I’m kinda frustrated if I’m being honest. I’m frustrated because I literally don’t think any words I write will do justice to Olivia and Ben’s NYIT de Seversky Mansion Wedding. Honestly, I was there for 13 hours and I still didn’t want to leave. I think I almosttttt cried when it was time to go, because I was so sad it was over.

Since I was nervous about Long Island traffic, I stayed in Long Island City the night before the wedding. My second shooter, Rosemary and I both got to the venue super early which was awesome because we got to walk around the grounds and pick all our portrait locations. I honestly think I could shoot here every weekend and have a different location all the time. This place is SPECTACULAR.

As a previous design major, I can really appreciate good architecture. I walked through the mansion doors into a foyer of ALL MARBLE. Ceiling, walls, floors, everything. WITH A SKYLIGHT. Talk about a photographers DREAM!!!!

Rosemary and I shot all the details before any of the wedding party arrived (Thank you to Mr. Lukas for dropping them off at the mansion for us!!) We had so much finding locations to hang the dress (thank god Rosemary is tall and they had some sturdy chairs around!). We were in marble heaven shooting details, and then I opened up Olivia’s gift to Ben, which was a moleskine journal and immediately I started crying. What was in it? 100 reasons why Olivia loves Ben, starting 100 days out from the wedding. ARE YOU SERIOUS OLIVIA? Honestly, bawling.

Once the girls arrived, we took some fun prep pictures in their matching button downs and then everyone got ready in the bridal suite. Rosemary went over to the guys who arrived shortly after and I loved Ben’s reaction when he opened Olivia’s gift!

Needless to say, Olivia put her gown on and she was STUNNING in her gown from Kleinfeld’s. Ya know when they say the dress just finds you? Yeah. That was the case. We did a first look with her dad and the tears started flowing instantly (mine and his!).

Then, it was time for the first look with Ben. I was expecting it to be a tear-jerker but I didn’t quite know how MANY tears there would be (on my end)…and Ben’s. It might have been the cutest, most wonderful, emotional moment I’ve ever gotten to photograph. I just love these two and how much they adore each other. From what I could hear, Olivia told Ben to stop crying and he just said “I CAN’T!!! YOU’RE SO BEAUTIFUL!”. Dang it Ben. Cue the tears, AGAIN.

After the first look, we did wedding party and family formals in front of the mansion and gardens and the marble steps on the “side yard”. When formals were done, Olivia and her dad hopped into the Rolls Royce and everyone else got in the limo to go to the ceremony, which was Olivia’s church.

They held a Catholic mass at Church of Saint Joseph in Garden City, Long Island and exited to heart petals and drove off in the Rolls back to the mansion.

Once we got there, there was still a little bit of time before Cocktail Hour started so we got to have a round 2 of portraits where we photographed through the tree paths, and on the back steps of the mansion. I think someone should have tallied how many times I said “stunning”, “beautiful”, “OHMYGOD” or something along those lines. EVERY PICTURE WAS INCREDIBLE.

After portraits, Olivia and Ben headed to Cocktail Hour and Rosemary and I set up lights and photographed the Reception details. After intros and their first dance to Dan and Shay’s “From the Ground Up”, the Time Square Orchestra band got the dance floor PACKED for the rest of the night. We had SO MUCH fun, threw down some (awesome) dance moves, and literally could not stop smiling. Until wanted to cry because it was time for us to leave. SO SAD.

Olivia and Ben met at Medical School in Buffalo where they just graduated from, LAST WEEK and are moving down to Baltimore right after their Honeymoon!! Seriously these two are amazing!! They are so complimentary to each other and you can just tell being around them that they share an unconditional love for each other. It’s always a blessing to be around- seriously I can’t love my job any more!! You could hear cute whispers of “you’re so handsome” and “you’re so beautiful!” left and right and they made my job so easy!

Olivia and Ben, I honestly can’t say thank you enough for inviting me into your lives. Your friends and family are just incredible and I felt like part of the family all day. Thank you for your hospitality at your engagement session, and for showing me what unconditional love looks like on a wedding day. I absolutely loved being a part of your NYIT De Seversky Mansion Wedding, and I’m sad it’s over! I love you guys, and wish you a lifetime of happiness!!

Love this bouquet!!!! Can you seriously think of a better place to hang a a wedding dress? MARBLE HEAVEN!!! Liv and her Mom! Love these! STUNNING!!! LOVE this moody shot by my awesome second shooter Rosemary!! BEST reaction ever!! What a stunning gown! And bride!! Get ready to cry. Yup, here’s the tears!! LOVE THESE TWO!!! Look at those flowers! SPRING is the time to have NYIT de Seversky Mansion wedding if you ask me!!! Love this shot by Rosemary! #weddinggoals They match the sky! I love it!! Thanks to this wedding party for making me feel like we’ve been friends forever! Does it get any better? Oh yes, it does. Now thatttt’s a car. Cue the tears again!!! THEY’RE MARRIED!!! You just can’t beat this location! Dear 85mm. I love you. Something about this shot, I just love it!! OKAY. These steps were EVERYTHING!!! PICTURE OF THE DAY. WINNER. One of my favs!!