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| Gramercy Park Hotel: Manhattan, NYC: Becky & Dave's Wedding Story |
Monday, January 9, 2012 |
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Becky had trained for the day for months. Months on end she practiced, she trained and she ran until her legs and feet ached and her body finally let her know for sure: she was ready. Ready to run the streets of her adopted city, to go from borough to borough, to make it through the full 26.2 miles. All the while - through the months training, through hours of the run itself she kept her mind set on one single thought: when she crossed that finish line, it would all be totally worth it. And it definitely was.
Dave had been planning the day for months. Months on end he searched, he planned, and he brought all the people and details together so that he finally knew for sure: he was ready. Ready to finally ask Becky the single most important question he's ever asked anyone, to sweep her up in his arms and place a ring on her finger, to announce to all their closest family and friends that she was going to be his wife. So while Becky was running that race, Dave couldn't help but feel incredibly proud - of Becky, who was running her heart out, and of himself that he was able to not only find a woman as amazing as Becky but also because he was able to keep his plan a secret for so long. And as she approached the finish line, Dave knew that when he looked at her face when he asked her to marry him it would all be totally worth it. And it definitely was.
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Ceremony & Reception Location: Gramercy Park Hotel in New York, New York | Wedding Gown: Monique Lhuillier | Bride's Shoes: Giuseppe Zanotti | Hair: Jeff Chastain | Make-up: Nam Vo | Bride's Jewelry: Borrowed from Bride's mother | Bridesmaids Dresses: Dessy | Groom's Suit: Hugo Boss | Groom's Shoes: Calvin Klein | Flowers: Celadon & Celery | Wedding & Groom's Cake: Sugar Couture in Brooklyn, New York | DJ: Scott Melker
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| We really love getting to work at the Gramercy Park Hotel for many reasons: it's gorgeous inside and out, the staff are incredibly nice and the food is delicious. |
| This is the lobby of the hotel, just a hint of the glamour of a wedding in Gramercy Park. |
| The hotel seems to pride itself on it's darkly lit hallways, kind of setting the town for the relaxing nature of the rooms which feature great views of the park. |
| We're a sucker for the artwork and decor in the rooms of the hotel. We could easily do a photo shoot of the rooms alone, they're that inspirational. |
| In spite of the dark hallways, the rooms are bright and cheery - with large windows streaming in light all morning. Becky had her hair done by the window, with Jeff Chastain doing a vintage Hollywood inspired down-do. |
| Becky wore a stunning Monique Lhuillier gown - elegant and understated, much like Becky herself. |
| Becky wore jewelry that was borrowed from her mother, a beautiful and meaningful choice. |
| Becky looked flawless, with her make-up done by Nam Vo. |
| Becky's bridesmaids were so happy for her smiling with her (and at her) all morning. |
| Gramercy Park hotel rooms are filled with artwork and art books - one of which was perfect for a shot with Becky and Dave's rings. |
| Just another piece of artwork hung in the hotel, this piece was in the Rose Bar on the day of Becky & Dave's wedding but the hotel makes a point of moving the artwork on a regular basis so it always looks just a little bit different. |
| While Rob was finishing up photographing the ladies, I headed over to Becky & Dave's apartment where Dave was getting ready with his groomsmen. They were relaxed and joking and toasting Dave for his good luck in finding Becky. |
| While at the apartment, I got to see Dave's special wedding gift to Becky - a Fender guitar autographed by all the members of Radiohead. |
| The actual park of Gramercy Park is private - and actually really difficult to get into, even if you are getting married at Gramercy Park Hotel. Dave worked his magic and was able to get an elusive key to park so he and Becky could do their "First Look" there. |
| And it was a sweet and romantic first look, with Becky and Dave laughing as she could hear Dave walking up behind her. |
| The very first thing Dave did was pull Becky in for a big hug - he couldn't wait to hold her. |
| Becky looked absolutely stunning. This is the type of picture their grandchildren will cherish. |
| Like we've said before, it's hard to guess when the leaves are going to change in NYC but Becky and Dave lucked out and seemed to hit the peak of the fall colors. |
| This just might be one of my favorites from their day. I could easily see this hanging up in the apartment. |
| Ok, maybe this one is my favorite. (Disclaimer: I definitely have a lot of favorites in this post!) |
| Becky's all-white bouquet and Dave's boutonniere where made by Celadon & Celery. |
| Before we headed back inside, Becky and Dave's bridal party came and joined us on the street. They looked fantastic, especially the ladies in their bridesmaids gowns by Dessy. |
| The Rose Bar just happens to be one of the most popular night spots in the city and is pretty hard to get into on your average Saturday night. Becky and Dave got to have it all to themselves. |
| Before the ceremony, we stopped at Becky's hotel room for her to do some finishing touches on her make-up. We happen to love the hotel rooms and jumped at the chance to photograph Becky and Dave together inside the room. I'd have to say it was totally worth it - this is my absolute favorite shot of the day. |
| We pride ourselves on blending into the background once we're done with the formal photos of the day (bride & groom portraits and family photos). In doing so, we get to capture some really special moments when the bride and groom don't even realize we are there. This is one of those moments. It's a quiet moment between Becky and Dave - he is putting on the sash that matches her gown. |
| Becky and Dave's ceremony and reception took place on the top floor of the Gramercy Park Hotel. The floor was originally the private apartment of the hotel's architect and still has the distinct feeling of being someone's home which made it that much more special as a reception venue. At every wedding we've been to at the hotel, we always see a group of people hanging out in this room, just like they're at someone's home. |
| The sun was starting to set as the ceremony began, with the lights strung on the ceiling providing romantic atmosphere for the ceremony. |
| Before heading down the aisle, Becky did one final check in the mirror as she put on her veil. |
| Becky was escorted down the aisle by her father while the song "All I Need" by Radiohead played. |
| It was a romantic ceremony, with plenty of personal touches and laughs for Becky & Dave. |
| Becky's mother looked on with pride as she watched Becky and Dave exchange their vows. |
| It was a mixed faith ceremony, ended with the Jewish tradition of stomping on the glass which was greeted with cheers from all their guests. They then walked down the aisle to "Do You Realize?" by the Flaming Lips. |
| One of the best features of the Gramercy Park reception area is the room which features a ceiling of lightbulbs (an original feature put in by the architect of the building). |
| While the guests were ushered into another room for the cocktail hour, the staff of the hotel (and the ladies from Celadon & Celery) transformed the room. |
| I loved Becky & Dave's centerpieces done by Celadon & Celery, the bright beautiful blooms in the mercury glasses really set the tone for the reception. |
| Becky had a unique idea in place of the traditional place cards - she listed the table numbers on antique mirrors. Her simple white-on-white cake was made by Sugar Couture. |
| Sugar Couture outdid themselves with Becky and Dave's cakes. The wedding cake was simple and elegant, picking up touches from Becky's Monique Lhuillier gown. The groom's cake was a surprise for Dave and inspired by his love of travel. |
| The hotel installed a new bar in the reception area - a dramatic piece that really encourages guests to spend a lot of time on (or near) the dance floor). |
| It's clear that Becky and Dave love music and they made thoughtful choices with each song. For their first dance, they choose "Something" by the Beatles. |
| Becky and Dave chose to do a private cake-cutting, inviting over only their parents to watch the moment. |
| Becky and Dave had many people get up and toast them - each offering up sweet antidotes and memories of the happy couple. |
| Becky's Dad had many reasons to be proud of his daughter - not only did she find an amazing husband but she also followed in her father's footsteps (literally) since he is a marathon runner as well. |
| Dave's mother was beaming with happiness. She was so glad that Dave found such an amazing woman to be his wife. |
| Becky & Dave, thank you so much for choosing us to capture your incredible day. We had a wonderful time with you, your family and your friends. We wish you nothing but happiness! |

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