Jacob & Matt's Two Day Wedding Celebration at Arlo Williamsburg + Brooklyn Winery in Brooklyn, NY

Jacob and Matt have one of our favorite ‘origin’ stories of all time, one that feels like it could just as easily be a movie as it was their real lives. The short version is basically that they met while each living on opposites sides of the bridge over to Brooklyn, and they’d either meet up in the middle or walk across in order to spend time with one another. Being the huge saps that we are, we fell in love with their love and from the first conversation we were giddy to get to the city to meet up and photograph them. Eager to do things their own way, Jacob and Matt opted to get married at Brooklyn City Hall with just their family around and from there meet up with us to show us their neighborhood, take us to some favorite spots, and explore together. When we first arrived they had just been officially married, excitedly and triumphantly walking out into the street, and the energy was high. Jacob and Matt were impeccably stylish, incredibly sweet to one another, and so welcoming to us, a couple of New Englanders constantly exclaiming ‘wow’ around every corner as we walked through Brooklyn. We stopped here and there, chatting and learning more about how they got to this point together, and excitedly sharing what inspired us photographically while they took us through the neighborhood Matt lived in when they first met. We stopped underneath the Manhattan Bridge for some photos before sending them on their way to meet their families who awaited them for a celebratory dinner, and after saying bye we grabbed a car back to the Arlo Williamsburg.

Our second day with Jacob and Matt was focused more heavily on the people they surround themselves with, and after some some photos of them in and around the hotel we all hopped in another car to head to the Brooklyn Winery, a beautifully reimagined warehouse space producing lovely wines of all varieties. Inside the bright common space their friends and families had collected, excited to celebrate two people so clearly deserving of being celebrated. As Jacob and Matt casually waded into cocktail hour and said hellos and caught up with folks, the dining room underwent its final touches in preparation for their guests. We were shocked at how beautiful the space was; Brooklyn Winery have recently moved into this building and we weren’t able to find a whole lot of photos online beforehand, and the abundance of natural light pouring in through the massive skylights fell beautifully on the living plant wall installed behind the head table where Jacob and Matt were to be seated. The atmosphere cultivated was lush, a bit moody, and elevated by pops (!) of color everywhere in the form of poppies, courtesy of their friend Leah. Toasts from parents and Jacob and Matt themselves had everyone in fits of laughter, shedding a happy tear or two, and excited for what would turn out to be an absolutely wild dance floor. A massive disco ball hung over their table, hinting at what was to come once the lights dimmed, and as the DJ dropped Beyoncé & Miley Cyrus’ “II Most Wanted” for their first dance, things got sparkly. About half way through the dance set the music calmed briefly, the crowd parted on the floor, and none other than local legend Lexington Banks strutted down the aisle. A two part performance reenergized the crowd, blew our minds with their agility, and served as an exclamation point on the evening. We always love photographing people dancing, but this felt special. Jacob and Matt and their friends and families exuded gratitude - for the moment, for their loved ones gathered together, for the reality that is their wedding celebration coming to a close, and as we walked back to our hotel room we felt a sadness. Not a boohoo, woe is me kind of sadness, but the kind we feel when we’ve made a genuine connection with folks that we ultimately have to say bye to. Maybe we move to Brooklyn?

Venue/Catering: Arlo Williamsburg / Brooklyn Winery
Florals: Leah Willis of Feverfew Florals
Rings: The Tiny Jeweler
Music: Rogue
Drag Performer: Lexington Banks
Film/Processing: Kodak Portra 400/800 / Kerry’s Warwick Photo