new york wedding photography ~ celeste and craig, part I

We couldn’t wait to do this wedding. It was a referral from our friends, Megan and Drew Anderson who have a wonderful photography studio, Drew Anderson Photography, in Arizona. You see, both Drew and Megan were invited and would have done the photography themselves, but they had a wedding already booked on 10-10-10. Being Craig is Drew’s 1st cousin, he asked his advice and they recommended us for the job. When photographers get jobs from other photographers it always can be a little intimidating as you want to do your absolute best work, and make not only the bride and groom happy, but also the person who stuck their neck out for ya, so to speak! We had never met them, other than through e-mails but we knew they were completely easy going and up for anything, which got our little minds racing to do something a little bit on the different side. We quickly became friends on Facebook and I checked out their music site, 7footmoustache, which gave me a laugh and I knew we were in for one helluva time with these two. When Celly as she likes to be called had gotten in touch with us, she said the ceremony was going to be held on the beach in Montauk on the Thursday prior for just their immediate families with no ordinary reception planned for the following Sunday on October 10, 2010. I say no ordinary reception because it was to be held in a bowling alley, yes, you heard me right! So cool and awesome, right? At first it didn’t look like we would be able to make it as we had had that date booked with another couple for two years, but upon examining their contract, I was like sweet we can do this, one wedding was over at 5:00 pm and Celly and Craig’s was only beginning at 5:00. So, if they didn’t mind the half hour it would take us to travel to get to theirs, it was a go! SO we were set. We went out the day prior to their ceremony to scope the place out. We found so many spots, it was hard narrowing it down to just three or so. Now, if Mother Nature would cooperate, as we had four days of rain, everything would be perfect. And, so she did. We met them in the lobby of a beautiful historic hotel in Montauk, aptly named Montauk Manor. From there, we drove across the street to an old car just waiting to be shot. At first I was afraid from Wed. to Thurs., it might disappear, but then Rich showed me the flat tire that appeared to have happened many moons ago, and we laughed and said “yeah, it’ll be here!” Oh and let me not forget the beautiful vintage dress Celly had custom made for the occasion, gorgeous!

With the wind blowing from the front that was passing through that gave us all the rain, we asked Celly in her vintage dress to give us a “Marilyn pose”! I think she did pretty darn good…..

The poor tire

Across from the old abandoned car, sat this new art gallery that had been the Montauk Train Depot in a previous life…..

Now, in Montauk around the boat yards, hangs this great white shark that has been hanging there for about 25 years or so. Everyone asks is it real and the answer is yes. Apparently, it is the biggest great white shark that has ever been captured by rod and reel, pretty sweet, right? Well, you know we just had to take a photo next to that! I mean, come on, it yells “Montauk”! Funny thing is Celly said she has always come out to Montauk with her family and spied it as a child, I’d say perfect photo op!

Oh God and then Rich saw this sign on our way from the docks and was like, we have to use that! I was like seriously? He’s like, check out they spelled crikets wrong! Yuck, crickets give me the heebe jeebe’s……I detest them!

Now, my dream of late, has been to take a couple to a laundromat or some other “odd and unique” spot for photos. If for no other reason as I thought it would provide a really cute locale for shots. You can imagine, whenever you mention to someone that you want to take them in their wedding attire to a laundromat, the reaction. But not Celly and Craig. That was the one thing I adored about them, they were open to anything, and I mean, anything. There was no hesitation like “nah, we don’t want to do that or what a laundromat for our wedding photos?” To me, they are some of the cutest wedding photos we have ever shot. I just loved it! The original laundromat which was right in the town of Montauk, we found on Wednesday closed for the season. Luckily we found this one in Easthampton, only a short 10 minute drive away. Can I say LOVE….even their sign was adorable

The man who ran it, couldn’t have been nicer. He was like sure, they can come. Now, let’s hope they don’t hate us Craig, after you knocked over their little wooden sign hanging on the wall and broke the piece off, LOL…..(only kidding, well you did, but I think we are okay, hahaha)!

After Rich got the idea for Craig to push Celly in the clothing cart with our “fake” laundry we brought, we saw this sign, uh oh, strike TWO in the laundromat! [Well in our defense, the sign doesn't say anything about a man pushing his wife to be around the laundromat in the cart!]

Craig wanted to examine my “fake” laundry and asked if I brought any underwear in the basket! Really now, Craig!

Then we headed to the beach to meet the guests who were all arriving for the gorgeous sunset ceremony.

During the ceremony, the guests had been told to bring an “object of love” to the ceremony and then to speak about it. So cute and touching.

Celly and Craig met in Guyana in South America while in the Peace Corps. They both were friends to the couple who did their ceremony, Anna and Patrick. They had been over having a communal dinner at their house when they met. I will skip the specifics of their dinner “meeting” and how it happened out of respect for Craig, LOL, but suffice to say they hit it off.

Here, Lola, Craig’s mother shows off her objects of love, Craig and his brother, Brian’s baby bracelets and what having her two sons meant to her.

One of Celly’s aunts read an entry from Kahlil Gibran’s famous book, “The Prophet”….

Another aunt, brought a “honey dew” melon, which gave everyone a real, good laugh…..when we showed the slide show (at start of post), that part gave a good laugh…..)

Celly’s, only sister, Marissa, gave a touching speech of her love for her sister and what she has meant to not only her life, but that of her three daughters, Lilly, Madelynn and Isabella.

But the guy who brought down the house, was Celly’s grandpa, Lewis. He began speaking and then went on about how much Celly’s grandma would have loved this ceremony and wedding. How he knows she is looking down and is there with them. Apparently, Celly and her grandma loved Montauk and they spent many summers out on the East End.

By the time, grandpa Lewis was done talking, there wasn’t a dry eye anywhere on that beach….

The thought that went into the guests’ objects of love blew me away. Here a relative read from Aesop’s Fables…..

Terry, Craig’s dad, gave a rousing speech that in the end also brought tears of emotion. He started out by stating all the ways he “wouldn’t” embarrass Craig, which I have to admit was funny. I mean, what parent, doesn’t at some point in their lives, want to just give a little of the medicine that kids give to us through their whole adolescence? It was pretty cute.

But in the end, he spoke of his love for his son and what having both Craig and Brian has meant to him and Lola. He told of what marriage meant to him and the hopes he had for Celly and Craig’s own marriage and he ended with asking for lots and lots of grand kids….my kind of guy!

Then it came time for our couple to read the vows they had written for each other. They were tender, sweet, funny. They spoke of the travel they had accomplished and of trips yet to come. A life to be filled with joy and laughter. Of two human beings, who knew each other so completely, so succinctly, down to their inner souls and the joy of sharing their work with others who were less fortunate. There they both stood, barefoot, embracing the life they will come to know.

The ring bearer, Emma, bringing up the two rings…

And, then at the end of the ceremony, the two of them, grabbed a kite which had been carefully tucked away and ran hand in hand, down the beach launching it high up into the air.

All those who gathered, celebrated with a celebratory toast…

even some too young to drink!

With one more photo op location in our vault, we headed to Coffee Tauk, an espresso shop right in the town of Montauk. With a name like that, and yes, that is how it was spelled, we had to go take a photo or two there as well. Loved, these shell dividers they had in the store and OMG, their coffee was divine. While there though, the phone rang and it was Drew and Megan calling to congratulate the happy couple. Craig, never the shy one, decided to “punk” Drew. Now, everyone knows my laugh is legendary and Craig had been told of it by Drew. So the phone conversation starts with “yeah, Drew I am in a coffee shop…..NO, they never showed, do you believe it?” Drew, now on speaker phone, chimes in “WHAT! (referring to both Rich and myself, his recommended photographer for the job), Are you kidding me? Rich and Mindi didn’t show up for your wedding to take the photos?” Me, standing in the coffee shop with both hands covering my mouth from laughing so hard and ruining his “punkedness” remarks, “what are you doing Craig, why are you telling him this, he will be so pissed off at us!” And, then Craig, told him he was only “kidding” and we were all together and we laughed and laughed. I should remark this was in retaliation at me telling Craig that Drew wanted me to throw a tortilla at him early in the day! Cousins, what can you say!

Unique brand of coffee I would say…..we wondered what “Fisherman’s Blend” tastes like, let’s hope not bait!

The rings in what else? Coffee beans, what were you expecting?

Ronjo, a kitschy motel in Montauk, with a waterfall complete with Hawaiian “God” statue, fake, bloody seagulls and plastic turtles! Well, I mean, who doesn’t want a photo with THAT!

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Celeste Hamilton: I CANNOT even begin to tell you just how grateful and happy we are to have connected with you guys. We owe Drew and Megan the world. And obviously, I am recommending you to everyone I know. Thanks to you so so so much for everything! Everything was perfect, and completely in line with our style. You guys got it, and right from the beginning. Seriously amazing. I hope you could tell by all of the Facebook comments on that incredible video you "threw together" for us, Mindi! (Saved our ASSES, you! Thanks a ton for that.) So many people were crying, so many people keep telling me that they watched the video over and over and so many people cannot stop talking about how amazing you guys are. And we agree. October 13, 2010 4:28 pm

Marie Schneider: These pictures are so original and so fitting for this couple. This is one of those weddings where everything is an A++++ From the couple, to the scenes, to the photography, to the emotions captured, to the post production done by the VERDI'S. These pictures will be with you guys forever........GREAT, GREAT Job! Can't wait for you to film my kids' wedding. I showed Stephanie and she loved the simplicity of this couples day. It's not all about the glitz but about the LOVE. BRAVO, Mindi & Rich <3 October 13, 2010 11:40 pm

Celeste Hamilton: And play by play commentary! Incredible that you remembered all that! And so, so, so sweet. Thanks again, guys! October 14, 2010 2:22 am

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new york wedding photography ~ celeste and craig, part I