+ Amanda & Steven: Fairy tale in Staten Island

 

wedding date: May 28, 2016

 

A few months ago, I had the absolute pleasure of photographing Amanda and Steven for some fun engagement photos. (Click here to view!) They were such a joy to work with, and we were all super excited for their official May wedding! Well, it finally came! And it was so, sooo beautiful to be a part of. Rather than photograph preparation photos, we decided to meet and plan a "first look" at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden of Staten Island. If you've never been - you need to go! It is full of gorgeous, scenic areas to explore. We captured their first glimpse of each other all dressed up by a big, beautiful old tree in a secluded and quaint area of the park. It was wonderful to see their faces as hearts and stars were shooting out of their eye! It was a terribly hot and humid day, so we quickly tried to capture as many portraits of them in the park, taking advantage of the shade as much as possible. Despite the heat, they were both still adorably fun to work with, so photographing them was a breeze! We then headed over to Nansen Park for the ceremony and reception. It was an intimate gathering of friends and family, and Amanda and Steven said their "I do's" outdoors, amidst tall trees, a slowly setting sun, and a lovely gazebo. The reception was also semi-outdoors under a canopied space and filled with hanging lights. The couple and guests danced all night, and the vibe was full of good energy, laughs, and love. I'm thrilled to share with you some highlights from Amanda and Steven's beautiful wedding...