My Wedding Day

After a year and half of planning, it was surreal to wake up on September 4th and realize that everything had come together and it was my wedding day.

Seven days before my wedding, Hurricane Irene tore through the East Coast, closing my wedding venue (Bridgewaters on the South Street Seaport) and generally wreaking havoc. The entire week following, the forecast looked like rain and generally terrible Sunday. I tried to keep positive since it seemed selfish to be upset over the possibility of rain when my wedding could have actually been cancelled a week to the day before…The only reason I honestly cared if it rained on my wedding day was the pictures, and this is the truth. The wedding was inside, the view would still be beautiful in the rain, and the cocktail hour was half covered outside, it really was a non-issue. That said, all I wanted was pictures around the West Village where I lived, outside. Literally, all I cared about. So when I woke up to a beautiful day on Sunday, everything just seemed to ‘work out’ from there.

I got ready at the hair salon I have been going to for four years, surround by friends and family. When Anthony came, my friends were all giddy since they had been stalking/enjoying his photography all year as well, and they knew how excited I was for him to capture the day. Things went relatively quickly from there, putting on the dress, taking pictures outside, and finally doing the “first look” with Michael. This definitely was something I was nervous about; I really don’t like surprises and things that appear dramatic or staged. Of course I shouldn’t have worried; I think I laughed with Anthony throughout the entire thing until I finally saw my now husband (who in true Michael style said “You look HOT.”)

The experience of taking pictures together and with our bridal party was so laid back and fun; we walked through the West Village, danced in the middle of 6th avenue…it was everything I had hoped and so “us”.

The rest of the night I barely noticed Anthony there as we partied until close to 4am, and when Anthony finally left it felt like a friend leaving our wedding. I really can’t say enough wonderful things about Anthony and his team. I might be unique in that wedding photography was one of the single most important things to me, but even if it doesn’t seem important to you, the experience of being relaxed, having fun and feeling ‘authentic’ can only make for truly amazing images. I can’t wait to see every single picture, over and over again…!