Sarah & Adrian were married on October 11th, 2015 at Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven, CT. Here we are a few months later and I still cry when I look at these photos. No joke. This big bearded and tattooed softy totally breaks down and gets all emotional. Especially at wedding ceremonies! I remember this ceremony being particularly tear jerking. But we will get back to that in a little while.
The day started off at “The Study” in New Haven. This is where Adrian, Sarah, their families and friends got ready for the big day. This is one of the nicest and most unique hotels I have ever been to! Especially for wedding photography. If you are a bride or groom planning your upcoming nuptials and your wedding will be in the New Haven area, I highly recommend you check this place out. If you read my previous blog posts you know how I feel about having two photographers on a wedding day. They are essential to capturing the many important moments of the day, such as the preparation portion of the day. My second shooter for the day was Steve Walter of Steve Walter Photo. It was a real treat having Steve tag along that day. Between the two of us we were able to be in two places at once and capture the beginning of both the bride and groom’s day!
Once everyone was all dressed up and looking their very best, we headed over to Lighthouse Point Park. Only a stones throw away! First order of business was…the “FIRST LOOK”! For those of you who have never heard of the first look, here is what it is in a nutshell.
A First Look is when a bride and groom see each other before the wedding ceremony. This is done alone, away from your wedding party, and it is a moment shared by just the two of you.
Some of you may be saying, “But Bill, Doesn’t that break tradition and ruin the suspense?” Well yes…and no! There are pros and cons to doing the first look and I will definitely be writing a blog post just about the topic. But to keep it short so I don’t go way off topic I will give you the reasons why Sarah and Adrian decided to do their first look. They wanted to enjoy some of their cocktail hour with their guests. By doing the first look they opened up the possibility of doing all of the bridal party, family, and couples portraits pre-ceremony, all while still having that special moment together where they see each other for the first time that day! Only difference is its a bit earlier, and they are alone. (Besides me, of course.) What’s better than that?!
Ok, back to my tears. Sarah and Adrian’s ceremony was so beautiful. For October it was a very nice day to be on the beach and a perfect day for a wedding. The ceremony was officiated by their friends, which made it that much more personal. They read each other custom written vows. That is when my face started to leak, but only because Adrian started to cry first! There is something about a groom crying tears of joy that hits me right in the feels, every single time. I will always remember their ceremony as one of the most touching moments of my career as a wedding photographer.
The rest of the night was a serious party. There was an unbelievable amount of energy in the room. Aaron, Disk Jockey extraordinaire, from Pryme Tyme Entertainment provided the tunes and kept the electricity flowing all night long. It was a night that would take anyone’s breath away. I could literally go on and on about how much I love this couple. I wish them many years of happiness, laughter, and love. It was a perfect day for a perfect couple.
Photography: Fritz Photography
2nd Shooter/Assistant: Steve Walter Photo
DJ/Music Entertainment: Pryme Tyme Entertainment
Hotel: The Study at Yale
Reception Venue: Lighthouse Point Park – New Haven, CT
Make sure you scroll down to the very bottom to see my pre-wedding interview with the bride & groom!
• How did you and your fiance meet?
Many famous people have traveled through New Haven. We are not those people, but that is the city where our paths first crossed. It was a beautiful fall weekend, and we both spent our Saturday night at a mutual friend’s house party. We met in combat…first, over the cheese plate, as we both reached for the jalapeno cheddar, and then again later, as we dueled it out across a ping pong table. She an editor in New York, he a medical student at Yale, together an unstoppable team. (Though for the record, she beat him to the cheese AND shut him down in beer pong.)
• How long were you and your fiance together & what was the length of your engagement?
We were together for about three years at the time of our engagement, and we were engaged for one year (almost to the day!). We can’t think of anything funny to say here, except that he suspects he waited too long to propose.
• How did you know that he was THE ONE for you?
Adrian: One day, I watched her transport a small red tomato in the pocket of her summer dress. At one point, she took out the tomato, held it up to her face, and kissed it because it was so cute. This was a tomato. So I guess you could say I fell in love with her gentle, caring nature (and her weirdness).
Sarah: Very shortly after we started dating, it happened to be his birthday. I gave him a small gift, and he sent me a HAND-WRITTEN THANK YOU CARD IN THE MAIL. This was 2011, people. No one did that anymore. His thoughtfulness and consideration has only grown from there.
• Tell us about the proposal!
There was an elaborate ruse (he got her college roommates to pretend they were coming for a visit in order to get her to take the day off from work). There was suspense (he cooked her breakfast and hoped she wouldn’t know something was up). There was surprise (“Your college friends aren’t coming! It was all a lie!”). There was happiness (he proposed! Then she proposed back!). There was food (rich, delicious French food, to be exact). There was family (another surprise – both sets of parents came to celebrate! More lies!). There was engagement (a year long, and what a fun and happy year it has been).
And now, there will be a majorly fun party celebrating their love!
• Describe your wedding day style in one sentence.
Ye olde purple. Any and every shade possible.
• Where did you get your dress?
BHLDN – a wonderful source for (more) affordable, bohemian, unique wedding dresses.