San Francisco Vietnamese Wedding Tea Ceremony

T and H had a traditional Vietnamese wedding with a tea ceremony at H’s parents’ house. There were tons of moments I loved. First the groomsmen arriving with the bright red Mâm quả (Red tin baskets full of presents) for the Đám Hỏi (engagement ceremony.) They were led into the house by T’s parents. To enter the house, all ducked through the archway that read Vu Quy (leaving home.) I adore the photo of H’s aunties putting a present of earings on her ears. The way T would bend over to smooch H. The altar to the ancestors where the tea ceremony took place. The three wedding dresses H wore. The traditional red Áo dài, a Vietnamese wedding dress, and the blue Áo gấm, a similar garment worn by the groom. Then the elegant white Áo dài for H during the reception, and a tux for T. In the morning we had a sweet portrait session among the flowers at a botanical garden.

Ashokan Dreams Wedding – Rachael & Alex

What a stunning day Rachael & Alex had for their Ashokan Dreams wedding. The venue is perched on a hill overlooking the majestic Ashokan Reservoir and Catskill Mountains. Each time I glanced over at the Mountains, they had shifted into a slightly different gorgeous color. As the sun fell further into the horizon, the entire landscape lit up orange, green, and blue. Rachael, a talented printmaker, made prints of the Mountains for each reception table, so there was a delightful doubling of the landscape. Intelligent details like that were everywhere. I loved the groomsmen’s bolo ties, the delicate latticework of leaves on Rachel’s dress, the horns the two drank out of during the reception, and the inscription on Alex’s ring! Alex’s family from the midwest has a tradition of forming an adhoc band for big celebrations. Their serenade was particularly lively and joyous. The day kept unfolding and unfolding, and it went further than I ever could have imagined. Near the end of the night there was a surprise performance by a mysterious man in a white fur vest and a dolphin…

Chairs for Ashokan Dreams Wedding

Vendors

Venue: Ashokan Dreams

Catering: Good’s

Wedding dress: Amanda Garrett

Bolo ties: Rocky Mountain Western

Invitations & Centerpieces: www.rachaelabrams.com

Awbury Arboretum Wedding – Philadelphia – Miriam & Jeremy

Miriam and Jeremy’s Awbury Arboretum Wedding was my second time photographing at this green oasis in the urban landscape of Northwest Philadelphia. Not one, not two, but three couples I had worked with in the past were in attendance, which made for a delightfully warm village feeling.

We began with a first look on the porch of the Francis Cope House. Miriam and Jeremy approached each other back to back, and before they had laid eyes on each other, they were already dancing. I have the distinct pleasure of documenting some of the most deliriously happy moments of people’s lives, but Miriam and Jeremy’s energy had me running for a thesaurus to try to describe the fever pitch of their happiness. Insuppressible. Irrepressible. Ebullient. Rhapsodical. None of this does justice to the spirit of the day.

There were countless blessings by a flock of rabbis, so much dancing, so much singing, there was jumping rope with tied-together napkins, a raucous horah, a puppet show, and to top it all off there was Jeremy serenading Miriam with I want it that way.

More like these two please!

Vendors

Venue: Awbury Arboretum and Francis Cope House

Catering: Miss Rachel’s Pantry

Goat Farm Wedding – Amelia and Mark

Amelia and Mark were married on a warm June day at Windy Hill Farm in Cedar Grove, North Carolina not far from Chapel Hill. The two prepared for the day in a sweet old farmhouse full of antiques and curiosities. A pair of rabbits dozed in a hutch, Tiger lilies reached for the sun. The ceremony was held on the far side of a sun-drenched field under the shade of a gorgeous stand of trees at the edge of a forest. Amelia and her family made their way across the field on the back of a tractor with parasols for cover. They were met with old time banjo music. Nestled into the shade, Amelia and Mark’s friends and family shared readings and laughter. During cocktail hour guests sheltered from the sun under parasols and ate oysters. The barbecue dinner was scrumptious, the dancing lively, and the goats came out for a romp in the gloaming. It was a storybook day that I was honored to document.

Many thanks to my talented 2nd photographer, Yuri Vaysgant

Vendors

Venue: Windy Hill Farm

Wedding dress: Judd Waddell

Florist: Bluebird Meadows

Wedding planner: C+D Events

Hair: WINK Hair and Make up

Band: Dwight Hawkins & the Piedmont Highballers

DJ: DJ Gonzo (Aharon Segal)

Cake: Details Cake Design & Bakery

Catering: ACME Food & Beverage Co.

Invitations: Dana Cheit; JesSmith Designs

Best Wedding Photos 2017

Hazel Photo Best Wedding Photos 2017

In 2017 I photographed 14 weddings in California, New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Maryland, New Jersey, and Massachusetts.

In 2017 more people trusted me to make art about their love than ever before, and I am eternally grateful for that.

My 2018 schedule is shaping up to be even fuller, and I can’t wait for all the unexpected beauty to come.

Here are some of my favorites from this past year:

Boston City Hall Wedding – Briitta & Mathijs

Boston City Hall Wedding – Briitaa and Mathijs

Briitta and Mathijs had such a lovely Boston City Hall wedding. It was just the three of us, and the justice of the peace. We built time in before and after the ceremony to explore the city and make portraits. They were so very happy, and easy in front of the camera. Afterward they took me to a super fun hotel with a great view of the Boston skyline.

San Francisco City Hall Wedding

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