Amber and Brendan ~ Fire Island Wedding

The 10 day forecast did not look good, nor did the morning of the wedding. Rain on any wedding day is not great, but rain on a beach wedding day I think is even worse. Luckily we had a weather miracle that day, not only was it dry, but the weather was so dramatic it made for incredible lighting! I could not have wished for better weather! We felt so lucky that day, not only for the weather, but also to have been chosen by such a fun, sweet and loving couple to document their wedding day!



The children of Fire Island are wonderful entrepreneurs! On wedding days they create shells with appropriate messages that people from the wedding cant help but buy!





I love this picture of Amber and Brendan, they both have beautifully colored eyes. Here Amber and Brendan are enjoying their cocktail party before their wedidng, a new and popular tend in weddings.



Amber shot from above at the cocktail party. Love it!



Amber is walked down the sand by her Aunt.









Married!!



















Amber and Brendan's wedding was held at The Fire Island Hotel in Ocean Bay Park. A great little place full of charm and character and right on the ocean.

Congratulations Amber and Brendan! We wish you a lifetime of love and happiness!!

A Fire Island Family

Remember this little guy from above?

Well this year I got the honor of photographing him again! This year he could walk, and well, when a little boy can walk they know how to walk away too! Although it would be great if the little people were not walking away, I always love the honestly of a child. So at the times the light was as perfect as could be, yet he had no interest - walk away. At the times Mom and Dad were ready with big smiles - walk away!

I love this challenge in both photography and teaching, every age group has its charms and its obstacles! This year it was definitely Cole calling the shots, but you know what, in the end he lead us to some great shots! Thanks Cole!



This year I brought a little prop. Fire Island is famous for its iconic red wagons and right before the shoot I noticed that my husband had this mini one that he used for change! We washed it out and Cole loved it!



Mama love!



Here Cole took his favorite doggy for a wagon stroll!



We at least got a few family shots in, you 3 are gorgeous!



Although he is walking away, I just love it!



And if you wait patiently you might get a look back.



Father and son.



Mother and son.



The precious little feet that I followed....



...that lead us to this. Incredible, a Mama deer and her baby arrived on the beach at sunset for a stroll. Cole was watching them as intently as they were watching him. It was such a sweet moment, and oh so Fire Island!



Thank you so much for once again allowing me to capture a slice of your life at the beach! Cole, you're an amazing kid and your parents are amazing too! After the session we all sat down to a glass of wine, sippy cup for Cole, all shoots should end on that note!

Gina and Louie

Live statues, tons of hugs and kisses, dancing galore- Gina and Louie's engagement party- easily one of the best parties we have ever photographed!!





































Gina and Louie we wish you a life time of love and happiness and singing to each other!!!

Julie and Matt's Wedding

Julie and Matt had one of the most unique engagement stories (he proposed to her during spin class...) I have ever heard and I was thrilled that their wedding was just as unique and spontaneous!

The day of the wedding I headed out to spend the morning with Julie and her 4 sisters and her other bridesmaids getting ready. During that time Greg spent the morning with Matt and the men...although I think they spent less time getting ready and more time hanging out!











Julie's family church- right out of a fairy tale! It was amazing!





As a photographer there are moments you know are going to happen during a wedding ceremony. You don't know when, so you have to wait for them. Then there are other moments in between, ones that spontaneously happen, and if they are captured, it is pure photo joy.

The above is one of those moments. It happened so fast and I only knew I had captured it when I got home and uploaded the pictures. As the priest was talking about Matt and Julie and their love for each other, Matt lifted Julie's hand and kissed it. It was so romantic and touching and I am thrilled to have gotten this moment frozen in time for their future enjoyment and sharing.



Married!



After the ceremony, Julie, Matt and I stole away from the crowds and headed to a rose garden. This garden was so delightful, but is more than just pretty flowers. This garden is also where Julie's parents had their wedding pictures taken.






Afterward, we left for the John Edwards' Winery where every detail was perfect! Guests enjoyed a cocktail hour amongst the vineyards, during which time I again got to take some shots of Julie and Matt against yet another beautiful location.







Julie and Matt headed back to join their guests and to start their reception.

Please notice below, another unique detail was added- but this one was not planned...an exquisite rainbow appeared in the sky and seemed to land right on the location of the reception!! ( it rained elsewhere, thank you mother nature )





There were many fantastic speeches during the reception. From the best man, the father of the bride, the father of the groom, and even Matt himself-but this one struck a special chord with me. Julie's sisters and cousin reflected on how when they were growing up in a household of girls that they would play a game pretending to be grown ups. And here they were now all grown up- doing for real what they had so often pretended to do.





Julie here was clapping as Matt's cousin sang a self written song about love...or was it when Julie's little sisters performed a Irish step dance? Either way, more unique details- family members expressing their happiness and love for Matt and Julie with touching performances.



One of the younger reception guests!



Oh and the conga line- this wedding had one of the best!!







Matt taking one of his many BIG squeezes of his new wife!





A tradition in Julie's family- a little air guitar on the leg! This couple here, Meghan and Joey are next in line to get married!



And nothing states a great time better than kicking the shoes off and dancing the night away!



The final hug and squeeze of the evening- at least for the camera! Congratulations to Julie and Matt and your families, your wedding was amazing and surely will be a memorable one for all who attended!