Garden Wedding in The Hamptons at Madoo Conservatory

Madoo Wedding Photography | Intimate Garden Wedding in The Hamptons | East Hampton, NY Wedding Photography | Dinner Party Style Wedding at Madoo Conservatory

Fernando + Michael

I’ll take an intimate garden wedding with a fancy dinner party ANY DAY over a big, ultra-traditional catering hall wedding. Really— if I can go a whole day without hearing the words “ballroom” or “banquet”, I’m a happy camper.

I get so inspired by couples who think outside the box and curate a day that truly represents them, their values, and their relationship. It’s honestly what keeps the art fresh for me, and keeps me feeling optimistic about not just my work, but society in general.

Fernando and Michael filled their wedding day with things that would really bring them joy: a lush garden setting filled with flowers and art and nature, their closest friends and family, and beautiful shared meal with drinks and rich conversation. They chose Madoo Conservatory in Sagaponack, NY as their venue which is close to their home in East Hampton, and as they walked the property with their guests, you could feel their innate connection to the people and environment around them.

The day began with a walk around the grounds to pick the flowers that they would use to decorate their own wedding cake. Now, a lot of the time when couples tell me that they are DIY-ing something like that, I get skeptical. A lot of things are better left to the pros, but let me tell you, I was blown away by this one! Fernando and Rita had a vision, one inspiration picture, and just the right amount of artistry to pull off a cake that was more like a piece of artwork than a dessert!

Their ceremony soon began, and with a live musical performance, Michael and Fernando arrived in the garden where their guests were already arranged among the fabulous yellow chairs. They were officiated by the mayor of Southampton, Jesse Warren, and exchanged their vows with their friends and family surrounding them. A beautiful cocktail hour followed, which was full of celebration and good drinks, and then sun began to fade into the horizon just in time for a beautiful golden hour.

As night approached, guests sat for a wonderful meal hosted by Janet and her talented team at Janet O’Brien Caterers. Toasts and speeches were given, cake was cut, and the wine flowed the whole evening. A spectacular way to spend the day in my opinion!

Vendors:

Reception Venue: Madoo
Party Planner / Day-Of Coordinator: Janet O'Brien
Officiant : Mayor of South Hampton: Jesse Warren
Florist: Flowers by Beth
DJ / Band : Peter Watrous (jazz band trio)
Decor / Party Rentals : Bermuda Rentals
Rings : Tiffany & Co
Invitations and Save The Dates: Calligrapher Margaret Neiman Harber

The View at Battery Park Wedding Photos

Apollo Fields | The View at Battery Park Wedding Photos | NYC Weddings | New York City Wedding Photographer | Gay Wedding Photos | Best Wedding Photos | Wedding Photographers Near Me

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