A Year Ago Today: My Wedding in Old Montreal

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I can’t believe it’s been 1 year since we tied the knot in Montreal!

Chandler and I were married in a civil ceremony in New York City in October 2010. Our parents met for the first time that morning, and then we had a lovely dinner at Del Posto in Manhatan. Chandler was my husband! It was the happiest day of my life.

Last May we did it again, but differently. We choose to have a party for all of our friends and family, this time in Montreal, where I grew up. We decided to exchange vows in front of everyone, and to dance the night away.

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When I walked down the aisle and saw Chandler standing there under our chuppah with a huge smile waiting for me, I realised how lucky I was  to have found him to love, and to love me. Seeing his handsome smile made all of the stress wash away. Chandler is attentive, generous, brilliant and funny as hell. I was going to spend the rest of my life with this incredible man, and I could not wait!

I could not stop smiling from ear to ear as I walked down the aisle towards him.

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We are so grateful to all of our friends and family who shared in our celebration and who traveled from all over the world to be there with us. We are thankful to our talented photographer and friend, Heather Waraksa who captured such brilliant moments and portraits for us at both of our weddings, and to the rest of our creative team who did such amazing work.

Thank you to our Location: Hotel Nelligan, Coordinator: Yasmine Benbarka, Floral Design: Flore, Stationery: Mr. Boddington Studio, Calligraphy: Primele, Dress: Monique L’huillier from Mark Ingram Bridal, Shoes: Kate Spade (bride) and Bruno Magli (groom), Suit: Custom Men, DJ: DJ Toddy Flores, Jewelry: The Clay Pot, Hair Accesory: Gabriella New York Bridal Salon, Makeup and Hair by Caroline Theoret and of course a special thanks goes to our dedicated and talented photographer: Heather Waraksa, for capturing our memories so beautifully!

Special thanks to Chandler’s best man and photog Michael T. Regan for shooting 4 of the above awesome dance floor and group shots of our friends. We love your Leica images, Mike!

Thank you as well to Style Me Pretty for featuring both of our weddings on your gorgeous blog. You may see that feature here.

Snowy New York Wedding at Per Se

There is nothing so wonderful as being asked to photograph a wedding for an elegant couple at one of the best restaurants in New York City. In late October, during a fluke snowstorm, I had the pleasure of photographing an intimate affair Thomas Keller’s Per Se.

Here are some of my favorite details from that day:

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Creative Team:

Event Planner: Ang Weddings and Events
Florist: Rountree Flowers
Venue: Per Se
Getting Ready Hotel: Mandarin Oriental
Makeup: Lindsey Jones Makeup Artistry
Wedding Dress: Jason Wu
Shoes: Gucci
Menu, Escort cards: Ellen Weldon Design
Table Signs: DIY

I’m also thrilled to see this wedding featured on The Bride’s Cafe today. To see the post click here.

Chapati, Chutney and Chai

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One of my favorite style of food is Indian. The colors, aromas and flavors of the ingredients used are so excellent. I love the chutneys, chapati and naan, mango lassis and chai to name a few.

I recently had the pleasure of photographing for a new Indian restaurant of a former wedding client of mine. The restaurant is called Greene Chutney Grill and it’s located in Jersey City, NJ. These photos will be displayed in their windows and on their walls in the coming weeks.

Thank you so much to Alison Attenborough for your styling expertise.

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Modern Winter Styled Photo Shoot

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In January, I had the pleasure of participating in a modern winter styled wedding photo shoot here in Brooklyn. It took place at a gorgeous mansion in Clinton Hill owned by an interior designer and her husband.

The film stock I used to create the above photos was Kodak's Portra 400, which in the New York provides me with the richness and color saturation I love. I used mostly natural daylight on this shoot.

Below I list the whole creative team involved.

And here is the documentary video made by Love in Progress about our process while at work!

Modern Winter Styled Shoot

 

Event Planning + Event Design: Ang Weddings and Events
Flowers + Event Design: Rountree Flowers
Catering + Dessert Table: Naturally Delicious (Naturally Delicious is the exclusive caterer of the venue)
Paper Goods: Regas
Makeup: Lindsey Jones
Cinematographer: Love in Progress
Venue: Brooklyn Historic Mansion (email: 280Washington@gmail.com)
Dress: Angelo Lambrou via Gabriella New York Bridal Salon
Shoes: Aruna Seth
Headpiece: Sara Gabriel
Clutch: Moyna Handbags
Jewelry: Paris via Mark Ingram Atelier
Suit: Duncan Quinn
Grey Bridesmaid Dress: 57 Grand
Green Bridesmaid Dress: Anthropologie
Rentals: Broadway Party Rentals
Couple: Abbi Crutchfield + Luke Thayer (both comedians/models and both really married to each other!)

We're also very excited our photo shoot was featured on Style Me Pretty today!!

Link to Style Me Pretty

Favorite Wedding Images from Last Year

Some of my favorite wedding images from last year… Good bye 2011, hello 2012. Here’s to an awesome holiday and a healthy, happy and prosperous year ahead! xoxo

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You may click on these links to see more photos from these weddings and my trips. Thank you for sticking around!

Lindsey + Brian get married at Smack Mellon Gallery in Brooklyn. Working with Nine Cakes and Blossom and Branch is always inspiring!

Karen retreats to Barbados before her own big day!

Veronica & Nick tie the knot at the new Trump Soho hotel. I loved working with Fleurs Floral and Event Design on this beautiful wedding day.

Janelle & Tim’s vineyard wedding in Pismo, California was breathtaking with stunning views of the rocky coastline.

 

Published in San Francisco Brides Magazine

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I'm excited to be featured in the new issue of San Francisco Brides Magazine this month!

These still lifes are from Emily and Grady's wedding at the New York Botanical Garden in June. This gorgeous wedding was planned by Stellina Events and the florals were designed by Rountree Flowers.

You may see more of my photos from Emily and Grady's NYBG wedding here.

Image of the Month: Bucks County Farm

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What a refreshing change to spend a weekend in the country!

In late October, we drove to Bucks County, Pennsylvania for our 1st wedding anniversary. Hiking, dinner in quaint Lambertville, and antique store browsing in historic New Hope was the perfect retreat.

Our B&B was on a farm with sheep, chicken and fresh eggs. This image of the month was taken of our friendly neighbor.
 
You may see more of my travel photography under places on my Food and Art website.
 
Happy Thanksgiving!
 
Karen

Highlands Country Club Wedding

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It was a pleasure getting to know Rachel and Kelley at their wedding, what a wonderful couple!

This wedding was featured recently on Style Me Pretty blog. You may see the post here.

In the feature, Rachel recounts:

When Kelley proposed, I had received a promotion at work (I worked in HR at a hedge fund in Connecticut), it was my 28th birthday, and our 2 year anniversary.  We had so much to celebrate, I didn’t think a proposal was coming even when Kelley surprised me with lunch at Per Se.  He knew I would want to have a say in the design of my engagement ring, so he gave me a simple gold ring on a necklace.  I didn’t figure out he was proposing until I read the engraving “Will you marry me” on the inside of the ring.  That ring is now my wedding band.

When we were planning the wedding, we wanted everything to be elegant but comfortable at the same time.  Where we could, we included our local favorites and sentimental details from our relationship.  The wedding and reception were at the country club attached to our favorite restaurant in the area, The Tavern at the Highlands Country Club.  The favors were burnt caramel and Hawaiian sea salt truffles from a chocolate shop in our town.  The invitations and all of the paper goods were custom made by my friend Misako, who owns the paper company, To You From Me.  Kelley and I share a love for wine, so both the invitations and the flowers included vines. 

I studied photography at Cornell, so the other aspect that was really important was that we have good quality photos.  I came across our photographer, Karen Wise, through a friend.  I fell in love with her documentary style, which went with the relaxed feel of the wedding.  She also uses medium format film, which is impossible to find, and the photos made everything look that much better.  The wedding was not only gorgeous, but incredibly touching and great fun!

More of their artistic team:

Floral Design: Engaging Floral Designs / Band: Miracle via IGMC / Venue: The Highlands Country Club / Coordinator: Adrienne Madama / Stationery: To You From Me, Misako Rothery / Wedding Dress: Priscilla of Boston / Favors: Bittersweets

One year ago today we said, “I Do”

Happy 1st Anniversary to Chandler, the love of my life….. xoxo

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It was one year ago today that Chandler and I said "I Do" before a judge and our families as witnesses :)

Photos by Heather Waraksa

Flowers by Saipua

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