M + M // Connecticut Cambodian Wedding Photography

August, 2021 | Monroe, Fairfield, Connecticut

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Oooooook let’s do this.

These guys, are amazing. And this Cambodian Wedding was absolutely incredible. And before I go any further, I highly recommend heading straight to The Adventure Diet blog to find out more about Molly’s intentions behind everything, and the beautiful background of this whole unique celebration.

But as a measly old wedding photographer in monroe, connecticut this is how I saw it…

A Cambodian wedding is a significant and spectacular event that is celebrated by families, friends, and sometimes the entire community. Cambodian weddings are filled with interactive, symbolic ceremonies and extravagant, colorful outfits. These wedding ceremonies are extremely interactive and engaging for family members and guests. As I understand it, traditionally, Cambodian weddings consist of eight ceremonies spanning three days, each of which is symbolic of the couple's journey as they enter their new marriage together. But the bride and groom aren't the only ones honored and showered with blessings; Cambodian weddings are an opportunity to pay tribute to the couple's families and ancestors.

As a newly-minted Cambodian wedding photographer, it was a joy to capture all of this.

The first ceremony is the Groom's Processional & Ring Exchange, where the groom and his family marched with gifts to the bride’s house to meet his new wife and her family. This ceremony symbolizes the groom’s long journey to his new bride’s home to ask her parents for their permission to marry. This was fun, and unique, and nothing I had quite seen before as everybody lined up with a gift and followed the procession.

Next, is Honoring The Parents where the bride and groom honor their parents, thanking them for their sacrifices and raising them to this point in life. The bride and groom use gold umbrellas to shade their parents, symbolizing the reversal in roles. They pass gift platters to each of them, bow three times for respect, then shower them with their gratitude and love.

The Hair Cutting ceremony, (“Gaat Sah”) is to prepare the couple for their new journey together as husband and wife. The hair of the bride and groom is metaphorically cut. Cambodians believe that cutting the hair symbolizes the bride and groom's past being cut away for a clean start as a married couple. Once the hair is "cut", perfume is sprayed on the couple.

After this was The Passing Of Blessings - a unique opportunity for all the married couples present to pass blessings and marital success to the bride and groom. This was such a beautiful way to see the support and mentoring that surrounded the couple.

This is followed by the Knot Tying ceremony, where M + M leaned on a gold pillow and held a sword together, which represented the groom’s loyalty and protection of his new bride while all the guests passed by to tie a red silk string to their wrists, then dipped a flower in holy water and sprinkled it over their heads.

After this, the couple was showered with white palm tree seeds by all in attendance (particularly the kids really enjoyed this part)!

There’s no way for me to truly capture every intricate symbol and meaning that went into this wedding, but it was a blessing to capture.

But… it didn’t end there. The couple then finished out the rest of the day, with bridal photos at Wolfe Park, followed by wedding photography at the Fairfield Pavilion and Penfield Beach with a reception, cake, amazing dancing, and a night shot to finish it off right.

If you’re also looking for a photographer for your Cambodian Wedding, or are getting married in Fairfield County, reach out, and let’s chat :)

M + C // Central Park Conservatory Garden Wedding Photography

June, 2022 | Conservatory Garden, Wisteria Pergola

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Well this was indeed an iconic New York City wedding. From beginning to end, M + C had their own personal touches in everything.

Wedding Photography at PUBLIC Hotel

PUBLIC Hotel is such an incredible place to start out the wedding day, and portrait photography at PUBLIC is fantastic because of all of the great views and architecture. These guys really took advantage, getting ready with their bridesmaids and groomsmen in beautiful rooms. I arrived to catch the final touches of getting ready - the hair spray, the final dress buttoning, and the bridesmaid toast!

Wedding portraits at PUBLIC give you the option of photos in each of the beautiful rooms, but also in the main lobby is a beautiful area with lounge couches, a killer mirror with LEDs (see the blue silhouette photo below), a garden outside, and a lit up escalator with mirrors (holy smokes, would be happy to spend a full hour shooting just in this part of the hotel).

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Wedding and Elopement Photography at Central Park Conservatory Garden

Shooting wedding photography in Central Park is a treat by itself, but at the Wisteria Pergola of the Conservatory Garden the scenery is incredible - a giant green lawn with a 20-foot-high fountain backed by a pergola overhanging with green vines and a stone path. The guests gathered under the pergola while a violinist and cellist serenaded the group waiting for the bridesmaids, flower girl, doggie, and bride to come down.

Once vows were exchanged, the couple came back down the “aisle” to applause and we wrangled together a photo of the entire group (these never turn out like “hey, look it’s uncle Bob, Pete, and Jane” but more like “wow, what a beautiful group and turnout!”). We then started into photos with the bridal parties and families, which was right at the time when the groom told me that he had a surprise for the bride (typically don’t recommend doing this on your wedding day but he nailed it), and we would only have about 1/3 of the time we originally had for photos, but would need to do so without the bride knowing.

Success! We had a beautiful Conservatory Garden wedding photography session from the walkways, to the pergola, to the brick walls, to the giant grass lawn. We were able to finish up by the gates of the garden where the bride was surprised with a classic New York checkered taxi! What an amazing surprise that made for some classic New York City wedding photography.

The night ended with a reception at DK, an iconic steakhouse in NYC. Food, dancing, toasts, mini taxis, cannolis, and a dope “The Masons” sign.

Wedding photography at the wisteria pergola, central park

If you’re looking to do some Central Park Wedding or Elopement Photography, let’s chat about how to capture the day in an unforgettable, natural, and creative way. Reach out, and let’s make it happen.

L + R // Belhurst Castle, Geneva, NY

August, 2021 | Dumbo, Brooklyn, NY

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As I mentioned on the blog of their engagement session here, L + R had it rough with wedding plans as it relates to Covid. But, they really made the best of it with this beautiful day. They decided to forego a giant wedding and make a semi-elopement happen at the Belhurst Castle in Geneva, New York on the Finger Lakes.

Wedding photography at the Belhurst Castle is. a. blast.

It all started with getting ready photos. L had her parents and sister there, and it was such a great moment. We then orchestrated the first look at a beautiful spot outside the castle. (tears were certainly involved).

The wedding planning team at Belhurst Castle, the officiant, and even the cellist did an amazing job being patient and waiting out the rain - which did pass and the ceremony was able to happen outside - a ceremony on the cliff of the Finger Lakes with about 15 family members (+ some who joined on Zoom).

As it finished up, we captured family photos surrounded by fireflies and the mist of the rain. We wandered around for a bride and groom portrait session around the castle grounds, the dock, and I was grateful to get the pregnant bride to lay on the ground in a stairwell for a beautiful shot in the castle.

Whether you’re looking for New York City wedding photography, New York wedding photography, or an elopement session, we’d love to capture all of your moments. What an amazing day.