Eli Manning Cover Shot by Ron Antonelli

See… that’s why our weddings aren’t just “photojournalistic style”.

but let’s back up a bit.

this summer when we had the pleasure of working again with a very special family that truly knows how to enjoy life.  They flew us to Florence to join them and photograph three days of non-stop events and well planned fab experiences for all their guests.  (caveat – to protect our client’s privacy we won’t be showing too much detail from the event)

Florence has always been toward the top my list as places I’d be willing to live for many reasons – the people, the art, the architecture, the food and the light.

florence’s famed “duomo”

  and Ponte Vecchio

It’s just a fantastic place to be.  And an inspired place to get married.  Now in this case, in addition to the big day itself, the partying included 3 days of hot air balloon rides, cooking classes, museum and art tours, as well as a wonderful welcome dinner and a white party which started in the tiny ancient town of Fiesole and ended after a champagne tour on double-decker buses on the banks of the river arno with the historic Ponte Vecchio nearby.

It was a very private area on the river bank – belonging to the country’s oldest rowing club, Canottieri Firenze.   everyone was in white and the tent and all the decor were white as well. the drinks were flowing (esp. the aperol spritzes) the food was outstanding, and as the sunset turned to night the dj began spinning and the groove got going.

And for the late night sugar boost, a bicycle based – gelateria cart arrived plying everyone with more energy to move.  (For those interested mixologists: aperol spritzes – one part of the bitter italian apertif aperol mixed with one part prosecco and one part club soda served on rocks and garnished with an orange – giving you a beautiful practically glow-in-the-dark orange cocktail)

THIRD DAY

now of all the villas in tuscany, there is one that is generally considered to be the superlative example – the one that ends up on the cover of all the ‘italian villa’ books – villa gamberaia.  and this is but a small taste of why:

 the garden ceremony at Villa Gamberaia

sunset over the olive grove at Villa Gamberaia

of course, if you’re going to have a 4 day wedding blowout in the hills of tuscany – you had better get yourself a good wedding band.

the groom surprised his bride after dinner with Sting and his full entourage in the formal gardens at villa gamberaia

and i have to say it was awesome!  not only because it was the closest I had ever heard Sting play (and things sound soooooooooo much more amazing on an intimate scale), but we also were there for the sound check and rehearsal and got to see how Sting works with his band to develop just the sound he’s looking for.  Later, during the show, I actually was able to get up on stage and shoot the bride dancing with Sting and the groom singing along with him.

now while all that was fantastic, here’s what I think makes this family super special people.  when they heard that Celeste and I might be heading over to Italy early to take our kids to Rome and Florence on their school break – they insisted that the boys also join in on some of the festivities.  the boys made friends and hung out with the other kids at the white party, which when it got into full dance mode, the bride said to me, “will you put down your f*ing camera and dance with your sons?”  Coolest people ever, right?

and the night of the wedding, the groom wanted to ensure that my boys were there before the surprise band was revealed.  this had special meaning for me because Sting’s opening number was “Every Little Thing She Does is Magic” which was the first song my youngest son Cole ever sang along to.  To him, it was affectionately known as “The Magic Song”.

Cole enjoys the show from the best rock in the house.

after the show, I got to hang backstage with sting and his wife trudie styler who are a really sweet couple truly in love with each other. They are also in love with their “side jobs” as vintners – growing their own grapes biodynamically and bottling their own brand of wine, Sister Moon which they brought along as a gift.

as i was getting onstage to shoot,  i grabbed this shot of trudie admiring her man performing .  isn’t she radiant? – beautiful both inside and out and madly in love with her man – you can see it in her eyes.

and lastly, Cole wanted to make sure I included this shot of him helping his daddy take pictures at the white party.

We’ve won an award in this quarter’s WPJA Photo Competition for a shot from Vanessa Britting and David Krumholtz’s celebrity packed wedding at The Plaza Hotel.

I’m a fan of the WPJA since the way they run their competition puts every Wedding Photojournalist on even footing.  Every member get’s the same limited number of entries so you can’t buy yourself an advantage like many photographers do in other competitions.  You also don’t name your photos or provide any additional information about the backstory.  If the photo doesn’t say it – it doesn’t factor into the judging.   You also can’t photoshop your image – so there’s none of that crazyness.  Get it right in the camera or go home.  Lastly, it is a true worldwide competition with thousands of photographers competing (it’s amazing how many great pj wedding images come from Eastern Europe!) so even a sixth place is pretty cool.  This is our 5th winner in WPJA contests.

p.s.  Can you spot the 3 videographers?

See more of this wedding in the forthcoming New York Magazine special Weddings issue.

this is how all good destination wedding receptions end.

this event was at the wonderful Cipriani 42nd Street.

just you and 550 of your closest colleagues…

the lovely hostesses

i love it when dads get misty eyed…

The Climbing Tree held forth in a Frederick Law Olmstead designed park near the house in which I grew up.  Of course she predated Olmstead’s work.  She even predated George Washington’s work.  This old tree had seen some history.

“…Her impossibly long and knotted arms twisted out and about every which way – each completely covered with what seemed to be a hundred of years of tattoos – carved scars bearing names and dates and mathematical formulas of lover’s initials circumscribed by hearts.  She was an entire illustrated tree filled with evidence of those who stayed and enjoyed her at least long enough to make their mark.  Those gravity and logic defying branches stretched long and low – perfect for climbing.  She slowly waved them back and forth in the breeze begging passers to hop on one of her bark covered tendrils.    For those climbing aboard she provided a ready-made Indiana Jones fantasy complete with a tangled sea of writhing snake roots waiting to snap at your ankles should you swing too low…”

Occasionally I would stop by with my kids and let them climb aboard as I had done when I was their age and of course, I’d take a few pictures.

but i didn’t give the photographs much thought or place any exceptional value on them – they were just cool snapshots of my kids.

That is until this weekend.  On Sunday I was in the area again and went for a walk in the park and was stunned to find her gone.

My third thought (after, “who the heck would do such a thing”, and “why didn’t someone come up with a creative way to avoid this”) was “Oh man. I’m so glad I have those photographs!”

Sad fact that time eventually robs of us our youth, our beauty, our memories and ultimately, our existence – but the more of that we lose the more our photographs become worth to us.

And there you have it – the climbing tree reminded me of how quickly our photographs can appreciate in value.  Quite simply, before this weekend, I had a few pretty cool pictures of my kids playing in a tree.  I realize now I have irreplaceable treasures.

Alison and Bryce were married in Greenwich, CT with the day’s festivities starting at the Delamar.

Bryce came out for the ceremony to The Imperial March (aka Darth Vader’s theme music).  And the ringbearer sported a sweet corsage.

a quick retreat to Binny Park

and then cocktails….

The band, New York Edge, was great and they helped us get this shot at the end of the last dance.