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!

Natalie and Brian are another couple whose families I have come to know and love through their weddings.  When they told me they had selected Bard College Chapel and Blythewood Mansion for their wedding, I was super excited because it is not only a rarely used but wonderful place to have a wedding, but it’s also a favorite place of mine to just visit for the day.  The location is beautiful and the gardens are amazing.  If you haven’t been to Blythewood Mansion, you should take a day trip there and just wander around.  I think it’s prettier than Vanderbilt, and much quieter!  Dark clouds were lurking in an otherwise bright sky, but the rain didn’t let loose until everyone was back in their cars/bus’s and we were safely outta there!

Dress by Jim Hjelm; Shoes by Allure Bridal; Flowers by Floral Fantasies by Sara; Ceremony at Bark College Chapel; Photos at Blythewood Mansion, Bard College; Reception at The Grandview, Poughkeepsie

Donations to the SPCA are popular wedding favors, but I really love how Natalie and Brian made up these beautiful cards to show their donation!  Simple and sweet.

Lighthearted, fun, classical and romantic.  Rebecca and Kevin’s wedding was a perfect reflection of their personalities and taste.  A traditional ceremony at St John’s Lutheran Church in Poughkeepsie was followed by a double photo session near Vassar College and on the docks on the Hudson River by The Grandview.  White roses and pearls, a steel drum band during the cocktail hour, and a cigar bar at the end of the evening.  Every detail was perfect!

Dress by Essence of Australia; Flowers by Morgan’s Florist; Music by Jimmy Dee Productions; Video by the amazing Jesse & Mike of Joyful Video; ceremony at St John’s Lutheran Church, Poughkeepsie, Reception at The Grandview, Poughkeepsie

One of my favorite things is photographing the same families and friends year after year.  I already know everybody, so we all feel comfortable and right at home.  Plus, you must have really liked the pictures, cause you keep calling me back!  I had photographed Christina’s sister, Jen’s wedding a few years back.  Bill’s groomsmen was almost the same crew of guys, just rearranged with Bill as the groom this time.  A really nice set of families, a beautiful May day (no rain!), and happy night with the tent at The Grandview in Poughkeepsie packed full of dancers right to the last song of the evening.

Love, Love, Love Kerry’s hot pink wedding shoes!  You couldn’t even see them until she lifted her dress – then POW – what a great pop of color!  Kerry and Keith had a gorgeous warm 4th of July day to celebrate their wedding.  Following a traditional Catholic ceremony at St Dennis Church in Beekman, an entire bus of wedding party and families headed over to Locust Grove in Poughkeepsie for photos. I can’t forget to mention, Bryce, who was one of the most awesome ring bearers ever – he was just a natural for the camera.  Then on to The Grandview for a reception topped by fireworks over the Mid Hudson Bridge later that evening – a beautiful 4th of July weekend for me!

Dress by Private Label by G; Shoes by Nina; Flowers by Heavens Scent; Ceremony at St Dennis Church in Beekman, Reception at The Grandview; Music by Joseph Carbone

Breathe In, Breathe Out.... Coming down the Aisle

4th of July Fireworks over the Hudson River

All the details and soft romantic colors that Lauren worked so hard on transformed the ballroom at The Grandview from everyday already beautiful to stunningly spectacular.  The soft dusky rose colors perfectly complimented pale champagne accents and white peonies.  The uplighting in the ballroom highlighted all the details and brought oohh’s and ahh’s from the guests as they entered the reception.  I LOVE uplighting!  Lauren and Bill perfectly compliment each other – they are just plain old crazy in love with each other.  A very touching ceremony on the outdoor patio at The Grandview brought tears to Bill as he choked up several times during his vows.  Oh and did I mention the steel drum band that played during the cocktail hour?  I am now firm believer that every wedding should have a steel drum band – they were fantastic!

Ceremony and Reception at The Grandview;  Flowers by Ranita Productions; Dress by Watters & Watters; Shoes by Liz Rene Couture;  Music by Next Generation

Steel Drum band

Diamonds were the word of the day!  From all the heavy jewels on Brianne’s gorgeous cathedral length veil, to the 15 carat diamond necklace she wore, the sparkle of jewels were everywhere.  A beautiful ceremony at Marist College Chapel was followed by photos on the Marist campus and then an evening of dining and dancing in the tent at The Grandview.

I was so delighted that Brianne and Ed selected me to be their wedding photographer!  Brianne had been a bridesmaid  at Kelly & Jaime’s wedding several years ago, so I knew I would be among old friends again that day.  Brianne had described their taste as classic and timeless, and that is exactly what their wedding was.  Classic, elegant, timeless and beautiful.  Brianne and Ed are wonderful couple who perfectly compliment each other.

Dress by Platinum Priscilla of Boston; shoes by Grazia;  Jewelry from Kingston Fine Jewelers; Flowers by Sara of Floral Fantasies; Music by MC Fish; Reception at The Grandview

The 2010 wedding season has begun!  Jennifer and Brett had a beautiful warm sunny day in April for their wedding at The Grandview in Poughkeepsie.  This was the perfect start of spring for me.  A very touching service was performed by the Rabbi Jonathan Kligler of Woodstock under a chuppah that Brett had made himself.  I heard that Brett was at The Grandview very early on the morning of his wedding assembling the chuppah made of antique doors.  It was beautiful!  One of the most complex and yet simple chuppahs I have ever seen.  This couple had put alot of thoughtful and meaningful touches onto their wedding, from the beautifully printed ceremony and menu cards, to the custom engraving saying ‘TEAM AWESOME’ inside of Brett’s wedding band.  A perfect start to their marriage and my year!

Ceremony and Reception at The Grandview, Poughkeepsie, New York

Dress by Allure Bridals, Shoes by Steve Madden, Flowers by Sara Gast

Music by The DJ Solution

Brent handmade the chuppah

Dress by Anne Barge

Flowers by Events by Ranita

Ceremony at Marist College Chapel

Reception at The Grandview, Poughkeepsie, NY

Music by Blazing Beats

All that color!

photos by Lori O’Toole

Well this is the first time I have ever photographed guinea hens at a wedding and I really don’t think that this is a photo I’ll ever be able to duplicate. (so no requests for guinea hen photos please!)  Rory and Regina are very cool people who I immediately bonded with over exchanging photos of our pit bull puppies.  Regina told me they wanted to take most of their photos at a farm and environmental center down the street from their church and I thought that sounds different – should be fun!  The farm was beautiful – tons of amazing barns and fields.  We also had some very curious guinea hens who really seemed to enjoy the extra attention.  They got a big thrill out of looking at their reflections in the sides of the limo, it seems that guinea hens are very vain…I don’t think they really cared about Regina and Rory at all.  They just wanted their picture taken.

Dress by Casablanca

Flowers by Forever Yours Flowers

Ceremony at Old Stone St Patrick’s Church, Yorktown Heights

Photos at Hilltop Hanover Farm, Yorktown Heights

Video and Music by United DJ’s

Reception at The Grandview