Margaret and John’s wedding was one of my favorite in the batch from last year….why? Because Margaret and John were so focused on  creating an intimate experience with their closest friends and family. Margaret put her personal touch on every single detail and it was one of the most charming parties I have every attended! It’s no surprise it caught the eye of Style Me Pretty Blogger: Abby Capalbo. SMP is one of my favorite Bridal blogs because it focuses on all the little details that go into a big event. It’s always an honor when a wedding I’ve photographed is published there! Check out our feature from today! Click HERE to see more…

Alyn and Kevin chose Hummingbird Nest Ranch as the backdrop to exchange vows and celebrate in a day of love and laughter with all of their favorite people close at hand. Simple and classic accents of green succulents and yellow blossoms gave an extra pop to the already stunning landscape the Hummingbird Nest Ranch provides for a wedding. Congrats Alyn and Kevin!

All of the couples I photograph are special to me. I’m so blessed by the lifelong friendships that are formed as a result of this job. Rachel and Mario conference called me on the way home from their post-wedding brunch, just to rehash all the fun of the day’s events. That phone call was the icing on the cake of this event. I love getting that call or that text message the day after!!! Dishing about the party with your girlfriends the next day is almost just as fun as the actual party!  A big celebration should supply you with smiles for year’s to come…and clearly Rachel and Mario’s event will do exactly that!

I talked a bit about the event location: Tara Circle in a previous post…the pictures should speak for all of it’s haunted charm. But the venue wasn’t the only thing that made this wedding a complete original.  I love that the couple made a space designated as the ‘Man Cave’ … a dark room off the main dining area where the guys could hang out, drink whiskey and smoke cigars. Some girls managed to elbow their way in as well…but it was a space that was geared specifically with the Men in mind. The candle-lit ambiance in the library of the giant distressed mansion, made for a perfect intimate dinner party for 200 of the couple’s closest friends. And the ceremony on the grounds of the eerie courtyard at sundown was something out of a old world mystery novel. This wedding was nothing short of Pure Magic, what an honor it was to have captured it ….

Floral / Event Design & Production: Nicky Balestrieri
Dress: Vera Wang
Shoes: Valentino
Jewelry: Judith Ripkah
Hair: John Mendola
Make-up: Valerie Gug
Venue: Tara Circle at Alder Manor – Yonkers, NY
Catering: Chef’s at Work – Westchester, NY‘
Band: Jay Nash
DJ: JT Kendal