I’m a huge fan of New York City’s culture, idiosyncrasies, and history, so I jumped with excitement when Adriana and Stephen came to me with their wedding in New York’s iconic Russian Tea Room, which has connections to Adriana’s family. Of course, most excitement came from Adriana and Stephen themselves, and how fun they were to work with.
When I asked Adriana what was most important to her while planning the wedding, she said (and I swear this isn’t a paid advertisement), “Booking our photographer!” Stephen wanted to become a wedding photographer himself in part from seeing my work, which is one of the biggest compliments I could possibly get. Adriana reached out to me the day after they got engaged, and kept it as a surprise to Stephen for a while. “I wasn’t above planning our wedding around your schedule. Anything to lock you in!”
As avid photographers themselves, it might not be a surprise that the photos were one of their favorite parts. When planning weddings, I know the thought of mid-reception photos isn’t for everyone, since it takes a few minutes away from valuable action. But for some couples, it’s a perfect time to actually see and talk to your new partner amidst all the chaos. “It was so wonderful to just be able to steal a moment away and go off without anyone knowing where we went (or realizing we were gone) so we could enjoy some time alone and take more photos.” She also fondly remembers her brothers — Ken, who officiated, and Adam, who “sobbed like a baby during my dance with my dad – it was super sweet.”
Family appears prominently in their memories. Stephen remembers Adriana’s sister having a brief but “extremely intense” show of emotion at the wedding. “(She’s not one to ever really show emotion – so it was amazing!)”
Florist: Columbia Florist
Band/DJ: DJ Bex
Makeup/Hair: Selvije Ndreshaj – Roots Salon
Dress designer: Allure Bridals
Officiant: Ken Biberaj
Gluten-free, dairy-free Cake: Emily Lael Aumiller from Lael Cakes
