Quwana and Donald

After two days of travel across approximately 789 miles of the Atlantic Ocean, there was sun, more water, giant spiders, pink sand, and the marriage of Quwana and Donald. If you've ever been to this destination, the giant spiders and pink sand should have been enough for you to figure it out. If not, here's another clue, it's spelled B-E-R-M-U-D-A, and I'm not joking about the giant spiders, those suckers are huge, and no I didn't take a picture. Why? Because they are HUGE!!!!!!!! There's nothing worst than a HUGE, ugly spider in a BIG web.

Ok, back to the subject. I joined the family and friends of Quwana and Donald on a cruise to the "big spider" island of Bermuda. Beautiful island, beautiful people and great people, just really big spiders. The ceremony was held at the Lido Restaurant on Elbow Beach. Here Quwana and Donald exchanged their vows before family, friends and a Bermuda short wearing officiant. Now how cool is that? After the cocktail hour it was back to the ship for the voyage home. I really had a great time with them, and I'm ready to go back to the island. I'd like to spend about a week or two there and really enjoy all Bermuda has to offer. I'll let you know. Until then enjoy some of the photos.

Click here for the slide show

Monique and Chris

It’s not often these days that I actually get a free moment to update my blog, but this is one of those rare moments. It helps when you’re on a cruise ship heading to Bermuda to shoot another wedding. Somehow you find your self with a whole bunch of free time.

It was just yesterday that I shot the wedding of Monique and Chris. Once again the weather was great as they exchanged vows at St. Charles of Borromeo Church in New York. It was a great ceremony which was fully attended by friends and family of the gorgeous bride and mad cool groom. I wasn’t about to call him hansom, sorry. After officially becoming a married couple, they were received by a honor guard of the Knights of Columbus in which Chris is a member. That was really cool, anything with a sword is cool for me. That is as long as it’s not being swung at me.

Monique and Chris had their reception at Terrace On The Park. Here not to be out done by the special ceremony of the Knights of Columbus, Monique’s sorority sisters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (someone has to tell me if it’s ok for me to just write AKA next time, that’s just too much to write every time I shoot one of your weddings), honored her with a ceremony of their own. She was seated in the center of the dance floor, surrounded by a great number of her very beautiful, beautiful, (did I mention beautiful) sisters and serenaded. I never get tired of seeing that. They sound good too.

Enjoy some of the photos from her day.

Check out their Slide Show

Next stop...... Quwana and Donald - BERMUDA!!

Tracy and Calvin

What a weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you live in NY get in your car, turn west and keep going until you reach the Village of Finesville in Milford New Jersey. You may be saying, "Why would I do such a thing Rob?" Well, I'll tell you why. It's because that happens to be the location of Alba Vineyard where Tracy and Calvin's wedding celebration took place.

Jolene and I met up with Tracy at the National Hotel in Frenchtown, New Jersey. A really cool B&B in a small town, so close to Pennsylvania that you only have to cross a bridge down the street to reach it. As Tracy and her bridesmaids prepared in one room, her soon to be husband Calvin and his groomsmen got ready in another. That room and Nelson........ Nelson is the bother of Calvin, and that's all I'm going to say about that. Those that were there know. Nelson knows, and that's all I'm going to say about that. (Sorry guys, another private joke.)

When everyone was finally prepared it was time for the formal Receiving of the Bride "jep sun leurn." During this ceremony Calvin and his groomsmen had to negotiate with the bridesmaids and then Tracy's mother to see his Bride. It was the funniest thing I've ever seen at a wedding, watching the guys stuffing money in to the red envelopes and sliding them under the door, only to have the women on the other side yell back "Is That All She's worth to You?" With that response each of the guys continued to dig deeper into their pockets. After a while it was very apparent that women held the upper hand of this negotiation, when they finally demanded the men sing "The ABC's." Yes, the very same "ABC's" we all sang as a kid. If someone would have told me in pre-school that this song would serve a higher purpose...... I would not have understood what they were talking about. Witnessing this part of their culture gave us a whole new dimension to the way we've experienced weddings.

Before heading to Alba Vineyard, Tracy requested that we stop at the Uhlerstown-Frenchtown Toll Bridge, which links New Jersey to Pennsylvania across the Delaware River to take some photos. From there it was to the vineyard and the wedding of this awesome couple. There at the top of a hill, with the scenic Delaware River Valley as a background, before family and friends and witnesses, Tracy and Calvin exchanged their vows. I could honestly write forever about this great weekend, but it still won't do it any justice. So I'll close by saying this.

You could ask for a more beautiful day, but I'm not sure one really exist.

Enjoy the photos and the slideshow. And a special Hello to my new best friend Benjamin

A New Begining

It was a little more than a year ago that I met Materia and James. This meeting was triggered by Tanisha and Jared, who's wedding I shot in August of 2006. I was also introduced to Tiara and Mark who's wedding I shot in April of this year. So here I am now shooting the wedding for Materia and James, with my friend James Ravenell manning a second camera.

While these six people may have become linked to each other in different ways, they all have an extremely strong quality in common. Their Love of each other and their families. This is a quality that you have no choice but to notice and respect upon getting to know them. They also seem to have a knack for either making everyone laugh during their weddings or cry. In some cases both. I laughed pretty hard at their weddings and witnessed everyone else cry at times too. I myself have never cried at any of their weddings. Some have mistaken the sweat running down my face on Jared and Tanisha's day for tears, but being outside when it's 857 degrees will have that effect on you.

Staying true to form James had the courtesy to warn me about his approaching speech to his parents. While nearby trees had to be cut down to make tissue for other's, it just so happens that dust kicked up by a passing car outside found it's way into Jericho Terrace, came up the stairs, under the door, across the dance floor and got into my eyes. So here too I can understand why some may have mistakenly thought I was crying. IT'S NOT SOOOOOOO..... It takes more than Materia's beautiful face and James' tear jerking words to make me turn on the water works. You can believe that.

On that note (there must be dust in this room too), I say "Thank You" Materia and James for sharing your day with me.

Check out the slide show.

What's in Your Wallet?

Don't mind the many diverse looks on Chris' face, he loves Monique and will gladly make rabbit ears out of his pockets any day.


And don't pay any attention to the hand she has over his mouth, Monique allows Chris to speak I'm a witness to that. We met up at the South Street Seaport, and with the smell of food in the air, the two thousand, eight hundred and twenty one people in attendance, we had a blast. Great couple, great location and great weather make a serious combination. Enjoy some of the photos and check back soon for a wedding update and slide show.