Stellar Year Wedding Photography

It’s always a blast to shoot weddings from different cultures.  The customs, languages, interactions, and party styles are awesome to witness and be a part of.  Yoli and Becker’s wedding was no different.  The family is incredibly tight-knit, and the two sides interacted so seamlessly that we were often wondering whether a given person was from the bride’s side or the groom’s.  That’s a strong sign that the marriage will be a long and happy one, and Yoli and Becker’s relationship doesn’t leave a shadow of a doubt.  Yoli and Becker, you’re both amazing and we wish you the very best in your life together.  Thank you so much for braving the bitter cold and working with the unexpected snowfall!  Uno, dos, tres and ¡felicitaciones!

Now to the images from their great, great day…

The transformation!

Yoli’s dress had incredibly intricate detailing on the back that was painstakingly done by her bridesmaids.

We love, love, love when couples opt to do a first-look before the ceremony.  The raw emotions and resulting images are just awesome.

The original plan called for this shot to be done closer to the castle.  The snow played an evil trick on us and came down in droves the night before.  Everyone was more than happy to play along.  Yoli was freezing but didn’t complain.  (Not nearly as much as the bridesmaids and groomsmen did…ahem.)

Married!  Becker will say that Yoli couldn’t wait to kiss him and came in for a huge kiss as soon as the officiant announced them man and wife!  I have a feeling Becker was excited, too!

Pak counts, “One, two, three” before every picture.  We’re not sure if he realizes he’s doing it.  But he switched to Spanish for one shot, and the image on the right is the reaction he got.

Handsome set of guys.

And a beautiful group of ladies.

Yoli’s big request of the night.  I hope you’re happy with the shot!

Congratulations again, you two!

- Antonis and Pak

This wedding came to us through multiple degrees of separation, and we were thrilled and honored to be able to work with Eunice and Henry for the day.  Their wedding took place in Philadelphia and we were more than happy to make the trip for this amazing couple.  It took very little time for Henry, Eunice, and their guests to get comfortable in front of the camera, and their willingness to take direction and be themselves made our jobs incredibly easy.  It’s always great to work with couples we can connect with and who are too in love to care about multiple cameras in their faces.  Eunice and Henry, we hope your marriage has been full of nothing but good times and that you continue to cherish, respect, and love each other as you promised to do in Philadelphia earlier this year.  We have no doubt it’s the case and it’s not often we see a couple as dedicated to each other as you two are.  The support you give each other (and acquire through your families as well) is awe-inspiring.

On to the pictures of their big day!

The ceremony took place at Woodland Presbyterian Church, and Eunice and her Maid of Honor got ready in the adjacent atrium while Henry and his Best Man prepared at Henry’s house next door.

Henry surprised Eunice with this simple, but gorgeous, necklace on the morning of their wedding.

All the musical accompaniment during the ceremony was live.

This moment after the ceremony was emotional and beautiful.  After the ceremony, we always give our couple and their family a moment alone without us in their faces.  And it’s amazing the scenes we capture when our subjects don’t know we’re peeking through a barely-open door waiting to get going again.

At Stellar Year Wedding Photography, we offer on-site studio lighting, which we achieve by bringing various lighting tools.

We’ll end with the cake-cutting.  Pure, unadulterated joy.

Congratulations again, Eunice and Henry!  We hope you’re having a blast together!

-Antonis and Pak

Jen and Lou’s story began in the workplace in 2002 when they were both engineers for the same company.  Pak was also a structural engineer with the firm and knew Jen and Lou both well.  Antonis came along as an intern in 2006 but Jen had recently left the company so he missed her.  However, he worked quite a bit with Lou who was a civil engineer.  In 2009, Pak shot their engagement in New York City and they booked us for their wedding in August of 2010.  That day was a hot, humid, rainy day which put a severe damper on our plans for a photo session in the park.  Instead, Pak and I set up a studio at The Mezzanine in Newark, NJ for the formal images.  We had to work around some negatives (weather, light, time) and some positives (romance, willing subjects, and acrobats!) and ended up with images that demonstrate the love Jen and Lou have for each other.  Jen and Lou, you’re an amazing couple.  We’ve seen you together since your wedding and it’s clear you’re perfect for each other.

First our favorite shot from their 2009 Engagement session:

Now on to August 2010.  Jen got ready at The Mezzanine, where the reception would be held later that day.  Her mom, sisters, dress maker, and make-up artist were all there, busily getting everything ready.  They allowed Pak and I great liberty in documenting the preparation and were more than willing to play along as models.

After Jen was ready, we did some formal images with her mother and sisters.  Pak and I had set up the studio earlier in anticipation of coming back after the ceremony, so we made use of it with the girls since we had plenty of time and nobody wanted to go out into the rain!

Then it was off to the beautiful St. Lucy’s Church in Newark, NJ.  The stained glass, ceiling, and light were all extraordinary and gave some incredible photo opportunities.

After the ceremony, we and the wedding party rushed back our “studio” at The Mezzanine for formal images during the cocktail hour.  The original plan had called for formal images at Branch Brook Park (which has a gorgeous gazebo), but the weather decide it would rather keep us indoors.  Jen and Lou, to their credit, were great sports and never let their spirits get down.  Adapting to conditions is a something anybody involved in weddings knows all about, and their understanding allowed us to make the best of an unpleasant situation.

Jen had surprised Lou with acrobats (she now makes her living as a juggler and performer).  Their routine was brilliantly done and everyone stopped to watch.

Jen and Lou danced together for the first time as a married couple, and then Jen prepared a choreographed number with her juggling coach that showed off her moves.  You can move, Jen!!

Congratulations, again, you two.  We wish you the absolute best in your lives together.  Lou, see you in the office.  Jen, see you on stage!

- Antonis and Pak