Esther & Bram both had their own stints living in Brooklyn before their relationship began.

When it was time to decide where they would live once they got married, though, they were inhabiting two different boroughs. As they discussed where they wanted to start their married life together, it was clear to both of them – Brooklyn is where they want to build a home together.

StreetEasy brought them a dream of an apartment, located conveniently in the magical neighborhood of Greenpoint.

Their apartment layout gave my lens a unique viewpoint to capture them getting ready for their unorthodox elopement.

They decided to start their morning with their typical routines (coffee & lighting some Palo Santo of course), & opted to get ready for their ceremony together.

They did not have their parents or close friends put on the finishing touches, such as zipping up Esther’s dress or tying Bram’s bowtie like at a traditional wedding, nor did they get ready alone like many of my past elopement couples.

Instead, they wanted to document them helping each other get ready. These images serve as a beautiful representation of the everyday married life they were starting. While, sure, your partner might not help you with your shoes every morning on your way to work, & your spouse might not button each button for you on any typical day, but a marriage is a commitment to be with each other, even in mundane things, for the rest of your life. & what could be more mundane than getting dressed every morning?

I spent two & a half hours with Esther & Bram,

& it is clear the type of love they have for one another is a serving kind of love. I know on late nights where they stumble back into their Greenpoint home, when Esther is too tired to do anything but lay in bed, Bram will delicately remove her shoes for her & tuck her into bed, being extra excited to wake her up in the morning to a fresh pour over & kiss on the forehead. & on mornings when Bram is stressed running out the door to get to one of his clients, Esther will pull him in for a comforting hug, button up the button he missed in his frenzy, & remind him to stay centered & affirm him as he bikes down their tree lined street.

When I found this Quoted magazine at a store just a week before their elopement, I knew I had to buy it for their special day.

I always want to find unique ways to bring my clients’ visions to life. I am constantly inspired during my walks throughout the city, be it by how a New Yorker reads her newspaper with her morning cappuccino or how a local pauses for just a moment before walking down their brownstone steps to start their day. New York is home to so much diversity of life, it welcomes complexity & the adversity that arrive throughout life, & its inhabiters are quick to step up to the challenge.

This page dedicated to Brooklyn was the perfect backdrop for detail photos because it captures aspects of the essence of Brooklyn that drew Esther & Bram in, & made them want to call it home.

Once they finished their morning coffees, & had adjusted their final details on their looks, we made our way upstairs to the rooftop.

I LOVE a good fire escape entrance/”you are not really supposed to be up here but everyone in the building accesses it anyway” typa New York rooftop. & their Greenpoint find provided just that vibe, in the absolute best way.

We were gifted the absolute best luck with the sun,

as multiple rooftop angles gave stage to glowing light.

Both Bram & Esther express themselves & their values through their tattoos.

Sometime after they got engaged, Esther started dreaming up a tattoo idea that would signify the love & commitment she has towards Bram. She decided she wanted to get his initials tattooed in red on her forearm. When she shared this idea with Bram, he immediately wanted to share in this imagery by getting Esther’s initials tattooed in red on his forearm.

Esther got the tattoo on her left arm & Bram on his right so they could be placed next to each other as they walk hand in hand down the streets of Brooklyn. These are their only tattoos in color, also, which brings more intentionality & specialness to this symbol of their love.

There is no better first meal after getting married than pizza & a bottle of champagne.

While the lovely summer breeze may have blown out our candles, the romantic vibes did not fall short in the slightest. Watching Esther & Bram soak in the commitment they made to each other, while sharing good food & drink, was such an honor. Capturing candid moment of celebration like these will always be the heartbeat of my work.

As more & more couples challenge the preconceived notions of what a wedding day looks like,

I am honored & ecstatic to be in a field of work where I get to make people’s photo visions come to life. Here’s to partnering with future couples for more unconventional elopements, here in New York City, & around the world. I hope you bring me along for the ride!

Cheers to Brooklyn & the love it hosts!