This NYC wedding at Bryant Park Grill was perfect from start to finish. Aside from the random snow squall post-first look, it was a truly beautiful winter wedding day in New York. These two were an absolute dream to work with, too. After their engagement session, I knew their wedding at Bryant Park Grill was going to be spectacular.
Getting ready at the Bryant Park Hotel
Samantha and Justin’s wedding day began at the Bryant Park hotel, conveniently located right across the street from the NYC wedding venue. Justin was assisted by his brother and father (and groomsmen). Samantha had some help from her mom after popping some confetti canons with her bridesmaids.
It’s always fun to compare the energy in the different rooms of the respective spouses. For example, Justin and his groomsmen were hanging out in their suite, chilling on the couches with some music playing lightly in the background. Upstairs in the beautiful, spacious Loft of the hotel, Samantha and her bridesmaids had music on FULL blast and plenty of champagne and confetti. It was perfect.
Justin, enjoying the view of Bryant Park from his hotel room window.
Sammy’s beautiful Vera Wang wedding dress
Wedding Day Bridal Portraits
After you’re done getting ready, I love to make time for individual portraits. It just so happened that the bathroom of the Bryant Park Hotel was absolutely *beautiful,* so it became the backdrop. Firstly, I moved a few things around. After that, it was a perfect, portrait-ready space. In addition to bridal portraits, there was also a tear-jerking first look with Sam and her dad.
Parents First Look on Your Wedding Day
There is more than one way to have a first look. For example, you do not have to limit it to just your future spouse. For this Bryant Park Grill wedding, Sam chose to have a first look with her dad. In other words: not a dry eye in the room.
First Look in front of Bryant Park Grill
When choosing a location for your first look, consider taking your photos right outside the venue. It’s a great way to tell the story of your wedding day, and you’ll gets lots of “ooh’s” and “ahh’s” from tourists.
Wedding Day Portraits in Manhattan
The Bryant Park Grill is around the corner from the New York Public Library (NYPL), an iconic spot for Manhattan wedding photos. It takes about five minutes to walk from the grill to the NYPL steps. Because of its beautiful architecture, the library serves as a very versatile photo spot.
Not even the cold weather could stop us from taking full advantage of the NYC streets. After the first look, it took about forty minutes for us to take some more portraits. As a result, Sam and Justin have timeless, beautiful couple’s photos from their wedding day.
I lovingly (and painstakingly) photoshopped every single tourist out of this image. Worth it.
Private Vows on Your Wedding Day
There are many ways to make your wedding day as unique as possible. It is very important to do things the way *you* want them to be done. Most importantly, there is no right or wrong way to have a wedding. For Sam and Justin’s wedding, before heading to Bryant Park Grill for the ceremony, they had a private vow reading. With just the two of them, and me, their trusty NYC wedding photographer, they read their vows to each other.
It was quiet, personal, and emotional. The snow started at this time, too. It couldn’t have been more romantic.
The most beautiful light came through the windows of the loft at Bryant Park Hotel, it absolutely warranted a few more portraits.
Bryant Park Grills Wedding Ceremony
This venue transforms from a trendy midtown restaurant to a gorgeous wedding ceremony and reception space. Just past the bar in the larger interior space is the perfect location for any pre-ceremony traditions, like a Ketubah signing. Similarly, it’s also a great option for your dinner and dance party.
In addition to the above, you’ll have no worries about down-sizing your guest list when hosting your wedding here. The Bryant Park Grill can easily accommodate up to 220 guests. After your ceremony, consider transforming that space into your cocktail hour location. It’s extremely spacious so there’s plenty of room to mingle with all your closest friends and family. Above all, the food is delicious.
Cocktail Hour at Bryant Park Grill
The hard-working staff at Bryant Park Grill quickly gets to work setting up the cocktail hour space once the ceremony concludes. Meanwhile, I take advantage of the empty, set-up reception space to capture some decor details. On the other hand, it’s also a great time to get some more shots of all the friends and family.
Bryant Park Grill Wedding Reception
The evening began when the super talented musicians from On The Move Entertainment started playing. All of the wedding party made their entrance, followed by the bride and groom.
Hitting the Dance Floor at Bryant Park Grill
Once the party started, it basically didn’t stop. In addition to getting to capture all the sweet and slow parts of the wedding day, I love any opportunity to photograph the incredible high-energy moments. You’ll find me on the dance floor, friends and family of the couple around us, constantly shooting. I never want to miss a thing.
Planning Your Bryant Park Grill Wedding
To sum up: it’s no secret that getting married in NYC is an incredible experience, and this venue makes that experience even better. From the perfect-all-year-round space, to the proximity to hotels, to the iconic Manhattan photo spots — it’s everything you need. If you’re planning a wedding at the Bryant Park Grill, let me know! I’ll help you scout photo spots and use my past experience here to make your wedding day flow seamlessly. In other words: I would love to capture your NYC wedding here, any time.