JENETTE AND LEANDRO: A LOVE PARTY AT BROOKLYN’S COOLEST HOTEL

Jenette and Leandro met in a cab and it was love at first sight. They never left each other’s side after that day, and a couple of years later they were tying the knot at Brooklyn newest hot spot, the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge.

After getting ready in a very intimate setting with only her sister and mother with her, Jenette met Leandro on the 1 Hotel’s first floor balcony, overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan. This scenic first look was followed by a fun stroll around Dumbo during which Jenette and Leandro needed very little directing on my part; they were so connected, so in tune, that the photos spoke for themselves. We then went back to the 1 Hotel for them to sign the ketubah, walk down the aisle, share a passionate kiss and be officially married. The night ended with lots of dancing and a really fun outfit change for Jenette: she shed her beautiful Delphine Manivet dress for a really cool short evening dress, showcasing her super design heels.

I was really looking forward to shooting my first wedding at the  1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, because I had heard great things about it. I knew it was an innovative place with the environment in mind, from its recycled water system, to the locally-grown good, to the reclaimed wood used throughout the hotel (even their door keys are made of reclaimed wood. I mean, how?!) . The rooms are also beautiful, allowing for some gorgeous detail shots and portraits filled with natural light.

I have been lucky enough to shoot a few more weddings at the One Hotel Brooklyn Bridge since, and the experience never disappoints. Here’s to more, and here’s to Jenette and Leandro!

AN INTIMATE BROOKLYN BACKYARD WEDDING CELEBRATION

Juwita and Mike  had a really beautiful, yet super low-key boho wedding at Maison-May, in Brooklyn with a ceremony in the backyard and dancing on the parlor floor.

They managed to organize the whole affair in a few months, without a wedding planner, and kept things as personal as possible. The couple wanted their wedding to look like them and incorporated elements that reflected their personalities and little quirks: they used carnation as the sole flower throughout the reception and ceremony space (Juwita loves how underrated they are), they got ready together at their apartment with their cats, and they talked about zombies in their vows. Juwita and Mike stayed true to themselves during their wedding day, and I am sure it was so lovely, for their family and friends who know them so well, to see them unite their lives forever in such simplicity and truth. It was a real testimony of love between those two. Juwita and Mike moved me with their love, and how they managed to create such a beautiful and perfect day without make a big show of it. Congrats to them both!!

Vendors:

Venue: Maison-May Dekalb

Flowers: Hello Darlington

Dress: BHLDN by Anthropologie

Bag: Kate Spade

Shoes 1: Asos

Shoes 2: Betsey Johnson

Suit, tie and shoes: Hugo Boss

Cake: Momofuku

A BEAUTIFUL FARM-TO-TABLE CELEBRATION IN WESTCHESTER

Lauren and Tom’s Fall wedding at Blue Hill at Stone Barn was a much-needed breath of fresh air after a long wedding season in the city.

Stone Barn sits on the beautiful Rockefeller estate in Tarrytown, and the food that is served at the farm’s restaurant is directly grown on site. Since the weather was warm and sunny, Lauren and Tom were lucky enough to have their ceremony outdoors, surrounded by all this delicious food.

After the ceremony, we took a stroll on the property for some portraits, before heading inside for lunch. We ended the day with a walk to the greenhouse and the fields where goats roam free.

I am really glad Lauren and Tom shared such a special day with me. Their family, their ceremony and their choice of location were all so wonderful and unique that it made me proud to do the job I do. Congrats to both of them!

A CENTRAL PARK WEDDING UNDER THE RAIN

I remember meeting Yassmeen and Jonathan at a Starbucks downtown and being struck by their energy and happiness. Those two were so madly in love and so excited to take their relationship further that it made me excited too. Their engagements session was no different: they were both so bubbly that I couldn’t even chose a favorite photo (and I ALWAYS have a favorite photo). So when their wedding day came and the rain was pouring down, I was not surprised to find them all smiles.

They decided to walk down the aisle together, holding hands and an umbrella, and I thought that was a lovely touch; Yasmeen and Jonathan were not into traditions, and wanted to walk in as a team. The portrait session after their ceremony was a treat too, as the rain gave a very lush feel to the park. We took pictures around the Ladies Pavilion and on Central Park West, which was quite empty due to the moody weather.

The day ended at the East Pole, a quaint little restaurant in the Upper East Side. The couple had their first dance during cocktail hour before sitting for an early dinner with their family and closest friends.

Congratulations to them!