Greek Wedding Photographers in Upstate New York
Greek Wedding Traditions | Upstate New York Weddings and Photography | Apollo Fields Wedding Photographers
Planning a wedding can be a big, elaborate affair but when you come from a big Greek family, the traditions and expectations can really pile on! In a good way, of course, but Greek weddings can be a real to-do! We love them because of how dynamic everything is and the energy level can really escalade into a good party, which always makes our job that much more fun and the photos come out so energetic.
The morning of Paris and Dayna’s wedding was buzzing with friends and family and each other’s houses. Paris got dressed with his groomsmen and participated in a Greek tradition where his Best Man will shave him and then friends and family will take turns afterwards. This symbolizes trust on your wedding day, because OBVIOUSLY things could go very wrong with an untrustworthy person— from a bad job to cutting your face— it’s important that you have a good crew there!
The wedding ceremony took place in a church where the rings were blessed three times by the priest before officially exchanged, in addition to their personalized vows that were read aloud (this isn’t as traditional, but was a fun way for this couple to give their own personal and modern take on the ceremony). One of my favorite elements of Greek ceremonies is the crowns that symbolize the union of two people into a singular entity. They are connected and worn by both partners, which I think is so sweet but also meaningful.
I loved the large wedding parties that they had and they were certainly ready to have a good time! Those portraits were probably some of my favorites, with exception of the bride and groom shots, because everyone was having so much fun together despite the hot summer day. We were able to find some shade and a nice big white wall which was a double whammy for us because the reflector that naturally occurs with all that white!
One of the most recognizable parts of a Greek wedding is the money throwing at the dancing part of the evening and it never disappoints! It feels so surreal to be out on the dance floor with tons of cash just flying in every direction! The older guests always seem to have a blast with this tradition, as well as the kids who love to dance around in all the piles of money. It always cracks me up when you see one of the staff members come up with a big sweep broom and just push the money into a big pile. It makes me think about where any dollar bill could have been— you might not imagine on a dance floor but who knows!?
Shot by Apollo Fields for Sloane Dakota
Granite Ridge Estate Wedding Photographers
Outdoor barn wedding in maine | apollo fields | granite ridge estate and barn | best maine wedding photographers | wedding in the woods
Highways lined with tall green trees and deep blue lakes. A soaring summer sun casting shadows upon the open road, swaying the silhouettes of Maine over faded yellow lines. Distant laughter echoing from a canoe, heard between splashes and shrieks of joy. Just a stone’s throw away, atop one of the many peaks in Norway, Maine, Anna and Jeff were to be wed at Granite Ridge Estate, an irresistibly charming barn venue tucked into the backwoods in jaw dropping view of the Appalachian Mountains.
The natural beauty and lush greenery of Maine called to Anna and Jeff’s adventurous hearts, harkening to their love for the outdoors from their childhoods. In fact, Jeff’s family has been going to Camp Winona, a summer camp just down the block from Granite Ridge for generations. It may have been the family ties in the area that brought them to the venue, but it was the gorgeous views and cozy and intimate feel of the barn and estate that solidified it as the location to celebrate their love.
Anna and Jeff’s wedding was the perfect example of a laid back couple setting the tone for the day. There are so many moving parts to a wedding day that can pile up on the minds of brides and grooms, but a strong relationship and a willingness to roll with the punches can turn a bumpy ride into a smooth cruise down an open road with the top down. From the bridesmaids lounging in the rustic and comfortable leather sofas; to the groomsmen exploring a brand new treehouse and tinkering with power tools and construction materials, personalities and laughter were not in short supply.
Hosting a ceremony between the trees provided the perfect refuge for Anna and Jeff’s guests from the blaring summer sun as the crisp air buzzed with adoring anticipation. As words of love left the lips of those around the altar, the eyes and ears of guests drifted between the beauties of nature and the hallmarks of romance. Too often we forget to use our words, our gestures, and our energy to tell those in our lives how much we love them, but a wedding ceremony is the forum to air any and all of the love we carry in our hearts. It is an atmosphere of sensitivity and acceptance, the ethereal realization of the privation nestled in our souls. I can’t think of a better spot to sink into this headspace than in the natural sounds of the woods.
The reception and cocktail hour continued with the theme of natural serenity. Before the sun set towards the horizon, the outline of Mount Washington stood proudly in the distance as sunshine poured through the large windows of the reception hall like warmth into an empty cabin. The pristine decoration and detail adorned the space with a natural elegance, equal parts class and greenery. Refracted rays painted the room with an ethereal glow made of fairy tales and storybooks. It was the scene that children who cannot wait to get married dream of. This was Anna and Jeff’s reality.
It is a luxury and dream of ours to be part of days like this. We are constantly reminding ourselves that we get to enjoy some of the best moments of people’s lives, delivering a product that helps them relive them. Here’s to Anna and Jeff, the latest saga in Apollo Fields that proves that love is real.
As seen in: Mountainside Bride Magazine
The Vendor Team:
Venue: Granite Ridge Estate and Barn
Suits: Joseph A Bank
Day-of Coordinator/Catering: Blue Elephant
Wedding Band: East Coast Soul
Florist: Pooh Corner Farm
Cake/Bakery: Baked with Love
Decor/Party Rentals: Affordable Events
Dress | Designer: WTOO / Andrea’s Bridal
Shoes: Kate Spade Blue and Sparkly
Rings: Creative Gold
Hair and Makeup: Studio 88 Salon
Invitations: Little Ivy Paper Goods
Another happy couple…
Our favorite part about being wedding photographers is getting to know our couples. Apollo Fields is more than a vendor or service, it is a place for us to connect with people who care about creating and preserving timeless memories—it’s a place for us to make people happy and make new friends. If this sounds like you, click the button below!
Western Riviera Wedding at Lake Grandby, Colorado
Carline & Scott’s Wedding | Western Riviera Wedding Venue | Lake Grandby, Colorado | Grand Lake CO | Apollo Fields Wedding Photography
This was one of those weddings where we were driving home and I had a pinch-me-is-this-real-life moment in the car. I just felt so lucky to have the job that I do! My second shooter, Sarah, and I drove up to Grand Lake early to grab a little brunch in town before the day kicked off. We were all geared up, dressed, and ready to hit the ground running, and it felt good to be able to chill at a little coffee shop in the cute downtown area of Grandby before everything got rolling.
Then we split up, I went to the gals and Sarah went off to the guys, and we got to hang with this sweet family while they prepped and primped. Carline and her step-daughter were getting their hair done at a quaint little salon in town and we were able to snap away some details and getting-ready shots while the day began to pick up.
Then I headed over to the venue to say hi to Shelby (their day-of coordinator who I have worked with on a past wedding) and get some detail shots. Carline and Scott were having an intimate wedding with about 25 guests which made the space feel really open and welcoming. One of the benefits of having a smaller guest count is that they could put more of an emphasis on details and food and everything. I loved their wedding favors, too— yankee candles for each guest to take home! Such a great idea.
Their friends and family began arriving and before long, the ceremony was beginning. Scott and Carline decided that instead of having a big wedding party, they would have Scott’s two kids stand up at the altar with them. They had a beautiful ceremony with the awesome mountains and lake in the background. Cocktail hour was sweet and upbeat and we were able to do family formals totally stress-free out on the patio.
When the sun began setting we got a great golden hour so I snagged Carline and Scott and went down to the water to do some romantics. Much like their engagement session, they had such a great chemistry between the two of them that made photos so much fun! One of my favorite parts of the whole day was when they were out on one of the docks and a boat drove by and began to sound their horn and everyone started clapping.
Okay maybe I lied, I think that was my second favorite part of the day. The best part was when the adorable mom-and-pop ice cream shop next door, Miyauchi’s Snack Bar gave us FREE ice cream to celebrate and do some pics! They offered Sarah and I our own scoops, too, so OF COURSE we said yes! We were literally eating ice cream cones on the docks taking pictures against the sunset and I kept thinking to myself how cool my job is that I can literally do this for a living!!
Colorado Wedding Photography: Heather Huie for Apollo Fields
CO Wedding Venue: Western Riviera Lakeside Lodging and Events, Grand Lake CO