Surf Club on the Sound Wedding | Alyssa + James | Wedding Photographers NYC

Surf Club on the Sound Wedding | Alyssa + James New Rochelle, NY

November 12, 2019

I was really looking forward to photographing Alyssa + James Surf Club on the Sound wedding for a couple of reasons: One, Alyssa loves to laugh and James is great at making Alyssa laugh, which is one of my favorite things to photograph. Two, Alyssa works with my husband and helps schedule and run the meetings – meaning she is very organized. We talked about timing for everything, but she was the one who sent me a timeline with a detailed outline first (so no pressure to stay on schedule haha). Three, it was my last wedding of the 2019 season and it was along the water with a couple that I get along with so well!

I feel like most of my couples this year have known each other since high school and Alyssa + James is another one of those couples. They started dating when Alyssa was a freshman and James was a sophomore in high school. They continued to date all through college even though it was a long distance relationship. Since living together after college, Alyssa said it only solidified their feelings that they only wanted to be with one another since they still enjoyed each other’s company and and loved one another. It’s amazing to me how being long distance can really challenge and also grow a couple at the same time. (Ben and I were long distance for 3 years before we got married. It sucks, but it really makes you work at the relationship and get to know each other in a different way because most of the time you can only talk. Plus, when the distance is over it makes being together all the better.)

As I expected, Alyssa + James’ Surf Club on the Sound wedding day went so smoothly thanks to Alyssa’s organization and the group of vendors they had chosen. Even though it was the middle of October, it was the perfect temperature along the water. The whole day felt relaxed and easy which I think is a reflection of Alyssa + James’ relationship. They chose to do a first look which freed up so much time for portraits so that they could enjoy their cocktail hour and reception. And believe me they enjoyed their reception, they were on the dance floor the entire night with each other enjoying the moment.

This dress! There are so many details to it and just wait until you see it on her! It fit perfectly!

I don’t know if I was more excited about the dress or the shoes haha. I love a good pair of shoes and these are amazing!

Alyssa got each of her bridesmaids hangers for their dresses with their names on them.

Alyssa’s something old was her garter that was made from the lace of her mother’s wedding dress. She borrowed her mother’s bracelet, her amazing shoes were her something blue and her “something new” was a number of things from her wedding ring, to her dress and veil. There are always a lot of “new” things on a wedding day so how do you choose just one. 🙂

Alyssa had her friend, Jordan, from high school come and do her hair and makeup.

I never thought to sew something into my dress, but I like this idea. Alyssa’s mother sewed a little piece of her baby blanket into her wedding dress.

Did I not tell you her Essense of Australia wedding dress fit her perfectly?

Not only did Alyssa have an amazing pair of blue Jewel Badgley Mischka shoes for the day, she also had an adorable pair of Keds x Kate Spade New York slip ons for the reception (And she needed them for the amount of dancing she did!).

Alyssa’s maid of honor, Sabrina, and best friend from I believe middle school, helped out with the veil. The laughing picture in the bottom right is my favorite 🙂 Such a special moment between life long friends!

James and Alyssa exchanged letters and gifts. James sneakily disguised his gift bag.

Alyssa’s father had already seen her in her dress, but there’s still something completely different when it’s on the wedding day and the bride’s hair and makeup is all done and the father of the bride is about to walk his daughter down the aisle. Look how cute the cufflinks Alyssa got for her dad are with the picture from when she was a little girl.

The bridesmaids seeing Alyssa in her dress!

While I was with the girls at the hotel, my second photographer, Mekina, was with the guys at Alyssa + James’ apartment.

Not only did James wear swanky socks and loafers, but the groomsmen all wore matching ones as well! Just wait!

Looking good James!

I have that exact Peak Design backpack that James received from Alyssa! (It’s my favorite travel bag and all the compartments inside fold different ways so it’s perfect for traveling with camera gear!)

Alyssa wanted to do their first look where they were going to have their ceremony so she actually got to walk down the aisle twice. I love that she’s laughing as she’s walking towards James!

Alyssa said that her dress is totally different than anything she’d normally wear so I love that she’s showing it off to James.

The Surf on the Sound has a grand staircase in its lobby so we made sure to get plenty of pictures there. They just look so classic.

Love this shot Mekina got from up above of James twirling Alyssa.

#shoegoals 🙂

I love getting a traditional bridal party portrait on wedding days as well as all the other fun ones.

I just loved this fountain for portraits, plus with these two cuties you couldn’t go wrong!

I call this the traditional Alyssa laugh haha

Hey James, you clean up pretty well too! 🙂

Arcadia Floral Company did a beautiful job with all the flowers!

I love how the picture on the right shows-off the matching sock and loafers.

Oh and the groomsmen had suspenders, I’m telling you these guys were styling.

Alyssa, you are gorgeous!

Since Alyssa + James did a first look we even had time for their family portraits before the ceremony.

Now it was time for Alyssa to take the real walk down the aisle with her father.

The ceremony space was so stunning with water right behind them as they promised together forever and the sun set off to the right.

She has the best laugh, especially when she accidentally adds in her own vows (while repeating what the pastor said) with out even noticing it. It was hilarious!

They are married!!!

Right before they went into cocktail hour we did a couple of minutes of pictures on the beach.

The geese even appeared to make it picture perfect.

Oh my gosh they’re so romantic together!

I don’t think the back of Alyssa with her hair, barrette, open back dress with the backdrop necklace and details of her dress have been given enough credit yet.

Let the reception begin!!

They’ve got that dip down!

It looks like Alyssa + James had a little bit of fun at their reception 🙂

For awhile I’ve been thinking that I can’t remember the last time I saw a bride and groom smash their cake into each other’s face, besides the little “boop” of icing on the nose. It kind of makes me sad, but I totally get it because I didn’t want it done after I had paid for my makeup as a bride and I hate being sticky. But these two right here, brought the tradition back and made it proud!

One last picture! Thank you again, Alyssa + James, for allowing me to be a part of your day and for trusting me to capture it! It was truly an honor and and I enjoyed every minute of it!

Also a huge shout out to my team: Mekina, Devin and Ben. They totally rocked taking pictures all day long and represented myself and my business so well. In fact, they took so many amazing pictures it was a huge task to narrow them down! And Ben didn’t take any pictures (well maybe some BTS on his phone), but he’s the man behind the scenes that keeps me on time, hydrated, fed, carries all my bags and does it all to support me and my couples.