Hello gorgeous! For her one year anniversary, bride Andrea chose photographer Marissa Joy Kaplan to capture this sophisticated boudoir photo shoot as a gift to her husband. With a dynamic blend of modern fashion and classic elegance, Andrea and her romantic photos both look simply divine! A true gift indeed. What great inspiration!
What are you giving your sweetheart this holiday season?
Thank you for sharing these images Andrea and Marissa!
Inspired by her grandmother’s wedding, a love of classic black and white photography, and a deep passion for their city, Mel and Geoff were married in a quintessentially New York vintage wedding at City Hall Park that seems plucked straight out of a time gone by. They were the only two in attendance, aside from their darling dog, their officiant and their photographers Justin & Mary Marantz, and wouldn’t have planned their magical day any other way. Amazing wedding, and amazing images!
What made you and Geoff choose such an intimate wedding?We chose a simple wedding because we are busy with our jobs and the idea of planning a big affair was unappealing and impractical. Our friends and family are spread across the country from Seattle to Miami and everywhere in between, so a big party would have been a logistical nightmare and inevitably inconvenienced important people.
Marriage to us boils down to formalizing a very personal commitment, and that was the focus of the day. We love New York, the parks and wanted our dog to be there, so City Hall Park was a natural choice.
Your wedding look was so gorgeous and timeless! Tell us about the fashion aesthetic you were each going for and why it felt like you.Thank you! My friends will tell you that while I love a great wedding, I’ve never been the kind to fantasize about or plan my own. I guess I missed that female gene. Both my grandmothers were lovely women who got married with simple ceremonies in classic suits. If I were going for a look, their wedding photos formed the foundation. It seems to me there a few better things than a great man, a great dog and a great suit. I had all three, in my favorite city!
The ceremony evolved fairly organically, since the driving premise was to be low-key but meaningful. I didn’t give Justin and Mary much direction, however they asked for a few pictures for ideas. I dabble in photography, tending to prefer high contrast monochromes and urban geometry. I love classic black and white photos a la Stieglitz and Henri Cartier-Bresson. When I thought about images that captured the mood we hoped to evoke, I immediately thought of one of my favorite photographs: a 1950 Robert Frank image of a man in an overcoat, walking the streets of Paris with a flower hidden behind his back. There is such an emotional texture to the shot; there is an active sense of romance, like the viewer is stepping into a story mid-chapter. In many ways, a relationship should be like that. Marriage isn’t an apex or requisite, it’s simply a beautiful bookmark in the story of Love.
wedding inspiration photo above by Robert Frank – Paris New Year (Young Man with Tulip), 1949
What are some of your favorite and most romantic moments and memories from your day?The whole day was excellent! We had crepes and coffee at a little French cafe in the West Village, Chuck Olson did my hair (he is phenomenal! I sent him a few photos ahead of time but ultimately we improvised, the result of which being one of a kind and perfectly fitting) then Geoff and I met at the Pierre. We chose this hotel for its history and grace, not to mention the ideal location for dog walking in Central Park. Getting ready together was a blast, and we spent the rest of the weekend in the Park on a stay-honeymoon in what felt like an entirely different world than our regular Soho digs.
The focal point of the day was our vows, the creation of which we invested lot of thought. I will never forget sharing our promises, with our pug Squish looking on intently. It was perfect.
An unexpectedly pleasant experience was our informal dinner afterwards. Since we were downtown for the ceremony, we stopped for an early dinner at Bubby’s. If you’re familiar with the spot, you know it’s a casual place best known for pies, brunch, and midnight breakfast. The food is reliably delicious (We had matzoh ball soup, mac & cheese, vegetable enchiladas and more!) and at 5:30 on a Friday the space was remarkably charming with candlelit tables and the glow of street lamps outside.
What was it like working with Justin and Mary?Congenial, professional, wonderful, effective, amazing, inspiring…where do I start, or stop? I chose Justin & Mary because I was confident they would deliver high quality images that distilled the specialness and emotion of what was ultimately a simple affair. Personality is not a factor to me, so long as someone delivers an exemplary product. Luckily, we got both fantastic photos and two interesting, pleasant people to share our day.
In hindsight, I don’t know if technical prowess is strictly sufficient for good photography. Beyond the artistic skill that their images demonstrate, one can tell through the blog and design choices that this success is driven by a rare emotional acumen and multifaceted creative intelligence. Justin & Mary are the complete package.
To be more specific for those wondering what to expect, Mary is the “director” taking charge of the scenes and communications, while Justin holds the creative reins. They collaborate and execute seamlessly; both earn and deserve ample credit for the final product.
Any advice to others planning their weddings right now?This world inundates us with over-processed images, misleading marketing, unrelenting social pressures, unrealistic and often conflicting expectations. Be true to yourself and your partner. A wedding is a wedding, big or small, lavish or simple. Your life together is what really matters. If the thing you put the most effort and thought into is your vows, I can’t help but think you’ve laid a good foundation.
We believe that gratitude and delicious food are two of the best things in life, so what could be better than a whole holiday dedicated to celebrating them? We have so many things to be thankful for this year (each and every one of you reading this included), and we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to say so…
Blair: I feel grateful that I can honestly say I have no regrets about my life today. Not that I wouldn’t do things differently if I had a chance to do them again, just that every day I am grateful for the path and the people who’ve brought me here. Specifically, I am grateful for my husband Bob, my son Reid, my sister and fellow Junebug Sydnor, my amazing business partner Christy, Molly our ridiculously competent Photo Editor, Emily who works side by side with me to keep me organized (yes, she is a saint), my friend and Junebug co-founder Kim who always delights and inspires me, my Himalayan cat who still acts like a kitten, my home amid towering trees, distinctive photography, dancing with abandon, cooking almost anything, working in my pajamas, and connecting with old friends and new ones online, in person and around the world. My work surrounds me with beauty, love, and phenomenal people everyday, and although I know I tend to work too much, I just can’t get enough of it.
Christy:I’m thankful for so many things this year that it’s hard to narrow the list down to a manageable and blog post appropriate length! I’m eternally grateful for my partner Blair, who has been my friend and creative collaborator for more than 12 years now (wow!), the incredible team we have here at Junebug (just look at those beautiful faces!), my one-of-a kind boyfriend Matt, my brilliant sister Chela, and my wildly supportive and loving family and friends. Seattle and its endlessly opening new restaurants, how cozy my home office feels as it pours down rain outside, and the fact that I’m leading my Fantasy Football League bring me huge amounts of joy. And all the wonderful wedding professionals, artists, and readers who allow me to do this job – I thank my lucky stars for you everyday.
Sydnor:This year, I am grateful for the chance to bear witness to the stories of humanity and courage within our community – stories of love found and love lost, of glorious celebration and of heart-wrenching struggle. The drive of the human spirit to love, to create, and to heal despite great challenges are my joie de vivre! I am particularly thankful every time I find myself dancing to music that brings me alive – as well as having room for stillness and silence. For the wonderful ‘Bugs, and for my sister, whom I love and adore. I am grateful for my boyfriend, Omar, who is my soul mate and best friend and for my family and close friends who keep showing me what love is all about.
Molly: Wow I have so much to be thankful for this year! As always, I’m hugely thankful for my incredible community of family and friends. I’m thankful to be done with school (finally)! I’m thankful for the exposure to all the gorgeous wedding and portrait photography I get at Junebug, and the personal artistic inspiration that comes with that. Most recently I’m thankful for my co-workers, family, and friends who helped facilitate the amazing trip to France I was so blessed to get to take this month!
Emily: This year I am thankful for so many things in my life. My amazing husband and family who encourage me through life, being able to work in a field, and with people, that I love, and for the amazing community that I have met over this last year… and for warm apple cider. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!
And from all of us: Thank you, thank you, thank you for tuning in here everyday and sharing your wedding planning experiences with us. We are honored to get to play a part in such a monumental season in your lives, and we hold your trust, your comments and your friendship close to our hearts. We couldn’t do what we do without you!
Now go enjoy your friends, family and Thanksgiving feasts, and we’ll see you back here on Monday!
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