Tutera is not only an amazing planner, he’s a fabulous designer. He created a beautiful Mexican inspired wedding for Christina, whose Riviera Maya destination wedding had to be canceled. His first stop was to check on the decor at the hotel where the reception would be. His team was already doing a great job; he added a few more touches to the look.

Next he visited the bride who was in the process of getting her hair and make-up done.

Never a private moment on a TV show.

This is when he reminded Christina of the 3 dresses she tried on. He is about to tell her which one he chose for her. (This also happens to be one of my fave moments each episode of the show. I can’t help loving that they don’t know which gown he chose. The suspense is super fun. And while most women wouldn’t want someone else to chose this most important of all dresses, I actually would have loved it. I had such a hard time figuring out what to get.)

Before and during the ceremony, there is tons going on both behind the camera and in front of the camera. These portraits show how David is working to make sure that everything goes off without a hitch. Before the ceremony he is checking to see everything is in place. As guests arrive, he greets them and helps them get where they need to be. During the ceremony, he is watching here, there and everywhere.

Being on a public Staten Island beach with lots of cameras, the wedding was sure to draw a crowd.

Still, the crew was pretty inconspicous during the ceremony. One team all the way back and two teams on the side at the front. No guests’ views were interrupted. As photographers, we pride ourselves on putting the wedding first. After all that’s why we are all there. So it is really nice that Tutera’s team also has this in their mind, even when their work is for TV.

After the ceremony, whether for TV or not, David brings his couples into the reception hall before all of the other guests, so that they can actually take a moment to enjoy the space he has created for them. So they can check out the details they have thought about and planned with him. Christina and Ed are clearly enamored with their colorful chocolate cake.

Their first dance in the dreamy tropical space.

One question we get about the show and working with David is: Is he really that nice? The answer is absolutely 100% yes. He is a truly down-to-earth, caring gentleman AND he likes to have a good time. He doesn’t dance at every wedding but when appropriate, he will enjoy the party with the couple and their guests. Enjoying a moment with the bride.

Dancing with a bridesmaid.

Clearly he felt a connection with this group and they with him. They even invited him into their group hug.

The folks who make it a televsion show. Yup, that’s a lot of paparazzi.

And finally, David and David.

What a great day to be a part of! We are so thankful to David Tutera and his team for asking us to photograph this My Fair Wedding episode.

Here’s a few pages from Dave’s Chapter in the book. Yup, a whole chapter. Did I mention I was proud? He photographed Christina and Ed’s Mexican dream wedding. They had initally planned a destination wedding in Riviera Maya, Mexico, but had to change their plans suddenly. With no time whatsoever, they were at a loss. David Tutera created a stunning Latin inspired wedding in Staten Island. They were even able to wed on the beach. Amazing!

And now a few details that actually aren’t in the book for those who want more.

Christina’s dress was one of the first from the David Tutera by Faviana bridal collection. It’s perfect for both the ceremony and the reception; the skirt below the flowers can be removed for a fun party dress.

If you’ve watched My Fair Wedding, you know that David makes the decisions. The brides can voice their opinions, but in the end, the buck stops with Tutera. Once he decided on the Latin theme, he included it at every turn. The bridesmaids dresses, for instance, were light, airy and supremely colorful.

As I mentioned, they were able to host their ceremony on the beach. It was quite breezy.

David transformed this corner of the beach into an oasis with tropical plants, orange and yellow roses, green turf and gold chiavari chairs.

The string ensemble enhanced the mood with beautiful music.

Blue skies and puffy white clouds with an oceanview. Oh my!

In the distance, the clouds weren’t quite as playful, but I love the bridge peaking through them. And a chance to see what was going on nearby at the beach.

Everyone went inside the hotel for the reception. The colors and theme were carried through into these spaces as well.

Cocktails with fruit.

A Mariachi band started off the party with Mexican flair.

A very romantic, warm dinner table. Roses dripping from everywhere and amber plates and glassware.

Candlelight always great for ambiance.

Bringing in the tropical flowers and more vibrant colors on a chocolate cake. Mmmmmm…..

To end the day, what could be better than fireworks?

The bride and groom were definitely surprised and happy with this ending!

Congrats to my hubby, Dave Lee; to our friend and fellow photographer, Critsey Rowe, who is also published in the book; and of course, to the man behind it all, the extremely talented, warm, and charming, David Tutera. It is such an honor and pleasure to work with David and his team- consummate professionals and creative geniuses!

Check back soon for a behind the scenes look at the making of this season 2 episode of My Fair Wedding.

We were lucky enough to have a picture perfect, sunny afternoon. After meeting up at Boston‘s Courthouse area, we dove into the shoot along Fort Point Channel.

On the docks…

Love this scene.

Dancing under the bridge.

It had been raining pretty much the whole week prior to our portrait session,which left us with lots of reflective puddles.

Playing with the industrial look. Great contrast between their soft vibrancy and the gray harsh background.

Enjoying a moment.

Love the Barking Crab‘s bright redness.

In reflection.

We walked over by the Children’s Museum to enjoy the shade of the willow trees.

And really cool white rock sculptures.

After the session was finished, we all enjoyed a bite to eat. Not only was it fun working with our crew, we had a great time catching up and hanging out. Thank you all for sharing your time and your talents.

It looks like the video will be ready soon, so these are really just to whet your appetite. I hope you enjoyed!

We have had the great pleasure of celebrating 4 weddings with Beth and Bud and their family! It all started when their daughter Emily married Mark. Emily and Mark chose to get married at the Sonoma Mission, where her parents had wed. And amongst their portraits, they wanted their own version of this image from Beth and Bud’s wedding. Last year at Lauren and Steve‘s wedding, we discovered that Beth and Bud shared an anniversary with the newlyweds. And when Emily told us that her mom was an avid reader of our blog, we couldn’t wait to celebrate her nuptials as well. So 40 years ago, plus a day (I was out of the studio yesterday) these two fabulous people tied the knot. I am certain it was a beautiful event, filled with warmth, love and joy. We are so happy for you, Beth and Bud, and hope your ruby anniversary was amazing.

Here’s what’s being said about the event:

See the beauty of the Great House, manicured lawns, and sweeping ocean views…while envisioning your special day of elegance.

Meet our exclusive caterers and rental companies, sample fabulous food, and visit our preferred vendors for flowers, gowns, invitations, lighting, make-up, music, photography, spa luxuries, transportation, and videography.

You can also learn about your options for having an eco-conscious wedding at The Great House, a National Historic Landmark. Sustainable doesn’t have to mean huge choices, just one small choice. Please join us!

We hope you can make it to Ipswich on April 17. It promises to be a wonderful affair.

Janis and Steven took the destination wedding craze to new heights, quite literally, with their wedding on the moon. That’s right, these two felt they needed a location that was truly unique to capture their adventurous spirits. So when they started looking for that special venue, they brainstormed places they had been and places they had always wanted to visit.

"It seemed so perfect, really. I mean how often are you going to make such a long journey, and when else are you going to have the time off," shared Janis. So Janis and Steven started to consider how they might get to the moon, along with an intimate group of their closest family members. They knew they didn’t have the funds to do it on their own. They had thought about ebaying a seat on their vessel, but thought better of it. They didn’t want just anyone to be at their wedding. "Then it hit me," Steven explained. "If we choose the right person to officiate, we can surely get that person to contribute. And who else, but Richard Branson, would be appropriate? He’s already got it in the works. We figured it would be good for us and good for him. The publicity for his new Lunar Virgin line has been amazing." Janis added, "He’s actually a really great guy, too. Our ceremony couldn’t have been more perfect."

The guests stayed aboard the shuttle and watched from inside as Janis and Steven were able to take a few special portraits before the ceremony. Branson even supplied the couple with a special breathing instrument to allow them to take the photos unencumbered by the traditional space suits. And Janis and Steven were so excited to be there; they were willing to try anything. Janis didn’t even care if she got her dress a little dirty before the ceremony.

Then everyone came out for their own walk on the moon. The ceremony concluded with Branson’s take on an old favorite, "One small step for Janis and Steven, one giant step for couples everywhere."

More photos and the rest of their story to come soon, so definitely check back.

I’ll be honest I can’t tell you all about the article our work is part of, because, as you would expect, it’s in Japanese, but what I can gather is that they were highlighting several vendors celebrated in the international wedding industry. They focused on florists and event planners, in particular. And David Tutera, whom we have worked with on several occassions, was number one on their list. It’s no surprise as his work is astounding- it completely captivates all of my senses.

Our image was taken during a wedding at The Fairmont’s Plaza Hotel in New York City. The whole concept was based around crystals and they were everywhere. The ballroom sparkled.

If you want to see more of David‘s work, definitely check out:

David Tutera’s Metropolitan Club Wedding
Tutera’s Gotham Hall Wedding

Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer Inspiration

More of David’s designs still to come from a fall episode of My Fair Wedding.

And now, the winner of our free engagement session is…. Alex Wyrondek. Congrations, Alex. I will be sending you all the details in an email, but feel free to contact us if you have questions.

Happy wedding planning to you all!

Want to see more engagement sessions? Check them out on the blog here.

We submitted images from this fabulous Plaza Hotel wedding in New York City. It was designed by the trend-setter David Tutera and his talented team. With his table decor, he not only defines the space around a table, but creates a feeling like you have been transported to whole other world. All of your senses are enticed. It’s an amazing experience. We are thrilled that we could share one of his signature designs with Grace Ormonde readers.

If you would like to see more from this wedding, definitely check out our story from the wedding.

And if you would like to see other David Tutera wedding designs and ideas, check out these posts- NY Metropolitan Club Wedding, NY Gotham Hall Wedding, Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer Inspiration. More of David’s designs still to come from an episode of My Fair Wedding.

Cover image by Jade Studio Productions.