Don’t miss these bride and groom portraits taken at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Manhattan! Alex and Mark reflect on the lessons they’ve learned about love and each other, one year after their wedding day.
Read MoreMeeting these two brides was such a breath of fresh air. They are creative, unique, determined, and so welcoming. And not to mention, they are 100% cute af. For their epic wedding celebration, Rori and Carmen traveled from Michigan to New York for a City Hall elopement with family followed by larger celebration including pizza, civic engagement, and dancing in a Brooklyn brownstone. As a wedding photographer, it’s the ideal scenario when I’m working an event that I’d love to attend as a guest. Safe to say, Rori and Carmen made this true. See below for proof!
At City Hall, the environment was overwhelmingly positive. We were surrounded by couples of all ages, genders, and races. Some were dressed to the nines, while others waited contently in casual attire. Everyone wished each other well, sharing knowing glances and reassuring smiles. In a time where there is so much negativity in the world, being in love and making that legal commitment felt really powerful, especially for Rori and Carmen as a proud, lesbian couple.
After they were officially married, Rori and Carmen said a temporary goodbye to their amazing group of loved ones, and we set off for a few hours of exploring!
After some champagne, we traveled to Brooklyn where the celebrations continued! Rori and Carmen shared vows that made everyone teary, standing under the most beautiful rainbow arch. Throughout the day, there was such a strong sense of community, as everyone in attendance really supported their loving union.
A particularly inspiring moment was when these badass brides encouraged everyone to take time to call their Congress members, providing helpful scripts that covered various issue areas. This is #goals.
The party continued on the brownstone roof, with everyone dancing the night away. For the grand finale, we planned for an instagram-ready wedding sparkler shot. Instead, the sparklers were lit in random order, the rooftop was surrounded by smoke, and in the beautiful chaos, the sense of glee was unmistakable. It was perfect.
It was an honor photographing this magical day. Carmen and Rori, congratulations on getting married in the best way possible. You stayed true to yourselves, shared so much love with everyone, and had an absolute blast! ❤️
Nearly 30,000 couples got married on August 18th - Karli and John were one of those couples. A girl from Washington met a boy from Michigan on Tinder, and now they’ve built a life together in New York! Together, they celebrated love in downtown Seattle and it was truly one of the most fun weddings I’ve ever attended!
Seriously, what a gorgeous couple! They both were glowing with excitement, that only continued when they finally saw each other. John’s reaction was SO sweet.
The best thing about John and Karli is how they balance each other out. They absorb each other’s energies, helping each other feel relaxed, excited, and brave. Any stress and anxiety disappeared as soon as they had time to reset. As anyone can tell, Karli and John are so devoted and faithful - it’s inspiring. I’m so excited to witness their journey as husband and wife!
Karli and John’s ceremony and reception was held at Melrose Market, which was the most cozy, classic venue. The night transformed turned into a wedding / concert, as a rotation of immensely talented friends took turn performing for the crowd. Guests of all ages tore it UP on the dance floor, sang along at the top of their lungs, and smiled from ear to ear. It was a perfect night, and the start of an amazing journey for these two.
Vendors
Venue & Catering: Melrose Market
Dress: Ida Torez
Flowers: Pike Place Market
Laura and Matt dated in high school, reconnected while they were both in separate colleges but happened to be studying abroad in Italy, and now have built a thoughtful and creative life together! For their wedding this summer, family and friends from Wisconsin, Brooklyn, Baltimore, and beyond came together to celebrate this loving duo.
Laura and Matt have been together throughout so many different stages in life and their relationship really reflects that journey. They're effortlessly comfortable together, totally relaxed yet intimate. Their love is familiar and powerful - developed through time and effort.
How STUNNING does Laura look?! I loved that she chose this gorgeous dress from For Love & Lemons as her wedding dress. An unconventional wedding dress was perfect for this badass bride. She even shared the love and stitched extra matching flowers onto the flower girl's outfit.
This Wisconsin wedding truly showcased how loving and community-oriented Matt and Laura are. Cheese curds were abundant, warm introductions immediately radiated around the room in true midwestern fashion, and amazingly talented friends and family dazzled the crowd with live music. Particularly memorable was a ukulele performance by Matt's grandpa, with a moving rendition of Somewhere Over The Rainbow. I was wholeheartedly teary while shooting - it was SO sweet.
Speeches are always my favorite parts of weddings, and this day proved exactly why. It was so clear how proud Matt and Laura's families are of them, through their words. Everyone acted as unofficial yet totally qualified love historians, sharing their perspectives of the evolution of Matt and Laura's relationship. There's nothing better than a room full of people you care about, joyfully affirming and sharing reasons why you two belong together.
Not your average barn wedding by any means, Laura and Matt filled their wedding itinerary with unique touches - hula hoops, popcorn, disco balls, DIY fireworks, a custom neon sign shipped from Chinatown, ice cream bars, a bahn-mi station for late night eats, and French electro dance music throughout the night. It was so much fun!
Congrats Laura and Matt! You set the celebration bar so high, it's no doubt that your lives together will be filled with whimsy and joy.
Thank you again for letting me capture this day. After an unforgettable wedding in Weyauwega, Wisconsin, see you both back in Brooklyn!
Vendors
Venue: Willow Pond Bed & Breakfast
Flowers: DIY from Neenah Farmer's Market
Music: Spotify playlists, talented musician friends, adorable grandpa
Catering: Renards Catering
Dress: For Love & Lemons
These two amazing people tied the knot at the Volunteer Park Conservatory in Seattle recently and showed us all what true love is all about. Megan and Alex have survived high school, college, living in a tiny home, living with lots of roommates, working together, and raising a dog. Their Seattle fall wedding was the perfect reflection of the quirky, wonderful life they've built together.
After a rehearsal dinner at the Hotel Sorrento in Capitol Hill, the bridal parties spent the morning getting ready, while eating sandwiches, cracking jokes, and relaxing. It was the most laid-back morning of the morning that I has ever experienced. Seriously, future brides, take note. Give yourself extra time in the morning and everyone will be happier!
From Polaroids to Kanye quotes, Megan and Alex kept their style consistent all day.
After a sweet and small ceremony at the Volunteer Park Conservatory, we all headed to Local 360, a restaurant in Belltown. Instead of a traditional reception, Megan and Alex opted for a sit-down dinner to share a brunch menu, a ukulele serenade, and some amazing cake.
Congrats Megan and Alex!! Thank you for welcoming me to photograph this amazing day! This experience was so inspiring and the room was truly full of love. An intimate Seattle wedding to remember.
Vendor Details:
Event + Floral Design: Sequoia and Co Design – Shalom Murphy
Ceremony Venue – Volunteer Park Conservatory
Reception Venue – Local 360
Cake – Side Piece Cakes
Live Music – Vervex
Invitations – Minted
Watercolor of Venue – Nicole Gelb
Makeup Artist and Hair Styling – Salon Maison
Wedding Dress – BHLDN
Bridal Accessories – Kendra Scott and BHLDN
Groom and Groomsmen’s Apparel – Menguin
Groom’s Ring – Point No Point Studio
Rentals – Grand Event Rentals
Paper Goods and Calligraphy – The Bright Line Studio
Favors – Flour Dusted Countertops
A dancer and a doctor, these two grooms had the most lovely wedding at The Southern Mansion in Cape May, New Jersey. Echoing the seaside theme, their decor utilized anchors, shells, and best of all - lots of saltwater taffy!
Such an amazing wedding venue, right?! And so close to New York City. Each room was filled with vibrant colors and intricate details.
Surrounded by family, both chosen and by relation, there was such strong sense of love throughout this whole day! Bobby and Thomas are two of the most giving and selfless people I have ever met. So it is definitely no surprise how much they are loved in return.
As two gay men, Bobby and Thomas' path to love and marriage has not been as easy as others'. But thanks to their steadfast determination and enduring love, they made it! There are truly no two people who deserve to be married more than these two.
Is it too much that I already can't wait for them to become dads?! Future Baby O'Brien is going to be SO lucky. :)
Throughout the speeches and toasts, there was one common theme. Everyone kept discussing what a good match Bobby and Thomas are. Truly yin and yang, they balance and better each other. Bobby is friendly, bold, and full of sass. Thomas is loyal, kind, and so hardworking. Together, they radiate joy and support!
Bobby, Thomas, and his 305 Fitness family. With studios in NYC, Boston, and DC, this dance-inspired cardio workout definitely makes sweat sexy.
At the reception to end all receptions, Bobby and Thomas had multiple tracks of choreographed dance moves to Britney Spears! And believe me, the dancing did not stop all night.
Congrats to the happy couple! Thank you for teaching us all what true love is about. Here's to many future dance parties at each anniversary!
Ada and Lukasz traveled from Poland to NYC to elope! I had so much fun photographing their New York City elopement, from the Brooklyn Bridge Park to SoHo in Manhattan.
Read MoreMatt & Juliana got married in the North Cascades mountain range in Mazama, Washington. Surrounded by loving friends and family, this happy couple's boho DIY wedding was unforgettable!
Read MoreFrom the morning in Brooklyn, to an intimate Central Park ceremony, to the reception in New Jersey, Dani and Ayu's wedding was a wonderful and unforgettable affair. I feel honored to have participated in their special day.
While getting ready in Brooklyn, the room was filled with love. Friends were happily arranging flowers and styling the bride, the groomsmen cooked traditional Ethiopian dishes for the reception, and Dani sewed some last minute details on her groom's coat.
Upon arrival at Shakespeare's Garden, it was time for the ceremony. One of the most striking things about Dani and Ayu's wedding was how loving and supportive their family and friends were.
As Dani and Ayu exchanged heartfelt vows in English and Amharic, every face in the crowd wore a beaming smile. The ceremony included many personal touches, including endearing speeches from Dani's mother and father, and her cousin's moving rendition of Etta James' "At Last".
Next up, it was party time! Dani's extended family graciously opened their home and hosted a reception, complete with a delicious home-cooked spread and festive tunes!
After changing into beautiful wedding attire straight from Ethiopia, Dani and Ayu enjoyed homemade cake, sparkling champagne, and thus, their married life was off to a very sweet start.
Explore the blog for recent galleries from weddings, engagements, and personal adventures.
Join me to celebrate moments at @ShadiGarmanPhotography
