Wedding at the Heritage Club at Bethpage: Grace & Justin
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Grace & justin WEDDING
the couple
Grace and Justin’s wedding day was a captivating blend of cherished family customs full of meaningful moments and nods to their rich heritage. We loved how they incorporated pieces of their personalities and passions into every detail of their design. It was a wonderful day in Farmingdale, NY and the Heritage Club at Bethpage, was the perfect venue to host the days events.
getting ready
We loved spending the day with Grace and Justin and we couldn’t get enough of their unique design choices and their love for one another was truly contagious. After meeting through their co-ed soccer teams as Div. 1 athletes they quickly found they had a lot in common. You know that we are suckers for first look moments and we had to take full advantage of this gorgeous couple and their families. Not only did Grace surprise her groom with a first look moment but so did the bridesmaids!
the ceremony
The ceremony was set and ready, perfectly placed in front of the hearth of the fireplace where Grace and Justin said their vows. With heartfelt promises and dewy eyes the two said “I do” and began their next journey as newlyweds. The love between these two could be felt even from the back of the room as their guests applauded and congratulated them as they exited their ceremony!
the reception
We took full advantage of the Heritage Club’s grounds as they created the perfect backdrop for a March wedding. The greenery just starting to poke its way through and the fresh spring sunshine spilling out over the golf course provided the perfect opportunity to incorporate their love of soccer into their photos. Moving into the reception, we knew that Grace and Justin loved to have fun but we were pleasantly surprised when every guest brought the same level of excitement and energy to the entire evening. The dance floor quickly filled with guests and surrounded the lovebirds as they danced the night away!
thank you’s
We were absolutely honored to be part of Grace and Justin’s wedding day, from beginning to end it was a wonderful time full of love, joy, and excitement for the next chapter to begin! Cheers to the newlyweds.
If you’re newly engaged and on the lookout for your New York wedding photographer, we’d love to chat with you!
Vendor List
Photographer: apollo fields photography
Venue: heritage club at bethpage
Florals: beckman's florist
DJ/Band: east coast entertainment
Cake/Dessert: dortoni's bakery
Dress: max bridal
Make-Up: make-up by cole
Groom’s Wear: indochino
Videographer: white diamond video
Stationary: minted
Terrence Takeover | The Line Between Guest and Vendor
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A bunch of acquaintances sit and stand around a large table, some blinds drawn and a faint waft of hair spray comes floating into the room. The nervous tension is palpable as conversation stalls in the dense air. There are a handful of half-eaten sandwiches and macaroni salads on paper plates strewn across the room complete with crumpled napkins and half-drunk mimosas. These are the last remnants before a wedding finally kicks off.
I’m standing on a beautiful wrap-around porch on an overcast day in the Catskill Mountains in my royal blue suit. It’s the same suit I wear when I work weddings when one of the guys asks, “is it easy for you to turn it off? Like today, will your mind be cranking?” As I begin to say that I was just scouting the first look location and going into details of what I’ve already helped with I stop–”no, it’s not. I’m more of a lifestyle guy. I’m interested in making sure that everyone is having a good time.” It didn’t occur to me until now that I was lying–well sort of half-lying–I was making sure that everyone was having a good time; but I also wasn’t turning it off,
making sure that everyone was having a good time—was actually me working.
I didn’t realize I was fully put into the guest zone until I was walking on the catwalk of the beautiful barn at Windham Manor when someone yelled below, “hey, you’re not supposed to be up there!” I’ve gotten so used to the wedding vendor all access pass that I didn’t know I was trespassing.
For the last five plus years I’ve been going into rooms like the one I described and facilitating conversations with people who may or may not know each other, and definitely don’t know me. I haven’t been afraid of entering crowded rooms since I learned to bartend ten years ago. Actually, I thrive on finding the common ground between myself and others. That’s because the more I learn about others, the more I learn about myself. So when I see a room full of people wiggling in their seats, avoiding eye contact, looking for what to say–I don’t move towards the walls, I move towards the center.
I move towards getting people talking. I notice the ones that don’t want to or can’t find the right words. I don’t press them. I laugh at the loud, lewd jokes. I keep walking along, wagging my tail, as Heather constantly refers to me as a golden retriever. It’s actually a quality that’s plagued me because I find it really hard to quantify. Even speaking about it makes me nauseous with self-importance.
I love to be around other people. That’s it. I’m a chronically addicted extrovert.
So when I attended the wedding of one of the last remaining bachelors of my grade school friends, I talked to a lot of people. I didn’t take many pictures, and I didn’t dance much either. I bounced around from cocktail tables to people seated on stairs, to people on couches at the after party. The entire wedding is a blur of laughter and conversations. I wasn’t working but looking back at it I kind of was. My personal life has blended so much with my professional life that it’s hard to discern where the good times end and work begins. I think it’s a good problem–and one that I will inevitably bring up while wagging my tail at one of our couple’s cocktail hours.
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.
Grayfields Farm Wedding in New Jersey
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Gray + Laura
I’ve always told people who don’t believe in ghosts that I’d pay for them to stay in a legit haunted house or hotel room. It’s not that I think that it’s actually dangerous but more that it will scare them in the same way I used to be scared of the monsters under my bed (that is, unless I leapt from the bed, in which case, they couldn’t reach me). Now I haven’t had a paranormal experience in a long time—but the photo that Heather took of Laura and Gray at their farm wedding in New Jersey this past weekend—that was the good kind of paranormal. The kind of feeling you get when someone you lost is there with you, watching over you.
Lens Flare? Don’t Care
During Laura and Gray’s golden hour session, they decided to stop by the pine tree that they planted for Gray’s late father, Chris. As they settled into a few poses, Heather kept noticing a flare following Gray around wherever he went. At first she thought it was a lens flare but the way it moved and the way it appeared she ruled that out. Then, as they went to the next spot, Laura and Gray’s favorite tree on their property on the other side of the house, the same flare appeared. Whether or not you believe in ghosts or the many other explanations for how that light appeared, I don’t really care. What I saw and what I felt gave me the sense of presence of life after death and that our energy lives on. This is the positive reality that I choose to believe in.
DIY Weddings
Weddings don’t have to be one-size fits all. You can prioritize or de-prioritize wedding details according to your needs. Laura and Gray didn’t want to have a lot of moving parts so they decided to host it on their gorgeous family farm in Allamuchy, NJ. They did, however, want the food to be amazing so they splurged on a high-quality caterer. They brought in a band, tent, tables, and a trailer restroom and had themselves a wedding to remember. Don’t get overwhelmed with details, instead, choose things that represent your priorities.
Relaxed Wedding Vibes
I always say that the vibe of a wedding comes from the top-down. If the bride and groom are relaxed, everyone else will fall in line, logistics included. Laura and Gray decided to have a more casual attire, jackets optional, because they wanted their guests to be comfortable in the August heat. Many think that the c-word (casual) is an invitation for friends and family to wear cargo shorts and a tuxedo t-shirt, but what happens more often than not is a dressed down, comfortable chic look. I for one, am heavily in favor of moving away from full suits or tuxedos during summer weddings, preferring a more customizable, fashionable style that Gray and his brothers absolutely crushed. Ladies, as for what you decide to wear, the floor is yours!
Laura and Gray’s wedding is one that will stick to me for a long time; if not for the spirituality, or the relaxed vibes, then it is because Capa got to come along. With a bunch of other little ones in attendance, the Grayfields wedding was the perfect blend of family and fun, class and comfort. Cheers guys!
It’s us!
The whole fam with Gray and Laura at polo the day after their amazing wedding. Reach out for your own photo needs 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
Owl's Hoot Barn Wedding in Coxsackie, NY
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Jess + Kyle
Some of our couples find us through Instagram, some were guests at a wedding we worked, and others, like Jess, are best friends with the woman who delivered our baby, Capa. We actually met Jess for the first time at Stony Brook hospital a week after Capa was born when Heather had a postpartum appointment. I’d never visited a friend who works in medicine at their hospital before but boy were we grateful for Jess’s enthusiasm and warmth.
Long Island and Upstate New York Wedding Photographer
Even though most in attendance to Jess and Kyle’s wedding were from Long Island, they still opted to get married at Owl’s Hoot Barn in West Coxsackie, NY. It’s a beautiful venue with a cute bridge, little creek, a few ceremony sites to choose from, and a great combination of rustic and modern amenities. Jess and Kyle each had their own house on site to get ready in, maintain privacy, and have plenty of space. The light pouring in through the barn doors was perfect for the reception, and the cocktail hour under the covered back patio allowed for their guests to comfortably enjoy the day.
Have Your Friend Officiate Your Wedding
I may be a bit partial to Michelle, Jess’ best friend, officiant, and our midwife, but having someone close to you officiate your wedding is absolutely the way to go. They know your quirks, relationship, and will speak from the heart. Watching the ceremony allowed me into enter another world of Michelle’s life and of course it was consistent with her thoughtful, caring, and genuine self. You just won’t get the same type of emotional investment in those moments with an officiant-for-hire. We welcome all the feelings and all the tears!
That Time Your Wedding PHotographer Rapped with the Bride
So I don’t know exactly how it happened, but it did. That familiar guitar riff from “Lose Yourself” by Eminem came on and Jess got into the middle of the dance floor and started going for it! As a huge Eminem fan, I joined in on the rapping from the sidelines, but once her friends started peeling off as the song got into its lesser known verses, I found myself gravitating towards the center. I wasn’t going to let her rap by herself! Then all of a sudden, there I was, camera on my hip, rapping with Jess as we exchanged lines. If you prefer your wedding photographer to wear black and be a wallflower, please don’t play Eminem or classic hip-hop. You’ve been warned.
End your Wedding with a Bonfire
The music fades, the cake or ice cream has come and gone, and your friends aren’t done hanging out yet. Book yourself a venue like Owl’s Hoot and grab a bench or a stump to roast a marshmallow and assemble a s’more. The perfect wind down to an epic celebration, just don’t tell Heather, she gets waaay too competitive about her s’more technique.
Vendors
Photography | Apollo Fields
Venue | Owl’s Hoot Barn | West Coxsackie, NY
Floral | River Garden Flower Farm
DJ | DJ Johnny B
Videography | Genuine Collective Films
Makeup | True Beauty Company
Suit | Advance Formal Wear | Rockville Centre, NY
Dress | Enzoani | Bridal Reflections
Invitations | Minted
Cupcakes | Dolce and Biscotti | Clifton Park, NY
Transportation | First Student Transportation
The Piermont Wedding Photography in Babylon, NY
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Justyna + Steve
As much as we love to travel, photographing local weddings continues to make me appreciate the place I grew up. Maybe not the Long Island Expressway or the incessant traffic, but discovering the little pocket towns that line the coast like buoys out in the water. It’s like walking into a familiar community that is just a notch different from where you are from. Last year, we shot a wedding at the Crescent Beach Club in Bayville that felt like a combination of the Caribbean and Long Island vibe; then we went out to Three Village Inn in Stony Brook that gave us a sense of the 19th century history of the island that enamored figures like Walt Whitman and Teddy Roosevelt. This year we’ve gotten a closer look at Centerport Harbor just down the road from our house at the newly renovated Water’s Edge; and Babylon Cove at The Piermont for Justyna and Steve’s wedding.
Rainbow Wedding Photos
Okay I’m not sure what Justyna and Steve did to please the wedding gods but never have we ever seen a full rainbow at a wedding reception. I’m talking, arcing-across-the whole-blue-sky-there’s-gotta-be-a-pot-of-gold-at-the-end type of rainbow. There’s no planning this sort of thing at your wedding but we were in as much awe as the rest of Justyna and Steve’s wedding guests.
Best Wedding Photos
Most of our couples have a few things in common when it comes to wedding photos: they love candids, don’t know how to pose, and get nervous in front of the camera. Family formals are necessary for posterity but beyond that–you fill in the blanks when it comes to the rest. Justyna and Steve decided to do some of their formals outside of the church that they got married at, and wanted to stop at the bar where they had their first date for a few photos before we made our way to a local park for bridal party photos. We stole them for a few more golden hour shots at the venue and had them back with plenty of time to party. It’s definitely not a one-size-fits-all when it comes to wedding photography, so make sure you prioritize what is most important to you within your timeline and we will handle the rest!
Long Island Wedding Photography
The more people I meet and tell them about Heather, Capa, and Apollo Fields, the happier I become. Somewhere between contentedness, fulfilled, tired, and grateful, I look at all of the places we get to visit and love we get to document and all of a sudden I’m going through a mental rolodex of rolling memories. I think about Andy’s (Ed Helms) line from The Office pretty often when he said, “I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you left them.” That’s why I always make a conscious effort to take in a view, or kiss Heather on the head when a really tender first dance is happening or the sun is setting. No matter where we are, no matter whose wedding we’re working, at some point during the day Heather and I make eye contact and have an inside joke or shared glance that says “I love you.” It’s Long Island for now, but who knows what’s next.
Vendors
Photography | Apollo Fields
Venue | The Piermont | Babylon, NY
Band | Trade Winds
Floral | Flowers by Burton
Northport Long Island Wedding Photographers
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Ashley & Andrew’s Wedding
Vendors
Photography | Apollo Fields
Reception | Huntington Crescent Club
Ceremony | Private Residence
Long Island Winter Wedding at One10 Restaurant
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Amanda + Bill
Looking for a Unique venue? Have Your Wedding at a Restaurant!
Amanda and Bill decided to have their wedding at One10 Restaurant on Long Island because they felt it represented who they are more than a venue could. Consider their amazing wedding a reminder that you can do whatever you want at your wedding! One10 serves up a delicious mix of elevated rustic Italian and classic steakhouse. The expansive, clean space is anchored by a huge white granite bar and has a door that separates the space for private events. The flow of the day was seamless and the windows at the back of the restaurant allowed plenty of natural light to pour in for stunning photos!
Personalize Your Wedding Details
Amanda has a ton of experience in the wedding industry as a florist so right off the bat she knew what she wanted. She loved the details of One10: the floral wall with neon sign that read “the dolce vita,” the modern stylish decor, customizable space and the unbeatable food. Amanda added her own personal touches in the place cards with fun games and obviously stunning florals. Little details can go a long way into helping your wedding feel more intimate—the work might be tedious or laborious but it is always worth it!
Have a Winter Wedding
Winter weddings come with low temperatures and early sunsets but don’t let those things deter you from planning a winter wedding! The winter months also allow for more flexibility, different attire like fur shawls, and the chance of getting some amazing photos in the snow. Amanda and Bill got a chilly day but still braved the cold for their first look photos outside, and even finished the day with a few shots on the back patio. It’s up to you to determine what is most important at your wedding, so if one of those things isn’t spring or summer weather, take a look at hosting your wedding in the colder months.
Long Island Wedding Photography
From Montauk to the city, Heather and I travel all throughout Long Island to document weddings. We personally love doing weddings like Amanda and Bill’s that clearly have been well-planned and executed with a personal touch. Amanda and Bill are some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet and their wedding reflected their personalities through-and-through. We wish them the best of luck and can’t wait to meet up to grab a slice or bagel in the coming years!
VENDOR TEAM:
Photography: Apollo Fields
Ceremony & Reception Venue: One10 Restaurant
Party Planner / Day-Of Coordinator: Audra Jones- The Day Of Company
Videographer : White Tie Video
Florist: Flowers by Manny
DJ / Band : High Voltage Entertainment
Cake / Bakery : CaseyCakes
Rings : The Karat Shop
Hair and Makeup: Sue Natale + Mel Polito
Transportation / Limo: Cruise Control Limousine
The whole squad!
It’s us with the dream team of vendors + Amanda and Bill!
Apollo Fields 2021: 54 Weddings and 1 Baby
For the most part, our job as wedding photographers is to blend in, not stand out.
To move throughout the day like inconspicuous flies on the wall, floating through rooms and in and out of moments like a steady breeze through an open window. We take great pride in being given the opportunity to navigate the intimate spaces of wedding days, playing off the principle that stepping on a truly genuine moment is a cardinal sin. Year-in-and-year-out we flutter from venue-to-venue, unpacking and repacking our camera bags as quickly and commonly as the shutter clicks on our cameras. I am writing this blog to give a glimpse of what it is like to document a commencement of love 50 times a year in the span of six or seven months. It is with great love and appreciation that I say—it is our time to stand out.
From Brandon and Lia’s Wedding in September 2021 in Little Compton, Rhode Island.
2021 Still Wasn’t “Normal.”
We try to avoid using the word normal because it’s one of those “non-words” that doesn’t really mean anything. What exactly does it mean for a person or a year to be “normal”? As it pertains to people: the quirkier the better; but as it goes for wedding seasons, we’ll take predictable. Like the idea of a wedding happening on a specified date and location. Of course we have empathized with every couple for the last two years but can you imagine what our Google calendar has looked like? Think Charlie Kelly in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia vibes. Now picture him in a wedding dress.
And yet, it was the best year of my life.
I like to joke that having a kid feels like you’re playing the game of life on hard mode. Every activity of everyday or every trip is just that much harder. Mornings feel earlier and nights feel longer, but in between extended bouts of exhaustion there are pristine moments of overtired bliss. Like the walk Heather and I took at midnight in Montauk after a wedding as we watched the crests of waves hover and crash on the coast over and over again in the bright moonlight. Or when I held Capa just above the surface of the rooftop pool in West Palm Beach, pushing him through the water like the dorsal fin of a dolphin swimming in the Caribbean. For everything that being a parent takes away from you it gives it back in moments of overwhelming joy.
And also the busiest.
Between our 54 weddings in 13 states plus an unspecified amount of family and engagement sessions we changed diapers, spoon-fed, walked, drove, and nursed our baby Capa. The crazy part is that despite all of the time Heather and I spent together we often felt like we never saw each other. We developed a workflow where I would take Capa in the morning and let Heather catch up on sleep after nursing him all night. Then we’d have breakfast together and one of us would take him for the next stretch while the other person works. It was like a game of hot potato if that potato was adorable and could poop and pee. And despite developing the habit popular to babies of rubbing my eyes when I’m tired, I have no regrets about how we handled everything.
Ron and Sunil’s wedding in August 2021 at The Battery on the southern tip of Manhattan.
a reminder to Change over time.
I was just talking to Heather this morning about how I can’t imagine both of us still bartending full-time like we did in our twenties. It’s not that we couldn’t or we shouldn’t but rather that we value the current iteration of Terrence-and-Heather (-and-Capa) over the one at the beginning of our relationship. In a funny way, our 2021 wedding season felt like a full bartending shift spent “in the weeds” where we never got to look up and kept going from one thing to the next. As the years pass I can’t help but notice the trajectory of our lives and how the previous events prepared us for what came next. Who knows what Capa will mean for our future but if this year was any indication of what’s to come, I can’t fucking wait.
NYE 2015 - One of Heather and I’s first photos together. Taken at a diner on the UWS at ~ 5:00am.
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!
Oyster Bay Engagement Photography
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It’s November 12th, 2021, and it’s just starting to get cold. There are still a ton of leaves on the trees and it looks like we’re going to skip fall and go straight to winter. Two weeks ago the darkness began stealing the daylight from us and I’m kind of okay with it. We’re approaching Capa’s first birthday and the long nights remind me of his first few months of life: hunkering down, cuddling and watching The Sopranos on our pull-out couch, and waking up to crisp, cold, and bright mornings. Pristine memories as clear as photographs. We are very lucky people.
Erin + Gavin
I first met Erin at Six Harbors Brewing Company in Huntington, NY. I mentioned that Heather and I run a wedding photography business and we exchanged info on the fly. Erin and her fiance, Gavin, are set to get married at Water’s Edge in Centerport in the spring of 2022 and we can’t wait!
We decided to begin with Erin and Gavin’s engagement photos in Oyster Bay at their house. The session started in their front yard, right in front of a couple of large, beautiful trees, one of which Gavin used to climb as a child. From there we headed to the backyard to involve their two adorable pups who were more interested in showing us what zoomies looked like. We eventually wrangled them for a couple of cute shots before hopping into the car and heading to a beach on Oyster Bay. The golden light poured over the trees from a pure blue sky that only a late afternoon in the fall can deliver. When there is that slight chill in the air that makes you want to throw on a sweatshirt and fall into the arms of someone you love.
Fall has always been Heather’s favorite season but I’m partial to the first warm days of spring. One of the things she loves to do is collect a few colorful leaves every year, trying to capture that autumnal feeling like a ship in a bottle. I love that first run or sporting event in the spring where I can open up my lungs and eyes and truly breathe. Staring at my pale, dry, complexion in the fogged up mirrors of the gym just doesn’t quite do it for me. The idea of 70 degree weather year round is alluring, but I think the changing of the seasons helps us connect to the cycle of the earth and reminds us that we are alive.
For the first year of Capa’s life it has been difficult to schedule time to exercise--it’s been even harder to resist comfort food and find the energy to do it! Having a child sends your priorities for a loop and the dust is just beginning to settle. Being able to spend time with couples like Gavin and Erin reminds Heather and I of the early stages of our relationship at a time when it’s also hard to make time for each other. It makes taking those pictures and printing out engagement photos that much more special. We are all lucky people and it’s up to us to try to create as many pristine memories as possible. Whichever season is your favorite, I just hope that it makes you feel alive.
74 Wythe NYC Rooftop Wedding in Brooklyn
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Hiro + Janel
The wedding season winding down feels like those last couple hours of an amazing dinner party: you’ve got a good buzz going and you’re looking around as the crowd starts to wane--but you’re not quite done yet. You start striking up conversations with people you’ve never met and you open one of the leftover bottles of wine. As guests continue to file out you find yourself finishing your last few sips and you begin to admit that the night is coming to a close. It’s bittersweet--but you know that rest is important and you say good night to the hosts for an amazing evening. 2021 was (and is) Heather and I’s best year of our lives, both professionally and personally, so it’s only fitting that Hiro and Janel are one of the last few incredible hosts to bring our year to a close.
The week leading up to a wedding Heather and I are always keeping an eye on the weather report. Even if the forecast says rain we typically carry a bit of optimism because you never really know. Contingency plans are important, of course, but maintaining a positive attitude is even more critical. I’ve learned to watch how a couple manages their emotions during their wedding day--it often tells you most of what you need to know about how they handle difficulties in their relationship. Well despite hail, sideways wind, and an immense wall of fog sweeping through Manhattan like an early morning in San Francisco, Hiro and Janel were class and charm all the way through.
When Heather and I started snapping Hiro and Janel’s getting ready photos at The William Vale in Williasmburg, Brooklyn, the sky was tame and the atmosphere clear. I took Hiro and his family members and groomsmen out onto the gorgeous balcony overlooking the east river and took advantage of the beautiful, diffracted light. Within minutes the sky went black and little white pebbles began to fall from the sky. I could no longer see a single building in Manhattan. Hiro and Janel’s wedding venue, 74Wythe, was just across the street but the hail gave way to a downpour of rain. Crossing that block would feel like an avenue in the city. Heather and I told Hiro and Janel that we’d go scout the venue and come back with a contingency plan.
We all decided to do Hiro and Janel’s first look in the rooftop greenhouse where they would later hold their ceremony and reception. After they climbed the stairs and turned to look at each other their gazes still carried such a depth of appreciation: of each other, the day, and the moment. It definitely wasn’t easy for them to look past the things they couldn’t control but watching the way they looked at each other I saw how strong they were together--not to mention that they looked absolutely stunning.
The night would continue on as planned, and the band brought down the house. Each of Hiro and Janel’s brothers gave speeches that further proved the caliber of their families and friends, and the depth of their connection. At the end of the night they thanked us for being calm amidst the storm and we commended them for doing the same. They invited us to the after party, and we would’ve 100% taken them up on their warm invitation if we didn’t have to get home to Capa. As we said our goodbyes and I started ratcheting down the light stands, I found a glass of wine that a guest put in my hand from 30 minutes before--and I couldn’t help but take a sip and want to stay a little longer.
Closing out the night
with Hiro and Janel! Contact us below for your own photography.
Vendors
Photography | Apollo Fields
Reception | 74Wythe | Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Getting Ready Photos | William Vale | Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Florals | Eriko Nagata | EriN Design INTL | New York, NY
Caterer | Nuhma NYC | New York, NY
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!
Bear Mountain State Park Engagement Photos
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Carly + Kyle’s Bear Mountain Engagement Photos
Waking up on Heather’s family farm, Honeymoon Acres, feels like being part of a child’s storybook. One of the potbelly pigs, either Johnny Walker Tito Cash (yes that is his full name) or Rose grunts to be let outside or serve them breakfast. The silkie chicken that is trying to become a rooster attempts to crow but sounds like the cracking voice of a teenage boy going through puberty. Billy, the arthritic goat, walks through the backyard on her knees because her hooves ache too much. Then I release the dogs: Riddle, Rumor, Bertie, and Ms. Jean to do their business and run around the yard like a pack of wild hyenas. The donkey, Brownie, and pony, Amber, neigh from the barn as I take my first sip of coffee. It’s kind of like Old Macdonalds Farm meets a Tim Burton movie--a motley, quirky crew of animals and family and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Heather and I were in the neighborhood to do Carly and Kyle’s engagement photos at Bear Mountain State Park. I surprisingly had never been to the mountain before and was completely blown away by the panoramic views of the orange, red, and yellow leaves. It was like we still lived in Colorado but the Aspen Trees were swapped out for Maples and Oaks. I’m glad that despite being spoiled for two years in the Rockies that my home back east could still evoke that feeling of smallness; where all you want to do is take a deep breath and exhale above the treetops.
Carly and Kyle live and met in Stamford, Connecticut, and trekked over to Bear Mountain to get some peak foliage engagement photos. They couldn’t have timed it any better and Heather and I were immediately jealous just looking at the raw images in the back of the camera. We started down at Hessian Lake near the lodge for their first casual outfit, then finished at the top next to Perkins Memorial Tower for their more chic look. The top of the mountain was a little crowded with tourists but Carly and Kyle rolled through their paparazzi moment with laughter and smiles.
And that’s why we say having an engagement session is so important! It’s not just to grab some photos for save the dates and invitations--it’s to get in front of our cameras and start to feel comfortable. We know from experience that (almost) no one feels comfortable in front of a camera; ourselves included! You should see my camera reel with all of the photos of Heather hiding her face behind a mask, our baby, or any inanimate object she can get her hands on. It doesn’t feel natural to be the center of attention but that’s exactly what we are on our wedding day. So book an engagement session, peek at our style guide, show up, and we’ll do the rest.
As we drove back down the switchbacks of Bear Mountain we kept fawning over Carly and Kyle and the views. This wedding season has been one for the ages and if Carly and Kyle are any indication, 2023 (!!) is already beginning to take on a beautiful shape.
The Ethel Walker School Wedding Photography
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Jess & Dan’s Wedding
I don’t know exactly when we became the unofficial Ethel Walker’s alumni wedding photographers--but after photographing Jess and Dan’s ceremony in the chapel on campus--it’s pretty safe to say “‘08 Don’t Hate!” That was the hilarious motto for Heather’s graduating class, which was less than 40 students. I love watching Heather talk to her old classmates and share the questionable teenage stories that are made of pure nostalgia. It’s like listening to The Goonies talk about their adventures, or hearing “Green Onions” come on when The Sandlot boys are walking on their turf to talk some trash. Nostalgia is so powerful because it connects senses (smells, tastes) with memories that immediately transport us back to a place in time. I’m just happy to be taking photos and coming along for the ride.
I’ve learned as a photographer that the lighting in churches is typically terrible. That being said, the chapel on Ethel Walker’s campus has pure New England church vibes. It has that immaculate white spire that pierces cloudless blue skies, and clean, dark wooden pews that contrast with all the white on the inside. The large, long windows allow natural light to pour in from all directions. There was an aura in the air during Jess and Dan’s ceremony, almost like an atmospheric halo floating above their guests’ collective heads. It’s probably one of the most divine scenes that I’ve experienced in a church.
After the ceremony, we borrowed Jess and Dan and took them up the hill from the church to take some romantics. The sun is already setting so early so we have to be precise when it comes to golden hour in the beautiful fall months. Jess and Dan danced around in the same space that Heather used to jump horses, with a quintessential New England backdrop in the background. Every time we have one of these perfect moments it makes me sad that Heather and I never quite got a romantics session for our own wedding. Between hosting it on Heather’s uncle’s farm, the on-and-off rain, and welcoming our guests, we simply didn’t carve out enough time. It does make me immensely happy to help deliver this experience to our couples like Dan and Jess, though!
From there we headed to The Riverview in Simsbury, Connecticut, a venue that we have worked at a few years ago. We rolled right into cocktail hour as the night came on quickly. Heather and I got to catch up with a few more of her classmates before dinner was served and dances and speeches began. Once the music kicked off people hit the dance floor and it was all partying from then on!
Heather and I are enjoying the connections she has to Ethel Walker and the friends of her past. We got a small tour of the gorgeous campus before Jess and Dan’s ceremony and we even found a mural that Heather painted back in 2008. It still hangs in the infirmary, right behind one of the nurses that has worked there since Heather was a student. As our partnership goes into its seventh year it’s always wonderful to see sides of Heather I haven’t seen before. Judging by all of the interactions with her friends and teachers it’s obvious that everyone knew that Heather was going somewhere. I’m just grateful that she was heading towards me.
Enjoy these photos from Dan & Jessica’s Simsbury, CT wedding:
Vendors
Photography | Apollo Fields
Ceremony Location | The Ethel Walker School | Simsbury, CT
Reception Venue | The Riverview | Simsbury, CT
Back in my old stomping grounds…
And always up for a CT reunion. Reach out for your own wedding photography!
Farm Wedding at The Pines Barn in Glastonbury, CT
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Jacki & Tim’s Wedding
If you’re ever driving to Connecticut from Long Island with a baby—here’s a piece of advice—take the ferry. One of the things Heather and I learned from bringing Capa to 11 states in his 10 months of life is that an extra hour or two in transit can kill you. There’s a tiny margin of error for a small human whose only form of communication is crying. We know that we ask a lot of our beautiful little boy, but honestly for the vast majority of the time he’s better than most adults. That being said, if you have an opportunity to stretch your legs and have a beer on a boat—take it.
Despite the traffic we endured on I-95 we made it up to Glastonbury, Connecticut, for Jacki & Tim’s wedding with time for lunch. Heather is very familiar with the area because of her time at The Ethel Walker School with Jacki, but I’m still new to the beautiful horse farm life. Jacki’s family farm, The Pines, is a quaint functional equestrian property with a show ring, large barn, with a secluded house in the back corner amidst the trees. Jacki has planned to have her wedding there since she was a little girl. In fact, she did all of the planning and DIY’ing herself—absolutely crushed it.
One of the best things about hosting your wedding on a private property is the freedom of customization. Sure, it takes more work, but the pay off to have a celebration that represents who you are as individuals and a couple makes your wedding experience that much more authentic. Exclusively using the one-stop-shop method of hiring vendors attached to a venue may be a logical time-saver, but the food, music, and decor will never be as good as if you hand-picked them yourselves! Take the time, do your research, and you will be rewarded!
Heather and I couldn’t have been happier with the way our wedding on her family farm in northern New Jersey turned out. We greeted our guests at the gate, cooked and served a homemade pasta bar, and had our own very own whiskey shed. Jacki and Tim’s wedding celebrated the same similar little details: one of their favorite food trucks (with delicious truffle Mac and cheese balls), a photo booth backdrop that her family made of solid wood, an intimate wedding ceremony tucked into the corner of the property, and a cozy tent adorned with strings of Edison lights.
Of course there’s a million ways to host a wedding but in our opinion the best ones are the ones that make you feel welcome. The ones where family and friends invite you with open arms into religious rituals, family traditions, and dance parties. Where you can stumble into a conversation at a cocktail table and comfortably meet someone new. From the first moments we spoke with Jacki and Tim on their wedding day, Heather and I felt more like friends than vendors. They welcomed us into the celebration of their love, just like all of their other guests, who all came from traffic-ridden journeys of their own. And for us—that feeling of a warm open welcome—well it just doesn’t get any better than that.
Enjoy these pics from Tim & Jacki’s wedding:
Vendors
Photography | Apollo Fields
Venue | The Pines Farm
Food Truck | Craftbird
DJ/Band | DJ JR Burrows
Cake | Taste By Spellbound
Apple Cider Donuts | Belltown Hill Orchards
Rentals | WT Rentals and Services
Rings | Cleves and Lonnemann
Dress | Wtoo by Watters
Suits | Folchi's
Hair and Makeup | Larissa Lake
Invitations | Dominque Monarca
Transportation | Valet Park of America
Floral | The Floating Dahlia
Our traditional last-pic-of-the-night
But with the cutest photo bomber! Reach out for your own wedding by clicking the button 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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