Wow! What a beautiful day that I will never forget. Mollie + Mike are from the UK and decided they wanted to celebrate their love for each other and NYC by eloping at City Hall here. They reached out to me a year before their elopement because in their planning they were perusing Pinterest and came upon a few pins from a chic city hall elopement, which low and behold were by me! Envisioning a simple elopement at Manhattan City Hall, the photos of mine on Pinterest really resonated with their style. We instantly connected and were all super excited to start planning their day. From City Hall, through the subway, to pizza on the steps of the NYPL it was a perfect day.
Effortless and Chic Style
Mollie already had her dress picked out by the time we first met. Let me just say… the excitment was intense when she showed it to me. The effortless silhouette with the statement bow trailing in the back felt so playfully elegant. Juxtaposed to Mollie, Mike put his own spin on his classic black suit by pairing it with black sneakers and white socks. They’re looks felt individualistic and yet symbiotic. A perfect mix of style and practicality for running around Manhattan.
“I do” at Manhattan City Hall
Wanting that iconic New York feel, we chose the marriage bureau in Manhattan. The surrounding architecture skews art deco and greco-roman with large marble staircases and gorgeous archways between all the massive government buildings. That same marble and gold carries into the city clerk’s office where these two exchanged their vows. We took a lot of classic Hollywood style flash photos while inside then came out to the most gorgeous sunny day. The way the sun was drenching the area, we had to spend some here for their portraits. I especially love when the harsh sun hits the City Hall subway station and highlights its vaulted ceilings and structure. Throughout their portraits we used a mix of digital and film and I’m obsessed with the colors of the day.
Riding the Subway in Style
Moving onward, we hopped onto the 6 train and rode up to Grand Central. While on the train, we had an almost empty car and we took advantage of that. We played into leveling with posing by having Mollie kneel on the subway seats for a unique depth. I love doing this to create a more unexpected composition. It feels so storytelling in an editorial kind of way versus a cinematic way. Both are great, and I play into each but I have a special spot in my heart for editorial vibes. Using the train’s structures we also played with layers and film for some unique subway vibes.
Playfully Elegant Portraits at the New York Public Library
After exiting the train, we took a moment for a couple flash portraits at Grand Central Station. Then we were on a mission to find some good pizza and head to the NYPL. Once the pizza was secured, we relaxed a bit on the steps of the New York Public Library. Mollie and Mike insisted I join them for a slice and I was all too happy to indulge. I love the lighthearted tone that eating pizza on the steps of such a grand building brought to the moment. Mollie and Mike are super chill and fun-loving people so adding in these playful elements to their day really showed off who they are together. Hand in hand they had some fun walking around the front facade of the library before we finished the day with a few dramatic shots inside. Truly this day was so perfect between the perfect weather, stylish vibes, and immense laughter.
If you’re looking to have your own simple elopement at Manhattan City Hall, here’s another trendy couple from the UK that I got to capture!
