Erin & Brian; The Union League Club: NYC

Erin & Brian got ready steps from each other on the top floor the Union League Club in Manhattan last Saturday. Erin and her bridesmaids got ready while Brian and friends spent time on the roof deck taking photos before heading to the billiards room for some pre-ceremony pool and photos. Erin's mother helped her into her amazing dress and then perfected a bow on the sash that went around her waist. The bride looked incredible as she walked down the aisle of the Church of Our Savior on 38th and Park. The intimate vows and old-fashioned priest were highlights of the mass. Afterwards, a bagpiper met the wedding party and guest outside the church and led them the short way across the street back to the Union League Club. NYPD had to stop traffic so the massive group could cross Park Avenue. Guests headed to the impressive library room for cocktails while the couple headed to the roof deck for photos and video with Cappy Hotchkiss and Tim Alan Smith. After their entrance and first dance, the couple enjoyed a night that included Irish dancing, an occasional breakdance move, toasts and an afterparty with pizza and karaoke in the billiards room.

Alessandra & Michael; The Palm House at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens: NYC

Tim Alan Smith videographers- Lu and Geoff- captured the couple getting ready before the ceremony. Michael hung out with friends at their apartment in Park Slope near the church while Alessandra got ready at the Embassy Suites in Battery Park. The couple could not stop smiling from the ceremony at St. Francis Xavier in Park Slope throughout the party at the Palm House at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. Lu and photographer Dave Robbins made great use of the gardens while filming the couple and their family and friends. The Palm House was amazing as always for a reception and the couple hardly had time to sit with all the dancing that went on throughout the night!

A bride writes in after watching her video this week

Tim,

Marc and I watched the video last night and WOW!!!!!! What a beautiful, artistic, emotional, lovely, fun way to remember our special day! You really captured the love and energy between us and among our family and friends and we really couldn't be happier with the way it turned out. We love how you worked in the music selections, too!! Overall, a truly fabulous job and now we can't wait to share it with our families over the holidays!

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

Marc & Lisa

Josh & Brian; Atlantic City and the Linwood Country Club: NJ

Josh and Brian started their wedding day off at Caesar's in Atlantic City where they got ready with their groomsmen and families close by. The boardwalk proved to be a great place for the photographs by Shane Carpenter as well as video by Tim Alan Smith's, Lu. The ceremony under the Chuppah at Linwood Country Club was beautiful and the rest of the night was one big party led by the the very fun Sid Miller Band. Highlights included the introduction and first dance, toasts, cutting the cake and non-stop dancing and partying.

More Wedding Industry Events: Modern Bride trendsetters and the Wedding Salon

It's that time of the year to attend wedding events and network with others who work in the wedding industry. After last Wednesday's two events, I also had a couple more 'can't miss' events to attend this week. On Tuesday night, I attended the Modern Bride "Trendsetters" party at Ultra on 26th street with planner Kim Pilson of HamptonsWeddings.Com. I reconnected with photographer Karen Zieff, who I met last week at the Knot's party. In addition to talking with others I knew, the 'passion punch' cocktails and cookies from Eleni's were a big hit!

On Wednesday, I attended the Wedding Salon's now semi-annual wedding show at the Prince George Ballroom on 27th street with event designer Sandra Placide. In addition to the delectable cake from Sylvia Weinstock and the rock candy cocktails, I caught up with photographers Kate and Georgina, Kathi Littwin, Matthew Wagner and others. All and all, a great evening and two days of wedding industry fun!

Geri & Jim: Cipriani 23; NYC

Tim Alan Smith videographer, Lu, started the day off filming Geri getting ready at the storied Waldorf Astoria with her closest friends and family. Once the dress was on and the ladies were ready to move, Lu headed over to St. Francis Xavier on 16th Street and captured the bride exiting her limo and heading up the steps of the church. The ceremony was emotional with the bride weeping while saying her vows. After receiving congratulations from guests, the couple took a vintage car to Cipriani 23 where they enjoyed cocktails with guests. Reception highlights included the grand entrance, a beautiful first dance, Jim's toast to his bride, and the non-stop dancing of guests .

Kaitlyn & Matt; The Coveleigh Club: Rye, NY

Kaitlyn and Matt were married in a beautiful Catholic ceremony in Rye a few weeks ago. Tim Alan Smith started the day by filming Kaitlyn and her bridesmaids getting ready at the picturesque Coveleigh Club before a limo whisked them to the nearby church. After the vows and rings, the couple exited the church to the cheers of their guests and took photos on the front steps. Cocktail hour actually lasted nearly two hours back at the Coveleigh Club, so the couple was able to get photos from Ann Billingsley and enjoy ample time with family and friends. In addition to traditional reception events, Kaitlyn and Matt did an impromptu fast dance for family and friends late in the evening and Kaitlyn's father and uncles took the microphone to serenade their lovely daughter/niece as festivities wound down. All and all a beautiful day and memorable evening!

What an Evening: The Wedding Salon and Knot Parties; Boulet and The New Museum

Last night was a night in which I wish I could have split myself in two in order to be at two places at one time. Alas, technology has not reached the level of Star Trek quite yet so I had to split time at the two parties.
I started the night at a re-opening party for Boulet in Tribeca hosted by 4 p.m. Events and the Wedding Salon for those in the event industry. I attended with wedding planner Kim Pilson, owner of the Wedding Sitter and HamptonsWeddings.Com. We enjoyed great cocktails in the amazing new space as well as plentiful hors d'oeuvres and desserts. I made new friends and caught up with band leader, Alex Donner, and event planner, Kate Edmonds, whose nuptials we filmed last September. Another highlight was getting to speak with David Boulet briefly about the excellent food and good time we had.

We then caught a cab to the New Museum on Bowery for the last hour or so of the Knot's yearly bash for advertisers and wedding vendors. The views and layout were spectacular as were the appetizers and drinks. I caught up with photographer Erik Ekroth, wedding planners Danielle Bobish of Curtain up Events and Christine Paul of Christine Paul Events, Florist Jorge Cazzorla of Celebrate Flowers, Laura Lippman and Alan Berg of The Knot and many others before grabbing my gift bag and an uptown cab!

I look forward to next year and will have my fingers crossed that the events will be on different nights!

(Last year we filmed the Knot party, which you can see in the 'portfolio' section of the Tim Alan Smith website.)

Lauren and Tony; The Yale Club: NYC

Lauren and Tony spent time before the ceremony getting photos by Kristine Foley on the balcony of the Yale Club overlooking NYC. Both got ready before photos in separate suites before the ceremony. The bride and groom enjoyed cocktail hour with their guests and made a grand entrance into the reception after first waving to their guests from the balcony above. Other reception highlights included the toast by Lauren's dad, parent dances, the traditional Italian Tarantella dance, impromptu performances with the band by Tony's cousins and non-stop dancing. It was a great night, which Tim Alan Smith recapped below!

Tim Alan Smith Selected by 'Style Me Pretty' for Little Black Book of preferred vendors.

A few weeks ago I received a call that my company had been selected by national wedding website- Style Me Pretty- as one of their three NYC videographers for their 'little black book' of vendors. Their list ONLY includes the top 3 vendors in each category determined by their detailed research and polling of brides/other wedding vendors as well as personal assessment of vendor work. A little more about the book is written below, pulled straight from the Style Me Pretty website. Style Me Pretty has been written up by many wedding magazines and endorsed by Martha Stewart, who links it on her own site. For more information about Style me Pretty and the Little Black Book please check out the website, Style Me Pretty.

"Style Me Pretty’s Little Black Book is a highly edited collection of wedding service providers - from mom and pop boutiques to A-Listers. Personally recommended by our closest girlfriends, industry insiders and Style Me Pretty readers, there are three hand-picked listings per category. Brace yourself, though…it’s that good!"

Jennifer & Yaniv; Studio 450: NYC

Jennifer and Yaniv had an intimate ceremony at Studio 450 in Manhattan a few weeks ago covered by Tim Alan Smith and Patricia Kantzos Photography. The Jewish Ceremony started with Yaniv signing the Ketubah before meeting his bride on the second floor. His eyes lit up when he saw Jennifer in the chair waiting for him and then the couple was soon under the Chuppah in front of family and friends with great views of the city all around. Cocktail hour followed along with the introductions and the Horah. The evening was filled with Israeli dancing and many toasts and memories to last a lifetime.