8/10/17 8/10/17

Liberty Warehouse : Carly & Jeff : New York, NY

Liberty Warehouse Brooklyn NY Wedding Brian Hatton Photography

Carly and Jeff were married on June 4th, with a ceremony and reception at Liberty Warehouse.

At the beginning of the day, Carly and Jeff got ready at the boutique hotel, 1Hotel Brooklyn Bridge. This amazing new property on the waterfront overlooks Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge. In addition to its large suites with tons of natural light, the hotel has plenty of spaces perfect for wedding photography. We were able to take some stellar first look pictures out on the roof deck overlooking the city.

The first look was my favorite part of the whole day. Jeff was so excited to see Carly, and this was one of the most stunning spots I’d seen in a while. We had so much fun exploring the venue and taking portraits afterward. It was the perfect way to start their big day.

After we had our fill of the 1Hotel, we made our way to the industrial, former port, neighborhood of Red Hook, where Liberty Warehouse is located. Once again, this was a perfect wedding venue choice. This was the third time in a month that I had been to Liberty Warehouse, and I have loved shooting there every time. It’s so close to the water, and it has beautiful, sweeping views of the Statue of Liberty.

The décor also added a fresh vibe to the industrial space, while still keeping some of that urban feel. I particularly liked the large, lit, metal “LOVE” sign.

Carly and Jeff held their cocktail hour at sunset before they entered the reception like true champions, showing everyone this was not going to be a low-key evening. And, true to form, they had one of most fun dance floors I had ever seen. Everyone was absolutely going for it, with a constant surge of energy from the large bridal party and groups of family and friends. Navigating through the crowd to take pictures was a challenge, but it was so much fun. The fun and action happening around me provided constant opportunity to capture unique moments. Thank you, Carly & Jeff, for letting me be a part of your super fun, grand wedding in Brooklyn!

Vendors:

Cake: Caked Up! Cafe, NYCFlorist: Stefan's Florist NY Stationary: Belle FiguraHair: Erica WrightMakeup: Dunique WonderlandOfficiant: Rabbi Greg WeitzmanLighting: PegasusBand: Hank Lane, Michael Hart BandWedding Dress: AmsaleBride's Shoes: Jimmy ChooBridesmaids Dresses: AmsaleRings: Esthers JewelryGroom's Attire: Beckenstein Bespoke

8/2/17 8/2/17

Lotte New York Palace Wedding : Amanda & Frank : New York, NY

New New York Palace Wedding NYC Brian Hatton Photography Wedding Photographer Amanda and Frank were married on July 1^st in a ceremony at the Church of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Franklin Lakes, N.J., with a reception following at Lotte New York Palace. I had been Amanda and Frank’s engagement photographer prior to the wedding, and loved their unique session at the Jane Hotel in the Meatpacking District. So, I knew this wedding was going to be just as amazing, and a true pleasure to photograph. At the beginning of the day, Amanda got ready at her parents’ home, while Frank was at the Sheraton Mahwah in New Jersey, just a short drive away from the church. Tropical decorations in the “elegant Cuban” theme filled the church. One of my favorite images of the whole day was when Amanda was waiting at the front door of her home and the vintage Rolls Royce rolled up. Some weddings lend themselves beautifully to black and white, and this wedding was one of them—I truly enjoyed how much the wedding came alive in these images. I loved how personal the ceremony was, with its roots reaching back all the way to how these two met in high school. Their principal from their high school days is now the priest at the church where they were married. That was just one of the many reasons they held the ceremony in New Jersey at Amanda’s home parish. The couple truly wanted to pay homage to their families and beginnings. Mother Nature kept us on our toes all day, with the rains coming and going. But, as the ceremony ended, the skies cleared for us and we made our way to New York City in a vintage Rolls Royce where we took photos in Central Park. From there, we headed to the New York Palace Hotel, where we went straight to the rooftop to take advantage of the expansive city views. I love working at the New York Palace because it offers the classic feel of a historic New York venue, with the balance of a modern-feeling hotel upstairs. I also love the feeling of the outdoor space and the grandeur of St. Patrick’s Cathedral towering over us right across the street. At the reception, the band, Cubanoson, lit up the dance floor immediately with clave, which set the tone for a really fun evening of toasts and dancing. The cake was also a highlight, made by Ron Ben Israel, who you may recognize from the Food Network show “Sweet Genius.” Many cakes are decorated with live flowers, but not many cakes are topped with a stunning bouquet of flowers made entirely from sugar—and made entirely by hand as well. To cap off the night of fun, we went to the historic and beautiful courtyard of the New York Palace and sent off the happy couple with sparklers. Frank & Amanda, I have loved being your photographer, not only for this wedding but for your engagement session. You two both truly know how to have fun, and I’ve loved being swept up in the excitement with you!

Vendors:

Cake: Ron Ben Israel

Planner: Polka Dot Events

Wedding Dress: Vera Wang

Bridesmaids Dresses: Monique Lhuillier

Groom's Attire: Ralph Lauren

Band: Cubanoson

7/26/17 7/26/17

Coney Island Engagement : Isabelle & Jonathan : Brooklyn, NY

Coney Island New York City Engagement Brian Hatton Photography

I met up with Isabelle and Jonathan on July 10th for an engagement session out on Coney Island one windy, blustery afternoon. I want to give my couples the best possible weather for the engagement session. So, if it happens to be raining on the date we choose, I'm more than happy to reschedule. That was the case with Jonathan and Isabelle—this was the second date we aimed for. I’m glad we waited, because it was a beautiful July afternoon. The wind does present its own challenges when it comes to keeping hair under control, but some of my favorite images actually came from the times we were able to take advantage of this. I particularly liked the pictures of the two of them out by the pier as the sun went down. The serenity and soft colors that the late sky offers are such a nice complement to the horizon over the ocean. It's been a few years since I shot an engagement session out by Luna Park and its iconic Cyclone rollercoaster. It was so easy to get caught back up in the fun, positive energy of the park as families enjoyed the late afternoon by the beach. Coney Island is also a place of personal significance for Jonathan and Isabelle, since they live close by. I love when my couples have an added connection to their venues and locations. We began by walking along the boardwalk, past the famous Nathan’s Hotdogs. Then, we strolled through the amusement park and stopped to play some carnival games and hang out near some iconic attractions. Overall, the relaxed setting set the tone for the whole session, and we ended up having a blast while getting some great photographs. Jonathan & Isabelle, I'm looking forward to photographing your upcoming wedding and had a great time exploring Coney Island with you!

7/19/17 7/19/17

Sunset Terrace Wedding : Lindsay & Kolby : New York, NY

Sunset Terrace Wedding Church of St Francis Xavier NewYork New York Wedding Photographer Brian Hatton Photography Lindsay and Kolby were married on May 27^th, with a ceremony at the Church of St. Francis Xavier and a reception at the Sunset Terrace Wedding at Chelsea Piers NYC. Both the bride and groom got ready at the Renaissance New York Midtown Hotel, and I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the venue. This unassuming hotel is set on a side street behind Penn Station and had spacious rooms with tons of light, not to mention the beautifully-designed lobby where we had free range for our photographs. I love hidden gems like this. We staged a first look before heading over to Gramercy Park for their portraits. During this time, I could really see how genuine and fun Lindsay and Kolby are—and so expressive. They share a love of the higher echelons of both academics and faith, and that passion carried over into everything they did in preparation for their ceremony and beyond. Kolby’s sister is a minister herself, so they were lucky enough to have her officiate over their beautiful ceremony. This personal touch made the ceremony that much more intimate, and it truly showed the love everyone present had for these two. We made our way to Chelsea Piers for the reception under a dramatic and rapidly changing sky, and to this day, I am convinced that the groom must have called in some kind of heavenly favor for their reception. As Kolby got up to give his speech, the sun descended into such a spot that only he and Lindsay, who was across the room, were illuminated—at the precise moment that he started to gush about her. I doubt anyone else in the room even noticed, but as a photographer, I was having a moment! I’ve seen a lot of weddings at the Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers, and that’s certainly the venue that most people have heard of. But the Sunset Terrace is a lesser-known gem that I adore. With elevated, panoramic views of the Hudson River and the ability to open the doors in the entire space, you feel one with the outside. It is a perfect, peaceful alternative for weddings that don’t need to accommodate too much space for 200 guests. Lindsay & Kolby, being a part of your New York City wedding was a delight. I loved being part of your celebrations as you both singlehandedly kept up the most amazing energy, nonstop, all night long. I wish you all the best.

Vendors:

Venue: Chelsea Piers NYC

Caterer: Neuman's Kitchen https://www.neumanskitchen.com

Cake: Billy's Bakery https://billysbakerynyc.com

Florist: City Iris

Stationary: Bella Figura

Hair: Lauren Decosimo

Makeup: Evy Drew

DJ: Alden Entertainment

Transportation: George Karan Limos

Wedding Dress: Robert Bullock

Bridesmaids Dresses: Jenny Yoo

Rings: Jangmi

Sunset Terrace Wedding Church of St. Francis Xavier New York New York Wedding Photographer Brian Hatton Photography

7/12/17 7/12/17

New York Athletic Club Wedding : Nicole & Colin : New York, NY

Nicole and Colin were married on June 10th, with a ceremony at St. Ignatius Loyola and a reception at the NY Athletic Club.

I was able to photograph the rehearsal dinner for these two the night before the wedding. So, by the time the big day rolled around, I truly felt like I was familiar with all the family members and was eagerly anticipating the wedding right alongside everyone else.

On the day of the wedding, I met up with Nicole at the suite in the NY Athletic Club as she finished her hair and makeup. Meanwhile, Colin got ready at their apartment. The club has so much beautiful light to use in their rooms as well as their terraces. We made use of both before it was time to go to the church. Nicole and Colin were going for a classic, iconic NYC look, and the 1950’s Rolls Royce that showed up on Central Park South to take Nicole to the park summed that right up. I love the way the white car looks in front of the shaded façade of the church.

Father Walsh, a close friend of the groom’s family, led the Mass, making the ceremony especially memorable because of the personal connection. When it was through, we were sure to get family photos on the steps of the iconic church before we headed out and about Central Park for more portraits—again, capturing that quintessential “classic NYC” feeling.

After the portraits, we made our way to the NYAC for cocktails and the reception. The terrace off of the main dining room is a gem, the perfect way for guests to get a private outdoor setting in the middle of Manhattan, though my favorite images were the ones up on the roof. From there, we had a jaw-dropping view of Central Park and Upper Manhattan—a perfect setting for some unique photos of the bride and groom.

Of course, the stunning décor was greatly helped by Ariston Flowers, who are a household name in New York. This was my second week in a row working with them, and I thought the décor was the perfect complement for the space. And it should be—they are one of the house vendors and know the space intimately well.

Nicole & Colin, your wedding was picture perfect and truly captured that classic NYC feeling, from the iconic church to the famed athletic club and everything in between. It was my pleasure to photograph you and your friends and family, and I wish you all the very best.