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
Misquamicut Club Wedding Photos
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Liza + Jake
It’s not often that the MVP of a wedding is someone not attending the wedding, but we have to give credit to one of the members of Misquamicut Club who gave up his golf cart mid-round (!!) so Heather, Liza, and Jake could take it to the Rhode Island coastline for golden hour photos! About 15 minutes prior, we were told by the manager that all of the golf carts were locked up for the evening and were totally bummed when we realized we’d be missing out on beach golden hour photos. So kudos to the kind stranger for helping make Liza and Jake’s wedding day that much more special.
Rhode Island Wedding Photos
Up until last year, Rhode Island was merely a drive through state for my family’s summer trips up to Cape Cod, Massachusetts. It always felt like we were only in Rhode Island for a few minutes as we cruised over Providence on the highway. But after staying in Newport, Little Compton, and Watch Hill, in the last couple years, it’s quickly becoming one of my favorite New England states. It’s the combination of historic architecture and culture combined with the beautiful coastline and beaches that does it for me.
North Carolina Engagement Photos
Liza and Jake currently reside in North Carolina, a state on the east coast that boasts the highest mountain peak east of the Mississippi, Mount Mitchell. They both love camping and backpacking, although Liza’s sister said jokingly during her maid-of-honor speech that they never did that growing up. That they were more horseback than backpack, but it’s wonderful that Jake and Liza can grow into a hobby together. So when they found out that we were planning a trip to visit Heather’s family in Greenville, South Carolina, it opened the door to an awesome adventure engagement photo session in the Blue Ridge Mountains. I wasn’t there, but after seeing the pictures it reminded me of Heather and I’s exploration of the Colorado Rockies when we lived in a small suburb of Denver.
National Park Photos
After the wedding, Liza and Jake planned on heading up to Acadia National Park in Maine to do some hiking and relaxing. Heather and I caught the National Park bug when we journeyed out to Telluride, Colorado, stopping at The Great Sand Dunes and Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Funny enough, we found our favorite bagels in Colorado in a nearby small mountain called Montrose. Never have I ever backlinked a bagel shop in one of these posts but I hate to admit that Heather and I took down a dozen of their bagels without (!!) butter, cream cheese, or any condiment or topping. When traveling to far away destinations it’s best to load up on good food while you can.
Heather and I meant to hit Acadia when we were up in Maine for weddings but it never came to fruition. We take any and all excuses to explore the national park system, so feel free to reach out if you are thinking of hosting your wedding in one of our country’s beautiful national parks.
Vendors
Photography | Apollo Fields
Venue | Misquamicut Club | Westerly, Rhode Island
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:
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!