The best part about a Battery Gardens Wedding—pedestrians can stop and watch you declare your love!
Dane’s brother showed so much love during his speech.
Dane & Carolyn’s Battery Gardens wedding took place on a warm October afternoon in NYC.
Dane grew up in South Africa and recently came over to the United States, where he met Carolyn, a native New Yorker. Dane’s closest friends and family flew all the way from South Africa. Many of them had never been to the US before!
Dane and Carolyn wanted to take pictures in DUMBO, Brooklyn, in addition to Battery Park. After getting ready at their apartment (which had an amazing view of the Brooklyn Bridge from the roof,) we took the short trip to the bridge. We then headed to the wedding ceremony and reception at the Battery Garden’s Restaurant in the financial district.
Battery Gardens Wedding Vendors
Photographer: Tom Schelling Photography
Venue: Battery Gardens Restaurant
Florals: Masters and Co.
Cake: Peter Pan Doughnuts
Bride’s Dress: KittyChen Couture
Groom’s Suit: Bonobos
DJ: Hank Lane Music
Makeup / Hair: Beauty by Leeat
Bride’s Shoes: Adrianna Papell
Invitations: Invitations and Beyond
Rings: Zales Emerald
Are you thinking about taking photographs in DUMBO, for your wedding? You might be interested in this article:
When it comes to Brooklyn wedding venues, few spots beat the W Loft Hotel for a beautiful rooftop view of that incredible New York City skyline. The glass walls all around the reception space will make sure your guests enjoy the view all night long. An added bonus is it also will protect you from the elements incase it rains!
Newly renovated and located in the heart of Williamsburg, this intimate wedding venue has easy access to the roof (for an incredibly photogenic ceremony). The roof access is located right next to the receptions space, so guests can easily switch between the two locations. The bring your own vendor approach means once you rent the space, you’re able to style the wedding you want down to the last detail.
I worked together with To The Nines Events and other talented vendors on this beautiful styled session to help give you inspiration when wedding planning. Enjoy!
The view from the roof of the W Loft Hotel. The entrance to the roof is located right next to the reception space. This gives you and your guests easy access!
Big beautiful windows means lots of natural light—perfect for photographs!
Gorgeous ceremony florals provided by FDK Floral.
Have your ceremony outdoors, with the NYC skyline as your backdrop!
Beautiful sunsets over the NYC skyline means you don’t need to travel too far from your guests to take amazing photographs.
W Loft Wedding Vendors
Photographer: Tom Schelling Photography
Planner: To the Nines Events
Venue: The W Loft
Bride’s Dress: The Law Bridal
Florals: FDK Florals
Cake: Wild Flour NYC
Makeup & Hair: Samantha Agostino
Interested in more NYC Wedding Inspiration? You might like these:
Battery Garden’s Wedding | Dane & Carolyn
DUMBO, Brooklyn Wedding Adventure | Arleny & Daniel
5 Tips for Amazing Wedding Photos in DUMBO, Brooklyn
I’m excited to share this Adirondack Elopement (featuring newlyweds Hannah and Sam) in the Adirondack Mountains.
This wedding was styled by Lacy Geary and orchestrated by Mary Dougherty. Every detail was breathtaking.
On the day of the wedding, we began before dawn. After driving down to Saranc Lake, we rowed out toward a small remote island. It was an intimate spot for the wedding ceremony!
We took lots of photographs as the sun rose. Because we started early in the morning, we were able to catch the beautiful sunrise light—it was the perfect way to start the morning.
Hannah & Sam’s invitation.
How gorgeous is this stunning bouquet by Fern Croft?
The island where the ceremony was held.
An intimate ceremony with just Hannah, Sam, and their friend and officiant Staci.
Hannah and Sam changed after the ceremony and we headed to the Lake Placid Lodge. The waterfront reception consisted of only a handful of guests to keep things intimate.
I seriously don’t think these two could be happier together.
Cheers to an amazing day!
Hannah & Sam’s Adirondack Elopement Vendors
Host: Mary Dougherty
Design, Create Direction & Fashion Styling: Lacy Geary
Photographs: Tom Schelling Photography
Venue: Lake Placid Lodge
Videography: Live Oak Films
Bride’s Dress: L’eto Bridal
Bride’s Shoes: Bella Belle Shoes
Florals: Fern Croft
Hair & Makeup: The Luminous Bride
Calligraphy: Layers of Loveliness
Are you interested in planning an adventure elopement? If so here are a few tips!
Nicole and Joe’s wedding at The Village Club at Lake Success (with photos taken at The Hempstead House in Sands Point) took place on a beautiful spring day. Nicole and Joe had such great chemistry together. Look how in love they look in every photograph!
Here’s a funny story for you. Their wedding planner, Pejy, was actually a friend of mine from a past job! We didn’t even know that we would be working together again (this time in a different setting) until a few months before the event. Needless to say, Pejy did an incredible job with the decor.
Congratulations Nicole and Joe and thank you for letting me play such an important part on your wedding day.
A double exposure of Nicole and her flowers as she was getting ready.
Nicole’s dad see’s his daughter for the first time. So much love in this photo!
I love the way Joe is looking at Nicole here.
The Village Club at Lake Success Wedding Vendors
Photographer: Tom Schelling Photography
Video: Project 8
Planner:Pejy Kash Events
Venue: The Village Club at Lake Success
Florals: United Floral Co.
Catering: Luxe Staffing and Events
Bride’s Dress: Anna B
Groom’s Tuxedo:Forresto Tuxedo
DJ: Bravura Entertainment
Limo Services: Camelot Transportation
Invitations: Fairy Tale Affairs
Interested in more NY Wedding Inspiration? You might like these:
Battery Garden’s Wedding | Dane & Carolyn
Did you know that on your wedding day, you may end up spending more time with your photographer than your family (or even your fiancé 😳)?
Wedding photography is unique in that it’s an active part of your wedding day. Unlike other vendors who do most of their work behind the scenes, your photographer will be frequently interacting with the people closest to you.
His or her personality and style will have a big impact on the overall energy and mood of your day.
Not only do you deserve beautiful images, you also deserve an amazing photographic experience!
Here, the 3 most important traits to look for in your wedding photographer.
1. They understand your wedding vision
The best photographer for you totally gets your style and expectations.
It helps to find someone who has a similar vibe to what you’re looking for—who understands that you might not want overly posed or traditional photographs, for example, but rather a more candid and natural feel.
It’s also important to find someone who really takes the time to learn your values to personalize your experience.
They should be a resource for you as you plan, helping you craft the perfect photography timeline and giving you tips on how to look amazing in your photographs.
One of the ways I do this for the couples I work with is by providing them with a questionnaire. In it, I ask specific questions that both relate to the details surrounding their wedding as well as the atmosphere they are trying to create.
With that knowledge, I’m able to approach their wedding with an open mind and in a way that aligns with their vision (such an important part of feeling relaxed in front of the camera is that trust!).
2. They’re supportive and encouraging
It’s almost like they’re part of your bride (or groom) tribe
You’ll see pretty quickly that having a photographer who’s part of your support system before, during and after your wedding day makes a world of difference.
I often joke with the couples I work with that my goal is to be like an extra bridesmaid or groomsmen by the end of their wedding (but don’t worry, there’s no need to invite me to your bachelor/bachelorette party 😂).
For me, it’s so important that I’m available to answer questions, give wedding-planning advice and be there when you need me!
Planning a wedding is not easy (we know firsthand: Heather and I are in the process of planning one ourselves!), and I’ll use my experience to help you with planning any way I can.
They help you create a timeline
Another sign that a photographer wants you to have the best experience is when they work through your timeline with you to figure out the general flow of the day.
This saves you from unnecessary stress—that way you can focus on enjoying the moment (because, hey, isn’t that what your wedding is all about anyway?).
In that same questionnaire I send to the couples I work with, I ask for the locations and times for the major events surrounding their wedding.
With that knowledge, we can work together to craft a timeline that allows you to take amazing photographs and also be present during the day.
They’re sensitive to family dynamics
A great photographer will have a system in play to capture all of the must-have family combinations while making sure to avoid accidentally creating any awkward family dynamics.
Although I generally don’t work off of a physical shot list on the day of the wedding (I have a mental shot list of what I need to capture), I’ll use one when photographing the families.
This ensures we don’t miss any combinations and we’re able to set the proper amount of time beforehand for family pictures.
Once you and your photographer have created a rock-solid timeline, next it’s about actually taking great pictures.
3. Your wedding photographer puts you at ease
Even if you’re not super comfortable in front of the camera (there’s few of us that are!), it’s your photographer’s job to make you feel comfortable so you appear relaxed—and you look like you.
Many of the couples I work with tell me they have two main concerns:
- They want their pictures to have a candid, behind-the-scenes feel and not look stiff or overly posed.
- They want to make sure their photographer isn’t rude to their family and friends and is easy to get along with on their wedding day.
That’s why helping you to feel comfortable is my top priority.
They value making an authentic connection with you
I’ve found that simply learning about you and your fiancé as people, not just as clients, is the best way to tackle those two concerns at once.
That is why I prefer to do a video chat or meet in person instead of a regular phone call when discussing your wedding details, and why I always recommend doing an engagement session before your wedding if possible.
Having that time to chat and really connect is the best way to ensure you feel comfortable in front of the camera. This naturally leads to authentic, candid-looking images.
It should be fun working with them!
A great photographer will feel more like a wedding guest than just another vendor.
(Remember, they’ll be frequently interacting with the people closest to you.)
You want them to be a calm and uplifting anchor, not a cause for unnecessary stress.
As the famous photographer Alfred Eisenstadt said, “It is more important to click with people than to click the shutter.”
This mantra is a core value of what I do and a necessity to capture images that don’t feel stiff or forced.
More than anything, you’ll remember how they made you feel
Often we connect images with how we felt when they were being taken.
Think for a second about a photograph that has a lot of meaning to you.
It is the most professional of photographs?
Most likely not.
That’s because truly great photographs take us back to a moment in the past and allow us to ever so briefly relive it.
If your photographer is pushy, aggressive, stressed out or just plain old unkind, it doesn’t matter how beautiful the images are.
Years after your wedding, when you look back at those photographs, you’re going to remember how you felt when those photographs were being taken.
Though a beautiful photograph can make that memory that much more special, the most important thing is that you find a photographer whose goal is to make beautiful images *and* ensure that you feel amazing as they’re being taken.
These three skills—aligning with your vision, being an uplifting source and putting you at ease—are at the core of why I became a wedding photographer in the first place.
Do these values resonate with you? If so, I’d love to hear more about your wedding. Let’s chat and see if we’d be a good fit!
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@TOMSCHELLINGPHOTO
Destination Wedding Photographer based in NYC & Southern California
