posted April 24, 2015 in Weddings 4 Comments

Tappan Hill Wedding {Leah & John}

This beautiful Tappan Hill Mansion wedding created smiling faces, connected friends old and new alike, warming hearts faster than the 75-degree spring thaw in New York City.

Leah has been waiting for this blog post for years. Eight years, to be exact. After all, we met at her cousins’ wedding (Sarah & Jared). “It was then, I knew he was going to shoot my wedding,” she told me the morning of the wedding. I’m blushing, still.

John is a sentimental guy. His parents wed at the same church, St John The Baptist in Yonkers, NY. I can only imagine his parents’ pride seeing their son so happy. Officiant Father Don Johnston (a great uncle) wove the fabric of wedding tradition together with a beautiful Catholic mass.

This was the FIFTH family wedding I photographed for the Johnson family, most recently Keri & Brendan’s Larchmont Yacht Club wedding in NY. These two sisters are best friends and a joy to witness together.

I listened to every word said during the speeches and was in awe at their devotion to each other. Evident in the tears, everyone else felt it too! The reception was filled with love, amazing food & drink, and spirited dancing. I feared my safety several times as I crouched in the middle of a pack of family jumping up and down on the dance floor so hard it shook.

We live for these moments.

I wish I had a Rory at every wedding. He’s quite the ladies man!

Kicking off those wedding shoes and enjoying spring warmth with a view of the Hudson proved to be a favorite time for the bridesmaids at Tappan Hill:

Happy kern-photo wedding clients featured left to right: Liz and Ryan, Billy and Jessica of the Billy & Jessica fame, and the dashing Keri & Brendan:

The Johnston Family photo keeps growing… I will need to get a wider lens soon!

Estelle, we never got a chance to cut the rug together. Next time,  will you promise to save the last dance for me?

Leah & John, enjoy your Maui honeymoon!

CLICK HERE to view the full gallery. CLICK HERE to view the slideshow!

I was lucky to have an amazing entourage join me at this NYC wedding: my dear friends Kevin Von Qualen and Matt Steaffens. Kevin created Super 8mm film art starting seven years ago and rocks his beautiful, niche art. He’s created a gem at our wedding and he’s amazing to work with. And “my photo-brother from another mother” Matt Steaffens did stellar work as a second-photographer and navigator!

Ceremony: St John The Baptist in Yonkers, NY
Reception & Catering: Tappan Hill Mansion
Videography: Kevin Von Qualen
Entertainment: ETA Music
Florals: House of Flowers

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Posted by R. J. on April 24, 2015
Tags: Tappan Hill Mansion wedding photos