I might be biased after this wedding but the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens is the perfect venue for a spring wedding in New York City. The cherry blossoms are out, the magnolias are in full bloom, and honestly, the garden does a lot of the work for you before you even pick up a camera. But Danny and Dan brought their own energy to the day too, and I am still thinking about how well the two came together.
Two Boroughs, One Morning
Danny got ready at Riverwalk Court in Manhattan. Dan got ready across the river in Forest Hills, Queens. Two different mornings, two different rooms, but both had that same kind of quiet focus. Those getting-ready details are easy to rush through, but we made sure to take our time. The rings, the shoes, the little things that end up meaning more than you expect. It was worth slowing down for.
The Perfect First Look Location at Brooklyn Botanic Gardens
By 4 p.m., Danny and Dan were both at the garden, and it was time.
We had not locked in a spot for the first look ahead of time, and that is pretty normal at Brooklyn Botanic Gardens in April. You just go where the flowers are looking best that day. We found our spot, and Danny and Dan found each other.
From there we moved through the garden for portraits. The temperate forest, the reflecting pool, the tea garden, the palm house exterior with the magnolias behind them. The cherry blossoms were everywhere too, and they showed up in almost every shot whether we planned it or not.
A Ceremony Held by Family
Guests started arriving at 4:45. By 4:50, everyone gathered at Magnolia Plaza. At 6:30, Danny and Dan said their vows.
Their officiant was Karl Forsman Jr., Dan’s brother. Being married by someone who has known you your whole life just hits different. You could feel it in the room. Every word felt like it was actually meant for the two of them, not a script.
The ceremony wrapped by 7, and Danny and Dan slipped away together for a few private minutes while their guests headed into cocktail hour. Sunset was at 7:31, so we made sure to get outside for the best sunset portraits.
Why Brooklyn Botanic Garden Works So Well for a Spring Wedding
If you are thinking about Brooklyn Botanic Garden for your wedding, I highly recommend booking in April. The garden changes week to week during bloom season, so where we end up shooting your wedding portraits depends a lot on the day you actually get married. That might sound unpredictable, but it also means your photos will not look like anyone else’s. No two spring weddings there really look the same.
You also get a lot of variety without leaving the property. Reflecting pools, a temperate forest, a tea garden, a plaza for your ceremony. It all feels different enough that your gallery ends up with a lot of range in just one afternoon.
Planning Your Own Brooklyn Wedding
Danny and Dan’s day started in two boroughs, with two families, and by the end of the night it was just one big celebration. If you are thinking about a Brooklyn Botanic Garden wedding, or any NYC wedding surrounded by that kind of greenery, I would love to talk through what your day could look like. Reach out here to start planning your wedding photography.
Vendors
Venue | @brooklynbotanic | Wedding Planner/Florist | @green.house.events | Photographer | @bethanymichaela | Band | @thebrooklynbeatsnyc | HMU | @tl_brides | Invitations | @zola |
