Monica & Evan // New York, New York

When it comes to iconic New York City wedding venues, few places feel quite as grand as The Metropolitan Club. Located on Fifth Avenue across from Central Park, this historic Gilded Age landmark is everything you imagine when you picture a classic Manhattan wedding: soaring ceilings, marble architecture, ornate details, and an unmistakable sense of old New York elegance.

Monica and Evan's August wedding was the perfect example of why I love photographing weddings in New York City. Their day felt incredibly sophisticated and elevated while still being warm, personal, and full of genuine moments with the people they love most.

As a luxury NYC wedding photographer, these are the weddings I love most. Celebrations where the setting is extraordinary, but the photographs are ultimately about the people.

A Classic, Modern New York City Wedding

From the moment I arrived at The Metropolitan Club, the day already felt incredibly special. Monica and Evan were surrounded by their closest friends and family as they prepared for the celebration, with the beautiful architecture of the Club creating an incredible backdrop for all of the in between moments.

The Metropolitan Club is one of those rare venues where you never have to manufacture a photograph. The architecture does so much of the work. From the marble foyer and grand staircase to the ornate ceilings and historic details throughout the building, every space has an editorial quality that photographs beautifully.

Designed by Stanford White and completed in the 1890s, the Club remains one of New York's most beautiful examples of Gilded Age architecture. Its grand interiors were designed for entertaining on a spectacular scale, making it an especially incredible setting for a formal New York wedding. For Monica and Evan, the setting felt perfectly aligned with the rest of their day. Classic, elegant, and unmistakably New York.

Getting Ready at The Metropolitan Club

One of my favorite parts of a wedding day is always the quiet beginning. Before the guests arrive and before the ceremony begins, there is this small window of time when everything slows down. It's when I can photograph the details, the anticipation, the champagne, the excitement, and all of the little interactions that couples may not even realize are happening around them.

Monica's getting ready moments were beautiful and intimate, surrounded by the people closest to her. Rather than making the morning feel overly posed, I wanted the photographs to feel effortless and natural while still capturing the elegance of the day.

That balance is something I always strive for in my work. Photographs that feel polished enough for an editorial spread, but personal enough to bring you immediately back to how the day actually felt.

NYC Portraits at The Metropolitan Club

The Metropolitan Club is truly a dream for wedding portraits. The grand staircase, marble architecture, rooftop overlooking Central Park, and historic interiors create so many opportunities for photographs that feel timeless without feeling overly traditional. There is something about photographing a couple in a space like this that instantly gives the images a sense of permanence.

For Monica and Evan, we took advantage of the architecture while also making sure their portraits felt like them. I never want couples to feel like they are spending their wedding day posing for photographs. My goal is to create a handful of intentional portraits while leaving plenty of time for them to actually enjoy their celebration. And because The Metropolitan Club sits directly on Fifth Avenue across from Central Park, there is also the opportunity to step outside and incorporate Manhattan into the story. There is nothing quite like a New York City wedding portrait. The architecture, the movement of the city, the taxis, the streets, and that unmistakable Manhattan energy becoming part of the photograph.

Ceremony at the Metropolitan Club

Monica and Evan's beautiful Jewish wedding ceremony took place beneath a gorgeous chuppah, creating an incredibly meaningful and romantic setting for them to begin their marriage. Surrounded by their closest family and friends, the ceremony felt both elegant and deeply personal, with the stunning chuppah becoming a beautiful focal point against the timeless architecture of The Metropolitan Club.

There was something especially beautiful about seeing Monica and Evan surrounded by the people they love most as they exchanged vows and celebrated the traditions that are so meaningful to them. The combination of the gorgeous floral chuppah, the grandeur of the Metropolitan Club, and the emotion of the ceremony made for some truly unforgettable photographs.

As a photographer, these are the moments I love most. The quiet anticipation before the ceremony, the emotion as they saw each other, the laughter and happy tears from their families, and all of the meaningful traditions woven throughout the celebration.

A Grand NYC Wedding Reception

After the ceremony, Monica and Evan's celebration continued with an incredible reception surrounded by their favorite people. There is something so quintessentially New York about having a formal wedding reception in a historic Manhattan venue. The Metropolitan Club has the grandeur for a truly spectacular celebration, but the individual rooms still allow the evening to feel intimate and personal.

From the beautiful tablescapes and florals to the champagne, speeches, dinner, and packed dance floor, every part of the evening felt incredibly considered. And then, as the night went on, the formality gave way to pure celebration. What I loved most about Monica and Evan's wedding was how naturally everything came together. The Metropolitan Club provided the grandeur. Manhattan provided the backdrop.