As a wedding photographer, we have years of experience shooting various locations and venues in the New York Metro Area (literally – we’ve photographed over 300 weddings!). When navigating the wedding planning process, it can be so difficult to figure out venues, vendors, logistics, and budgets. That being said, we thought it would be helpful to give some information based on our experience photographing weddings at A Private Estate. See all the details below!
A Private Estate Events LLC is located in Germantown, NY a serene and picturesque area of the Hudson Valley. It is a 19th century Livingston mansion with sweeping views of the Hudson River and Catskills Mountains. With a maximum capacity of 275 guests, you can host your celebration waterside in a tent or in the restored barn complex. The well-groomed lawns and intimate feel of the space is the perfect backdrop for any wedding, large and small. Your guests will be awed by the views and service at this venue!
With such a small wedding and everything happening on-site, they only needed one photographer. I worked with their coordinator Danielle of Every Little Detail to build a timeline that allowed us plenty of time for all the photos the couple wanted (including the epic editorial style shot of their entire family on the steps of the estate house!) but to ensure that the day didn’t feel like a photo shoot and they spent as much time as possible with their loved ones.
I arrived extra early on-site for additional time to document the details of the day and the location that was so important to Nicole and Luca. With both of them getting ready at the carriage house together, it was seamless to bounce between the two of them and capture the moments with friends and family — from Luca and his mom seeing one another for the first time to extended family hanging around a fire pit on the chilly autumn morning.
Once the day kicked off, I floated amidst the guests between events - capturing moments of laughter amidst friends and little details like the father of the bride's little dog running around during the cocktail hour or Luca's arm around Nicole's chair during toasts. These in-between moments are often not the photos you'll hang on your wall or post on Instagram, but sweet glimpses of the day that take you right back to what it felt like to be in the room.
While the flowers may fade, the guests may go home, and your gown goes into the closet….your photos are the one thing from your wedding that holds its value. It’s not just about having someone with a professional camera to come and simply document your wedding.
You don’t want to scroll back through your photos and think “Yup, that’s what the day looked like.” You want to hold your photos in your hands and say, “This is what the day felt like.”
Investing in a photographer that can truly capture the ambience and love in your day. From the in-between candid moments between you and your partner to the laughs of your college best friends during the cocktail hour, every moment matters. A photographer who can not only capture these memories but also make you feel at ease and comfortable is the best investment you can make.