Northport NY Wedding Photographers
apollo fields wedding photography | outdoor wedding photos | long island wedding photographer | candid wedding photos | huntington wedding photography
Kristen & Mike
I remember meeting up with Kristen and Mike a couple months ago when they just re-locked in their wedding date for 2020. “I bet we’re like the only ones still getting married this year,” Kristen said, half-joking, half-relieved. I’m not usually one for hashtags, but it’s hard not to think of the tag #loveisnotcancelled when it comes to Kristen and Mike and so many others that have decided to host their weddings this year. As our crazy wedding season continues to take shape, gratitude is at the forefront of my mind; if not just for the opportunity to get back to work, then for the privilege to be safely surrounded by people who refused to let a pandemic cancel a celebration of love.
Mike and Kristen were still able to hold their ceremony at their original church, St. Anthony of Padua in East Northport on Long Island. Just a stones throw away from our house, Heather and I welcome any opportunity to reduce travel when we’re not off on one of our many trips to Colorado or any of the states lining the eastern seaboard. Because the church had such a large capacity, Kristen and Mike were still able to invite a significant amount of their guest list, even with the reduced capacity requirement due to Covid. They held a full mass and made a grand exit to the front steps of the church where they were received by an enthusiastic crowd in a sea of bubbles.
It’s fun to think back when we first got to know Kristen and Mike when we did their engagement photos in Blydenburgh Park. Mike grew up fishing with his father on the small lake, and I couldn’t believe I had never even been there before. We gave a small posing direction to Kristen to give a small bend to her leg and kick a foot out behind her and Mike, thinking it was for him, immediately popped his classic Timberland boot out and said, “like this?” We were all doubled over in laughter. If only every one of our grooms to be were so eager to take direction!
After the church, we met Kristen and Mike at Heckscher Park in Huntington, the gorgeous location they chose to do their formals. At one point, the adorable ring bearer and flower girl got into a territorial dispute with the local Canadian geese—thankfully it ended peacefully. The bridal party could barely contain themselves with how well everything turned out as Kristen planned, and how beautiful she looked in her custom dress. There’s nothing quite like seeing a stunning bride in an immaculate dress on her wedding day and offering her and her partner congratulations, stirring memories of hope and love’s beginnings.
In a world where too many things are politicized, let us protect weddings from judgment; let us rejoice in the moments that lift us up, especially in uncertain times like these, for this is when we need them most. Cheers to Kristen and Mike, and all of the other couples who refused to cancel their love.
Say Hey!
It’s team Apollo! Having the best time with Kristen & Mike. We can’t wait to celebrate with them again next year!!
the vendor squad:
Apollo Fields | Photography
Karako | Suits
Madi Lane Bridal | Dress
Green Alaska | Hair Vine
Betsey Johnson | Shoes
Tim’s Florist | Massapequa, NY | Floral
Chris Lobello Productions | Videography
Heirlooms and Squires | Rings
Dinglewood Design | Invites/Save the Dates
Mark of Elegance | Limo
St. Anthony of Padua | Church Ceremony Venue
Liriodendron Mansion Wedding Photography in Bel Air, MD
Lauren & Ethan’s Liriodendron Mansion Wedding | Bel Air Maryland Photographer | Apollo Fields Wedding Photography
“Now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on forever: in which every chapter is better than the one before,” read Lauren’s sister, Lindsay, from a speech that their other sister, Leah, wrote. The quote is from C.S. Lewis and I think I am going to take my own advice and begin with a quote more often; between the choice and the succinct nature of them they tend to drive home the vibe of the couple more than my first words ever could.
Lauren and Ethan are an Air Force couple that have a surreal connection. The way they looked at and interacted with one another on their wedding day was like watching a story unfold in real time. The first word that came to mind during their first look was envious--as Heather and I photographed the natural way they fell into each other’s arms. Lauren’s body language immediately shifted from tensed up shoulders to relaxed and smooth, and she began to laugh and smile as the logistics of the day began to work themselves out.
Lauren and Ethan held their wedding at The Liriodendron Mansion in Bel Air, Maryland, a picturesque regal historic property that doubles as an art and cultural center. The 19th century structure boasts two large, gorgeous porches on both sides, an elegant wrap-around staircase straight from a storybook, and an arching trellis that covers the back patio like a green, natural tunnel. They held the ceremony on the back lawn, standing on the steps before the patio, using the rear face of the mansion as an epic backdrop. Lauren and Ethan did it right.
In a time in the United States where everything feels so heavy it’s important to take any moments that make us feel light. When Lauren saw Ethan for the first time it was like a physical and emotional embodiment of that point. I know it’s hard to look around on your wedding day and see all the things that could have been--but at some point, when you let go--you’ll see everything that is. You’ll see your partner looking the best they’ve ever looked, the people who’ve shown up for you, and you’ll remember how light you felt in those moments. You deserve it.
I admit that I’ve fallen victim to the weight of the world of 2020, forgetting to put effort into things that make me feel light. Some of that is due to quarantine or the political climate but I can’t scapegoat all of my frustration. A friend of ours recently gave me a book on the reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone National Park and I read it on our recent flight to Colorado. It is surprisingly well-written and my brain immediately began to churn in a way it hasn’t in awhile. I was inspired by the dynamics of wolf packs, the positive impact that even apex predators can have on an ecosystem, and the cost-benefit analysis of the introduction project. More than anything else I felt light again; remembering that I, Lauren, Ethan, or even a lone wolf in Yellowstone is the main character in a “...Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on forever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.”
Enjoy these sneak peek photos from Lauren & Ethan’s wedding:
vendors:
Apollo Fields | Photography
The Liriodendron Mansion | Venue
Dean and Brown Catering | Catering
Something Borrowed Blooms | Floral
Pronovias Oreste | Dress
K&Co Salon | Hair and Makeup
Vistaprint | Save the Dates
