Winter wedding tips Summer and fall weddings might be all the rage but there’s just something beautiful and often sentimental about getting married in the winter. True the season can get really depressing especially on the east coast (at least for me), you’re thinking bald trees, gray skies, dry grass and freezing weather but I know that a baddie like you can slay anywhere regardless of the place and conditions. Here are a few tips on how to get the best from winter wedding photos; Use stunning architecture for your portraits; Often times trees with no leaves can create a lot of distracting lines in the background of your photos, now, while that’s beautiful in its own right, there’s something to be said about using stunning architecture instead. On the week of your wedding, have your photographer or planner scout the areas nearby, look for grande buildings, white walls or even winter greens. Play with the season and holidays within; The weather might be frightful but you can make your guests feel delightful. I love this recent winter wedding I did at cedar lakes estates, on the welcome night, the couple had an Aprés ski themed party and my oh […]

Cedar Lakes Estates Spring wedding | Anna + Tyler Wedding Weekend Anna & Tyler’s beautiful flower filled Cedar Lakes Estates Wedding. Planner – Social Life EventsRentals – Petina RentalsFlorists – Mimosa FloralsVenue – Cedar Lakes Estates

Oheka Castle Wedding wedding | Daisy + Carl This New York couple made Oheka Castle their home for the weekend. I’ll forever treasure the experiences I had with Daisy and Carl. From enjoying a dinner at Bartello with a sunset view of the  New York Skyline to drinks at their wedding after party, they let me in with hearts wide open. Daisy who recently got selected as one of Variety’s women of the year 2022 and Carl a wildly successful entrepreneur are the quintessential expression of work hard play hard. They wanted their guests to get a glimpse into their lives, summers in Montauk & Music festivals, and winters in Paris & Europe. LOUD music, pampas grass, and authentic Parisian dessert were the highlight of the day. The Bride wore a Rime Arodaky french dress and beautiful pearl Jimmy Choos, while the groom wore a custom velvet suit with shoes handcrafted in Italy by Del Toro. Florist – Bastille FloralsVenue – Oheka CastlePlanner – C&G weddingsDress – Rime ArodakyShoes – Jimmy Choos

Cedar Lakes Estates Spring wedding | Saadiah + Tim Wedding Weekend Imagine renting out a cabin with some friends for the weekend and having the party of a lifetime, that’s exactly how Saadiah and Tim’s wedding felt like. From the fresh crisp mountain air to the college themed after party, these two sure know how to curate a memorable guest experience. The weekend began with a rehearsal dinner and specialty cocktails as they welcomed their loved ones and friends. Since many had travelled from far and near, it made sense that the next day began like it would at summer camp; swimming, lawn games, hammocking and more,  as Saadiah and her bridesmaids in high spirits got ready singing along to the likes of Latto’s big energy. I can still remember the emotions as Saadiah walked down the aisle to Tim, the tears of joy, the overwhelming love and the laughter that filled the amphitheater as these two exchanged vows. That sunset felt like a scene out of a Rom com as the lake glistened and the birds sang. And as expected when the reception began all the chairs were empty, as the guests drunk on love and wine danced the night away. Saadiah […]

It was a warm Saturday afternoon when I parked my car in a neighborhood which looked like the quintessential setting for a New York City Rom-Com. I was meeting Caroline and Adrian for the first time in person over drinks before our photo session. But it wasn’t long before we bonded over our shared love of Africa and the Cameroonian culture. In-between bites of the charcuterie, we exchanged stories of our experiences and reminisced upon the cuisine. To add some context here, I spent most of my early years growing up in Cameroon, and coincidentally Caroline had spent quite some time there as well. Gosh, I mean what are the odds of this happening? We spent the rest of our lunch looking through their travel galleries and laughing hard at their adventurous stories. When it was time to head out for our shoot, I decided to scratch the plans we had initially made. Posing in a random park just didn’t feel right. So we went up to their apartment, got them changed, and cozied up to their favorite tunes. Thank you Caroline and Adrian for the laughs, the stories, and all the memories we created together. And to anyone reading […]

Jocelyn and Justins Cedar Lakes’ proposal was one of the most magical ones I did over the summer. Justin’s idea was to do a romantic scavenger hunt using all their first dates as clues. And finally, when she was done, he waited for her in front of the amphitheater at Cedar Lakes Estates. As he got on one knee, the lake sparkled it’s reflected sun rays in approval. Justin and Jocelyn, it was such an honor to have been there to document your proposal.  

  I recently came across a method of farming called the slash and burn, whereby you cut down the trees on a plot of land then set fire to the remaining foliage to provide nutrients to the soil for the newer food crops. Kelly + Alex’s Cape May elopement which began at Stay Lokal was the beginning of my beauty from ashes. It’s no secret that the wedding/events world took a major hit due to COVID 19, and even now there’s much to be sad about, many have lost loved ones, businesses are going out of commission and there’s great division in our world. But we’ve also seen the beauty of humanity & community like never before. And I hope that you can find inspiration from this post and believe that there’s much to look forward to. Alex + Kelly, have been a bright lamp post on the road of my journey. I still remember tearing up when Kelly was reading her vows to Alex, it was a reinvigorating moment that reminded of the very great POWER OF LOVE. And it confirmed my convictions that LOVE IS NOT CANCELLED. So remember no matter how hot the flames are, I believe […]

This was one of the most creative shoots I worked on in 2019 and interestingly enough I think now provides lots of inspiration for an intimate micro wedding. It was a dream to have this published in Modern Luxury weddings Magazine.   The whimsical 18th century garden of Hill-Physick caught the eye of the team at Garces Events, who partnered with Kate Boyle—event designer at Sara Rea Design. “I thought it would be perfect for two busy doctors who love the history, want something stunning but also a high-end intimate wedding. Our idea began there, and we built an amazing team to create a luxe shoot,” says Boyle. The four-story brick house, decorated with beautiful, French-influenced neoclassical furnishings, is reflective of the time period but also provides a stunning backdrop for modern couples—who can transition from a cocktail reception in the parlor to dinner in the garden through floor-to-ceiling windows (that also serve as doors). “The garden is a magical space that we believe is a hidden gem in Philadelphia,” says Boyle. Claudia Harmon, owner of Jollifier Floral Design, styled the space with intentional blooms such as herbs with medicinal properties like mountain mint and lavender and anatomical oddities like […]

As I hid away in the pines overlooking the Amphitheatre at Cedar Lakes Estates, watching these two young summer lovers, head over heels for each other with the reflected light from the lake, glistening in the background, I was ravished by their love. The wind, the pines, and the birds all sang in anticipation for that moment when Keith would get on one knee and ask Kaitlyn to spend the rest of his life with her. Even the sun graced us with her presence and sparkle that serene evening. It was an honor to spend my birthday with these two.   Your love reminds me of summer Cherry Lips and raspberry wine, Jasmine flowers on climbing vines, Palm leaves rustling in the sunshine, Wishing we could slow downtime.   Christy Ann Martine    

From the drive up to Cedar Lakes Estate through the Hudson Valley, to the mountain top overlooking the Shawangunk Mountains, Cedar Lakes Estate is indeed “one perfectly peaceful lakefront escape combining culinary adventure with rustic radiance.” After being fortunate enough to photograph a few beautiful weddings at this luxury estate venue, I just had to create this shortlist of 5 Reasons why I think Cedar Lakes Estates is THE dream glamping wedding venue In New York.   Cedar Lakes Estates An Unforgettable glamping experience; I still remember those long late-night bonfire conversations with friends, oh, the sticky s’ mores and remnant smell of smoke on my clothes. These are some of my favorite memories and Cedar lakes Estate, once a 1920’s summer camp, evokes all the feelings of nostalgia. I can only imagine what a weekend wedding with family and friends at cedar lakes would feel like. It would be an adventurous experience, comprising of mountain top yoga, team competitions, an outdoor movie night, and deep personal bonfire chats. It would be an experience of a lifetime.   Below are images of what a rehearsal dinner could look like at the pavilion     Say “I do” with a view […]