I shot my first wedding at the Prince George Ballroom this summer, and I was floored by the beauty of this hidden gem. It can be hard to find a unique wedding venue in Manhattan, something that can seat a good number of guests while still retaining amazing charm. The Prince George Ballroom is one such location. If you’re looking for somewhere to get married in New York that’s a little quirky, a little different, and still extraordinary beautiful, this is an amazing venue to consider.
We started our day around the corner from the Prince George Ballroom. I loved this neighborhood, because the hotel, church, and reception venue were all within a few blocks of each other. This made things easy for the scheduling of the day. It also made the day extremely easy for the guests!
The bride got ready surrounded by her mother and bridal party. I always love it when brides have their families in the preparation room, as it really adds to the intimate vibe of the day. The schedule was set so that the preparation process was leisurely and slowly paced, and it made for a great start to the wedding day.
Sharon Becker from SB Beauty was on hand to create the bride’s hair and makeup look. Sharon is fantastic to work with. She did an incredible job on the bride and her bridal party. Her looks are completely natural, while still incredibly glamorous.
The start of the day being so calm and leisurely meant that I got some time to spend with the bride’s lovely details. I was especially enamored of her simple, yet dramatic, classic bridal gown.
It was just a quick commute across the street to the ceremony at the Church of the Transfiguration. I was totally blown away by this warm, welcoming church. It’s nicknamed “The Little Church Around The Corner”, and the nickname is absolutely fitting. This is a delightful space with a delightful clergy, and it was a true treat to photograph the ceremony here!
The bride and groom chose to not see each other until their ceremony. While the guests walked to the Prince George Ballroom for cocktail hour, we spent some time taking portraits at the church of the bride, groom, their families, and their bridal party. It was a great time to really focus on documenting the family, the couple together, and to make a few stellar bridal portraits.
After the portraits, it was off to the Prince George Ballroom for the rest of cocktail hour. I also got a few wonderful moments to document the reception ballroom decor. Twisted Willow did a marvelous job with the decor. The candlelight, gorgeous centerpieces, and entire vibe of the space perfectly meshed with the existing ambiance of the ballroom.
I always love looking at typical scenes in atypical ways. For example, the DJ was preparing to introduce the bride and groom into their wedding reception. The lights in the room were dimmed, and a spotlight hit the dance floor. I spotted the bride waiting just outside the door, and I loved the unposed moment.
After the introductions of the bride and groom, the guests took their seats for dinner. During the dinner, there were many spectacular toasts. I especially loved hearing from the Father of the Bride. He spoke so eloquently of his daughter, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house (mine included).
While I love photographing the people giving the toasts at wedding receptions, I also love capturing the reactions of the crowd. This reaction of the bride and groom to her father’s speech is one of my favorites from the night.
After dinner was over, the bride and groom kicked off the dancing with their first dance together.
I cannot thank this marvelous couple enough for sharing their day with me. From the tender moments they shared after the ceremony to his eloquently flawless speech to his bride at the reception, the day was full of gorgeous moments. It was an honor to witness and document their day!
