Planting Fields Arboretum Wedding - Oyster Bay, NY - Christina & Frank
wedding photography | ny wedding photography | apollo fields | intimate wedding | ny wedding | elopement photography | planting fields arboretum | oyster bay, ny |
Chrstina & Frank Wedding
wedding day
Christina and Frank’s wedding day was gorgeously intimate and filled with heart-warming moments that we won’t soon forget. When we found out that Christina and Frank were planning an intimate elopement style New York wedding we were absolutely honored to capture their memories! From their laid back personalities to their playfulness in front of the lens, we were enthralled to take part in their wedding day.
ceremony
One thing that we absolutely adore about intimate weddings is just that, the intimate moments that a large wedding ceremony misses out on. From the quiet whispers of love to the laid back nature of it all, an elopement is always a great choice! Just make sure to still bring us along…someone’s got to take the photos! We headed into the park for Christina and Frank to exchange their vows. Christina’s dress was the epitome of city elopement with elegant lines and design. After the “I do’s” we headed to the Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay, NY for an epic photo session.
photo session
The Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay, NY was the perfect place for epic photo opportunities! We were so happy that Christina and Frank were up for multiple locations on the property! We headed into the greenhouse where these loves strolled hand in hand taking in the beautiful greenery, plants, and fountains and escaping the cold outside for a little while. The history of the buildings provided the perfect backdrop for their wedding photos and captured the essence of their love story perfectly.
conclusion
We wish Christina and Frank the absolute best as they begin their new journey as husband and wife! Cheers!
If you’re newly engaged and looking for your NY wedding photographer we’d love to chat with you!
Jersey Shore Engagement Photography at Avon-By-The-Sea
Apollo Fields | Beach Engagement Photos | New Jersey Wedding Photographer | Jersey Shore photographers | Jersey Shore weddings | Outdoor Engagement Photographer | Avon-By-The-Sea, NJ
As someone who grew up on Long Island, I never went to Jersey Shore. Ever. But after meeting up with Jane and James at Avon-by-the-Sea a couple weeks ago, I definitely see the allure of it. Avon-by-the-Sea didn’t have any of the carnival games or fist-pumping that the shore has become notorious for; instead it boasted beautiful new-england-meets-beach-house architecture with tons of wrap around porches, and old immigrant family vibes. Jane’s Polish uncle was actually having a small birthday gathering when we were finishing up the shoot.
Jane and James met while working at a bank a few years back, and have adapted well to the quarantine life of 2020. I think it’s the first time in my life when I (an extrovert) have been jealous of the introverted lifestyle that Jane and James prefer. I love puzzles and board games as much as the next guy, but after you work for years in crowded bars the constant ambient noise can make extended periods of silence feel jarring. Jane and James have been happy to stay in, work from home, and enjoy each other’s company.
We started the meetup at The Marina Grille to shake off some engagement session jitters with a beer and to get to know each other better. Heather and Jane actually did their undergraduate studies together at The College of New Jersey but they were both working so hard that they didn’t get to hang out much (My undergraduate experience was a very different story; or at least the beginning of it). We talked to Jane and James’s about their first date and how James had a firm policy about not dating other employees. He waited until she left the company to formally ask her out.
Jane and James have the kind of playful vibe you would imagine when you have a game night with friends who have a healthy competitive relationship. Heather and I on the other hand, push that envelope until we play a game so much we have to put it on the shelf for a few months. We all shared a laugh when James told a story of a relative finishing a puzzle without them that Jane and James had been working on for months. They just came home and the puzzle was done. I have no idea how I’d react if that happened, but I’m pretty sure that’s the kind of thing that gets you uninvited to dinner in the Huie household.
Jane and James will be getting married at a venue in Bayonne and Point Pleasant, NJ, in December 2020. We admire their steadfast dedication to getting married despite all that’s going on and will support our couples in any decision that they make. Next summer we’ll have to come visit them on the shore, bring some beers and board games, finish a puzzle or two, and enjoy an iconic Jersey Shore sunset.
Ocean View Backyard Wedding Photography in Long Island
Apollo Fields Wedding Photography | Long Island Backyard Wedding | Bellmore Wedding Photographer | Bellmore, NY
Laura and Dimitri’s backyard wedding wasn’t your typical big fat greek wedding, but it had all the hallmarks of one. A kitchen island buzzing with relatives like bees around a picnic blanket, an air of laid-back leisure extravagance, and someone around every corner asking, “do you need anything--can I get you something to eat or drink?” When Heather and I showed up to the private residence on the Great South Bay of Long Island, Laura, Dimitri, and their small big fat greek family were just putting the finishing touches on their backyard wedding celebration.
In Greece, “you invite the whole island,” Dimitri told me. Everyone is family, from the nuclear to the rest of the community, “you put your arm around your third cousin like you would your brother.” I love that. I love the power of extending your family to the rest of the community. There’s such a pride, a comfort, and a peace that lives in the hectic interactions between family members; you don’t yell at people the way you do your family (or at least I don’t), and you certainly don’t love them that way either (well, maybe I do). I have a feeling a trip to Greece is in our future.
Laura casually slipped into her wedding dress in a bedroom at the top of a set of modern floating stairs, waiting for her mom and soon-to-be mother-in-law to help her put on some jewelry for some candid wedding photos. The early evening summer light poured in through the floor-to-ceiling windows and Laura’s eyes glinted almost like she knew she would remember this moment. As guests began to arrive, the buzz around the kitchen island picked up to a full swarm so Laura sought refuge in welcoming the rest of her friends and family in the backyard.
Laura and Dimitri held their backyard wedding ceremony in the corner of the yard, using the sunset over the Great South Bay as a backdrop. They had a friend officiate and her words were as simple as they were sweet, embodying an eloquence that reminds you why sunsets are so meaningful; how the sky is but a mix of colors and words of love an arrangement of letters. I understand that many people choose to have a member of their faith or church to officiate their wedding, but I just can’t get enough of the raw emotion and simplicity that a friend or a family member can provide.
Of course, Laura and Dimitri will be hosting a “proper” big fat greek wedding next year, pulling out all stops in East Meadow at The Carltun, but this was a great start. It was a day that represented who they were, where they’re from, and what their family and community looks like. They even had a gyro truck sending the sweet aromas of Greece into the salty Long Island air. Nothing can hold back a celebration of love, especially when you have a whole island in your corner.
Round Peak Vineyards Wedding in Mt Airy, NC
Mike and Maddy’s Vineyard Wedding in North Carolina | Apollo Fields | Outdoor Wedding Photographer | Mountain Wedding Photography | Round Peak Vineyard Wedding Photos | Mt. Airy, NC
Ever since I first read The Alchemist by Paulo Cohelo I have carried the theme of pursuing your “personal legend” with me wherever I go. It’s all about listening to and trusting your intuition in your life decisions. The famous line that resonates from the book is, “when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it,” and after shooting Mike and Maddy’s engagement photos in NYC and vineyard wedding in North Carolina, it’s really hard not to believe it.
During Mike and Maddy’s engagement session, Heather got one of my favorite Apollo Fields photos of all time when we stumbled across a fire hydrant spraying into the street. Then after driving nine hours to Mt. Airy, North Carolina a few weeks later, the rapidly changing weather on their wedding day at Round Peak Vineyards helped them chart a few more. The rain started to fall immediately after we finished doing Mike and Maddy’s ceremony and family formals, and Heather seized the opportunity to grab some playfully dramatic shots of them carrying umbrellas. It poured for another hour or two only to give way to a milky golden sunset and a soaring rainbow! Mike and Maddy were all smiles as they adapted their day to Mother Nature’s beauty.
If Mike and Maddy had cancelled their wedding or engagement shoot; if they didn’t bring the celebration to Mike’s family in North Carolina; if they didn’t bring the energy despite all that they’ve been through in both of the events, if, if, if. So many conditions and variables changed the course of the celebration of their love but none of them changed the nature of it. Because Mike and Maddy knew what they wanted [to celebrate their love], the universe conspired in their favor.
Mike and Maddy had so many opportunities to fold and postpone their wedding altogether (There would’ve been no shame in taking this action). But instead they persevered and just worked harder to make it happen. Every one of their 20+ guests were tested for COVID in advance of their outdoor celebration. They focused less on what they were missing and more on what they could do. Their hard-nosed go-with-the-flow vibe created beautifully genuine moments around every corner.
On our drive down to North Carolina we got a flat tire when we were about an hour outside of the venue. We bought a patch kit at a gas station and I began to get to work in the parking lot so we could get back on the road. Heather was standing there with her hands on her hips, watching as her adorable baby bump protruded in the light of the sun, while I took off my shirt and wore only bright orange-ish pants--I can only imagine what the rural Virginians thought of us. Then, out of nowhere, two men, and then another came to our aid, and supplied us with a reamer that wasn’t included in the patch kit. We were done in a matter of minutes. We tried to offer them a drink, money, or anything we could give to show our gratitude but they refused it all. There were so many things that could go wrong in the planning of Mike and Maddy’s wedding, but because of their energy and effort, and our kind southern strangers, the universe wound up conspiring in all of our favor.
Enjoy these photos from Mike & Maddy’s Round Peak Vineyard Wedding:
vendors:
Apollo Fields | Photography
Round Peak Vineyards | Venue/Catering
Jenny Yoo Watters Bride | Dress
Indochino | Suit
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