Archive for September, 2008
Beka + Jesse 09-12-08 (The Rehearsal Dinner)
When one of Philadelphia’s top event planners creates her own wedding you just know it’s going to be incredible. There are just so many charming and beautiful details to Beka and Jesses wedding day that I’m probably going to have to do a 4 part post and I’m sure you will all enjoy every one! Beka Nave, of Innove Events married her long time love, Jesse Rendell on her birthday, September 13th, at the Pennsylvania Governors residence in Harrisburg, PA. I thought I’d start with the rehearsal dinner. You know how fabulous the wedding is going to be if this is the rehearsal. Nancy Saam Flowers beautifully executed Bekas many gorgeous ideas. The original plan was to have the tables outdoors in the rose garden but the weather was not cooperative. I really think the umbrella tables worked indoors just as well. Stay tuned for part 1 of the wedding day!
The presentation of food for the buffet was just so full of country charm. Beka found these great blackboards and crates that so add to the whole feel.
A few teasers of the beautiful wedding day to come.
All the guests received these yummy baskets hanging on their doors. I loved the YUMMY chocolate chip cookies by Chef Barry of the Governors residence. I must get the recipe.
These made me jump for joy!!! Every detail is adorable!!! 
AWESOME JOB!!
Stephanie + Charles 08-31-08 (Part 2)
As promised, part 2 of my beautiful Long Island Vineyard wedding. There was a spectacular flaming sunset just in time for Stephanie and Charles ceremony. I had to shoot right into the setting sun, so it was not for “faint-of-heart” photographers. Trusting the impressive dynamic range of my trusted Canon 5D’s, the images came out astonishing. (OK, so I’m ready for my vineyard wedding on a hillside at sunset!! Hint, hint call me out there from a hillside vineyard in California!! I’m ready). We quickly ran to the vineyard for a few couple portraits. I really had fun creating fine art photographs of these. Their reception was just full of country charm. With no need for a tent because of zero chance of rain, long tables were set up for their guests to dine under the stars. Thanks Stephanie and Charles for my first vineyard wedding!
Okay… how hot is that light??? Can I just say how jealous I am? I’m JEALOUS!!! Awesome location and venue too. Can’t stop looking at that light though!!!
Stephanie + Charles 08-31-08 (Part 1)
I’ve always lusted over the beautiful vineyard weddings I see in the portfolios of all those California wedding photographers. In my nearly 10 years of photographing weddings I have never photographed a vineyard wedding. I’m based in the “garden state” of New Jersey and there are not many vineyards. Stephanie and Charles gave me my first opportunity to photograph their beautiful vineyard wedding at Baiting Hallow Farm Vineyard located in the north fork of Long Island, NY. This area of Long Island is one of the up and coming wine regions in the US with it off shore breezes. Fashionista alert, Stephanie had my first bird cage veil of the year. LOVE THEM! We had great fun walking around the grounds of the vineyard for some pre ceremony pictures. We waited until after the ceremony for vineyard pictures when the “sun” was kinder. Check back for those pictures in part 2.
Stephanie and Charles see each other for the first time on their wedding day.
Stephanie and her brothers were “best friends”. They were her “brides men” in her wedding party.
Loved this claw foot tub.
Beautiful Bouquets!
I had a great time last week photographing some incredible bouquets for the always wonderful Donna O’Brien of Beautiful Blooms. These floral wonders are going to be featured in an upcoming issue of Ines Del Mar Weddings Magazine. I really do love my editorial shots! Check them out for some great trend setting ideas!
Alyssa + James 08-30-08
I must say, this was one happy bride. Alyssa was smiling ear to ear and it was contagious! She was smiling with her mom, smiling with her dad and smiling all the way down the aisle of Saint Gabriel’s Church in Saddle River, NJ. She said she and James were planning their wedding for 2 years and he couldn’t stop smiling either. I thought the location of their couples portraits were very unique. Instead of going to a park or to their reception site at The Stony Hill Inn in Hackensack, NJ, the couple went to the town of Ridgewood, NJ. Well, the pictures are just amazing. I got to photograph my first movie marquis picture. As we traveled through the main street of Ridgewood there it was on the Warner Theater “Congratulations Alyssa and James”!!! What a perfect movie to be showing at the theater but “Momma Mia”!!! (You know how I love billboards.) I should have known they had a strong Ridgewood connection. Alyssa’s fathers lighting store has been a mainstay in Ridgewood for nearly 100 years. Her mom made a special request that we take a picture of the couple in front of dads’ store. Keep smiling you two!
Maureen + Spence 08-23-08 (Part 2)
I wanted to share a few of the great details of Maureen and Spence’s wedding reception at The Cherry Valley Country Club in Princeton, NJ. The grooms cake has my award of the year (so far) as my favorite grooms cake! It was made by Pink Cake Box and it was amazing. Spence was president of his class at Princeton so Princeton is very dear to his heart. What better cake than the cutest Princeton Tiger. Maureen combined the tiger with the American flag because Spence is also a Navy Seal. Great cake! I also loved their pink wedding cake by Annie B’s of Philadelphia. I do allot of Princeton alumni weddings and one tradition is to photograph a group picture of all the alumni at the wedding. It is usually 20-30 people. Check out the Alumni picture at their wedding. Talk about a VERY popular couple! The music of the Sid Miller Dance Band was amazing. They made Maureen and Spence “dancing fools” all night long.
Maureen + Spence 08-23-08 (Part 1)
I love my Princeton weddings. I do at least 2 or 3 each year and they are always picture perfect. The campus is a wonderful setting as it guarantees my perfect pictures no mater the weather. It has arches to cover you if it rains and beautiful over grown trees to shade you if it’s sunny. Maureen and Spence met while attending Princeton University for their undergraduate studies and they have been a “pair” ever since. It was only fitting that they want to return to the beautiful Princeton Campus to take their vows. Presently they are both in Harvard finishing their graduate studies in Business. Prior to their ceremony, the couple walked around the campus for some pictures in their favorite spots. It was a fun and relaxed time prior to the formal ceremony at the beautiful Princeton Chapel. The bridal party was made up of many of their friends from Princeton. Maureen’s 2 brothers were groomsman and they are both currently attending Princeton. Seems like a family tradition! Check out the beautiful bouquets by Le Fleur of Princeton. Maureen wore a striking Reem Acra ball gown which was very fitting for the grandeur of the chapel. Making the day flow so smoothly was Melody Appel of Innove Events of Philadelphia. Stay tuned for part 2 for all the beautiful details of their reception.
Can’t you just hear Maureen saying “Oh Spence!”
Look at the length of the aisle at Princeton Chapel!
Kimberly + Brian 08-16-08 (Part 2)
Well, leave it to New York to have the perfect backdrop billboard for wedding portraits. On our way down to Tribecca from Central Park we passed through the meatpacking district, known for its graffiti and billboards we found this perfect signage. I love I heart! I love photographing weddings in loft spaces like Tribeca Rooftop. They are a blank slate and become what the couple wants it to be. Always uniquely their own! It was beautiful how the setting sun glowed through the large loft windows during their ceremony. The loft space took on almost a country charm during the reception.
What a magnificent entrance. I love the way the stairs are lit from beneath. Great effect.
Is this not one of the most amazing cake topper you have ever seen. They wanted to include their dog Delilah in the wedding so why not put her on a cake. Do you think it looks like them?
A final image from Central Park taken earlier in the day.
Kimberly + Brian 08-16-08 (Part 1)
This was my first New York City wedding of the year and was it ever fun. I love New York! First of all I have a fashionista alert for all you shoe lovers out there. Check out these Manolo Blahniks! I had to pay homage to these feathery wonders! Paired with a lush Vera Wang Lux gown Kimberly could not have more stunning! Prior to their wedding at Tribeca Rooftop we drove up to Central Park for some really lovely couple pictures. The weather was perfect and everyone was out and about in the park. What fun! Stay tuned for their ceremony and reception at the super cool Tribeca Rooftop.
I love the grooms expression that my second shooter Jessica so perfectly caught!
As far as bridesmaids go, there is usually a crier and a photographer!
I think everyone from New York was out on this beautiful Saturday afternoon. I think this image really says New York!
Brian and Kimberly had a little serenade by these street musicians.
Jacqueline + Julian 08-15-08 (Part 2)
The weather reports had predicted late afternoon thunder storms, but Jackie and Julian still did not want to see each other ahead of time for pictures. Die hard romantics! As fate would have it, the storm arrived about 10 minutes before their ceremony and lasted for over an hour. Thank goodness for the beautiful boathouse where the ceremony was held! We were able to do all the family and bridal party pictures there and they were beautiful (as thunder and lightning crashed around us). Her wedding planner checked the weather radar and said it looked like the storm would be passing just about the time the reception was scheduled to start. Along with their Videographer Drew, of Tangerine Media Group, we were able to get about 10 minutes of pictures on the beautiful grounds of Bonnet Island as the guests were filtering into the grand ballroom! What luck! Jackie and Julian got a rainbow. I’ve photographed nearly 500 weddings in my day and this is only my second rainbow. Now that’s special!
Did I mention that Jackie was a former “Prom Queen”? Many of her bridesmaids “lost” to her but they all remained friends. They wanted to strike a traditional “Prom Queen Pose”. Very cute but I wouldn’t know, I never attended my prom. I really loved the bridesmaids pink Ann Taylor dresses. Pretty in Pink!
Can you believe…… A RAINBOW! Only the second in my career!
It was all beautiful - especially you! Aunt Jennifer