Lindsay and David did their engagement shoot on a warm (hot?) summer day in Tucson, but a beautiful 60 degree day was what they were looking for at their December wedding.  And that’s exactly what they got!  A mariachi band escorted Lindsay down the aisle  at Saguaro Buttes in Tucson.  I think that everyone should have a mariachi band – so much fun!  A beautiful ceremony was conducted by Pastor Dave Hallstrom; full of laughter and just a couple of tears.  David was actually the one to pick the color purple that Lindsay designed the wedding details around.  All he asked for was to get married and have some purple, somehow, somewhere in the wedding day.  I’m loving this couple, loving full moon’s ,and loving mariachi bands right now!

Ceremony and Reception at Saguaro Buttes, Tucson, Arizona;  Ceremony by Pastor Dave Hallstrom;  Dress by Casablanca

a little white-out helps a shaving mishap...

The color purple, feathers and crystals -  Samantha and Joe’s wedding was a luscious combo of color and style!  The tables were gorgeous.  Silver candelabras, purple feathers wrapped around candlelit globes and held on by crystal encrusted bands.  The final effect was breathtaking.  Samantha was one of the first brides I met when I first arrived in Tucson Arizona.  She hired me before the floors were even set in my studio – we had to meet up at Starbucks!   A handkerchief with lipstick from Samantha’s late mother was one of those simple yet breathtaking touches that Samantha kept close to her all evening.  The rooftop patio at the Westward Look Resort was a perfect setting for the sunset ceremony of this fun loving couple.  Friends and family drifted back and forth throughout the night between the packed dance floor inside the Sonoran Ballroom and the never ending cocktail party on the outdoor terrace.

Dress by Gigi of San Francisco; Flowers by Stephanie Edelbrock; Wedding Ceremony by David Mahon; Ceremony and Reception at Westward Look Resort

I haven’t done a vintage inspired wedding in awhile, but then I had two just last month!  Brianna and Joe planned a 1940′s World War II era wedding at West Point Military Academy, where Joe had graduated from a few years ago.  This retro theme carried through every part of the day, from the vintage shoes and classically designed dresses, to the reproduction WWII uniforms worn by the groomsmen, to the sound of big band and swing music that played all though the reception.  All the guests arrived dressed in 1940′s era clothing for a ceremony at the majestic Cadet’s Chapel at West Point.  Wingtip shoes, gloves and hats were the norm.  Brianna and Joe then exited the Cadet Chapel to the traditional Arch of Sabers before riding off in a reproduction Packard.

Having photographed many weddings at West Point before, I thought I knew alot about the history and grounds.  Joe proved me wrong – we went to places on the grounds I had never been before (Flirtation Walk and the Helipad at North Dock) and gave me more background on the history and traditions of West Point than I will ever be able to remember.  I had a great day as in addition to this beautiful wedding and fun couple, I had the pleasure of working again with filmaker Jen Cassaro!  After a drive around the grounds of West Point, we all headed to Herbert Hall for a reception full of swing dancing all night long.  Even the band came in 1940′s era costumes.  Official draft letters from the War Department were handed out assigning guests their table and MRE’s were given out as wedding favors.  Not a touch was missed.

Dress by Enzonal Blue Collection, Video by Jen Cassaro; Ceremony at West Point’s Cadet Chapel;  Photos at West Point;  Flowers by Main Street Florist; Music by Eric Nicolas & One Love; Reception at Herbert Hall at West Point Military Academy

Rachel and Francisco met 10 years ago at St Pius Church in Tucson, so getting married at St Pius was the biggest must on their wedding wish list!  Rachel and Francisco exited the church after a beautiful full mass to ringing bells and streamers thrown by their waiting guests and then we all headed to Tanque Verde Ranch.  Weddings at Tanque Verde Ranch are a delight.  The beautiful Western ruggedness of the ranch contrasting with the elegant simplicity of the Sonoran Ballroom.  The highlight of the outdoor cocktail hour on the patio was an enormous paella – one of the 1st things Rachel and Francisco had mentioned to me when they talked about wedding plans.  Don’t miss the paella!

Ceremony at St Pius Church, Tucson, Arizona;  Music by Starlight DJ’s;  Flowers by Georgeanne at Villa Feliz;  Wedding Reception at Tanque Verde Ranch, Tucson, Arizona

Jim is in the Navy and Alanna is a dance instructor and works at a Harley dealership.  There was no way this could be a traditional wedding and I was excited as soon as I heard about some of the details.  Alanna’s style incorporated a retro pin-up look, birds, a french netted veil and the color turquoise.  A beautiful combo!  I don’t usually add a vintage look to my photos, but here it just seems to fit perfectly.  A beautiful sunny day at the Chateau Hathorn in Warwick, NY after what seemed like days of endless September rains.  It was another day with old friends as I had photographed Alanna’s sister, Alycia’s , wedding a few years ago – I love it when I get to see people again!

Flowers by Corwins Florist; Dress by David’s Bridal; Shoes by RSVP; Ceremony and Reception at Chateau Hathorn

Jen and Nish chose to see each other and do all their wedding photos before their ceremony at Patriot Hills Golf Club.   And yet their handwritten vows in a ceremony performed by a close friend brought both Jen and Nish to tears and laughter not once, but several times.  I was smiling and laughing plenty too, working once again with a great friend and even better videographer, Jen Cassaro.

I”m finally trying to catch up on blogging after a whirlwind month plus of east coast/west coast weddings!  I hear it snowed in New York yesterday, which makes it seem even nicer to be catching up in the 75 degree Tucson Arizona sunshine.

I met Jennifer and Brian two years ago at her sister Kristine’s wedding.  And Jennifer has the same diy perfectionist skills – every little detail was gorgeous and mostly hand made.  Sparkly purple shoes, handmade diy ketubah, stunning purple and green invites.   But what will forever make it memorable to me will be the ‘no pants’ text from Brian to Jen about 3 hours before their ceremony.  Brian opened up his tux bag at the hotel, only to discover that his pants were mia.  As in never put in to begin with!  And so began a journey just before their wedding to locate a tuxedo store and get a pair of pants.  Jen took it all in stride, no tears, no stress showing.  And just a quick reshuffle on photo timing to make it all happen.  I would say that their amazing attitudes and ability to keep calm under stress were actually the perfect start to what will be an absolutely amazing marriage.

Dress by Auta Graham; Flowers by Anna Dauno; Pantsless tuxedo by MW; Ceremony and Reception at Douglaston Manor; Video by Chris Brian of E-motion Pictures

How do you photograph the wedding of someone who looks at wedding photos all day almost every day?  I mean she knows everything about wedding photography!  Beth is a graphic designer/digital re-toucher at a professional photo lab in Poughkeepsie, On Location Studios.  She is the person who fixes photographer’s goof-ups and mistakes.  So when Beth asked me to photograph her wedding, it was quite a compliment.

Beth and Chris met 8 years ago while both were students at Marist College.  I see Beth at the photo lab all the time, but I’d only met Chris once before.  But I can tell you I instantly picked up on the fact Chris was both anxious about the wedding and extremely neat – based on the fact he had lined up trail mix, a money clip, bottled water, his room key and cell phone in the tidiest pile I have ever seen on the hotel bed.  Beth, on the other hand, was completely relaxed or at least faking it really well to me.  As Beth got out of the limo at Marist Chapel, a usually kinda anxious moment for most brides, she was laughing – a very good sign of things to come.

I don’t usually see Beth as glamorous – I usually see her in sweatshirts and jeans, no make-up.  But WOW!  She is stunning!  She should wear a wedding dress and updo every day.  A beautiful ceremony at Marist College Chapel was followed by photos on the campus and then everyone moved on over to Locust Grove for a party that had 150 people on the dance floor from the 1st song of the night onwards.  I got to see Jackie and Brendan again (I photographed their wedding a few years back) and also hang again with my coolest dj friends, Stephanie and Jeff of The DJ Solution.  They weren’t very challenged on this night though – we finally guessed that these partier’s couldn’t find a song they wouldn’t dance to.  That floor was packed all night long!  The caterer’s, Holbarts, were the same caterer’s Beth’s parents had used at their own wedding 30 years ago.  Which is amazing and a huge compliment to them.  Congrats Beth and Chris – you guys made things so much fun.  I really couldn’t have a better job!

Ceremony at Our Lady Seat of Wisdom, Marist College; Video by Bob Gellar; Reception at Locust Grove, Poughkeepsie; Music by Stephanie & Jeff of The DJ Solution; photos printed at On Location Studios, Poughkeepsie;

Having 3 brothers is def not easy!

Marist College, Poughkeepsie

When I fist met Nikki and Owen and they were describing their wedding to me, it just didn’t seem to fit with their personalities – they seemed soooo serious.  Wow was I wrong!  Nikki and Owen met while attending Vassar College.  So it seemed to make perfect sense that the place where they first met is where they planned to be married.  A whimsical wedding theme was planned around sunflowers, purple and yellow, parasols, boating hats and seersucker suits for the bridal party.  It was as it we had  stepped back in time to the early 1900′s on the Vassar College Campus.  Nikki and Owen did thier photo shoot about 2 hours before their ceremony.  They had been laughing and comical while getting ready earlier that day and that mood just seemed to carry on throughout the day.  I COULD NOT get a serious, straight face out of Owen – it just wasn’t happening!  Evidently Owen doesn’t like the way he smiles, so he just laughs and makes faces all the time.  I was hysterical and LOVED every moment I spent photographing these guys!

Coordination and Ceremony by Hudson Valley Ceremonies; Dress by Mika Inatome ; Shoes by Me Too ; Flowers by Seed to Fruit; Music by the Jim Osborn Orchestra; Catering by Fresh Company; Ceremony and Photos at Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, Reception at Locust Grove

Well I am way way behind on my blogging, but that’s July for you!  Lauren and Mike’s wedding was on an absolutely gorgeous July day – hot but not tooo hot.  The kind of July day you are hoping for when you’re planning your New York wedding.  I worked with Lauren and Mike last year during their engagement shoot – except that day we had their 6 month old puppy added into the photos.  Minus puppies on the wedding day made the photos so quick and easy that Lauren and Mike probably don’t even remember taking them.  Aqua blue colors put a bright splash in the day, the uplighting in the Grandview ballroom was a perfect accent of gold, and the dancing after a gorgeous outdoor ceremony was amazing.

Another big plus this day was I got to work with two of my fav teams of wedding peeps – Jen & Mike of Beautiful Memories and Steph & Jeff of The DJ Solution.

Dress by Maggie Sottero;  Shoes by Jimmy Choo;  Ceremony by Father Rich Hasselbach;  Video by Jen & Mike of Beautiful Memories;  Music by Steph and Jeff of The DJ Solution;  Flowers by David Anthony;  Ceremony and Reception at The Grandview, Poughkeepsie

Oh and I can’t let this post go by not say something about the groomsmen.  The argyle socks, the ‘please please please take more photos of us’ (what bunch of groomsmen ever want MORE photos done?), the wild dancing that took over the dance floor for part of the night.   There’s no way these guys could’ve shined more than Lauren on her wedding day, but man did they try!

I can't really explain this - but these groomsmen say it all!

Yes, this party was all about the guys!