Industrial Chic Wedding Bok Building

Industrial Chic Wedding Bok Building – Eliza & Dirk

Eliza & Dirk had the distinct pleasure of walking from their home in their South Philadelphia neighborhood to their wedding venue, The Bok Building. Part of the vision for the day, as far as photography, was a walk through the neighborhood with bridal portraits in front of Eliza & Dirk’s favorite murals. We got lucky, and happened upon an Italian street festival, replete with red white and green pendants strung across the street. Philadelphia is a city of hidden magic on tiny alleys, and we found that magic again and again as the day unfolded.

Eliza is an urban planner, Dirk a geographer, so it was apt that the backdrop for their wedding was a view of the city grid of Philadelphia from above. The florals were fantastic. I love the arrangement at the altar with the city peeking through beyond. Post-industrial splendour exploding with flowers!

Sometimes as I photograph a wedding I pick up on a subtle dynamic I didn’t see coming. On their wedding day, from getting ready, through the ceremony, into toasts, I was struck by what an exceptionally strong chosen family Eliza & Dirk have cultivated, and now cherish.

Let’s also not forget that there was an astronaut in attendance, and he made every photo he graced with his presence ten times better.

I could write volumes, but these photos!! I won’t keep them from you any longer.

Photography : Hazelphoto

Wedding planner : Nicole Hutnyk / Rabbit Rabbit Crew

Wedding attire : Sarah Seven, Taylor Stitch

Florist : Vault & Vine

Hair : Kerri Fawley/Herringbone Salon

Makeup : JKo Beauty

Catering : Power Events Catering & Weckerly’s Ice Cream

Rings : Bario Neal

Invitations : Egg Press

USA Road Trip on Color Film

Honestly this road trip my wife, Addie, and I took across the USA feels like ancient history, but I love these images I made primarily on medium format film, and I wanted to share them. When we moved from Cambridge, MA to San Francisco we drove a northerly root through Buffalo, NY, up through Niagara Falls and on to a farm North of London, Ontario,. Then we came back down through Detroit, the Indiana Dunes, Illinois, Iowa, Badlands National Park, The Black Hills, down into Laramie Wyoming. I flew out of Denver, photographed a wedding in Boston, and then a wedding in Philadelphia. I flew back into Denver, and we headed Northwest across Wyoming and up to Grand Tetons and Yellowstone. We slept in Idaho, and Eastern Oregon both dispersed camping on BLM land. The end of our trip we went to Crater Lake, slept in Ashland, and then near Redding by a hot spring. It was my first road trip all the way from the Atlantic to the Pacific and it did not disappoint.

Boston Public Library Wedding

Boston Public Library Wedding – Alexandra & Eric

Alexandra & Eric were married in the courtyard at the Boston Public Library on a lovely September evening. The McKim building at the Boston Public Library is the classiest library I have ever set foot in, and I’m a notorious book lover, so this wedding was kind of a dream. Murals by Puvis de Chavannes, Abbey, and Sargent adorn the library walls. The whole grand building and courtyard make quite the backdrop for a wedding.

Eric wore a striking black tuxedo with a succulent boutonniere, and Alexandra wore a gorgeous intricately beaded gown that brought to mind the glamour of the roaring twenties. This vibe is particularly strong in the portraits we made on the marble grand staircase, and with the Puvis de Chavannes murals. The two got ready across the street at the ever elegant Fairmont Copley.

In a pre-wedding consult I asked Alexandra and Eric if there were any details they were particularly excited about. Eric mentioned the cheese/cake and they both broke into laughter describing the tower of wheels of cheese decorated with flowers, herbs and champagne grapes. Let’s just say the cheese wedding cake did not disappoint in person.

The courtyard of the McKim building is transporting. It was easy to forget we were in the center of a busy Metropolis. The light drew low, as the two were joined, flanked by their siblings, and surrounded by family and friends.

Alexandra and Eric are scientists. The officiant’s sermon, and the toasts both made reference to this shared passion. Apparently the two spend much time thinking and talking about the chemistry of pink lakes and cell death among other salient topics.

There were a few exceptionally talented dancers in attendance, which made for a lively, and visually stunning dance floor in the Abbey Room.

Shoutout to Leah Astore for helping out with photos!

and to Bryanne Pepin and the whole crowd at A Catered Affair for doing what they do best.

Photography : Paul Gargagliano / Hazel Photo

Wedding Coordinator : Bryanne Pepin The Catered Affair

Florist : Brattle Florist

Bride’s Dress : Jenny Packham

Bride’s hairpiece : Gigi Burgiss

Groom’s Tuxedo : Prada

Hair : Darren Le

Makeup : Anthony Joseph Beauty

Ceremony Music : Keros Entertainment

DJ : Beat Train Productions

Cheese Wedding Cake : Formaggio

Catering : The Catered Affair

Invitations : Pickett’s Press

Mill Valley Wedding – Lisl Zach

Mill Valley Wedding – Lisl & Zach

If I had to choose just one adjective to describe Lisl & Zach, and the wedding they put together, I would choose the word playful. Just as I arrived, Lisl sent a note from her hotel room over to Zach’s hotel room courtesy of a pair of friend-couriers. Zach read the note with giddy pleasure and sent a response back that made Lisl laugh and laugh.

We had a first look at a Mill Valley’s Bayfront Park, and then continued on to the Mill Valley Community Center for the wedding ceremony.

A “plain parchment” marked with the words “mischief managed” was part of the program for the wedding ceremony. That was not the only reference to Harry Potter. The officiant, a Pastor and close friend, structured her sermon by seamlessly weaving Lisl & Zach’s love story into themes drawn from the Harry Potter novels.

The flower girls shot bubbles from multicolor guns as they walked down the aisle. Adorning the wedding cake were Lego people: a scientist with a laboratory flask, and a gamer with headphones, and a player one t-shirt. I love that photo of the high five the two shared in celebration of the cake cutting.

Golden Gate Club Wedding Presidio San Francisco

Golden Gate Club Wedding San Francisco

Golden Gate Club Wedding San Francisco – Kate & Rishi

Kate & Rishi were married at the Golden Gate Club in San Francisco’s Presidio. The day was a hybrid of Western and Indian wedding traditions. (I also had the pleasure of documenting their sangeet on Friday at the Westin St. Francis.) All day long the legendary San Francisco fog moved quickly overhead letting sunshine through at a few key moments. I was especially grateful for the glow of the sun during the baraat, and just after the ceremony.

For the baraat, Rishi was escorted to the front doors of the Golden Gate Club riding high on the back seat of a sweet vintage Pontiac GTO convertible instead of the traditional horse or elephant. One of my favorites photos of the day is of Rishi and a spray of balloons reflected in the car’s glossy paint.

For the Barat and the ceremony, Kate & Rishi wore western dress: an elegant white dress with lace shoulders; and a sharp royal blue three-piece suit. After the ceremony they changed into Indian dress for the reception. Kate’s scarlet dress was covered in elaborate beadwork.

I love how the surrounding cypress trees made dramatic appearances all day long, whether through the great wall of windows that looks out onto the San Francisco Bay, or with the blue night sky as a backdrop for the night portraits we made.

At the end of the evening, Kate & Rishi’s sweet puppy made an appearance. How could he have known what a momentous occasion he was witnessing.

Special shoutout to the ever gracious and talented Sam Soto-Suver of Bowerbird for his work as a 2nd photographer.

And a special shoutout to Stacy Wicelhaus from They So Loved Events who managed about a zillion moving pieces effortlessly.

Vendors

Venue : Golden Gate Club

Photographer : Hazel Photo

Wedding Attire : Bride’s ceremony dress, Alt Brides
Bride’s reception dress Madsam Tinzin
Groom’s ceremony suit Indochino

Florist : Erica Rose Design

Wedding planner : Stacy Wichelhaus, They So Loved Events

Hair : Skyla Arts

Makeup : Skyla Arts

DJ : DJ Kingh Official Wicked Entertainment

Videographer : Creations by Sam

Cake : Mariposa Baking Company

Catering : Presidio Foods Catering X Amber India

Invitations: Save the dates, programs, and other paper goods by Sasha Head

Sangeet Westin St. Francis Wedding San Francisco

Sangeet Westin St. Francis Wedding San Francisco – Kate & Rishi

Kate & Rishi had their Sangeet at the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco’s Union Square neighborhood. (We also photographed their Indian fusion wedding at the Golden Gate Club.)

Special shoutout to the ever gracious and talented Sam Soto-Suver of Bowerbird for his work as a 2nd photographer.

And a special shoutout to Stacy Wicelhaus from They So Loved Events who managed about a zillion moving pieces effortlessly.