Sunken Meadow Pavilion Wedding Photos
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Gina + Peter
It’s funny how every growing family finds their little nook to get away from it all. Many times it’s a lake house or cabin in the woods that the family has been renting for generations. Other times it’s a landmark of mom and dad’s relationship that brings them down memory lane.
For my family, it was Cape Cod, Massachusetts, a wind-swept peninsula an hour-and-a-half drive from Boston. Its cozy cottages, relaxing beaches, seafood restaurants, and family-friendly establishments makes it a destination for the entire New England area. I always thought that the vibe was remarkably similar to the north fork of Long Island, not too far from where my grandmother lived in Wading River. This notion was driven home when I walked into the house that Peter grew up in Patchogue, where his mother warmly greeted me in the sunroom of her adorable colonial-meets-beach style home.
rom-com Relationship Origins
The story of the first time that Gina met Peter sounds like it is straight out of a rom-com: Gina was babysitting and went into a pizzeria that Peter worked at and the little one she was caring for ordered an eggplant Parmesan slice. Peter couldn’t believe that was what they wanted because he still didn’t like eggplant, and offered them a free slice of pepperoni on the house. There wasn’t any monumental shift in the kid’s palate but both Peter and Gina knew that there might be something between them.
Fast forward a couple years when they’re coincidentally both working at a restaurant in Patchogue. Peter comes in to meet up with one of their co-workers when they see each other and remember one another from the pepperoni/eggplant encounter. They wind up going on a beach date shortly thereafter and both show up to work one day rocking the same sunburn. They didn’t care about everyone knowing that they were dating but this totally blew their cover.
The Incredible Lightness of Being (In Love)
I never read the Milan Kundera novel of the same title minus the parentheticals, but I couldn’t help but notice the lightness of Gina and Peter’s relationship. It was clear in the way that their body language relaxed as they approached one another, folding together not only physically but socially and emotionally as well. You could tell that they were on the same wavelength, like they perpetually living in the “honeymoon stage.” You might think that every one of our couples behaves like that on their wedding day, but not quite like Gina and Peter.
Heather and I’s Relationship Origins
Coincidentally, Heather and I met at hospitality jobs also. We worked across the street from each other in 2013 at neighboring restaurants on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. People always find it romantic when I tell them that story, but it wasn’t until after getting to know Peter and Gina’s relationship origins that I began to understand why. I think it’s the idea of an organic, budding romance in the age of dating apps; how of the many relationships that come from working in the hospitality industry—where workers more often than not are in transitory parts of their lives, and people are growing into or building towards the next stage in their lives—that the idea of two people happenstantially meeting to come together and grow together seems improbable. That the odds say most paths diverge.
For Heather and I it adds to the strength of our relationship. We were talking about it the other day and it’s like we were building a foundation even though we didn’t know it. And every subsequent year or period of growth we were building on top of that. It would follow then, that we, and Gina and Peter feel lighter, because rather than building separate foundations we were building on the same one. The higher we go, the lighter we feel.
Vendors
Photography | Apollo Fields
Venue | Sunken Meadow State Park Pavilion | King’s Park, NY
Rocky Mountain National Park Wedding
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Kelly + Evan
Coasting down that final stretch of road into Estes Park, the sun poured through the clouds onto the mountaintops like spotlights on a stage. Mountain weather tends to have a flair for the dramatic: passing storms, ominous thunder and lightning in the distance, plummeting temperature once the sun falls below the earth’s natural curtain. Such are the concerns for couples who choose to stage the ceremony of their love in the heart of nature’s beauty.
Rocky Mountain National Park Wedding
Kelly and Evan are east coasters like us, hailing from Connecticut and most recently Maryland. But having just moved to the Mile High City a month ago, they decided to host their ceremony in Rocky Mountain National Park, one of the (many) natural Crown Jewels of the beautiful state of Colorado. Inviting some of their closest friends and family, we gathered at a trail head, a party of around 20, to listen to their vows with green meadows, chirping birds, and jaw-dropping views all around.
One Couple, Two Locations
A growing trend for our couples is to host an engagement shoot or ceremony in one adventurous destination, and a more accessible reception in another. This allows them to travel to a place they’ve always wanted to visit, or commemorate a certain chapter of their relationship, while also providing a celebration for the larger group of loved ones in their lives. WE ARE ALL ABOUT IT. Truth be told, Heather and I wanted to elope on a mountaintop when we lived in Colorado, but opted to have our wedding on her aunt and uncle’s beautiful farm in northern New Jersey.
Destination Wedding Photographers Based in New York
I’m sure many could see multiple locations for a wedding celebration as too much hassle for Heather, Capa, and I (even if we weren’t expecting!), but that’s not how we see it. We see it as an opportunity to travel to amazing places, document authentic parts of our couple’s relationships, and have fun while doing it. Admittedly, I may get a bit neurotic when packing for the airport and boarding the plane, but once we hop in a rental car, we crank the tunes and we’re on our way!
Connecticut Wedding Photographers
Part two of Kelly and Evan’s wedding celebration will be at Shuttle Meadow Country Club in Kensington, Connecticut. The venue is only 30 minutes from where Heather and Kelly went to high school together at the Ethel Walker School in Simsbury, CT. It’s funny how consistent the overlap of values that Heather has with her former classmates over the years. It seems that everyone we meet or every couple’s wedding we photograph, we unearth a little bit of that bond that they all forged together. Not to mention all of the amazing partners they’ve chosen to marry; Evan being no exception.
National Park Wedding Photographer
So when I closed my eyes and heard Kelly and Evan speak their vows to each other in one of the most serene places I’ve ever been to, I couldn’t help but feel a little bit of something akin to imposter syndrome. Something about all of these beautiful couples in all of these stunning locations makes me question why I deserve it. I’m so lucky to be part of this business, with a partner who could make both a board room and modeling runway bend to her will without saying a word. When speaking to Mercie and Danika—a magical couple whose wedding we photographed last year and coincidentally were in Estes Park and made themselves available to us to take care of Capa while we worked—I said that my heart is so full that I almost need to invent something to reach for. It’s not complacency; it’s marrying ambition with fulfillment and remembering that I deserve it—just like every other human being on this planet.
Sunken Meadow Pavilion Wedding Photos
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Caity + Mike
Every time I go to Sunken Meadow Beach—a New York State Park just 15 minutes from our house—I wonder why I don’t go there more often. It’s a beach on the north shore of Long Island, which means it has more shells, rocks, and pebbles, than its south shore counterparts, but it also has a nice wooden boardwalk, clean sand, and a gorgeous view of the Long Island Sound. Caity and Mike’s wedding at the Pavilion was the first time I photographed a wedding at Sunken Meadow State Park and it won’t be the last.
Golden Hour Sunset Pictures
It’s funny how good (and bad) wedding weather tends to come in bunches. For the beginning of the season I remember a stretch of rainy, cold, cloudy days. Then came the unbearable heat wave that lasted pretty much all summer. Finally, the last few weeks gave way to slightly cooler temperatures with impressionist-esque cloud formations. The fluffy skies created some absolutely surreal, dreamy golden hours like the one Mike and Caity got. Those moments are some of my favorite to share with our couples; where we all get to step back from the party for a moment and revel at the beauty of the day and our lives. Gratitude always feels good.
Downtown Northport Wedding Photos
Yet another first for me was photographing a wedding and family formals in my hometown of Northport, NY. Northport is a cute harbor town that has old trolley lines down the center of Main street, where restaurants, retail and ice cream shops, and delis line the sidewalk. At the base of the hill is a parkside marina with a dock, playground, pavilion, and lots of green grass for picnics and pups to play. I had my pre-prom photos down in this area and I couldn’t help but be transported back in time when we were photographing Mike and Caity. Fun fact is that Caity and I went to the same high school and it rained on her prom day so she has always wanted to do photos downtown Northport–her wedding at St. Phillip Neri was the perfect opportunity!
From Photographers to Friends
Probably the most underrated part of our job as wedding photographers is getting to know our couples and their families. We are constantly welcomed into tight knit circles and given the license to document relationships as they evolve in real time. Mike is actually the brother of one of our previous brides, Kristen, and seeing her and her partner (also Mike) at the wedding was such a fun shared experience. The way I see it, most people in 9-5 jobs don’t get to constantly meet new people at work, let alone make lasting relationships. Photographing weddings as an extrovert is a cheat code to ignite creativity, connection, and appreciation for both the finer and simpler things in life.
vendors
Photography | Apollo Fields
Venue | Sunken Meadow Pavilion | Kings Park, NY
Dress | All Who Wander | Arlo
Boots | North Fork Bridal Shoppe | Miranda Lambert Idyllwind
Florist | Black Dahlia
DJ | Absolute Entertainment
Suit | Black Tux
Rings | Squires Jewelers
Hair | Ink & Ivy | Nikki Lee
Makeup | Laura Brooke
Cake | Dortoni
Wrapping up the night
With Caity and Mike! We had a great time with these guys!! Reach out for your own wedding photography below:
Maple Shade 1785 Farm Wedding in Delhi, NY
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Tamara + Ronan
Before Heather and I started Apollo Fields together, my professional mindset was totally different. I had gotten used to being told what to do; whether it was making a drink in a particular way as a bartender, or editing copy according to industry standards as a freelance copywriter, or organizing meetings as a political activist. But as our company has grown over the last four years I am no longer looking for the next task to complete, instead, I’m looking towards what the future holds for Apollo Fields and how Heather and I are going to bring it into fruition. Well visiting Abby and Jay’s idyllic Maple Shade Farm for Tamara and Ronan’s wedding in Delhi, NY, gave me inspiration for one vision of what our future might hold.
Maple Shade Farm Wedding Photos
Working with Abby and Jay on their beautiful upstate New York wedding venue/homestead felt reminiscent of what makes working with Heather so enjoyable. We all were willing to do whatever we needed to do to create the best possible wedding for Tamara and Ronan. There were no ifs-ands-or-buts—only sound decision-making and pleasant attitudes. Heather and I have known for a longtime that a venue of our own might be in our future, and working with Abby and Jay showed us just how possible it is.
NYC Engagement Photos / Upstate New York Barn Wedding
Heather originally met up with Tamara and Ronan in Long Island City in Queens for their engagement photos, but they knew they’d be getting married in a place with more natural surroundings. It’s one of our favorite things about our couples: a shared love of both city life and the natural world. In New York we are able to ride up the Hudson to the Adirondack or Catskill Mountains and we take any and every opportunity to do so. It reminds me of the beginning of Heather and I’s relationship when we were living in NYC but taking adventures all over the northeast.
Maple Shade Farm Wedding
Abby and Jay’s historic barn lies on the foothills of their property that reaches all the way up to the peak of a mountain. It is immaculately groomed, including a man made pond (with canoe upon request!) that serves as a perfect backdrop for an altar and ceremony. Just a quick ride up a hill on a golf cart and you have a beautiful view of the valley that they call home, and we were lucky enough to come at a time when a whole field of daisies were in full bloom. Photo opportunities abound at Maple Shade Farm, both inside and outside the beautifully renovated and repurposed historic barn.
Vendors
Photography | Apollo Fields
Venue | Maple Shade Farm | Delhi, NY
DJ/Pianist | Westphal Music
Dress | BHLDN
Shoes | Loeffler Randall
Veil | Twigs & Honey
Earrings | Jennifer Behr
Rings | Kent Jewelers | NYC
Suits | Robbie and Co. | NYC
Cake | Holiday Farm Biscuit Co.
Catering | Chef Deanna
Invitations | Minted
Northport Long Island Wedding Photographers
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Ashley & Andrew’s Wedding
Vendors
Photography | Apollo Fields
Reception | Huntington Crescent Club
Ceremony | Private Residence
Little Compton Rhode Island Wedding
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Brendan & Lia’s Wedding
When Heather first mentioned that we were shooting a wedding in Little Compton my first thoughts were of N.W.A and Kendrick Lamar. I clearly had never heard of the luxurious tight-knit Rhode Island community across the Sakonnet River from Newport. The landscape wasn’t all unlike where I’m from on the north shore of Long Island, but the beautiful properties sprawled along the coast boasted more horses and acreage than any of my town’s similar neighborhoods. Heather, Capa, and I stared in awe out towards the bright horizon as we pulled into our AirBnB the day before Brendan and Lia’s wedding.
Heather and Lia have known each other since riding horses back in their teenage years at the Ethel Walker School. I’ve come to understand that the bond between equestrian riders is pretty deep--it’s a camaraderie like being in the trenches--but instead of being at war with another army, you share war stories about being at war with the army of one between your legs. Danger is omnipresent and your survival is a combination of: skill, communication, keeping your cool, and good old fashioned luck. There’s a reason Heather took up photography.
Lia on the other hand, still trains riders on horseback and she’s apparently damned good at it. She’s so good that when we playfully asked Brendan to compare Lia to any object, animate or inanimate, he replied, “triple crown winning horse that wows the world.” With a healthy combination of playfulness and discipline, Brendan and Lia are one of those couples that like to work hard and play hard. Lia recounted a story on Christmas Eve one year when during a family tradition of “fun family tennis paddle” she rocked a forehand right into Brendan’s face and he wore it like a champ. “When he didn’t drop like a stone--I knew I had a keeper,” she declared.
Heather and I love when other couples are competitive. We are constantly competing in games, but we draw the line when it comes to more important things like raising Capa, business operations, or daily household responsibilities. There’s a sort of unwritten rule when it comes to those things because we both think it’s not a healthy habit to keep score with things that can stress us out. We trust each other to do our best--and we both see each other stretching ourselves thin to make things happen--so we leave competition to the gaming arena. Once we enter, all bets are off.
Heather and I are kind of becoming the unofficial Ethel Walkers wedding photographers. In fact we have a wedding coming up in the chapel on campus. It makes me happy to see Heather connect with old friends and to hear stories of Heather’s equestrian past. I’ve obviously known that Heather’s a tough competitor and fervent worker, but it’s nice to get a behind-the-scenes look on how she became the amazing woman she is today. Especially when one of her old classmates slips in an embarrassing story about her--those are my favorite. The best thing about it is that she usually laughs it off and wears the embarrassment, kind of like a tennis ball to the face six months into a relationship.
Vendors
Photography | Apollo Fields
Wedding Planner | Mary Powers, Meadowlea Events
Band | Radiance | Wilson Stevens
Cake / Bakery | Easy Entertaining
Party Rentals | Exquisite Events Decor
Suit | Peter Millar
Dress | Stella York | VOWS (Watertown, MA)
Rings | MK Bennati Jewelers
Hair/Makeup | Allison Barber Beauty
Stationery/Invitations | Ink Papery | Shayne Wolf
RGNY Winery Wedding Photos on Long Island
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Stephanie + John
I’m beginning to fall in love with autumn skies. How the white wispy clouds seem to be suspended in the pale blue sea like stuffed toys spinning above a child’s crib. And how the chill in the air creates tears in the corners of my eyes but somehow the atmosphere appears more clear the longer that I hold them open. I love how the smoke from fireplaces in the distance smells totally different from the beach bonfires on those late summer nights. I can practically see the couple or the family cuddling around the couch and coffee table with the hooting and hollering and clicking and clacking of dice in a pair of hands. My nose begins to sniffle and I take one last inhale and exhale before I head inside to Heather, Capa, and the dogs to do something of the same.
A week before John and Stephanie’s wedding at RG|NY in Riverhead, NY, Heather, Capa, and I headed out to the north fork of Long Island to check out a ciderhouse and try to get lost in a corn maze. After laughing our way through the corn stalks and warming up with some great local cider, we decided to stop at the shopping outlets to pick up a couple outfits. We were in a store when I caught a very well-dressed, good looking guy looking at me like he had a question for someone who worked there--I was immediately confused because I was in a black sweatshirt with Capa’s drool stains all over it. He said, “I’m sorry,” and nodded over towards Heather with a smile that said, “I’m pretty sure we know each other.”
Funny enough it was John and Stephanie picking out an outfit for his son, Ryan, for the wedding! I was taken aback by their warmth and friendliness because I’m usually an overly friendly person. This was my first time meeting them but Heather had previously done their amazing engagement photos on Fire Island where they popped champagne and had a blast despite having a sketchy weather forecast. They were a little worried like most couples getting married about how the weather was going to be on their wedding day, but with their even-keeled demeanor I knew it was going to be a great wedding no matter what.
And it was. Stephanie and John got a beautiful, cool fall day and they both looked absolutely stunning. I learned of the stories of their relationship in its early stages and how they used to take the cross-sound ferry to each other. They both never wanted their dates to end and it reminded me of the romance of my first relationships ever. The feeling of how nothing else existed beyond the words and coy glances from the person you’re spending time with. Like being trapped in a bubble that you never want to pop. “There’s always the next ferry,” John and Stephanie would say to each other.
It’s hard to bottle up the idyllic images or experiences in our lives, harder still to even remember to recollect them. Days pass and we spend most of them with our eyes on the road, down at our phones, or working. Part of what makes my job great is that my mind is peppered with these idyllic images and experiences every year. I do my best to relive them through writing these words, and remembering to take in an extra deep breath or two when I smell a fire in the distance on a cold, autumn night.
Vendors
Photography | Apollo Fields
Venue | RG|NY | Riverhead, New York
“There’s always the next ferry”
Enjoying the heck out of Stephanie and John’s wedding!
Nassau Museum of Art Wedding in Long Island
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Rachael & George
A garden of modern art installations, wooden chairs arranged between beautiful flowers and bushes, and an old 20th century building displaying an Andy Warhol exhibit. Walk by the Campbell’s Soup section and past a group of work from Warhol’s portraiture period and a door creaks open to a group of bridesmaids seeing Rachael in her dress for the first time. Our job as wedding photographers takes us to a ton of amazing places, and sometimes the best ones are the ones you had no idea existed—like Rachael and George’s wedding photos at the Nassau Museum of Art in Roslyn on Long Island.
The first time I met Rachael was either in middle school or high school. I used to go over her house in Northport to play basketball with her older brother, Brett, in their beautiful backyard. A few years younger, Rachael used to run around the neighborhood with her group of friends while we did our thing. I vaguely remember playing capture the flag and climbing over the fence into the neighbors yard and getting in trouble. Who could’ve guessed that I would be photographing her wedding 15-20 years later!
When we asked Rachael and George if they wanted any particular photos during their engagement session at the Vanderbilt Museum—both of their eyes lit up as they shouted—“we need the chest bump picture!” Apparently for every gathering where there is a photographer they take position 5-10 feet from one another, and then enthusiastically run up, jump, and give each other a chest bump. It was a hilarious sight to see and we love when our couples have traditions and inside jokes. Each instance gives you an insight into their relationship and showcases their sense of humor.
That’s part of why doing an engagement session is so important. It’s not just for the photos, or to do something cute with your partner—it’s about getting in front of our camera, getting to know us, and letting us into your world. It’s about getting to a place to feel comfortable enough to be goofy and silly because in our opinion, that’s when human beings are in their most beautiful state. Of course we throw on some makeup and put on nice clothes, but you cannot replicate an individual’s unique genuine joy with material products. Please take our advice: book an engagement session and take up our offer to grab a beer after—trust me—you’ll feel that much better come wedding day.
We had a blast with Rachael and George at their wedding at the Nassau County Museum of Art. Rachael did an impeccable job of planning and execution and their friends and family did the rest. The outdoor art installations provided great props for wedding party photos, and the artwork and white walls of the inside of the buildings glowed with a curated elegance. Of all of the places we traveled to this year, I never expected to take a bride’s first look next to the work of a world renowned artist—I guess we will just have to start setting the bar a little higher.
Enjoy these photos from George & Rachael’s Nassau Museum of Art Wedding:
Vendors
Photography | Apollo Fields
Venue | Nassau Museum of Art | Roslyn, NY
Catering | Elegant Affairs
Dress | Bridal Reflections | Massapequa, NY
Rings | Coin Galleries of Oyster Bay
Invitations | Lion in the Sun | Park Slope, Brooklyn
Hair and Makeup | The Look Spa Salon | Greenlawn, NY
Transportation | Trans-Star Executive
Band | J-Riz Entertainment
Wrapping up a great night
With Rachael & George! Reach out for your own wedding photography needs below!
Wedgewood Boulder Creek Wedding
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Paige & Johns Wedding
Flight number five for Capa and we’ve gotten into a pretty good routine. Early morning flights are preferable because he’s tired and will sleep on the car ride to the airport and in flight. About an hour before takeoff we give him a small dosage of baby Tylenol. Then we pump him full of puffs, fruits, and top him off with some milk at takeoff. Then, almost like clockwork, he goes down within the first fifteen minutes of flight. Then both he and Heather lay on my lap and I am immobile until they both wake up. They usually sleep 1.5-2 hours while I fidget around and hope that I don’t drop my phone or book into the abyss of the floor of the airplane. This is what traveling with an infant looks like.
We first met Paige and John for their engagement photos at Sapphire Point in Dillon, Colorado, at sunrise. We expected an autumnal scene with a sea of yellows and oranges but instead were greeted with the chill and white of winter. Paige and John rolled with the punches and a special shout out to Paige for somehow being able to not look cold with exposed shoulders with temperatures in the teens. John was shivering in a full suit and jacket. I was sipping on a piping hot macchiato.
Paige and John held their reception in one of my favorite places in Colorado: Boulder Canyon. Back when Heather and I lived in Arvada I bombed down Boulder Canyon Drive on my single speed bike, careening around curves, taking in the scenery while doing my best to keep my eyes on the road. I came to an abrupt stop at the bottom of the decline when I noticed a rope swing with a bunch of people gathered around it. I couldn’t help but cool off by launching myself into the cool waters of Boulder Creek.
Paige and John’s reception was at Wedgewood-Boulder Creek, and to no one's surprise it’s one of my favorite venues. I love the layout of the property: guests are welcomed onto the property along the left of the building which spills out to a nice, green space for cocktail hour. The staff is always attentive and courteous and the food is delicious. It’s typically during this time that Heather and I take the couple down to the creek for a few romantic shots because golden hour can be tricky when seated at the base of the canyon. By the time we get back up, we’re able to enjoy the outdoors a little longer before everyone is ushered into a covered patio with regal chandeliers and natural wood beams and columns. It’s very intimate but never feels overcrowded. It’s a great space for heartfelt speeches and dances.
Paige and John hosted a beautiful wedding that we loved being a part of. It was one of the first times a guest offered to take a picture of me and Capa as we were making our way through cocktail hour! Everyone was so kind and fun that it made the day go by like an afternoon in the park with friends. Thank you for having us, Paige and John!
Enjoy these pictures from John & Paige’s Boulder CO Wedding:
Vendors
Photography | Apollo Fields
Venue | Wedgewood Boulder Creek
Florist | Bitterroot Studio
Bakery | Button Rock Bakery
Video | Multiply Media
Dress | Emma & Grace Bridal
Rings | Lauren Addison
Hair | Hayley Styles Hair
Makeup | Mooi Studio
Colorado Weddings
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Astoria Wedding Photographers
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Alexis & Dan’s Wedding
Ever since Heather and I lived on the Upper West Side over five years ago, people have always talked about “the beer garden” in Astoria, Queens. For us, it was always too far to trek to from the UWS--kind of like Williamsburg or Bushwick in Brooklyn--but the thought of this little German-themed beer and brat oasis has never eluded me. I was so stoked to hear that Alexis and Dan planned to hold their wedding reception at Bohemian Hall because that’s where they had their informal first dates among friends.
We first met Alexis and Dan when we photographed their elopement in Gantry Plaza last year. It was a sweet, intimate outdoor ceremony with the skyline of Manhattan in the backdrop. Champagne was popped, cake cups were served, and smiles and giggles were seen and heard through cloth masks. It was evident that Alexis and Dan’s relationship is light and heartfelt, sincere and silly. They are so thoughtful that they gave us a thank you card with a typewriter print on the outside and a handwritten message on the inside--things like that go really far with us.
When we asked Alexis to compare Dan to an animal, inanimate object, scene, song, or movie in our questionnaire, she said “every entrance Kramer makes into Jerry’s apartment in Seinfeld,” and I can’t stop laughing. That is such a specific reference and vibe that I don’t think I know anyone else that can fit that description. Additionally, Alexis is as ruthless when playing games with Dan as Heather and I are and I love it. She made him spell an answer in Trivial Pursuit once and he said “Vellagio” instead of “Bellagio” and it makes me think of all of the times Heather used a bullshit word in Scrabble and I called her out on it. Relationships are all fun and games until you unfold the cardboard and put the pieces on the board.
Heather and I have always loved to play and bet on games like mini-golf, Scrabble, Patchwork, Tokaido, Sequence, and Rummy. Sometimes we make silly bets like you have to wear two different shoes on a date and other times it’s more serious like you’re picking up the tab at the brewery. There always has to be some element of embarrassment to the wager to really spice up the competition. I fondly remember one time where Heather had to wear her pants backwards at a dinner party we hosted. Somehow, people didn’t really notice--and the one person that did thought it was a style choice, lol.
It’s easy to get caught up with work and other responsibilities and forget to give your partner the same amount of attention that you did at the beginning of your relationship. Over time romance waxes and wanes and life inevitably becomes more complicated. Since having Capa Heather and I have barely played any board games and made any bets. We said we’d make a concerted effort to spend time with each other before he was born, but time management is really difficult with a little one. We both understand that we are doing all we can and before we know it we will be embarrassing one another. I just can’t wait to get Capa in on the action.
Enjoy these pics from Alexis & Dan’s Bohemian Beer Garden Wedding:
Vendors
Photography | Apollo Fields
Reception Venue | Bohemian Hall [Beer Garden] | Astoria, Queens | NYC
It’s Us!
With Alexis and Dan having a great time at their wedding!! Reach out for your own photography below:
Montauk Wedding Photography in the Hamptons, NY
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Chris & Kristen
Walking along a beach in Montauk at midnight, Heather and I watched the waves crash in the moonlight. It was the first night we got to spend together sans Capa since he was born. Eight months of long nights, groggy mornings, and “you got this one [diaper change]?” What made the moment even sweeter was the memory of my after prom on the same beach 15 years ago. Just the thought of reliving some of those memories made me cringe. It was like the feeling of regret--but deeper, more intimate. Like I wanted to go back in time to tell myself to relax because it was all going to work out. Just then, Heather and I took a seat, leaned back, and let our heads fall into the sand.
Heather first met Chris back when she was going to equestrian school with his younger sister, Bri. Chris and Bri’s family is the kind of family to invite you over for dinner or ask you to tag along when they are going out for the night. Such was the case when Heather and I snapped Bri and her husband Tyler’s Montauk engagement photos when we all went out to dinner after. Kristen and Chris were just dating at the time, but you could tell by the relaxed way that they engaged with one another that this was just the beginning.
Maybe it’s because they both live in Montauk, but Kristen ahd Chris are laid back through-and-through. I’d never met a couple so relaxed on their wedding day. Kristen was getting ready at a beautiful harborfront spot with her closest girls, while Chris kicked it back at the family house with the boys. The overcast day created a cool afternoon, and Chris and Kristen and their bridal parties took full advantage.
From there we all went up to Chris’s family property atop a hill in Montauk with waterviews all around. A light drizzle began to come down during the ceremony right before the clouds opened up for a moment in the distance. A few sun rays popped right through and the moisture in the atmosphere appeared. The drizzle stopped but the same breeze from the afternoon had guests wrapping their sport coats around bare shoulders. A hybrid audience, half-seated and half-standing, roared at the ceremony’s conclusion and the party was set to begin.
From a full raw bar to a raucous live band, Kristen and Chris’s wedding celebration was one for the ages. There were always feet on the dance floor and someone screaming at the top of their lungs. When the sun went down on their property in Montauk you couldn’t see the water anymore but you could hear it--you could feel it. And maybe that’s what keeps us Long Islanders from leaving--when you’re only so far from the beach you can just close your eyes and feel the breeze--and know that everything is going to work out.
Enjoy these photos from Chris & Kristen’s Montauk Wedding:
Photography: Apollo Fields
Wedding Planning: Forever Young Events
Catering: Janet O’Brien Caterers
Apollo Fields
We love a good party, and Kristen and Chris certainly delivered! For your own wedding photography, reach out below:
The View at Battery Park Wedding Photos
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Ron and Sunil’s Wedding
Jackhammers and barricades, scaffolding, and steam rising from manholes in the middle of the street. A group of men standing around with cigarettes in their mouths with varying degrees of five-o-clock shadows. Construction in New York City is as infamous as the L-train to Brooklyn and traffic on the Cross Bronx. The worst part about all of the construction is that after the crew packs up the project they were seemingly working on for years, nothing looks different at all. That being said, when Heather, Capa, and I stepped into the Oculus for the first time I was completely blown away. Somewhere between a spaceship from Star Trek and a modern shopping mall, the pristinely white subway station hub is truly a sight to behold.
Heather and I photographed Ron and Sunil’s intimate wedding ceremony in Riverside Park last August. Their story got picked up and published in the New York Times and it was one of the many fond memories we have from a year mired in stress and toil. I’ve known Ron since he was a regular at my first bartending gig in New York City many years ago, but it has been an absolute pleasure to get to know Sunil over the last year and change. Ron and Sunil’s love is light but rich, jovial and sincere. I love the way they laugh together.
Ron and Sunil, like many couples who got married in 2020, had to change their plans on the fly. Tragically, the place where they got engaged, the Middle Collegiate Church in the East Village burned down last year. They also had to change the location of their reception and wound up making an amazing choice to hold it at The View at Battery Park in downtown Manhattan. With a view of the Statue of Liberty, Ron and Sunil’s guests enjoyed a celebration that began with a renewal of their vows, and a beautiful traditional Indian dance to honor Sunil’s heritage.
Time and time again we have seen our couples adapt to the circumstances of the last year and wind up hosting a wedding for the ages. With an equal dose of anticipation and a huge exhale of relief, we watched Ron and Sunil do the same. The pandemic has forced us to not take anything for granted, including the ways we celebrate marriage. The 2020-2021 wedding season has not been easy on the wedding vendors either but it still stands as possibly the best year of my life. From a healthy pregnancy, to Heather giving birth, to us toting Capa around to 11 states (and counting) I don’t know what else we could’ve done to make this year any better!
Through all the adversity we push forward to build a better future. I can’t wait to tell Capa of all the adventures he experienced when light was first striking his retinas. To remind him of all the people he smiled at and the places he’s already danced. Our lives, like New York City, are in a constant state of construction, but with any luck, we will come out looking as clean and beautiful as the Oculus, or as light and rich as Ron and Sunil’s relationship.
Enjoy these photos from Sunil & Ron’s Wedding in NYC:
Vendors:
Photography | Apollo Fields
Reception | The View at Battery Park | New York City, NY
Cake | Cakes by Lulu
Floral | International Garden
Suit | The Black Tux
Three Village Inn Wedding Photography in Stony Brook
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kelly & derek’s Wedding
I’ve taken 25A heading west on Long Island countless times in my life. Grandma’s house, Smithaven Mall, Port Jefferson Ferry, baseball games in St. James--it’s the kind of road that I never needed to use a GPS for. But just like the rest of this summer, I turned off of 25A towards Three Village Inn for Kelly and Derek’s wedding and stumbled across beautiful places I’ve never been to before.
First, Heather and I grabbed a snack at a local cafe tucked into Old Stony Brook Village, a charming village center of storefronts and restaurants whose timeless facades have been preserved through time. Later in the day we visited Kelly and Derek’s old apartment on Setauket Harbor and captured romantics and bridal party photos to commemorate their relationship’s beginnings as the sun set in the background.
Heather and I love traveling to places where our couples formed core memories of their relationship. It doesn’t get much more romantic than watching a couple sit down in the exact place where they used to picnic, remembering favorite meals as their bodies gradually move closer to one another. I’ve noticed that the natural state of a relationship emerges when sharing a meal; a few pilfered fries here, a sip of a drink there, each partner knowing exactly what they can and can’t get away with--sharing food turns out to be a surprisingly intimate experience.
When Heather and I eat on the road it’s not pretty: gas station snacks, Clif Bars, Starbucks sandwiches, bags of chips or nuts we forgot were in the center console. But when we have time to make a home-cooked meal, or better yet, host a dinner party, there are few things we enjoy more. Our speciality has always been fresh cooked pasta but we love to explore different cuisines, test our skills, and expand our palates. Maybe it’s because we have a lot of experience in hospitality, but we don’t quite understand when people stress about hosting others for a meal. To us, as long as you greet your guests with a drink and have some snacks ready to go, the vibes will take care of themselves. We’re actually waaay overdue on hosting so once wedding season slows down a bit we will totally be busting out our dirty aprons!
When I think about it, the best part about this summer is a lot like entertaining guests in your home: striking up a conversation with a table full of people is all about uncovering beautiful things about your guests that you didn’t already know. Just like traveling is all about discovering places you’ve never been before. We will always feel more comfortable in the familiar, in places we love and with people we know, but real connections happen by taking that extra step and finding the beautiful in the unfamiliar. So turn off your GPS, throw your cookbook away, and invite some friends over for dinner!
Enjoy these photos from Derek & Kelly’s wedding:
vendors
Photography | Apollo Fields
Venue | Three Village Inn | Stony Brook, NY
Dress | Family Heirloom made by Great Grandmother
Videography | Violet and Iris Cinematography
Event Coordinator | One of a Kind Gatherings | Cynthia Lynn
Flowers | Wildflower Touch
Makeup & Hair | Beauty Marks Spa and Bridal Studio
DJ | Todd Barrie Music
Trolley | Hampton Jitney
Limo | LIE Lite Limo
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Prospect Park Engagement Photos
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Ashley and Andrew’s Engagement Photos
A steamy summer Saturday in Brooklyn has a particular vibe: fire hydrants spraying into the street, shirtless people riding Citi-bikes, local vendors selling sliced mangoes or papaya in ziploc bags, and an all-too-familiar New York City stench. Yet being outside is somehow preferable to staying within the comfort of an air conditioned living room. Whether it’s cozying up on a picnic blanket in the shade, catching a baseball game, or grabbing a margarita at a bar, the heat doesn’t scare New Yorkers into hermitude.
When we first met up with Ashley and Andrew for their engagement photos in Prospect Park, Ashley immediately asked if she could hold Capa. It was a trip to see someone I’ve known since my first day in kindergarten throw my eight-month-old baby on their hip. For as long as I can remember, Ashley has always had a maternal presence, caring for her friends as if they were family. Growing up, her mother always welcomed anyone to join their dinner table and it’s endearing to see Ashley embody their tradition of hospitality.
I met Andrew for the first time when I caught a performance of he and Ashley’s band, Moondrunk, at a bar in Brooklyn a few years back. As a hip-hop fan, I was blown away by Andrew’s ability to freestyle rap, a skill that both he and Ashley have shown off in their Broadway performances with Freestyle Love Supreme. From the outside looking in, freestyle rapping is terrifying--conjuring up punchlines seemingly out of thin air--but from a fellow freestyler (albeit a very amateur one), it is one of the most welcoming, loose, fun, and creative experiences I know. You should really try it sometime, or better yet, take a class!
Heather and I are similar to Ash and Andrew in that we are hustlers. While they try to plan things around a hectic performance and rehearsal schedule, we try to plan things around weddings and engagements. We both show up everyday, on time, ready to work, but behind the scenes we are trying to catch our breath (at least speaking for Heather and I). Yet every time Heather and I get a stretch of time at home we enjoy it for a few days then get a bit restless. I imagine it must be the same for Ashley and Andrew, who spend a lot of time in the spotlight.
In the end, it always feels better to push ourselves than to rest on our laurels. For years I allowed myself to stay inside, thinking too much, and not taking enough action. At some point I gave myself an ultimatum: either you put yourself out there or you tell yourself that you are okay never giving it a try. This black-and-white approach allowed me to simplify an otherwise convoluted emotional dilemma, and I began performing spoken word poetry in bars around Manhattan. Through that experience, I learned that I didn’t enjoy performing as much as I enjoyed creating and expressing myself with words and rhythm. I never knew it would lead to me telling couples love stories but here I am--I’ll leave the spotlight for the professionals like Ashley and Andrew.
Madison Beach Hotel Wedding in CT
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Laura & Zach’s Wedding
No matter how early I suggest leaving for a wedding, Heather always adds on extra time. I used to push back but it’s one of her things--and it is the correct logical and professional thing to do. We can’t afford to be even one minute late to a wedding. So when we were sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic on I-95 on our way to Laura and Zach’s wedding at the Madison Beach Hotel in Madison, Connecticut, we weren’t sweating it. We still had enough time to stop for sandwiches at a local charcuterie and cheese shop before heading to the venue.
As soon as we arrived on location we made our way up to the bridal suite, where Laura and her bridesmaids were relaxing and getting ready. Zach and the groomsmen weren’t arriving for another hour and a half, so I headed back downstairs to get a lay of the land. The Madison Beach Hotel is located right next to the West Wharf, a local beach on the Long Island Sound. It’s not often that I look at the Sound from this angle, as I’ve spent most of my life on Long Island looking across at Connecticut wondering where I was looking at. This whole summer feels like I’m finally understanding the area I’m from by looking at it from different perspectives.
One of my favorite things we do to get to know our couples better is ask them to fill out a questionnaire. The questions range from “How did you first meet?” to “Tell us an embarrassing story about your partner,” and we see all kinds of answers. Well Laura and Zach each gave us an all-time great answer when responding to: “Describe your partner as a scene, song, animal, or inanimate object. Be as descript or simple as necessary.” Zach said, “Laura is a toad. We joke, whenever her mood is "off" she is a toad on a log. Just sitting there not doing anything except making a lot of noise.” LOL. Laura replied, “Zachary is a lake house. Mostly calm and tranquil; simple - what you see is what you get - but can host a rockin' party, family reunion or romantic getaway.” Take notes, people. This goofiness is how you know: 1, that they really love each other, and; 2, that they know each other well.
Heather and I love when our couples don’t take themselves too seriously--it means that they’re really comfortable with one another. That they’ve stayed up late, laughing and asking those questions that always push the next one a little further. Early on in Heather and I’s relationship we skipped town (NYC) every couple weeks to explore a place we hadn’t been before. We camped near Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire, caught the Perseid Meteor Shower at Sharp Top Mountain on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia, and endured a torrential storm inside a leaky tent in West Virginia. We’ve been logging hours on road trips ever since and we still have a great time goofing around and asking each other stupid questions.
So when Heather asks me to leave two and a half hours early to get to a wedding 30 minutes away I don’t push back anymore. I just think of all the silly questions I can ask her when we’re sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic or scarfing down another meal on the road. There will always be more places to discover and new things to learn about your partner.
Enjoy these photos from Zach & Laura’s wedding at the Madison Beach Hotel:
vendors
Photography | Apollo Fields
Venue | Madison Beach Hotel
Floral | Candi’s Floral Creations
Suit | Ted Baker
Dress | BHLDN | Amsale
Rings | Tower Square Jewelers
Makeup and Bride’s Hair | Emily Nantucket | Blow Dry at the Beach
Signage | Fonts and Flourishes
Invitations | Minted
Cake | JCakes
DJ | Powerstation Events | Kevin Williams
Hey hey!
It’s us with Zach and Laura for our ‘last photo’ of the night!
Hamilton Hall Wedding in NYC
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Carly & Mike’s Wedding
Walking through Harlem with eight-month-old baby Capa strapped to my chest felt like a bridge between two versions of myself: the mid-twenties, student/martini-mixer and the early-thirties small business owner/infant entertainer extraordinaire. The former stayed up until six a.m. drinking and the latter currently wakes at six a.m. to help another person drink. Sleep is seldom in both versions but the idea of it is much sexier now. The link between the two is my wife, Heather, who helped elevate my life from those romantically late New York City nights to my current state of blissful, overworked, exhaustion.
I first met Carly when she was a bartender at my favorite late night jaunt, a bar fondly remembered as AmTav (Amsterdam Tavern) at 106th and Broadway. I’d walk in with my tie undone and saddle up to the bar next to other industry folk with empty shot glasses in front of them. Carly would always be finishing a story or giving somebody the business over what an idiot they were. She embodied the kind of take-no-shit NYC bartender that I always wanted to be but never had the stomach for. I met her partner, Mike, there a number of nights after he finished his shift down at St. Marks that all seem to blend together now. He was (and is) always so kind, charming, and welcoming. They really make a great pair.
Carly and Mike love hosting for all the same reasons Heather and I love hosting: fresh food, strong, well-made drinks, and gathering people around a table to share stories and laugh. They know not to freak out when guests start arriving because they know things always will come together. Just throw a drink in their hands, keep doing what you’re doing, or ask them to help. The true beauty of having good friends is that you can rely on them—the frivolous, irresponsible, and selfish ones were cut before last call.
Carly and Mike replanned their wedding more times than an Upper West Sider sends back a bone dry martini. Yet they still held an incredibly authentic celebration of their love at The Hamilton Hall in Harlem. Carly and Mike’s guests first walked into the space to find handmade seating cards made by Carly herself. Then, as they made their way past the long, wooden bar, more personalized details adorned the tables and walls: wildflower arrangements, specialized bitters from TNT Bitters (a company that Mike runs with his business partner, Anna), and printed itineraries of what to expect the rest of the evening. They held their ceremony down on a secluded outdoor patio and they entered together to the biggest ovation I have heard for a bride and groom to date.
There is absolutely a community in the late night bar scene in New York City. We grew closer as the morning grew nearer and we never seemed to care. We learned that you leave some friends at the service bar because you want something more. And there was always some epiphanic revelation about life that turned out to be nonsense in the morning. But maybe those late nights and early mornings were training us to operate on short sleep to have a family one day. Or maybe we were just rounding up a crew of misfits that we were just beginning to consider family. Either way, food and drink did bring us together.
Enjoy these photos from Mike & Car’s NYC Wedding:
vendors
Photography | Apollo Fields
Venue | Hamilton Hall
Seating Cards | Crafted by the bride, Carly
Floral | Crafted by the bride, Carly
Day-Of Coordinator | Sophie Russek
Coming Atcha
Team Apollo with some of our faves!!
Pastures of Plenty Wedding in Boulder, CO
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Mercie and Dan’s Wedding
Coasting down route 36, the Flatirons of Boulder, Colorado, grew larger by the minute. Memories flashed like road signs in the side-view mirror: like the time Heather accidentally sat on a fire ant hill on the side of the road; or the time I biked from Arvada to Boulder and flew down this decline like the red baron in an old Charlie Brown segment; or the many trips coming back from the hospital as we endured our experience with an ectopic pregnancy in 2019. Capa riding with us in the back seat to Mercie and Dan’s wedding at Pastures of Plenty has proverbially turned this sloped road into a rotary, and as we came full circle we turned to look at him and smile.
We first met Mercie when we were living in Arvada and she was working as a hostess at the same restaurant Heather was working at. Mercie always welcomed me into the foyer with the same bright smile, full of a genuine enthusiasm that most hostesses do their best to feign. Heather and I got to know Mercie and Dan as a couple when we took their engagement photos at Rollins Pass in Nederland a couple years later. It was quickly apparent that they share a wavelength--understanding each other through an invisible yet palpable electromagnetism--as after every photo they seemed to draw closer and closer together.
Fast-forward to 2021 and Mercie and Dan had a water slide at their wedding (in case it was too hot). And also appointed their young siblings as their officiants, DJs, emcees, and baby caretakers (For real, one of them took Capa mid-ceremony so I could take pictures). Everywhere you turned there was a role that Mercie and Dan empowered one of their siblings with. Where most couples cater their event to themselves--Mercie and Dan catered it to their family. A Captain Hook shy of Neverland and a religious scripture short of the Garden of Eden, Mercie and Dan’s wedding was a beautiful fantasy of love, support, and purpose. And they all made it a reality.
There were several moments at Mercie and Dan’s wedding where I had to stand back and ask, “is this really happening?” It got to the point where if one of the bubbles floating in the air turned into a glowing fairy I wouldn’t have batted an eye. I am apt to refrain from using words like ‘magic’ or ‘miracle’ when describing a wedding, couple, or family, but Mercie, Dan, and company made it really hard to describe it as anything else. The way that they spoke to all of their various members of their extended family: in soft affirmations, playful directions, and empowering words of encouragement, they reminded me of the way that Snow White spoke to her woodland friends. The exception, of course, is that Disney is a contrived monolith and Mercie and Dan are living, breathing, beautiful humans of sensitivity and intention.
As each of our families evolve and grow I can only hope to embody the acceptance and trust that Mercie and Dan cultivate on an everyday basis. It takes great patience, an even better understanding, and a dedication to emotional communication. While Heather and I already valued each of these attributes we were and are in complete admiration of Mercie and Dan’s intention and execution. It isn’t fairy dust that creates the magic in our reality, it is our thoughts converted into action.
Enjoy these photos from Merc & Dan’s Pasture of Plenty Wedding in Boulder, Colorado:
As seen in: Couture Colorado Magazine
vendors
Photography | Apollo Fields
Videography | Glasshouse Wedding Films
Venue | Pastures of Plenty
Invitations | Minted
Dresses | Galina
This was a special one for us…
…we have SO enjoyed our friendship with Merc and Dan and feel absolutely honored to have captured their joyful day!
Riviera Waterfront Mansion Wedding Photos
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Kristen & Mike
Fall colors, a stiff but gentle breeze, your significant other nestling onto the shoulder of your flannel shirt. Genuine laughter, a pause, and the click of the shutter from Heather’s camera. Heather, Mike, Kristen, and I marched forward, brittle leaves crackling beneath our feet as we circled Stump Pond in Blydenburgh Park in Smithtown in fall 2019. Pre-Covid memories like these seem more like a dream, reminiscent of the pristine moments from Heather and I’s honeymoon in Jamaica. They manifest a clear division of before and after [quarantine] in my mind, where our relationships with our couples represent the light at both ends of a dark tunnel.
Kristen and Mike held their ceremony last year in East Northport, stopping in Heckscher Park in Huntington afterwards for family formals and romantics. They turned it up this year for their reception at the Riviera Waterfront Mansion in Massapequa and it did not disappoint! Although it rained, the beautifully renovated property right on South Oyster Bay allowed Kristen and Mike’s family and friends to mingle and explore, especially when the clouds let up for a short while.
Kristen and Mike took it all in stride, allowing themselves to enjoy the celebration that they waited so long for. When cocktail hour gave way to the reception, the grand entrances of the wedding party officially kick started the day. With a camera on one hip and a stuffed octopus on the other, Heather, Capa (with protective headphones) and I danced and documented these priceless moments. Seeing all of Kristen and Mike’s closest family and friends that we’d met the year before reminded us how grateful we are for being, albeit briefly, allowed into these intimate circles of our couple’s lives. Occasionally we’re even lucky enough to be invited to photograph one of their siblings or relative’s weddings!
Such is the case with Kristen’s brother, Mike, and his fiance, Caity. We’ll be photographing their wedding at Sunken Meadow State Park in August 2022 and we’re already pumped. Caity and Mike, like Kristen and Mike, are fun loving, salt-of-the-earth type people. They’re the kind of people you want to sit around a bonfire with, sharing stories, ‘smores, and a drink or two. They’re the kind of people you can count on.
And in this last year I think we’ve all needed and found the people in our lives that we can count on. I was surprised that my five siblings and I kept a weekly Zoom chat going all year. It culminated into our first family vacation together with all of our partners and children. For all of the turmoil that each one of us have been through, having a friend or family member you can count on is one of the most valuable assets you can have in life. Lucky for Mike and Kristen, Caity and Mike, and Heather and I, we all have our partners, and now we all have each other to follow the light outside the tunnel.
Enjoy these photos from Kristen & Mike’s Riviera Waterfront wedding reception:
Vendors
Photography | Apollo Fields
Venue | Riviera Waterfront Mansion | Massapequa, NY
Videography | Chris Lobello Productions
Suits | Karako
Dress | Madi Lane Bridal
Hair Vine | Green Alaska
Shoes | Betsey Johnson
Floral | Tim’s Florist | Massapequa, NY
Having the best time!
With Kristen & Mike ANDDDD one of our couples for next year, Caity & Mike!!
Maine Barn Wedding Photos at Granite Ridge Estate
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Jessica & Matthew’s Wedding
Jumping into Lake Pennesseewassee in Norway, Maine, in those last few moments before I broke the surface of the water, I realized this was the third lake I’d been jumping into in as many days. Heather and I spent the previous week in upstate New York and I plunged into Lake Sunnyside and Lake George with the same childlike enthusiasm. As reckless or juvenile as the act of jumping into a body of water can be, anyone who knew me before my trip to Bermuda in 2010 knows that my leap into the Atlantic Ocean from a rock in Horseshoe Bay truly changed my approach to life. That all-too-literal coming of age story was when I gave myself permission to be who I was rather than who I thought everyone wanted me to be.
Last year in August, Heather and I met up with Jessica and Matt in the North End district of Boston for their engagement photos at Long Wharf and Somerville. We knew immediately as we stumbled upon the first photo location that Jessica and Matt were one of those couples that have it. It is something that can’t be taught, learned, or fabricated. It is when two people meet each other at the perfect time in their lives, develop alongside and with one other, and are able to both enjoy and plan the trajectory of their relationship. Some people might call it falling in love—but I think that sounds too passive or reactive—and doesn’t quite capture the active role that partners play in realizing, deciding, and building a meaningful life with someone else.
Jessica and Matt, with the help of Liz, their amazing planner, and Jessica’s father, John, and Matt’s mother, Kathy, threw a wedding for the ages at Granite Ridge Estate and Barn in Maine. From the rehearsal dinner at Oxbow Beer Garden, to the New England church ceremony, vintage gold Bentley, delicious food, overflowing florals, panoramic views, and the best goddamn wedding band we’ve ever danced to—Matt and Jessica’s celebration of it was want for nothing. Jessica even braved the weeds going barefoot (!!) in her wedding dress to get those iconic shots during golden hour. One time for all the brides out there who throw down like that!
Those are the kind of photos and memories that you have to take the leap for like I did in Horseshoe Bay. Jess, Matt, Heather and I know that you can live your whole life in those tense moments of contemplation, frustration, and regret or you can kick off your damned shoes and jump in! Before Bermuda I introduced myself as Terry to anyone I met, but afterwards, I started going by Terrence. I was sick of the half-confident way I used to say it when people would respond, “what, who?” I was sick of that feeling after I left a party when I didn’t go say hi to my crush. I finally had enough and it was then that I decided to start tipping the scale in those moments of uncertainty into a more certain direction.
So in those last few seconds before I broke the surface of Lake Pennesseewassee I wasn’t thinking about how cold it was going to be, or what kind of critters were in the lake, all I could think about was how easy it was to make that decision—to just kick off my shoes, take off my shirt, be who I wanted to be, and jump on in.
Owbow Brewing Company Rehearsal Dinner / Welcome Drinks:
Granite Ridge Estate & Barn Wedding:
vendors:
Photography | Apollo Fields
Venue | Granite Ridge Estate | Norway, ME
Catering | Essential Chefs | John Martin
Planner | Elegant Aura
Staffing | Strange Events
Floral | Kathy | Mother of Groom
Cake | Bear Brook Bakery
Band | Soul of Boston
Videographer | Toast Wedding Films
Rentals | Affordable Events | Scott
Drapery | Maine Event Decor
Hair & Makeup | Her. A Bridal Beauty Company
Say Hey
Our classic end-of-night pic! Except we put down our cameras and closed down this shindig with Jess & Matt because their band was THAT good!!!
The Maker Hotel Wedding Photography and Proposal
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Ricardo’s Proposal and Wedding at The Maker Hotel in Hudson, NY
After wrapping a wedding reception in Port Jefferson on Long Island, Capa and I made our way back home to Northport on a humid sunny afternoon. Heather, however, pressed on past our exit off the LIE en route to a surprise proposal at The Maker Hotel in Hudson, NY. I’m not sure if she listened to DMX, DMB, or podcasts but I’m sure that she was feeling a mixture of fatigue and excitement on the three-hour drive. That’s because The Maker Hotel isn’t just any hotel; and Ricardo and Michael aren’t just any couple.
The Maker Hotel was co-founded by Lev Glazman and Alina Roytberg, the creative minds behind the global beauty brand, Fresh, and nearby cafe and bakery, Bartlett House in Ghent, NY. A personalized aesthetic can be traced through all of their brands and nowhere is it more tangible than in the unique and authentic decor between the cozy walls of The Maker. Glazman and Roytberg’s hospitality expert, Damien Janowicz, was pivotal in the execution of the old-world-meets-new-world-vibe, providing both comfort and intrigue to restaurant diners and hotel guests alike.
Ricardo and Michael’s proposal and wedding seamlessly transitioned from a dimly-lit intimate dinner party to a beautifully sexy burlesque on Broadway show between toasts of champagne. Ricardo has a gentle, caring tone that makes him a warm and generous host. You could tell by the look on Michael’s face when Ricardo spoke just how deep their connection ran. By choosing The Maker Ricardo and Michael were able to share their story with their guests in a space that felt like home with a splash of the old world and a dash of bright lights.
Heather and I got to talking and realized that Apollo Fields is based on a lot of the same principles as The Maker and Ricardo and Michael’s relationship. At one point we even said that our motto should be “an old way to look at the new world” in regards to the artistic style we implement when we document weddings. Heather and I have an adoration for history and want to lift the best parts of it into the 21st century. We aim to build a future that celebrates humans in all of their many beautiful forms, and are always on the lookout for honest artistic expression. We appreciate style but don’t want to sacrifice comfort; we want to travel the world without leaving home.
A great relationship is like a great hotel, you feel comfortable anywhere you are. You want for nothing, you’re in great company, and all of your needs are met. You sink into the couch a little bit deeper, sip that hot coffee a little longer, and maybe even drift off into a daydream. You look over at your partner and lock eyes--oh how love can be so light in those beautiful moments. That is what we are all after--what a great partner, hotel, or brand can bring--those moments of deep love that somehow come so easy.
Vendors:
Venue: The Maker Hotel | Hudson NY
Photography: Apollo Fields