Alexandra and Mike’s Wedding | The Thayer Hotel | West Point, NY

For me, it’s “all” personal, the extraordinary opportunity that I’m given each and every time I’m asked to photograph someone’s wedding. The trust that my brides and grooms and their families have put in me to record this most significant of life’s moments. It’s a huge responsibility, but one that I relish. And yes, always personal, but sometimes just a bit more so. Such was the case with the wedding of Alexandra and Mike, this past December,  at the historic and elegant Thayer Hotel, on the grounds of the US Military Academy in West Point, NY.  I might add, it was one of the mildest December days in recent memory, a huge bonus to an already perfect day.

You see, I’ve known Alexandra virtually all of her life. When we first moved out of New York City to suburban New York, her family and ours ended up in the same town, with kids the same age, and we all became fast friends. And while we eventually moved to other towns and became consumed in our new lives, the connections that you make in these years when your kids are so young are often the lasting ones. So to see this young adorable kid grow into the gorgeous, sophisticated and successful woman that she is today, and then to actually be given the honor of photographing her wedding (to a guy who, I might add who is equally handsome, charming and overall a great guy) is a personal pleasure truly beyond words. It brings me great joy to be able to share this selection of photographs from their amazing wedding day along with a few choices words from Alexandra and Mike.

“We met in high school in Poughkeepsie, New York and were close friends throughout high school and college. After much persistence by Mike, we started dating while in law school and maintained a long distance relationship while I was in Brooklyn and he was in Albany, often meeting halfway in Poughkeepsie. After law school we tested our relationship by sharing a 450-square foot studio in the financial district, which only made us closer. Two years later, while we were taking a walk along the West Side Highway through Hudson River Park, Mike proposed at sunset with the Freedom Tower in the background. After the proposal, he surprised me with a dinner at OTTO Enoteca Pizzeria where our families were waiting to celebrate!

We knew we wanted a winter wedding in a hotel where our friends and family could come and celebrate all weekend. It was important to us that once people arrived, they could relax and enjoy themselves and only have to go upstairs when the reception ended. The Thayer Hotel was a great location, on the Hudson River and halfway between home in Poughkeepsie and NYC where we currently live. When we visited we knew it was perfect for a winter wedding: grand old lobby, beautiful Christmas tree and lights throughout, and fire burning in the fireplace in the center. Our wedding day was so beautiful and truly exceeded our expectations, and Bruce captured the day perfectly. Everything was wonderful and we could not have asked for a better day and weekend. We are so grateful for the love and support of our families and friends and wish we could relive it all again!”

Congratulations, Alexandra and Mike. Sending lots of love and good wishes your way!