Friday, January 8, 2016

Coral House: Denise + McHansy

"I smile when I see you, I smile when I talk to you, I smile when you touch me,  I smile when you're near me, I smile when you look at me, I smile when I think of you, I smile for you. But the one time I'm truly happy is when I make YOU smile back." ~Anonymous~

When I saw this quote, I immediately thought of the joy filled day I spent with Diana and McHansy. From the moment I met Diana at the hotel she had a HUGE smile on her face. That smile continued throughout the entire day. 



 Her laughter is infectious! Her sister could not resist smiling with her while styling her hair.  

I loved Diana's pearl bracelet watch. I later found out that pearls were a part of the theme for their wedding reception decor. She had also wrapped the stems of her bridal bouquet with pearls that matched her elegant timepiece.  
Not to be outdone, McHansy wore a navy suit with black statin lapels and a traditional black bow tie. Skipping the traditional boutonnierre, he wore a gold feather pin.  I must say these details complimented their Great Gatsby-esque theme quite well!

Diana and McHansy selected the Nassau Museum of Art for their portrait location. The gardens at the Museum are stunning! They are filled with hidden gems of landscape design, which makes it an interesting location to shoot in. 




Truly I have never seen a couple laugh so much during a portrait session. It was beautiful to see so much love shared between two people.

The entrance to the gardens has an archway formed of carefully crafted ivy.  I could not pass on the opportunity to capture a moment here before we left for the ceremony.


 The Coral House was the setting for the ceremony which took place alongside the water with a serene backdrop of trees.  
 I love seeing that look.....the face of the groom right before the bride walks down the aisle.
 Diana was walked down the aisle by her sister, wearing the same smiles they shared earlier while getting ready for the day.





 McHansy's parents looked so proud of their son. 


Diana and McHansy once again made a unique and special choice by opting to create a unity painting as they share a common interest in The Arts. What a great momento for them to cherish for years to come!




The decor for the reception room was simple and elegant. There were no floral arrangements, candelabras or strings of diamonds. I was impressed that I did not miss seeing any of those traditional things!  The combination of gold bird cages, candles, and pearls made the room feel opulent. It felt as if I was transported to a party hosted by Jay Gatsby.  
 They placed strings pearls in slender glass vases of water, and topped with floating candles. The soft light from the candles glistened against the pearls and glass,  creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. 


 Gold and pearls EVERYWHERE! Loved it!












 Heartfelt speeches temporarily caused Diana's constant smile to be replaced with tears of love and joy. When my brides tear up during a speech, 9 out of 10 times I tear up too. 

  

True to the theme, the cake looked liked it was dusted in pearls and gold and sat atop an ornate gold metalwork stand. I could not take my eyes off of it!
I'm glad to have had the opportunity to be a part of this unique day. Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. Thervil!