Last week was Rachel and Paul’s wedding at the beautiful Cherry Valley Country Club in Garden City, New York.  They had an absolutely gorgeous day.  You couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day with crisp blue skies and low humidity.  Bet you can tell where the lucky couple went on their honeymoon from the next photo, LOL….

Paul, was a good groom, and was in charge of many of the details of their wedding.  As a matter of fact, we heard more from Paul, than Rachel, LOL, during the wedding planning.  So it was only fitting that we got quite a lot of shots of him getting ready.  We met Paul at his parent’s home in Rockville Centre.  I usually don’t post much of the guys getting ready as it can be pretty mundane, plus coupled with the fact that a lot of couples don’t get the extra coverage of the guys getting ready….but I liked quite a lot of these, so I happily want to share some goodness with you….

Then it was off to the Hampton Inn in Rockville Centre where Rachel and her dad, as well as, the girls were getting ready.  Here is a few shots of how the morning went….the great make up was done by Melissa Champagne of Pacesetter in Nordstrom’s in Roosevelt Field, Garden City…..

and some details…..the beautiful gown……and then, oh yeah, Rich got daring with the dress and hung it off a balcony, yea baby…..

Each of the girls wore these matching necklaces…so pretty, right?

I always say, a bride is not a bride, till the veil goes on….

Rich using Bill’s camera from Wildrose Video, to capture the shoes being put on!

Rachel reminded me so much of a young, Catherine Zeta Jones, doesn’t she?  If you are going to look like someone, I’d say she would be high on anyone’s list of celebrities that you would want to look like!

Then it came time to leave the Hampton Inn and mosey on out to St. Agnes Cathedral for our wedding ceremony…

Rachel’s two sisters, Jennifer and Emily, were in her wedding party.  Emily played the role of Maid of Honor while Jennifer was one of the bridesmaids.  The Best Man was Chris, Paul’s brother.  Here is Jennifer as she came down the aisle…

I have often noticed throughout the years we have been photographing weddings, that once in the church vestibule, everyone smiles, the bridesmaids, the flower girls, the mother of the bride, but the father of the bride always has a certain look.  Not a look of unhappiness, not boredom, quite the contrary.  But a look of someone who has lost something of value.  Sometimes, people don’t realize the role of a photographer and just how important that role is.  We are here to not only document the big things that happen on a person’s wedding day, such as the cake cutting, dance with the dad/mom, walking down the aisle, but also the slightest, tiniest thing, such as the little pat on the hand that a dad gives to his daughter in the silence that belongs to only them, right before she is about to go down the aisle.  It is not a sign that SHE is ready, or a sign that he is hurrying her.  It is a pat that signals to her that HE is ready.  Ready to what, you ask?  To give away his most treasured possession.  Someone he has welcomed into this world, nurtured and watched grow into a budding young woman, capable in every way.   He knows that taking this walk will change everything.  Not only in his life, but also in hers as well.  She will now be connected to another man in a bond so special and strong, that theirs, will eclipse all else.  It is in those simple, precise moments, that you know you are doing a much bigger job than anyone realizes.  Those little nuances that when grouped together tell a story of two families.  Two families that will now forever be joined together by this bond.  These moments are when the photographer is at his best………deep in concentration, looking for any signs of the bonds of their relationship.

and as before, the choirs begin to sing out, and then with a nod of her head, she signals to her “dad” that she is ready, ready to embark on a new journey with a man she has grown to love.   And, with that, a new cycle is begun….

In that kiss that he gives his daughter, his face says it all.  She glances at him as he silently takes his seat, his expression recording for all time, his feelings at that split second that he has passed his little girl on to a man that he trusts with his baby’s soul.

The welcoming of a new daughter into the family!

Off we sped to Cherry Valley to do some portraits of the wedding party….

Then it was time for cocktail hour and a few details….

A few practice rounds before the “real thing”!

Then we had quite a few toasts, but I just documented here Rachel’s dad, as well as, Chris’ very funny toast to his brother on how different they were growing up, but how he looked up to him his whole life….

A lot of fun was poked at the way Rachel and Paul met.

Rachel and Paul met on the platform of the New York City Subway at 32^nd Street and Park Avenue on a rainy October morning in 2005.  They had been standing near each other on the platform, both waiting for the downtown 6 train en route to work, when an announcement was made that trains were delayed due to heavy rainfall that had flooded the subway system further uptown.  The couple caught each other’s eyes and sparked up a conversation.  Conveniently, they were both headed to the Financial District, so they decided to share a taxi.  It was love at first sight…..hey ladies, it just goes to prove, you never know when or where love will strike!

And, a few candids, just cause I am feeling generous tonight, LOL…

Please join me in wishing congrats to Rachel and Paul and we hope you are having a fantastic time in Hawaii, you guys.  Please, as always, leave us a comment telling us what you think (you all know how I love feedback <3)

Last Saturday, it was Deirdre and Leo’s turn for some goodness.  Their wedding was at Captain Bill’s in Bay Shore, Long Island.  They had a gorgeous day, bright blue skies, and low humidity, but hot!  We met Deirdre and her sisters at her childhood home.

Her gorgeous gown was hanging in what used to be Deirdre’s old bedroom, not a guest room.

Once she was all dressed, we took her and the girls, and all the little girls, which were all her nieces outside on the front porch to get a few shots.  How cute are these little ones?

Then it was in the limo for our ride to her sister’s house in Lido Beach, where the ceremony was going to be held right in the sand.  Before the guests walked up the boardwalk that led to the ceremony location, they got the option of taking a fan, a parasol, some flip flops and a cooling bottle of water.  In order to park, you had better pick up one of Deirdre and Leo’s parking permits, or you were going to be slapped with a parking ticket, oh my!  We were sure to display ours!

A handmade sign marked the way………….

Here is our happy bride on her way to the beach to meet a very proud and ecstatic Leo, who was waiting in the wings…

Here is our guests waiting anxiously for a glimpse of our beautiful bride and her parents who, at this point, were hidden out of view.

The girl’s moms, finally gave our flowergirls their pails in which they put blue flowers for them to lay in the sand.  Seems the girls had better ideas for those pails, LOL, as they made wonderful sand castles with them!

Here is the crew right before they embarked on the beach and took their walk down the aisle.

Deirdre and her mom and dad.  Deirdre’s mom had to pulled away from the bows that lined the railing leading down to the beach, to which her daughters all laughed hysterically.  “There is mom fixing things right to the bitter end!”  But they looked great!

Sometimes, our little ones need a little “coaxing” down the aisle.  Hey it can be a very scary experience when you are only little….

And, then came the beautiful Deirdre, so happy to finally get it under way and marry her prince charming.

Along the rows of chairs, Deirdre had pails filled with white hydrangeas and white ribbons, so pretty.

Leo, beaming, to finally be with his “other half”.

The adorable sand ceremony containers, complete with a starfish and shells!  In a beach ceremony, this is so much better than fighting with some candles to stay lit….

The roaring surf and tons of onlookers provided just the right setting in which to say their vows.

Rings, in the heat of the day, can cause a little anxiety, as everyone’s fingers swell just a little to make the actual putting on of the rings a tad difficult.  But Deirdre coaxed Leo along, never losing faith that it would fit eventually, LOL!

Come on Leo, you can do it….

Then it came time to do some wedding party portraits.  Just check out that sky, were they not blessed or what?  Have you ever seen such a perfectly blue sky?

Leo, in his shades, was “the” man….

Come on Leo, JUMP!  And, JUMP he did, LOL!

Now these guys, OMG, what characters…….and just check out Leo’s son, Alex, who was our best man.  Way to go Alex!

I got this idea to borrow some of the ladies parasols.  They were not easily persuaded to give them up to me.  I promised, and I promised.  “Yes, I will return them, just look for me at the reception, I will bring them there……”.  Well seems that didn’t happen and put me in some hot water with a few of the guests, who I gently persuaded to talk to Rich as he said he would talk to them.  I tried, really I did, but our family wanted to keep some of them, sorreeeee…….   But, hey look what a nice photo they made, that’s worth giving up a parasol for, right? 

All the while I am editing this photo, I hear the theme song from Hawaii-5-O in my head…..dadadada……….da……..da…………

and then some of the happy couple alone……

Couldn’t resist doing an iphone photo, to which Leo exclaimed “what on earth are we doing?”  “How is this going to come out?”  See Leo I said to have a little faith, cute right?

Then a few homes down from her sister’s house, I saw this old car being restored in somebody’s driveway.  I love vintage anything, and persuaded our couple, who again, must have thought I lost my mind.  But see, nice again, right?  One of my fav’s…….

Then it was time to go to Captain Bill’s and get a few of the details which I know all you blog readers just can’t get enough of.  So here without further adieu, is their beautiful table arrangements, complete with high and short flower arrangements of calla lillies, and sand dollar table markers, rattan chargers, blue champagne glasses and more sand dollars napkin rings!  Viola, gorgeous…..

Deirdre used an old lantern for her card holder.  In the bottom, she filled it with blue and green beach glass….

Her placecards were none other than drink umbrellas set in sand!

Instead of a normal sign in book, Leo and Deirdre opted for a sign in plate, too cute.

Their cake which smelled yummy by the way, had white chocolate starfish, shells and sand dollars as it’s theme.

The cake topper, a groom complete with rolled up pants, holding his bride had written at the base, “Just Married”!

Steel drums played at both the ceremony and cocktail hour….

Even the passed hors d’ouevres platters, had festive drink umbrellas on them.

And, as sunset approached and the sky turned golden, Deirdre asked if we could go outside on the boat docks and snap a few photos.  The color and light was magnificent!

The announcement of “here comes the new Mr. and Mrs.” brought our happy couple to the dance floor.

Two toasts were given, both equally wonderful.  But, I think Alex’ toast to his dad, stole everyone’s hearts.  When he spoke, he blew the crowd away, not the least was Deirdre and Leo.  Alex spoke of how Leo was the best father anyone could ask for and how much he appreciated having Deirdre as his new stepmom.  OMG, even I had tears, it was so touching and cute coming from such a young guy.  Good job, Alex!  Your toast was a lot better than a heck of a lot of other best men, that is for sure.  Can’t go wrong with speaking from your heart, guys!

Check out Leo trying to keep it together………..

and then the both of them, realizing, just let those tears fall……………go on, you know I will be there with the camera to document it all, LOL.  I just adore a good cry in photos………..probably because I am such a softie myself and cry at least once a week, hahaha!  What is that they say about misery loving company?

Okay, and then what is it with some crowds feeling the need to dress up in the table decorations????  They are too funny………let me present our pirate…………..

and our cross dresser, Mr. Mai Tai………….who Deirdre, just adored those new earrings he had to wear…..

and lastly, Mr. Cymbals…………you guys are too funny……….and I wish I was coming on that cruise of yours, I am sure you will come up with some great table decorations on there!!!!

Our happy couple were spending some days out in Montauk, soaking up the sun.  Guys, don’t forget to leave them and us a few comments, we love to hear how you like the pics and I’m sure they will as well.