Upstate New York Wedding | Katherine and David

What do I say about Kat and David and their wedding at Glasco House in Woodstock New York?

Imagine Thanksgiving weekend, where every single part and member of your family is somehow able to make it to a rented venue for the entire time, everyone has a room in the house to sleep, and all weekend it’s one big love fest. The younger of two sisters of a family of four sisters, Kat and her younger sister were practically raised by her two older sisters while their parents had to stay behind in Korea in order to provide for them. It is the quintessential story of first generation immigrants doing whatever they had to in order to secure a future for their children. And the kids knew that. When it came time for Kat to get dressed, it was important for me to have all them to be in the room when her Appa (that’s Dad in Korean) came in. On top of that David had a sister that he was so close with, he included her in his groomsmen side of things, a sibling bond so strong that it’s both friend and family.

I love weddings like this because it’s the closest family and friends, and theres no point in hiding your emotions. And everyone knew each other, which means that the entire wedding guest list was just an open book of candid conversation and real hugs, instead of kicking around the bushes with small talk and formalities. Kids were quite literally littering the lawn running around, blowing bubbles, jumping off rocks and beds, and just loving on the couple.

When I say that this was the most emotion filled wedding I’ve ever been to, I mean it. I’ve never seen so many laughs and smiles, despite a rain changing situation.

This wedding was a clear reminder that everything has to be there in the first place. As photographers we can fake it for you, but is that what you really want? Do you want photos of fake smiles and fake getting ready moments just so you can have a “perfect” photo? Or would you rather be able to just enjoy yourself. And enjoy yourself because you were so intentional about only inviting the closest family and friends that you don’t have to worry about hiding anything, that you can wear your heart on your sleeve without abandon. We live in a world where social media and a selfie generation has trained us that we only have one good angle of ourselves, and that’s the only angle that should be photographed. But how can you have an authentic moment, if you’re constantly worried about being caught at the perfect angle, and you stifle your smile and your laugh…..just for the photo.

Wouldn’t you rather actually enjoy your wedding and just go full out belly laugh and smiles?

What’s the point of these photos if you don’t actually enjoy your own wedding?

This wedding was a good reminder to let it all go, buy the dress you want even if it doesn’t look like the princess wedding dress that society and tradition tell you to get, and if you’re like this bride who is a photo director for brands in NYC, you can still have a wedding with bomb ass dress and style and good food and keep it an intimate setting.

There are weddings, and then there are events that change your life.

This wedding changed my life.

Ash and I together have done over 500 weddings at this point, and if we ever do a vow renewal, we are doing it like this. That should tell you something.