Wedding at Cipriani 42nd Street NYC
Photography by Maring Visuals
There are few iconic wedding spaces in NYC that are as grand and notable as Cipriani 42nd Street in Manhattan. So, we were excited when we had the opportunity to sit down with Helen to discuss the over the top lavish wedding she was planning in true New York style. Helen was a lovely, beautiful, and fashionable bride to be so we knew right from the get go that Maring would be a perfect fit for such a wedding of distinction.
“Boudoir photography can be elegant, fun, and fashionable in the eye of the right photographer. Consider a session with multiple outfits... For instance keep a couple of outfits soft and light in color, and others dark and edgy. By blending the two looks together you can make a sugar and spice book that showcases many sensual sides of your personality making it a fashionable and fun experience.”
Boudoir photography can be sexy, but also fun, flirty, and fashionable with the right photographers
A few months prior to the event we started to talk about a pre-wedding boudoir photo shoot, and Helen was all in because she trusted that this would be a once in a lifetime opportunity to create a special, and one of kind, gift for the groom. While brides can plan a quick boudoir session on the wedding day itself, it's much more fun and smart to create these images in advance. It also opens up the door to creative products and gift opportunities. In this case we created a gorgeous small and intimate leather bound sugar and spice book for the groom with a variety of fashionable outfits.
GETTING READY MOMENTS
As the wedding day came we, as the photographers and filmmakers, arrived at the bride and groom's houses on Long Island about an hour, plus drive time, prior to the ceremony. As luck would have it, the two lived in close proximity to one another so our team was able to split up, yet drive together which is always great when there are multiple locations to get to for a city wedding. This was the perfect amount of time to capture a few getting ready moments prior to slipping on the dress for the bride and tuxedo of the groom.
THE WEDDING CEREMONY
The bride arrived at the church in a vintage Rolls Royce, and the wedding party were all in a limo bus. This was a smart move on the part of the bride and groom as it kept everyone together the entire day. The ceremony took place at The Cathedral of Saint Paul in Hempstead, NY. It's a Greek Orthodox church and it's about as beautiful as any church we have ever photographed in. The ministers were welcoming, and we were able to discretely capture a multitude of angles. It is however a dark church, so it's key to have a photographer with prime lenses in this situation. If we didn't have the best quality glass, we wouldn't have been able to capture these moments the way we did.
WEDDING PORTRAITS
“WEDDING TIP... Some parks and other areas of Manhattan require a permit for wedding photography, such is the case with the Central Park Conservatory Garden. Make sure to look into this, especially if you are bringing large groups. Also if your photographer or video artist plans to use tripods and lighting gear on stands, they aren’t permitted without a permit. Being in the know assures you aren’t caught off guard.”
After the ceremony we all met at The Central Park Conservatory Garden for portraits. Helen and Michael had gotten a permit for us to photograph here. It's a lovely location for wedding portraits. Flowers are in abundance, there are fountains, park benches, and just about anything you could wish for as a backdrop for elegant photographs. Their bridal party joined us, which allowed us to get some of the group portraits out of the way.
WEDDING RECEPTION
After portraits, which lasted about 20-30 minutes we all headed over to Cipriani arriving about 45 minutes before guests. This was perfect timing as it allowed us to create some family group portraits and set up lighting for the details and celebration. Cipriani is a huge cavernous space with high ceilings, and dark walls. To capture moments and room details as seen below, it requires battery powered studio strobes to be placed behind the band on tall stands. Anyone having a wedding in a large Bank style space in the city should consider speaking with their photographers about whether they know how to light for large spaces like this. Years of experience has taught us that this is the best way to ensure consistent and gorgeous results.
“WEDDING TIP... Cipriani 42nd Street is among our favorite spaces to photograph in for weddings in NYC. However, due to it’s large, dark, cavernous style it is smart to find a photographer that knows how to photograph a space of this magnitude. Make sure to see work from this space, or similar space, when making your selection. Lighting is key.”
Cipriani is an ideal space for tall floral, and the designer didn't disappoint. Lavish, full, and tall white floral charmed the room, and you could smell the beautiful floral scent throughout the space. This is one location where no amount of opulence is too much as the space is so large.
As the band kicked up the couple entered to cheers with a big beautiful kiss to kick off their first dance. The night would be filled with laughter, love, and celebration. The photographs should say it all. This is a couple in love that had the time of their lives Together In Style. Enjoy photographs below along with a special and unique presentation below as well.
WEDDING STORYTELLING FOR TECH SAVVY COUPLES
Technology has evolved in some amazing ways, and today's couples are often looking for modern creative ways to share their story with friends and family. Introducing the Living Album by Maring Visuals. Since 2012, Maring has been producing creative iPad apps for couples that blend photography and video clips together into an interactive app that can be shared and passed along to friends, family, and/or guests. It's the perfect gift to give your friends and family, especially for destination weddings and events. Check out this creative concept below...
