There’s something distinct and powerful about standing at the edge of Manhattan and peering into the distance. Watching Laura and Matt on this perfect night set against the Statue of Liberty, draped in the last vestiges of light reminded me of the power of romance and the wonder of it all.

Both of them are possessed of unassuming smiles that underscore a true sense of joy, and it made for a simple day with an elegant grace. I couldn’t have been happier than to have been there, along for the ride. This was something special.

Mercurial, unpredictable, and ever elusive, to photograph weddings in New York is to be intimately familiar with the weather. And this was no exception. It was a nail-biter of a week ending on a prediction for rain, and to be sure, as we traveled up the West Side Highway, the clouds were there. Fortunately, the day had kinder intentions.

The sun broke through as the ceremony began, soaking the gorgeous, green grounds in a brilliant light. Wave Hill had never looked better, as if the skies had parted for Kira and Philip and this wonderful wedding day.

To watch the two of them together is to see two people, relaxed and happy with the type of deep appreciation for one another that lodges itself in your brain so firmly, you could almost forget how stunning it all looked. Almost. But for all the memories of joy and fun and smiles and hugs, and for all of the wonderful decor, what really stuck in my mind came after I left the event.

As I walked off the grounds and up the street to my car, the music cut through the pristine sky. I smiled, hearing the sound of celebration, telling me a story of a lovely day and lively night. It told me about a party resisting completion and a clear sky on a warm summer night that made it all feel right. But, more than anything, it told me about what a wedding should be. Not just a day of celebration, but a day of heartfelt emotions that linger into the future like music drifting into the air. Because, though a wedding may take place over a day, the memories stay with us forever.

Planning: Just About Married
Design: Glorimundi

Lisa and Cory had a sun-soaked ceremony right before the day made its way into night. With just a hint of a breeze and perfect sky, it was too perfect. From the games on the beach to the setting sun at cocktail hour, it was exactly what you’d hope to see on a wedding day. A day all about heart, smiles, fun, and sun that was simply picture perfect.

Event Planning by Exquisite Affairs

When you think of all the things that happen during a wedding day, and you remember yourself eating, it’s something a little unusual. But so it was. In the middle of the day, right before we were going to take a few more portraits, Liz and her maid of honor insisted I have a bite. Not only insist, in fact. They assembled the very meal, left the room, and gave me a moment. And that’s really something. Because when you’re in the middle of the day, whizzing by at a million miles an hour with all the hustle and all the bustle, and you’re getting ready to take some shots then hit the reception, the last thing I’d expect anyone to think about is me. But she did.

He had a palpable presence. She was beautiful.

Everything, except a few drops rain, was exactly as it was supposed to be. But underneath that perfect exterior was a wedding full of heart. A wedding full of people who cared. Who not just remembered me, but who remembered everyone. I think the two of them took a moment to dance with every person they came across when they hit the floor. And that’s what it really comes down to. The time they spent together and with everyone else. And that’s what I really remember. Not, of course, just a bite to eat. But the heart and kindness. Two people who were fully present and engaged on the day they were married. Just like it should be.