the 45-minute (yes, 45!!) hora. Navigating all the moving people and jockeying for angles is one of the most challenging but most exciting parts of a Jewish wedding to photograph, and I love it! Thank you, Wendy & David, for letting me photograph this unique and quintessentially native New Yorker wedding.
Vendors
Events - Ashley Chamblin Events
Florist - Mindy Jacobowitz
Hair - Stacey Weinstein
Makeup - Jessica Rothschild
Officiant - Rabbi Simcha Krauss
Band - Golem
Videography - Well Spun Weddings
Wedding Dress - Tony Ward
Bride's Shoes - Christian Louboutin
Rings - Erica Weiner
Rutgers Gardens Wedding : Anna and Neal : New Brunswick, NJ
Anna and Neal were married on June 11th, with a ceremony at the Reformed Church of Highland Park and a reception in Rutgers Gardens in New Brunswick, NJ. These two met while studying at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City. Neal is from the West Coast, and Anna is from New Jersey and is the child of two opera singers. We had actually crossed paths in school, but it wasn’t until later that I started to get to know them, as they live near me and I always see them walking their dog through Fort Tryon Park. On the day of the wedding, I started out with Anna as she finished getting ready at the Heldrich Hotel in New Brunswick before we took a short ride to the church. They wanted an intimate, elegant, relaxed wedding, which is why they picked Rutgers Gardens, surrounded by tons of greenery and lush sunlight. Once we were at the church, we took some pictures of the guests arriving as well as a few group pictures with the bridal party and family. At the wedding, the amazing harpist Kristi Shade—a mutual friend of mine and Anna’s—added an ethereal touch to the whole day. She is one of the most popular wedding vendors in the New York City area in addition to being a recording artist and musician, and it was amazing to have her there! The weather was perfect, which meant the reception was completely open and in the outside air. I don’t often get to create pictures in NYC that include the twilight sky and guests partying below, so I enjoy shooting outside of the city when I get the chance so I can capture a more rustic feel. I loved that the guests were able to step outside to chat or look at the stars before going back in to dance. I was able to take Anna and Neal aside at just the perfect moment, where the sun was just kissing the treetops. That 5–10-minute span, followed by the soft wash of evening light, often produces the best images of the day. My favorite image was the black and white portrait of them standing in front of the venue during the party, and they must have agreed, because they chose it for their 8x12 studio print enlargement on a cotton rich, heavyweight art paper. It looks stunning! I look for shots like that all day to get that one special print that hangs on the wall forever. Sometimes you just know as it happens, and sometimes you discover it like an artifact when going through the images. Anna & Neal, thank you so much for letting me be part of your wedding! It’s not often that I get to shoot weddings for people I know, and I’m so lucky that you contacted me early and asked me to be there!
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