Lovers that bless the dark
On benches in Central Park
It's autumn in New York
It's good to live it again...
~Ella Fitzgerald
Well here it is. I've saved one of my very favorite weddings of 2011 until the very end. My first wedding in New York, the first time I've been to the Big Apple since I was 10 years old, and I got to spend it with the amazing Josh and Amy. I knew I'd love them right away because Amy is a fantastic pet photographer while Josh is an accomplished Director of Photography for several programs you've most definitely heard of. They are both fantastically creative, energetic, and let's face it, super attractive. Sometimes my job is just soooo hard.
The beautiful details of this wedding were really what made it so magical, that and Amy and Josh's willingness to travel the streets and subways of Manhattan prior to tying the knot. We began the day in their hotel room properly with coffee, bagel and a schmear. Amy's jaw-dropping dress was Nicole Miller and her shoes Badgley Mischka, two of my favorite designers (for obvious reasons).
We started our tour of the city with yellow cab ride and a stop at the Bowling Green subway station, which had a gorgeous facade and gritty yet colorful interior. Times being as they are, we of course had to head over to Zuccotti Park check out the crowds at Occupy Wall Street. I was amazed at how many people wanted to talked with these two and have their photo taken with them. At one point a group even started singing Here Comes The Bride! It was surreal. From there we headed back to the hotel for a few scenic rooftop shots of the city.
The wedding was held at Battery Gardens, a gorgeous venue in Battery Park, who took care of the catering and the amazing floral arrangements. In lieu of individual wedding favors, Amy and Josh opted to make a donation to the
Human Rights Campaign. They are both huge advocates for equality and this was their way to express their support of the newly passed Marriage Equality Act which legalized same-sex marriages in New York. I think this was such a wonderful gesture.
Their ceremony was very personal, which I always love. Instead of Amy walking down the aisle herself, the couple decided they'd rather present a unified front and come down together to the clapping of their family and friends. :) After a lovely service with vows personally written by each, they broke the glass and it was back down the aisle together to get the party started.
After an always awesome Hora (never a dull moment!), amazing dinner with delish cupcakes from
Sugar Sweet Sunshine, and lots of great toasts, the party rocked on late into the night. I also made lots of new awesome friends at the after party and the pizza was fantastic.
Thank you so much to Amy and Josh for their amazing hospitality and for sharing their most celebrated of days with me. I simply cannot tell you how much I enjoyed spending time with and getting to know you, your family and friends. I also cannot forget to thank the stupendously talented and charming
Tanya Salazar for being the very best assistant I could ask for. You rock SO hard. Thank you thank you thank you!! I must come back to visit soon and hope that if any of you ever find yourselves on this side of the continent, you give me a ring. Beers are most definitely in order.
I adore you all to pieces!!!!
xoxo
ames
