It’s been a busy July, and I am so pleased to share with you the photos from Lisamarie and Frank’s River Café wedding that I photographed last night in Brooklyn. The couple met on Match.com. In Lisamarie’s words, “He was the last date before I shot down my profile. He winked at me (online), and I still love his winks!” This was a second marriage for both Frank and Lisamarie, who said their vows earlier at Borough Hall. They decided to dispense with the formality of a full ceremony, and instead hosted an evening celebration of love, laughter, and togetherness. So let’s get into all the details in today’s blog post!
The day started at the Marriott Brooklyn Bridge. Lisamarie had requested a ‘first look’ to capture Frank’s surprise when he saw her in her dress for the first time. We had originally hoped to stage the reveal in the concierge lounge on the 26th floor of the hotel, but it was under construction. Luck was on our side, however, and one of Lisamarie’s best friends, Christine, had a room with an exquisite view of Brooklyn that certainly came in handy.
It was then a quick walk up Montague Street to the Brooklyn Promenade for some photos of the bride and groom. Frank works in downtown Brooklyn, and is a native New Yorker from pre-hipster Williamsburg. As such, photos around Brooklyn meant a lot to both Lisamarie and Frank. We started on Montague Terrace, which has in my opinion, some of the most beautiful brownstones in all of New York.
The sun was up high overhead, but we braved the heat and humidity for some lovely shots of the couple before heading to the River Café wedding reception.
Breathtaking views of the city were the theme of the evening. If you haven’t been to the River Café, you should. The food is excellent, the staff is incredibly warm, and the romantic little restaurant is situated perfectly just underneath the Brooklyn Bridge. This was my first time shooting at the restaurant, and I hope to go back to the restaurant as a ‘civilian’ to enjoy a meal without the heavy camera equipment.
The reception events included a toasts and touching first dance by Frank and Lisamarie. In lieu of the traditional cake cutting ceremony, the restaurant served a precious cake and ice cream confection in the shape of – what else? – the Brooklyn Bridge.
The evening wouldn’t be complete without dancing and a gate crasher! Yep, this was my first wedding where we had an outside visitor try and become part of the wedding party. (Trust me, this was not the party to crash, and he was promptly asked to exit.)
Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t share with you how Frank proposed to Lisamarie. Lisamarie travels for work, and was out of town quite a bit. Frank and Lisamarie missed each other and Frank asked Lisamarie for a ‘date night’: “He said it was a surprise. Frank ended up taking me to the same restaurant we went on our first date, and reserved the same exact table. Once we were seated, Frank got down on one knee proposed in front of the crowded restaurant. It was very sweet and romantic.” Indeed.
Enjoy the photos!
Do you have a River Café wedding coming up on your calendar? Drop me a line and let’s talk about your photography needs.
If you would like to see more images from my wedding photojournalism portfolio, then please visit my website – KellyWilliamsPhotographer.com
