A.E. and Abby’s Housing Works Bookstore wedding in Manhattan was such a fun, thoughtful and unique experience. I photograph a lot of weddings at country clubs and elegant venues, which I love, but getting to work at this unique, funky bookstore was really something memorable. I knew I liked these two from the moment I met them, an idea which was solidified during their fall engagement session, where we took photos in the autumn foliage and snacked on pie from The Hungarian Pastry Shop, their favorite uptown dessert place (pie is a theme – you’ll see!).
What I love most about A.E. and Abby is that every decision they made for their wedding was intentional towards promoting the progressive values that they hold and putting their wedding budget towards supporting business that also share these values. The chose Housing Works Bookstore as their venue not only because of their shared love of reading, but more significantly because Housing Works is an advocacy group that supports equal housing, healthcare and legal assistance for those living with HIV. Their bookstore and thrift shops provide funding for their mission, as well as a very hip, funky wedding space.
Little details, like their vegan menu and locally sources wedding pie from Brooklyn based Four & Twenty Blackbirds, all had these ideals in mind (if you haven’t tried the bakery’s pies before, I can’t recommend their “black bottom oat” and “salted honey” enough). They even chose to hire me in part to support an independent, female owned business – something I never even realized was so cool until they made me realize it was!
In addition to the wedding being so socially conscious, it was also elegant, personal and really fun. The couple began the day at one of my favorite boutique hotels in SoHo, The Broome Hotel. This elegant hotel serves as the perfect spot of them to get ready with friends and for an emotion first look on the hotel’s balcony.
After lots of smiles and some tears during the first look, we all walked over to the bookstore where the couple said their emotional vows in front of the book stacks. Their literary themed table décor was the perfect setting for dinner and the night ended with a fun dance party under string lights.
Abby & A.E. – thanks so much for having me along!