May 10 2013

Julie & Ryan’s spring wedding at Battery Gardens

Julie & Ryan were married last weekend at Battery Gardens, a lovely venue at the corner of Battery Park at the southernmost tip of Manhattan. We started the day shooting their getting ready process in a nearby hotel– Julie looked amazing in her dress and I just loved the necklace she wore (it was her grandmother’s!). My 2nd shooter, Sarah, took Ryan outside before us and set him up so we could do their first look on some stairs to a museum near the Bowling Green subway station. Their wedding was on the same day as the NYC Five Boro Bike Tour so naturally we had to navigate a pack of bikers along our portrait walk into Battery Park towards the venue, but it was adorable and the couple got some bike-bell-rings and congratulations as they made their way. I spotted a beautiful pink-flowering tree not far from the restaurant where we could make the family portraits and not be in direct squinty sunlight or the wind coming off the water… and I gave this tree some bonus points for matching Ryan’s pink tie! We went inside for the Ketubah signing while guests were greeted with a family favorite cocktail in the ground floor of the restaurant. Then we were treated to a very sweet ceremony upstairs, after which the staff of Battery Gardens beautifully transformed the room into a tabled reception with dance floor and band setup while guests enjoyed cocktails downstairs and outside on the patio. Julie & Ryan’s reception had a uniquely lovely flow to it– they did all their eating and toasts first and then launched into their first dance and Hora so that the rest of the night was one big party on the dance floor. Everyone had a marvelous time and it showed! Congratulations, Julie & Ryan!