It wasn't exactly a destination wedding. At least not for the bride and groom. But for Nicole and Patrick's friends and family, it kinda was. Traveling from several parts of the Northeast, their guests got the opportunity to visit one of the most beautiful cities in the U.S. and get to celebrate with a couple they probably would have gone around the world to see tie the knot. Not just because individually Nicole and Patrick are pretty amazing people totally worth taking a road trip for, but because together they exude the kind of unadulterated happiness that you just can't help but want to be around. Not to mention that with these two planning it all, it was bound to be an unforgettable event.
Because Nicole and Patrick really don't seem to know how to do anything half way. They work hard, they play hard, they are completely enamored with one another. And if there is one thing they love nearly as much as each other, it's their city. It's place where they met and fell in love as undergrads at Catholic University. It's where they started their careers, where they'll be beginning their life together as husband and wife. There was no better place to get married. Plus, it would give them the chance to share with the people that mean the most to them their city. D.C. as they see it, beyond the post cards and textbook images, the D.C. they call home.
They started the evening before the wedding, inviting their closest friends and family to an evening not unlike ones they have shared together many times before. An informal gathering where the beer was flowing and comfort-food snacks were in abundance. Where friends and family blended together chatting and laughing, and Patrick played on the floor with his nieces and nephews. It was exactly the kind of relaxed welcome you would expect from Nicole and Pat, who are most comfortable in jeans, surrounded by their friends, making one another laugh.
The next day gave their guests a glimpse into the heart of D.C., with an emotional ceremony at the Cathedral of St. Matthew. The Cathedral is not only architecturally stunning, it's also historically significant - one of the churches President Kennedy attended regularly while in office and where his funeral mass was held in 1963. It's the Cathedral nearest to Nicole & Patrick's home in D.C. and was an especially significant choice for Patrick, who as an architect, was delighted to exchange vows in the dramatic domed structure. The reception followed at the Park Hyatt Washington in Georgetown. The ballroom was decked out, in a manner fitting an event taking place in the Nation's capital. The room was flooded with soft candle light, the tables decked out with fabric and flowers, and the band kept the dance floor packed the whole night long. Yet another reminder you were attending a wedding worth traveling for - especially when you glanced over and saw Nicole and Patrick in the center of the floor, completely into one another. You couldn't help but smile. And, maybe, fall in love with D.C. just that much more.
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Having been invited to share in the festivities the evening before the wedding, we were greeted like old friends by Nicole and her bridesmaids when we arrived at the bridal suite the following morning. They were relaxed and eager for the day to begin, Nicole already having her hair and make-up done by D.C. stylist Carla Ligon-Miller who at the time, like us, was in the process of moving to NYC. (She's currently here in the city and available for weddings in this NY metro area and beyond.) Nicole's Anjolique gown and super high five inch heels were in the next room - just calling out to be photographed, and we were more than happy to oblige. The room was filled with lots of cool textures and we could have easily spent the whole morning just photographing Nicole's details, but there was a wedding to get to. With help from her mother, Nicole was in her dress in no time and ready to head outside for pictures.
From the hotel it was a short drive to the Cathedral of St. Matthew for the ceremony. Patrick was there ahead of us, smiling and excited - ready to marry Nicole. We grabbed him for a few shots before letting him sneak out of sight before Nicole arrived. It was an especially emotion ceremony, filled with a few tears and some laughs (very appropriate since Patrick is known for making Nicole laugh). After their first kiss as husband and wife, Nicole and Patrick made it down the especially long aisle to the sound of applause from their guests. After taking some time for the super important family pictures (and a few of just the very happy bride and groom), we all hopped into the limo and headed over to Nicole & Pat's part of the city. Thankfully, they happen to live near one of the most beautiful parks in D.C., Meridian Hill Park, where we spent quite a bit of time photographing the two of them and their bridal party. Again, we could have spent the whole rest of the day there, but there was a reception to get to!
Park Hyatt Washington Event Coordinator Michael Deltette lead us to the ballroom when we arrived at the hotel, eager to show off just what he had put together with Nicole and Patrick. It was chic and elegant, with black and ivory carried throughout and candles everywhere - even suspended from the ceiling and floral designs by Amarylis, Inc. . We introduced ourselves to the band, 'Round Midnight, who pulled out all the stops - even getting Patrick and Nicole to sing to one another on the dance floor at one point, with all of their guests circled around them, of course. Not that most of the guests were ever too far from the happy bride and groom - all of them excited to come over and congratulate them and gush about how much fun they were having. Exactly what Nicole and Patrick had been hoping for when they pictured their wedding day. Safe to say, they pulled it off. Not like that would be surprise anyone. After all, they never can seem to do anything half way.
Nicole is normally a flats kind of girl, but on her wedding day she opted for these nearly 5-inch stunners.
Nicole carried an all-purple, all-calla lily bouquet made by Amarylis, Inc. and adorned with a watch that was a family heirloom.
Throughout the bridal suite at the Park Hyatt, there were tons of little touches to remind you were you were, including some of Nicole & Pat's personal keepsakes, like their matching Cladagh rings.
Nicole likes unique jewelry and found the perfect set to wear on her wedding day, especially the dramatic necklace that trailed down her back.
Random side note: I love to see the way hair/make-up artists bring all their equipment. They're usually packed so efficiently that I'm blown away how much they take out of their little rolling cases. It's a total lesson in how to pack for a flight.
Nicole was completely relaxed and comfortable all morning, curlers in her hair and a mimosa in her hand. You would never have known that the room was filled with people...
Like her father, watching on and trying to make her laugh...
and the many nieces and nephews crowded around the TV, being quite adorable.
One last spritz before it's time to put on the gown.
And, of course, the veil. I always cringe at this point, even though i know it looks like it hurts way more than it actually does.
Then it was time for a few last finishing touches before heading down to the lobby for a few pictures.
Rob was totally loving this marble and wood bar, a great place for some relaxed portraits of Nicole.
Plus, there was a glass wall which was a total bonus.
In the main entrance of the hotel there are these cherry blossom walls, a nod to some of D.C.'s most famous trees, it seemed fitting to stop there and grab this shot before heading over to the church.
The Cathedral of St. Matthew, a dramatic, stunning building, very appropriate for the wedding of an architect.
As you know travel photography is a huge passion of ours (especially capturing architecture that is distinct to a city or a place, so we love being able to capture ceremony locations in a similar way, and we could have photographed this church all day long.
Patrick was waiting in the front of the church when we arrived, giving us the opportunity to grab some shots with him before he heading to the back of the church to wait for Nicole's arrival.
Thankfully, he didn't have to wait too long. She arrived just a few moments later, with her father escorting her into the church.
Patrick teared up a bit when he saw Nicole walk down the aisle.
And, in a Cathedral, it was a long lead up before he was able to take her hand, leading to a few more tears.
So much so, he had to wipe a few away before he shook her father's hand and led Nicole up to the altar.
Nicole and Patrick had a unique view of the Priest while he did the readings, not something we get to see too often.
Then, it was time for the vows...
and a few more tears.
Then, a blessing and their first kiss as husband and wife.
And a huge celebration for Patrick - very excited to be Nicole's husband, finally.
Only Patrick would high-five on his way out of the aisle. Loved it.
Right after Nicole and Patrick greeted their guests outside the church, we did the always important family shots, leaving us plenty of time for some quiet moments with just the very happy bride and groom.
Just look at those smiles, completely infectious.
Then it was time for our next stop: Meridian Hill Park, a perfect place for some sweet moments.
And to explore a bit, Nicole and Patrick were excited for us to see the beautiful spots in the park.
Especially these fountains which we completely fell in love with.
And it wouldn't be a fun afternoon with Patrick if he didn't make a couple of wacky faces. Just check out their engagement session.
Just a few more minutes of snuggling before we added in the wedding party.
Little secret for group shots: stairs are a huge benefit, giving us the chance to spread people out and make sure we can see everyone's faces clearly.
Next stop was the Park Hyatt Washington, where Event Coordinator Michael Deltette had worked diligently with Nicole and Patrick to make a dramatic, elegant affair.
The room was draped with fabric and candles were everywhere - on the tables and even hung from the ceiling.
Like they had already done the whole rest of the day, Nicole and Pat wowed their guests with their first dance.
Ended as it should be - with a dip and a big kiss.
Emotional toasts were offered up for the new husband and wife, with Nicole's sister and Pat's brother sharing how much they had each influenced their lives and how happy they make one another.
Once dinner was complete, Nicole and Patrick each took their turn dancing with their parents.
In the height of the party, the band had Nicole & Pat sing "I Feel Good" to one another. They resisted at first, but they each totally embraced it much to the joy of all of their guests crowded around them.
Nicole's gift to her Connecticut born-and-raised husband? Cufflinks made from original wood seats of Fenway. He was so proud of them, and even more proud that she knew exactly what he would love.
We returned the rings and cufflinks just in time for Nicole and Pat to cut their cake, literally surrounded by the friends and family, with the kids up front, of course. They can never resist a big tower of sugar. :)
And, of course, one final shot stopping traffic in the middle of M street.
Nicole & Patrick, thank you so much for selecting us to capture your amazing wedding day! We really loved getting to share in all your beautiful, emotional moments. And to get to see D.C. in a way that only the two of you could show us.
Our plan was to enjoy being engaged for a while, no reason to rush the planning process, we thought. Then people started asking us if we had set a date, if I had my dress, if we knew how hard it was to get a venue less than a year and a half out. It was then that the panic slowly started settling in. Suddenly, it all seemed incredibly overwhelming. So many choices. Fun choices, of course, but I would still have to make a decision. And for me, that was no easy task. When there a ton of options in front of me (especially when they all seem pretty good), I freeze, completely paralyzed by the fear of making the wrong decision. Something I definitely did not want to do when it came to our wedding day. I decided to tackle them each one by one, and whenever I started to feel overwhelmed, I would step back and prioritize. So I know how it is, all you newly engaged women out there - starring at your left hand fondly while furrowing your brow at all the checklists and vendor options you see listed before you in any number of wedding magazines and planning blogs. It doesn't have to be so overwhelming. And I'd like to help, at least with the one topic that we happen to know the most about - wedding photography. In a series of posts, I'll be sharing some tips we share along the way with our brides, ways to make your day flow easier and your stress level down. The planning process can all be a lot of fun, I promise!!
It's seems fitting that the first of these posts is about what we happen to think is one of (if not THE) most important decisions you will be making pretty early on in your planning process: who will be photographing your wedding. It's a huge decision that should take some careful consideration. (Of course, we'd love to think we're the perfect photographers for every couple out there, but we know this is not always the case. Even if we're not what you're looking for, we still want you to have amazing photos and find the perfect photographer for you.)
So I've put together a checklist of sorts (don't worry, it's not three pages long like the ones you'll see with every single thing to do before your wedding day - those terrified me). This list will help navigate through all of those sites and photographs and find the perfect photographer for you.
#1: SELECT YOUR STYLE As soon as you get engaged you'll probably get a ton of bridal magazines and start looking at hundreds of sites for inspiration. Soon your mind will be flooded with images. Start narrowing it down to the type of images that speak to you personally. What type of style do you like? Classic, story-telling images? High fashion, dramatic images? Light, airy romantic images? Knowing what style you like best is a good way to help narrow down the many photographers websites you're going to end up visiting. At the very least, it's a starting point.
#2: TALK TO YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY Recommendations can be incredibly helpful. If someone you know worked with a photographer for their wedding and loved the results (and experience), definitely ask if they can show you their wedding photos. If you, too, love the photos (and they match the style you've already determined you like) than it's worth getting in touch with that photographer. But you should always look at more than one to make sure you know what's out there. It'll give you that much more confidence in your decision.
#3: DO SOME RESEARCH For the ones that you don't personally have recommendations for, check the web for reviews. Do they post client testimonials on their website? Check sites like Wedding Wire, the Best Business Bureau, even their Facebook Business page to see what other brides have to say about them. Don't be afraid to ask a photographer for references if you can't find any online, most of them will be more than happy to share these with you.
#4: CHECK OUT THEIR SITES Today, websites are photographer's virtual storefront. It's a reflection of who they are, the way they want to present their work. Try to imagine the site as if it was an actual store. Would you feel comfortable going inside? Is the site clear, well put together and easy to navigate? This is a good indicator of how seriously they take their work and their business. Believe it or not, it's not too hard to get a website and throw some images up on it so really take a look around to get a feel for the photographer(s) and their work.
Do they have a lot of weddings on the website or blog? If they only have what appears to be only a handful of weddings on their site that could mean that they have a limited amount of experience. While experience is always helpful (an experienced photographer knows how to work in a variety of venues, lighting situations and weather conditions), it doesn't necessarily have to be a deal breaker.
What do you think about their images? Look at their pictures and ask yourself if you could see yourself in any (or all) of them. Is their style reflective of your own (see #1)? Photography trends come and go, so make sure that you are selecting a photographic style that you will love far into the future. You don't want to look back and see that your images are the equivalent of the white bell-bottomed tuxedos that were popular in the 70's.
Do they have a blog? Although not a necessity, a blog is a great way to check out a photographer's most recent work and/or get a bit of an insight into their personality. Is their work consistent? If from post to post it almost looks as though a different photographer could have shot every event, this could be a red flag.You'll probably be hiring this photographer a year or more in advance of your wedding, so knowing that their work is consistent is a good sign that when they show up for your wedding day, you will have a good idea of what you'll be getting and you can be confident that you'll love the results.
Bottom line, how do you feel when you look the images? You should have a reaction to them. If the images don't make you emotional (make you smile, make you excited for your wedding day, even maybe make you tear up a bit), than that's probably not the photographer for you.
#5: COMPATIBILITY You should like your photographer(s). A lot. Get to know them a bit - chat with them during your initial meeting. Explore their website and blogs to get an idea of how they work. Look at the people in their images, do they look relaxed? Does it look forced at all? Ask them how they got into wedding photography in the first place. This is a great way to judge their personal level of passion for not only photography, but for wedding photography specifically. This is why it's very important to know exactly who will be photographing your day. Some very large studios have a number of photographers that they work with and don't assign yours until a few weeks before your wedding. This can be problematic because even if you don't like the photographer they assigned you, there's probably little you can do about it so close to the date.
Wedding days are eight to ten hour events, so you will be spending a lot of time with together. Ask yourself, do you feel comfortable having them around during some of your most emotional, personal moments? A good way to test the waters is to do an engagement session. It's the perfect opportunity to see how the photographer works and find out how comfortable you feel with them. (results)
This is a day that you will remember for the rest of your life, so you want to look back with fond memories of all the moments of the day. Including the time you spent taking pictures. Ideally, your photographer should make you feel at ease and relaxed while they are getting shots of the two of you, your bridal party and your family. Most seasoned photographers know when to blend into the background and just capture what's unfolding in front of them (like when you're talking with your father the few minutes before you walk down the aisle, during all of your ceremony and first dance) and when to step forward and make sure everything moves quickly and smoothly (like helping keep you on time in the morning and helping to gather and set up family for those important group shots).
Believe it or not, getting your picture taken can actually be a lot of fun. With the right photographer.
#6: KNOW YOUR BOTTOM LINE We might be a bit biased, of course, but we firmly believe that photography should be a significant part of your budget. These are more than just photographs - they are the chronicling of the start of your life together. These will be the first heirlooms, what you will show your children and grandchildren. So it's not really the place where you should skimp.
When putting together your budget, do some research about the average cost for all of the things you want to include in your day. There are some great wedding planning resources out there to help you work this out. You'll probably quickly discover that wedding photography can be expensive. There is a reason for that. It's because the photographer(s) is committing quite a bit of time to you - not just for the engagement session and wedding day, but also for hours of editing, travel, and prep and post work that is a part of every shoot. That's not to mention the other expenses - employees, gear, software, shipping, insurance (health/business), etc. So, with that in mind, make sure what you have budgeted is actually realistic in comparison to how much your favorite photographers are charging. You might find that you'd be better off cutting corners in another area of the budget to make sure you can hire that dream photographer. You could have an super expensive dress, venue, etc. but a photographer who has no idea how to capture it all. A good photographer can make even the most inexpensive wedding look gorgeous.
Of course, it has to be said that one of the biggest challenges in hiring a photographer is that it may seem like photography prices are all over the place. Two photographers could charge exactly the same amount - one includes just a photographer (or two) for your wedding day and the other includes the photographer, an album for you, and an album for each set of parents. The second one seems like a better deal - right? Maybe. Maybe not. The most important thing when hiring a photographer is that you love their photos. Really, really love them. Because that "better deal" really loses it's value if you have three albums filled with images that you think are just "ok." It's a much better deal to hire the photographer whose images you absolutely love. Albums can always be added after the wedding - with the full confidence that those albums will in fact be filled with images that you will adore.
#7: DON'T JUST JUMP IN Every photographer has heard the stories - a bride who hates her photos because she decided to cut a few corners and hire "a family friend" or a photography student looking to try their hand at weddings to "save money." Really, this could be one of the most expensive mistakes you could make since nothing is as costly as a regret, especially when it comes to something like this. Of course, hiring a friend could work, if (and usually ONLY if) that family friend is a professional photographer (we have photographed some of own friends and families weddings over the years).
Just beware of anything that seems too good to be true. I know it might seem like photographing a wedding is an easy task, but it's one of the most challenging photographic experiences there is - a variety of lighting situations, quick-paced time schedule and dealing with all different personalities - from the wedding coordinator, priest, family members and, of course, the bride and groom. Professionals know just how to do this in a way that makes it seem like a piece of cake. Really good ones actually have fun while doing it. Of course, there are the exceptions to the rule. Sometimes a new person to the field can do an amazing job and you could love your photos. You just have to ask yourself if that's a chance you're willing to take.
In our studio, we display images from our own family weddings - parents, grandparents, etc. Images that were taken by professionals because back then that's all there was to chose from. (Photos that have stood the test of time, stored in attics and basements, because they were printed by professional labs - all the more reason to not let your images sit on a disc or in a hard drive and get them printed by a lab that actually hand-checks every image they print, but that's a post for another day). We keep those old wedding photos out as a reminder that what we do is more than just take a photo, we are preserving a memory so generations can appreciate them well into the future. It's why we take what we do so seriously.
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The wedding photography industry is flooded with tons of options for brides and grooms. Weighing those options can be difficult, but hopefully with the help of this checklist you can find a photographer you can trust who will leave you smiling long after your wedding day.
And since every post is better with something pretty to look at, here's a little preview of what we have coming up: Nicole & Patrick's Washington, DC wedding. Gorgeous overload.
To be perfectly honest, we're not huge fans of the cold. Even as a kid, I couldn only head out to play in the snow for a few minutes before running inside to look for the hot chocolate and a warm blanket to snuggle under. Probably explains, in part at least, why we enjoy a job that allows us to work outside during the warmest months of the year. On the colder, snowier months like this one - you can find us inside in our usual work uniform of comfy pants and hooded sweatshirts, sitting in front of the one thing we spend even more time with than one another - the computer. It's been a flurry of work around here - editing, e-mailing, designing albums. All of which we have been loving since it gives us the chance to catch up with past brides, chat with new ones and revisit weddings we shot over the course of this year. Just looking through the images is enough to remind us how much fun we had at a particular wedding or, for a fleeting second, remember how it felt on the 80 degree day so many months back. A welcome treat on the snowy days we've been having recently.
And in the midst of all that editing and designing, we are always excited to receive an e-mail asking to feature on those weddings on some of our favorite bridal inspiration sites. We never cease to be amazed by some of the inventive, unique ideas that couples come up and love getting the chance to share those ideas with brides-to-be eager to find new ways to make their wedding even more special. Plus, it's always a total bonus when we take a break from our usual work to hop onto one our favorite blogs and see one of couples smiling back at us. Makes bitter cold days like today that much sunnier.
First up, Saryn & Dave's Fourth of July wedding was featured on our favorite wedding planning blog, Style Me Pretty last week. If you haven't already visited Style Me Pretty, it's a must read blog - chocked full with gorgeous images and tons (tons!) of ideas for how to add unique touches to your wedding. We're huge fans of SMP and we also happen to be on their exclusive list, the Little Black Book (a handful of hand-selected photographers they recommend from each state). We've been on the Connecticut list for a year now and we are thrilled to announce that we have just been added to their New Jersey listing as well.
So what are you waiting for?! Head on over and leave Saryn & Dave some love!
As if you weren't getting enough of a craving for some sunshine, next head over to Destination Inspirations where you can see Ana & Joe's Mexico Destination Wedding featured. Susan and David photographed this one for us and they totally knocked it out of the park.
So head on over to Destination Inspirations to leave Ana & Joe some love. Stick around and browse the site, it's a great resource for destination wedding planning AND honeymoon ideas. Cause, really, doesn't a tropical vacation sound perfect right about now?
It started many months ago. At a lunch at Elizabeth's Cafe in Madison with Candice Coppola from Jubilee Events and Beth Chapman from the White Dress by the Shore. Fresh off the excitement of Taking Off {Paris}, we chatted over large salads and glasses of wine about just what could be possible for our next workshop, this time taking place much closer to home and therefore more easily accessible: New York City. As Candice and Beth talked excitedly about dresses and styles, Rob and I were having a hard time narrowing down just which part of the city we wanted use. In both cases, the options were nearly limitless. The ideas were flowing as fast as the wine and before the lunch was over we had a ton of amazing ideas. Too many, in fact. At least too many to pack into a one-day shoot as we had been planning it for the workshop. So we did the only logical thing to do - added another shoot. This one would take place the day before the workshop started, leaving Rob and I even more pumped and ready to share our excitement with our attendees the next day. Even better, it gave our incredible creative team the opportunity to do something completely different on each day - a variety of hair, make-up, styling and floral options to really showcase just what they can do. (And if you know any of them, you know this is still only a glimpse, their creativity is endless.)
This first shoot took place in Greenwich Village, in the amazing restaurant we have already given you a look inside of on the blog a few weeks ago: The Rabbit in the Moon. (Fabulous atmosphere, even better food. You have to check it out.) It was the perfect place to start our shoot - a English-style tavern filled with a mix of quirky and modern touches - from it's dramatic glass top bar to it's custom rabbit paintings and wall of English authors that watch over you as you eat. Plus, being in the heart of the Village just steps from Gramercy and the kind of streets that look like they were taken directly out of movie sets, it was easy for us to venture outside and capture some of the classic old-school NYC charm. The whole shoot was '60's inspired, from the not one, but three, short dresses and stunning accessories (just check out that veil!) from Beth, to the dramatic hair and make-up done by Jennie Fresa and Nedelyn Perry from Jennie Fresa Beauty Library. Add in some incredibly sculpted bouquets from Tony Palmieri from Datura, A Modern Garden, and we were ready to go.
To say that we are excited to share this shoot with you is an understatement. So I won't babble on for any longer, I'll let you get to the good stuff: the images!!
BIG thanks to our incredible team that helped bring this all together and make our models look AMAZING!! You guys are blew us away, as always!
When we decided to move to Manhattan we knew that it was not going to be easy. it is know pretty much world wide that finding an apartment in the city is no easy task. After all there is so much to consider and many questions we had to figure out. Do we want a building that is pre or post war? High rise or brown stone? Do we want to live in Chelsea, Hell's Kitchen, Maury Hill, the Village, the East Side, the West side? What about downtown, midtown or uptown? What are the best neighborhoods for us and for our business? Will we have a view? Will we have a doorman? How will we do laundry? Will we be close to transportation options? Is there closet space? How will we park our car? Most importantly how much will it all cost? And that brought up a whole new series of questions. Are there building fees?, broker fees?, move-in fees? What is the monthly cost? How much will electricity and gas cost? How much will it cost to park our car?
Needless to say the process of moving into New York City is incredibly overwhelming and insanely stressful. When we started to figure out what kind of building and apartment we wanted we reached out to a few brokers. Within minutes one broker, Phillip, gave us a call. He is incredibly down to earth, not pushy at all and right from the beginning put us at ease. He assured us that he would find us the perfect home in NYC and help us through every part of this process. I told him that if we make it through this (as again it is incredibly stressful) we will make sure that anything photography related that he needs or wants, we will make sure it happens.
Obviously we did make it through and are happy to say that Phillip did indeed help us find the perfect space for us in Manhattan. Once we were moved in we immediately setup a day for Phillip to come over so we can photograph new portraits of him for use throughout his business. We headed up to the roof of our building on a late afternoon a few weeks back, here are just some of the images we captured.
If any of you are considering moving into the city or already live in the city and are moving to a new part of NYC definitely get in touch with Phillip. He cares about your needs, isn't pushy and will work with you until your find your perfect place. We are happy to now call Phillip our friend. If you would like to find out more information about Phillip, please click HERE.
