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! ❤️
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
From 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.
Dani and Ayu met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia this summer and are getting married this Saturday in Central Park! Earlier in the week, we met to nail down logistics and for the couple to start writing their vows.
Although Ayu had landed in New York from Ethiopia only a few hours prior, his face glowed as he gazed at his bride-to-be. Their affection for one another is immediately apparent, and so beautiful to witness. Their joy is infectious!
As Dani and Ayu drafted their vows, in English and Amharic, there was such a meaningful vibe in the air. In one particularly lovely moment, we realized that the bench they were sitting on was dedicated to a Catherine, a name also shared by Dani's beloved late grandmother. Later in the evening, we also were followed by a family of adorable ducks which has to be lucky!
Dani and Ayu definitely are a fierce couple! They have serious style, individually and as a duo.
With an exciting whirlwind love affair in their past, Dani and Ayu have a steady and strong marriage in their future. Congrats to the happy couple!
Explore the blog for recent galleries from weddings, engagements, and personal adventures.
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