Breckenridge Sunrise Engagement

Mallory and Sean came to me through a client referral but from our first phone call and Zoom chats, I instantly felt like I’d known them for years. They live in St. Louis, MI, but are holding their wedding in Beaver Creek, Colorado, in September 2024. Mallory’s grandmother has a home there, and it’s a special place for her family.

Sean and Mallory were warriors and braved an early morning wakeup on Labor Day weekend to meet me at 6:15am at Officer’s Gulch, between Frisco and Breckenridge. Nothing beats magic hour photos (the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset), especially in the mountains!

Little did I know that the morning before Mallory and Sean’s engagement shoot, my boyfriend, now fiancé, would propose the day prior. With that, when I introduced Mallory and Sean to my fiancé, they were over the moon to hear about how he proposed and our love story. That is the type of people Mallory and Sean are—they only recently met me and hardly knew Mitch, yet they couldn’t wait to hear about our love and love story. They are such loving, generous, sweet people! I can’t wait to photograph their wedding next year and celebrate their love!

Lakefront Wedding Reception for Denver Couple

Jessica and Dan’s intimate wedding reception was elegant yet casual and full of love and laughter. Jessica and Dan met once they moved to Denver from Chicago and New York. I was thrilled to travel to gorgeous Saugatuck, Michigan, where Dan’s family has a family summer home. Saugatuck looks like it’s straight out of New England. Beautiful lakefront homes and lush gardens everywhere. The morning started overcast and rainy, but amazingly, the weather cleared up and greeted us with a gorgeous golden hour and beautiful sunset. The waterfront was stunning, as was capturing these beautiful souls’ love. They had their intimate ceremony in Denver, with just the two of them and I was thrilled to document their family reception to celebrate their love.

I’ve always been drawn to flowers and love incorporating nature and flowers into my wedding and event photography. I started dabbling in floral arranging while quarantining in 2020, and I was beyond thrilled and honored that the couple entrusted me to create the tablescapes and floral arrangements for their wedding. It was an absolute blast making the arrangements the morning of the wedding, setting up the venue, and then photographing it. For micro weddings and elopements, it’s wonderful to work so closely with couples and to simplify the planning by essentially being the only vendor besides venue, catering, and bakery.

Tips for Choosing the Best Wedding Flowers with Floral Designer Barbara Mele

Barbara Mele, Founder of Gatherings Floral Design, is a self-described “flower lover extraordinaire.”  With close to two decades of experience, Barbara’s team at Gatherings services NYC and the Tri-state area with her incredible floral designs for weddings, events, and occasions of all sizes. In addition to running Gatherings, Barbara has also trained many florists as a former teacher at FlowerSchool of New York.

Barbara created romantic, elegant, and classic table pieces and a bouquet for a micro wedding I photographed at Conrad New York Downtown. As the wedding photographer, I came to know the wedding couple, Anna and Efram, through brunching and talking at length about what they wanted their wedding to be like, and Barbara’s designs reflected their personalities and style perfectly: intimate, sweet, elegant. I was so impressed with Barbara’s talent, kind personality, and dedication to her craft that I identified her as my top-choice NYC florist to feature. 

Barbara and I recently sat down together (virtually) for an interview where she shared excellent guidance for couples planning their wedding, elopement, familial connection to gardens, and her “urban garden” style. Read on!

Rachael: Tell me about your path and how you got to where you are now:

Barbara: I always wanted to be a florist. My grandmother was a landscape architect, and my mom is one of ten siblings; all seven of her sisters are landscape architects, but my mom is the only one who isn’t. I knew I wanted to do something to honor my grandmother—my fondest childhood memories were of being in the garden with her. I would walk into the neighborhood florist shop in high school asking if they needed help, but they would ask if I had experience (which I didn’t), so it was a vicious cycle. I learned to be persistent, and in college, I landed my first job with a European-style florist who preferred to hire people without experience so they could teach everyone “fresh.” I advise anyone interested in being a florist to be willing to sweep the floor, help answer the phone—literally anything to get in, and eventually, you’ll be able to learn more and take on more.  

R: How do you describe your floral style?

B: Urban Garden. I’ve always loved very wild gardens and open fields from childhood, but my whole career has been in Manhattan, so I’ve combined the wild garden feel with the city. I love using wildflowers in a sleek modern vase: a little different, a little unusual. 

R: What advise do you have for couples planning their wedding or elopement? 

B: Try to stick with varieties that will be in season. The flowers will be healthier and stay open for longer—you want them to be at their best. They are also more reasonably priced. As technology and communication has expanded and growing practices have changed and improved, flowers are now available outside of their local season. Peonies are in their peak, locally, in May but are now available in October from South America. You are paying double the cost and it’s a roll of the dice as to how healthy they will be and how long they will last. Let nature take its course and stick to seasonal blooms.

R: How do you guide couples in selecting their wedding flowers?

B: There’s always something that clues the florist in to see what they would like such as a save-the-date, a dress, or the venue. Usually couples don’t talk to a florist as their first vendor. I also ask how they met, what their interests are and get a sense of the wedding venue and setting. I also advise based on seasonality.

Photo by Enrique Vega

Photo by Kim Trang

R: How do you help couples choose their colors and style?

B: I start with the venue along with the couple’s own preferences. Venues are often dark with mahogany fixtures, or the lighting isn’t great. Using whites and light colors brighten things up. Sometimes couples come in with references from Instagram or Pinterest that are beautiful but would only work in specific spaces or outdoors. It can help see examples of what a couple likes as a starting point if they bring references. My focus is on emulating the couple's feeling and style, and then I line-up the colors to compliment the space, lighting, and any color requests. 

 R: What current trend do you like, and what are you ready to say “goodbye” to?

B: I enjoy tablescapes with bud vases and candles—they have a lot of depth and dimension. Lots of different styles to it, incredibly malleable, which I really like. I’m ready to say “goodbye” to DIY flowers. There is a lot of education online now, which is great, but couples don’t necessarily have to do the whole package DIY if they are on a budget. You could do some but make sure you have the bouquet made by a professional florist. You don’t want wilted flowers in your wedding portraits!

R: What is your favorite part of working with couples planning their wedding?

B: I like meeting with the couples and hearing their love story. Whether they have the vaguest idea of what they want or are very specific, I love bringing a sketch or idea on paper to life.

R: Do you have a favorite flower? 

B: That’s an impossible question. I can say the flowers I don’t enjoy working with are poinsettias because when you cut them, they release a white sap and are messy to work with.

Photo by Checo Barragan

 R: How do people find you?

B: Usually, people find me via word of mouth and through venues I’ve worked at. If you’re top of mind with a venue, it is a good way to get business. Through social media as well.

Contact Barbara at info@GatheringsFloralDesign.com or by phone at 212-682-2083. Follow her on Instagram at @gatheringsfloraldesignny and visit her site www.gatheringsfloraldesign.com.

Planning your proposal, engagement, or wedding? Make sure you read Top Tips for Sustainable and Zero-Waste Weddings and my interview with jewelry designer Alice Clarke featuring her Tips for Selecting the Perfect Engagement Ring.

The Joy of Sending

(&

Receiving) Holiday Cards, Printed Wedding Invitations & Stationery

There is something about physically holding paper that makes stories memorable. Living in small apartments in NYC, I recognize that hoarding books over the years is not a particularly practical choice, and I prefer minimalist design, yet I insist on reading physical copies of books and staying surrounded by them. I love stories, fancy pens, textured paper, calligraphy, typography, and stationery. I keep nearly every card my mom sends me, and I treasure my grandparent’s love letters from World War II (I often include these in my lifestyle work . Naturally, I look forward to sending (and receiving) holiday cards to my friends and family every December.

As a family and wedding photographer, there is no greater joy than receiving photo holiday cards, baby announcements, and other correspondences from my clients featuring my photos. It truly makes my soul warm and fuzzy (cliché, I know, but true)! Seeing how my clients treasure and share their photographs is extremely rewarding and meaningful—it’s one of the many reasons I love doing what I do. When asked for recommendations about where clients and friends should make photo holiday cards, order personalized stationery, or create budget-friendly wedding invitations, baby announcements, etc. I send them to Basic Invite. They offer custom samples, unlimited colors (they have over 180 to choose from!), GORGEOUS foil details, a free address capturing service, and over 40 different colors of envelopes. After throwing my sister a baby shower last October, I can attest to how useful the address capturing service is—it saves a LOT of time! They also offer recipient address printing at no additional cost.

After planning events in NYC for ten years, I enjoy sharing recommendations and event/wedding planning tips with my clients. Basic Invite is a great resource for busy parents looking to print Merry Christmas photo cards, Hanukkah photo cards, New Year’s cards, and is also great for wedding invitations (as styled and photographed here). Their website is easy to use, and customizing designs is simple and quick. It can be hard to know for sure what you will like for wedding invitations, so the fact that you can order custom samples before committing to a full print order is wonderful. Their luxe velvet paper feels incredibly rich and can easily pass for a more expensive supplier. The texture gives invitations a little something extra, and from a photo perspective, the matte finish photographs beautifully. They also have foil detailing available in gold, silver, and rose gold. Another feature for engaged couples is their free wedding websites, which are quick to set up and look great.

Spending so much time at home these days, I find receiving mail (that’s not a bill) VERY exciting—the more baby announcements, New Year’s cards, holiday photo cards, etc. I receive the better, and I’m sure others feel the same! I highly recommend Basic Invite to send some love to the friends and family you haven’t been able to see in-person this year. They also have virtual holiday celebrations available for download to spruce up Zoom celebrations.

As a special perk to my readers, you can save 15% off your order with code “15FF51”.

This post was written in collaboration with Basic Invite, all photographs, words, and opinions are my own.

Meet Award-Winning Jewelry Designer Alice Clarke

Alice Clarke is an award-winning jewelry designer based in North Yorkshire, U.K., and the Falkland Islands. As a passionate conservationist and environmentalist, organic shapes and nature serve as the inspiration for Alice’s unique, gorgeous collections. Alice’s work has received countless awards and has been featured in exhibits worldwide, including NYC’s Museum of Art and Design’s LOOT exhibit in 2016, where we met!  Inspired by her two homes' raw beauty, Alice splits her time between the Falklands and North Yorkshire, where she designs, creates, and sells her jewelry, runs workshops, and offers personalized bespoke jewelry design services. With Alice’s expert knowledge and leading contemporary designs, she helps couples (and partners surprising their loved ones) choose an alternative engagement ring or create something new and entirely one-of-a-kind! Alice’s exquisite designs are created with precious metals such as gold and platinum and set with precious stones like diamonds, sapphires, aquamarine, and morganites. No two rings are alike.

Jessica J Photography

Alice and I caught up a few weeks ago where we talked about our creative entrepreneur journeys, her advice for picking out the perfect engagement ring, the Falklands, going vegan, and of course—our love of pumpkin! Check out some of our jewelry-focused highlights from our conversation below.

Rachael: Your work is absolutely gorgeous, and I’ve loved seeing it evolve since we met in 2016. How do you describe your work?

Alice: Fine jewelry inspired by nature; ethereal, ancient, organic, contemporary with a nod to the past. Earthy. My friend calls me an “earth child,” I’ve always been drawn to nature.

Jessica J Photography

R: What was your entrepreneur journey like? Tell me about your road to success.

A: As a teenager, I made jewelry and sold it at local craft fairs on the weekends. In 2013 I graduated from the world-renowned School of Jewelry in Birmingham with a First Class BA (Honors). My graduate collection, Sunday Best was a labor of love—it reflected the countryside I grew up in and loved. I returned to focusing on silver after graduating because “not everyone is going to walk around wearing a goose bib.” In 2016, after working all hours of the night and every free moment, I quit my part-time job at the National Trust, a charity and membership organization for heritage conservation in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Working full-time as a jewelry designer allowed me to focus exclusively on my craft, build my studio, and gave me space and time to create and cultivate my work. I grew leaps and bounds by being proactive and creating the pieces I wanted to in addition to commissions. The more money I earned, the more I had to reinvest in my business to purchase new machines and tools, which I named after my loyal customers' commissions. This was also when I began working in gold and platinum.

The artist at work

Inside Alice's North Yorkshire studio

R: What inspires you?

A: Lichens, nature in North Yorkshire, the textures and tones I see from my studio window or while kayaking in the Falklands. I consider my work “wearable sculptures.” 

Jessica J Photography

R: How do you guide someone shopping for an engagement ring without their partner?

A: Typically, they are very nervous, so I try to make them comfortable and be a mate (“friends” for us non-U.K. folks). I’m not “salesy.” I ask many questions like what kind of jewelry their partner usually wears and try to get a sense of what their loved one likes and their taste. I also ask what their build is like and their fashion style. I also love hearing how they met and their love story!

Sometimes I’m told, “all I know is that she wants an Alice Clarke ring.” Sometimes they know what they want, and sometimes they don’t. I go through metals, stones, and styles that they like to narrow down the options. Some come to my studio as a blank canvas, and others come to me because they know my style.

R: What’s the best part of designing wedding bands and engagement rings?

A: Your rings are a small physical part of the wedding but they play a HUGE role as the couple will be wearing them every day for the rest of their lives. The sentimental value is very high and it is very rewarding.

R: I love your ring boxes. Tell me about them!

A: I found the fabulous company, Woodstorming in 2014 on Instagram. I wanted something special and started buying one or two and now we have a collaboration! I include their gorgeous custom-made boxes for rings that are over £1000. The box has to be super special, as much as the ring.

R: I’m embarrassed to admit this but I didn’t know where the Falkland Islands were till you started spending time there and sharing your gorgeous photos on Instagram. It is absolutely stunning!

A: It is such a special, beautiful place. It is rugged and untouched and really opened my eyes and really inspired me. Dan (Alice’s partner) and I lead eco-friendly small group outdoor adventure tours, Falklands Outdoors, where we take visitors kayaking, climbing, hill-walking, and surfing. Being in and amongst the giant sea kelp that grow in kelp forests around the islands, and the swirling tendrils lapping on the rocks inspired my latest fine jewelry collection ‘Archipelago’. Each piece of jewelry is completely unique and is named after a significant place in the Falklands.

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If you can’t make it to Alice’s studios in the Falklands or North Yorkshire, you can purchase her gorgeous jewelry directly from her site and make sure you follow her on Instagram! I’ve been drooling over her Wishbone ring in rose gold in case anyone is interested in buying me a birthday present in December…wink, wink!

Cover image featuring Alice Clarke by Jessica J Photography.

NYC’s Most Romantic

Wedding Venue:

One if by Land, Two if by Sea

One if by Land, Two if by Sea is often cited as the most romantic restaurant in New York City and in 2020 was rated as the “5th Most Romantic Restaurant in the World" by Architectural Digest. After photographing an intimate daytime September wedding at this gorgeous historical gem, I can attest that this beautiful land-marked, 18th century carriage house in NYC's West Village deserves these accolades and more!

The original carriage house once belonged to Aaron Burr (built in 1767) and now hosts engagements, proposals, weddings, and other intimate celebrations accompanied by chef Gary Volvo’s classic menu including oysters, beef Wellington and Pastry Chef Vera Elezovic’s chocolate soufflé and other delicacies. You can also reserve a table for a special dinner but for a romantic wedding venue in NYC, there is no need to look further.

The decor includes candlelit tables, brick fireplaces, natural wood, a baby grand piano and a private garden all lending to a warm, intimate, and old-world feel. Located on charming Barrow Street in the West Village, the brick exterior accompanied by large curved windows provides ample space for beautiful family photos right outside One if by Land, Two if by Sea for large groupings that won’t fit inside the private garden. It’s also a great way to have a mix of portraits in a beautiful garden and in the West Village to have a wider range of locations for bridal portraits. This is a big time-saver and makes accommodating family members who can’t easily stand for more than a few minutes or have difficulty moving around much easier.

One if by Land, Two if by Sea is available for private events and can be closed to the public to accommodate larger events. Up to 130 guests can be hosted for a seated dinner or 200 guests for a cocktail style reception.

Read more about the fascinating history of the carriage house and check out Christine and Phil’s wedding at One if by Land, Two if by Sea and in the nearby beautiful gardens of Saint Luke in the Fields.

Vendors featured include the following:

Dress: BHLDN

Groom’s Tie & Handkerchief: Ted Baker

Florals: Angelica Flowers & Events

View more of Christine and Phil’s wedding at One if by Land, Two if by Sea here.

Top Tips for Sustainable and Zero-Waste Weddings

Weddings can transport us to beautiful places—whether a micro wedding in a backyard, on the beach, in a local garden, at a modern magnificent ballroom, a farm, or at a gorgeous chateau. Yet, regardless of your wedding style, location, and number of guests, the unfortunate reality is events and weddings can produce a lot of waste. The good news is there are many ways to reduce waste!

I was thrilled to have one of my favorite wedding images published in Top Tips for Throwing Zero-Waste Weddings in St. Louis in St. Louis Best Bridal. They shared fabulous tips including:

• Choose a mindful caterer that values local, seasonal, and sustainable ingredients and creates farm-to-table menus.

• Pick locally grown flowers and request that your florist doesn’t use flower foam. This lovely couple cared deeply about using local vendors for their St. Louis, MO wedding. They hired the fabulous Urban Buds: City Grown Flowers who grows their beautiful blooms locally in greenhouses.

• Find an earth-friendly event space. “Sustainability-focused venues and caterers will have built best practices into the core of their mission statements and train their staff accordingly”.

  • For NYC couples, check out Ecocult’s list of 15 Coolest Sustainable Wedding Venues for Brooklyn Couples.

• Hold your wedding in one place—this cuts down on travel and fuel emissions.

For more guidance, journalist and sustainable fashion expert, Alden Wicker, shares fabulous tips on throwing a sustainable event in NYC (I photographed this event for Alden—it was SO much fun!) and how she made her Brooklyn wedding eco-friendly.

Alden points out that while electronic invitations are often a popular option, digital invites and RSVPs can get lost in cyberspace. She used Bella Figura who” uses vegetable-oil based and low-Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) inks, and low-VOC and citrus-based solvents. They recycle and compost their waste, and use recycled packaging materials. The papers themselves are made of reclaimed cotton fibers from the garment industry, and colored papers are FSC-certified. They are entirely powered by wind through the purchase of Renewable Energy Credits (RECs).”

Alden also highlights sustainable fashion, non-toxic makeup, reusable or biodegradable favors, non-disposable decor, and hiring a compost company. Read her full article here.

Featured here are photos of Urban Buds’ stunning creations at the elegant wedding of Boston-based couple, Natalie & Brice. Locations include Missouri Botanical Garden and The Caramel Room in St. Louis, Missouri (Brice’s hometown).

Do you have sustainable or eco-friendly practices in your daily life that you’re passionate about? Share in comments below!