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

Erica and Jesse told me that all of the children at their wedding were important to them.  And to please get tons of candid photos of the children.  Well, these kids were so cute and so comical that I could probably have spend the entire day just photographing them!  But, luckily for Erica and Jesse, most of the day was spent this very much in love couple.  The day started in the Rose Parlor at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, where Erica got dressed.  Then Erica walked over to Vassar Chapel with her family and friends in a long procession to a beautiful ceremony accompanied by the Kairos Choir.  After walking around the campus (Erica and Jesse showed me parts of the campus I had never been to before!), we headed over to Audrey’s Farmhouse for a beautiful evening of dinner and dancing to the Roundabout Ramblers Band.

Dress by Mary Spallone

Flowers by Marianne’s

Ceremony at Vassar College Chapel, Poughkeepsie, New York

Photos at Vassar College

Reception at Audrey’s Farmhouse, Wallkill, New York

Music by the Roundabout Ramblers

Vassar Chapel

Julianna, Jemma, and Aidan

Jesse and Erica

Audrey's Farmhouse

photo by Sharon Redl for Lori O'Toole

Sunset at Audrey's Farmhouse

Sherida told me she almost flew off a four-wheeler the night before her wedding.  So how perfect was it that the path thru the woods at Vassar was muddy and torn up with atv tracks.   Some brides would have said, nope, I’m not going down there.  But Sherida was fine with going on and Luke was cool with getting her there dry and mud free – one of my favorite photos this year!

I really do think that Vassar Chapel is one of the most fabulous churches for wedding ceremonies.  It’s enormous size and the beautiful light that just streams in from the windows makes for stunning ceremony photos.  There’s just a beautiful peacefulness and aura that surrounds everything there.

Dress by Sottero & Midgeley

Flowers by Heaven Scent of Newburgh

Ceremony at Vassar College Chapel, Poughkeepsie, NY

Photos at the Shakespeare Gardens, Vassar College

Music by Brett Lobdell

Reception at The Grandview, Poughkeepsie

Vassar College Chapel

The Shakespeare Gardens at Vassar College

The Rose Garden at Vanderbilt Mansion

Jackie at Vassar College

The wedding day itself seemed to come up pretty quickly after Jackie and Tony’s engagement session.  A touching ceremony was performed by Jackie’s cousin at Vassar College Chapel with a stunning bride and a very handsome and happy groom!  The photo session after the ceremony was in the beautiful Shakespeare Gardens on the grounds of Vassar College and then on to an evening of dinner and dancing at The Grandview in Poughkeepsie.  I was able do some cool photos with Tony and the guys earlier in the day – a nice switch up for me.  The reception in the tent at The Grandview had more food than I have ever seen at a wedding before.  The centerpieces of gerber daisies and photos from the engagement session were gorgeous. What a wonderful day!
Ceremony at Vassar College Chapel
Dress by Maggie Sottero
Flowers by Morgan’s Florist
Music by DJ Dom
Reception at The Grandview

The Shakespeare Gardens at Vassar College

Jackie at Vassar College

I had just photographed Jackie and Tony’s engagement photos a few weeks before, so it seemed like the wedding day arrived so quickly! Jackie was stunning in a Maggie Sottero gown that was absolutely perfect for her. Her makeup was done perfectly by the fabulous Makeup by Jenny. Although the day was hot, her makeup didn’t move a bit.
I got to do some cool photos with Tony and the guys earlier in the day – a nice switch up for me. A beautiful ceremony was performed by Jackie’s cousin at Vassar College Chapel followed by a walk in the Shakespeare Gardens for a great photo session.
The reception in the tent at The Grandview had more food than I have ever seen at a wedding before. The centerpieces of gerber daisies and photos from the engagement session were gorgeous. What a wonderful day!
Ceremony at Vassar College Chapel
Dress by Maggie Sottero
Flowers by Morgan’s Florist
Music by DJ Dom
Reception at The Grandview