New York Weddings

From the custom wedding dress, to the sleek and modern design details, to the finest city venue, this Brooklyn wedding is the epitome of the ultimate city affair! With incredible event designing and florals by Faye + Renee, the day was glamorous yet minimalist and modern all wrapped into one. Get ready to be inspired after browsing the gallery all captured by the super talented Ryon:Lockhart Photography!

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From the bride… Daniel and I met at Hofstra University our last semester in 2010. We were paired together alphabetically by last name. As soon as we all introduced ourselves, it was interest at first sight. Daniel is smart, witty and made me laugh through our conversations on facebook chat. I looked forwarded to when our group had to meet. Right before graduation we went on our first date walking through Central Park. We ended up officially dating a few months after, which turned into four blissful years.

His proposal was very romantic! We took a trip upstate NY to Seneca Lake for his birthday. We went wine tasting and later that night we went to a farm to table dinner with Riesling wine pairing. The owner introduced herself and started to give us a tour which lead us into the tasting room which is were Daniel proposed! It was such a magical night with great conversations of love with the surrounding company.

We knew we wanted to have an original wedding, that takes you away from your traditional hall. Daniel comes from a huge family and I come from the opposite, we had to find an accommodating venue that could hold 250 guests. We knew we wanted to be in New York with a warehouse vibe. It was the second venue we looked at and once we arrived, we both knew this was it! The Liberty Warehouse in Red Hook Brooklyn has two floors, open raw concept with the ability to create anything you wished. Our vision was to create a speakeasy vibe, utilizing both floors and outside. The venue director, florists and props along with the DJ & lighting made it happen. They were all on board with our vision which we had ample time planning with our two year engagement.

The wedding weekend quickly arrived and it was an incredible kind of homecoming for us. We had our Welcome Gathering in the Penthouse Suite at Gild Hall Hotel which was a nice ice breaker since it was the first time the entire bridal party was together. The next morning the myself and the bridal party rushed off to the Liberty Warehouse to get ready in the bridal suite which offered the perfect lighting for our makeup artist and a big space to get ready. The boys got ready at the hotel that offered the perfect gentlemen setting with leather and metal details.

My dresses were designed by Rolando Santana which slid on like a glove, I wanted to stick with a timeless, classic look. I trusted all my bridesmaids to pick out their dress of choice. Daniel wanted to stand out so we chose a navy suit with black lapel while the groomsmen had black tuxes. When everyone got together for pictures it blended so well.

If I had to describe the day with one word, magical. We were nervous about the day since there was a hurricane coming up the coast. Fortunately it decided to hold off, we had our ceremony outside with the sun setting in the back of Lady Liberty. Cocktail hour was out on the Promenade listening to the Brooklyn Bluegrass Band and indulging in the food. We were then whisked away to the second floor to have dinner, listen to speeches and of course dance with our parents. Then it was time to party! We allowed all the guests to move downstairs where we turned it into a speakeasy vibe. There was antique furniture set up on the perimeters of the dance floor and access to enjoy the outside as well.

The night ran so smoothly, all the decor and music was perfect. For dessert we had Waffles and Dinges outside and inside guests could enjoy cake and espresso. All our vendors we worked with were more than accommodating, they were or became friends. We had a enchanting night and it was wonderful to be surrounded by friends and family. Ryon : Lockhart Photography captured beautifully this magical day that everyone cannot stop talking about months later!

Photography: Ryon:Lockhart Photography | Videography: Kiss The Bride Films | Event Design: Faye and Renee Floral and Event Design | Floral Design: Faye and Renee Floral and Event Design | Wedding Dress: Custom by Rolando Santana for Ports 1961 | Cake: Lucky Bird Bakes | Wedding Shoes: Manolo Blahnik | Catering: The Liberty Warehouse | Hair and Makeup: Artist Makeup Academy | DJ: Dash of Class | Groom's Attire: The Black Tux | Wedding Venue: The Liberty Warehouse | Dessert: Wafels Dinges

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Cinematography

Kiss The Bride Films

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Some photo shoots are just so easy, breezy, you sense it immediately upon looking at the pics. And this engagement session is one of those. These two cuties are so full of love and laughter and these pics by Erika Brown radiate it wholeheartedly. They strolled through Central Park and dipped and danced, smiled and swirled… and we can’t get enough!

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From Erika Brown Photography… This was a simple yet truly unforgettable engagement session in the heart of NYC. Tim and Kristy are so incredibly sweet and completely in love so photographing them and capturing these special moments was so, so easy.

From the Bride-to-be… Tim and I met on Valentines Day 2014. We had a mutual friend throwing a Valentines Day party and after some persuasion from our best friends, both decided to attend. Our mutual friend introduced us almost immediately after I arrived and as the night went on, we kept finding our way back to each other :)

After a couple weeks, Tim asked me out and we had our first date at the Gramercy Park Hotel in NYC. I know it is super cliche but we pretty much hit it off from the very first date. Fast forward to April 8th, 2016…. I had thought I was attending a close friend’s birthday party but little did I know Tim had much more planned. We walked up to the Gramercy Park Hotel (where we had that very first date) and Tim proposed outside while inside awaited our parents and closest friends ready to celebrate our engagement with us!

As for the wedding… I am definitely most excited to marry my best friend and absolute love of my life. I cannot wait to get our lives started together as husband and wife.

The engagement shoot was an absolute blast! Tim and I were a little apprehensive about doing an engagement shoot to begin with because we felt like that just wasn’t us (boy were we wrong). After some persuasion from our amazing photographer, Erika Brown, we decided that it probably was a good idea. We went into the engagement shoot very practically. We would be able to get used to being in front of the camera while our photographer would get to know us. We decided to do our shoot in Central Park in NYC, a very meaningful location to us considering New York is where we met and started our lives together. The shoot itself ended up being so much fun and actually a very romantic afternoon together. Erika’s fun loving personality and professionalism made Tim and I feel beyond comfortable in front of the camera. We are so excited about the pictures we took during our engagement session. We truly believe they capture our personalities and love perfectly :) To say we are more than excited to have Erika photograph our wedding is an understatement!

Photography: Erika Brown Photography

This is the kind of story that makes me eager to log on to SMP every day. It’s not about the details, no, it’s a pure dose of LOVE. Because love is love, and nothing (not even a country) can deny that. Seth and Jacky are brave, strong and admirable for their journey to say I Do. Alisa Ferris‘ imagery paired with their story below is bound to brighten your day.

Seth and Jacky are not able to enjoy the simple luxuries that many couples take for granted. They can’t hold hands or kiss in public. Cozy Instagram pics? Posted with caution. The couple is from Indonesia where same-sex marriage is not recognized, and even worse, neither is homosexuality.

The two met online when Seth was just 19 and Jacky was 16; they maintained a friendship for 4 years before venturing into a romantic relationship. Fast forward eleven years, and the couple have pretty much done it all; here’s the scoop on these savvy business owners, parents and gay rights advocates.

“In Indonesia, homosexuality is not widely accepted, and gay marriage is non-existent,” stated Jacky. “After more than ten years together, we grew weary of the subterfuge and felt that we deserved to have what so many others already have.”

That mindset sent the two packing for NYC where gay marriage is legal. Their elopement in NYC was followed by a quick Honeymoon in D.C. (and a Beyoncé concert, of course!). The result was a 3-day photo session around Washington D.C. and New York City that is an emoji heart feast for the eyes.

“We have Style Me Pretty to thank for our photographer, Alisa Ferris. When we read about how she saved another couple from wedding disaster (READ: “Their Photographer Didn’t Show Up! Here’s What Happened Next), we knew we had to have her,” said Seth.

Now that their nuptials are legal, the pair are becoming recognized as gay rights advocates in their home country. “Not only did we want to get married for ourselves, but also, to set an example for our son, Jasper,” commented Seth. “We wanted to show him to stand up for what you believe in.”

“What we didn’t realize was that so many others would be inspired by our actions. Since we’ve become more open about our relationship,” Jacky continued, “I’ve received messages from many young kids telling me they were on the brink of suicide until they heard our story; now they have hope of living a life of love and happiness.”

Having overcome such challenges has made this power couple even stronger. Seth, the mastermind behind the couple’s advertising agency, and Jacky, a prominent fashion designer, whose clothes have been spotted on the likes of Neyo and Lance Bass, now look forward to the future with a relaxed heart.

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From Alisa Ferris… When I heard Seth + Jacky’s story, I knew instantly I wanted to document the story of their love. Sadly, even in the U.S. wedding industry, you will encounter vendors who don’t support same-sex marriage. In my role as a photographer of same-sex marriages, I’m not merely an artist, I also consider myself an activist.

Photography: Alisa Ferris | Location: New York Public Library | Location: Central Park | Location: Library Of Congress

With a sweet couple celebrating seven years of wedded bliss and a view of the iconic Brooklyn Bridge as a backdrop, Esther Sun captured what can best be described as pure magic. Each and every image captures the beauty of love, the beauty of Brooklyn and the celebration of seven wonderful years.

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From the couple… Anniversaries, an opportunity to look back and fill up on gratitude for all the blessings through the years. 7 years after our wedding, we’ve passed many milestones – first jobs, first apartment, two lovely daughters, our first business, first pets, first mini van… We also picked up our fair share of battle wounds and scars, won many victories, had suffocating lows, blessed many, and received even more blessings and promises. Honestly, we have been in such a busy and chaotic season in our lives that I wondered if we would have the time or energy to take a night off and celebrate. But this year, not only did we have our first date night in ages, but we also took a day to get dressed up, get hair and makeup done, and have our photos taken for the first time in 7 years! Because marriage is worth celebrating. Because our wedding day was the last time I focused on the importance of preserving our memories of us as a couple. And because showing our girls how to honor, love and respect each other well is one of the best things we can do for them. I’m convinced the world needs more positive images not just of the wedding day, but also the many years of marriage. We need to celebrate the sacredness of marriage and cherish the day-in and day-out, sometimes non-glamorous, displays of forgiveness, perseverance, commitment, hope, selflessness, and love.

Photography: Esther Sun Photography | Hair & makeup: Dlala

With a venue as beautiful as the Botanic Garden in Brooklyn, you can never go wrong with a simple and classic design just to simply enhance the beautiful backdrop. That’s exactly what this couple did with stunning white florals and lush greenery by Seaport Flowers. This couples’ happiness and love shines through the entire gallery all captured to perfection by Brklyn View Photography!

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From the photographer…Weddings at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens are my absolute favorite. You are in the middle of one of the busiest boroughs in all of New York City, yet once you enter beyond the gates, you find yourself inside a luscious garden that is quiet, calm, and completely picturesque which is exactly why Marilyn and Dan wanted to get married at The Palm House!

The bride got ready at the ever stunning Crosby Street Hotel located in SoHo, Manhattan. The hotel rooms have an eclectic decor and abundance of natural light which is a photographers dream. Marilyn wore her grandmother’s gold necklace, which has been worn by all the women in her family on their own wedding days for three generations and counting! It is a true family heirloom. The Bride wore a delicate lace embroidered wedding dress that took everyone’s breath away once she slipped it on.

Dan and his groomsmen got ready at the couples’ apartment in historic Brooklyn Heights. Looking dapper in his tuxedo, he was excited to travel to Brooklyn Botanic Gardens for the couples first look in front of The Palm House. We took full advantage of the sun drenched magnolia plaza during their bride and groom portraits. Their wedding ceremony was held outside in front of a stunning tree just before sunset. Their priest was one of the funniest officiants ever and had everyone in attendance laughing out loud to his cheery annotates and clever analogies. Guests were treated to sunset cocktail hour outside on the terrace before the reception began inside stunning glass atrium of The Palm House.

One of the most memorable speeches was given by Marilyn’s father. He gushed about his daughters accomplishments before recounting one of his favorite childhood memories of Marilyn in her swimsuit as a baby. He even brought it from home for everyone to see! Marilyn and Dan know how to d-a-n-c-e and had a great time on the dance floor while Hank Lane Band brought the house down – no one sat down during the reception!

The Bride and Groom are just the sweetest, kindest and most thoughtful couple and I’m so honored I was a part of their wedding celebration! Congratulations Marilyn and Dan!

Photography: Jainé Kershner Photography | Floral Design: Seaport Flowers | Wedding Dress: Essence Of Australia | Invitations: Minted | Reception Venue: Brooklyn Botanic Garden | Brides Shoes: Badgley Mishka | Bridesmaids' Dresses: J.Crew | Hair & Makeup: Lynette Gutierrez from Angelo David Salon | Groom's Attire: Black Lapel | Groomsmen's Attire: Black Lapel | Getting Ready: Crosby Street Hotel | Wedding Band: Hank Lane Music

NYC may be a thoroughly modern city but there is something classic, something old school New York about this shoot. The glamour, the romance, we love it all. The only way to make it even better? Infuse it with a bit of fun, and that’s exactly what Rebecca Yale did (I mean, how adorable are these two!?). Add in Face Time Beauty Concierge helping this bride-to-be shine her brightest, and this gallery is absolutely picture perfect.

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From Rebecca Yale… Paul and Dakota were introduced through their roommates at Penn State in the summer of 2011. After dating throughout college, they moved to Manhattan together so Paul could work in finance and Dakota could work in entertainment. Through busy schedules, they always made it a point to go back to Penn State for football games. Paul proposed on Penn State’s campus a few hours after the Penn State victory over Ohio State in 2016. They chose to do their engagement session on the top of New York City, Top of the Rock, that is. With magnificent views of the city they’ve come to call home, they enjoyed a beautiful summer morning on the roof of 30 Rock followed by a walk through Central Park.

Photography: Rebecca Yale Photography | Dress: Betsy & Adam | Hair + Makeup: Face Time Beauty Concierge | Venue: Top Of The Rock

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Rebecca Yale Photography

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We’ve unofficially deemed today a celebration of NYC. Beginning with this morning’s real wedding set in Central Park South and ending with an inspiration shoot at the Four Seasons downtown, we’re deep-diving this modern take on a hotel affair all designed by Classic Events NYC. Think clean lines, garden blooms, and moments of quiet romance amongst the bustling city captured by the incomparable Judy Pak. Get your city wedding fix with even more this way in the gallery.

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From Classic Events NYC… When the venerable Four Seasons Hotel opened its new downtown location, we just knew it was a perfect match for our classic and timeless style. Our vision for this shoot was to complement the venue, featuring a modern garden-inspired table setting.

We called in expert floral designer, Belle Fleur NY, to create a floral-scape of dreamy whites and crisp fresh greens with soft delicate accents of pale periwinkle that softened the look of the contemporary ballroom and celebrated the beautiful spring season. The table design incorporated formal footed crystal vessels with potted Myrtle topiaries and faceted tumblers with a bevy of mixed florals including fluttering Sweetpea, Muscari, Patience Garden Roses, button Ranunculus, white Lilac, Parrot Tulips, and Hellebores.

Although the look felt very much as if we cut from the most exquisite European garden, we stayed true to a more refined and controlled silhouette to embrace the juxtaposition of a city-country style.

Photography: Judy Pak Studio | Event Design: Classic Events NYC | Floral Design: Belle Fleur | Wedding Dress: Marchesa | Cake: Ron Ben-Israel Cakes | Invitations: Fourteen-Forty | Reception Venue: Four Seasons New York Downtown | Bride's Shoes: Valentino | Hair + Makeup: Face Time Beauty Concierge | Groom's Attire: Sene | Bridal Salon : Gabriella New York Bridal Salon

I think a little part of every bride longs to feel like a princess. Whether her style leans modern, boho, rustic or classic, there’s something about the Cinderella moment that makes all our hearts skip a beat and today we’re seeing how this bride pulled it off. Kristin married her love Kevin in a jaw-dropping Pronovias gown with hair and makeup magic by Face Time Beauty and her ‘maids outfitted in Jenny Yoo. The entire day, including invites by Laura Hooper, is a New York dream and we’ve got it all from the lens of Rebecca Yale.

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Kristin and Kevin were married in the most classic of NYC venues, at the historic Essex House Hotel, right on Central Park. The day began with both of them getting ready at the hotel with their friends and families before meeting at a bridge in Central Park for a romantic first look moment. As if it were straight out of any NYC rom-com musicians popped in under the bridge to serenade them and a group of tourists gathered on the other side of the bridge to watch their love story unfold. We walked around the Southern part of the park taking a few portraits before being joined by their wedding party for photos amidst the lush green trees of the park in June. Kristin’s bridesmaids sported mismatched Jenny Yoo dresses in both solid and patterned pink shades and were the perfect helpers with her gorgeous ball gown as we walked through the park. They each carried large lush bouquets created by Poppies and Posies. On the way back from portraits it began to drizzle and everyone huddled under the NY Athletic Club awning next door which made for a cute photo moment.

After portraits, everyone headed inside for some much-needed air conditioning on the humid summer day and we captured some family portraits in the beautiful ballroom, including some adorable moments with the bride and groom’s nieces and nephews who made some of the cutest flower girls I’ve ever seen! The couple said their I Do’s in the ballroom followed by cocktails next door before returning to the ballroom for an evening of dinner and dancing with their friends and families. The bride and groom have a very sweet dachshund named Georgia, who was included in their engagement session, and they decided to honor her on the wedding day by including her in their cake topper as a gold silhouette with them atop their cake.

Photography: Rebecca Yale Photography | Videography: Kiss The Bride Films | Floral Design: Poppies & Posies | Wedding Dress: Pronovias | Invitations: Laura Hooper Calligraphy | Bride's Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Rings: Tiffany & Co. | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Hair + Makeup: Face Time Beauty Concierge | Band: Hank Lane Music | Venue: JW Marriott Essex House | Bride's Purse: Furla | Flower Girl Dresses: David's Bridal

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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Rebecca Yale Photography

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Cinematography

Kiss The Bride Films

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This fete from Bashful Captures is the definition of urban chic. From the greenery-adorned brick backdrops and twinkling lights overhead to the Bride in her modern strapless Carolina Herrera dress and her bridesmaids in black, it’s the perfect blueprint if you’re planning your Big Day bash in the city.

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From Bashful Captures… Suzie and Jiwon started their wedding day at The William Vale, with the most gorgeous NYC skyline view. Their wedding party were all dressed in black. The bridesmaids wore all different black dresses, which looked super chic. Suzie’s simple Caroline Herrera dress was accessorized by her beautiful blue earrings. The hotel was just a few minutes away from their venue, so we walked around the neighborhood to take some pictures with all the fun backdrops in the area. Even on the hot summer day, Suzie and Jiwon were all smiles and enjoyed every moment of their special day. Their beautiful ceremony took place at the new and gorgeous Dobbin St. In Brooklyn. Upon arrival at Dobbin St., guests are welcomed by the venue’s dramatically fun cobalt blue wall. You then proceed through the elegantly black and white tiled foyer, that leads to the gorgeous open space where the awesome party would later take place. But before they kicked off the dancing and partying, Suzie and Jiwon had their heartfelt ceremony on the rooftop surrounded by their loved ones. The wedding decor reflected the couples urban and chic style throughout their wedding.

Photography: Bashful Captures | Floral Design: TJ Flowers | Wedding Dress: Carolina Herrera | Cake: Sugar Suckle | Invitations: Paperless Post | Shoes: Aquazzura | Rings: David S. Diamonds | Catering: Purslane Catering | Make up & Hair: Amy Chin Beauty | DJ: In The Mix | Hotel: William Vale | Dobbin St: Dobbin St | Video: Forged In The North | Wedding Coordinating: Starling On Bond

The only thing more gorgeous than an elopement at the New York City Public Library is that insanely stunning Marchesa gown. It’s a show stopper and when paired with simple, elegant details crafted by Query Events including the prettiest of paper goods by Cleggraphy Designs, this inspiration will have you craving a minimalist approach to saying “I Do”. Fall in love with this marbled gem captured by Callie Manion right here.

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When you get the chance to shoot at the New York Public Library in a Marchesa gown, you pack your bags and get on the earliest flight out of Dallas! The design concept was really centered around the architecture of both the amazing front steps of the NYPL and the caped Marchesa gown. Keeping color to a minimum was vital in not overpowering the existing features – we opted for various shades of gray to mimic the marbled elements of the building and added a pop of black in our stationary pieces by Cleggraphy Design. Unfortunately we had a beautiful vintage car that cancelled less than an hour before their scheduled arrival. The only solution was to pull the inner New Yorker out of this Texan girl and hail a good old fashioned taxi! Although not the original plan, I’m thrilled at the truthfulness in those images! What a wonderful experience and dream come true to have this opportunity to work with so many amazing vendors!

Photography: Callie Manion | Event Design + Planning: Query Events | Floral Design: Query Events | Wedding Dress: Marchesa | Cake: A White Cake | Jewelry: Susie Saltzman | Hair + Makeup: Marci Saucedo | Stationery + Calligraphy: Cleggraphy Designs | Bridal Boutique: Gabriella New York Bridal Salon | Female Model: Kseniya Sovenke | Male Model: Dominic D'Angelica | Veil: Blanca Veils

There’s nothing like a glamorous, black tie affair in New York City, and this wedding checks off every requisite box with style: sparkly Miu Miu heels, Bridesmaids in gorgeous Lazaro gowns, Groom in a classic tux by Tincati, overflowing florals by Tantawan Bloom, and sunset views of Central Park. Pretty unbeatable, right? Get ready to be swept off your feet by this wedding at the Mandarin Oriental, captured by Brian Hatton Photography.

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From Brian Hatton Photography… Lidia and Anthony were married on September 26th, with their wedding ceremony and reception at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York City. Anthony is a real estate developer, and he and Lidia met as she was considering getting an apartment in one of his properties. He got wind of who was coming by for a showing and insisted on giving the tour himself! The rest is history.

The whole day took place at the Mandarin Oriental overlooking Columbus Circle in Manhattan. I love shooting in this spectacular space every year, not only for all the service and luxury of a 5-star hotel but also for the unparalleled views from the ballroom and bridal suite. Before the ceremony itself, Lidia and Anthony opted to do a first look just outside in the circle, and then we all hopped in Sprinter vans to head out for pictures at Lincoln Center. Then it was back to the Mandarin Oriental for the ceremony overlooking Central Park as the sun went down. The Bride and Groom were surrounded by flowers, and the Bridesmaids even had differing but complementary bouquets.

Tantawan Bloom is one of the very best florists and event decorators in New York City. They turned the Mandarin Oriental’s ballroom into a magical white wonderland. The whole day was filled with fine details and stunning visuals. The invitations were especially gorgeous, with each guest receiving a silk-covered bifold imprinted with gold leaf.

Photography: Brian Hatton Photography | Cinematography: NY Filmworks | Floral Design: Tantawan Bloom | Wedding Dress: Mark Zunino | Wedding Dress: Galia Lahav | Stationery: Allure Invitations | Reception Venue: Mandarin Oriental New York | Shoes: Mui Mui | Bridesmaids' Dresses: JLM Couture | Makeup: Warren Tricomi Salon | Hair: Edgar Saenz | Groom's Attire: Tincati | Portraits: Lincoln Center | Portraits: Central Park

It may be the height of summer, but winter brides, I know you’re out there—and I’m betting you’re on the hunt for a bit of winter wonderland inspiration. Look no further than this classic day captured by Images by Berit. Complete with a Carolina Herrera wedding dress and Jenny Yoo bridesmaids, you’ll be dreaming of the cold weather days to come.

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From Images by Berit… Chris and Erin met at school in Geneva, New York- where 9 out of the 12 months of the year it is snowing. They had always loved the winter and thought the idea of having a winter wedding was cozy and romantic , because it reminded them of where they first fell in love. They were going for all things that reminded them of the winter; plaids, furs, black tie, navy, champagne, holiday parties, Christmas lights, hints of red, white, green and gold, delicious food, fun drinks, all the people they love in the same room together! Plandome Country Club was always a second home to Erin and she could not imagine having her wedding any place else. The staff is family to her and now Chris! They were so so excited to share their wedding day with everyone at PCC!

Photography: Berit Bizjak Photography, Inc. | Flowers: Flowers by Burton | Wedding Dress: Carolina Herrera | Cake: Saint Honore Pastry Shop | Ceremony Venue: St. Mary's | Reception Venue: Plandome Country Club | shoes: Stuart Weitzmen | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Hair and Makeup: Beauty On Location | Band: Current Affair | Grooms Attire: Ralph Lauren | Bridal Salon: Mark Ingram Atelier | Flower Girl Attire: Coren Moore Inc.

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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This couple wanted their Hamptons wedding to feature a “JDM” – a jaw-dropping moment their guests (many of whom travelled to New York from the UK to celebrate) would never forget. With the help of their Ever Swoon Weddings & Events, they landed on the idea of having a confetti blower unexpectedly shower guests during the reception’s dance party led by Hank Lane Music. The surprise was wildly successful, and their beautiful beach chic wedding is one that will not be forgotten. Lucky for us, BETSI EWING STUDIO captured the “JDM”, so don’t forget to press play below after seeing the gorgeous gallery.

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From the Bride… Montauk is such a special place to us – it is where we spend our summers and where we got engaged (at Gurney’s, to be exact). Only minutes after our engagement, we found ourselves sipping celebratory champagne at the outdoor bar watching them prepare for a wedding that evening. At that very moment, we knew Gurney’s was going to be our venue. With the picturesque ocean views, cotton candy skies at sunset, and modern yet beach inspired décor – there was no question.

My husband is from England, so we had many guests traveling from across the pond to celebrate with us, and we wanted to ensure they had the most amazing experience. One night was not enough, so we planned an entire wedding weekend. On Thursday, we started with our Rehearsal Dinner at The Surf Lodge’s private outdoor space with 50 of our closest friends and family. On Friday, we rented out The Sloppy Tuna and invited every wedding guest to join us for passed hors d’oeuvres and cocktails accompanied by live music and corn hole!

For the big day, Saturday, we were married at St. Therese Church right in town, which was so convenient for guests as they could walk from their hotels (although we did organize roundtrip transportation for everyone regardless of where they were staying). Our cocktail hour was on the outdoor lower deck at Gurney’s with an over the top raw bar to fit the beach theme as well as many other delicious cuisines. And, you can’t forget our signature cocktail – champagne with an upside down popsicle, perfect for a warm summer day! Everyone LOVED it! For cocktail hour entertainment, we brought in a steel drum player to set the vacation mood and help our guests unwind. It was the perfect touch!

Finally, all guests were escorted to the main event, which took place underneath a grand marquis/tent overlooking the ocean. Our wedding location inspired my vision for our tent decor – I like to call it “beach chic”. I chose natural and neutral colors, driftwood accents, hints of metallic and mercury glass, and a touch of greenery. I wanted everyone to feel like they were outside even though we were under a tent! Our amazing florist brought this vision to life – our centerpieces were unexpected, like a piece of abstract art mimicking the unpredictable aspects of nature. Our flowers focused on ivory hydrangea and snapdragon, pale pink dahlias, and hints of green willows and eucalyptus. The head table was my favorite part – it featured a table runner made of driftwood filled with mismatched floral arrangements and endless candlelight and a wall of cascading greenery and flowers that hung behind the table providing the perfect backdrop for pictures.

I was also in love with our escort card display. I love a good boxwood wall, and our florist was able to recreate my vision exactly – two, six feet boxwood walls covered in the most perfect shade of green with pink and white roses affixed to the perimeter. The escort cards were pinned to satin ribbon which ran down the length of the display. It was a show stopper for sure! Since the flowers and escort card display had a rustic and natural feel, I wanted to balance out the tent to make sure it felt luxurious, so we brought in crystal chandeliers, fabric drapery for the ceilings and walls, as well as white-washed wood floors. It truly was the perfect combination of beach and chic.

Something that was very important to me was adding an element of surprise for our guests. My wedding planners and I discussed possibilities for a “JDM” (jaw dropping moment). Most of our ideas such as fireworks never came to fruition because of fire code or town regulations, but we didn’t stop there. Instead we rented two commercial confetti blowers that sat on either side of the stage where our band was. Just as the dance floor started to get crowded and one of our favorite songs played, the blowers went off, firing gold and silver confetti into the air. Everyone was blown away from the excitement! Since I couldn’t just stop at confetti, we took it one step further. Following the reception, everyone moved to the Regent Cocktail Club for our after party, for which we had a DJ. My husband and I made a grand entrance accompanied by a saxophone player who stayed for over an hour playing alongside the DJ. He was the life of the party, standing on chairs getting the crowd going. It was hands down one of the most memorable parts of the entire day and one that our guests still talk about!

So, those were all of the fancy and materialistic things we did – which, don’t get me wrong, were all amazing and made it such an unforgettable weekend. But, the most important part of it all was being able to look at my best friend and my now husband and think, “Wow! This is just the beginning!” It has been almost six months since our wedding day, and I must admit, every day gets better! My one piece of advice for all future rides is to not get caught up in the planning – things will go wrong and be stressful, but always remember you are marrying your best friend and nothing else matters!

Photography: BETSI EWING STUDIO | Cinematography: BETSI EWING STUDIO | Event Planning: ever swoon | Floral Design: L'Atelier Rouge | Wedding Dress: Ines Di Santo | Stationery: East Six | Ceremony Venue: St. Therese of Lisieux | Reception Venue: Gurney's Montauk Resort And Spa | Makeup: Cassandra Garcia | Hair: Joseph Maine | Lighting: Fushion | DJ: DJ Nicole | Groom's Attire: Baldwin Formals | Transportation: M V Limo | After Party: Gurney's Montauk Resort And Spa | Music: Hank Lane Music | Photo Booth: Photomadic | Rehearsal Dinner: Surf Lodge | Rosé: Wolffer Estate Vineyard | Tent Rentals: The New York Tent Company | Welcome Dinner: The Sloppy Tuna

If you find yourself panicking over the mere thought of getting those engagement + wedding photos taken, know that you are not alone. Freeze face happens to the very best of us, and if you’re more than ready to conquer those awkward poses and staged kisses, the uber-talented Bethany Rees of DOLA Photography is here to tell us exactly how it can be done. Cozy on up for a lesson in oh-so-natural wedding photos below.

TRUST YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER

When it comes to capturing natural images, I love to keep couples moving and doing things, so that they almost forget they are being photographed. Even small amounts of movement can make photos look less posed and stagnant. It’s great when couples are up for whatever I ask, like leading one another through a field or walking quickly together down a set of stairs, trusting that I will always make them look good. Even if they are just standing in one spot for me, I’ll ask them to sway, almost slow dance with each other, so there is always movement. A good photographer knows how to give direction to get natural looking photos out of anyone, no matter what their personality is like.

IGNORE THE CAMERA

My style is also very photojournalistic, so outside of the time we do portraits together, I am constantly scanning the room on a wedding day looking for small moments – glances, laughs, hugs… those are the best candids. Sometimes I even hold my camera up and wait. I can see the photo in my head and I just need something small to happen, or someone to move into the frame to get it perfect, and it happens so quickly that if I didn’t already have my camera ready at my eye, I would miss it! For those photos I need people to ignore me – a lot of times when people see a camera they want to pose or smile, which is great, but normally my favorite candid photos happen when people are just being present, enjoying themselves at the party and ignoring me.

ENJOY YOURSELF

Consider doing something that is just for the two of you. It doesn’t need to be something major, but a small moment or activity together gives an opportunity for me to just document what you’re doing together in an unscripted way. Get coffee, have a glass of champagne together, go off and eat your cake while watching the sunset. Give yourselves extra down time in your wedding day schedule to really allow yourself to relax and for spontaneous things to happen. Those in-between moments are always some of my favorite and the most natural looking photos! For engagement sessions, too, I recommend getting your hair and makeup done so you are feeling fabulous and confident… treat it like you’re going on a fun date!

You want your wedding day to rock, so finding a photog that can ease your mind and help you feel natural in front of the camera is key. Bethany Rees, studio owner of DOLA Photography, is one of those talented photographers, using her years of experience to snap images that are modern, timeless AND gorgeous… and all with an unobtrusive and laid-back style that will sooo put you at ease. We are all kinds of obsessed with her photojournalistic style, and her ability to snap those moments you didn’t even know were happening. Do yourself a favor and contact her today for a wedding album filled with heart-tugging images you’ll cherish for always.

Photography: DOLA Photography

There are few places more romantic than Central Park in the spring – I love Central Park so much, in fact, that I took some of my own engagement photos there. Between the pretty pink blooms on the trees, the warm light, and the general buzz of joy and activity all around, it’s the perfect place to commemorate a new beginning – like this dreamy engagement session by Greer Gattuso Photography. Don’t miss a single photo of this one – they’re all waiting for you in the gallery!

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Caitlin and Brooks are having a destination wedding in New Orleans but decided they wanted their engagement photos in New York where they live. Beautiful Central Park in the spring made for a beautiful backdrop.

Photography: Greer Gattuso

This wedding is the perfect mashup of all my favorite styles – classic and modern, with just a little hint of nautical romance. It’s what happens when you’ve got a bride like Nicole with a great eye for style plus the ultimate Beach Club setting right by the water. Photographs by Caileigh worked her magic behind the camera we’re deeming this gallery one we never want to leave.

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From the photographer… I was so honored to be able to photograph Nicole & Matthew’s wedding weekend this past September in Mamaroneck, New York at Beach Point Club. Matt proposed to the love of his life, Nicole, exactly four years to the day they had met. She knew he was the one not long that first encounter – he always knew just what to say to make her laugh!

Their celebrations began with a sea-themed rehearsal dinner and continued into an elegant, heart-filled wedding the following day. They said their “I Do’s” by the water surrounded by a 16-person bridal party and their closest family and friends!

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From the bride… Matt and I were introduced in passing at a holiday party by our roommates, who were dating each other at the time. It was not until a few days later that Matt was able to convince my roommate, Bene, to give him my number. He quickly got in touch and immediately knew just what to say to make me laugh – soon after, we started dating. Matt proposed exactly four years after the day we had met while overlooking the Chicago River on a walk home from my favorite lunch spot.

Although we were living in Chicago at the time, it was very important to both of us to get married on the East Coast, close to both of our families. After a few trips out to visit venues, it was an easy decision to be married at Beach Point Club, where Matthew’s parents are members. Having spent a good amount of time at the club, we both just felt very comfortable with everyone there and new that any event at this beautiful location would be spectacular.

We were so fortunate to have help and input from so many friends and family members leading up to our big day. Both of our parents were dedicated to helping us realize our dream wedding weekend, our siblings played huge roles in making everything extra special and we opted to include as many of our friends and family members as we could in our wedding party. I had eight bridesmaids and Matt had eight groomsman plus two ushers, which made for lots of excitement, love and support around us on our wedding day. This truly made our entire weekend so special and was definitely one of the key factors in how elated we were with how everything came together.

Something that we spent a lot of time thinking about was the music that would set the tone for our ceremony. We really wanted each song to reflect our taste and personalities, so we decided to stray from the typical wedding marches. We were a little hesitant about this, but the decision led to what we each recognize as one of our favorite memories from our wedding day – my walk down the aisle. Our string quartet played Starlight by Muse and it was just one of those surreal moments when you experience pretty much every emotion possible. It really took our breath away.

Photography: Photographs By Caileigh | Coordination: The Event Assist | Floral Design: The Rosery Flower Shop | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Hair + Makeup: Beautini | Entertainment: Hal Prince | Groom's Attire: Mark Russell | String Quartet: Art Strings | Venue: Beach Point Club Inc. | Cake Artist: Lucky Bird Bakes

If floral prints and pastel hues make your heart beat faster, say hello to your new favorite wedding. Photographed by Cassi Claire and filmed by Birchfields, it’s an ode to all things spring with romantic-driven details that could play any time of year. From the Plum Pretty Sugar robes to the bride’s purple diamond ring, this day doesn’t miss a beat.

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From the bride… Our wedding can be best described as a glamorous springtime wedding! While The Garden City Hotel is a luxurious and royal-looking venue, it was important to me to integrate beautiful flowers and springtime elements. I love everything about the spring, which is why we gave away wildflower seeds as favors, paired with homemade jam made by Etienne’s grandmother, shipped here from her countryside garden in the south of France! And the cherry blossom trees were in full bloom on our wedding day!

Our colors were purple, blush pink, peach, and gold. For our flower, we chose a beautiful array of peonies, tulips, roses, and ranunculus. My bridesmaids carried bouquets of pink peonies and the table centerpieces slightly mimicked my bouquet, which included all the colors of our wedding.

Our ceremony was very romantic, located in a dimly lit room with soft music and candles lining the aisle. Etienne’s best friend from college officiated the ceremony, and guests were handed glasses of champagne as they walked in to be seated.

Photography: Cassi Claire | Videography: Birchfields | Floral Design: Pedestals Floral Decorators | Cake: Garden City Hotel | Invitations: Simple GD | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaids' Dresses: BHLDN | Makeup: Christina Amador | Favors: Favor Universe | Groom's Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Groomsmen's Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Venue: Garden City Hotel | Bride Dress Designer: Pronovias | Bride Rings: Ken & Dana Design | Groom Rings: H.L. Gross & Bros | Music: Tommy's Tunes | Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar

Even more spring wedding inspiration!

When the Bride’s dress is named the “Cleopatra” and features elegant, draped beading at the back and a romantic, flowing skirt, you know she is going to look unique, strong, and beautiful. And the goodness doesn’t stop there! This Brooklyn wedding photographed by READYLUCK, epitomizing bohemian elegance with details from the warm color palette to the assortment of lanterns, can’t be missed!

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From the Bride… Before we ever started the planning process, we shared the vision that we wanted our wedding to be an event that would bring our friends and family together to eat delicious food, dance to great music, and celebrate love in all its many forms. We couldn’t have been happier with the end result!

My dress was “Cleopatra” by Amanda Wakeley – I knew I wanted something totally different, and I felt beautiful and strong in it. I wore a bracelet custom designed to match the dress, and my mother added extra beading from the dress to my grandmother’s brooch pin, which I wore in my hair. Steve wore a Hugo Boss tux with a custom shirt by Martin Greenfield Clothiers of Brooklyn, New York, and a gold wedding band by Rebecca Overmann.

We co-created our ceremony with our lovely officiant, Deborah Roth, who helped us weave together customs that were meaningful and genuine to us. We placed a “wishing stone” on each guest’s seat prior to the ceremony and had our friends and family imbue them with good wishes during the ceremony; they are all in a vase in our home now. Our favorite crafted detail was four scarves, one from each of our mothers and maternal grandmothers, woven together and used to bind our hands in an infinity circle for the handfasting part of our ceremony – one of the world’s oldest wedding customs and the likely origin of the term “tying the knot”! It was such a powerful way to honor the strong women in our lives who helped teach us how to love.

Because Liberty Warehouse provides such a beautiful blank slate, we wanted colors that would really pop off the tables and walls. We decided on a mix of greens and jewel tones that would be bright and colorful while also being warm and inviting. One of my best friends made our cake – an ode to our childhood days of making sweet treats together. All of the decor, flowers, and details were orchestrated by the talented Konstantinos Floral Design and Decor Group, who executed this organic, bohemian vibe that had the room dripping in flowers and lanterns. We had a table with pictures of our grandparents as a nod to “our beginning.” Pegasus Productions designed the lighting, including the outdoor ceremony area, which then become a lounge area for guests during the reception.

Our favorite DIY project was a mural of letters and cards that we constructed for the cocktail area. Three months into our relationship, I moved 3,000 miles across the country for a year and a half, and because of this we accumulated quite the collection of notes and letters. Along with some cards from close family and friends, we decided to display these on a beautiful wooden door that we found in a local Astoria recycling warehouse.

Our favors were also a special “NY” DIY project. We knew our reception would go late into the night (a pizza truck showed up at 1:00am), so we decided to send guests home with breakfast – a brown paper bag with two bagels from our beloved Brooklyn Bagel (cream cheese and plastic knife included), honey sticks, and a choice of our three favorite teas from our local tea shop, Tea & Milk. Guests told us this absolutely saved them from hangovers!

There were so many incredible moments – probably the most memorable, though, was the last dance to “I Will Wait” by Mumford and Sons, a song that had special meaning to us. Marcus Reid Band of Hank Lane Entertainment played an incredible version of the song that had us and every one of our guests wildly jumping up, throwing our hands in the air, and singing along to the chorus! It was such an amazing end to an evening of seriously some of the best music we’ve ever heard.

One piece of advice that I would give Brides-to-be is to focus on the big picture – for the night of and in the larger scheme. It’s easy to get stressed by the details and decisions, but ultimately you and your guests may not even notice small details. Your guests will however feel the vibe and tone that you set. Staying focused on the message about yourselves and your values will absolutely translate to your friends and family.

Photography: Readyluck | Floral Design: Konstantinos Design | Wedding Dress: Amanda Wakeley | Lighting: Pegasus Productions | DJ: Hank Lane Music | Groom's Attire: Martin Greenfield | Venue: The Liberty Warehouse

Early in their relationship, this couple identified a shared passion of theirs – music! Despite having different taste, many songs became important markers in their relationship, and they wanted their story told through song on their wedding day. The Devonshire Players and Around Town Live Music and Entertainment delivered on the couple’s wish, creating an unforgettable night captured by Elena Wolfe Photography.

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From the Bride… Joe proposed on a hiking trail that runs past our new home in Ridgefield, Connecticut, just as it began to snow. He said that this was the place where we would begin our new life as a family together, and so began the year and a half of planning that led to our incredible wedding day.

Joe grew up in the Bronx, and I am from southwestern Connecticut. We wanted to have a traditional ceremony at my parent’s church in Bedford, New York, and to choose a venue where both our families could easily be present. By selecting Boscobel, we were able to marry my desire for a garden wedding with my husband’s desire for a water view – one of his few wedding requests!

The natural beauty of the house and surrounding gardens inspired us to focus on organic, unstructured floral arrangements and seasonal colors. I am an art teacher, so color and design are incredibly important to me. We stole our color scheme from the apple trees, roses, and grape vines on the property, incorporating greenery, neutrals, and blushes with rich merlot and fig hues. Our florist, Jeanette Kleitz of True Florette, immediately saw our vision, and we worked together to build upon this concept that she brought to life so beautifully.

Capturing this amazing day was also incredibly important to us, and we were so lucky to work with Elena Wolfe, who captured all of these gorgeous moments and details in digital and film photographs.

Early in our relationship, Joe and I found that music was a shared passion of ours, despite us having wildly different taste. What we listened to in the car on long drives became the soundtrack of our relationship, and we wanted to incorporate these important songs into our day. Between walking down the aisle to “that Mandy Moore song from A Walk To Remember” (“Only Hope”), dancing our first dance to Brad Paisley’s “Then,” and making sure that we heard everything from new country to classic rock, we wanted to tell our story through song. We had the pleasure of having the Devonshire Players and Around Town Entertainment provide live music during our cocktail hour and reception, and they knocked it out of the park. We barely left the dance floor once the reception began!

One recommendation I have for all couples on their big day is to take a few minutes to step away from the reception with your new spouse. One of the fondest memories I have from my wedding day was a quiet walk my husband and I took through the apple orchard at Boscobel. We were able to watch the party going on under the tent from afar and absorb all of the love and excitement that had been poured out to us all day long.

We could not have asked for a more beautiful day. The weather was absolute perfection, and we could not have been more excited to share this day with our family and friends. Watching the sun set on the water from our cocktail hour and tented reception was a dream realized. Hearing the heartfelt toasts from our siblings and seeing every person we love all together in the same room really made our day special.

Photography: Elena Wolfe Photography | Floral Design: True Florette | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Invitations: Cardinal And Straw Fine Paper Goods | Ceremony Venue: St. Patricks Catholic Church In Bedford, NY | Reception Venue: Boscobel | Bride's Shoes: Emmy London | Rings: Sidney Thomas | Bridesmaids' Dresses: The Fitting Solution | Catering: Jean Jacques Culinary Creations | Catering: Cannoli Truck | Hair and Makeup: Jennifer Kinford | Calligraphy: Overdressed Paperie | Band: Around Town Entertainment | Groom's Attire: Ted Baker | Groom's Attire: Salvatore Ferragamo | Bridal Boutique: The Plumed Serpent Bridal Salon | Film Processing: ProPhoto Irvine | Music: Devonshire Players | Photography Assistance: Colleen MacMillan

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You would never know by the photos captured by Mekina Saylor Weddings that it was a mere 35 degrees outside the day of this cute couple’s engagement photos in Central Park. The pair look insanely chic (hello, LBD of our dreams!) and oh-so in love, so scroll on to see all the gorgeousness!

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From the Mekina Saylor Weddings… Ali and Ryan’s romance blossomed in New York City, and that is where they’ll begin their happily ever after. We went to Central Park for their engagement session. We roamed around, being all kinds of fancy in Ali’s little black dress from Revolve. These two couldn’t be any cuter while dancing around the Bethesda Terrace and non-stop smiling at one another.

From the Bride-to-be… Ryan and I met through our mutual friend, Maggie, while in college. Labor Day Weekend of 2010, Maggie invited me to Ryan’s house in Avalon, New Jersey, where we enjoyed a weekend as friends, leaving the beach not knowing when we would see each other again. Ryan, a New Yorker since graduating Columbia in 2010, worked in the city while I started my post-college years working in my hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania. As time went on, I got a job offer and moved to New York City in September 2012. On that following fateful Valentine’s Day, I went to a bar with my friends and ran into Ryan. I definitely believe in “serendipity,” so I knew we were meant to meet that night. We said our hellos and how good it was to see each other. Two weeks later, Ryan texted me, and we went on our first “real” date. The rest is history!

You could never tell that it was 35 degrees outside the day of our engagement photos, thanks to our amazing photographer, Mekina! This upcoming October we will be celebrating our marriage at a candlelit mass followed by dinner and dancing with our closest family and friends. I can’t wait!

Photography: Mekina Saylor Weddings | Dress: Revolve Clothing | Location: Central Park