While I certainly love the couples I photograph, part of the perk of being a Brooklyn NYC wedding photographer is the huge variety of unique wedding venues to shoot in. One of my favorite venues for NYC wedding photography is the Metropolitan Building in Long Island City, Queens. This is an intimate wedding venue, with antique furnishings and vintage pieces for a truly incredible backdrop for a wedding.
Marina & Greg were a wonderful couple to shoot! I focused on capturing their love as well as the environment and setting around them. We also managed to make it to the nearby Gantry Park for some portraits. The NYC skyline provided the perfect backdrop. As a Brooklyn wedding photographer, I love working with fun couples and in unique venues such as this!
From the Bride....
From the second Greg and I got engaged in the intimate setting of Greg’s parent’s backyard with only our dog Harley as our witness, we knew that we wanted to plan a wedding that was just as intimate and a representation of us as the proposal itself. We had been dating for a little over three years by the time Greg proposed and I had never previously thought about what kind of wedding I was going to have. With the help of pinterest, Style Me Pretty, and the wonderful but dangerous tool which is the internet, Greg and I set out to plan the party of our lives, to celebrate the love, respect and admiration that we have for one another.
The first and most important task was to locate the venue. Oddly enough, this did not take long as we fell in love with the first venue we saw. A co-worker of mine, who got married the previous year, listened to me go on and on about not wanting a hotel or a catering hall wedding and immediately suggested the Metropolitan Building. It was love at first sight. The Metropolitan Building, with its shabby chic style and a mystical romantic ambiance, spoke to us and we knew this was the place for us. It was different and unique and showcased our love for antiques. Going antique shopping had become one of our favorite pastimes and to incorporate this into our wedding was an unexpected treat. Not to mention, I couldn’t wait to see our wedding photos since the Metropolitan Building serves as a spectacular backdrop for any photo shoot.
Once the venue and date were set, we started to focus on everything else – the wedding planner, the photographer, the florist, the music, the stationary, etc. I was able to find Kate of Green Apple Weddings and Events and Melanie (florist) by combing the internet and seeing their incredible work. I could not have planned such a spectacular event without these two ladies. Kate was my organizer and sounding board while Melanie was my artist who painted with the most beautiful flower arrangements. The pink, white and orange flowers coupled with the candelabras turned the Metropolitan Building into a magical wonderland.
I struggled with the decision of whether to hire both a photographer and videographer or just a photographer. I happen to have attended high school with a very talented photographer. I would stalk his facebook page and blog in anticipation of seeing his recently posted photographs. I was ecstatic when he agreed to shoot my wedding! Boris’ shots not only tell a phenomenal story but also evoke emotion more than any other photos that I have ever seen.
The two things which did not come easy to me were the invitations and the wedding dress. It took me several months to narrow down the perfect invitation from Bella Figura, suitable for the space and the occasion. As for the wedding dress, I ended up buying two dresses. If there is any piece of advice that I would give a soon to be bride, it would be to take her time picking her wedding dress. Many factors can sway a bride’s decision – pressure from family members, pressure from store clerk, price, etc. It is important to take your time and not to make any haste decisions. In my search for the perfect wedding dress, I tried on dresses ranging from $900 to $14,000. My initial purchase was a body hugging mermaid dress which fit my figure and looked beautiful but unfortunately after much thought and consideration I realized that it wasn’t formal enough. I then started trying on A-line dresses, which I never previously considered. It is very important for brides to try on different wedding dress styles since you never know what dress you will fall in love with. Keep an open mind and keep looking. Don’t ever settle for a dress you are not sure about. My second dress was perfect for the space and for me. It was a dropped A-line which showed off my figure and had the ballroom style skirt. I also opted for a light cream/champagne colored dress as opposed to white.
Once the invitations were sent and the dress was found, I turned my attention to the bridal party and more particularly, the bridesmaid dresses. I wanted my bridesmaids to all be dressed in vintage-style dress but I also wanted all of the bridesmaids to be in different dresses to accent their individuality. We decided to all go shopping at the local department stores and we were able to find the perfect set of dresses – all in cool silver, blue and purple tones. At first I was not sure how it would turn out but now looking back at the photos, I could not have been happier with their choices. And not to mention, the bridesmaids can now easily wear their gowns to other events!
Oftentimes, I was consumed by the minor details which I was told repeatedly that no one would notice. Nevertheless, I spent a significant amount of time picking out the hand calligraphed escort cards, creating fun and playful programs, designing the custom napkins, and putting together the wedding favors. I think in the end it all paid off.
Photography: Boris Zaretsky | Event Planning: Green Apple Weddings | Floral Design: Melarosa - Melanie Cirulnick | Wedding Dress: Morilee By Madeline Gardner - AF Couture | Invitations: Bella Figura | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Calvin Klein | Catering: Maia Pearl Catering | Hair And Makeup:Gorgeous Bride NY | DJ: Duane Harriott | Bow Tie: Le Noeud Papillon | Groom's Attire: Tallia | Groomsmen Attire: Men's Wearhouse (Calvin Klein) | Wedding Venue: Metropolitan Building | Bridal Robe: Linea Donatella | Bridesmaid Robes: Victoria Secret | Bride’s Bracelet/Jewelry: Nadri From Nordstrom | Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin | Cake And Cupcakes: Baked NYC | Cufflinks: Men’s Wearhouse | Groomsmen Gifts: Personalized Cigar Holder And Flask | Groom’s Shoes: Prada | Love Sign: Handmade By Bride And Groom | Menus/Table Numbers/Escort Cards/Programs: Lion In The Sun | Portrait Location: Gantry Park | Save The Dates: Checkerboard Ltd.