When I first met with Sonia, one of her bridesmaids told me she’d be beaming the whole day… and she couldn’t have been more right! A few from their wedding…
The ceremony…
The happy couple…
And the party…
This dress was sooo made for spinning…
Sonia & Ofer, you were so much fun to work with. Hope you had a great honeymoon!
Hair & make up: Phoenix Spa & Salon
Venue: The Merion
Entertainment: Dynasty Entertainment
Juka & Jonathan’s wedding was full of firsts. It was my first wedding of 2012, the first City Hall wedding I’ve photographed and my first same-sex wedding. For Juka & Jonathan, who traveled from Northern California, it was their first time ever in New York City.
Before we get to the photos, a little bit about their story…
The couple met on line and after talking on the phone for hours, they arranged their first date. It was scheduled for the day Jonathan was runnning the Bay to Breakers race in San Francisco and he told Juka he’d run extra fast because he was so excited to meet him. Because he had run so hard, Jonathan proceeded to… promptly fall asleep on Juka’s couch… on their first date!
Jonathan managed to stay awake for their second date: a four hour hike and picnic, after which they both knew they wanted to spend the rest of their lives with each other. They moved in together and here’s the killer… three months after meeting the love of their lives Juka & Jonathan had to say goodbye.
Jonathan, who is on active duty with the US Air Force, was deployed to Kurdistan. This was before the end of the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, so you can imagine the scene when Jonathan departed. Families and spouses embracing and bidding their loved ones a safe journey, and Juka and Jonathan leaving each other with a awkward “bro hug” and a wave.
OK… the sad part is over! After the DADT policy was repealed, Jonathan couldn’t wait until he returned home, and proposed to Juka… over email, from Kurdistan.
Juka began planning their trip and making arrangements for their wedding ceremony… just the two of them at City Hall in Manhattan. Jonathan returned from his deployment on New Year’s Eve and less than two weeks later the couple was headed east.
En route to City Hall…
We were all mildly amused by ticket number they received…
The wait…
It is impossible to pass up a photo at this set up in City Hall…
It was truly an honor to be asked to be the official witness for their ceremony. As jovial and excited as Juka and Jonathan were throughout the day, there was an incredible feeling of quiet passion, sincerity and seriousness as they said the words “I do”. Then it was back to fun…
Kudos to Jonathan who suggested the pose for this one…
And the goofiness continued…
Love this portrait from inside City Hall…
Juka & Jonathan, I had such a great day with you both and hope you have many years of love and fun together. Best wishes for a healthy and happy family!
1st date, john fell asleep, ran bay to breakers, wanted to run as fast as he could so they could meet. 2nd date: 4 hour hike and picnic lunch and they both said they knew. 3 mos later, john was deployed to Kurdistan w Air Force. Had already talked about marriage, John proposed over email... John didn't return until NYE and today they were in NYC getting married. 1st tim in NYC for either, plan is to return each year for anniversary Ceremony officiant, awesome! City hall digs really nice, efficient. Honored to be witness, felt weird asking, didn't know me. Fun, goofballs More relaxed after ceremony. Met, can't describe the feeling in the room when the words were said, "I do". John married before, just to seem legit to peers and bc didn't want to be dishonorably discharged. To a friend... Conversation: sex & city to c-5 airplanes
A quick sneak peek from Juka and John’s City Hall wedding in New York City…
Brandy & Jeff traveled from Vancouver, British Columbia for their wedding in Bethany Beach. Why?
Well, years ago Jeff’s family was planning a road trip down the east coast and his father wrote requests to a number of towns. (Yes, hand wrote requests.) Bethany Beach was one of the first to respond and its inviting visitors guide and information packet won him over. (Yay for Delaware!) They came, they saw, and they returned… for years. Jeff grew up spending summers in Bethany and when he found the woman he knew he wanted to marry, where did he ask her? Bethany of course.
So it was a natural choice to have their wedding on the beach in Delaware. Enjoy…
Awaiting the bride…
Post-ceremony cocktails…
If any future brides and grooms want to bust out some moves like this during the family formals, please feel free!
We managed to get at least one shot before the waves came in…
Brandy & Jeff are a super creative couple and did an amazing job with the wedding styling and invitation design. I especially love the fish net filled with photos of them and their friends and family…
Perfect late afternoon sunlight…
My favorites of the day…
Reception at Northeast Seafood Kitchen…
Hope you’ll continue to enjoy Bethany Beach for years to come… congratulations!
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I had so much fun with Ty & Walt during their engagement shoot a few months back, I knew the wedding would be great. Here’s a little sneak peek…
Gorgeous Maggie Sottero dress…
Rockford Park in Wilmington for portraits…
This may be my favorite shot of the day…
I know everyone was trying to hold it together, but sometimes you just can’t keep the emotions down. That’s not such a bad thing…
Lot’s of smiles and laughs along with the tears…
And the first dance…
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Here are a few images from a wedding I photographed recently with the very talented Mr. Tyson Trish…
A pregnant bride… woo hoo! The dress was so flattering we had to ask Sharon to accentuate the fact…
Tying the tie, YouTube to the rescue…
The patio at Liberty House made a great location for the first look…
Sharon & Emmanuel met in the yoga community and there were beautiful tributes to their devotion all throughout the wedding day. The wooden sculpture and figures next to the cake… that’s Radha and Krishna, together the embodiment of love and divine joy…
With the crazy weather we’ve been having this spring, I was keeping my fingers crossed that we’d be free of rain on Liz and Josh’s wedding day. We were hoping to spend some time photographing around the Philadelphia Art Museum but we weren’t so lucky. (The downpour was so bad – as we learned on our drive home – it caused mudslides that closed down the Schuylkill Expressway!) But our back up plan was in place and we headed to Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station for the portraits. Liz and Josh are a pretty laid back couple and the rain didn’t seem to faze them a bit. Check out the photos below.
Liz’s makeup was done by Russell Borns…
Love the color and flower choice in the bouquet by The Bouquet Shop in Bryn Mawr…
Liz looking stunning before heading to the church…
Mom looking on and dad doing the rainy-day-wedding umbrella shuttle service to the limo…
A wave to grandma on the way down the aisle at Holy Family Church in Roxborough…
Liz’s giggle – because she was initially putting the ring on Josh’s right hand…
Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station made a great spot for portraits. I especially love this first one…
Touching and humorous toasts at The Hilton Philadelphia on City Ave…
Gorgeous cake by pastry chef (and friend of the bride) Nicole Endrikat…
And what’s a wedding without grown men in sequins and funny hats? The Mummers – members of the Fralinger String Band – make an appearance and the strutting on the dance floor begins…
Liz and Josh thanks for a great day!
A few favorites from Cyndi and Fitz’s beautiful wedding at The Breakers on the Ocean in Spring Lake, NJ…
Spring Lake Wedding Photography
Ceremony: Christ the King Roman Catholic Church – Haddonfield, NJ
Hair & makeup: Creations by Mia – Williamstown, NJ
Reception: Melange – Haddonfield, NJ
Music: Greg Snyder Jazz Trio – Philadelphia, PA
Ceremony: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church – Westfield, NJ
Hair & makeup: Kier Johnson of Bangz Salon & Wellness Spa – Montclair, NJ
Reception: The Madison Hotel – Morristown, NJ
Music: DJ JVC, / Jimmy Connolly
