Hey, thanks for stopping by our blog for a visit. We hope you stay a bit. Pull up a nice, comfy chair, grab a bite to eat, (perhaps a pumpkin spiced latte, oh yummm) and get to know us a little. This is our blog….our little piece of the world. We love weddings and we love capturing couples in love . It is the place where we update our photos and tell you bits and pieces about our life with three kids. So, check out our galleries, drop us a comment (cause you know we just love to hear from ya) and, yeah, don’t be a stranger.
Our team works all over the globe, so don’t hesitate to ask us for a quote on how much we would charge to capture your crazy, wild and exciting wedding day, wherever it may be happening. We have two offices, New York 631-758-7912 and Phoenix Arizona 480-297-8990 in Sedona call 928-252-2908or by e-mail at info@fotoverdi.com. Follow me on Facebook (Melinda Richard Verdi) and Twitter (Fotoverdi).
new york wedding photography ~ megan and jason’s wedding
Last Saturday, was Megan and Jason’s unbelievably luscious wedding at the Allegria Hotel and Spa. Megan and Jason live in Ohio so we had done a lot of the conversations with Megan’s dad, Robert. He was so unbelievably gracious to us whenever we spoke to him. We really felt it was such an honor that he and Megan chose us to be the photographers, especially since Robert owns his own advertising agency and constantly complimented us on how we both work together and the photos we take. So my heart goes out to you for that, Robert. It truly meant a lot to Rich and me and we hope we did you proud. Megan quickly befriended me on FB and we had several conversations throughout the 6 months or so that they had booked their day with Photography by Verdi. We arrived at 3:00 and found Bill of Wild Rose Video had just driven up a few seconds before us and was busily unloading his car of his equipment. Any time we work together, both Wild Rose and us, we know it is going to be a good day as we operate like a fine tuned wheel. We ebb and flow, we mesh together just like a couple who have made it to their 50th wedding anniversary, haha. We both went in and were given Megan’s hotel room by the staff at the Allegria front desk. On our way with Bill to the elevators, we ran int one of the bridesmaids who was also en route to Megan’s room. Once we entered, we found Megan in her adorable bridal hoodie complete with engagement ring zipper, LOL, and her girls who were busily getting into their celadon dresses. Ryan Connick of Above and Beyond LI, her wedding planner, seriously could not have been more of a help! She had a bag full of goodies whenever the occasion arrived that someone was in need of something! Speaking of working together well, Miss Sarah, bridal attendant extraordinaire, was on duty that day and she and I always can share a laugh and also know just what the other’s needs are before we even say it. If one can request someone to be their wedding “attendant” on the day at Allegria, she is the one to request. Anyway, here is Megan standing beside her gorgeous Priscilla of Boston gown, it was indeed a feast for the eyes…and it couldn’t have fit her more if she had been the model on the runway showing it off!
Ha Ha, this was so funny…..Megan’s dad had called and told us of a “surprise” gift he had for his future son-in-law, Jason, who works in the cement business in Ohio. He had purchased time with a local cement company, yes, you heard me right, to have a cement mixer come at a predetermined time for a photo op! It was so darn cute! Anyway, since we were taking the two of them in our car, along with Bill, to the predetermined spot, Bill, me and Jason squished, yes, squished into the back seat of our rental car, long story here but to cut to the chase (our youngest daughter had been in a car accident and our NY car was still being fixed and our SUV was stuck in Arizona where we winter and work), so I had inadvertently told Megan “oh yeah, come with us, we have a big Lexus SUV we’ll all fit in it and then remembered we had a smallish sedan! Along the way, Megan goes to Jason “so you know your vows in both Hebrew and English, right?” Jason, looking a little perplexed, said “yes, but I want the paper I left in your room to rehearse it!” She goes, “ummm well it isn’t there, as I had the room cleaned for photos and no one will know where on earth it is now!” So she begins to tell him his one all inclusive, VERY IMPORTANT line. Well they must have said it so many times that I turned to Jason and said we can all get married now and if you should forget your lines, any of the three of us will know it by heart!!! Funny thing is, once the ceremony was done I remark to Megan “so you didn’t have to say it in English too, right?” She looks at me oddly and says “yes, we DID say it in both!” Thank God I am a photographer, cause I must have been so involved with the picture taking that I had missed this “once in a lifetime moment” and if Jason had indeed turned to me for “help” with his vows, I would have been like “what vows!” Anyway, that is the paper in the collage below with the two lines, now rehearse those lines everyone, THERE WILL BE A TEST, LOL!!!!
Check out Megan’s blingy Jimmy Choo shoes, oh heart of mine, be still, as we all know how I love my shoes!
And, my, oh my, little bracelet, why don’t you have a brother or sister that would find its way into my jewelery drawer?
Just a little cutesy two of the multidimensional mirrors Allegria has on its suite’s walls…..
Check out the gorgeous flowers that Pedestals did. Everyone loved, loved, loved, her bouquet of white and black anemones. Megan had told me she had seen them early on in her wedding planning and just knew they had to play an important role in her bouquet. I’d say she made a gorgeous choice.
One of the groomsmen suggested to Rich, “hey let’s take one in the bathroom!” So, here you go guys, LOL…
And, who doesn’t love an adorable groom in a tux and robe, surely not Huge Hefner, hahaha
Here is Megan taking a ride to the rooftop to see Jason for the first time….
Meanwhile, Rich and Bill were up there already with Jason who was waiting patiently for Megan to arrive…
Jason, here she comes….
well worth the wait I’d say!
I think Jason agrees, what do you think?
Rich loved the sheer joy of Megan as Jason grabbed and hugged her…
A little bar hopping, hahaha
While Rich and Bill went to fetch our coach to take us to the cement mixer truck, or should I say, rental car, LOL, I grabbed a few in Allegria’s cute and beachy lobby!
And, here you go, I love urban things and places, they are so unexpected in wedding photos and just make the whole thing of “formal portraits” not be taken so seriously….they are like icing on a cake! I mean everyone sees photos in fields of flowers, or near fountains, etc., but where do you ever get the stuff I get to show you on here, whether it be our idea or one from our super duper clients, I mean this was so great! Pure sugary fluff and so yummy!
And this building next door, OMG, heart be still with it’s graphics and bright, lemony yellow color! How could you miss?
Now, the whole Starbucks theme, another collaboration. Seems Jason and Megan met for their first date at a Starbucks! How cute is that? Really? Then, when it came time for Jason to pop the question, he took Megan back to that same Starbucks and got down on one knee. let’s hear you all go ahhhhhh…..So, you just knew we had to make a stop there…..and unbeknownst to us, there whole favor theme was Starbucks related! So, with the sign below, I am thinking Megan and Jason will be OUR new TRIBUTE BLEND and will surely last more than 40 years together <3
You got to love those guys at Starbucks when approached by not only a happy couple, but a photography team, a dad, a videographer, etc. who come in unexpectedly and ask “hey guys can we just come in and take a few pics?” say without a bit of hesitation, sure, no problem. So, tell them when you are on West Park Avenue in Long Beach, that you came just because they were nice enough to make someone’s day and order a pumpkin spice latte for me, yummm!
Mugging for the camera with their New York skyline mugs! (yes, pun intended, you know I JUST had to do it!)
Show us YOUR mugs!
What a nice March day they had…it was very cold, but you’d never notice it!
We got the wedding party to take a few pics being it was so cold, but they were troopers and hey you don’t even look like you are an ice cube!
A “heart” inspiration photo…speaking of which, whenever I do this pic, it takes forever to get the crew in position. Being this wedding party was so darn cold, I never saw a group get in position so fast in my entire 20 year at doing weddings! Good Job Guys!
Our foursome…
and our dancing groomsmen…..I think there is a play on Broadway looking for you guys, hahaha
or maybe a new reality show entitled “Dancing with the Groomsmen”!
Megan and the guys……
Jason and the girls….
and our flying ring bearer, Chase, the groom’s nephew!
The signing of the Katubah.
Robert, the bride’s dad, watches as his daughter becomes married in the Jewish tradition.
After a touching moment spent between Megan and her dad, she was ready to go up to the rooftop to start the ceremony.
The wedding party is all lined up and ready to go….
Jason waits for his signal to head down the aisle arm in arm with his dad, Tripper and his mom. Jodi.
Then it was Megan’s turn with her dad, Robert and her mom, Darlene to do the “walk”.
The gorgeous chuppa all done up by Pedestals….
According to Jewish tradition, the couples receive their ring on their index finger. Then the Rabbi instructed them both to take it off and place it on their left ring finger to show their approval and acceptance of one another.
The parents encircle the couple and place their hands on them for a blessing.
And, then the breaking of the glass…
followed by my favorite part, the kiss!
Here is Ryan Connick again of Above and Beyond LI, gathering all the bouquets as our wedding party partake in the cocktail hour. She was just so darn cute that Ryan! We had a great time working with you and hope to do so again, real soon.
A few details of the gorgeous lighting and table arrangements in the Allegria ballroom…
Some cocktail photos…
I had to include the butter bears…..I want my butter to come in the shape of a bear, I just love them! Check out the adorable “wish” cards that the guests were asked to fill out with congratulatory messages and advice for the happy couple! They were then filed in the green and purple index type filing box!
Note the unusual and so striking table numbers that our happy couple did themselves! Being that Jason is in the cement business, they were made out of white cement and then stamped with the assorted font numbers….so cute! If you were observant, you noticed in the other collage, a cement square complete with their date and a heart bearing their initials which stood in a place of honor on their guests card table.
Coming into the room….
and such an adorable first dance!
Loved the dramatic lighting and the J & M monogram that Stefan of Krompier Entertainment uses. Loved working with him. He is such a nice guy and does great wedding dj entertainment! He knows how to fine tune a wedding or any event for that matter with just the right music to keep the crowd hopping!
We had four toasts, two by our parents and one by our maid of honor and dear friend of the bride, Arielle and the other toast by the groom’s best man and brother, Adam.
Time for a traditional Jewish dance, the hora!
You got to love the expressions of everyone during the “chair” lift up during the hora! They are truly the best, hahaha, sheer fear!
How pretty was this cake which shared the same flower theme as the bride’s bouquet!
A few birthday girls!
Dance with Megan and her dad…..
and dance with Jason and his mom, Jodi.
And, we finish our night with a pic from inside the wine vault! Hope you enjoyed just some of the many pics we posted. It was our real pleasure to have been a part of your day and don’t forget to drop us a line on the pics (cause we live for those <3) and for our happy couple as well.
. It is the place where we update our photos and tell you bits and pieces about our life with three kids. So, check out our galleries, drop us a comment (cause you know we just love to hear from ya) and, yeah, don’t be a stranger.
