Perona Farms is a lovely location for a wedding celebration, and Heather & Mike made the most of what turned out to be a rainy day there in October. Yes, they planned to get married outdoors, use the beautiful grounds for some rustic photo ops, etc... but, it worked out fine anyway, and as you'll see, the sun finally showed up late in the afternoon to provide some backlit drama. 

To start out, we have Heather and her bridesmaids walking in a light rain over to the onsite barn, where Mike and the guys were awaiting their arrival:

We got a look at the upper level in the barn, and instantly decided to use it for a "first look" meeting of Heather and Mike. We love juxtapostion, and the combination of their totally polished appearance against the rustic hunting lodge vibe was irresistible. Sure, we made some more conventional portraits and group shots later on, but taking advantage of distinctive locations can make a wedding day so much more unique, memorable and fun:

Who said anything about horns? Not us... Anyway, while we were there, the guys had some fun with the available props:

And Heather was in for a group shot with Mike and the guys:

Then we all walked outside and used the barn as a backdrop for some bridal party images:

As you can see, these guys weren't going to let a little light rain keep them from enjoying the day! Then it was back to the main building for the ceremony, quick and light and meaningful:

By the end of the ceremony, the weather was improving, and we decided to go back outside to make some images using the pond onsite-- this was some tricky light, but we found the angles to make it work, and having some more picture fun seemed like a great release after the ceremony:

So, it all turned out fine, and a great party ensued. Our thanks to Heather and Mike, and all the bridal party members, for being so spontaneous and creative. It was a day to remember...

We were excited to return to Pleasantdale Chateau for Emily and Alex's wedding celebration in October. The location is just beautiful, with lots of opportunities for great images. Our day started with Shelley shooting Emily's getting ready, and she found some light that sets off Emily's classic facial structure:

Meanwhile, Keith was at the church with the guys, where Alex was ready for the ceremony:

Emily and her girls arrived by trolley... this girl knows how to make an entrance!

We love churches with a balcony, it lets us take in the whole scene during the ceremony:

And here's a great shot as Emily and Alex leave the church after the ceremony, excited and joyful:

And here they are leaving the church, and back in the trolley for the ride to Pleasantdale Chateau:

The grounds at Pleasantdale were gorgeous, as usual, what an outstanding venue:

Along with lots of group photos, we had some time at the Chateau for a few shots with just the two of them:

Just before the start of the reception, Keith found this image while Emily was being bustled:

Party time! In the gorgeous ballroom, with an enthusiastic welcome from friends and family:

We got a series of closeups during their First Dance... These images can say so much about a couple and their relationship:

Music was supplied by the Smokin' Section:

The setup in the ballroom offered lots of beautiful details, with flowers by Crest Florist:

And, just like the balcony shot at the church, we took advantage of a similar opportunity for the party:

Congrats to Emily and Alex for a beautiful day, thanks for letting us share in it!

On a perfect day in September, we traveled to Long Island for Connie & Donald's wedding at the beautiful Planting Fields Aboretum in Oyster Bay. With a 2PM ceremony outside, the sun was blazing overhead, but everyone kept their cool, including our bride and groom:

Following the ceremony, we found a shaded area to make group photos... There were important family relationships to show, and we appreciated all the cooperation. We even had a group of 41 people in one shot-- now that's family!

After that we spent some time with Connie & Don strolling the grounds and making casual portraits. On our way to the first location, there was some beautiful light on Connie's gown, and we made this image in about ten seconds:

We took advantage of available locations, not really posing, but suggesting ideas, and letting their own relationship tell the story:

We see again and again, that by giving our couples the space to be themselves, we wind up with images that say something unique. Seems like that's the whole idea, yes?

Then it was back to the LIE for a ride into Queens to the Jade Asian Restaurant, an inviting venue with an amazing range of culinary delights. The reception was fun, with a joyous vibe supplied by their guests:

Part way through the evening, Connie changed into the traditional Asian style dress, and she looked just as amazing! We loved how the colors all worked together, and the blend of cultural traditions was seamless:

The DJ set up this shot of everyone on the dance floor, this is when it's good to have a really wide angle lens:

All in all, a very successful day, with great locations, weather, food and guests... Thanks and congratulations to Connie and Don!

It was a warm and muggy day in August for Lindsay and Brian's wedding at the Princeton Chapel. We've been there many times now, some earlier visits are shown elsewhere on our blog... Although there are some common elements, each of these ceremonies is unique, owing to the personalities and priorities of the couple, and the way that is reflected in the details. 

Lindsay got ready at the nearby Nassau Inn, where Shelley got a closeup that shows her joy and excitement. And she also created a beautiful shot to show off her veil:

Every time we return to the Princeton Chapel, there are always some new and interesting angles to explore, both inside and out:

Handsome groom Brian was waiting for the start of the ceremony, and took advantage of a large fan to keep cool in the August heat... This building went up in 1925, and air conditioning was not part of the plan:

Since they didn't have a thousand guests to fill the seats in the main Chapel area, Lindsay and Brian decided to use the front area, with seating on the sides for the audience. This makes for a feeling of connection and intimacy that otherwise can be lost in such a vast space. The ceremony was simple and classic, and we got a great image of their exit:

Leaving the Chapel, it was time for bridal party photos, and since their was a light sprinkle, we decided to walk to a sheltered archway. Little did we know that the light sprinkle would become a downpour!

While the deluge continued outside, we used the sheltered walkway, and still managed to get some great bridal party images, including this shot of Lindsay with a smile that will overpower any bad weather:

The limo driver drove right up to the edge of the archway so that all the bridal party could escape and go onto the reception at Cherry Valley Country Club.

We weren't so lucky, walking through 4 inches of water back to our car. Hey, it's an adventure! On the drive to the reception location, we encountered lots of flooded areas, and even went by an emergency where a guest's car was swamped with water! They were rescued, and as far as we know, everybody made it to the party. Through all the muggy heat of the ceremony, and the deluge of rain, Lindsay and Brian maintained their poise and calmness, and their continuing great attitude really saved the day... By the time the dancing started, everybody was ready for a release, and the party really rocked:

So there you go, after all the planning and decisions, you still have to go with the flow. Congrats to Lindsay and Brian for making it a great day anyway, and never losing sight of what it's all about:

Courtney and Kevin traveled in style on their wedding day, using this full-size party bus. Here, the girls are arriving at church for the ceremony, and the priest is there to greet them:

Here are a couple images from their ceremony, both meaningful and fun:

And then it was back on the bus for a raucous party ride down to Spring Lake:

Next stop, the beach! Even though the light was pretty brutal, we still got some fun images with the bridal party:

And we had a little time for portraits with Courtney and Kevin:

And we caught this moment as they walked back to their reception location, The Breakers:

Their party included a bagpiper performance for the guests, which inspired some dance steps:

Here are a few images from the party, big fun:

Our thanks to Courtney and Kevin for allowing us to capture a great story!